Arnica
Arnica
Meaning: (Leopard's Bane) Family: Compositae Description: plant with basal rosette, leaves adherent to the ground with 1 to 3 pairs of opposite, stem leaves. From 1 to 3 terminal flower heads (rarely, up to 5), 5 to 8 cm wide, with 15 to 25 ligulate flowers. Evergreen. Protected species. Height: 0.2-0.6 m. Flowering period: from May through August. Habitat: sparse meadows, sunlit woods reaching as far as the alpine ridge in vast parts of Europe.
Arnica can be a formidable opponent in fighting off bruises, muscle aches and pains, sprains, and for archers, the dreaded bow rash. Arnica plants have bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that bloom between June and August. Other names for the plant are leopard's bane, mountain arnica, mountain tobacco and mountain daisy. Arnica stimulates blood circulation, and can raise blood pressure, particularly in the coronary arteries. Used externally only, it contains anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that reduce pain and swelling, improving and speeding wound healing. It works by stimulating white blood cell activity, which digests congested blood, and disperses trapped, disorganized fluids from bumped and bruised tissue, joints and muscles. Using the flowers, hundreds of preparations are made from the plant, particularly in Germany. Most useful for our purposes is a preparation of the arnica flower in a gel or cream form. Two methods of preparation are listed below. Arnica is on the list of strictly protected plants, and is threatened with extinction. Please obtain either the dried flowers or pre-prepared formulas from reputable dealers.
Do not use arnica internally. It can cause vomiting, weakness, increased heart rate and nervous disturbances!
Boon at Faire
Preparations:
Tincture: Prepare the tincture ahead of time by placing 4 ounces of the dried flowers in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Add two cups vodka, and leave in there for 2 weeks, shaking the jar occasionally. At the end of that time, strain the mixture through a cloth into a brown glass bottle, and keep it tightly closed. Tinctures are useful when you don't have time to heat water to create compresses. Mix 15 drops of the tincture with a cup of water, soak a cloth in it and place it on the effected area for 2 minutes. Don't let arnica sit on the skin for too long. Cream/Gel: This is a blend of oil, beeswax and water. You can make your own (see below) or purchase an unscented, water based cream. Add 2 ounces of arnica flowers to a cup of the cream, mix well and simmer in the top of a double boiler for 30 minutes. Strain before it cools into a container with a tight lid. To make your own cream, melt 2 ounces of beeswax in a double boiler. Add 1 cup olive oil or other vegetable oil and blend. Add 2 ounces of the herb and mix well. For a lighter cream, add a little water. Simmer for 20 minutes, mixing well. As a preservative, add a drop of tincture of benzoin. Strain through a cloth into sterilized jars.
Information found on our web site is not intended as a substitute for medical advise. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified medical practicioner. Please consult your doctor with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. Information provided on the Archers of Ravenwood website is for educational puposes only and is not intended as diagnosis, treatment or prescription of any kind. No persons associated with the Archers of Ravenwood will be held liable or responsible for any form of use or misuse of any herb, herbal preparation, or so-called herbal remedy, whether the information was gathered from the Archers of Ravenwood web site or not.
Chamomile
Chamomile
Meaning: (Chamaemelum Nobile)
A first person account in character By Angelica
My mother, God rest her soul, was one of the best midwives in our town, and taught me all she knew. I can remember one of the first times I was allowed to join with my parents for dinner, having grown to such an age where I might, and being surprised to see one of the doctors from my father's university there. I could tell immediately that my dear Irish mother was in fine temper, and wondered at my father's temerity in inviting such a man to dinner. My mother's tongue could slice such a man to ribbons, if he disparaged her herbs or skills, as doctors are wont to do. However, being the dutiful mistress of the house, she prepared a wonderful meal, using all of her skills with the herbs and spices she had taught me to love. The doctor, to my father's delight, was properly appreciative of her skills, and favorably compared her cooking to that of his own mother's.
At the end of the meal, when the serving girl brought out the tea mother had prepared, the doctor appeared delighted. "This is chamomile!" said he, and he called for his pouch. I watched with curiosity as he withdrew a small book, and said, "I have read of this herb just recently. Here, let me read you a passage: 'It hath floures wonderfully shynynge yellow and resemblynge the appell of an eye . . . the herbe may be called in English, golden floure. It will restore a man to hys color shortly yf a man after the longe use of the bathe drynke of it after he is come forthe oute of the bathe. This herbe is scarce in Germany but in England it is so plenteous that it groweth not only in gardynes but also VIII mile above London, it groweth in the wylde felde, in Rychmonde grene, in Brantfurde grene.... Thys herbe was consecrated by the wyse men of Egypt unto the Sonne and was rekened to be the only remedy of all agues.'" He closed the book and looked terribly pleased with himself.
I looked at my mother, trying hard not to laugh at this very simplistic explanation of the herb. She winked at me, and then proceeded to expand the man's knowledge of chamomile, well beyond what he would ever find in a book. I excused myself at that point, for I had heard about chamomile in detail from the time I was a wee babe.
I know nothing of the Egyptians' use of chamomile, but am happy to pass along all I know of the herb myself. As pretty as this English countryside is, I am glad that I brought enough of the German variety of chamomile with me to plant in my own garden. I have found that it is more effective than the English in its healing uses, but the English variety is quite good for putting in the rushes on which we walk, and a bit in the bed ticking. As it is crushed underfoot (or body), it gives a wonderful clean scent, like apples, to charm the most upturned of noses.
Chamomile's useful parts are its flowers, and in most houses, mothers know the use of it. It is one of those herbs that can be used inside or outside, and its uses seem immeasurable sometimes. 'Tis, however, a well deserved reputation. It settles things down, as it is needed, be that a cryin' babe, an upset stomach, a grievin' mother, a tooth that pains or a night that seems endless.
