Spring is Coming and so is the Knotgrass! An Herbal Wound Cleanser

Knotgrass is very nearly world-wide and inescapable! A common weed with uncommon abilities.

Used for centuries and maybe millennia, common Knotweed is an edible, medicinal and remarkable resource.

Knotweed is often used as a diruretic (to increase urine output and reduce water retention.)  A great aid for those with gout, as less uric acid is retained and doesn't continue building up in the body.

Knotweed's leaves act as an emollient, to soothe and soften the skin; they are also an anthelmintic used to expel worms and parasites.

The whole plant acts against a fever, bringing it down.

Used during a cold or even with pneumonia, it will assist in breaking up the mucus in the lungs, and help with the terrible aches and pains that accompany flu.
In China, there have been some studies that indicate it might be an effective remedy for Shigellosis, known better as E-Coli bacterial infections.

For now, more research needs to be done, but in a pinch, it might make all the difference.

In times of food scarcity, since Knotweed or Knotgrass are part of the Buckwheat Family, the seeds are crushed into a meal for flour and eaten.

We have a written history of one of my ancestors, who settled Utah, and was reduced at the time to eating what was then called Pigweed (aka: Knotgrass).   It saved their family from starvation.

This little plant benefits your heart, lungs, vascular system, cleanses wounds, and even stops bleeding at the wound site.   It's even great for hemorrhoids.

Preparation:

Using 1/4 t dried herb to 1 c hot water.  Let steep for 5-10 minutes, and then sweeten to take internally or use straight as a wash for ulcers and wounds.

Amazing what those "weeds" can offer us!

__________________________
DISCLAIMER:
Any statements or claims about the possible health benefits conferred by any foods or supplements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration, healthcare professional, or even the town gossip.
All information and resources found on Herbs and Wildcrafting are based on the opinions of the author and are meant for educational purposes only, I hope to motivate readers to make their own nutrition and health decisions after consulting with their health care provider.
Please consult a doctor before making any health changes, especially any changes related to a specific diagnosis or condition.
No information on this site should be relied upon to determine diet, make a medical diagnosis or determine a treatment for a medical condition.
The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.
No information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition.

 

Ginger is one of those herbs you don't want to be without.  Ginger can assist in Digestion,  help with gas, bloating and diarrhea;  plus it's imperative for Nausea.  It's also effective in reducing and often preventing stomach ulcers.

Smelling like a citrus heaven, it's compounds help the body absorb and use the nutrients from other foods.  In fact, drinking a ginger tea, which is sweet, child friendly and warming, is great before any meal, but especially before a large holiday meal; it will start the digestion process and prevent bloating and gas.

 

For Nausea, whether it's due to morning sickness, motion sickness or chemotherapy, drinking a cup of ginger tea can make all the difference.  

It has been proven to work better than dimenhydrinate (often known as "Dramamine"), which with long term use can inhibit the signals of your nervous system, cause forgetfulness, and decreases the amount of acetycholine, which signals your muscles to move.

For those with extreme morning sickness or Hyperemesis, who will struggle with dehydration and keeping anything down for any length of time, the best way to take this is a tablespoon every ten minutes.  It will prevent dehydration, and settle the stomach enough that some relief is afforded since it slightly sedates the muscles in your stomach. (yes, I'm speaking from experience here...)  It will also increase your ability to keep some food down.  Maybe saving you from a trip to the hospital, or better yet, allowing you to continue living in the normal world (LOL..).

Ginger is an incredible anti-inflammatory which can help with headaches, cramping, and even arthritis.

With more than 50 antioxidents, proven to increase concentration, it destroys free radicals in the blood that can lead to cancer and aging.  

These compounds are especially good at offering protection against colon cancer, and it lowers blood glucose levels by nearly 43%, showing an incredible benefit for those suffering from Hyperglycemia.

 

Ginger is a powerful aid in clearing toxins from the body,  in lungs, sinus, and the lymphatic system.  Being a "warming" herb, Ginger makes you sweat, assisting in the detoxifying process.

In Chinese medicine, ginger is used for Thyroid problems since it contains, among many other constituents, magnesium (for muscle relaxation) and potassium (for regulating fluids in the body), and gingerols which will help reduce thyroid inflammation, inhibiting the CO-X2 enzyme, which does terrible damage over time to the Thyroid, and therefore to the body's other systems.

So what is better...fresh or dried Ginger?   

Have you ever smelled the difference between store bought Ginger powder and freshly dehydrated?  If you haven't, your world is a sadder place.  The smell of freshly dried Ginger is incredible!  And when you dry ginger, it changes the potent gingerol component to shagol, which is then twice as effective in all the above areas.

Another way of preserving it, and having it at your fingertips is to tincture the ginger.  
 

Some of you may prefer a fresh Ginger Tea  , or even a sparkling, fizzy Ginger Ale, but for a simple, but effective dried ginger tea, here is my favorite recipe.

