Astragalus membranaceus Benefits Contents

Astragalus membranaceus Benefits Contents:

    Astragalus is a herbaceous definite flower of the pea family and is most commonly used for defense enhancement. Most analysis on astragalus has targeted on its immunostimulatory action and its apparently amazing ability to recover the action of a under control defense mechanisms. Scientific analysis as well as medicinal data offer proof for its effectiveness in the avoidance of the common cold and as an adjunct to cancer treatments. It is may be useful as a supporting therapy during rays therapy, radiotherapy and defense

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium

Some difficult category notices about yarrow:

  Tending the stand: This plant is a sturdy definite that is challenging to remove. In the grass, if you mow Yarrow it will blossom under the trimmer rotor blades. These appears do not need looking after. If you are at too little of a take a position for your needs, keep strolling and keep the relax for fallow.

Harvesting: Collect in plant and collect the whole blooming leads. You will not harm the vegetation you harvest, they will develop right back. You can also

Works Consulted and Suggested Reading:

Works Consulted and  Suggested Reading:

    For more detailed information on plant identification, harvesting methods, medicine making, and herbal specifics I highly recommend all of the following books .

Healing Herbs eBook by Rosalee de la Forêt
Making Plant Medicine, Richo Cech
Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs, Gail Faith Edwards
A Kid’s Herb Book, Leslie Tierra
Healing with the Herbs of Life, Leslie Tierra
The Earthwise Herbal, Volume 1, Matthew Wood
Medicinal Plants of the Pacific Coast, Michael Moore
The Herbal Medicine – Maker’s Handbook, James Green
Medical Herbalism, David Hoffman
Healing Wise, Susun Weed
Herbal Medicine, Sharol Tilgner
Herbal Antibiotics, Stephen Harrod Buhner

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium):
   Yarrow is a beautiful and incredibly useful plant that grows practically everywhere. I tell hikers and other avid outdoors people that if they only knew one plant, yarrow should be it.

    My first introduction to yarrow was quite dramatic. While out camping, a friend sliced open her hand quite deeply and it started to profusely flow with blood. After sitting her down and raising her hand above her  heart, yarrow was picked fresh and place on the wound. Within seconds it stopped bleeding. Later at the emergency room the doctor was at first annoyed with the “dirty” plant material that was place in the wound, but then amazed as he realized how deep the cut was, and how very little

Wild Rose (Rosa spp.)

Wild Rose (Rosa spp.):
   Roses hold a certain mystical history. Their exotic beauty and alluring smell combined with the prickly thorns have enthralled humans for thousand of years. Roses have been found entombed with the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, and were highly prized by the Greeks and Romans. Josephine, Napoleon’s wife, adored them and is responsible for many of the hybrids we have today. In modern times most roses are grown primarily for their beauty, but historically roses have been an important food source as well as

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis):Valerian is a commonly used herb and is a shining example of why we need to consider plant energetics and individual constitutions as opposed to the “this herb for this condition” mentality. But before we talk about herbal energetics let’s learn a little about this aromatic plant. Valerian grows readily in gardens and in the wilderness of North America. If you’ve ever been around fresh valerian roots you’ll probably never forget that smell.
   Some despise it, likening it to gym socks that haven’t been washed in months. Others, like myself, adore the smell, pungent and vibrant. The smell of the roots

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum):
    St. John’s Wort blooms around the summer solstice, bursting forth sunburst flowers. I was amazed the first time I squeezed the flowers between my fingers to see a purple stain left behind. Another trick of St. John’s      

     Wort is the perforated leaves, which you can see when held up to the light of the sun. These tiny holes are the oil glands. All around this is a magical plant that is such a joy to work with. I like to harvest the flowering tips of St. John’s Wort, which includes

Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva)

Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva):
     Elm trees have a long history of use in North America. In her fabulous book Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs Gail Faith Edwards gives numerous examples of indigenous uses of this helpful tree.
    The inner bark of the slippery elm tree is incredibly mucilaginous, offering many healing abilities due to its demulcent and emollient qualities. It can be used internally to soothe a sore throat, help expel stuck mucous in the lungs, and soothe inflammation of mucous membranes such as ulcers and colitis.

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense):
    Red Clover is another wonderfully healing plant that grows commonly as a “weed.” Its vibrant soft fluffy flowers are a delight to harvest, each one delicately popping off the stem. I like to harvest the flowers when they are at their peak, which is usually June in my region. I infuse them in alcohol and vinegar while they are fresh. I let them wilt for 24 hours before infusing them in oil, and I dry them for later use in infusions.
   Drying red clover can be a little tricky. The first time I harvested them was on an organic farm. They were popping up as volunteers

Plantain (Plantago spp.)

Plantain (Plantago spp.):

      Plantain was my introductory herb into herbalism. I was taking my first herbal class on salves and lip balms from who would later be my long-term mentor, Karen Sherwood. During class she talked about this amazing plant that could topically draw out serious  infections and poisons. I kept thinking she was talking about  plantain the fruit.
      When I asked she laughed good naturedly and took me outside to her driveway. I was so amazed that a weed could be so helpful. I had never noticed plantain

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) :

  Peppermint is one of the strongest acting members of the mint family, yet is still safe for the general population. As an aromatic digestant that is also an anodyne, peppermint is able to soothe indigestion and relieve gas as well as alleviate pain associated with these digestive complaints. I like to harvest peppermint just before or just as it is flowering. 