Chamomile tisane, or tea, as these English call it, can be used from birth onward, with only a few interruptions in a woman's life. For babies with colic, or teething pains, a weak infusion of the flowers will help calm the spasms, be they in their bowels or in their gums, and let them sleep. A few sips to a half cupful should suffice. For older children and grown men, a regular infusion will help to settle a stomach, stop the summer loose bowels children invariably develop, and help to relax the body enough to sleep. Many has been the night that I have given a cup to an expectant father, waiting to hear the wails of his newborn child, knowing that it would be a very long wait, and a tired father is nearly useless. The tea calms his nerves, and the fears he'll never express, that the child might be less than male.
The tea is also good for women in their courses, when they might experience cramping in the womb. It reduces the painful spasming, and aids the body to achieve its normal state. It is for this reason, however, that any strong infusion of chamomile should not be drunk by women who are with child. Weak infusions, like that given to children, should suffice for its digestive aids, including the indigestion often experienced by women in that state.
For the fighting men in our group, although knowing how much they enjoy baths might make this useless advice for them, adding a couple of handfuls of chamomile flowers to the bath helps to relax their sore and strained muscles. Of course, the wondrous hands of their mates will oft do the same, so they are not to fear they shall suffer overlong.
Fair skinned people find their skin burns rather easily when not covered, and again, an infusion of chamomile, cooled to the touch and soaked into a cloth, will speed the healing threefold. Chamomile acts to enhance the speed at which other healing herbs can perform their work for cuts, scrapes and gashes as well, be they for skinned knees or war wounds.
I have decided that chamomile is akin to a mother's helper, where e'er it may be -- in an herbalist's cupboard or in the garden with other flowers. It "mothers" ailing plants next to it, helping them to grow tall and strong again. If one is not able to plant chamomile next to the other plants, a tincture of the herb added to the water used to grow the garden will help it grow stronger still, and it is often effective against diseases of the plant world.
It is here, however, that one may find one of the dangers in picking chamomile flowers -- for ragweed often resides with them. If you experience difficulty in breathing after drinking the tea, it is most likely that you have added a bit of ragweed to your drink, and you should start the drying process of the flowers again, rather than trying to use the same batch. For our group, and those who are outdoors and traveling much, if ye splash some of the cooled tea over your face, arms, hands and feet, mosquitoes, gnats and summer flies will avoid ye like the plague. The sweet, apple-like smell repels them, quite nicely, and, of course, does not hurt in attracting the two-legged attention ye might be seeking.
Now lastly, for those among us who just cannot stomach the idea of tea, and shame upon ye -- I'd like to speak with whatever mother raised ye so, chamomile wine will accomplish much of the same digestive aid as the tea. Get a bottle of good, and I mean good!, red wine, and add a handful of flowers to it. Let it steep for a week to 10 days and then strain out the flowers. A tablespoon of it will help to cure what ails you, digestively speaking. The wine is also good externally (and no, 'tis not a sin to "waste" the wine in such a manner), for body spasms and colic. Dip a bit of folded muslin into the wine and place as a compress on the stomach. The spasm should subside anon.
Information found on our web site is not intended as a substitute for medical advise. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified medical practicioner. Please consult your doctor with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. Information provided on the Archers of Ravenwood website is for educational puposes only and is not intended as diagnosis, treatment or prescription of any kind. No persons associated with the Archers of Ravenwood will be held liable or responsible for any form of use or misuse of any herb, herbal preparation, or so-called herbal remedy, whether the information was gathered from the Archers of Ravenwood web site or not.
Comfrey
Comfrey
By Angelica:
Digging through my grandmother?s attic after she died, I discovered a veritable treasure trove of information locked away in a trunk. Apparently my own interest in herbal medicine has a long history in my family, beginning with a great grandmother so many generations removed, I?ve no idea of how many "greats" would go in there. Angelica of Ravenwood kept journals on parchment paper, which look like stories she might have told to young apprentices or even her own children. They?re rather fascinating in herbal lore, although missing some of the scientific details of the herbs that we know today to have rather more dangerous properties. For example, here is her entry on comfrey, an herb valued for its demulcent qualities. The internal use today is cautioned against strongly because of the potential for liver damage. I?ll let you read her entry, and then supplement it with the current warnings for use.
I first began learning of herbs and their medicinal qualities when I was about 8 years of age. My mother would often give me rather unusual instructions, making me privately wonder if she were not becoming just a bit daft. Invariably, I learned that she was the wisest of women, and I never forgot her lessons.
One of the first things I ever learned about comfrey had me fighting with the dogs to carry out my assignment. (Did I not tell you it sounds daft?) I was instructed to obtain a bone, dried, and fit only for the dogs; and then to gather from Cook small bits of meat that had become rancid, and unfit for consumption. Fortunately, it being early Spring, that last bit was not too difficult, for the hunting was scarce, and good meat without need of the lavish hand of the Cook?s spicing was almost non-existent. Mother then bade me to put the meat and bone into a pot, filled with water, and place it over the fire, as if cooking it. I did as I was told, wrinkling my nose at the horrid smell of the meat. I then ground the root of a comfrey plant mother had brought, and added it to the
. "Stir it once, child, and then attend me here. It will cook on its own," mother said. Knowing better than to ask the use of this exercise, or to question her judgment, I did as told, and went to the table in the center of the room. There in the middle were comfrey plants, in various stages of drying and preparation. "The whole plant is of medicinal use, but it must be used with care," mother said, as she began removing the leaves of one of the plants. "Take the dried root there, and grind it to a fine powder. We will be making a salve from that in a bit."
