Page 210 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Colic, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and cover with
and Other Digestive Issues: Wild yam is also vodka. Seal the jar
known as colic root, indicating its value in treating tightly and place it
colic and other digestive illnesses. It is known to treat in a cool dark
digestive problems involving cramping, muscle place to brew. Al-
spasms, inflammation, and bloating. It also works well low to steep for 4
for irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s, Ulcerative Coli- to 6 weeks, shak-
tis, and diverticulitis. ing the jar daily.
Strain the tincture
Arthritis: Wild yam root contains anti-inflammato- through a coffee
ries and pain-relieving substances that make it effec- filter. Store it in a
tive in the relief of arthritis symptoms. cool, dark place
Wild Yam Tincture: 4 ounces (113g) powdered for up to 3 years.
wild yam root, 1-pint (500 ml) 80 proof or better
vodka. Place the powdered wild yam root in a glass jar

Wintergreen,

Gaultheria procumbens

This member of the Heath Family (Ericaceae) is often
identified by its scent. Although most wintergreen oil
is now synthetically made, most people can readily
identify the distinctive smell. It is also known as East-
ern teaberry, checkerberry, mountain tea, deerberry,
boxberry, ground berry, or spice berry. It grows in east-
ern and mid North America.

Identification: This semi-woody plant forms low Wintergreen Flowers, Wing-Chi Poon, CC by SA 2.5
growing leafy mats. The plants are approximately 6 in creams and ointments for pain relief of sore muscles
inches (15 cm) tall with evergreen leaves, making them and joints. Because of its toxicity, wintergreen essen-
a popular choice for a groundcover. They like wood- tial oil should never be taken internally. Wintergreen
lands with moist, acidic soil and filtered sunlight or essential oil is metabolized into salicylic acid, which is
partial shade. a Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID).
Bright green ovals or spoon-shaped leaves have a Thirty milliliters of the oil, approximately 1 ounce, con-
glossy appearance and a waxy or leathery feel. The tains the equivalent of 171 adult aspirin tablets, a
leaves are attached in groups near the tip of a small highly toxic amount. This illustrates how concentrated
reddish stalk. Waxy flowers with a droopy, bell-like ap- the oil is and why it should never be taken internally,
pearance appear in June or July but are often hidden even in small amounts. Because the oil is so potent,
beneath the ground cover. even small doses taken internally can be toxic. Winter-
green Essential Oil is obtained from the leaves by
The brilliant scarlet-red berries ripen in late autumn steam distillation.
through winter.
Wintergreen berries and leaves are effective against
Edible Use: Wintergreen berries can be eaten raw or pain and help reduce swelling and inflammation. Use
cooked and the leaves make a nice tea. it topically as a poultice, and in creams and ointments.

Medicinal Use: Distilled wintergreen oil contains a Sore Throat: Wintergreen tea is an excellent rem-
high concentration of methyl salicylate, a chemical edy to relieve pain and inflammation in a sore throat.
compound used in the production of aspirin. It is used

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