    I leave at least six inches above the ground, so that more growth will sprout that growing season. The stems and leaves can be used

Oats (Avena sativa, A. fatua)

Oats (Avena sativa, A. fatua) 

     Most of us are familiar with oats as they have at some time or another graced the breakfast table in the form of warm oatmeal. Some people are also familiar with oats’ emollient qualities and have used them in the bath or as a facial scrub. Today it’s commonly used to soothe rashes, skin irritations, and even chicken pox.
    Besides using the oats themselves, herbalists traditionally use the

Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Nettle (Urtica dioica):
Stinging nettle is a gently acting nourishing herb that is powerfully healing for many complaints. David Hoffman famously says, “When in doubt, give nettles.” Indeed if I were to take one plant with me to a deserted island, nettle would be it!
Stinging nettle was one of the first plants I ever got to know. Unlike many people I was fortunate enough to learn of its more redeeming qualities before I knew of the sting it’s capable of. Now, I know that spring has finally arrived when nettle adorns our dinner table whether it is fresh cooked greens, a fresh nettle soup, or nettle ale.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis):Lemon balm is a highly aromatic plant that is easy to grow in your garden. Like many mints it has a variety of uses and is generally safe for all ages. It also tastes wonderful, making it an easy remedy to get down picky throats.
Children seeking comfort from the pain of teething can use lemon balm as a tea or can chew on a washcloth soaked in tea.
Like many mints it is an aromatic digestant that can be used for indigestion, gas, bloating, and other digestive complaints.
Lemon balm is antiviral and a relaxing diaphoretic, making it an

Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha):

Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha):
  Hawthorn trees have a long history of medicinal use in many cultures. Traditional Chinese Medicine has documented use of hawthorns for thousands of years. Europeans used them not only for food and medicine, but also pruned them into shrubs to mark boundary lines. In North America, Natives in the Pacific Northwest used the berries as medicine and food and made a variety of different tools using the long thorns found on the tree.
  The berries have been traditionally used in western herbalism, but the leaves and blossoms have a long history of use as well.

     The berries ripen in the late summer to fall and are anywhere

Ginger (Zingiberis officinalis)

Ginger (Zingiberis officinalis) :  Ginger, like garlic, is a popular culinary herb with lots of medicinal benefits. It originally comes to us from Asia, and most of the ginger found in North America is grown in Jamaica. Fresh ginger is warming, while dried ginger is hot. Because of this we use them for different purposes, with more caution being used with dried ginger, as it is more heating. The following information pertains more to fresh ginger than dried.
  Quality ginger is firm and vibrant looking. If ginger at your store is wrinkled or soft, request that fresher ginger be made available. You can peel the papery white sheath that covers the ginger by scraping

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic (Allium sativum):
  Garlic is a tremendously powerful herb that most of us have a steady access to. It is always found at the local grocery store and, with the increasing popularity of farmer’s markets, heirloom varieties can often be bought locally, which results in even more medicinal qualities.
  Garlic is another herb whose use can be dated back to the Ancient Egyptians and has been used extensively since then. The Romans used it abundantly and Italy today is still well known for its garlic loving recipes.
   Hippocrates used it for a variety of ailments and in medieval

Elder (Sambucus spp.)

Elder (Sambucus spp.):
Elder shrubs dripping with their heavy load of berries in the fall, or shining with their starry flowers in the early summer, are a welcome sight. This bountiful shrub contains potent medicine that even tastes good!
All species of the elder with blue and black berries can be used interchangeably. Common species found in North America include Sambucis nigra. S. canadensis, and S mexicana. The red berry

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia, E.pallida)

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia, E.pallida) :

Echinacea is native to North America and its use was gleaned from Native healers. Now it is an herbal sensation, being one of a handful of medicinal herbs known by the general public. This has been bad news for native stands of Echinacea that have been wiped out by unscrupulous wildcrafters. Currently there is a plea to stop gathering this plant from the wild, and instead to cultivate it yourself or from a respected herbal grower.
There are several species of Echinacea that can  be used: E. angustifolia, E.purpurea, and E. pallida. Dr.
Sharol Tilgner says all three are interchangeable, although E. angustifolia can last longer after it’s been dried.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) :

  Volumes could be written on the many uses of dandelion –indeed they have been! This common weed is often hated and poisoned by those preferring a “weed free” lawn, while those of us in love with dandelion and its many uses happily support it taking over our lawns.
  This plant was purposefully brought to North America by Europeans not wanting to leave this valuable resource behind. Every part of the dandelion can be used as food or medicine, making back door herbalism simple and easy, as it should be. When the first spring

Comfrey (Symphytum officinalis)

Comfrey (Symphytum officinalis)

   Comfrey is an incredibly important ally for herbalists. Its cell proliferating abilities can heal connective tissue surprisingly fast, resulting in a much quicker healing time for wounds, sprains, and broken bones. It heals so quickly that it is often cautioned against applying comfrey to deep or infected wounds because it will heal the outer skin before the deeper wound. This is why we only apply comfrey externally to clean and superficial wounds.