Dutifully, I began grinding the root, listening as my mother told me how to choose and prepare each part. "Once the flowers appear, and they will be either white, purple or blue, you may harvest the leaves of the plant, carefully removing them and hanging them upside down to dry. The piece of the root that you grind there was picked in the fall, cut into manageable pieces and dried on muslin. Do not let them dry to like a rock, but only when you feel no more moisture with your fingers. Then put them into a container, wrapped in a bit of muslin. You can also pick the roots in the Spring, before the leaves begin to appear. Wherever you find one plant, you will find many others, for comfrey is a hardy plant, and prone to multiply, as God wills. Take only those plants a bit taller than yourself, to be sure that it?s old enough."
Taking the ground root, with its earthy smell, my mother began mixing it with a cream she had prepared before. "Notice, child, that I put this into a container that will allow no air to mix with it. If ever you are traveling, and someone is injured with a broken bone, set the bone first. Mix some of the powder with water, thickened to a paste. Spread the paste onto muslin or thick cloth, and wrap it around the break, allowing it to dry. The cloth will dry into a hard mold, which will hold the break in place until you can get a proper birch bark mold onto it. For cuts that go deep, you?ll want to make sure to mix the comfrey much thinner, with marshmallow root, and licorice root, all powdered and made into a poultice.
The marshmallow will help the wound to grow back together, as will the comfrey, and the licorice root will cause the wound to relax, so that the spasms do not pain the person overmuch. If there is danger of blight, or heating sickness, you would do well to wash the wound first in a tisane of marigold flowers and include the root of goldenseal in your poultice. Watch the area around the cut for redness and heat. If that happens, you must wash the area in goldenseal tisane each time that you change the poultice." "Now, go and retrieve the pot from the fire, child," my mother instructed me. Eager to find what had become of the spoiled meat and bone, I skipped to do her bidding, forgetting for a time that lasses of good breeding do not skip. Fortunately, mother overlooked my enthusiasm. As I set the pot on the table, I looked into the water, and saw nothing. Mother took a large wooden spoon, stirred it into the pot and removed a large hunk from the bottom. I was astounded! The meat had affixed itself to the bone, and each piece to the other, forming one big mass of rotted, and now cooked, flesh. I looked to my mother for an explanation.
"This, child, is why one must be very careful when using comfrey to heal wounds." She set the glob onto the table, and picked up a knife. "As you can see, all along the outer portions of this meat, it adheres to one another. Because there was no plan to form the meat back into the form from which it came, it merely clung together, however it formed." She began using the knife to cut into the area next to the bone, and it took all of her effort to rend it from the bone. "You see that the meat clings to the bone, stronger than it was before it was first removed. It is for this reason that you must be very, very careful to set the bone properly, when broken, and to fix the muscles into place before you apply the comfrey. If the comfrey is only along the outer edges, it will affix the flesh to the bone first, leaving space for a blight to set in inside. As well, you must clean the wound carefully, for you will not get a second chance." Knowing now why my mother had wanted me to see the mass of meat and bone, I looked at the root with more respect. My mother smiled impishly at me, and said, "Of course, you can always roast the roots, and mix it with dandelion and chicory root for that hot brew your father prefers, but it has a bitter taste that you might not like."
"What of the leaves, mother?" I asked her, having watched her wrap bundles of the leaves for hanging to dry. The leaves are hairy and the feel of them is slippery. "Well," mother began, "you can cut them small and add them to salads, but the tiny hairs on the leaves can be a bit much for your throat to swallow. There are two ways to use them in healing. The first is to make a tea of the leaves, to be drunk for ulcerations in the mouth or throat. It will sooth the soreness and heal the lesions. That same method can also help people who have difficulty in breathing, particularly during the spring season. ?tis also useful for those who are overcome with fits of consumption, or who cough up blood. The leaves will help the inner body to heal itself."
"The second method is to use them in a manner similar to a root poultice, but for minor cuts, bruises and sprains. You can dry the leaves, make them into a tincture and add them to an ointment for speeding the healing process."
"Now, child, gather the mass that you boiled and bury it under the large oak tree outside -- the dogs have no use for spoiled meat, and I don?t wish to have to give them chamomile tea for an upset stomach later." So saying, mother began hanging the leaves to dry and put the comfrey that I had finished grinding into a container with a tight lid. It is always good to remember that work can be accomplished much more quickly when one is entertained with stories from which we can learn.
As we know today, the demulcent qualities of comfrey come from the healing agent contained therein called allantoin, which is known to promote granulation for the formation of epithelial (skin) cells, thus increasing the speed at which nature can heal a wound, internal irritation or broken bone. External use of comfrey root is not questioned for its effectiveness. However, because of excessive internal use in a few isolated cases, medical herbalists in the United Kingdom discovered through toxicity tests that a chemical constituent called pyrrolizidine alkaloid is present in large percentage. Internal injections at a high level were given to baby rats, causing liver cell abnormalities and tumors, although the majority of them were benign.
There has been a lot of discussion about the University of Minnesota attempting to grow comfrey plants that do not contain the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA?s), and I contacted the research unit who has conducted the tests. Although they tried many methods, they were still unable to make a significant difference in the level of PA?s. As a result, while there are herbalists who will use comfrey internally, I must strongly caution against it, and advise you to find an alternative method to heal internal wounds.
Information found on our web site is not intended as a substitute for medical advise. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified medical practicioner. Please consult your doctor with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. Information provided on the Archers of Ravenwood website is for educational puposes only and is not intended as diagnosis, treatment or prescription of any kind. No persons associated with the Archers of Ravenwood will be held liable or responsible for any form of use or misuse of any herb, herbal preparation, or so-called herbal remedy, whether the information was gathered from the Archers of Ravenwood web site or not.
