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WEED WANDERINGS
~ Herbal Medicine with Susun Weed ~

August/September 2002 ~ Volume 2 Number 8/9

Legal Disclaimer

It is driving me absolutely nuts that women are now rushing to use progesterone creams and "natural" hormones since the synthethic ones have been shown to be "bad." When will they get that all hormones we take are disruptive?!! Susun Weed

CALENDAR of EVENTS

~ FEATURE ARTICLE ~

Natural Remedies for Problems in Breastfeeding

by Susun S Weed

 

With the resurgence of interest in breast feeding, there is increasing demand for natural remedies for the minor problems that accompany nursing. These remedies, taken from my book Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year, offer simple, safe ways for nursing women and their infants to counter problems and stay healthy. This information has been collected from wise women, old wives, and granny midwives. May you benefit from their wisdom.

Increasing and Maintaining Milk Flow

One of the easiest problems to remedy is lack of sufficient milk. First, it is important to see to it that nursing takes place in a safe, inviting space where both mom and babe can be relaxed. Second, try to include one or more of these herbs and foods that are well known galactagogues and thus able to encourage abundant breast milk.

Nourishing herbs, such as raspberry leaves, stinging nettle, oatstraw, and red clover blossoms -- prepared as strong infusions, not taken in pills, capsules, tinctures, or teas -- not only encourage a plentiful supply of breast milk, they support the overall health of mother and child. The minerals in these herbs are amazingly abundant, so they counter mineral loss from nursing, and help keep mom calm and alert during those first few weeks of round-the-clock infant care. I don't combine the herbs, but use them individually, to derive the unique benefit of each.

To Make an Infusion

Place one ounce, by weight, of dried herb in a quart canning jar. Fill to the top with boiling water. Lid tightly and let steep for at least four hours or overnight. Then strain. Drink liquid portion hot, cold, or in between. Refrigerate what you don't consume at once; use within 48 hours. (Water houseplants with old or excess infusion.)

Foods rich in carotenes, such as cooked apricots, asparagus, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peas, and all cooked leafy greens -- including kale, collards, mustard greens, beet greens, parsley, watercress, and dandelion leaves -- are considered critical for women wishing to increase or sustain lactation. Carotenes are most available when foods are well cooked: Tomato sauce has more than 2000 times more of them than a fresh tomato. And carotenes are more easily utilized in the body when consumed with plenty of fat. (Olive or butter are my favorite fats.)

Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus) is famed for its ability to increase milk supply. As the tea is very bitter, this herb is best used as a tincture. A dose is 10 - 20 drops, two to four times daily. Blessed thistle is said to lift postpartum depression and relieve suicidal feelings, too.

Borage leaves (Borago officinalis) are highly respected for their ability to increase milk flow. But because they contain compounds that may have a harmful effect on an infant's liver, it is best to drink borage only as a weak tea, and to take it after, rather than before nursing. Half a cupful of borage leaf tea, made by steeping a spoonful of herb in a cup of water for a few minutes, taken two or three times a day will insure an abundant supply of milk, act as a mild laxative, and soothe jangled nerves.

Comfrey (Symphytum uplandica x) The roots of comfrey contain the same liver-damaging compounds sometimes found in borage. But comfrey leaves do not. That's a relief, because comfrey leaf infusion is one of the most treasured of all remedies. Comfrey leaf infusion is used not only to increase the amount and richness of the breast milk, but also to build strong bones and teeth for mother and child, to improve digestion, to check allergies, and to repair ligaments, muscles, or other tissues traumatized during the birth. I love comfrey leaf infusion and drink it freely.

Fennel/barley water is a tried-and-true classic. Soak one-half cup pearled (regular) barley in three cups cold water overnight, or boil the barley and water for 25 minutes. Strain out barley. (You may save it and add it to a soup.) Store barley water in refrigerator or cool place until needed. Then heat a cup or two to boiling and add fennel seeds -- one teaspoon per cup of barley water. Steep for no longer than 30 minutes. This combination not only increases the breast milk, but eases afterpains and settles the digestion of mom and babe.

