Herbal History, Folk Medicine Traditional Remedies
Traditional Remedies, comprises knowledge systems that developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine.
Herbs are remarkable plants, with a rich and fascinating history that dates back thousands of years. The first official record of medicinal plants, set down on papyrus scrolls and parchments, bear witness to our ancestors brave experimentation with herbs that might either kill or cure. Records surviving from ancient Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations dating from before 2500 BC, show how well acquainted these races were with the medicinal properties of herbs.
Generations of practicing herbalists, our grandmothers, great grandmothers and the generations of wise women before them, built up an admirable corpus of herbal knowledge. It was handed down over generations by word of mouth, especially in rural areas where herbs were indispensable, not only for curing ailments, but also for such household tasks as preserving food, dyeing cloth, and repelling fleas.
What natural remedies did your parents, grand-parents or great-grandparents give to you. What are your memories with these remedies?
Have you ever used, onions, potatoes, carrots, garlic, pine sap, sage, rosemary, thyme, bacon fat, castor oil for any ailments?
Remember the Scarborough Fair? Simon and Garfunkel had a song Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. Theses four powerful and tasty herbs used for culinary flavor have holistic healing properties.
Parsley: a kidney and liver tonic, as well as a digestive, and a tea is helpful for bladder problems, rheumatism and flatulence. Parsley is a highly nutritious herb. Is a rich source of Vitamin C containing more by volume than an orange, contains iron, calcium and vitamins A and B.
Sage: Sage was seldom used in cooking until the sixteenth century. Strengthens the digestive system, calming, use for nervous headaches and excitability, soothing for sore throats, antiseptic and antibacterial. Culpeper recommended a hot sage infusion for an inflamed throat and hoariness, and a gargle of sage mixed with a little vinegar and honey is particularly effective. In feverish conditions, sage is very cooling , use it for colds and for easing hot flushes during the menopause. Sage leaves rubbed on the teeth will deodorize the mouth and strengthen the gums. In Roman times they made a strong infusions to darken the hair.
Rosemary: Hair tonic, improves the mind and memory, recommended for headaches, the oil is an old remedy for gout, and muscular aches and pains. The active ingredient of the celebrated Hungary Water that restored life to Queen Elizabeth of Hungary's paralyzed limbs. The fifteenth century, people burnt rosemary branches in their homes to protect themselves from the black death and in World War II rosemary and juniper were burnt in French hospitals to limit the spread of infection. Sleep with a sprig of Rosemary under your pillow and you will have sweet dreams.
Thyme: cleansing or fumigate, to inspire courage, sprigs of the herb were burned indoors to cleanse the air. Antibacterial, antispasmodic which makes it an effective remedy for sore throats, irritable coughs, and bronchitis. Used as a mouthwash it is helpful for gum infections.
Sage Pesto:
Basil is not the only herb that you can use to make pesto.
There are so many varieties of pesto that you can make. Lately we have been making a nettle pesto,a wild greens pesto (the wild greens were dandelion, plantain and yellow dock), and today I made sage pesto. The sage pesto was incredibly awesome. I added the sage pesto to our pasta and eggs.
For the garlic I used 3 garlic scallions and for the cheese I used raw organic cheddar.
Anyone up for a challenge? I would like to challenge you and your taste buds in making this wonderful recipe.
This is a great recipe for a healthy, healing herb paste. Sage dominates the flavor of this pungent, strong pesto. You can use less sage fi you find it overpowering. If you would like to add more healing nutrients try adding fresh wild herbs such as dandelion greens, chickweed, and plantain.
Recipe from Rosemary Gladstar's book: Medicinal Herbs, a beginners guide
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves and stems
1/2 cup parsley
1/4 to 1/2 cup fresh sage leaves, first time making it try the 1/4 cup version and if you would like it stronger than next time add more
3 cloves garlic
3/4 to 1 cup olive oil
1/4 to 1/2 cup sunflower seeds or walnuts or a mix
1/4 cup raw cheese (optional)
Freshly ground black pepper and sea salt
To make:
Combine the herbs, garlic and olive oil in a blender or food processor and pulse until creamy. Mix in the nuts or seeds and cheese (if using) and salt and pepper ot taste.
To use:
Serve on toast or crackers, pasta, steamed grains, omelets, vegetables or organic meat.
Other Ways To Enjoy Herbs:
Herb vinegar's, herb honey, oxymels, syrups, spice mixes, fresh herbs, herb oils, dried herbs, sauces, teas, infusions, decoctions, facial steams, soaks, herb baths, skin care, soaps, shampoos, herbal air fresheners, herbal disinfectants, potpourri, insect repellents, herb pillows, and pomme d'ambre (traditional hung with cloths to ward of moths).
Honey:
Human use of honey is traced to some 8000 years ago as depicted by Stone Age paintings. Honey has been used to treat wounds, burns, cataracts, skin ulcers and diarrhoea. The medicinal property of honey has been described in the Bible, the Quran and the Torah. The first documentation of the use of honey in wound management was by the Egyptians in 2000 BC. The Egyptians have used honey as a beauty cream and also for embalming the dead. In Ayurvedic medicine, honey has been described as the nectar of life. It has been used widely to treat various diseases. In the early 20th century, various reports have documented the use of honey in burns and have confirmed the advantages of using this natural remedy for wounds.
. Also it has been emphasized that the use of honey is highly beneficial in the treatment of irritating cough, lung and respiratory issues, weak digestion, eye ailments (such as cataracts), skin disorders (wounds and burns). Used at one time to help heal infected wounds.
