Page 265 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

female catkins are a little shorter. In mid-summer, the Menopause and Menstrual Symptoms:
female catkins produce small capsules con- White Willow Bark Tea helps symptoms of
taining minute seeds covered in white menopause and menstruation, including
down. The tree bark is green-brown night sweats, hot flashes, cramping, and
to grey-brown. headaches.

Medicinal Use: The bark Digestive Problems: White Wil-
and dried leaves are used for low Bark Tea is taken after meals to re-
medicinal purposes. lieve indigestion. The tea enhances the

Headaches, Fevers, Joint digestive process.
Pain, and Arthritis: White willow Warning: Do not use white willow in children
bark has aspirin-like compounds that re- suffering from low-grade fevers. Do not take white wil-
lieve pain and reduce fevers. low if you are allergic to aspirin. Do not use long-term.
White Willow Bark Tea works well for pain and fever Recipes. White Willow Bark Tea: 1 to 2 grams
relief, as does chewing on the tip of a willow branch. white willow tree bark, 1 cup water. Simmer the tree
Unlike aspirin, it doesn’t cause gastric damage. bark and water together for about 10 minutes. Cool,
strain, and drink warm or cold.

Wild Rose, Rosa spp.

There are many varieties of wild rose. All have similar
healing properties. Garden varieties of roses have
some of the medicinal benefits of wild varieties but
have lost some from hybridization. Wild varieties have
strongly fragrant petals and high medicinal content. If
necessary, use whatever rose varieties you have availa-
ble, but the most fragrant have the highest medicinal
activity. They are in the Rosaceae (Rose) Family.

Identification: Unlike most garden roses, wild
roses have only 5 petals, but many stamens. The flow-
ers are a beautiful pink and its compound leaves are
alternate with 5 to 9 toothed leaflets. It has thorns that Wild Rose, Rosa acicularis, by Walter Siegmund [CC BY-SA 3.0
are wide at the base. The fruit, called hips, are orange sedative, vulnerary (wound-healing), and a rich source
to red with attached sepal lobes and have a pear-like of vitamins, especially vitamin C.
shape. It grows in open, dry or moist locations, includ-
ing woodlands, in low to middle elevations and may Cold and Flu Remedy: Roses support the im-
form dense thickets. mune system to help people recover quickly from cold
and flu symptoms.
Edible Use: Roses are well appreciated for their ed- Use Rose Petal Tea with 1 or 2 teaspoons of added raw
ible use. Rose syrups, jams, and flavoring agents are
very popular. Rose hips are nutritious with a tangy, honey and a squeeze of lemon for coughs, colds, and
the flu. Infusing rosehips along with elderberries in
fruity flavor similar to cranberry. Crushed rose hips
make an excellent Rose Hip Tea. Note that the seed brandy makes a great cold tonic, and is one I use at
home.
hairs can be irritating both on the way in and on the
way out. The petals are beautiful and tasty in fresh sal- Asthma and Bronchial Infections: Rose petals
ads. and hips act as a fever reducer and anti-spasmodic, re-
lieving the bronchial spasms of coughs and asthma and
Medicinal Use: Roses are antiseptic, anti-inflam- the muscle cramping and aches that often result. The
matory, anti-oxidant, antiviral, digestive, nervine,
antibacterial and antiviral properties help cure the
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