Hops (Humulus lupulus) is another old remedy. It is especially for mothers of twins who need lots more milk. Hops tea is a suitable accompaniment to nighttime feedings, as it brings sleep along with increased milk flow. Hops is also used in beer, which tastes better than the tea. No more than one high-quality, additive-free beer, such as Guiness Stout, per day is fine. For those who which to avoid alcohol, there are alcohol-free brews rich in hops and malt available.

Aromatic seeds, such as anise, cumin, fennel, caraway, coriander, and dill increase milk production and tone the digestive system. Their powers are carried through the breast milk, curtailing colic and indigestion. To brew, simply put a heaping spoonful of dried seeds in a cup and fill to the top with boiling water. Let steep for 5-10 minutes. Drink warm with honey. Up to two quarts a day can be consumed.

Triple Blessing Brew

Combine 1/2 ounce dried blessed thistle leaves with 1/2 ounce dried oatstraw or nettle. Place in a quart jar. Add boiling water until the jar is full. Cap tightly and let steep overnight or for at least four hours. Strain out herbs. Refrigerate liquid until needed. Before nursing, pour off one cupful of the brew and heat it nearly to a boil. Pour it over a teaspoon of anise, cumin, fennel, caraway, coriander, or dill seeds (not a spoonful of each). Let it brew for five minutes before drinking. Blessed thistle stimulates the milk flow and helps restore vitality to weary mothers. Both oatstraw and nettle are rich sources of vitamins and minerals, notably calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The aromatic seeds improve the quality and quantity of milk and ease digestion.

For permission to reprint this article, contact us at: susunweed@herbshealing.com

Excerpt from Susun Weed's Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year

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Extra Feature...

Herbs for Those with Stomach Aches, Ulcers, and Heartburn

c. 2002 Susun S Weed

1. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE ABOUT STOMACH ACHE?
Calling it stomach ache. The stomach (fortunately) does not ache. Usually when people say their stomach aches, they mean they have a gas pain. Gas pain can be severe pain. My friends who work in emergency rooms say you wouldn't believe how many people come in for what turns out to be gas pain.

2. WHAT HERBAL ALLIES WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR THOSE DEALING WITH
HEARTBURN?

Herbalists, myself included, see heartburn as a lack of HCL (hydrochloric acid) in the stomach, instead of the prevalent opinion, that it is caused by too much acid. So instead of trying to turn off production of HCL (as drugs attempt to do), herbalists seek herbs that increase HCL, such as dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). In my book Healing Wise I devote an entire chapter to dandelion, with lots of recipes and ideas on how to use it.

You can use any part of dandelion: the flowers make dandelion wine, you can cook the greens, or eat them in salad, you even can cook the root, or make a vinegar with it (my favorite), or tincture it. Some people make a coffee substitute from roasted dandelion root. Any way you take it seems to work. (A standard dose would be 10-20 drops of the root tincture taken at the beginning of the meal.) Dandelion, and its friend chicory (Cichorium intybus), which is a fine substitute should you have access to one and not the other, are true tonics. That is, the more you take them, the less you need them. You don't have to keep taking this remedy forever. After 3-6 weeks you'll find you need it less and less.

In Europe it is customary to take bitters before a big meal. Most mild bitters, such as yellow dock (Rumex crispus), cronewort/mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), gentian (Gentiana lutea), barberry (Berberis vulgaris), and Oregon grape are liver tonics and digestives. They aid in digestion, and decrease risk of heartburn, by increasing production of both HCL and bile.

A few more tips for those who suffer from heartburn: Eat less at each meal. Stay upright after eating; no lounging around or sleeping. Avoid eating late at night. Reduce the amount of coffee you drink. Don't overdo it with the orange juice, either.

Use slippery elm lozenges (available in health food stores) for immediate relief from heartburn.

