Medicinal Plants

There are so many herbs that I will mention only a handful. There are excellent resources in learning more. Be creative with their uses and enjoy growing them if you have the space to do so, even if it's just a small kitchen garden. It can be very satisfying to grow your own herbs.

Aloe Vera
When the leaf is crushed or sliced it has a sap that can be applied as a poultice for chapped skin, dermatitis, eczema and burns. For small burns, break off a leaf segment and apply its sap to the burn. For large burns, split and open out a leaf: place sap against damaged skin and lightly bandage in place. Renew as necessary. *Always seek medical attention for serious burns.

Arnica
A great anti-inflammatory. Used only as homeopathy for sore muscles, sprains, bruises and after surgery. It can also come in oils, creams, ointments and extracts that are also used topically for sore muscles.

Bee Balm
Leaf can be infused as a tea to relieve nausea, flatulence, menstrual pain and insomnia.

Calendula
The flower is soothing, healing and can be used as an antiseptic. Use in ointments for leg ulcers, varicose veins, bedsores and bruises. Take in an infusion to aid digestion and promote bile production in the liver. Can be used as a mouthwash to sooth gums. Calendula oil is extracted from the petals by maceration. It is healing and rejuvenating, used in many skin preparations and in aromatherapy.

Chamomile
Infuse the flowers as a tea for a general tonic and sedative. Apply a compress to treat wounds and eczema. Use in a bath to relieve sun or wind burned skin.

Comfrey
Using the leaf, make an "oil" to use externally on skin irritations. Pick clean dry leaves and cut into 1-inch squares. Pack into a clean dark jar. Apply a screw-top lid, label and date. Store for two years; do not open. This results in a viscous amber liquid with some sediment. Decant "oil" into a smaller container. Use on eczema and other skin inflammations. Put fresh leaves in a poultice for rough skin, aching joints, sores, burns, cuts, sprains and to reduce swelling around fractures.

Echinacea
Use the roots and the aerial parts. It is used as an herbal antibiotic, and can combat all types of infections. It is a good immune stimulant, lymphatic tonic, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, wound healer. It is also found in capsules, tinctures ointments, creams and infusions.

Eucalyptus
The leaves provide an effective flea repellent. The oil is useful for catarrh, sore throats, bronchitis, indigestion, fevers and a s an inhalant, antiseptic, deodorant and stimulant. Apply, diluted, externally for burns, wounds and ulcers.

Ginger
The root is very warming and can stimulate the digestion and circulation. It is great for travel sickness and morning sickness. You can use it in cooking, use it in tea, tinctures, capsules and oils for massage.

Lady's Mantle
Decoct the leaf for a compress for healing wounds and reducing inflammation. Also, infused as a tea (green parts) to drink during pregnancy and for 10 days after giving birth to help womb contract, and to regulate monthly cycle. After the age of 40, drink infusion for 10 days each month to relieve menopausal discomfort. Also used as a mouth rinse after tooth extraction and for diarrhea.

Lavender
Infuse the flower as a tea to soothe headaches, calm nerves, ease flatulence, fainting and dizziness. Bath bags are just as affective. Or use the essential oil and place the drops in the bathwater. Especially to calm irritable children and place one drop on the temple for headache relief. Blend for use as massage oil in aromatherapy for throat infections, skin sores, inflammation, rheumatic aches, anxiety, insomnia and depression.

Lemon Balm
Place fresh leaves directly onto insect bites and sores, or apply in a poultice. Infuse as a tea for relief from chronic bronchial catarrh, feverish colds, headaches, and to calm and uplift tension.

Marshmallow
Infuse the root as a tea for coughs, diarrhea and insomnia. Add to ointment for burns. Put in a poultice for inflammations. Boil root; skim off the starchy byproduct on the water surface and use as a gentle soap for problem skins, including psoriasis.

Nettles
Young shoots are rich in vitamins and minerals; eat it in a salad, boil as a vegetable, or drink as an herbal tea. Use to make nettle beer. Infuse or decoct herb as a digestive, diuretic and astringent.

Peppermint
Infuse leaf as a tea to help digestion, colds and influenza. Sip cold tea for hiccups and flatulence. Macerate leaves in oil: then massage affected area for migraines and muscle aches.

Raspberry Leaf
Use the leaf in tea to help with cramps due to periods. Beneficial for pregnant woman as well. Relaxes uterine lining.

Rosemary
The leaf stimulates circulation and eases pain by increasing blood supply where applied. Aids in fat digestion. It is good for aching joints and rheumatic pains. Use as an antiseptic gargle and mouthwash.

St. John's Wart
The leaves make an interesting salad herb. Infused flower oil helps healing of bruises, wounds, varicose veins, ulcers and sunburn. Flowers have been infused as a pain-reducing sedative tea for anemia, rheumatism, headaches and nervous conditions. Can benefit some that have depression.

Skullcap
The whole plant is very effective as a soothing antispasmodic tonic and remedy for hysteria. Infuse powdered herb as a tea for premenstrual tension, rheumatism, neuralgia and severe hiccups. Great used as tea when you have a cold, it aids in sleeping through the night.

Lovejoy Harvest
Shakti Chionis, Reiki Master/Teacher
Whole Foods Chef and Culinary Artist
P.O. Box 864
Coupeville, WA 98239
shakti@lovejoyharvest.com
By appointment only....360-678-5657

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