These are not to be followed without consulting a trusted herbalist or person in your tribe experienced in handling herbs (elder, medicine person, midwife, healer, etc.). These are ONLY tips and helpful hints. Spiritwalker

The pictures used to create the backgrounds for many of the 'herbal' pages were obtained from:

thank you Karen Shelton, for making these available.

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Aromatherapy oils can be added to a small dish of water to

spread the scent into the air. These oils can also be added

to massage oils and applied to the skin in that manner. For

feelings of depression, use bergamot, lavender, and

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A warm bath before bed can be very relaxing, especially if

you add aromatherapy oils that help to promote sleep. Add

one drop each of cardamom, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and

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For tension and stress that interferes with sleep, a

blended tincture can be fast-acting. Mix tinctures of

Passiflora, skullcap, and valerian in an amber-colored

dropper bottle to keep by your bedside. Take four to six

drops to help you sleep with no drowsiness the next

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Several herbs are useful in helping bring down high fevers.

Keep in mind that fevers are your body's way of fighting an

infection, so in that way they are beneficial. However, you

want to be in control of your fever. Following is a list of

Consult a reputable herbal remedy book for your specific

illness. But consult your physician for any fever that

lasts more than a day or one that is excessively high.

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This plant is typically considered just a weed, with large

shiny leaves that have white veins and mauve or purplish

flowers that bloom in late summer and early fall. You can

plant thistle seeds in the spring in a sunny spot. Collect

the shoots and leaves in the spring and the seeds in the

summer. You can eat the leaves in salads or steam them

(after cutting off any sharp edges). The seeds you can

grind up to add to food, dry them for storage, or make a

Milk thistle is used to detoxify the liver. It's full of

antioxidants and a form of flavonoids and has been proven

in clinical studies to decrease some liver damage. Use up

to three cups of milk thistle tea per day. You can take

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Keep a special blend of herbal tea for after work, after

school, or for times of stress and tension, such as a blend

of hops, skullcap, valerian, and vervain. This blend will

also lull you to sleep on a sleepless night.

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Chemical medication is the most common treatment for an

under-active thyroid gland. Nutritional kelp will help to

nourish the thyroid, and the seaweed Fucus will help to

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After shampooing, use a diluted solution of conditioner, or

plain water, to which you've added one or two drops of

essential oil of rosemary and rose geranium. Rub into the

scalp and leave for 8-10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and

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Hay fever or ragweed allergy affects a large area of the

United States from mid-August until the first hard frost in

late fall. To boost the immune system, use boneset, blue

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Cold sores, or herpes simplex, can be very painful and an

outbreak may last up to two weeks. Look for a topical

ointment in your local health food store containing lemon

balm (Melissa officinalis) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza

glabra). Applying this ointment at the first sign of an

outbreak (burning, itching, or pain) may prevent a full

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The fruit of Chasteberry, or Vitex agnus castus, is used in

preparing an herbal remedy. Chasteberry can offer relief

form menstrual irregularity and PMS. Another benefit from

this herb is the treatment of scanty milk production in

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Studies have shown that Devil's Claw has anti-inflammatory

effects and relieves the pain of arthritis. Devil's Claw

also has analgesic effects and will relieve the pain of

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Elder flower is rich in the flavonoids quercetin and rutin,

and is a good source of antioxidants. Recent studies have

suggested using Elderin for treating chronic venous

insuffiency and lymphedema. Lymphatic channels in the body

can become obstructed from infection or after surgery (such

as the arm swelling after mastectomy). This swelling causes

pain and a breakdown of the skin. Elder will improve the

circulation and reduce the edema. Pour boiling water over

two teaspoons of dried Elder flowers, steep for five

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Evening primrose was traditionally used as an expectorant

for the upper respiratory tract. More recent studies on

evening primrose oil reveal its uses in relieving breast

soreness, PMS and arthritis. Preliminary studies also show

that evening primrose oil may benefit those suffering from

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Echinacea is our number-one-selling herbal remedy in

America. Interestingly, a Nebraska doctor first learned of

Echinacea's healing properties from local Native Americans.