2b. ULCERS?
The herbs that increase HCL in the stomach, such as dandelion, also decrease ulcers, which are the result of a bacterial infection. When stomach acid is increased, that bacteria has a harder time of it and is less likely to cause ulcers.

Amusing isn't it that medical science says "OK, there must be a mind/body connection, because gastrointestinal ulcers are caused by stress;" only to find out what my herbal teachers taught me long ago, bacteria cause ulcers.

Here's one way to kill that bacteria (besides taking drugs): Get a food grater with a very fine grating side. Grate a large potato as finely as possible. Into another bowl, grate 1/4 to 1/2 of a cabbage. Let them sit for 10-15 minutes, until liquid starts to collect in the bottom of the bowls. Use your hand, or something hard, to press and squeeze the potato until it is dry. Throw away the pulp and keep the liquid. Repeat with the cabbage. Don't use a juicer. There are plant starches that you don't get when you use a juicer. A food processor is ok.

Put the liquids in separate jars in the refrigerator, taking 1-3 tablespoonfuls 2-3 times a day. The more severe the symptoms, the larger and more frequent the dose would be. I expect symptomatic relief within 36-48 hours, but this remedy is safe to take for weeks at a time if needed.

If you can't make the potato liquid, you can buy potato starch and mix it with water. Instead of the cabbage liquid, you could buy cole slaw. It isn't the same as grating the potato and the cabbage, but it is better than nothing. And even if it doesn't work as fast, if that is what is available to you, use it

2c. STOMACH ACHE?
To me, this means gas pain. Herbs that relieve gas pain are called "carminatives" because they make you "sing" (carmen). Many aromatic herbs are carminatives, especially the seeds of members of the Apiaceae family including dill seed, caraway seeds, fennel seeds, anise seeds, coriander seeds, and cumin seeds. Just put a big spoonful in a cup, cover well with boiling water, steep five minutes, sweeten if you like, and drink.

Ginger is another readily-available carminative. Especially warming to the guts. You can make a tea with powdered ginger, or use up to a tablespoon of fresh ginger per cup of water for a strong brew. Ginger works best sweetened with honey. NASA found it would counter the nausea of space-sickness. You can also buy crystallized or candied ginger to take traveling with you.

The fastest remedy for gas pain is two capsules of acidophilus. I expect pain relief in 5-10 minutes. And I don't pay much attention to the expiration date on it. I keep mine in the refrigerator, and use them so rarely that I often have a bottle for ten years -- and they still work.

Eating yogurt helps prevent gas pain, and can be used as a remedy, but it is not as fast as the acidophilus. A quart of yogurt a week is a good goal. And buy plain yogurt. No need to pay a fancy price for white sugar and poor quality fruit. Add maple syrup or honey and fruit of your choice, fresh or frozen at home.

Make your own fantasy yogurt creation.

And the bitter tonic herbs mentioned above are also excellent allies to take long-term if you have frequent gas pains.

When I was in Spain I often had to eat late at night. Then I would take a sip of their very strong coffee, served in tiny cups. It had just the right amount of push to get that food into my digestive tract and still allow me to fall asleep at a reasonable time.

But most people in America drink coffee in the morning on an empty stomach. Might this be one reason so many are in such digestive distress? Instead of coffee, try this: Put one ounce by weight of dried peppermint leaf in a quart jar and fill to the top with boiling water. Cap tightly and allow to steep for 4-8 hours. (OK to let it steep while you sleep.) Strain the plant material out after the allotted time, squeezing it well. Then drink the liquid: hot or cold, salty or sweetened, with milk or juice or what have you. Refrigerate what you don't drink then. This will stay good in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Peppermint helps move the intestines and make you feel really awake, just like coffee. I would not use it if someone were feeling nauseated, as it tastes vile on the way back out.

3. CAN PEOPLE EXPECT QUICK RELIEF FROM THESE REMEDIES?
(See above)
With dandelion, you often see results in the first 24 hours.

