Your Guide To Herbs And Fruits Of Spring Pt. 2

G'morning my faithful readers; if this is the first time you are here, welcome! Today's post will finish up the reference chart for your Spring herbs and fruits. Have you went wild flower pickin' as of yet? I would love to hear you stories of where you found, what you found, while perusing the woods and wetlands. Something is wrong with my comment area, but if you highlight that area, you will see where to leave the comment.

~Peace~

Herbs and Fruits Of Spring

Cleavers (galium aparine)

Description: Scrambling, creeping member of the bedstraw family. Whorls of thin leaves and clusters of minute white flowers.

Habitat: Common throughout Europe and North America, especially on disturbed land. Parts used: Aerial parts (before flowering in spring)

Preparations: Infusion, as a steamed vegetable, juice.

Medicinal Action: Nourishing, lowers blood pressure, diuretic and generally detoxifying, tonic for lymphatic system and kidneys, use externally for dry skin conditions and for treating the effects of sunburn.

Active Ingredients: Iridoids, polyphenolic, acids, flavonoids.

Feverfew (tanacetum parthenium)

Description: Daisy like flower heads.

Habitat: Prefers sunny habitats.

Parts Used: Flowers, leaves

Preparations: Infusion, tincture

Medicinal Action: Analgesic, antimicrobial, carminative, and can be used as a purgative. For sinus or PMS headaches and migraine and treating rheumatic and arthritic pain.

Active Ingredients: Alpha pinene, parthenolide, camphor.

****Caution: Don't use with blood-thinning drugs****

Shepherd's Purse (capsella bursa-pastoris)

Description: Small annual herb with rosette of basal leaves and four-petalled white flowers, followed by heart-shaped seed pods.

Habitat: Weed of Europe and Asia. Arable weed in temperate regions.

Parts Used: All aerial parts.

Preparations: Infusion, tincture or salad herb

Medicinal Action: Anti-inflammatory, astringent and diuretic; stops bleeding in nosebleeds or after birth; helpful for treating cystitis and reducing high blood pressure.

Active Ingredients: Flavonoids, monoamines, acetylcoline.

****Safety Note: Don't take during pregnancy****

Parsley (petroselinum crispum)

Description: Green leaves and small white flowers.

Habitat: Native to Eastern Mediterranean.

Parts Used: Leaves, roots, seeds

Preparations: Salad herb, infusion decoction.

Medicinal Action: Diuretic, flushes waste, treats arthritis,, rheumatism, flatulence and cystitis.

Active Ingredients: Myristicin, apiole, flavonoids.

****Safety Note: Avoid the seeds if suffering from kidney disease****

Horsetail (equisetum arvense)

Description: Hardy perennial. Has no leaves-joints end with toothed sheaths.

Habitat: Chiefly distributed in temperate northern regions of Asia, Europe and North America. Hardy, will grow in almost any soil.

Parts Used: Stems, herb, ashes

Preparations: Tea, decoction

Medicinal Action: Enriches blood, helps to harden fingernails, revitalizes hair growth and thickness, removes white spots on nails, helps with kidney or bladder trouble, stops bleeding, heals wounds and reduces swelling of the eyelids.

Active Ingredients: Silicic acid, silicates, potassium, aluminum, manganese, fifteen types of flavonoids, saponins.

****Safety Note: Avoid during pregnancy****

Hawthorn (crataegus monogyna)

Description: Deciduous tree with creamy flowers and red berries.

Habitat: Temperate areas of Northern Hemisphere.

Parts Used: Flowers

Medicinal Action: Relaxant, antioxidant, for angina, irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure.

Active Ingredients:Triterpenoids, rutn, quercitin, proanthocyanins, polyphenols.

****Safety Note: Take only under medical supervision****

Willow (salix alba)

Description: Elegant deciduous tree with thin, tapering leaves, producing catkins in spring.

Habitat: Temperate areas of Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.

Parts Used: Bark

Preparations: Decoction, tincture

Medicinal Action: Astringent, analgesic with anti-inflammatory properties. Use to reduce fever in colds and flu. Excellent herb for reducing the effects of arthritic and rheumatic pain. Reduces hot flushes and night sweats during menopause.

Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, flavonoids and tannins

****Safety Note: Do not use if allergic to aspirin****

Betony (stachys officinalis)

Description: Perennial member of the mint family with toothed elliptical leaves and spikes of pink flowers.

Habitat: Meadows and heathlands on poor soils in Europe and Asia

Parts Used: Leaves and flowers

Preparations: Infusion, tincture.

Medicinal Action: Improves nerve function and memory; for headaches, stress, tension. Digestive tonic.

Active Ingredients: Stachydrine, betonicine, betaine, choline, tannins.

****Safety Note: Don't take during pregnancy****



Your Guide To Herbs And Fruits Of Spring

G'morning everyone...Well Spring is right around the corner, so I thought I would share with you the herbs and fruits of spring....there will be loads of information so again, this will be in parts, 2 I believe.

So without further ado.....

~Peace~

Herbs And Fruits Of Spring

Yarrow (achillea millefolium)

Description: Creeping perennial herb with small white flowers

Habitat: Waysides and meadows of Europe and North America

Parts Used: Aerial

Preparations: Infusion or tincture, compress, poultice

Medicinal Action: Is a digestive tonic and diuretic, encourages bile flow, stimulates circulation, treats hay fever, is an astringent and an antispasmodic.

Active Ingredients: Volatile oils, salicylic acid, sterols, alkaloids

****Safety Note: May cause allergic reactions in some people****

Elderflower (sambucus nigra)

Description: Deciduous shrubby tree, growing to a height of up to 30 ft. with heads of creamy white flowers in May; June and July, followed by purple berries in August and September.

Habitat: Grows commonly, but is especially abundant in hedgerows, woods, scrub and waste ground.

Parts Used: Flower Heads

Preparations: Infusions, lotions

Medicinal Action: The elderflower is an emollient, expectorant and diuretic; is anti-inflammatory; treats respiratory complains or feverish colds; and can be used externally for treating chapped hands.

Active Ingredients: Rutin, glycosides, phenolic acids, triterpenes

Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Description: Perennial herb. Inconspicuous flowers

Habitat: Widespread weed in wasteland or unshaded places.

Parts Used: New leaves flowering in spring, root

Preparations: Soups, vegetable, infusion, ointment, decoction.

Medicinal Action: Nourishing , anti-allegenic , anti-inflammatory. For hay fever, arthritis, eczema, gout and sprains.

Active Ingredients: Flavonoids, histamine, acetyl choline

Dandelion (taraxacium officinale)

Description: Perennial herb with deeply lobed leaves, hollow stem and yellow inflorescences. Large tap root .

Habitat: A widespread weed in temperate climates, thriving on disturbed ground.

Parts Used: Leaves and roots

Preparations: Leaves in salads, juice of leaves, infusions.

Medicinal Action: Diuretic, well known for its detoxifying and stimulating properties; a nutritious tonic ; stimulates kidneys, reduces  fluid retention and dissolves gall stones; can be applied externally for acne, psoriasis and eczema.

Active Ingredients: Bitter glycosides, carotenoids, minerals (iron, potassium), vitamins A, B, C and D

Cowslip (primula veris)

Description: Perennial herb white yellow bell-shaped flowers

Habitat: Ancient hay meadows, pastures on limy soil.

Parts Used: Flowers, leaves, root

Preparations: Infusion, tincture, ointment

Medicinal Action: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and sedative. For coughs, mucus, insomnia.

****Safety Note: Don't take if allergic to aspirin or if taking anticoagulants****

Lily Of The Valley (convallaria majalis)

Description: Perennial herb with pair of large elliptical leaves and inflorescences of fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers in May and June followed by red berries.

Habitat: Native to Western Europe and North America, confined to woodlands.

Parts Used: Leaves

Preparations: Tincture

Medicinal Action: Diuretic, heart tonic and can also be used as a prugative. Encourages regular heartbeat and improves blood flow to the heart and throughout the cardiovascular system.

Active Ingredients: Cardiac glycosides, including cardenolides and convallotoxin

****Safety Note: Use in small doses and only under medical supervision****

Greater Celandine (chelidonium majus)

Description: Bright yellow flowers

Habitat: Wood perennial

Parts Used: Aerial, latex

Preparations: Tincture, latex extract.

Medicinal Action: Anti-inflammatory, diuretic, liver stimulant and sedative; relaxes bronchial tubes and improves bile flow; treats warts, eczema, and ringworm.

