tangent
02-24-02, 20:54
Night Walker on AW wrote:
C-Rock,
I'm in (roughly) the same neck o' your woods, and have been working on learning about medicinal herbs for several years. Herbs are great, 'cause they're virtually all perennials, coming back year after year, saving on lots of replanting. They also come up first in spring, giving you optimism for the year ahead!
Biggest question: Are you, or someone in your household, willing to learn how to process the plant(s) in order to get to the "medical part"? This includes making tinctures, boiling down roots, grating / drying / dehydrating, making syrups, etc. To achieve a medical benefit from a lot of these plants, you don't just start gnawing on them (well, a couple you can, but not most)...
I say this as someone who basically planted a medicine chest, then realized I didn't know what to do with it (kind of like someone who purchased a year-supply of dehy food, then tries to actually use it one day, never having practiced...).
As far as the shaded areas go, both GINSENG (tonic) and WILD GINGER (colds, coughs, sore throat, fever, etc) are shade-loving (~75% or so), frequently found in forests. I purchased and planted roots for each several months ago, so this'll be my first season with them. We'll see how it goes...
For the moderate-to-full sun loving ones, heck... what'cha looking for? Hunkering down through an economic down-turn, SHTF scenario, weaning yourself(ves) off of over-the-counter? There's a lot which does well here, even with only moderate light.
ARNICA is a good one, used to reduce swelling and bruising. You hear it mentioned a lot in John Wayne movies... it was typically one of the first things planted in a homestead/frontier garden.
CARAWAY, aside from culinary uses, is a good digestive aid and stomach settler. If times are tough, and you're eating things you're not used to, or prepared in ways you're system is still adjusting to (bound to happen when TSHTF)... things like Caraway tea really help. Sounds like a little thing, but we're talking about retaining food and liquid. If also fighting illness, etc., it helps to NOT have your guts in a knot.
PEPPERMINT... same thing. I no longer reach for Tums, Roll-Aids, or any of those. A few drops of Peppermint Oil in a glass of water, and that heart-burn fire is OUT. Same for nausea. Make a great tea in the meantime.
CAYENNE... well, maybe not an herb, but still easy to grow and with medicinal value. externally, it is a good coagulant to stop bleeding from cuts, etc. Internally, a good system stimulant, helps keep a victim from going into shock, and warms you internally. (I'll vouch for that last one in a MAJOR way. During my military career, I spent a LOT of time in what were basically refrigerated spaces [to keep the electronics cool]; I took a cayenne capsule at the start of each shift, and never needed a sweater or jacker, while every one else froze. By the time I was transferred-out, over half the staff used them at least ocassionally!)
ALOE VERA... famous healing plant. Fresh leaves can be split and gel applied to treat minor burns, sunburn, wrinkles, insect bites, minor cuts, scratches, and skin irritations; juice is also used internally for ulcers. You'll need to bring it inside for the winters, but you'll also be able to keep using it as well. The "Old Geezer" contingent at my church swears by Aloe Vera juice as relief for arthritis. 2 oz of juice per day in a glass of juice. Won't cure you, but if your case is mild, it makes it almost go away, and if severe... well, you won't need as strong a prescription relief.
ECHINACEA: Loves it here in the midwest. A widely-recognized immune system stimulant, can be used as a general purpose "tonic" as well (part of practicing being healthy).
COMFREY: Grows very well here (about 4-5 ft tall, and 3-4 ft across!), in my 50% sun area. I'm using it as the morning-shade producer for my Ginger and Ginseng ( a wooden fence provides the afternoon shade). Here's a web-quote about it: "Comfreys are among the most important medicinal herbs. They contain allantoin, a hormone-like substance that stimulates cell division, making the comfreys valuable for healing wounds, ulcers and broken bones. Important fodder and green manure crop as well. Easy culture." The magic medicine travels through your skin, so we're talking poultices/packs here. When you're done with that, toss it on the compost and let it work for you again!
VALERIAN... natural sedative and relaxer. Becoming widely accepted as a natural sleep aid. Can also be used in conjunction with other pain relievers to relieve pain and migraines IF USED EARLY ENOUGH.
Etc., etc., etc! You make the call... do you want to stick with stuff you can gnaw on and requires no other prep? Will everything have to do "double-duty" and be culinary as well?
Sorry to so little response to your question, but maybe this can fire-up some additional comments & questions.
FYI... no, I'm not an Herbal Apothecary, medicine man, trainined medical professional, or any of those other professions you see on TV.
NW
Oops, almost missed your "where to buy them" question. Without a doubt, you want Richters!
