The latin name Rosemarinus means “dew of the sea”. The wild rosemary plant flourishes along cliffs, on rocky shores, and by the sea. Rosemary is a shrubby herb with short, evergreen leaves which are dark on the top and pale on the bottom. The flowers are small and light blue, and are usually considered the most medicinally valuable part of the plant, though the stems and leaves are useable as well. Rosemary has a strong scent reminiscent of camphor and pine.

HEALING

Headache: A bit of fresh or dried rosemary can be added to a lavendar, chamomile, linden, or peppermint tea to make a wonderful drink for soothing a headache. Read the rest of this entry »

The common marigold, or calendula as it is often called, is a flowering plant with pale green leaves and golden orange petals.

HEALING

Skin: An ointment made of marigold petals may be used to soothe and moisturise chapped hands. An infusion of the flowers may also be used in a bath to reduce scars and varicose veins. Calendula (marigold) lotion is also useful to heal painful lesions caused by eczema.

Inflammation: Dip a hand towel in a strong marigold tisane combined with apple cider vinegar. Apply this to the inflammation. Read the rest of this entry »

Ginger roots creep and spread around underground, while a stalk spikes up bearing narrow leaves and a white or yellow flower. What color your ginger root is depends on where you obtained it, but most store-bought ginger is called black (scalded and unpeeled) or white (peeled). The flowers are quite fragrant, but the root is the only part having any real medicinal use.

HEALING

Stomach: Ginger is every herbalist’s favorite for calming tummy turmoil. Stomach aches, menstrual cramps, morning sickness, and heartburn can all be soothed with a cup of ginger. It can also be excellent for soothing motion sickness, in fact, it may be more powerful for this purpose than familiar medications such as Dramamine. Use 1500-2000 mg for this purpose. Read the rest of this entry »

Comfrey is a leafy plants, its long stem and large leaves are rough and hairy all over. They are not generally pleasant to touch and make the fingers itch. The flowers grow in clusters and are either pale yellow or purple.

HEALING

Bruises and Breaks: Bruised comfrey roots can be places on fresh cuts and wounds, resulting in a quicker healing process. Comfrey has long been favored in ointment form to quickly heal any sores, bruises, cuts, wounds, and abrasions. A salve made of the fresh herb helps heal and reconnect broken tissue and bones. It has long been revered as the “cure” for a broken bone. Read the rest of this entry »

The common chamomile plant is low-growing and “creeping”, with clusters of flowers and leaves reaching about 12 inches in height. The stems branch freely and have a fuzzy surface. The flowers bear some similarities to the daisy, with white petals and a yellow center.

HEALING

Stomach: A chamomile tisane can be made for digestion, stomach spasms, gas, and stomach aches. Add one or two tablespoons of chamomile flowers to a cup of boiling water and drink slowly, 1/2 a cup at a time. When you make this tisane (tea) remember that you should always let the tea brew in a covered container or else the steam escapes, along with the medicinal value of the flowers. Read the rest of this entry »

Cayenne peppers grow on a shrubby plant with long, red fruit and little, flat seeds.

HEALING

Cold and Flu: You can make a gargle from a few grains of cayenne powder added to a cup of water to help fight symptoms of winter sicknesses, especially a sore throat. Here is a wonderful recipe for preventing the fly and staving off symptoms in people who’ve already caught it:

Antiflu Preparation

• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 1½ teaspoons sea salt or common salt
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar

Grind together the cayenne pepper and salt to form a paste. Add boiling water (or some strong, strained chamomile tea). Steep and cool. Add the vinegar to the water. Most adults can take between a teaspoon to a tablespoon every half hour. If it seems too strong, dilute it. Read the rest of this entry »

There are many varieties of apples, all of them having some medicinal and cooking purposes. To list them here would be futile effort, as nearly everyone is familiar with the apple and has a personal favorite. Of the apple trees, perhaps the most beautiful is the crab-apple tree. When in bloom (which unfortunately lasts only a short time), the blossoms are pink and very lovely. They resemble cherry blossoms.

HEALING

To eat an apple going to bed
Will make the doctor beg his bread

Digestion: The malic and tartaric acids in the apple can be attributed to most of the apple’s medicinal properties. Read the rest of this entry »

UPDATED June 2000:

I think my perspective on this topic has changed greatly since I wrote this article a year ago. Perhaps those beliefs that have been so ground into our minds, which we hold so dear, may not have as strong a basis in reality as we think. Anyway, I feel differently about drugs than I did when I wrote this. Drug abuse is a horrible and scary thing. But making every drug out to be instantly evil is a false snap judgement. So, I will leave this article so you may still read it, until I have time to write a new one. But keep in mind I have opened my mind to other possibilities, and hope this does not serve to prevent you from doing so, as well. Read the rest of this entry »