Echinacea
Echinacea
Nature's Anti-microbial
Echinacea As many of you know, Echinacea is used primarily as an herbal antibiotic (or as I?d rather refer to it, anti-microbial), which works specifically with the lymphatic system. Scientists have been fascinated with Echinacea?s unique properties allowing the lymphatic system to perform its function in the immune system better, rather than attacking whatever microbes have caused the illness. Echinacea root increases the production of T-cells, strengthening tissues during assault from a broad spectrum of viruses, bacteria and fungi.
A recent study has shown rather interesting results regarding Echinacea. In double blind tests, scientists in Germany concluded that both the pressed juice of E. Purpurea and the tincture form of E. Pallida, when taken at the beginning of a cold or the flu, shortened the duration of the illness and minimized their symptoms by almost a third. They did not test the effectiveness of the most commonly used form of Echinacea, E. Augustifolia in affecting the duration of symptoms, but it is believed that it will be just as effective. However, tincture of E. Purpurea and E. Augustifolia, when used to try to prevent colds and flu was statistically ineffective. What this shows is that taking Echinacea as part of your regular regimen in order to prevent catching a cold or the flu will not work. However, if, at the beginning of any symptoms, you begin to take the herb, it will improve our chances of dramatically reducing the duration and symptomology of colds and flu.
In 1972 and 1978, studies were performed showing that Echinacea was responsible for inhibiting tumor growth in rats (Journal of the Medical Chemistry, 1972) and destroyed both the Herpes Virus, better known as a common cold sore, and influenza viruses. (Planta Medica, 1978) Echinacea is again part of the daisy family (I do seem to like that family), having beautiful purple petals and a cone of yellow or white in the middle. From its appearance comes one of its common names, Purple Coneflower, along with Red Sunflower, Sampson Root and Black Sampson.
Because Echinacea is a protected plant, on the edge of extinction in the wild, it is forbidden to gather them in the wild. Make sure that you obtain a good product from a qualified herbalist or herbal source who grows them in hothouses. One way to test the effectiveness of the Echinacea you have obtained is when using the tincture or preparing a tea, put a small amount in your mouth. It should tingle slightly at first, showing Echinacea?s mild anesthetic effect, and making a good gargle for a sore throat.
There have been only a few precautions regarding Echinacea as a result of the recent scientific studies. This herb should be used only when needed, and not as part of the daily regimen. Doing so will render the benefits of Echinacea ineffective. Related to the production of T-cells and boost to the immune system that Echinacea provides, those people with auto-immune disorders in which the immune system, itself, attacks the body (lupus, tuberculosis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.) should NOT take the herb, as it will cause an increase in those symptoms. Because of the properties of this herb, scientists are studying the effectiveness in cases of HIV and AIDS. No conclusive determinations have been made available as yet. Finally, those people allergic to daisies should probably stay away from it as well.
Sage
Sage
As always, my herbal knowledge comes from my mother, God rest her soul. As a child, she told me a story of how the Sage plant had saved the Christ child from Herod's soldiers. As Mary and Joseph traveled with the baby Jesus through the mountains of Judea, they stopped in a small towne to rest. The towne folk didn't have anything to spare - no hospitality, no water, no shelter, and not even a kind word. So Mary rested by the side of the road, nursing the tiny babe, as Joseph took the donkey to get a drink from the towne well. As Mary sat, she heard the thundering hooves of Herod's butchers, searching for her child. Quickly, she looked for a place to hide, and not seeing a cave or trees anywhere, she asked a rose bush that was close by, if it would open its petals and hide the baby. The rose bush wrinkled one of its small button flowers at Mary, telling her to get on her way quickly, so that the butchers wouldn't blemish the roses. Mary fled to a nearby clove bush, and asked for shelter for the baby again. The clove bush shooed her away, claiming that she was too busy putting out beautiful blooms. Mary went to the last plant in the area, hearing the hooves coming closer by the second, and begged the sage bush to spread its leaves and hide the baby. The sage plant blossomed so abundantly that it covered the earth, and its furry leaves created a canopy under which the Christ child and His mother sheltered. Herod's soldiers passed without seeing anything. Mary thanked the sage, and gave thanks, blessing the sage for its good deed and saying that everyone would remember it forevermore. Since that time, the rose has had thorns, the clove has ill-smelling flowers and the sage plant was granted many curative powers.
O'course, I wouldn't be any type of midwife, if I'd not tested that knowledge thoroughly before treating my charges. That bein' the case, we come to a bit of contention here with the barber surgeons, who are becoming so popular these days, particularly among the better payin' of society!
Here, o'course, I speak of cleanliness, and good, old-fashioned common sense. When there's sickness about, particularly that with sneezing and coughing, one should always set sage to burning or boiling throughout the house. It used to be, in the times before our modern knowledge, that people thought sage would cure warts, fits of seizures, measles and, of all things, worms. Through our modern advances and testing, we have discovered that sage is an excellent tonic, good for coughs, fevers and the ague. It also helps, despite what the barber surgeons would have you believe, to make sure that others in the same household do not get sick. This can be quite important to mothers with many children - not to mention, husbands!
'Tis best if you not only have the steam or smoke traveling throughout the household, but also if you have the one who's ill, drinkin' a tea of sage and chamomile. You take equal parts of each and let them steep in hot water for a bit. Give it to the one who's ailin', about a tablespoon at a time, throughout the day. For all its wondrous use, sage can be strong on the stomach, and you want to make sure that not too much is drunk at one time.
If you've got yourself an open cut, and how many of us haven't seen our share of them, sage will help to clean out the wound and heal it quickly, before those blood-sucking barber surgeons come to cut off the whole limb. It's also quite useful when the blood has clotted, but the clot has gone within the body and created a blockage. Drinking the tea and using the sage as a warm compress will clear away the blockage and bring the patient back to full health.
