The Biblical Herbal Welcome From Tamra......................................................................................................... 3 HolySchtick Mindset Change: Passing Over From Orthodox to Herbal Medicine.......................................................... 4 Herbs for Kids: Stop the Sneezing: How to Cope with Children’s Seasonal Allergies............................. 6 Aromatherapy: Three Common Essential Oil Myths............................................................................... 7 In The Garden: Growing and Using Artichoke, Cynara scolymus............................................................ 9 Medicinal Teas: Returning to the Old Paths............................................................................................ 11 Herbal Safety and Myth busting: An Overview of Herbal Safety....................................................................................... 12 Materia Medica: The Bitter Herbs of Passover – Horseradish................................................................ 15 Herbal Medicine Making and Formulating: Frankincense-A Gift from the Magi............................................................................... 18 Wildcrafting and Survival Herbalism: The Fine Art of Wildcrafting & Renewing Tradition in a modern World......................... 22 Herbs of The Bible: Hyssop.......................................................................................................................... 24 Herbs for Health Issues and Body Systems: Adaptogens and Tonics, Our Helpers for Such a Time as This .................................... 27 Women’s Wellness: Restoring The Use of Herbs and Midwifery ................................................................. 30 Recipes and Remedies: Allergy Relief Pastille Recipe........................................................................................ 33 Arnica Balm Recipe.......................................................................................................33 How to Make Prepared Horseradish ............................................................................ 34 Blue Hyssop Glycerite Recipe...................................................................................... 35
Disclaimer: The Biblical Herbal is committed to excellence, we in no way provide any guarantee of the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered in this magazine. All information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, treat, or prescribe, nor is it meant to replace a licensed physician or caregiver. Articles, art, photos, videos, media, found on the website or within The Biblical Herbal magazine are copyrighted. You may not copy, sell, or distribute them in downloadable or printed form outside of your family use. Publication of an article in this magazine does equal endorsement of the teachings, and doctrine of the author. Full Terms and Conditions can be found at: http://thebiblicalherbal.com/tos Advertise With Us: The Biblical Herbal E-Magazine offers a limited number of advertising spaces for businesses, and ministries that fit with our overall theme. Types of companies we will consider are herbal product companies, essential oils companies, health authors, homeschool health products, natural foods, herb schools, and exercise products. If you have a product not listed that you feel may benefit from advertising with us feel free to contact us. We do not accept multi level marketing companies. You can find our Media kit here: http://bit.ly/TBHMediaPack Affiliate Disclaimer The advertisements found in The Biblical Herbal for Bulk Herb Store and Herbal Academy of New England are affiliate links. I, Tamra Speakman earn a small portion of purchases you make via these links. This does not affect your price in anyway.
Copyright © The Biblical Herbal 2016
Publisher & Editor
Tamra Speakman, Biblical Herbalist admin@thebiblicalherbal.com www.thebiblicalherbal.com
Editorial Staff
Sara Davis, Christian Herbalist Sam Steffens, Herbalist & Midwife Karen Stephenson, Master Naturalist Chris Dalziel, Herbalist & Author
Development & Design
Richard Parker, Developer & Designer flyingfoxdev.com
Welcome From Tamra Shalom and welcome to the first electronic issue of The Biblical Herbal. As a believer and herbalist I see the rich herbal educational materials that are available however, there is very little available with a Biblical focus. As magazine publisher my heart's desire is to produce an herbal resource for the people of God that would start us on the path of restoration of ancient Biblical herbal ways. My personal faith is that of a Messianic gentile however, my desire is to produce a magazine that can be read and cherished by Jewish, gentile, Messianic, and Christian people alike. While we do not have an abundance of information on the early Biblical use of herbs for health, we do know that God created plants and herbs as provision for mankind. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. Psalm 104:14-15 (KJV)