Honey: Contains several amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, it is anti-bacterial, anti- inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-fungal
Hippocrates, the great Greek scientist, prescribed a simple diet, favouring honey given as oxymel (vinegar and honey) for pain, hydromel (water and honey) for thirst, and a mixture of honey, water and various medicinal substances for acute fevers. Also he utilized honey for baldness, contraception, wound healing, laxative action, cough and sore throat, eye diseases, topical antisepsis, prevention and treatment of scars.
Honey For Healing Wounds:
The Russians used honey in World War I to prevent wound infection and to accelerate wound healing. The Germans combined cod liver oil and honey to treat ulcers, burns, fistulas and boils. Nearly all types of wounds like abrasion, abscess, amputation, bed sores /decubitus ulcers, burns, chill blains, burst abdominal wound, cracked nipples, fistulas, diabetic, malignant, leprosy, traumatic, cervical, varicose and sickle cell ulcers, septic wounds, surgical wound or wounds of abdominal wall and perineum are found to be responsive to honey therapy. Application of honey as wound dressing leads to stimulation of healing process and rapidly clears the infection. Honey has cleansing action on wounds, stimulates tissue regeneration and reduces inflammation.
Honey Recipes:
Honey Onion Syrup:
A delicious remedy for colds, flu's sore throats, and coughs. Great for children and adults.
Ingredients:
one large onion
1-2 cups honey
Optional Ingredients: few cloves of chopped garlic or some fresh grated ginger
How to make:
Cut onion in half, then cut into very thin discs,
In a medium sized saucepan add onion and optional ingredients. Add enough honey to lightly cover all of the cut items. cook over low heat for 30 minutes(do not boil), until onions get juicy and soft.. Place in a glass jar and cover with lid and lable. No need to strain.
This will store in the refrigerator for several weeks.
Take by teaspoons when you feel a cold or flu coming on, Soothes coughs and boosts immune system. You can eat the onions in the syrup.
Horseradish Honey Syrup for Cough:
Horseradish syrup quells coughs and soothes a sore throat; grate a small piece of horseradish into a small saucepan. Squeeze the pulp over the pan to extract additional juice. Add a little honey and enough water just to cover the pulp; boil for 5 min. let the pulp cool, and then squeeze the pulp again to catch any additional juice; discard the pulp. Mix the horseradish juice with enough honey to make a palatable syrup. Take up to 5 tbsp. of the syrup a day.
Elderberry Syrup
1/2 cup fresh grated organic ginger root
1/2 cup fresh grated organic horseradish root
1 medium organic onion, chopped
10 cloves of organic garlic, crushed or chopped
2 organic jalapeno peppers, chopped
organic apple cider vinegar
raw local honey
Optional Ingredients: have fun and play with your recipe!
Zest and juice from 1 organic lemon
Several sprigs of fresh organic rosemary or 2 tbsp of dried rosemary leaves
1 tbsp organic turmeric powder
1/4 tsp organic cayenne powder
Thyme, sage, burdock root, dandelion root, whole hot chili peppers, beets, parsley, peppercorns, oregano, astragalus, schisandra berries, rosehips, star anise, lime, lemon or grapefruit peels or juice.
Directions
Chop and grate all your ingredients and place them in a quart sized jar. Use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal, or a plastic lid if you have one. LABEL
Shake well!
Store in a dark, cool place for 4 weeks and remember to shake daily.
Four weeks later: use cheesecloth to strain out the pulp, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze as much of the liquid goodness as you can from the pulp while straining.
Add 1/4 cup of honey or less and stir until incorporated. Taste your cider and add more honey until you reach the desired sweetness.
The Plague -Thieves Vinegar:
http://wellnessmama.com/2610/vinegar-four-thieves-health-tonic/
http://nourishedkitchen.com/four-thieves-vinegar-recipe/
http://mountainroseblog.com/four-thieves-vinegar/
Ingredients
2 tbsp chopped fresh lavender flowers
2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
2 tbsp chopped fresh sage
2 tbsp chopped fresh marjoram
2 tbsp chopped fresh anise hyssop
6 cloves garlic chopped
1 quart white wine or apple cider vinegar
Directions:
Place the herbs in a pint jar and fill to the top with gently warmed apple cider vinegar.
Don't boil the vinegar, just heat it on low for a few minutes until it reaches the temperature of warm bath water. This helps get the extraction process going.
Close with a plastic lid or place a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal.
Strain in four weeks into a clean glass jar. LABEL and refrigerate. Enjoy! .
The first pioneers suffered many times with Cholera and some died:
What is Cholera:
http://www.naturalremedies.org/cholera/
http://natureheals.info/health/dysentery.html
Remedies For Cholera:
Most used clay, green, bentonite, montmorilanite,. Historically the dose has been 2 tablespoons in a glass of water taken three times a day to adsorb (bacteria clings to it and is forced out of the body). Historical records suggest that mortality rates went from 60% without it to 3% using clay.
Historical Uses Of Clay:
http://draxe.com/10-bentonite-clay-benefits-uses/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904249/
http://wellnessmama.com/5915/benefits-of-bentonite-clay/
Activated Charcoal
http://naturalsociety.com/health-benefits-of-activated-charcoal-medicine-detox/
Another possible avenue that seems to be effective is activated charcoal which, when in a pinch can be made in a toaster or over a fire by burning the bread and scraping off the black stuff. Use 2 tablespoons in water 3 times a day, much like clay. Use what you have, it may be life saving.
Other herbs useful for this are:
Strong tea of 1 tablespoon herbs to 8 ounces water may be taken 3 times a day. Use your choice or combo of Red raspberry leaf, blackberry leaf, White oak bark, and Sage leaf.
To settle the stomach, use astringent herbs which stop diarrhea and strengthen digestion (Chamomile and Sage).
More on water borne illnesses:
http://www.herbalprepper.com/the-herbal-prepper-live-ep-13-digestive-system-part-2/
Liniments:
TEA:
SALVES OR BALMS:
