Month: July 2018

Medicinal Herb Post #14 written June 14, 2018

Marshmallow – Althaea officinalis

Here’s another herb that has been around and used for so long it has that officinalis name in it, meaning it was studied and used hundreds of years ago in the Monk’s officine (or office) as medicine. Other herbs that share the same medicinal qualities but not as strong are common mallow, hollyhock and Rose of Sharon. This perennial can tolerate full sun or partial shade. However it will naturally grow near damp areas. It reseeds itself happily so it can spread. I will let the new plants grow big enough to use and then yank them out of the ground and dry for later use. It’s leaves are very soft indicating one of its amazing properties… to soothe upset tissues. It has the same properties and uses as the over used Slippery Elm tree grown back east.

This herb is seriously really cool! The leaf, flower and especially the root contain loads of mucilage or to put it more crudely, plant snot. The roots large sugar molecules swell up when added to water, creating a sweet mucilaginous gel. Cold infusion is best. It is an excellent herb for just about everything, from respiratory issues like dry coughs to digestive problems like ulcers and inflamed bowels, dry or irritated skin and urinary infections. Dr. Patrick Jones, the herbalist I’ve learned a lot from has used it to stop the progression of gangrene. It acts like grandma when she comes over to care for your every need when you’re sick on your death bed. She just calms everyone down and let’s them know they don’t have to die today. Marshmallow is also known for its ability to make mother’s milk more rich and wholesome.

You could honestly use this herb in any formula you conjured up in your mind. I use it in my skin salve, and in all digestive, respiratory and urinary formulas. Here are a few I like either in tincture, tea or capsule form:

Digestive calm- equal parts Marshmallow, Plantain and Bentonite clay.

Respiratory cough – Mullein, Marshmallow, Licorice, Elacampane

Urinary infection – Cranberry, Chamomile, Marshmallow, Uva Ursi

There are so many possibilities!

Medicinal Herb Post #13 written June 14, 2018

Rose – Rosaceae species

This group is very large. The plants all have similar medicinal qualities. It includes stone fruits like, nectarine, peach, plum, almond and cherry. And other shrubs and trees like cotoneaster, quince, mountain ash, apple, pear, serviceberry, agrimony, any of the brambles, cinquefoil (potentilla), mountain mahogany and spirea… and the list continues. In fact there are over 2,500 species in this large family. Their flowers all have something in common; they all have 5 petals. Although some don’t always read the book 

The main medicinal quality with any rose is that they are great astringents reducing inflammation. They contain tannins that help to pucker and dry up swollen tissues like sore throats, diarrhea, ulcers and kidney/bladder infections. It has also been known as a heart protector similar to hawthorn berries, especially concerning loss or a traumatic event.

Rose can help alleviate hot flashes, irritability and pain caused by fibroids and endometriosis. Rose hips are high in vitamin C to help the body rid toxins and cold and flu symptoms. They should be harvested after the first frost. Rose petals have a calming effect on the nervous system especially for anxiety, PTSD and trauma, including heartache especially used with hawthorn flower and berry. Rose is great for the skin as a toner to help bring pH balance back after washing, lessening redness, inflammation and  over production of oils which can result in clogged pores.

I use rose water every morning and night as a skin toner on my face. Make your own by infusing the petals in purified water overnight. Add a few drops of rose or helichrysum essential oil. Spray on skin daily.

It is wonderful in a salt scrub. Mix together 1/2 cup calendula flowers, 1 T rose petals, 2 T lavender buds, 1/2 cup chamomile flowers, 1 cup fractionated coconut oil or sweet almond oil, 1 cup sea salt, 1 cup Epsom salts. Place in Mason jar and use within 6 months.

You can use rose petals in a tea for the bath or used internally at the end of a stressful day. Use 2 parts spearmint leaf, 1 part chamomile flower, 1 part lemon balm leaf, 1/2 part rose petals. Sweeten with honey or stevia if drinking. Boil water, turn off heat, steep herbs for 20 minutes and enjoy.