At The Biblical Herbal our desire is to be a light to the people of God by restoring this knowledge of His healing herbs in creation. Bringing wellness deeply rooted in the word of God. The e-magazine will have articles to speak to the housewife and mom trying to care for her family, as well as for those who desire advanced academic and accurate knowledge of herbs. As we begin down this path, we start The Biblical Herbal as a quarterly downloadable pdf, with the vision of future expansion. The overall theme of the magazine is therefore Restoration. The quarterly magazine will also be loosely themed around the Biblical calendar and Holy days. For this first Spring issue our focus is deliverance, and Passover. As you read you will see that our contributors come from a multitude of denominations, herbal education, health backgrounds, and writings styles. Yet this diversity is brought together in unity with our common goal of sharing Biblical herbalism with others. I pray this first issue of The Biblical Herbal will open your eyes and heart to the beautiful world of God's herbal creation! Tamra Speakman, Biblical Herbalist and Publisher
"While the use of herbs in America has been overshadowed by dependence on modern medications the last 100 years, 75% of the world's population still rely primarily upon traditional healing practices, most of which is herbal medicine. " American Herbalist Guild- Herbal Medicine Fundamentals
3
HolySchtick Mindset Change
Passing Over From Orthodox to Herbal Medicine. By Tamra Speakman of Shatul Wellness
But I know that my Redeemer lives, that in the end he will rise on the dust; so that after my skin has been thus destroyed, then even without my flesh, I will see God. I will see him for myself, my eyes, not someone else’s, will behold him. My heart grows weak inside me! Job 19:25-27 (CJB)
As a teen, I decided to get out of school early and go to nursing school. I became a Licensed Vocational Nurse at age 18. Nursing was natural to me, and I felt I had found my calling. I worked in multiple clinical and home care environments for over 10 years until I became very ill. As more symptoms developed, I saw more specialists without receiving answers, or solutions. At the depths of my illness, I had over a dozen different chronic diagnoses including multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. I was on over 15 medications. I developed a severe gait and tremor disorder, and I could not walk without the assistance of a cane or wheelchair. I went long periods without leaving my home while spending the day laying on the couch. In the midst of all of this chronic illness, at age 33, I was diagnosed with cancer and given a 40% chance of survival with chemotherapy, radiation, and radiation implants. My mom had always shared with me a healthy lifestyle, and vitamins, therefore, it would have been natural for me to seek out alternative medications. However, already being overwhelmed financially, and physically, I chose to go forward with the doctor’s suggestions. After undergoing three months of intense cancer treatment the cancer was considered in remission and never returned. However my body was overwhelmed with this treatment. I began occupational and physical therapy to help heal and strengthen my muscles. Unfortunately, my body took a turn for the worse and I developed more symptoms, tremors, spasticity, and severe seizures daily. Through all of this illness, I did have a few good doctors and nurses but the majority of my experience with orthodox medicine was a tragic failure. The career I had so fallen in love with and felt at home in had failed me miserably. I was treated as if I was a disease instead of a person, I felt I received very little hope or respect. Through all of this, I felt assured that God promised me healing, which I prayed daily to receive. Nine years ago as I sat in my living room praying I experienced a healing miracle. Within six weeks I was off all medications, including seizure medication. That day was the last time I used a cane or wheelchair.
God had impressed upon my spirit that I was very weak and toxic, and the road to wellness had not ended yet. I knew that I needed to change my diet and lifestyle. Though I had always studied health, my studies became focused on alternative therapies. I went on a raw food diet for six months and then slowly added back in organic cooked foods including organic, and grass fed meats. I was able to determine foods that I did not tolerate and eliminate those from my diet. After a year, I began using herbal medicines to help restore my body and assist with my hormone imbalance from radiation-induced menopause. I then began official studies for herbalism and holistic wellness. Through all of this, I realized there was a better way to health. While I am not against using orthodox medicine when needed, I came to realize that we as the people of God, need to search out His creation to encourage our bodies to heal themselves naturally. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. Psalm 104:14-15 (KJV)
The beauty of herbalism and much of alternative medicine is that it works with the whole body, mind, and spirit to help bring about natural wellness. Instead of bombarding our bodies with medications, and treatments that can result in side effects, when used correctly, herbal medicine can safely bring restoration and nourishment. Like all of us, my body is not perfect, and because it has gone through a lot in it's 45 years I have to carefully care for myself. I do this using God's great creation, sunshine, movement, herbal medicine, and whole foods. However, the depth of illness I had in the past has never returned. I have remained medication free for all these years, and I do my best to only seek out care from naturopathic, chiropractic, or herbal medicine. I now share the herbal knowledge with others via consultations through Shatul and now with The Biblical Herbal E-Magazine.
Continued on next page... 4
Herbs of The Bible
Herbs of The Bible: Hyssop
By Karri Waller of Amazing Grace Wellness Connections
Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. Exodus 12:22(ESV) Hyssop must have been a very common
We, as Believers, all acknowledge the only way to be saved is by faith in our Savior, His ability to save us from our sins, through His sacrifice. Could this represent the washing of the above passage as we see in Rev. 7:14
There has been much division of opinions over the Biblical herb Hyssop. Hyssopus officinalis is a branching shrub belonging to Labiatae family, grown throughout Europe and the Middle East. But some feel this is not the same as the hyssop of the Bible. The wisdom of Solomon gives us some hint. 'He spoke of trees, from the cedar
So how does hyssop fit in? Aside from obvious cleansing, there is another consideration. Hyssop is a bitter herb, known for its acrid taste. This is the very reason to include it in this edition of The Biblical Herbal, with its theme of Passover. Bitter herbs were included in the instruction to the Hebrews concerning the keeping of His Passover. Exo. 12:8 (ESV) "They shall eat the flesh that night,
plant, easily obtained and abundant enough to supply each household so as to obey this command.
that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall’
in 1 Kings 4:33( ESV). While there are numerous herbs that grow on walls, it is commonly held that the wall spoken of here is the Western Wall, the only remaining part of the Temple in Jerusalem. Indeed there are pictures of this plant growing there even to this day! This makes total sense due to the voluminous amounts of the herb used in the practices conducted at this site, daily it would have been required and logic says that it would have been growing all around the area of the temple. However, others contend that the plant referred to here is Capparis spinosa which grows in abundance on the walls within Jerusalem and it is commonly found in dry, stony places as well as in deserts. Another opinion is that the Biblical hyssop comes from Origanum majorana, a kind of Marjoram.[1] To complicate matters, John in 19:29 (ESV) says, ‘so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. ’ From this
description, it is possible that none of the above mentioned plants fit as none of these would be tall enough to reach Christ on the cross.
For our purposes within this article, we are going to agree that the plant mentioned as hyssop is indeed the true form, Hyssopus officinalis. The LORD has extremely high standards for hygiene as laid down by the law in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). These were inscribed by Moses at the direction of God and were for the purposes of keeping His children both holy (separated) and healthy. Hyssop appears here in Lev. 14:4,6,49,51-52, Num. 19:6, 18 and Heb. 9:19 (which is found in the N.T.). And the classic verse "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow". Psalm 51:7 (ESV) also reflects the cleansing use of this
herb.
(ESV) "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. "
roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. " Might the hyssop in Psalms
represent the Word of God, our Bible?
We are kept holy (set apart) by observance of the Word, just as the children who painted blood over their doorposts with hyssop were. Not that we are saved by keeping/obeying the Word, but rather are kept holy by it. Set apart from the world and our own desires for sin. It shows us our sin, how it grieves our Father, and our absolute requirement to put it away. Bitter herbs make us pucker in the mouth, but once swallowed, they create an active, calm, and healthy digestive system. So while it is bitter on our tongue at first, as we swallow in humility, it becomes sweet as honey, cleansing and renewing us from within. The purging action of the Word represented by hyssop purifies us for the work He has prepared for us, before the foundation of the world. Eph. 1:4 It makes us a peculiar people. (see Titus 2:14 and 1Pet. 2:9) Another way the Word represented by Hyssop is bitter is through the tribulation, that we are warned we shall have. Though it is bitter to accept this reality we know that tribulation produces a Christlike character which cleanses us from within. Just as we see in Rev. 7:14 (ESV), they came through the great tribulation, we too shall have our tribulations. John 16:33 (ESV) "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. " Also, see Matt. 24:9. While at first this verse may
be bitter news, let us train our attention to the second half, He has overcome! That is the sweet hope that accompanies the bitter. See also Matt. 24:9 and Rom. 8:35. Christ gives us our justification and the Word gives us our sanctification, only then does the bitter become sweet. Continued on next page... 5
Blue Hyssop Glycerite Recipe by Heather Harris of The Homesteading Hippy Blue hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis, has a long Biblical history as a spiritual cleansing herb and was often used to cleanse the temple and other places of holy worship.[1] The flowers, leaves, and stems are used medicinally and in culinary recipes. The aerial parts are often harvested for tinctures or syrups, to flavor sauces and honeys, and have been used in salads. They can also be dried for later medicinal use. It has been said that German Herbalist Hildegaard of Bingen wrote, "hyssop cleanses the lungs and a meal of chicken cooked in hyssop and wine was the recommended treatment for depression". [2] Growing hyssop for yourself can be fairly simple. It just needs a dry, sunny location and can tolerate most soil types fairly well. Hyssop can be propagated from seeds, cuttings, or by dividing the roots. Direct sow the seeds 1/4" deep after danger of frost passed. Thin to 12 inches. Seedlings will need to be watered every few days, but the mature plants require little care. Leaves can be harvested at any time, and the plant should be cut back just after flowering to 4 inches. Save the flowers and dry for later use. [3]
Directions: Carefully measure the herbs by weight and place in a clean, dry jar with a tight fitting lid. It is important to measure the dried herbs by weight to ensure exact measurements in dosing. Add the glycerin and water. If using fresh herbs, be sure to muddle down in the jar. Store in a cool, dry place and shake often for 2-3 weeks. Drain all the plant matter and compost or discard. Label and date the glycerite with the dosage and store out of direct sunlight.
Blue Hyssop Glycerite Ingredients: 5 grams dried blue hyssop 3 grams dried lavender flowers 2 grams dried chamomile flowers 30 mL of menstruum-glycerin 20 mL of distilled water jar with a lid
1.The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). New York: Oxford University Press.Ex. 12:22, Lev 14:4,6,49,5152, Num 19:6,18, 1 Kings 4:33, Psalm 51:7, John 19:29, Heb 9:19
Use: This glycerite would be useful for helping both adults and children to relax, especially after a busy day, stressful times in your life or travel. This blend is also helpful for when you have a bit of chest congestion or coughing to help soothe symptoms. Dosage for this tincture for a healthy adult is 1-4 mL up to 3x daily. Children will need less than this, as the usual dosage for children begins at ½ mL 3x a day. It’s best to calculate this dosage based on the exact weight of the child. The dosage of 4 mL is for a 150 pound adult, so if your child weighs 75 pounds, Blue hyssop is often used for support during times of they would need ½ the adult dosage, or 2 mL daily. This stress or when you have respiratory issues, adding should not be used by those who are pregnant or may lavender and chamomile to your blend for further become pregnant, those who have epilepsy or are prone relaxation benefits would make a great glycerite. [4] Using a food grade glycerin in place of the alcohol would to seizures, or for those under the age of two. This can also cause minor stomach upsets, such as diarrhea. If be called a glycerite. This is usually made for those that occurs, discontinue use. If symptoms continue after opposed to alcohol or for children. Glycerin is just as stopping, please see a doctor. useful for extracting the “medicinal benefits” from the plants, but without the added concerns of alcohol. When Blue hyssop is a useful herb to have in your home you make a glycerite with dried herbs, you need to add apothecary, especially during the early Spring and Fall distilled water to help loosen and rehydrate the herbs. when colds seem to be on the rise, to help deal with chest Generally, you will use 60% glycerin and 40% water as a congestion and other related symptoms. When seasonal ratio for extraction. If the herb is fresh, you can use 100% business and stress arise, blue hyssop can come to your glycerin, but you will need to make sure to “muddle” or rescue. pound down the herb well in the mixture.
2. Castleman, M., & Hendler, S. S. (1991). The healing herbs: The ultimate guide to the curative power of nature's medicines. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press. 3. Hoffmann, D. (1998). The herbal handbook: A user's guide to medical herbalism. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press. 4.Hyssop Monograph. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2016, from http://herbarium.herbalacademyofne.com/
6
Q & A Time With The Herbalists "What does Biblical herbalism mean to you?" In the beginning (Bereshit) God created, then planted herbs and provided them for our wellness and nourishment. Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made and created to heal themselves. By using herbs we can assist the body to heal itself naturally and holistically. Biblical herbalism takes into account the mind, body, and spirit while applying sound herbal wisdom partnered with scripture. I believe herbalism to be the medicine God intended, and God to be our great Physician. Tamra Speakman, Biblical Herbalist Biblical Herbalism is a way to weave our Creator's gift of nature into the very fibers of our lives. It encourages us to look to the ancient paths, to find the good ways and to receive the health He so desires for us. Jer. 6:19, 3 John 1:2, 1Thess. 5:23, Psalm 103:3. Karri Waller, Clinical Master Herbalist Practicing Biblical Herbalism is a point of turning from man's wisdom to the enduring wisdom of God. He provided the herbs before man was even created, knowing the end from the beginning. It is about trusting Him and His provision, instead of leaning on the arm of the flesh. Trusting Him to supply every need and to lead and guide us in the way we should go. Sara Davis, Christian Herbalist
Biblical herbalism is trust. Trust that the Lord has a plan for my life which includes health. He desires us to live abundantly and healthy. I love the ancient ways and truly feel closer to Him as I seek His ways for good health. "The
Lord will guide you always: he will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age old foundations, you will be called Repairer Of Broken Walls and Restorer of Streets with Dwellings" Isaiah 58:11-12 (NIV)
Cyndi Sell, Herbalist
Bitter herbs help to stimulate digestive juices and support digestion. May your Passover be filled with joy and your plate be filled with bitter herbs!
7