Category: Medicinal Herbs

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Medicinal Herb – Wormwood

wormwood flowers wormwood leaf

Medicinal Herb Post #29 written on July 18, 2018

Wormwood – Artemisia abysinthium

This large perennial, is part of the same family as sage brush (Artemisia tridentata) and can grow everywhere if you let it go to seed. It is a cousin to white sagebrush or better known to natives as sacred sage (Artemisia ludoviciana) of which contains similar properties. It’s simple to grow and is considered a drought tolerant plant. It produces pretty soft silver leaves and tiny yellow flowers. Harvest the top half of the plant when the flowers just open in July/August.

Back in the 19th century it was made into an alcoholic drink that was thought to cause absinthism, a condition that created hallucinations and other mental health issues. It is said that some famous writers and artists such as Van Gogh, Hemingway, Oscar Wilde and Edgar Allen Poe were affected by the use of it in their work. Thujone is the chemical found in wormwood that was believed to be responsible for these negative effects, however more research has shown that back in the day it was more likely that the extracts were tainted with toxins due to impure production methods. It is still used today in flavoring bitters and vermouth along with clary sage leaves. It has a 160 proof alcohol content and not recommended for drinking by itself. One really cool reason for its use is that it is harmful to dangerous organisms… which may be why people used it for their health and killing parasites.

It is considered a great anthelmintic or herb that expels worms, especially pin worms, both in animals and humans. Wormwood is very beneficial in wound healing due to its antimicrobial properties and antioxidant levels. It is an antifungal, so it is great used for ringworm/athlete’s foot used as a wash or salve. It’s considered, along with other Artimesia species as a very good bitter to help stimulate the digestive system to function properly by increasing salivation and pancreatic enzymes and bile for the liver, strengthening and toning it. For this reason it has been used in formulas for IBS, heartburn and strengthening the immune system. Women have used it traditionally to promote menstruation and decrease cramping, which is why it shouldn’t be used during pregnancy or for women who are nursing. It can also deter mice and other small rodents when planted near structures such as a chicken coop or home. It is also used in insect repellent formulas.

The long term use of wormwood can be unsafe and should not exceed 4 weeks. It should not be used with other pharmaceutical drugs or in pregnant/nursing women.

I use it as a tincture along with Black Walnut and Cloves to give to my chickens every year as a de-wormer mixed into their water. You could also use the same herbs for humans.

The salve I make uses wormwood for any skin issues. My next endeavor is to try an anti-fungal salve with bee balm, wormwood, black walnut hulls and fireweed.

A tea can be made with wormwood and peppermint to enhance the bitter flavor. Use it internally or as a tea wash for rashes or insect bites to relieve pain.

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Medicinal Herb – Parsley

 

Parsley

Medicinal Herb Post #28 written July 12, 2018

Parsley – Petroselinum crispum

Parsley is a biennial that goes to seed the second year and dies. I planted parsley one time when we first moved into our home 8 years ago and haven’t had to worry about planting again. It produces a lot of seed and will take over your garden if you let it. The flowers attract beneficial pollinators into the garden. I like to have 1st and 2nd year plants in my garden every year for different reasons, like cooking, medicine and pollinators/seed. All parts of the plant, leaves, roots and seeds are used either medicinally or for culinary purposes. It is high in chlorophyll and vitamins, A, B ,C, iron and calcium.

Parsley leaf is great for halitosis or bad breath and digestive issues like gas and bloating. It’s leaves are also a diuretic helping to flush the kidneys or other organs and tissues holding on to too much fluid in cases such as edema or congestive heart failure. It’s also great for bladder or urinary tract infections to help flush out bacteria. The root is an antilithic, an old word that means “stone” or in this case anti stone, breaking up kidney and gall bladder stones. I like to harvest the plants that are just starting their second year of growth. Yank out the ones where I don’t want them growing and chop and dry the root. Parsley should be avoided in large medicinal quantities by mothers who are nursing because it can dry up milk, unless that’s what you want, then go for it.

I just made a tincture for kidney/gall stones made with parsley root to break up stones, marshmallow root to soothe irritated tissues, lobelia as an antispasmodic to calm down constrictive smooth muscles and dandelion or parsley leaf as a diuretic to help flush everything out. This can be used acutely or as a preventative monthly or if one is less prone to stones, every 6 months.

I love adding parsley to salads, soups and especially making fresh garlic herb bread.
Cut two loaves of French or sourdough bread sandwich style. Heat 6 cloves chopped garlic, 1/4 cup chopped parsley leaf and 2 tablespoons oregano leaf, salt and pepper to taste in 1/2 cup olive oil. Be careful not to burn the garlic or herbs. Take off the heat once you start to smell the herbs. On the top of each loaf, spread softened butter. On the bottom of each loaf spoon the herb oil mixture and spread evenly. Close the loaves and wrap in foil. Heat in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. Cut and serve warm.

This is one of my favorite summer dishes, most ingredients from the garden, including parsley!
https://rootedemily.com/?p=569

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Medicinal Herb – Garlic and Onion

Garlic plant Onion plant

Medicinal Herb Post #27 written July 12, 2018

Garlic – Allium Sativum
Onion – Allium cepa

Harvested my garlic and onions this week. Both of these Allium plants have much in common, are easy to grow and have versatile uses. Garlic should be planted in the fall, in full sun, with each clove about 6 inches apart and 2 inches deep. Feed heavily with nitrogen every 2 weeks once the bulbs start to shoot up green leaves in the spring. Harvest in the mid summer when the tops start to die back. You can dry the tops completely and braid each bulb, storing them in the pantry or cellar. Be sure to save your best cloves for replanting.

Garlic has been used for centuries as medicine. It is a great antiseptic due to its high levels of sulfur compounds. And because of its sulfur compounds it’s great for opening sulfate pathways through the liver to help the body detox. During WW1 doctors would use it to wash wounds to prevent infection. It is also a vulnerary herb which stimulates cell division and accelerates healing. Garlic is a wonderful antimicrobial herb, meaning it is great at fighting off bacteria, viruses and fungus. It stimulates the production of white blood cells, boosting immunity and helps to lower blood pressure and high cholesterol. It won’t raise cytokines so it’s great for fighting off respiratory illness that doesn’t want to go away and is also a good expectorant by breaking up mucus. It’s a good wormer for humans and animals, just chop up roughly 1 clove and swallow with water, 3x a day for 2 weeks. Garlic is also helpful for the digestive tract when feeling bloated from eating too much or eating foods that cause inflammation. I like to eat it chopped with a teaspoon of honey and pinch of cayenne pepper for sore throats. You can make a dressing to go over salad, soup, pasta or dipping bread by infusing it in olive oil over low heat or steeping in apple cider vinegar also on low heat. Add other herbs for more flavor.

I make a garlic ear oil for ear infections with mullein flowers, St.Johns Wort flowers, calendula flowers and garlic (fresh). Steep in olive oil in the hot sun covered in a jar or on the stove top on very low heat for about an hour. Strain and place in dropper bottle. 2-3 drops go in the ear at the first onset of infection 2-3x a day and a few days after symptoms go away. Keep in the fridge for up to 12 months. Warm it under hot water before using. Make a new batch every year.

I also really love the Winter Fire Cider recipe I learned from Rosemary Gladstar, a well known herbalist. Combine 1 medium chopped onion, 1 bulb chopped garlic, 4 tablespoons chopped ginger, 4 tablespoons chopped horseradish root and 3-4 chopped cayenne peppers or 1 tsp cayenne powder (used after it is steeped). Place in jar and cover with warm apple cider vinegar. Allow to steep on the counter for 3-4 weeks. Strain and add equal amounts raw honey to herbal vinegar (add powdered cayenne pepper if using). Take 1-2 tablespoons at the first sign of illness. Repeat every 3 hours until symptoms subside and continue taking 3x a day for a day or two after. It can be taken during pregnancy.

I like to start my onions from seed indoors in the winter under lights just an inch away from the plants. They can be planted as soon as your soil can be worked. They love lots of nitrogen just like garlic. Harvest when the tops begin to die back and fall over. Onions are also used medicinally as an antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, hypotensive (decreases blood pressure) expectorant and antispasmodic. I know people that make a poultice out of chopped onions and place on the chest for deep difficult coughs. You can make a syrup with chopped onion and honey for sore throats/coughs on the stove top over very low heat for about an hour or until the onion has infused into the honey. I know people that place a slice of onion on the bottom of their feet, wrap plastic wrap to hold in place then put on socks overnight to draw out illness. I’ve never tried it, but people swear by it. Onions are really good for people that eat high transfatty foods to help clean out arteries and fatty deposits. One thing I do use chopped onions for (outside of almost every savory dish I make) is to clear up ear infections really fast. I’ll alternate it with the garlic ear oil I make. Grate the onion and squeeze a few drops of the juice into the ear 2x a day. Seriously, it works so well you may only need to do it one time.