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

Chamomile AND Chamomile Steam  (Matricaria recutita) :

Chamomile is a cheery plant that looks and smells beautiful. It makes a wonderful ground cover in gardens, producing a sweet scent when walked upon. The dried herb is a great addition to eye pillows and dream pillows, although some people with ragweed allergies may react to chamomile.
Chamomile is a very well known herb has been used by everyone from the ancient Egyptians to modern day Peter Rabbit who is

Catnip Toy

Catnip Toy :

• Cut two pieces of fabric to desired size. I suggest 4 inches by 4 inches.
• Place the good sides of the fabric together, leaving the wrong sides
facing out. Sew by machine or hand around three edges of the fabric.
• Turn the fabric inside out, using a pencil or other instrument to poke out the corners fully.
• Fill with catnip.
• Turn the edges of the un-sewn edge in and finish sewing together.
• Voila, a new toy for kitty.
• This same technique can be used when making dream pillows for your human friends

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Catnip:  (Nepeta cataria)

Most of us are probably familiar with catnip’s alluring qualities for cats, whom it was commonly named after. Whether growing fresh in the garden or dried and placed in a little toy, catnip attracts cats!. The reaction to catnip is because of the nepetalactones present in the plant. While most cats react to this chemical, up to 30% don’t. While catnip is stimulating to cats, it has the opposite effect on humans. Drinking this relaxing nervine before bed can help wind us down after a busy day, promoting rest and sleep.
Taken after meals, catnip can relieve indigestion and flatulence, promoting better digestion.

Calendula Varicose Vein Spray

Calendula Varicose Vein Spray

•Fill a mason jar with ½ dried calendula flowers and ½ dried yarrow.
•Cover with witch hazel and let sit for three weeks shaking daily.
•After three weeks, strain and add 10–30 drops of lavender essential oil per quart of spray.
•Pour the solution into a spray bottle and a label. This can be sprayed on varicose veins as often as desired.
How does it work?
•As already mentioned, the calendula helps to strengthen the

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Calendula (Calendula officinalis

Calendula produces a beautiful flower that exudes sunshine and joy.

To harvest this highly resinous flower, pick it at its peak on a warm summer day. You’ll know you have good plant medicine by the stickiness covering your hands.
Calendula is commonly made into oils and salves and used for a variety of skin conditions including rashes, burns, scars, and scrapes. It has an affinity to encourage connective tissue to regenerate creating soft and lustrous skin.
It can also be used externally on painful itchy chicken pox (as a tincture or salve) or even on fungal infections such as athlete’s foot and ringworm 

nternally it can be used to treat swollen

Burdock Root Pickles

Burdock Root Pickles

This is a favorite treat at our house. The following quantities depend on the amount you want to make. I never manage to measure, but this is a forgiving recipe that turns out delicious every time. The original recipe comes from herbalist Eaglesong at Ravencroft Gardens in Monroe, WA.
Several stalks of fresh burdock 

1/3 part tamari
1/3 part balsamic vinegar
Garlic Cloves
Fresh Ginger

Burdock (Arctium lappa)

Burdock  (Arctium lappa)

Burdock is a healthy natural herb that has been used for countless numbers of years to aid in the treatment of everything from pimples to melanoma. It is commonly referred to as an alterative, which is generally described as altering the system towards wellness .
Burdock main is so efficient because it is a super meals that is jammed-packed with essential nutrients. It is excellent in chromium, mineral magnesium, and inulin – all of which help to control blood vessels glucose levels rbalists generally use burdock for those with diabetes, problem X,

Nourishing Bone Broth

Grandmas realized best by spoon-feeding us this
incredibly wealthy defense mechanisms nourisher, and
science has now verified this time-honored
tradition by confirming cuboid broth is great in many
vitamins and nutrients that are easily absorbable by one's body system. Bone broth is
Let meals be your best
medicine – Hippocrates

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)

  Astragalus main (Astragalus membranaceus) is an natural herb that originally
came to us from China suppliers. It has been used as a pick-me-up natural herb for countless numbers of years to back up the defense mechanisms, enhance poor respiratory system, and regulate
fluid metabolic rate.
   Astragalus main is the most widely used China flower here in the
US. Termed as an adaptogen, it has the capability to carefully but effectively support our defense mechanisms, leading to better overall health, especially throughout the chilly and flu period.

Terms medicinal herbs

 Terms medicinal herbs

adaptogen: a non-toxic substance which helps the body to adapt to stressful situations

while also normalizing physiology
alterative: gradually alters the body towards health, also often referred to as a blood
cleanser. Alteratives work directly through the metabolism
anodyne: pain relieving
antibacterial: effective against bacteria
anticoagulant: prevents blood from clotting, blood thinner
antidepressant: relieves depression