COUNTRY BASKETS & SPICES MONTHLY NEWSLETTER June / 2008 Number 4

Transcription

1 COUNTRY BASKETS & SPICES MONTHLY NEWSLETTER June / 2008 Number 4 Spring time Herbs This newsletter will be a little different. I took Trent a little ride on the 4 wheeler and we took some pictures of the flowering herbs I make use of to show what they look like in mid June. Since books and websites are loaded with information of these herbs, I won t waste time writing much. When possible I trust The School of Natural Healing early additions for herbal info. The current websites can write anything about any herb they desire to be able to sell and medical often writes many websites warning people to avoid herbs and their misinformation spreads into other websites as people start believing what they read on the internet.so the book I trust the most was the one Dr. John R. Christopher wrote and sadly not the current books that are available today. Trent recently turned 8 years old. He loves to ride 4 wheelers, play first basemen, defender for soccer, basketball, and trampoline and also takes tumbling classes. His pets are cats, turtles, a dog and goat named Sam. He has never been to a M.D., never been vaccinated, raised on home made distilled water and herbs and his favorite drink is pineapple juice. Yarrow is David Christopher s favorite herb used to aid in sweating / circulation. Our yard is loaded with it; very common. 1

2 Behind the house up on the hill I purposely didn t mow this year and allowed the Yarrow to mature. All of the white flowers are Yarrow Plants. 2

3 True Solomon s Seal While moving some dirt along a fence I noticed huge Solomon s seal plants in the tractor bucket; so I stopped and grabbed a few and their roots. These plants are 3x the size of the deep woods plants that receive very little light. These originally were deep woods plants until the trees were cleared for a driveway 12 years ago which allowed these plants to receive the setting sunshine. This herb is highly prized by those that live in areas where this herb does not grow. 3

4 In the deep woods these plants grow about knee high. These plants were never cared for and would be in what I call very poor soil, rocky and dry with lots of West sunlight. In the woods they prefer rich moist soil with very little light. It is strange how they will grow huge when subjected to sunlight and are known to do this you would think they would die in the sunlight and poor soil. 4

5 The Solomon s seal is blooming here in mid June. I am watching these plants in the woods because of the confusion over what they call False Solomon s Seal and True Solomon s Seal. The False is supposed to be of no value. The True Solomon s Seal is known to grow in my area and the False not common. I find the description of the 2 plants confusing based on several websites that seem to be confused. The herb companies often just sell Solomon s seal roots and make no distinction between the 2 plants. The False plant should not be in my area, but yet I have seen 2 different type plants growing side by side and if you didn t know any better you would suspect a male and a female plant, but these websites make no mention of such a thing but they all agree the True has dark toxic berries and the False as red berries. I am in no hurry and what herbal preparation I have made so far has worked better than great and both plants are said to be safe to use the roots; only the True species is said to have medical value while the False is suppose to have no health vale. When dealing with a new plant not found in the Dr. Christopher history I take my time doing my own investigation. 5

6 Hydrangea Flowers These bushes originated from my Grandmothers bushes that I got a start from 12 years ago. Commercially this great Kidney herb has been modified for different color flowers. I was glad to have a start from bushes that we knew were at least 60 years old and very original. This herb is known for its roots for the kidneys. I often experiment with leaves and flowers of certain plants even though you don t find such info in books. Often roots were used because that is the market that was created by the folks that started selling herbs. I suggest 99% of herbal use has never been experimented with nor does science know much about herb and human health connection. 6

7 St. John s Wort Flowers A highly prized herb in Germany that sells equally to Prozac. Not as common in the U.S.A. In our area it grows in poor soil and commonly 2-3 feet high, but I have seen plants as high as 5 feet tall. 7

8 The active ingredient is the red lines in the yellow flowers. It makes a red tincture that is very potent. Also known in times of the Knights; they would carry these flowers to stuff in their wounds made by sword or spears to stop the bleeding. In current times it is best known for depression. 8

9 One customer stayed in one of the cabins on the pond and picked a bunch of St. John s Wort and placed over the door to ward off evil spirits. I know of one person that used this plant and had amazing Spiritual enlightenment. With all herbs, many folk lore stories exist. 9

10 Elephant Garlic Over 40 years ago a man came home with Elephant Garlic and gave them to his son and told him to plant them and use to keep healthy. This Dad died that same night. The son now close to 100 years old has several acres of these plants that have spread on their own over his pasture lot behind his barn. 10 years ago he gave me a box full of these bulbs and I have had them ever since. Their seeds are like miniature garlic bulbs. I like this mild garlic because I know where the plants originate from. I use these for my garlic source in formulas such as the Heart Drops and Maximum Restore. 10

11 Horse Radish A fellow up at work gave me a start of Horse Radish about 10 years ago. It will spread around if you let it. These leaves are huge! Horse Radish is a very beneficial herb for Strep Throat and breathing. I enjoy horseradish sauce. 11

12 Wild Lettuce I don t normally use this herb, but Max the goat loves this stuff! I found out from watching Max, that goats don t really eat grass; they instead live on herbs or broad leaf plants. 12

13 Mints We like mints because they grow so easy and make great sun tea. On the left is Apple Mint and on the right and in right hand is what some call Melissa or Lemon Balm. My favorite that I use is Pepper Mint and not pictured this time. These mints have moved out into our yard and the air smells so good when I mow these mints. 13