Here is my method of making onion powder
https://rootedemily.com/?p=928

Both of these herbs should be grown in every garden in my opinion. They are safe to use with no contraindications unless they cause heart burn or for nursing mothers with infants prone to colic. What do you use garlic and onions for medicinally?

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Medicinal Herb – Valerian

Valerian 2

Medicinal Herb Post #26 written July 3, 2018

Valerian – Valeriana officinalis

Europeans brought this long time used perennial with them across the great waters. Valerian grows wild in our mountains and has the loveliest smelling flowers. It is considered one of the safest and most effective nervines to help with stress, insomnia, headaches, anxiety and muscle pain. It’s easy to grow, but does prefer partial shade and rich moist soil. It will self sow easily if it’s left to go to seed. The medicine is found within the root, which has a strong scent after it has dried. Some people find it appealing and may indicate they would benefit from it. It smells bad to other people, like repulsive stinky feet… which could be an indication that they don’t necessarily need to use it or that it could have an opposite effect on them. The fresh root smells better than the dry root. I recently learned from an herbalist in NM that the fresh root is better to tincture because it doesn’t contain the isovaleric acid, the chemical that makes it smell like stinky feet. This is also really good for those who may need to take valerian for an extended period of time because the isovaleric acid can cause depression if used for a while. Another reason to grow it.

It works to depress the central nervous system relaxing nerves and smooth muscles in the body that would contribute to pain relief. It also contains 2 compounds, valerenic acid and valerenal that have been found to help induce sleep and raise gamma neurotransmitter levels. Studies aren’t clear as to why it works in the body, but that it does and is even effective when used long-term and for acute problems. It has been used with hawthorn berry and lemon balm to calm anxiety and even high blood pressure.

I make a tincture with Valerian root, Hops flowers, Lavender, Chamomile and Lemon Balm that is very effective for going to sleep when one is tired and can’t quiet the mind. It’s also effective for getting back to sleep after waking in the night. It has no ill sides effects, like waking up groggy in the morning or having to become dependent on it.

When using equal parts, Valerian, Skullcap, California poppies and Chamomile it is a fabulous pain reliever. Add Lemon Balm to the mix for headaches.

For deep spasmodic coughs try using 1 part licorice root, 1 part valerian root, 1/4 part cinnamon bark and 1/4 part ginger root. Drink as a tea.

It is best to start with a low dose and work your way up as needed. If you take too much you might experience a heaviness in your body. Back off the amount again and start lower. If one needed to use the dry root tincture long term it is best to take a break after 2 weeks and then start again.

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Medicinal Herb – Angelica

Angelica

Medicinal Herb Post #25 written July 3, 2018

Angelica – Angelica archangelica

This biennial, also known as wild celery was an essential food source for centuries in places like Greenland, Finland, Sweden and Norway. It is simple to grow and loves moist soil with afternoon shade. It’s happiest east facing. It produces big leaves the first year and an umbrella flower stalk that goes to seed the second year (as pictured). It can grow up to 6 feet tall. It is part of the carrot family, a group with many species both medicinal and extremely poisonous. It’s absolutely important you identify this family accurately. The whole plant is medicinal.

European legend says that revelation about this plant was given by an angel to help heal the plague in the 17th and 18th centuries, hence the archangel name.  When harvesting both angelica root, lomatium root and the almost endangered osha root (all cousins) you will notice they smell very much the same and have very strong antiviral properties.  The root needs to be dried before use as it has been known to be toxic when used fresh. It is an emmenogogue, an old word used to describe stimulation of the uterus. Therefore it shouldn’t be used during pregnancy.  The root is an excellent herb to help expel any retained placenta after a woman gives birth.  The dried root and seed are good for asthma and bronchitis. The seeds are used in tincture form for serious dysentery and cholera, making it a great tincture to have in the first aid kit. Angelica can be used for digestive problems from colic to stimulating an appetite. Interestingly, it has a bactericidal effect on the stomach, increasing acid and combating harmful bacteria like H.pylori. Angelica and calendula is a great combination for stomach bacteria issues. The GCE, the German equivalent to the FDA considers and approves the use of Angelica for high fevers, common cold symptoms, UTI infections and dyspepsia.