Now, I've heard tell, from some of the better traveled Archers in the group, that there are many types of the plant to be found in the lands of the Moors, with a wide range of coloured flowers. I've looked in my father's botanical books, him bein' a learned scholar and all, and discovered that the sage I use regularly is classified as salvia officianalis. In my own opinion, 'tis merely a grayish-green plant that will grow between knee and thigh level high, havin' blue flowers and soft, furry leaves. Moths and flies can't stand the smell of it, and help to drive away blights to your other plants. Bees, however, can't get enough of the taste, and their honey is quite tasty when they've supped at the sage. For those whose eyes itch and noses run when the plants bloom in the Spring, eatin' honey made by the bees close by will help get rid of that problem.
Dryin' Sage will give you the very devil of a problem, mind you, so make sure you've plenty of time before you need to travel with it. But, once it is dried, crushing the leaves into a fine powder will provide you with something to simply throw on the fire, without anyone bein' the wiser, if need be, as well as providing you with an excellent seasoning for fowl.
Information found on our web site is not intended as a substitute for medical advise. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified medical practicioner. Please consult your doctor with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. Information provided on the Archers of Ravenwood website is for educational puposes only and is not intended as diagnosis, treatment or prescription of any kind. No persons associated with the Archers of Ravenwood will be held liable or responsible for any form of use or misuse of any herb, herbal preparation, or so-called herbal remedy, whether the information was gathered from the Archers of Ravenwood web site or not.
Valerian
Valerian
Early German folklore identifies the Pied Piper of Hamlin as being both a musician as well as an accomplished herbalist. Modern fairy tales tell of the Piper leading the rats out of Hamlin with his flute. What they don't mention is that he carried valerian with him -- a favorite of rats and cats. And while rodents, felines, and equine love the smell of this herb, ancient Greek and Romans called it Phu (or P-U) for its strong smell of rotten cheese or smelly socks. German women used the herb as a substitute for coffee; it was used as a condiment during medieval times; and as a perfume during the 16th Century. Despite its pungent odor, valerian has a wide variety of uses, with very few side effects, when used for a limited time period.
Most scientific study has concentrated on the nervine and sedative effects of Valerian. Valerian root enhances the natural body process of slipping into sleep and making the stresses of the day recede. Unlike other sleep aids, valerian does not prevent REM sleep, needed for the active processing done by the brain at that time. It improves sleep quality, particularly for those who sleep poorly or irregularly and for smokers. Appropriate doses for a short period -- no more than 2-3 weeks -- will assist in reminding your body how to relax, without the assistance of the valerian.
Family: Valerianaceae
Description: Tall plant with clusters of pink (or less commonly white) flowers. Leaves are strongly divided, pinnate with lance-shaped leaflets. Lower ones are toothed. The tiny pale pink to whitish tubular flowers grow in 3-forked terminal heads in tight clusters, with each flower having a small, inrolled calyx at the base. When the fruits form, calyces become feathery parachutes.
Height: 4-5 feet Flowering Period:
Perennial which blooms June to July. Harvest roots in the fall of their 2nd year.
Habitat: Damp woods, roadsides and riversides of Northeast USA, Native to Europe.
Common Names: Garden valerian, Phu, All-heal
Valerian also acts as an antispasmodic, particularly effective for muscle cramping, uterine cramps and intestinal colic. As a pain reliever, it is most effective where the pain is produced by a tensing or tension in the body. For archers, this is important when we haven't been shooting in a while, and our arms or fingers cramp, or for those who battle, to use all of the muscles you use in the battlefield. It is interesting to note that in animal studies, valerian exhibits an anticonvulsant effect, lending credence to historical use for epilepsy.
Valerian has been combined with hops as an alternative to benzodiazepine (Valium and its relations) to treat nonchronic and nonpsychiatric sleep disorders and as a sedative to treat disturbed sleep. It has been used in combination with St. John's wort to treat anxiety; in combination with camphor, nightblooming cereus and hawthorn to treat functional cardiovascular disorders and low blood pressure.
Methods of Valerian Use:
For sedative use: Steep 2 tsp. of the powdered root in a cup of boiling water for 1015 minutes. Drain and drink. However, valerian does not taste particularly good. My recommendation is to add it to your favorite herbal tea (I'd recommend Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime it will smell like dirt, but won't taste bad). For pain relief/muscle cramps: Obtain capsules and take 300 to 500 mg (depending on your size) no more than every 6 hours.
Tincture: Take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon before bed. (See recipe for tincture below)
To quiet coughs: (This one is new to me comes from Dian Dincin Buchman and I shall be trying it) Add valerian root to raisins, aniseeds and licorice root.
For pain relief on rheumatic joints: Make a poultice from the roots or tincture, or add tincture to bathwater.
Tincture of Valerian: 4 oz. valerian powder 2 pints 90 proof alcohol Additional alcohol for dilution. Moisten the powder, diluting slightly with additional alcohol. Pack the powder into a coffee filter and pour the 2 pints of alcohol over it. Let it drip down. Strain out any powder that has seeped through, and pass the alcohol through the powder again. Pour the liquid into a dark (and labeled) jar.
For Migraine Headaches: 1 teabag of Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea 1/4 tsp. Valerian root powder 1 tsp. Dandelion root 1 tsp. yarrow flowers 1/2 tsp. licorice root powder 1 tsp. black cohosh root Boil the solid roots in 1 1/2 cups of water for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, add rest of ingredients and let steep 10 minutes. Strain out all the herbs and drink.
Warning may make you drowsy. Do not take if you have high blood pressure or are subject to urine tests for drugs (Valerian will show up as something you shouldn't be taking).