Richters Herbs
http://www.richters.com/
C-Rock,
I'm in (roughly) the same neck o' your woods, and have been working on learning about medicinal herbs for several years. Herbs are great, 'cause they're virtually all perennials, coming back year after year, saving on lots of replanting. They also come up first in spring, giving you optimism for the year ahead!
Biggest question: Are you, or someone in your household, willing to learn how to process the plant(s) in order to get to the "medical part"? This includes making tinctures, boiling down roots, grating / drying / dehydrating, making syrups, etc. To achieve a medical benefit from a lot of these plants, you don't just start gnawing on them (well, a couple you can, but not most)...
I say this as someone who basically planted a medicine chest, then realized I didn't know what to do with it (kind of like someone who purchased a year-supply of dehy food, then tries to actually use it one day, never having practiced...).
As far as the shaded areas go, both GINSENG (tonic) and WILD GINGER (colds, coughs, sore throat, fever, etc) are shade-loving (~75% or so), frequently found in forests. I purchased and planted roots for each several months ago, so this'll be my first season with them. We'll see how it goes...
For the moderate-to-full sun loving ones, heck... what'cha looking for? Hunkering down through an economic down-turn, SHTF scenario, weaning yourself(ves) off of over-the-counter? There's a lot which does well here, even with only moderate light.
ARNICA is a good one, used to reduce swelling and bruising. You hear it mentioned a lot in John Wayne movies... it was typically one of the first things planted in a homestead/frontier garden.
CARAWAY, aside from culinary uses, is a good digestive aid and stomach settler. If times are tough, and you're eating things you're not used to, or prepared in ways you're system is still adjusting to (bound to happen when TSHTF)... things like Caraway tea really help. Sounds like a little thing, but we're talking about retaining food and liquid. If also fighting illness, etc., it helps to NOT have your guts in a knot.
PEPPERMINT... same thing. I no longer reach for Tums, Roll-Aids, or any of those. A few drops of Peppermint Oil in a glass of water, and that heart-burn fire is OUT. Same for nausea. Make a great tea in the meantime.
CAYENNE... well, maybe not an herb, but still easy to grow and with medicinal value. externally, it is a good coagulant to stop bleeding from cuts, etc. Internally, a good system stimulant, helps keep a victim from going into shock, and warms you internally. (I'll vouch for that last one in a MAJOR way. During my military career, I spent a LOT of time in what were basically refrigerated spaces [to keep the electronics cool]; I took a cayenne capsule at the start of each shift, and never needed a sweater or jacker, while every one else froze. By the time I was transferred-out, over half the staff used them at least ocassionally!)
ALOE VERA... famous healing plant. Fresh leaves can be split and gel applied to treat minor burns, sunburn, wrinkles, insect bites, minor cuts, scratches, and skin irritations; juice is also used internally for ulcers. You'll need to bring it inside for the winters, but you'll also be able to keep using it as well. The "Old Geezer" contingent at my church swears by Aloe Vera juice as relief for arthritis. 2 oz of juice per day in a glass of juice. Won't cure you, but if your case is mild, it makes it almost go away, and if severe... well, you won't need as strong a prescription relief.
ECHINACEA: Loves it here in the midwest. A widely-recognized immune system stimulant, can be used as a general purpose "tonic" as well (part of practicing being healthy).
COMFREY: Grows very well here (about 4-5 ft tall, and 3-4 ft across!), in my 50% sun area. I'm using it as the morning-shade producer for my Ginger and Ginseng ( a wooden fence provides the afternoon shade). Here's a web-quote about it: "Comfreys are among the most important medicinal herbs. They contain allantoin, a hormone-like substance that stimulates cell division, making the comfreys valuable for healing wounds, ulcers and broken bones. Important fodder and green manure crop as well. Easy culture." The magic medicine travels through your skin, so we're talking poultices/packs here. When you're done with that, toss it on the compost and let it work for you again!
VALERIAN... natural sedative and relaxer. Becoming widely accepted as a natural sleep aid. Can also be used in conjunction with other pain relievers to relieve pain and migraines IF USED EARLY ENOUGH.
Etc., etc., etc! You make the call... do you want to stick with stuff you can gnaw on and requires no other prep? Will everything have to do "double-duty" and be culinary as well?
Sorry to so little response to your question, but maybe this can fire-up some additional comments & questions.
FYI... no, I'm not an Herbal Apothecary, medicine man, trainined medical professional, or any of those other professions you see on TV.
NW
Oops, almost missed your "where to buy them" question. Without a doubt, you want Richters!
Richters Herbs
http://www.richters.com/