Active Ingredients: Isoquinoline alkaloids

****Safety Note: Take only under medical supervision****



Your Go To Guide For Making Your Own Bach Flower Remedies Pt. 4

Happy Hump day all!

Today we are going to finish up the 4-part series on your wild flower reference chart for making up your own Bach Remedies...I hope you have enjoyed these posts. I would love to hear about your searches for these wild flowers....were you able to find any? Have you made any Remedies yet? I would love to know!~

~Peace~

Wild Flower Reference Chart

Centaury (centauarium erythraea)

Uses: One of the Twelve Healers. For weakness of will and compliance with others' wishes. Can help build your confidence if you have an inability to say no.

Type Of Plant: Small annual; grows in chalky areas

Flowering Time: All summer

How To Gather: Pick small clusters of flowers

Which Method: Sun

Willow (salix vitellina)

Uses: For bitterness and self-pity based on unhappiness with the way your life has gone. Willow can help you regain faith and optimism and forgive and forget past injustices. It can also make it easier for you to praise others and not begrudge them happiness.

Type Of Plant: A deciduous variety of the common white willow, salix alba

Flowering Time: Spring

How To Gather: Pick 6 in. stems with catkins and new leaves from many trees

Which Method: Boiling

Rock Rose (helianthemum nummularium)

Uses: One of the Twelve Healers. A constituent of the Rescue Remedy. To regain calmness in an emergency.

Type Of Plant: Low-growing perennial.

Flowering Time: Spring to late summer

How To Gather: Pick open flowers and float immediately.

Which Method: Sun

Agrimony (agrimonia eupatoria)

Uses: One of the Twelve Healers. Can help if you hide problems behind light-heartedness instead of facing up to a painful reality.

Type Of Plant: Perennial plant growing up to 3ft. in height

Flowering Time: Throughout summer.

How To Gather: Pick whole spikes above dead or faded flowers, where there are a few unopened buds above the opened flowers.

Which Method: Sun

***Caution: Avoid if you suffer from chronic constipation****

Clematis (clematis vitalba)

Uses: One of the Twelve Healers and a constituent of the Rescue Remedy. For people living in a fantasy world.

Type Of Plant: Perennial climber

Flowering Time: Summer and early autumn

How To Gather: Pick flowers separately by the stalks

Which Method: Sun

Walnut (juglans regia)

Uses: For protection from outside influences and the inability to sever old ties. Helps you remain on your chosen path during important changes in your life.

Type Of Plant: Deciduous 10 ft. tree

Flowering Time: Spring

How To Gather: Pick 6 in. stems of female flowers and new leaves (female flowers grow upright at the end of shoots).

Which Method: Boiling

***Caution: Do not give to children under two years or to people with nut allergies****

Rock Water (hydrogen dioxide)

Uses: For severeness toward oneself, self-denial and rigidity. For high but flexible ideals

Type Of Plant: Not a plant, but pure water from a natural well or spring , preferably with a reputation for healing and located in open air.

How To Obtain: Choose a still, sunny day and fill a glass bowl. Leave for three hours away from pollutants such as traffic.

Which Method: Sun

***Caution: Do not use water from wells dedicated to saints or within the grounds of a church, or mineral-rich spa water****

Beech (fagus sylvatica)

Uses: One of the Twelve Healers. Decreases intolerance for the differences perceived in others that often manifests itself as irritability and antisocial behavior. Can encourage a more accepting attitude toward people and cultures.

Type Of Plant: Large deciduous tree that is capable of growing to over 100 ft. in height.

Flowering Time: Spring

How To Gather: Pick young shoots that are 6 in. long, with newly opened leaves carrying both male and female flowers. The male flowers hang in clusters, whereas the female flowers are covered in scales and later develop into covers for beech nuts.

Which Method: Boiling

White Chestnut (aesculus hippocastanum)

Uses: To clear a mind of unwanted thoughts that distract from the present. Clears your mind and gets your thinking under control.

Type Of Plant: Large deciduous tree growing to 100 ft in height

Flowering Time: Summer

How To Gather: Pick male and female flowers from the same stem.

Which Method: Sun

****Caution: Do not use leaf buds as these are used in the Chestnut Bud Remedy****