4. HOW OFTEN WOULD YOU HAVE TO TAKE THESE REMEDIES?
(See above)

5. DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC DISMISSES HERBAL REMEDIES AS A LAST RESORT?
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 90% of the health care given on any day is given in the home by the woman of the home. Just by cooking dinner a woman can heal her family and keep them healthy. She can protect her husband's heart by using lots of garlic. And protect his libido by serving less soy.

Many Americans have food phobias. Think about how many people are frightened of drinking milk. How many won't eat bread. I go into the health food store to get bread and there are loaves with no flour, and those with no yeast, and those without wheat, and I wonder where all the bread has gone.

We have a national history of food phobias, starting with Graham (inventor of the healthy graham cracker), continuing with Kellogg (of breakfast flake fame), and right into the modern day's current fads (no fat? no carbs? all protein? all raw?). Not too much has really changed. More and more people are learning about herbal medicine, but I am sure many of them think it is difficult and arcane. They may be unaware that herbal medicine is the medicine for the people, of the people, and by the people.

6. ARE THERE ANY WARNING ABOUT ANY OF THE HERBAL REMEDIES TAKEN TO RELIEVE STOMACH ACHE?
I specialize in safe, food-like herbs. I prefer them to drug-like herbs. The remedies I have suggested here are as safe as foods, taken in food-like quantities. When herbs are powdered and encapsulated, they can be dangerous. They are more like a drug and you have to be more careful. I use herbs because they aren't drugs.

7. ARE THERE FOODS THAT CAN INITIATE A STOMACH ACHE?
Beans! The magical fruit. So good for us, but so hard on the guts. And even worse when they are soy beans. The gas people get from tofu and tempe and soy beverage is outrageous.

From regular beans, try this simple five-step approach -- guaranteed to reduce how much you "toot." 1) Soak your beans overnight in a generous amount of cold water. Add a piece of wakame or kombu if desired. 2) Rinse beans thoroughly in cold water (retain seaweed). 3) Cover beans with fresh cold water, add retained seaweed, and cook until tender. 4) Cool. 5) Reheat beans to serve.

8. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
Yes, I believe all peppers are upsetting to the digestive tract. I suggest avoiding black pepper and cayenne, jalapeno and all others if you are prone to heartburn, have frequent gas pain, or suffer from irritable bowel or even simple diarrhea.

Green Blessings!

Susun Weed

Learn more about dandelion in Healing Wise

~WISE WOMAN RECIPES~

Mother Earth Ocean Soup
Green and Purple Salad
Carrot/Onion/Hijiki

Plus extra excerpts:
Seaweed is an everyday miracle
Seaweed is an ally with lots of heart
Seaweed is a way to get your juices flowing
Seaweed is a gut greaser
Seaweed is an ally in women's mysteries
Seaweed is a great way to stay in shape
Seaweed Properties and uses

Excerpted from the text Healing Wise
A Wise Woman's Herbal by Susun Weed

Mother Earth Ocean Soup
Ingredients: 3 onions, chopped, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 6 potatoes, cubed, 2 carrots sliced, 2 parsnips, 1 cup sliced dried or fresh wild greens, 1 cup dried seaweed of your choice, 12 cups pure water. Method of Preparation: Sauté onions in oil until brown. Add all the remaining ingredients and cook until vegetables are done. Adjust seasonings adding sea salt as needed and let mellow overnight or serve immediately.

Green and Purple Salad
Ingredients: 4 cups of watercress, 1 cup dulse pieces, 1 cup goat cheese. Olive oil and lemon at table for dressing. Method of Preparation: Tear watercress and dulse into pieces. Arrange on 4 plates of brilliant hue. Sprinkle with crumbled goat cheese. Dress with oil and lemon. Voila!

Carrot/Onion/Hijiki
Ingredients: 1 cup dried hijiki, 1 cup warm water, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 onions crescent cut, 2 carrots diagonal cut, 1 tablespoon tamari. Method of Preparation: Soak hijiki in water about 20-30 minutes. Cut onions in half from top to bottom, then cut into slices. Cook onions in oil until very brown. Put the carrots in an even layer over the onions. Top with a layer of hijiki. Add tamari and about half of the soaking water and cover pan tightly. Cook until the carrots are tender.