This is a wonderful herb to grow in your own backyard.  It easily reseeds so it’s simple to grow and harvest.

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Medicinal Herb – Cone Flowers

Echinacea plant

Medicinal Herb Post #24 written on June 28, 2018

Cone Flower – Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia also in this group is Black Eyed Susan – Rudbekia hirta

This is one really cool plant and is very popular for good reason. It is considered one of the best immune enhancing herbs out there. It can have some residual buildup in the body so it should be used only 2 weeks at a time with breaks in between if using long term.

Echinacea is fairly easy to grow. Mine goes to seed and actually grows like a weed in my yard, but that’s okay I use every bit of it! It loves full sun, but may need to be protected from really hot afternoon days in the summer. Native cone flowers grow wild in the mountains and is considered a drought tolerant plant. Rudbekia is also used just like Echinacea except it is a little stronger. In fact the flowers are almost as strong as its roots. Echinacea is fairly mild and should be used with another simulating herb like, peppermint, cayenne, ginger or yarrow etc. Rudbekia doesn’t need a simulating herb for the body to use it properly.  I recently learned that Echinacea is stronger when tinctured fresh. If it has strong medicinal properties it will make your mouth tingle. I like to harvest leaves and flowers as they come on, roots in the fall of 2-3 yr old plants (before and they are too small and after they are too woody) and then the seeds as they ripen on the flower head. You need to grind up the seeds to break up the coating around the seed to release the medicine. Add all those things fresh to the tincture you started in the summer with the leaves and flowers and make a whole plant fresh Echinacea tincture. Steep for another 2-4 weeks. Strain and store in an amber bottle out of direct sunlight. According to Joe Hollis of Mountain Gardens in North Carolina the seed of Echinacea is the strongest medicinally.

As an immune booster that mobilizes white blood cells stimulates the body to produce more T-cells increasing the bodies defense against foreign invaders. It is a strong antibiotic and a good antiviral. It needs to be taken at the onset of an illness every 30 minutes to 2 hours for swollen glands, clogged lymph nodes, sore throat, ear infection, tonsillitis and a fever. If the illness persists and you start to feel worse stop taking it. It can increase cytokines and can make the illness worse. At that point take an herb like grape leaves or garlic to lower cytokines. Look up the Elder post I did a while back for a full list of herbs that increase and decrease cytokines. I like taking it with elder, yarrow and peppermint to kick out a nasty illness. These herbs also help echinacea to work better with in the body. Can be used for 10-14 days.

Echinacea was originally called “snake oil” back in the day. Today that term has a bit of a bad wrap, but it has a purpose and its named is well assigned. Echinacea contains a chemical in it called hyaluronic acid. It’s also found in the body and used to glue our cells back together when damage has been done. Viper snakes, like rattlesnakes and spiders, like brown recluse have a chemical in their venom called hyaluronidase that breaks down tissue, liquifying it. So echinacea does 2 things, it stops the venom from spreading and stimulates the body to produce hyaluronic acid in addition to what’s in the herb. Pretty sweet! A really effective herbal formula for poisonous bites like this would be to use equal parts: Echinacea root or use whole plant (can also use Rudbekia flower or root), Dandelion root to help the liver eliminate toxins, Marshmallow root to soothe and calm tissues so they don’t die and Plantain leaf to help draw out poisons. You would apply a poultice every 3 hours the first day then 2x a day, every 12 hours after that. You can use this same formula for other serious poisonous bites and stings. Echinacea is also really good for bug bites, including mosquito bites. It reacts quickly to foreign pathogens in the body. It can be used on tick bites as a tincture placed on a band-aide and changed every few hours.

Along the lines of using Echinacea to help the body produce more hyaluronic acid, it is very beneficial to use when there has been any damage to joints, cartilage, bones and connective tissues. I have a friend who recently used it along with other herbs like comfrey to heal a bad knee that would eventually need surgery because the cartilage had been worn down. After a month of using it she has felt much relief and can do a lot more than she used too. I have another friend that runs marathons and suffered a stress fracture in her hip. She also used the echinacea along with other herbs and took care of the problem in less than 6 weeks. She’s back to running with no issues. Echinacea needs to be used in large quantities, like 1 tablespoons 3x a day with a one week break every 2 weeks.

