Herbalism

How To Grow Your Own Antibacterial Bandages

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“If you don’t have any of this important medicinal plant growing around your home yet, get some. If you can’t find any plants locally, buy some seeds and grow them yourself. It’s super easy, and much cheaper that way anyways.” The Prepper Project

Lamb's Wool
Lamb’s Wool

As I work on turning this one acre homestead into a self-sustaining Garden of Eden, I have two requirements for every single plant I consider putting in the ground: they must be either edible or medicinal. Preferably both.

Why? Because frankly I don’t have money or space to waste on frivolous landscaping. Everything from the plants to the animals must have a purpose.

More and more people are beginning to see the benefit of having a garden and growing your own food, but growing your own medicine could be equally as vital to your well being. What would you do if you couldn’t get the medical supplies or help you needed for a very long time? How would you manage?

As I plan my medicinal garden, I choose what to grow by studying different medical emergency scenarios and learning which plants I would be able to use if it ever came down to that.

One day as I was doctoring up one of my kiddos, the thought crossed my mind, “What if I couldn’t get any more of these band-aids? What could I use?” This question prompted me to delve into my herbal books and scour the internet for an answer. And I found a good one. Wooly Lamb’s Ear.

It’s one of my favorites because it’s medicinal AND edible.

A Natural Antibacterial Bandage

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5 Native American Survival Medicines Secretly Made At Home

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“Many of these beneficial herbs are easy to grow in the home garden and make an attractive and practical addition to any landscape.” ~S. Patterson

If someone told you that your backyard may contain plants that could boost your immune system, improve your eyesight, relieve your upset stomach and help you fall asleep, would you believe them? Most people take for granted the fact that their yard, neighborhood or favorite spot in the woods are full of vegetation with therapeutic value.

However, Native Americans were quick to realize the value in plants. They have been practicing herbal therapy for thousands of years. Some believe that native medicine may be as old as 40,000 years old, although there was no early written language and nothing was documented until the Europeans arrived at the end of the 15th century.

According to oral traditions, Native Americans watched sick animals and learned how to apply various herbs for certain conditions. It was they who shared their knowledge of medicinal herbs with new settlers. We should be grateful for the information and knowledge which they imparted.

Hundreds of herbs and plants were used in Native American remedies — many of which we value today for their potent healing properties. Below are just 5 such plants that deserve recognition for not only their beauty but also their functionality.

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Plant_sage
Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Native to countries around the Mediterranean Sea, sage is held sacred by a number of Native-American Indians mostly due to its purifying capabilities. It is thought to cleanse the body and mind of negative energy and improve function of the stomach, liver, colon, lungs and skin. From the Latin word “salvere,” Salvia officinalis means “to be saved.”

New “Survival Herb Bank” Gives You Access to God’s Amazing Medicine Chest

Sage is a member of the mint family, was recognized as Herb of the Year in 2011 by the International Herb Association, is an excellent source of vitamin K, contains volatile oils, flavonoids and rosmarinic acid, and is loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

Although well-known for its culinary strengths, modern research indicates that sage has a very broad range of medicinal applications including regulating blood sugar and reducing blood pressure. This gray herb is about 2.5 inches long and produces flowers that are purple, white, blue or pink. It has a wonderfully fresh fragrance and is often used as an ingredient in personal care products. Sage is loaded with antioxidants and also contains anti-inflammatory properties.

Wild cherry bark

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Easily Make Your Own Herbal Tinctures And Save Money

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Natural Society  July 15 2013

Herbs can be used as preventative tonics or healing medicinal remedies. Traditional healing disciplines used herbs exclusively, now western alternative medicine is undergoing a renascence with traditional herbalism. So it’s a good idea to learn not only about the herbs themselves, but also how to use them in various healing methods – such as herbal tinctures.

Some consider the bio-availability of herbs extracted in tinctures superior to teas and decoctions. Maybe so, maybe not. But one thing’s for sure, store bought tinctures are pricey. Even one ounce bottles go from ten to twenty U.S. dollars, depending on the herb type and quality.

But you can make your own large volume tinctures easily and cheaply for long term cost efficient use with high quality ingredients of your choice. Thanks to the alcohol content, a large batch can last forever without losing potency.

This way you can avoid supplement price increases and dodge the threat of minimizing herbal availability from the Medical Mafia and Big Brother. This is already occurring in Europe, Canada, and Australia under the expanding terms of Codex Alimentarius enforcement.

Here’s How to Make Your Own Tinctures

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5 Herbal Remedies To Quell A Cough

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Natural Society June 4 2013

What may start out as a tickle in your throat could end up being a hacking, annoying, sleep-stealing cough. And while the drug store likely has an entire aisle full of syrups and pills that offer a quick fix, few of them really work and even fewer do without side effects. Fortunately, there are several herbal remedies that can help stifle your cough, soothe your throat, and keep irritation to a minimum.

A cough is a symptom of an irritated throat. The cause could be any number of things. Common causes of a cough include: allergies, flu or cold virus, sinus infection, sinus drainage, or a chronic condition like bronchitis or emphysema. While you may need alternate herbs to get to the source of the cough, several can soothe the symptom.

Here are 5 herbs you can use for cough relief.

5 Herbs for a Cough

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Calendula Plant Benefits: Grow Your Own Medicine

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Natural Society | January 29 2013

Calendula officinalis is a plant most often used to brighten up a garden or flower bed. It’s a popular choice because it’s pretty and is super easy to grow. But, what many people don’t know is that their pretty garden-addition is a valuable herbal remedy.

Calendula, also known as “pot marigolds” are usually a bright golden color. It is often mistaken for “common marigold” or Mexican marigold, which are very different and are members of the Tagetes genus. They don’t offer the same medicinal benefits as calendula, so it’s crucial when looking for the herbal remedy that you know what you are after.

The flowers of Calendula have been used for centuries for a variety of ailments and health problems. Some of those benefits include:

  • Wound healing
  • Burn soothing
  • Immune boosting
  • Collagen regeneration
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Liver, gallbladder, and uterine tonic
  • Anti-fungal
  • Rash soothing
  • Calming scrapes, cuts, bites, and other minor wounds
  • General skincare

Calendula officinalis also has antimicrobial, antiviral, and astringent properties, and is a go-to skin treatment for many herbalists.

“Calendula is such a soothing and calming skin herb when used topically,” says herbalist Dawn Marie Dillon of Breathless Beauty. “I use Calendula in every baby soap and salve I make.”

Making Calendula Oil

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