In fact, by 1900, American drug companies were selling

Echinacea products to treat infections. When the first

synthetic antibiotic was introduced in the 1930s,

production of natural antibiotics all but stopped. However,

Echinacea remains just as useful today as it was in the

past to treat colds, flu, respiratory infections and

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Bilberry fruit has long been used in Germany to treat

diarrhea. Your local health food store should have a

variety of herbal products containing bilberry fruit.

Note: bilberry leaves have toxic effects and should not be

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Did you ever get one of those small splinters that you can

feel inside the skin but can't remove? If so, you should

try slippery elm bark (available in health-food stores).

You'll need the bark in powdered form, or you'll have to

powder it yourself. Add enough purified water to the bark

to make a poultice and place it over the splinter, keeping

it in place with a bandage for at least one-half hour. This

treatment can help coax the splinter out of your skin, and

it promotes healing of the damaged tissue. Continue this

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Cabbage, or any leafy green, can be used as a poultice to

draw toxins and impurities from a localized area of the

body. Chopped or ground white cabbage, or cooked and

slightly cooled cabbage can be applied to a boil to draw

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Powdered artichoke and artichoke-based products are used to

treat upset stomach, to protect the liver from toxins and

to cleanse the gallbladder. However, taken in large amounts

and/or taken continuously over a long period of time,

artichoke can decrease blood clotting time. For those on

anticoagulant drugs or with a blood clotting disorder,

limit your use of this product to the recommended dosage on

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Anise is useful in clearing congestion from the upper

respiratory tract. A tea can be made from the spice itself,

or you should be able to find anise essential oil. Sip warm

herbal tea as desired, or add four drops of anise essential

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Professional cooks often keep pots of culinary herbs inside

throughout the year. Remember that you can move some of

your more delicate herbs indoors to prolong their use. Use

care when you're digging up your herbs so you keep their

delicate roots intact. Repot into a clay pot that has

plenty of room for the roots and for fresh soil.

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Ginkgo is the best selling herbal medicine in Europe, with

annual sales of over half a million dollars each year.

Ginkgo, which has been around a long time, was used

medicinally in China more than 3,000 years ago. Today, it

is most often used to improve memory, blood circulation and

depression. Note: Avoid Ginkgo if you regularly take

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Incorrect information has been widely published on the

Internet claiming that Goldenseal will disguise drug

residues in urine, giving a false negative test on routine

drug screenings. If you're a recreational drug user, be

forewarned that taking Goldenseal before a drug test will

NOT keep you from failing an employer's drug screening

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Goldenseal, or Hydrastis canadensis, has been widely

studied. Laboratory trials as well as clinical studies have

shown that Goldenseal will prevent the growth of bacteria,

fungi and viruses. Note that the amount of the active

ingredient in Goldenseal tea might be too small to be of

help. Rely on a good brand (often found combined with

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Physicians in the Middle Ages knew that horse chestnut

extract would reduce the swelling of hemorrhoids. This

herbal remedy is still used for that purpose today, as well

as to reduce the swelling of varicose veins. In addition,

fluid extracts of horse chestnut were used to protect the

skin from sun exposure -- the first sun block!

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The fruit of the hops plant is called a "stobile" and is

the part used in medicinal herbalism. Hops are often used

for anxiety, insomnia and restlessness. Make a strong tea

from the hops and sip it before bedtime. This herbal remedy

is as effective as any sedative and does not produce a

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Hawthorn has been used as a heart remedy in America since

the early 1800's. Hawthorn is a cardiac tonic that

strengthens the heartbeat and eliminates irregular

heartbeats. The recommended daily dosage is 160-900 mg of

Hawthorn extract standardized to contain 4-30 mg of

flavonoids and 30-160 mg of oligomeric procyanidins.

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Contact dermatitis can develop after exposure to chemicals

and allergens like soaps, detergents, solvents,

preservatives and other chemicals. Try to limit or

eliminate exposure and use natural herbal remedies to

soothe the area. Make a very strong tea from Urtica,

rosemary, stellaria, burdock, and cleaver. Use a few or all

of these herbs, depending on what you can find. Apply the

cooled tea to the skin often with a cotton ball. If

desired, you can sip one cup of the tea 2 or 3 times a day.