14 Mullein We use this valuable herb allot. In such formulas as Air Restore! In June the plants are still small and later this summer they can be 7 feet tall. It is the flowers that you want and commercially the flowers are seldom available. These plants like poor dry soil and very common. 14

15 Mulberry A childhood favorite. Poor children will climb these trees everyday and fill their bellies. Birds live on these berries. I have wanted these berries for years and finally picked 5 gallons. Very common tree that can grow 40 feet tall. The tree I harvested from was over 40 feet tall and I got 5 gallons of berries from shaking one side of the tree. I have high hopes for this purple berry. 15

16 Dock (yellow) A most valuable herb. Known to aid the human body to assimilate and use Iron. The plant dries to a rust color and probably why it is said to aid in Iron. This is the key herb in the Iron Formula and Poison Ivy Formula and I suspect this may be one of the most valuable herbs in human health that few use today. This plant likes water and grows near ponds and creeks. 16

17 Red Clover Dr. John R. Christopher picked this herb as a little boy for a man that used it to cure cancers. A blood purifying herb and very common. 17

18 Burdock The Amish Healer likes this blood purifying herb and often ask to ad more to the formulas. Also the B & W burn ointment leaf used to cover burns. Very commons, one variety loves the sun and grows over 6 feet tall, while a woods variety likes the shade and grows about 2 feet high. 18

19 Virginia Snake Root 10 year old mature plant that I planted in an attempt to grow them. Known to be common in my area, but because they are so small, they are nearly impossible to find in the deep dark woods that they prefer. A dried pound of these is unheard of, obsolete in modern times. Many years ago they fetched over $75 for a pound and in the past few years I have never seen more than a couple ounces at one time and I estimate a dry pound today; if it could be acquired would cost over $2, This is the key herb in the Liver Itch Tonic and should be the most expensive formula on earth. 19

20 A close up of Virginia Snake Rt. Well cared for and highly valued. 20

21 Wild American Ginseng Almost hunted to extinction. Poor people 100 years ago walked the mountain of the USA East digging every plant they could find and the best ones were traded equally for Gold from China. There is very little market today, because the Chinese came to America and planted huge farms of Ginseng and ruined the market. Note the clump of plants in this picture. Each summer I cut the tops off of the plants in my area and cover the seeds with leaves. Here you see all those seeds coming up as a dozen plants. I cut the plants down because we still have people that walk hundreds of miles every summer stealing every Ginseng plant they can find; so right before season comes in, I cut the plants down so those walking through won t find them. In June they have not bloomed yet. A person such as myself that can find Ginseng can tell the different color of Green that it is verses all the other green plants A person can become highly addicted to hunting Ginseng. It is fun to find things. 21

22 Golden Seal (Poor mans Ginseng) A very highly prized herb that is protected in many states, but plentiful in my area. Note the berry that looks just like a red raspberry. Also called Golden thread this plant has many health benefits. A key herb in the Lower bowel Balance and one of the strongest anti-biotic herbs. This plant has a very distinct flavor, once you taste it, you will never forget it. A key herb also in the Liver itch Tonic formula, Kid E Well formula, etc Often mixed equally with Echinacea Rt. for colds for children and adults alike. 22

23 Close up picture of the berry. 23

24 May Apple May Apples grow right beside Golden Seal and their leaves look somewhat alive. In herbal history the May Apple has been used; but considered toxic by most. I don t do anything with this herb unless by special request. 24

25 Blood Rt. A huge Blood Rt. Plant. Very common plant that does have a male and female plant that only the Native Indians years ago recognized in cancer cures. I don t use this plant much and it is considered toxic when used wrong. 25

26 Solomon s Seal In the woods these plants don t get so tall. 26

27 Close up of the flower and hopefully the berries later on will be dark and not red. If they are red it is said to be False Solomon s Seal. 27

28 The odd one! This Solomon s Seal Plant had flowers on the end or tip of the plant, while all the others I have seen prior to this one have been bells hanging under the stem. So again, I am waiting to see what color seeds form on these plants; because there is too much conflicting information on the identification of True and False Solomon s Seal Plants. I at this point question their info and will judge for my self the value of this herb. 28

29 Stinging Nettles (deep woods) A very nasty plant that will sting your skin silly with the thousands of little needles they possess. Many herbs can be used as an antidote, but I find it better to just not touch them. These plants are ½ grown. 100% of this plant can be used from food to making clothing. Very common plant that al children eventually crosses paths with in the country woods. 29

30 Horse Tail Grass / Shave Grass Grows in sandy creeks and pond edges. Used in the Calcium Formulas and known for its plant silica content. Much conflicting website info on the names of this plant. Some call it Shave grass and others horsetail grass and they show 2 different plants based on what website you look at. 30

31 Close up of Horsetail Grass. Also called Bottle Brush. 31

32 Colts Foot (right) A very common creek herb and also likes flower beds. Spreads rapidly. I don t use this herb because some herbal history suggest it can be toxic. All the herbs pictured here are made fresh as an Herbal Tincture and also as a transdermal tophical spray. The sprays are then made in 3 degrees of strength. The herbs that may have some toxicity as noted won t be in stock unless someone else previously special ordered them. Blessings, The BAREFOOT Herbalist, M.H