Warnings: Large amounts of Valerian may cause headaches, giddiness, blurred vision, restlessness, nausea and morning grogginess. If you experience any of these symptoms when taking a normal dosage, stop taking it immediately. Do not confuse Valerian with Lady's Slipper, which is often called American valerian, although both herbs are said to produce similar therapeutic action.
Information found on our web site is not intended as a substitute for medical advise. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified medical practicioner. Please consult your doctor with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. Information provided on the Archers of Ravenwood website is for educational puposes only and is not intended as diagnosis, treatment or prescription of any kind. No persons associated with the Archers of Ravenwood will be held liable or responsible for any form of use or misuse of any herb, herbal preparation, or so-called herbal remedy, whether the information was gathered from the Archers of Ravenwood web site or not.
Adaptogens
Adaptogens
From Angelika's diary:
In the same way that seasons have cycles, so too, do people. There are times in each person?s life where some events can be a wee bit harder than others, and usually, there are physical and spiritual reactions to them, for the body and the spirit are quite connected in how they work.
As a midwife, most often I am called upon to help with the changes in a woman?s life, particularly changes brought about as a woman begins to travel through the changes she will experience. One of the differences I have noticed over time is how a woman reacts to her monthly cycle. Oft times, those who look upon it as a curse will experience cramping, discomfort, and generally wish to take to their beds. As my own mother taught me, that?s a waste of time for what should be a time of joy, a celebration, as God has blessed women so that we may some day have children. This difference in attitude provides a difference in the levels of physical discomfort, and I?ve had a bit of luck in changing the attitudes of some of my younger charges. In the meantime, raspberry leaf and chasteberry will combine nicely to ease some of the pains and moods of those who experience them, and a few wildflowers will help to cheer anyone?s day.
One of the biggest changes is that which a babe brings into a family. The most obvious need, of course, is that of the mother. Bein? with child brings about more than the bodily changes ? but God tends to provide women with what they need at that point. It?s after the babe is born that women will sometimes need a bit of a push in getting used to their new lives. The womb can be slow to return to shape, most particularly for noble women who use wet nurses, and most French women, only the poorest of whom provide that service to the others. ?Tis usually the suckling of a child that helps to prepare the womb for a return to the normal monthly cycles. For such women, chasteberry and blue cohosh in equal parts can have a beneficial effect. There are times that women find themselves feeling melancholic for a few months, sometimes even up to a year after having a child. Children bring about many changes to a woman?s life. Those herbs that calm the nerves and raise the spirits can help in this situation. However, if the melancholy has set in too hard, avoid chasteberry, for that can make it worse.
Women, however, are not the only ones affected by a new child ? particularly in the case of a first baby. New fathers tend to worry ? many don?t want to pick the babe up, for fear of breakin? it. And many become very frustrated when the babe is takin? its lungs for a wee stretch. Gettin? used to the changes a babe brings to a household can take a bit of time. As men are less likely to want attention paid to their own sensibilities, ?tis an easy matter for wives to add a bit of oats to the diet, whether as a gruel for breakin? the fast or baked into bread.
There are, of course, other changes that occur as a fair norm in people?s lives. Most are temporary, and can be helped along with mints and chamomile?things such as getting married, moving to a new place where you know no one, the death of a loved one. Some can take more time, like a woman?s change of life ? which is not seen as oft as I?d like, given the number of women who survive past their child-bearin? years. The changes that need more attention will require more serious medicine, as well as watchin? as the change passes, for the dosage will have to be altered as needed.
So the lives follow the seasons, and change as we grow older. As I told you before, watch for the changes, be prepared for them, observe everything, and life will be much smoother.
/
As you can see from the subject line of this lesson, what Angelika refers to is now called an adaptogen. This is a class of herbs designed to help the body adapt to the stresses that every day life and life?s changes can bring.
To be considered an adaptogen, plants must conform to the following criteria:
* The plant must be completely non-toxic and totally harmless to the body.
* It must allow the continuing normal physiological functioning.
* The action it exerts must be nonspecific and should maintain normal
body functions, despite a wide range of onslaughts to the body
(i.e., stress).
* It should normalize body functions irrespective of existing physical
conditions.
This is, of course, a tall order for any plant to fill, and there are not a lot of true adaptogens that fulfill every requirement over the long term. Research on adaptogens began in earnest in approximately 1947 in Russia. The Russians were looking for a way to improve the performance of athletes, and find a way for bodies going through the following progression of stress:
Alarm phase - When some new stress factor strikes the body, it causes a sudden release of internal stress-hormones - corticosteroids and catecholamines. If the stress is very intense, it can damage the regulatory systems of the body permanently and at once (for example in case of exposure to high levels of nuclear radiation). However, if you are taking adaptogens, you will smoothly progress further to the "adaptation phase".
Adaptation phase - If the stress factor continues (for example, in sports, it might be heavy athletic training), our body learns to tolerate the stressful stimulus - "adapt" - and increases its resistance to the stress factor. The "adaptation phase" is usually a safe period. The more we can stay in the "adaptation phase", the better.
Exhaustion phase ? This appears when the body fails to fight stress any more and simply gives up. In this "exhaustion phase", disease symptoms rapidly appear and get worse. Diseases associated with stress may appear in the first "alarm phase", but they mainly appear in the third "exhaustion phase" when the body cannot fight stress any more. This third phase usually develops after a period of months or years. Everything depends on the duration of the "adaptation phase". Sometimes the body may be lucky and escape this third phase altogether, provided that it can keep the stress under control. It is most often in this phase that major dis-eases develop ? cancers, arthritis, chronic fatigue, etc.
We can help to avoid the third phase by taking adaptogens; they can help us to stay in the "adaptation phase" for as long as possible. Taking adaptogens, you will be able to cope with stress better. The initial "alarm phase" will smoothly progress to the "adaptation phase". Adaptogens can help you to stay in the safe "adaptation phase" for a much longer time or even permanently, thus preventing you from proceeding further to the extremely dangerous "exhaustion phase".