Medicinal Post #11 written June 12, 2018

Arnica – Arnica montana, A. chamissonis

Arnica grows wild in our Utah mountains. There are many yellow flowers that look a lot like Arnica, like Balsam root (also medicinal) so be sure you know what you’re looking for. It can easily be identified by its heart shaped leaves. Harvest when the plant is in full bloom.

It has wonderful medicinal properties, but should never be taken internally. However, in homeopathy it is safe to take internally. Arnica has high levels of a chemical called helenalin which attributes to its powerful anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial properties. The whole plant is the medicine and is used for infusing oils, making salves and lotions. It is wonderful for mainly anything skin problem related. It should never be applied to broken skin because it can poison the blood. It is great for sore muscles, sprains, insect bites, swollen joints and superficial burns.

Today I made a solar infused oil with Arnica, Lavender, Calendula and Marshmallow leaf. I’ll leave it on my south facing back porch for the sun to heat the oil, pulling the medicine into it for 2-4 weeks. This will be my oil base for making a skin soothing lotion. For every cup of infused oil I make, I’ll add 2oz beeswax and melt them together. Once cooled I’ll add a lavender and calendula tea of equal amounts and thicken with an immersion blender. Add vitamin E and desired essential oils like lavender. Pour into containers and use within 2 months or store in the fridge to keep longer. *You could also add yarrow, plantain or even cayenne for arthritic pain to the infused oil. Makes great gifts for birthdays or Christmas!

Medicinal Herb Post #9 written June 7, 2018

Cleavers – Galium aparine

The study of this annual is where the idea for velcro came from. It likes to cling to everything it grows near. It grows wild in the mountains and just about everywhere else. Harvest the plant before it goes to seed, but leave some so you’ll have more the following year. Sweet Woodruff is a cousin of cleavers and has similar properties.

The list of cleavers is versatile for all that it can do! It is one of few liver restoratives that actually help protect, tone and strengthen it, along with milk thistle. It’s an alterative which means it is deeply nourishing and helps the body do what it needs to do by giving it the nutrition it craves. It can be useful for breaking up stones in the gall bladder and urinary tract. And it is one of the best plants for clearing and cleansing the lymphatic system.

A great formula for cleansing the lymphatic system is to use equal parts burdock, red clover, calendula, cleavers and chickweed. Drink as a tea, use in capsules or make a tincture.

Combine any of the following herbs concerning liver issues from jaundice to eczema and other skin problems. Why skin problems you might ask? Well, when our liver is working really hard all the time and its load is burdened by too many environmental pollutants or poor food choices, the liver sends what it can’t deal with to the skin. Support the liver and a lot of other problems go away. Here are the herbs… dandelion, cleavers, milk thistle, Oregon grape, burdock, yellow dock, red clover and nettles. Take them in any form you’d like.

Medicinal Herb Post #8 written June 6, 2018

Mullein – Verbascum thapsus

You’ve probably noticed this “weed” along road sides as you’ve driven throughout our Utah canyons or along canal banks. This biennial has a long history of medicinal use for hundreds of years. The first year it produces a rosette of leaves, the second, it sends up a flower stalk of pretty yellow blossoms. Each are different and have a purpose. You may change your mind about it being a weed after today… 😉 It likes full sun and well draining soil. Once established in the garden it will happily reseed itself. The stalks can get tall so plant them in the back or center of the garden.

Mullein leaf is part of the antiicatarrhal herb group. Catarrh is an old name referring to mucus. So mullein is really great at removing mucus from the upper respiratory tract. However, it is also apart of the expectorant group that are a deeper version of the anticatarrhals that effect the lungs down in the bronchials. It’s also a known demulcent, containing high levels of mucilage, a slimy, soothing substance calming irritated tissues. So you can gather from its descriptions that mullein leaf is a wonderful herb to help rid deep seeded coughs, upper respiratory congestion and other issues having to do with the lungs.

