Home Remedy Tip Of The Day: Cayenne Pepper For Sprains

Cayenne pepper is another must have herb to keep in the house at all times. It is useful for many things including, acid reflux-amazingly. Here is a simple home remedy to treat sprains.

•  Bring to a boil 1/4 cup of vinegar
• Add enough cayenne pepper to make a paste.
• Apply olive oil to the skin before applying this poultice.
• Spread the paste on a bandage and apply to the sprained area.
• Leave on for 2 hours.
• Rinse off any remaining pepper. 

This should relieve the pain and speed healing.

Bird Cakes

I found this recipe and wanted to share. I personally love the fact that I can make my own homemade little treat for the variety of birds I have hanging around my house. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 cups wild bird seed
• 5 cups corn meal
• 1 cup melted suet
• half of a cleaned out orange (optional)

1. Mix together peanut butter, wild bird seed, corn meal, melted suet.
2. Spoon into paper-lined muffin tins.
3. Add a string to the middle of each "muffin" in you plan to hang them up in trees.
4. Refrigerate until used.
5. Also another way to hang from a tree is to scoop out the half of an orange and put the filling inside the orange. 

Home Remedy Tip Of The Day: Vitamin Food For Your Pet

Today's tip is all about the pets. I know some pet owners who just feed their pets whatever they have for dinner...well this is not always so healthy. Here is a healthy and tasty dinner that your pet is sure to love and benefit from as well.

• Cook leftover turkey or chicken bones, or just cook 1 lb. of liver. 
• Add chopped onion, chopped celery, carrots, or almost any vegetable.
• Cook until the liver is done or the meat falls off the bones.
• Remove the bones from the liquid and reheat the broth.
• Stirring constantly, add white cornmeal to the mixture by the handful until the mixture is very thick. You will hardly be able to stir it.
• Pour into large pans that have been rinsed with cold water. 
• You can add garlic powder to the mixture if you like.
• Slice when cool.

 The animals love it! And it's full of healthy vitamins and nutrients!

Signature Of The Day: Skin Disorders

Cherry tree bark (resembles skin ulcers)

Fissures in the bark of certain trees are indicative of their use in certain skin disorders. Cherry, white birch, and elder are examples of trees with healing properties for skin ulcers and sores. Balsamic resinous exudations help to heal cuts and ulcers of the skin. 

Lichens growing on a rock (resembles psoriasis)

Moss, lichens, and molds are good choices when making preparations used to treat skin diseases (such as psoriasis) because these herbs resemble the appearance of these disorders.

Using Herbs

Using herbs for healing is important. When you take herbs, you allow nutrients to enter the body's system and that sometimes reduces the symptoms of some diseases. Herbs nourish, detoxify, and stimulate the system.
The stimulating herbs help to increase the production of enzymes and hormones. They can stimulate the kidneys, helping them to remove harmful toxins from the body. Some of the herbs attract the toxins to them and then the toxins are passed through the system and out of the body. Many herbs will kill invading organisms and bacteria.

-Todd

Signature Of The Day: Vines

Delairea Odorata

Herbs that are also vines are considered good to use in remedies for the blood system and the nervous system because they resemble them. The blood vessels and the nerve paths throughout the body call to mind the vines. Another way to check whether or not the herb will be useful for these disorders is to check the root system of the plant. If it has a vein-like root system, then the herb may be used to treat disorders dealing with the blood system or nervous disorders.

Home Remedy Tip Of The Day: Kid Approved Teas

Let's face it, it can be pretty darn difficult trying to get our kids to take medicine. So here are two recipes for teas I'm sure they will love!

Cinnamon Tea

This is really good to take during a cold, as will cause you to sweat. Cinnamon is a strong stimulant and this really works.

• Simmer 6 sticks of cinnamon in 2 cups of water for 30 minutes.
• Strain.
• Add milk and honey after removing the cinnamon sticks.

Tastes delicious and kids love it!

Rice Tea

This is another tea that kids and grownups both love.

• Simmer 1/2 cup of rice in 6 cups of water for 15 minutes.
• Strain.
• Add a few drops of vanilla flavoring and sugar.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon for extra flavor.
• Drink warm.

This settles an upset stomach quickly. This is really good to stop vomiting or diarrhea fast. Rice tea really soothes the stomach and helps the patient get needed rest. Tastes delicious and is very nutritious.