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Edgar Cayce lived from 1877 until 1945 and left an amazing

legacy of healing information. His recipe for the treatment

of scars contains 2 ounces of camphorated oil, one half

teaspoon of dissolved lanolin and one ounce of peanut oil.

Check your local health food store or pharmacy for the

ingredients. Gently massage this mixture into scarred areas

(only after total closure of the skin, if youre treating a

new scar) twice a day to minimize or eliminate scar tissue.

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The name clary sage is an abbreviation of the name clear

eye sage. This herb was traditionally used as an eye rinse

by people who worked in mining to clear the dust and mucous

from their eyes. This herb can be used in soap making, and

its essential oils are relieving to menstrual cramps.

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Female hormone levels can be out of balance after taking

birth control pills, and herbal therapies offer a solution.

Mix one part each of black cohosh, chasteberry, licorice,

angelica sinensis, and motherwort. Make a strong tea, and

drink one cup up to three times a day for one week.

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A tried and true from Edgar Cayce involves the use of

Castor oil to eliminate warts and moles. Apply a small

amount of pure Castor oil (available in most pharmacies) to

the wart or mole twice a day, with very gentle massage. It

can take several weeks to resolve an old wart or mole, but

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Add one drop each of the aromatherapy oils cypress,

clarysage, geranium, Roman chamomile and bergamot to a

light massage oil. Gently massage this scented oil once a

day over the abdomen, hips and lower back. Start this

treatment on the last day of the menstrual period and

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Melissa aromatherapy oil is useful in regulating the

menstrual cycle. This aromatic oil is also uplifting and so

is helpful for mild depression that can accompany the

period. Use Melissa in bath water, or add a few drops to a

light massage oil for use over the abdomen, hips, and lower

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Oil of Oregano has a variety of uses from soothing the

lining of the digestive tract, to acting as a uterine

cleanser. It can soothe a cough or headache if taken

internally. Externally, it heals burns, irritated skin, and

relieves stiffness in the joints. Definitely an herb of

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Mullein, or Verbascum thapsus, is an example of another

plant whose flowers and root have very different uses.

Mullein flowers are used as an expectorant, diuretic and

sedative, and the roots are used to treat cramps and

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Marshmallow root, or Althaea officinalis, is used to treat

irritations of the mouth and throat. The leaves are used as

a tea, or prepared as a tincture for this purpose. Extracts

of the plant's roots are used for stomach upset, ulcers and

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Licorice, or Glycyrrhiza glabra, should be avoided by

pregnant and nursing women. There is some evidence that

licorice can cause low birth weight and coronary changes

for the developing baby. However, licorice is safe for men

and non-pregnant women to take. Herbal indications include

the treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers and respiratory

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Lemon Balm, or Melissa officinalis, has been used

effectively for stomach complaints and insomnia. The leaves

and flowering tops of the Lemon Balm plant are used

medicinally. They have an odor of lemon, and contain

citronella. New studies are considering Lemon Balm in the

treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis and one form of Lupus --

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Kava, or Piper methysticum, is effective in treating

depression, anxiety and insomnia. Preliminary studies show

some benefit in the treatment of epilepsy and stroke. Kava

is recommended at 100 mg per day for the conditions

mentioned above. Misuse of kava, i.e., taking it at much

higher than recommended doses over a long period of time,

can result in a scaly skin rash and discoloration of the

hair and nails. Discontinuing the kava resolves these

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Even a minor form of poor circulation can result in

painfully cold hands and feet, and extremities with

diminished blood flow. Make a tea with fresh grated ginger

and dried prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum). Brew for 10

minutes, and add a small amount of cayenne pepper, if

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One cause of indigestion, or dyspepsia, is holiday

overindulgence in food or drink. Make a tea with one

teaspoon of dried meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) per cup

of boiling water. Infuse for 10 minutes. Drink once or

twice a day before your next meal to sooth your digestive

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Juices pressed from fresh plant materials are rich in

phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals. They can be taken

by mouth in the same way as herbal tinctures- diluted in

water. Pressed juices can be added to a light lotion or

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Atrophy or wasting of muscle tissue can occur from a

variety of causes including inactivity, the wearing of a

cast due to fracture as well as certain disease states.

Astragalus herb is a general tonic for muscle tissue and

should be taken in standardized capsule or tincture form as

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