The only contraindication for this herb would be for those with autoimmune disease due to it’s ability to stimulate the immune system. For those who can’t use Echinacea, use Astragulus root instead. Astagalus is best used throughout the late fall, winter and early spring months to help strengthen the immune system deep within the bone marrow.

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Medicinal Herb – Dandelion

Dandelion

Medicinal Herb Post #23 written June 28, 2018

Dandelion – Taraxacum officinale

Well it’s true some people love this little plant using it as medicine and many others rage war against it with every pesticide known to man. Maybe after today I’ll convince you to grow or rather leave a little alone on purpose  . Did you notice the officinale in its name? Yes, dandelions have been used as medicine for a very long time. It’s incredibly hardy and there really isn’t a reason to purposefully plant it. It’s one of the first much needed plants honey bees get their food from in the early spring. It does prefer rich moist soil and full sun, but it can endure just about any environment. The young sweet green leaves are used around the world in dishes like lettuce or sautéed as a side. The flowers are used as an anodyne (pain reliever) as well as the roots medicinally. Roots should be harvested in the fall or early spring. I usually harvest in the spring pulling them up in places I want to grow something else in.

The root is a wonderful liver tonic and blood purifier. It stimulates bile production which cleanses the liver and helps it to do its job better. The leaf is used in kidney and gall stone formulas to help someone urinate more to expel the stones. I love using the roasted roots of Dandelion as a coffee substitute. Yum! The leaf is a diuretic, helping the kidneys and bladder expel unwanted toxins. It’s really useful for water retention build up, but the really cool thing about it is that God knew that potassium was needed with a diuretic plant and put high amounts of it in there. Many people who take pharmaceutical drugs for water retention have to watch their potassium levels. God is smart! It’s also high in other vitamins and minerals like calcium and iron. Many people use the flowers to make wine or jelly. I’ve even seen it used in salves. The latex found in the stem is great for getting rid of warts because it suffocates them. Apply several times a day for 2-3 weeks. There are no contraindications to using Dandelion.

I use the root with burdock and milk thistle for a gentle liver tonic to keep the liver happy.

Do you use Dandelion medicinally?

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Medicinal Herb – Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm

Medicinal Herb Post #22 written June 26, 2018

Lemon Balm – Melissa officinalis

This incredible herb is a part of our mint family again. It prefers moist soil and some shade. Harvest anytime for eating or just before it flowers for the highest medicinal quality. Keep cutting any of the mint family herbs and they’ll come back again for additional use. Leaves are the medicine. And it tends to be better behaved than peppermint so it doesn’t spread as fast, but will reseed easily.

Lemon balm is used to calm the nervous and digestive systems. It is good for stress related stomach pain, nausea, bloating and heartburn. It can help with menstrual pain and stress. Use with blue vervain, milky oats tops, rose, and lavender to help one find relief and comfort. It can also be useful with those who suffer from heart palpitations due to stress. Use with motherwort, hawthorn flowers and berries.

It’s a powerful brain herb as it is useful for anxiety, memory, headaches, insomnia, grief, ADHD, irritability and seasonal depression. I love using it with Holy basil, Ashwaghanda and St. John’s Wort for anxiety/depression in loved ones. Lemon balm is the best antiviral for killing the herpes simplex virus. It stops the replication of it on contact. It’s incredibly effective of shingles, chicken pox, herpes and cold sores. I would also take it internally as well.

I’m currently working on improving a salve for anything associated with herpe viral infections, using calendula, lemon balm, St. John’s Wort, and marshmallow. I’m solar infusing the herbs in a jar covered with olive oil. After 2-4 weeks I’ll strain and add 1/4 cup beeswax for every cup of infused oil I have. Then I’ll add vitamin E, lavender and Melissa blend essential oils and put into jars.

It can be used in any digestive formula like colic/gas or a calming nervous system formula. It’s also good as a cold infusion tea or chopped up in a fruit salad.

The only contraindication would be for those with low functioning thyroid because it can lower thyroid function. Bugleweed and Motherwort are two other herbs that also lower thyroid function. However, for those with an overactive thyroid it would be helpful.  It is still safe to use internally short term for those with mild hypothyroid problems if needed, but not for long periods of time.

