The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies Warning: St John’s Wort interacts with a lot of modern medicines. It should not be taken by people already on an SSRI medication and may cause sun sensitivity to very fair-skinned people. It may interact with Warfarin, Digitoxin, and HIV medications. Do not take for 2 weeks prior to surgery. Check with your physician before using.
Recipes. St John’s Wort Tincture: Ingredients: St John’s Wort flowers and leaves, 80 proof grain alcohol or vodka, a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid. Loosely pack the flowers and leaves into the glass jar, filling it to the top. Add the alcohol to the jar, covering the flowers and leaves. Cap the jar tightly. Label. Add more alcohol as needed to replace evaporation. Shake
Stinging Nettle, Urtica dioica I love stinging nettle, though I know many who don’t due to its sting. It is nutritious, medicinal, and makes beautiful fiber. I even have a nettle shirt! Dock usually grows near it and can be used to take away the sting. It is in the Lamiaceae (Mint) Family.
Identification: Stinging nettle is a
the jar daily and allow it to steep for 4 to 6 weeks. Strain the herbs out. Cap the jar and keep it in a cool, dark cupboard. Take the tincture for a prolonged period as needed to cure chronic conditions.
St John’s Wort Infused Oil: Four ounces(112g) of fresh St. John’s Wort flowers and 2 cups organic olive oil. Mix the herbs and olive oil in a double boiler and place them over very low heat. Steep the oil and herbs for 2 to 3 hours, keeping the oil at a low simmer. Strain the oil and remove the herbs. Store your infused oil in a cool, dark cupboard. *St John’s wort oil works well on its own, however, it can be even more healing when mixed with other herbs. people blanch them in water to remove the sting before cooking and eating. Only eat stinging nettle leaves before the flowers appear. Beyond that time, they can cause internal irritation, especially of the urinary tract. The seeds are also edible. Dried nettle leaves and flowers make a nice herbal tea.
Medicinal Use: Nettle can be taken as a tea or tincture and is my number one go to for allergies.
Allergies (including Hay Fever): Stinging nettle tincture is my first recommendation for allergies as it usually completely alleviates the problem. I often recommend coupling it with local raw honey. It is an excellent anti-inflammatory.
perennial, growing from 3 to 8 feet (0.9m to 2.4m) tall. It is dioecious and herbaceous, dying back in the winter. The leaves are mostly oval or occasionally heart-shaped. The soft, green leaves are 1 to 4 inches (2.5 cm to 10 cm) long and are arranged oppositely on a square erect stem. The leaves have a serrated margin and cordate base. Both the leaves and stems are very hairy with non-stinging hairs and many stinging hairs. Numerous flowers appear June to September in dense inflorescences. They are greenish or brownish, growing in branched clusters. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants or branches. Stinging nettle is widely distributed, especially where the average annual rainfall is high. I find it in places with moist soil.
Edible Use: The leaves are edible. Stinging nettles have a flavor similar to mild spinach when cooked. I eat them raw by folding over the leaves but most 135
Arthritis, Gout Pain, and Inflammation: Stinging nettle treats arthritis, gout, and other inflammatory conditions. It suppresses inflammation, flushes toxins from the body, and helps reduce the pain of these conditions. It is used in Germany as a treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis and is thought to inhibit the cascade of inflammation. Externally, a compress made by soaking a cotton pad in nettle tincture and placing it over the painful joint is helpful. Stinging an area can also help restore and repair joint injuries and reestablish nerve communication. I have used it successfully to treat shoulder injuries.
Eczema and Skin Inflammations: Both the internal tincture and infusion of stinging nettle are useful for treating eczema and other skin inflammations.
