Herbs for health and Vitality

previously published in The Current

Beautiful Borage

People have relied on herbs since before records were kept, for medicine, first-aid relief, food and seasoning, dyes and skin care, as well as ceremony.  Toxic herbs have even been used in warfare.  We are surrounded by wild growing plants that have a myriad of uses, especially in more rural areas, but often found in urban settings as well.  If we look down, we might be surprised at what useful lowly herb is often growing just beneath our feet. “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” John Muir                 

The American Herb Society offers this declaration to ‘define’ the word herb “any plant that can be used for pleasure, fragrance or physic.”  Mother Earth News says that one of every four drugs sold over the counter had an origin in plant life. The list of herbs is long and many books can be found on the subject.  We can also seek the advice of herbalists, who have expertise in this field and can steer us to the right herb at the right time.  I have just such a new friend.  Pier Jones ordered some seeds from us, at dustbowlseed.com, recently and we began an email conversation about plants and herbs, which eventually led around to me hunting for chickweed in my yard.  It just so happens, that our yard is overflowing with chickweed, only surpassed by henbit.  Pier knew that chickweed, also known to some as starweed, would be growing now in this area.  Dr. Oz did a feature recently with a tea made from the dried leaves of chickweed, which is a mild diuretic, high in potassium, magnesium and said to be a cleansing tonic that will flush excess water and fat from the system.  The tea should be enjoyed in the afternoon, according to Dr. Oz and only one cup per day.  From what I’ve read, those with sensitivities to daisies should steer clear of this herb. Please consult your medical provider before adding any herb to your diet, especially if you are on other medications with which an herb may interfere.  You can find photos of chickweed online or in a field book that covers your region.  

I also recently identified another weed herb that Pier recommended called plantain, which is good for skin ailments.  Veteran wild food forager, Steve Brill, recommends eating the leaves of plantain, which are rich in calcium, in soup or as a salad,  while others tend to find the leaf bitter.  Plantain can also be steeped as a tea.  Many have heard by now of the health benefits of dandelion leaf, a good source of vitamins A, B complex, C and D, as well as minerals including iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium and zinc. Adding the greens to your recipes is thought to be good for the liver, kidneys and gallbladder. 

Chef Emeril Lagasse is said to be a fan of dandelion greens sauteed in olive oil with onion, garlic and a pinch of hot pepper flakes, and bacon would be a good addition according to many Southern or French chefs.  I tend to just add the greens to soups, especially a nice Tuscan broth-based soup with beans.

Another friend recently pointed out wild mullein growing all around my neighborhood in the vacant wooded lots and utility easement areas.  Mullein is a distinctively pretty plant with many names, such as Adam’s flannel, and velvet plant, for the soft leaves.  Mullein tea is commonly used for coughs and respiratory ailments, and also noted in tradition with uses, such as anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic,  anticancer, antioxidant, antiviral, bacteristat, cardio-depressant. It is easy to dry the leaves and the flowers, which are also often used as a dye for their nice yellow color.  Harvest the entire plant, when in bloom, in late summer, and dry for later use.  

Wild Mullein, young plant

Herbs in general can be found in several forms.  Liquid extracts and tinctures are found at your local health food store.  The active ingredient of the herb is extracted in an alcohol solution and stored in a small bottle with an eye dropper.  The drops can be taken by mouth directly or added to your beverage of choice to dilute.  Consult each herb label for guidance.  Herbs can be purchased in dried loose form and then steeped as tea, or the dried powder can be packed into capsules to swallow, but these often have a shorter shelf life than other forms.  Syrups and elixirs are made from herbal extracts and many find the sweetened version of the herb easier to swallow.  Pun intended.  The sweet syrups are often the most expensive form in which to purchase herbs.  As mentioned earlier, many herbs are free for the taking and grow wild, but do be careful to correctly identify a plant before ingesting and be aware of the surroundings. It is important that the area has not been treated with pesticide or herbicide for at least 3 years.

Sage leaves and blooms

We grow many herbs.  As luck would have it, they were the first plants I tried to garden and my confidence soared as typically, herbs are quite easy to grow, with few insect pests and few diseases compared to other summer garden items.  Lately, I have been craving sage, and have learned it is an anti-inflammatory, helps with hot flashes and night sweats if taken as a tea before bed.  Sage is high in vitamin A, calcium, iron and potassium, good for digestion, and is thought helpful to quell symptoms of seasonal allergies, but like many good things, best used in moderation.  Sage can be grown year round here in our zone and it is one tough plant, drought, heat and cold tolerant!  

Purple Coneflower aka Echinacea

Echinacea, also known as cone flower, is another commonly grown medicinal herb, which is said to stimulate the immune system, and aid in fighting cancer cells.  Patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation often use this herb to strengthen their own immune systems and increase white blood cells, with no toxic side effects.  People also traditionally take this herb to thwart viruses, bacteria and to regenerate cell connecting tissues damaged during an infection It is best to use organic products here,  of liquid extract form or powder from fresh plants, not dried roots leaves or flowers.  Doses recommended in my reading suggest 150 drops daily during flu, or one dropper full 3 times a day, and for prevention 10-25 drops daily. Please plant and grow your own Echinacea, as it is over-harvested in the wild and considered endangered.  Purple cone flowers are lovely and attract butterflies in the summer and finches in the fall, who dine on the seed heads.                

If you are looking for more information on herbal remedies, please seek out trusted websites, or books from the Library or your favorite book dealer.  One of the first books I encountered on herbs is Back to Eden, The Classical Guide to Herbal Medicine, Natural Foods, and Home Remedies written by Jethro Kloss.  Considered the herb Bible by many, this book was initially published in 1939 and has since been updated and expanded by his family, and is an extensive collection of knowledge and research.

For buying herbal extracts, teas and powders, try your local health food store or online trusted sources, and do email my friend Pier Jones who will send you a link to her pdf file of Potions by Pier, including a wide selection of Handmade herbals, herbal oils and salves, as well as tea blends, and Herbal syrups. You can email our friend Pier Jones at this address:  pier@simplynet.net. If you are a facebook user, also follow Pier's page A Year of Traditional Living.  Pier intends to soon offer classes on herbal identification, preparation, and application.

  I also highly recommend picking up a book for your own identification purposes, such as Peterson Field Guides, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke, for your region, so you can traipse around in the woods and your own yard, seeking out the herbal gifts that surround us. Gesundheit!