How To Make An Herbal Tincture

Tinctures are simple and fun to make. Basically, the process of making a tincture involves extracting the virtues of the plant into an alcohol solution, simultaneously making and preserving the medicine. Tinctures are often convenient where time constraints or bitter tastes hinder the use of a tea. People often use tinctures for pets, for children, when traveling, or when bedridden.

Different herbalists may suggest slightly different dosages for various tinctures, but one standard dosage for simple herbs that many follow is: 1 to 2 drops of 20 percent alcohol herb tincture for every 5 pounds of body weight, placed in an 8 oz. cup of water.

Materials 

• Pint-size glass jar and tight-fitting lid
• About 2 cups fresh plant material of your choice (should fill jar leaving one inch of headroom)
• 2 cups 80-proof vodka, brandy, or rum

Directions

Clean and sort through your freshly gathered plants. Discard any yellow, moldy, damaged, or rotten parts. Separate out the parts you will be tinturing-flowers, leaves, or other parts. Wash off muddy roots. You may chop the herbs to help open the cell walls to the alcohol. This speeds up the process, which is useful if you want to start using the tincture in one to two weeks.

Fill the glass jar with the plant material, leaving about 1 inch for 

headroom.

 

Completely cover the herb with vodka, brandy, or rum. Insert a butter knife into the jar and run it around the inside the jar to release any trapped air bubbles. Add more alcohol to cover. Put on the lid and shake vigorously for about 1 minute.

 

 

 

Label and date each tincture. If you have room on the label, not what the weather and seasonal conditions were when you gathered the herbs. This will help you identify and track the best gathering times for various herbs.
Place the jar in a dark place and let it sit for 3 to 6 weeks. Shake periodically, and check to make sure that the plant material remains covered with alcohol. Add alcohol as needed.

 

 

After 3 to 6 weeks have passed and the plant material looks pale, limp, and spent, strain and press the liquid through a piece of cheesecloth into a glass or stainless steel bowl or pitcher, leaving the plant material behind in the jar or on the cheesecloth.
Once you've poured out all the liquid, spoon out all the herbs onto the cheesecloth. Wrap the cheesecloth around the herbs, hold over the bowl or pitcher, and wring out any additional tincture.
 

Using a funnel, if desired, pour the tincture into a glass bottle of the appropriate size. Label, date, and store the bottle in a cool dark place.

If you don't get to the last three steps, that's okay. The alcohol will keep the plant preserved until you are ready to bottle.

Enjoy!

Here is a Skin Wash tincture recipe that may come in handy.

This is for external use only and can be made with rubbing or isopropyl alcohol, or with vinegar. Dilute to the standard dose with water and use as a topical application. Good for all manner of skin parasites, fungi, poison ivy rashes, impetigo, or other irritated, wet, itchy skin conditions.

• 2 parts black or white walnut leaf (antifungal and antiseptic)
• 1 part rose leaf (astringent)
• 1 part St. John's-wort blossom (promotes rapid healing)
• 1 part thyme leaf (antiseptic)

Medicine Story: How We Got Medicine

 How We Got Medicine-as told by Joyce A. Wardwell

When the world was young, the animals called a council. In those days, the beasts, birds, fishes, and insects could all understand each other. They and the people lived together in peace and friendship. But as time went on, the people increased so rapidly that they began to slaughter the larger creatures for their flesh or skin, while the smaller creatures were crushed.

  Otter, the diplomat, led the council and soon the animals agreed to go to war with the people. But how? Then Coyote spoke up. "I can speak into the people's village and find out what their weaknesses and strengths are." When he returned, he said, "What people have that we don't is a bow and arrow. If we had those tools, I know we could win."

  Beaver remembered there was an old yew tree in a forest the people had burned down years ago. He went and cut it and shaped it into a bow. Reed said they used her dried stalks for arrow shafts. Wild Turkey gave three of her best tail feathers. Flint dashed himself against some rocks under a waterfall to make a good arrowhead. The bow and arrow were all ready.

  "Hold on...somethings missing," said Snail, looking over the bow and arrow thoroughly. "This won't work." Then Coyote remembered about the bow string...he had seen the people twirl animal intestines to make the string. Well, you can imagine no one wanted to give up his intestines to make a string!

  Then Old Cat stepped forward. She said, "I have no teeth and can't hunt anymore. I haven't eaten for a longtime, and I'm tired. You can use my gut to help make the bow. I want to help, and it's really all I can do." Then she lay down and died. The animals thanked her for her gift. Her intestines made a strong and taut bowstring. But no one could pull the string.