So, given that the term adaptogen did not exist during Renaissance times, why do I include it here? The herbs have existed, and research has been conducted on adaptogens since the times of the early Greeks in Europe, and for over 2000 years in China. The stresses of life in Renaissance times were different, but no less stressful to the people living then, than our stresses are today. Wars, survival, childbirth, marriage, death, illnesses (black plague, consumption, cancers) ? all were rife in the Renaissance. While the barber surgeons might find a way to balance the humors, herbalists were more likely to find a way to strengthen the body to withstand the stress until the mind could adapt.
Information found on our web site is not intended as a substitute for medical advise. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified medical practicioner. Please consult your doctor with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. Information provided on the Archers of Ravenwood website is for educational puposes only and is not intended as diagnosis, treatment or prescription of any kind. No persons associated with the Archers of Ravenwood will be held liable or responsible for any form of use or misuse of any herb, herbal preparation, or so-called herbal remedy, whether the information was gathered from the Archers of Ravenwood web site or not.
Humors
Humors
From Angelika's Diary:
"And here we begin, child, with one of the most important things that you?ll ever learn: how to figure out what's wrong with the person who's come to see you. You must observe, usin' each of the five senses God gave you, to see what's off in a person.
Look with your eyes - is their skin a different pallor? Is somethin' enlarged? Are there signs that they've eaten recently, like stains upon the dress or food in the surroundings? Is there evidence of tears in their eyes? Are they movin? more quickly or more slowly than you might expect them to do - Watch them.
Listen with your ears - what is the quality of their breathing? Is their gait altered by something? What are they saying? And what are they NOT saying? This is particularly important with children and old men.
Smell with your nose - illness often carries with it its own stench. Infection has one smell; bad blood, another. Food can go bad to the point that it?s not fit for dogs, and yet in times such as this, we've many who fight the dogs for scraps. Your nose can tell you much. Smell the breath of the person - sweet breath will certainly tell you that the problem is not in the stomach. Other smells will tell you there?s too much phlegm.
Taste with your tongue - in small amounts only, mind ya. The air in a sickroom can tell you much, simply by openin? your mouth. And sometimes, you need your taste and smell senses to work together.
Trust your hands, for the angels of God guide them. A place that carries too much heat has an injury under the skin. Always be gentle when you?re feelin? for a broken bone, but firm enough to know where and how the bone has broken. Test the quality of the muscles - are they too tight, do they have strength in them, are they unused?
Use all of your senses together, noticin? if their eyes tighten, they wince, or take a quick intake of breath, when you move or prod somethin? that hurts. And lastly, trust yourself that you know you?ve been called to be a healer for a reason. You're not just here to learn - you're here to become."
There has always been much known about how diagnosis was accomplished by physicians during the Medieval and Renaissance times. What is interesting is that physicians, in order to separate themselves from the monks who practiced medicine but could not perform surgery, made their practice as scientific as possible, removing the connection of faith from healing. Continuing the work of Galen (Greek physician, principal doctor to the professional gladiators) and Hippocrates (father of modern medicine), doctors diagnosed their patients through testing and observation of the four humors.
All matter in the universe, including the human body was thought to be built of the four elements: earth, water, air and fire. Hippocrates found that blood separates into four liquids when removed from the body and examined. These four are described as a pure red liquid mixed with white material, a yellow-colored froth on top and a black substance that settles below. The word ?humor? comes from the Latin umorem, meaning "fluid." The humors included blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile, each of which had specific characteristics. If a person became ill, physicians assumed that there was an imbalance in their humors, and treatment would be required to return the balance to normal. Sometimes this meant removing the excess of one humor, or adding an excess to the opposite humor.
Blood is warm and wet, so it is made of air. It is most likely to be found in the head, and the season in which it is most predominant is Spring. People who have a predominance of blood tend to be prone to optimism.
Phlegm is cold and wet, so it is made of water. It is most likely to be found in the lungs, and season in which it is most predominant is Winter. People who have a predominance of phlegm are prone to apathy.
Black bile is cold and dry, so it is made of earth. It is most likely to be found in the spleen, and season in which it is most predominant is Autumn. People who have a predominance of black bile are prone to sadness.
Yellow bile is warm and dry, so it is made of fire. It is most likely to be found in the gall bladder, and season in which it is most predominant is Fire. People who have a predominance of yellow bile are prone to anger.
Physicians would use observations of physical pains, time of year, diet, exercise, urine samples, fecal samples, pulse, breath and appearances in order to diagnose what was wrong with a patient. Sometimes, a small blood sample would be taken, and diagnosis would continue based on the properties of the blood - how quickly it coagulated, layering, clotting, too much of any particular humor, etc. In order to achieve a balance, various methods were incorporated, and could include:
* Drugs that caused diarrhea or vomiting were popular solutions, as the discharge of fluids from the body were perceived as a sign that the imbalanced humor was being expunged.
* Bleeding from a specific vein might drain off fluid from, for example, the spleen, thereby alleviating black bile from a melancholic individual.
* Fever, being an ailment with hot and dry symptoms, would be due to an excess of yellow bile. Therefore, the physician would either drain off excess yellow bile, probably by bleeding, or stimulate the production of yellow bile?s opposite humor, phlegm. To counteract hot and dry, you would use something cold and wet, such as an ice bath. Any ailments could be treated with their opposite.
* And when all else failed, and the physician could do nothing, people often turned to the Church and superstitions. The power of the mind could often accomplish what physicians could not. Totems, amulets and special charms granted by saints were often considered the miracles by which people were cured. At the same time, certain diseases were associated with various of the seven deadly sins. For example, leprosy was associated with the sins of lust and pride, and the Black Death was thought to be a punishment sent by God for the collective sins of the people.