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Medicinal Herb – Peppermint and Spearmint

peppermint plant spearmint

Medicinal Herb Post #21 written on June 26, 2018

Peppermint – Mentha piperita (on the left)
AND
Spearmint – Mentha spicata (on the right)

I’m posting about both of these herbs together because they are closely related in their medicinal properties, however they do hold different qualities and are worth going over. All plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, have square stems with alternating and opposing leaves coming off the stem. If a plant has a square stem or its leaves are opposing and alternating, but don’t posses both qualities, it’s not in the mint family. All mints usually have two jobs, first they want to do something to your nervous system and second, they want to kill something. They tend to affect the digestive system in some way as well. This group of plants is very large.

Peppermint likes to grow in moist well draining soil. It does well in full sun or part shade. It can be very invasive and should be grown in a small bed surrounded by concrete (not concrete edging)/deep barrier or in a large pot. It can serve as a nice ground cover, especially if you’re harvesting and using it often. I’ve read that it contains the most volitile oils when it has just bloomed, but I still harvest it as needed. All mints and plants that contain mucilage like comfrey and marshmallow retain more medicine when processed as a cold infusion. A cold infusion is simply pouring room temperature water over the herbs and allowing them to steep for 4 to 12 hours over night.

Peppermint is the go to herb for any digestion problem that would cause spasming, like cramping, gas, nausea and vomiting. It makes for a great catalyst herb when used with other mild herbs like Echinacea. It’s great for headaches when combined with chamomile, good foe bee stings, burns when mixed with raw honey and can help relieve toothaches. It’s a powerful antimicrobial and is stimulating to the nervous system. I like to combine it with elder and yarrow to combat the cold/flu. My new favorite herbal tea is equal parts hibiscus petals, peppermint and lemon balm. So refreshing during those hot summer days.

Spearmint is similar to peppermint as it will spread easily by root runners. It really loves water and will do well in full sun or partial shade. It is recommended to plant different kinds of mints separate from each other as they can easily ‘interbreed’ and won’t be as medicinally active. Spearmint is more mild than peppermint and is usually better for children and pregnant women. It is amphoteric, meaning it moves in the direction the body needs. It can be stimulating but also relaxing and is very helpful in nervous system blends. It’s great for digestive issues as well.

My favorite pregnancy tea is equal parts raspberry leaf, spearmint, nettles, rose petals and milky oat tops.

My favorite formula to give to my kids to combat illness is a glycerite made with equal parts yarrow, spearmint, red clover, elder flower and mullein.

For a calming remedy in children try equal parts chamomile, lemon balm and spearmint. Use as a tea or glycerite.

And finally one of my favorite dishes is a fruit salad I love to eat using either peppermint or spearmint. You can always add more of a particular fruit if you want.
1 pineapple, chopped
1 canteloupe, chopped
1 bunch of green grapes
6 peaches sliced
2 pounds quartered strawberries
2 pints blue berries
2 raspberries and blackberries if you want
Place together in a large bowl.
Mix together 1/2 cup raw honey, zest and juice of 2 limes and 1/4 cup chopped peppermint and drizzle on top. Heavenly!

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Medicinal Herb – Catnip

Catnip

Medicinal Herb Post #20 written on June 25, 2018

Catnip – Nepeta catari

This perennial is part of the mint family. Square stem with alternating and opposing leaves coming off the stems. Don’t confuse it with nettles when foraging in the wild, they look very similar, however catnip has a more broad leaf and not as jagged around the edges.

Catnip calms the nervous system. It’s intoxicating for cats, but also is sedative for humans. It can be used to reduce chronic anxiety, headaches and helps with insomnia and mood swings. It’s very safe and is usually the first go to herb for children who are hyperactive. Catnip is great for clearing up digestive issues like constipation, colic/gas, cramping and bloating. Some lactating mothers have reported that after they drank catnip tea their babies had significantly less colic. It is also safe enough to give to baby on its own too. Catnip is also known as a diaphoretic, an herb that induces perspiration to help break fevers and eliminate waste via the skin. It can also help ease menstrual cramps and for this reason pregnant women should avoid it.

Just today I made a glycerite for bloated/colicky tummies. I used equal parts chamomile, catnip and fennel seeds (freshly ground). I use a 1:1 ratio of glycerine and purified water, covered the herbs by an inch or two, put a lid on it and set it on the counter out of sunlight for 2-4 weeks. Then I’ll strain and keep in an amber bottle stored in the fridge to keep it from growing bacteria. It’s very safe for babies, children and adults.

You could also use it for restless nights or irritable moments by combining chamomile, catnip, lemon balm and valerian as a tea or tincture.