  You see, all the animals walked on four legs, or six, or had wings. Suddenly Bear drew himself upright. "See, I can stand like man. Give me time to practice. I'll work the bow." A week went by and Bear returned to the council. He said, "The bow works fine, but my claws keep getting in the way. I know if we could just cut them off somehow, then I could aim the arrow and kill the people."

  "No, Bear!" Otter said. "If we cut off your claws, then you're no longer Bear. You can't climb a tree, fish, or grub for insects. You'll be no better than the people." And with that the council gave up, and was about to disband, when a small voice came out of the air.

  "Ho! We can help. We can kill all the people!"

  "Who are you? Where are you?"

  "Oh, you can't see us. We are the invisible ones. We are disease. And we surely can kill all of the people. But first everyone must agree."

  One by one all the beasts, all the fliers, the crawlers, the swimmers, the divers, all agreed to let disease kill the people. But when the plants were asked, they paused: "Wait. We've never really paid much attention to people. Let us watch them for a whole cycle of seasons. Come back in a year. Then we'll give you our answer."

  A year passed. The council was called and the plants said, " Wait. We have watched the people, and you know, in a year's time, their babies can't speak for themselves yet. Come back in twenty years when they have grown to adults. Then we'll give you our answer."

  Twenty years passed. The council was called and the plants said, "Wait. We have watched the people, and you know, in twenty years' time their hearts are still young. Come back in a hundred years when they have lived a whole lifetime. Then we'll give you an answer." The animals grumbled.  A hundred years from now, would there even be any animals left? But they had no choice.

  A hundred years passed. The council was called and the animals said, "No more delays. You must give your answer now, plants. Do we let disease got to war with the people or not?"

  "Yes, go ahead," said the plants. "Do your worst. Give the people disease. You are right-the people destroy too much. We won't stop you."

  "But," said the plants, "we did notice some people who are not like the rest. They show respect. They ask first, and they are careful. So we will help them. Anytime a person comes and asks us for help in a proper way, we will help."

  And that is how we got medicine.

*This story belongs to the Cherokee people. It was first recorded by James Mooney in 1890 in The Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees.

Make Your Own Pain Killer

1. Soak 1/2 tsp. of dried willow bark in 2 cups of cold water overnight. 
2. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Strain, cool, and bottle.
4. Dosage is 1/4 cup, to be sipped slowly as needed for pain.

It can be added to juices or teas if you wish. Often, people are surprised that it works so fast. It's not so surprising when you remember that willow served as our first aspirin. Willow contains salicylates and was used as a pain killer until 1853. It was then taken from folk medicine and mass produced by a German chemist. In 1893, another German chemist, working for the Bayer company, came up with the aspirin we now use. Aspirin's ingredients now come from coal tar and petroleum products. We use about 100,000 tons of aspirin a year worldwide and it has become a favorite to treat many disorders or discomforts. 

Home Remedy Tip Of The Day: Poison Ivy Treatment Using Buttermilk

Use this remedy after the rash has appeared. 

It helps stop the itching and soothes the area.

1. Mix equal parts of buttermilk, vinegar, and salt. 
2. Rub on the affected area.

 

Signature Of The Day: Herbs That Cling

Balm of Gilead

 Any herb that clings to itself is believed to cling to and help remove any hardened mucus of the inner systems. Any of the herbs that have a "sticking to" propensity are good to use in ridding the body of toxins and virus germs. Balm of Gilead is used in chest complaints because it has a sticky substance covering it. 

Coltsfoot

The ground-covering herbs are also considered good to use in ridding the body of hardened mucus. Examples of this are coltsfoot, sage, thyme, horehound, and mallow.

Home Remedy Tip Of The Day: Cough Syrup

Today's tip of the day will be a recipe for cherry cough syrup.

1. Place 2 cups of cherries in a pan and add just enough water to cover. 
2. Add several lemon slices and 2 cups of honey.
3. Simmer the mixture until cherries are soft.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Remove the lemon slices and the cherry pits from the mixture.
6. Refrigerate and take several tablespoons as needed for coughing.

Kids are sure to love this cough syrup better than over the counter cough syrup. Also good for treating gout as cherries are excellent for treating gout. If you are susceptible to gout, take it on a regular basis to prevent gout attacks.

E.

Signature Of The Day: Textures

Different textures indicate different uses.

Herbs that have a soft texture to them are useful for treating swollen or inflamed areas. They can also be used in so-called wet colds or any chest disorders. Horehound, mullein, and hollyhocks are good examples.