Ginger Tea (May be place in the Refrigerator for an Herbal Ice Tea)

• 1/4-1/2 tsp dried Ginger
• 1 C simmering water

Place Ginger in a cup of prepared water, stir, and place a saucer over the top of your cup (this prevents those wonderful volatile oils from escaping!) and allow to sit for 10 minutes.

If desired, add a slice of lemon, or honey to sweeten.  Try adding other favorites that appeal to your sense of taste.  Nutmeg or even  cayenne.

Learn to listen to your body as you scan your herbs and spices.  What you need will appeal to you.  Use your intuition, listen to that little voice that knows more than you think.

Let me know how yours turns out!

_______________________

DISCLAIMER:

Any statements or claims about the possible health benefits conferred by any foods or supplements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration, healthcare professional, or even the town gossip.

All information and resources found on Herbs and Wildcrafting are based on the opinions of the author and are meant for educational purposes only, I hope to motivate readers to make their own nutrition and health decisions after consulting with their health care provider.
Please consult a doctor before making any health changes, especially any changes related to a specific diagnosis or condition.
No information on this site should be relied upon to determine diet, make a medical diagnosis or determine a treatment for a medical condition.
I encourage you to do your own research.  Learn everything you can on any given herb or medicine, and in doing so, you will be coming from a point of knowledge rather than hoping someone else is right.  It's always better to learn from two or three good sources, and more if you have the inclination and time.

Celery, Onion, Minerals and Sodium, Making Your Own Spices

I've left half an onion in my refrigerator more times than I can count.

I hate throwing the unused half away or letting it go to waste.  But it seems to be an unwritten rule that the next time I clean out the fridge, it's shriveled, or forgotten at the back of the drawer.

I find it easier to chop up the whole thing, (usually the second half is just sliced since it's quicker) and half goes in my meal at hand; the other half I immediately throw in my dehydrator, for 12-48 hours, depending on your humidity.  Even here in Utah, it's usually closer to the 24-36 hour mark.

Once I'm sure it's dry and cracks nicely, I place the dehydrated onion in my blender and powder it thoroughly.

You can do the same thing for

• celery
• carrots
• mushrooms
• tomatoes
• peppers
• broccolli
• cauliflower
• ginger root,
• parsley or other fresh herbs

Almost anything that you have more of, than what you need, will work and then I store them in those great little containers they have at the "dollar store".

With celery, I keep it all, the leaves and the stalks, then dry and powder them.

Celery is  such an underrated veggie!  It's packed with more than a dozen antioxidants (these help keep cancer causing free radicals at bay), and flavnoids (those phytonutrients that help reduce inflammation and protect our red blood cells!)

Then there's celery's sodium content; in a large stalk of celery (about a pound) there is nearly 400 mg of sodium.  It makes a great salt substitute, and the flavor is out of this world!

By drying, and even powdering your vegetables, you'll find it's a great way to hide all kinds of things in a soup!  (My Hubby always tells me how he hates peppers...can I just say he has no clue he's been eating them our whole married life...:)

Use your imagination, and if the world comes to

a screeching halt, you're prepared...if it doesn't, well, you're still prepared!

Let me know what works for you!

Settle Those Nerves! The Calming Effects of Skullcap.

Just By It's Looks...

It's always interesting to me how an herb, often just by the way it looks, gives an idea of what it's good for.

Skullcap is the color of soft twilight, and that's exactly what is needed when our nerves are jangled, and we face another sleepless night.

Skullcap is a member of the mint family, and can be gathered in late summer all through North America, using the flowers, leaves and stems for tincturing or drying.

Skullcap has been used for trouble with sleeping, anxiety,  even stroke paralysys. 

 It can help with:

• Lowering fever
• Epilepsy
• Nervous Tension
• Menopausal Anxieties
• Topical Infections
• Arthritis
• Lowering Blood Pressure
• Lowering Blood Sugar
• Exhaustion
• Diahrehea

It's also considered good for involuntary movements, like you might see in Parkinson's Disease or Restless leg syndrome.

Be aware, it is considered a sedative and can affect your reflexes, just like Valerian Root, or any other muscle relaxant, but one of it's best traits is once it's done its job it is out of your system with no residual tiredness, and you feel better!  It is well known for toning your nerves, and has a cumulative effect.  It increases blood flow to the brain and helps in lowering cholesterol.

Typical doses: 

• Dried herb: About 1 T,  3 times per day in a tea.
• Tincture: 1/2 t. 3X per Day

Side Effects:

"Skullcap may slow down the central nervous system. Healthcare providers worry that anesthesia and other medications during and after surgery might increase this effect. Stop taking skullcap at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery."

Sources:

Herblist

WebMD

Any statements or claims about the possible health benefits conferred by any foods or supplements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  See Disclaimer.