Tag Archives: itching

Birch

Poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge called the birch tree the Lady of the Woods. This graceful tree isn’t just decorative — birch has been used in healing for hundreds of years. There are many different types of birch tree, including: White birch, also known as canoe birch or paper birch, is found in northern forests across North America — throughout Canada, in the Great Lakes region, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the northeast. Black birch, also known as sweet birch, is found as far north as Maine, as far south as Tennessee, and as far west as Iowa. River birch, … Continue reading →

Beebalm

Beebalm is a plant that is native to North America. You can find beebalm as far north as Maine, as far south as Georgia, and as far west as Michigan and Ontario. Beebalm grows in the moist soil found in woodlands and along stream banks. During the days of the Boston Tea Party, Americans often drank beebalm tea instead of black tea! This herb was discovered in the area of Otsego (also known as Oswego) New York, the same area where writer James Fenimore Cooper lived and wrote. Native Americans used the plant both for medicine and for tea! Shaker … Continue reading →

Making Your Herbal Remedies

There are different ways to use your dried or fresh herbs in healing. Tea is the most common way of turning herbs into medicine. Medicinal teas taste much stronger than normal herbal teas — commercial herbal teas contain about a seventh of the amount of herbs in a medicinal tea. Steep one ounce of dried leaves, flowers, and/or stems in one pint of boiling water. If you’ll be using fresh herbs to make tea, use twice as much — two ounces of fresh herbs in one pint of boiling water. Always use pure water in your tea! An infusion is … Continue reading →

Preparing Your Healing Herbs

If you’re going to use herbs for healing, PLEASE make sure that you have correctly identified the plant before using. Some plants that look like safe, medicinal herbs may actually be toxic. If you have any doubts, don’t use the plant. Ready to harvest your herb garden? Try to pick your herbs on a sunny morning, after the dew has dried but before the sun has started to bake the plants. Wet plants can mold or mildew — believe me, you don’t want to use a moldy or mildewed plant. Drying leaves, stems, and flowers is as easy as tying … Continue reading →

Herbal Remedies In Your Pantry

Some common herbs used for cooking can also be used to treat some common health issues. Caraway seeds are thought to ease digestive troubles and relieve flatulence. Cayenne pepper is thought to be good for fever, fighting infection, and whole body cleansing. Cinnamon is a digestive aid, and was traditionally used to treat fever, diarrhea, and bleeding. Clove aids in digestion. Cumin aids in digestion. Fennel can be used as a digestive aid or to relieve flatulence. Fenugreek can help soothe respiratory irritations and relieve coughs. It is also an anti-inflammatory. Garlic may help reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood … Continue reading →

Herb Gardening

I have always thought it would be great to have fresh herbs at hand whenever I want them. There are certain types that I use often and some can be rather expensive, besides the fact that some are just more flavorful when they’re fresh. When you buy them at the store, you really have no idea how long they may have been sitting on the shelf, or how long they have been sitting before they were packaged, and in time, they lose a lot of flavor. I have purchased parsley that barely had any flavor at all. So, this year … Continue reading →

The Garden of all Gardens

This is it. This is going to be our best and biggest garden yet. It’s huge! It is at least twice the size of the biggest garden we’ve had so far. My husband and I have been working hard for the past several days and we’re not done yet. We do have a good start though, nice and early, so our plantings can take advantage of those soon to be upon us April showers. So, what are we going to have in our garden this year? Well, there is plenty to tell you about! We started off with three kinds … Continue reading →

Can’t Wait to Garden? Start Early…

Are you suffering from spring fever already? One really warm day is usually all it takes for me. Most of us cannot wait to get out and about, but many also can’t wait to get out into the garden. Well, there’s no need to wait for perfect weather; you can start a little early with prep work doing some plantings indoors. Start those Starter Plants If you have the extra space, now is a good time to get some starter plants going, so they’ll be ready for transplant when the growing season begins. There are some convenient options available at … Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About Safe Herb Usage in Pregnancy

Many women use herbs during pregnancy in a supplemental way, as well as to prevent mild complications such as edema (swelling due to fluid retention). It is important to understand that the quality of your herbs depends on two things: Freshness and Source. The source of your herbs should be reliable, which involves doing research not only on the herb itself, but the manufacturer as well. Freshness is obvious: the fresher the herb, the better the quality. Which is why growing your own herbs is always the freshest option (and then you will also know the source). Here I would … Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy

There are two types of herbs when it comes to pregnancy: Those you can use, and those you can’t. Within the can-use category, herbs can be broken down by trimester. Some herbs are very safe for your entire pregnancy, and others shouldn’t be used until the third trimester. For a full comprehensive list you can visit your library or do an internet search, but I will touch on some of the more popular herbs here. Let’s start with the herbs you should AVOID, especially in early pregnancy. Many herbs should never be used during pregnancy. Those containing high quantities of … Continue reading →