Herbs that have thorns or are prickly are used in disorders where there is sharp pain. Thistle is used as a tonic for all the organs. Hawthorn can be used as a tonic for the heart because it has sharp thorns and is indicative of sharp pains in the heart. Hawthorn is also considered a diuretic and that is helpful in any heart treatment. Wild prickly lettuce is used as a pain reliever and as a sedative. It has blossoms that may be white, yellow, or blue. The prickles are indicative of its usefulness in treating sharp pain.

The epidermal hairs of some of the plants are suggestive of their use in internal problems where there are sharp or stitching pains. Examples would be hops, nettle, and mullein.

Medicine Story-How Rose Got Her Thorns

   How Rose Got Her Thorns 

(As taken from The Herbal Home Remedy Book by Joyce A. Wardwell)

When the world was young, Rose had no thorns. Her stems were as smooth as a beetle's shell-and all the animals loved Rose. Rabbit loved Rose. He loved to nibble on her leaves. He could hardly wait until the new spring shoots burst forth. Rose's leaves were best when young and tender.

  Deer loved Rose. When the snows were deep, Deer browsed on Rose's twigs. And as the snow melted in the Maple Syrup Moon, Deer browsed Rose to the ground. But Rose was hardy. She grew back her roots.

  Mouse loved Rose. He loved to make his nests in her tangled shelter. He loved her bark. It kept his family fed through the winter. But the shoots that Mouse gnawed on died. Rose grew new shoots, but it took a lot of energy.

  Birds loved Rose. They loved to eat the seeds hidden in her fruity hips. They ate a lot to keep strong through the winter. Everyone loved Rose so much that soon there was hardly anything left of her. Her branches were broken, her roots chewed, her flowers fallen, and her seeds gone. She knew she was doomed.

  And when Nanaboozhoo (who is the son of the West Wind and a mortal woman) came to visit Rose, he was surprised to there were no flowers left. Rose cried out, "Won't you help me? They won't let me grow. They are going to kill me!"

  Nanaboozhoo went to the animals and begged them to leave Rose be, but the animals hesitated. How could they promise not to eat what was right in front of them or hide where there was shelter? Nanaboozhoo knew the animals were right, but it was clear that Rose's delightful flowers would disappear forever unless he intervened. So he told Rose, "I can't make the animals stop, but maybe I can help you protect yourself." He covered Rose with sharp thorns-everywhere but on her beautiful flowers. This is why Rose has thorns. She reminds us not to love her too well.

This story is recorded in Legends of Green Sky Hill by Louise J. Walker. Versions of this story are common among the Anishinaabe peoples of the Three Fires: Ojibway, Ottawa, and Potawatomi.

Guidelines For Gathering

First of all it's important to pay attention to how the day and season affect the plant you want to gather. Basically, you will want to gather plants when they are at their peak of potency, or fully ripe. 

• Leaves should be gathered when they are tender and showing new growth, either before the flower buds appear, or after seeding, when new fall growth appears.
• Flowers are usually best before full bloom, in the mid to late morning after the dew has dried.
• Seeds should be gathered when ripe and dry, but before they fall to the ground.
• Roots are gathered in the early spring or late fall. Since sap rises and falls with the sun, an ideal time to gather is in the early morning or late afternoon.
• Inner barks and saps are best gathered in the spring when the sap is flowing, before the leaf is full size. The inner bark is gathered from the limbs of the tree, not the trunk (which can kill the tree). Mid-afternoon of a warm sunny day on the south-facing side of the tree is best.
• Shoots can be gathered year-round, though spring is the preferred and most abundant time. Gather from stands that benefit from thinning.
• Plants gathered in the spring and late fall generally reach peak potency during cool-weather spells: Violet, rose hips, dandelion root, sun tuber, and cattail shoots are some examples.
• Plants gathered during summer and early fall usually need heat to develop fully and create essential oils. Gather these plants during hot spells: will carrot seed, St. John's-wort flower, chokecherry, sage leaf, and mullein flower.
• Try not to gather for a day or two after heavy rainfalls. Plants will soak up the excess moisture and lose potency.
• Likewise, try not to gather during a drought, as the plant cells are stressed and, again, not as potent.

Sometimes you will not be able to follow these guidelines 100 percent of the time.  That is okay. Allow yourself  the freedom to explore simple and safe plants during different times in their growth. 

Please visit www.naturallivingef.com for more tips on natural living.

Reference: The Herbal Home Remedy Book, Joyce A. Wardwell