In some instances, not a whole lot has changed since Medieval times, although our methods have become a bit more scientifically based as we have continued the experiments of the Greeks and Romans. Medicine is learning that the mind and body are intricately connected, and disease can be cured if the patient believes it can be cured. As an herbalist, keeping up with new discoveries, performing your own research, recording your observations and treatments - all of this will only make you a more effective healer.
Information found on our web site is not intended as a substitute for medical advise. This information is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified medical practicioner. Please consult your doctor with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. Information provided on the Archers of Ravenwood website is for educational puposes only and is not intended as diagnosis, treatment or prescription of any kind. No persons associated with the Archers of Ravenwood will be held liable or responsible for any form of use or misuse of any herb, herbal preparation, or so-called herbal remedy, whether the information was gathered from the Archers of Ravenwood web site or not.
Alternatives
Alternatives
From Angelika's diary:
"So let's talk about what's got you in such a state of disrepair, shall we?
You're tired all the time, you don't feel particularly good, although you don't feel particularly bad. Your skin's got boils on it that's nothin' to do with youth. You get a rash in your nethers that a good dose of goldenseal or echinacea won't fix. Your joints ache, you get colds all the time. So, what have you done to yourself to get you here? You haven't taken care of yourself, you haven't eaten properly, and your blood's gone bad.
Don't argue with me. 'tis the only fluid in your body that flows everywhere, and pretty much, you're in a state, all over your body. If I were to send you to the barber surgeon, not that I would, mind you, those butchers would just as soon cut off a body part as bleed you, he?d tell you the same thing, and then make you pay a pence just to cut you, and let some of the blood drain off your body.
I'll tell you this - it took you a long time to get your body into such a state. If you'll listen to me now, and do as I tell you, we'll get things right again. It's not going to happen overnight - for you surely didn't get this bad overnight - but it will happen, mark my words. If you don't listen, mind you, I'll wash my hands of you and let the Lord figure out what to do with someone who killed themselves, sure as I'm standing here.
All right, so first we'll start with what you eat. For the next two weeks, I want you to include herbs in your tea, every mornin', noon and night. First, is red clover and alfalfa. This'll help your nerves settle down, and you might start seeing an improvement in your skin. O' course, sometimes, the cure for what ails you is workin' to get rid of all the poisons you?ve been feedin' yourself, and it'll get worse before it gets better. Blame yourself for gettin' so bad before comin' to see me! But keep doin' what I say, and you'll be better, by and by. You might notice that you can breathe a bit easier too. Now, if you start feelin' ill, with a sore, scratchy throat, gargle with the tea in the mornin' and at night. You may also notice that your joints don't ache as much.
Now, I'm noticin' that your skin is dry and I?ve watched you scratch yourself near a hundred times since you've been here. The next herb to put in your tea is yellow dock and chickweed. This'll help bring some color back to your face, make it so you're not so tired, and make your skin less itchy. I'll give you a cream to put on your skin in the meantime. It'll have some of the chickweed in it too, but in a different form.
Lastly, I want you to drink more of the tea made from dandelion root. I know that it's a bit strong, and that with what I want you to drink, you're goin' to pass water more often, but if you expect to get rid of the poisons in your body, you're goin' to have to get them out somehow. That should also make you a bit more pink, rather than the yellow tinge you?ve been takin' on of late. You shouldn't have as many pains after you?ve eaten, either. I know, I know, you didn't think to tell me about those, did you? But as bad as you are, I knew you?d be listin' that as an ailment sooner or later.
Don't you worry - we'll have you feelin' better soon - the other thing you need to do is get plenty of good sleep at night and work hard durin' the day. All of it does a body good."
Angelika's rant against those who have mistreated themselves to get to the condition of being run down, anemic, having difficulty with gall stones, rheumatism and skin disorders, like psoriasis or eczema, liver problems that are exhibited with yellowed colour in the skin, etc. are very common complaints in modern society. The herbs that she lists are called alteratives. They alter the state of the body gradually, in a positive direction, promoting good health. And while the "apple a day" was written for keeping doctors away, I'm certain that Angelika would recommend it for the dreaded barber surgeons.
Alteratives have a milder, gentler effect than some of the herbs that can work quickly, to snap a body back into health. For instance, goldenseal or echinacea can rid a body of infection, but they are for infections that have just shown up and haven't weakened the body over a period of time. You'll want to find the right alterative for conditions where someone exists in a weakened state, where the condition has developed over time. At the same time that you're doing things to gradually alter the body back into condition, you're also going to look for some of the reasons that the conditions exist in the first place. You're looking to replace the bad habits with good, and give people time to get better.
Most alternatives have blood purifying properties which help the functioning of the organs, such as the liver, kidneys, spleen and bowels, in maintaining good health. The book, The Herb Lady's Notebook: The Personal Journal of America's Most Outrageous Herbalist, deals a great deal with bowel health, estimating that 90% of the health issues that arise come from the dis-ease of this area of the body. While that may be a bit over the top, her cleansing formulas are not a bad idea every once in a while, just to clean the toxins out of the body.
Another quality that many alternatives have is that of being a cholagogue, meaning they promote the flow of bile, aiding in both digestion and constipation.
Altering the state of the body back to one of health will include properties that affect most of the organs of the body, including the skin. Be aware that when you start on a regimen meant to clean the toxins out of the body, your body is going to get rid of them through every exit you have - including your skin. You may find yourself breaking out for a few days, urinating more frequently or eliminating waste several times a day. This is not unusual, but it is important that you stick with the regimen, so that you achieve what you set out to accomplish - feeling better.