The flowers are a known anodyne or pain reliever. They are also antiseptic and can help fight infections. I make a garlic mullein ear oil for ear aches that works really well. Pour olive oil in a pint jar filling in half way. Put in fresh mullein flowers, fresh chopped garlic, fresh St. John’s Wort flowers and fresh Calendula flowers. Put a lid on the jar and let the sun solar infuse the herbs into the oil by placing it on a south facing back porch or table outside. Strain after a few weeks and keep in an amber bottle with a dropper lid. Keep in fridge. Warm bottle gently in hot water and place a few drops in each ear 3x a day. I also like alternating this with fresh squeezed onion juice. Works like a charm!

I like adding mullein leaves to my skin salve as it is soothing to insect bites, sores and bruises. Search for the Calendula post to find that recipe.

Try making a cough tincture with equal parts mullein leaf, marshmallow root, lobelia and gumweed. Place dry herbs in a quart jar and pour 100 proof vodka to cover herbs by an inch or two. Put a lid on and shake daily for 4 weeks. Keep out of direct sunlight. Strain and place in an amber bottle. Take 1 tsp every few hours. Side note: 1 tsp of alcohol based tincture has as much alcohol in it as a ripe banana and the same amount as a dose of conventional cough syrup. You can also make a glycerite too if you prefer not to use alcohol at all. It just won’t be as strong.

Medicinal Herb Post #7 written June 6, 2018

Nettle – Urtica dioica, U. urens

Nettles are a wonderful herb when they aren’t stinging you with the little hairs on their stems and leaves containing formic acid, the same chemical found in bee stings and ant bites. Just wear gloves when harvesting and you’ll be fine. Once the plant is cooked, dried or smashed, the acid is destroyed and no sting occurs. Nettles are a perennial and grow wild all over Utah. They really likes water and dappled sunlight. You can just about always find it along the bank of a creek or river in the mountains. If you want to grow your own just mimic those conditions in a place where you’re not going to accidentally brush up against them. Pick the young green tops before they go to seed in the spring. The seeds are a known adaptogen and kidney restorative. The root is used for clearing congestion in the prostate gland for men.

Nettles have so many health benefits, the leaves are deeply nourishing. They are high in minerals and bio-available iron. It can be used as a tonic for 2-3 months to increase iron and other mineral levels in the body. It is a safe herb to take long term. They can help with anemia, exhaustion, and menstrual difficulties. It is suggested to be used for 1 month before allergy season. Nettles strengthens the cell walls, builds blood and energy. When a person is exposed to pathogens from the environment they are less likely to have histamine reactions. It also has anti-histamine properties and are supportive to the liver resulting in clearing skin issues, allergies/hay fever, and rheumatism (people still flog arthritic joints with fresh nettles to relieve pain, a practice they used in Rome hundreds of years ago). The roots have been known to support and protect the prostate gland, specifically in cases of hyperplasia. And the seeds have an excellent effect on chronically weak or damaged kidneys.

I love using it as a multi vitamin supplement along with yellow dock, alfalfa (omit if there is a sensitivity), burdock and dandelion. 1-2 tsp 2x a day.

It’s also fabulous for pregnancy and could be taken with raspberry leaf, spearmint, rose petals, lemon balm(avoid with hypothyroid issues) and milky oats tops.1-2 tsp 2x a day.

I just found a creamy potato nettle soup recipe I might try…
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion chopped
4 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 quarts veg or chicken broth
2-3 handfuls of fresh nettle leaves chopped(can be wilted)
Grated Parmesan cheese
Sea salt and pepper to taste.
Saute onions with the oil in a large Dutch oven pot. Add the potatoes and broth. Simmer until potatoes are soft. Add the nettles. Turn off heat and let the nettles steam for 15-20 minutes. Puree the soup in a blender or with an immersion blender. Add cheese and salt and pepper to taste.

If you get stung by nettle crush the leaves of either plantain, yellow dock or chickweed to help soothe the sting.  Nettle should not be used in people with hemochromatosis.

Medicinal Herb Post #5 written June 5, 2018