Page 211 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Gargle with one mouthful of the tea at a time, using the
entire cup of tea over the course of a day, as needed. Do
not swallow.
Headaches, Aches, and Pains: Wintergreen
leaf tea provides quick relief of headaches and other
aches and pains associated with arthritis, sciatica, and
lumbago.

It acts quickly to relieve pain and long-term to reduce
inflammation and swelling that causes the pain. Not
for long term use.

Colic: Care must be taken when using any herbal
remedy with children, so consult a qualified medical Poultice for Skin Inflammation: Either dried
professional before using wintergreen or any herb on a or fresh leaves can be used as a poultice for boils, swell-
child.
ings, skin ulcers, wounds, and sores.
Wintergreen infusion is useful in relieving colic. Use
only a few drops of a weak infusion to relieve gas pains Warning: Wintergreen essential oil is a concen-
and ease digestion, even less for young children. Best trated form of methyl salicylate and should not be used
to consult a medical professional or to simply use a dif- internally. Undiluted use can also trigger contact der-
ferent, safer herb. matitis in some people. Always dilute the oil with a car-
rier oil or use it in a cream or ointment.

the bottom of the stem, the leaves are bipinnate or tri-
Wormwood, pinnate with long petioles. In the middle of the stem,

Artemisia absinthium the leaves become smaller and less divided with
shorter petioles. At the top of the plant, the leaves are
simple with no petioles. This plant has small yellow
Wormwood is a powerful medicinal plant. It is a rela- flower clusters at the branch tops from mid-summer
tive of mugwort, also in this book. This plant has a through autumn.
strong odor and a bitter taste. It is the primary ingre-
dient in absinthe liqueur and is the responsible part for Medicinal Use: Wormwood is used fresh and dried.
its hallucinogenic effects. It is in the Aster/Daisy Fam- The leaves, stems, and flowers are all medicinally ac-
ily. It grows wild in meadows and along road- tive. I use the dried leaves and flowers to make tinc-
sides in full sun throughout much of Eu- tures, tea, decoctions, and infused oils.
rope and North America.
The wormwood plant contains thujone,
Identification: Wormwood is a toxic at a dosage higher than 35mg/kg.
shrubby plant with multiple stems Alcohol distillation, like people use in
that grows from a woody base making absinthe, increases the thu-
to 1 to 5 feet (0.3m t0 jone concentration. The plant con-
1.5m) tall. The stems tains Vitamin C, carotenoids, flavo-
are white or grey-green noids, phenolic acids, tannins, and
and covered by fine many other healthy compounds. It is
hairs. Its hairy alter- excellent for treating parasites, Crohn’s,
nate leaves are silvery or and intestinal and stomach ailments.
greyish-green on both Malaria and Artemisinin for Lyme Proto-
the top and bottom (unlike mugwort, which
are green on top and white on the bottom). The leaves col: Anti-parasitic compounds in wormwood have a
produce resinous particles that act as a natural insecti- powerful action against the malaria parasite. It quickly
cide. The plant has three different types of leaves. At reduces the parasite population in the blood and helps
treat the disease. Artemisinin, the effective compound
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