Seaweed is an everyday miracle.

Seaweed is an everyday miracle. The benefits of including seaweed's optimum nourishment into your daily diet are extensive: increased longevity, enhanced immune functioning, revitalization of the cardiovascular, endocrine, digestive, and nervous systems, and relief from minor aches and pains. No wonder seaweed has been part of the traditional diet of all coastal cultures, including the people of Japan, Korea, China, Iceland, Denmark, Wales, Scotland, Hawaii, and the South Pacific Islands, and all the people who had trading contacts with the coastal cultures.

All seaweeds are high in fiber. Those in the brown family supply large amounts of algin as well. Each seaweed contains a wide range of essential nutrients, including enzymes, nucleic acids, amino acids, minerals, trace elements, and A, B, C, D, E, and K vitamin complexes. Seaweeds offer us zest for life and the perfect medium for electrical nerve flow.

Benefits from a wise woman alliance with seaweed- glossier hair, more luminous skin, less digestive distress, renewed energy and stamina, rekindled sexual desires, and reawakened delight in life- will be noticeable in about 13 weeks.

Seaweed is an ally with lots of heart

Seaweed is an ally with lots of heart. Dancing, singing seaweed strengthens circulation, balances blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, builds healthy blood, increases the veins and hearts contractile force, restores and increases cardiac efficiency, nourishes and prolongs the life of the heart muscle, and encourages rhythmical working of the heart in all its aspects: physical, emotional, and inspirational.

How can weeds with so much sodium (we all know salt raises blood pressure) be good for the heart and even hypotensive, that is, capable of lowering blood pressure?

DID YOU KNOW?

Sodium is not to blame for high blood pressure. Sodium chloride may be. Table salt may be. But table salt contains sugar, aluminum salts, and several other agents as well as sodium chloride. This is an unnatural salt solution and one that creates cardiovascular stress. The naturally occurring sodium in seaweeds (and garden weeds) bathes the inner being with rich salty nourishment, like the amniotic fluid of our original home. This sodium relieves tension in blood vessels made brittle by immersion in the wrong saline solution, table salt. (Note that commercial sea salt is usually as full of free flowing agents and other addenda as commercial table salt. Real evaporated seawater salt is pinkish in color.)

Seaweed is a wonderful green ally to use with other Wise Woman ways when healing those with problems of the heart and circulation including atherosclerosis, hypertension, chilly extremities, varicosities, heart infections, repressed feelings, and self blame.

Seaweed is a way to get your juices flowing

Daily use of seaweed provides optimum nourishment for the hormonal, lymphatic, urinary, and nervous systems. The hormonal system uses minerals and trace elements so richly available from seaweed to repair tissue, build new cells, and create hormones responsible for regulating blood pressure, metabolism, fertility, sexuality, and reaction to allergens, to name but a few.

The lymphatic and immune systems are avid partakers of seaweed's splendid feast of nutrients. Combined with this optimum nourishment, the communication enhancing effects of seaweed further enhance response time and strength in the immune system. This reduces opportunist bacterial and viral infections and helps prolong youth and vitality, not to mention joy and ease in life.

The urinary system gets a special boost from seaweed's seeming excess of potassium and sodium. Those with cystitis, kidney weakness, gout diabetic kidney ills, and bladder weakness find health / wholeness / holiness with seaweed and Wise Woman Ways.

The nervous system relaxes in the presence of seaweed's mineral abundance. Seaweed creates an inner environment where nerve signals flow more smoothly and where brain chemicals are produced as needed: to maintain alertness, increase memory, reduce pain, and provide a sense of buoyant bliss. (Envision the head sized floats of kelp bobbing on a gently undulating sea.)

Seaweed is a gut greaser

Seaweed provides a multitude of gifts to the digestive system: soothing, disinfecting, and nourishing distressed surfaces, helping out with the metabolism of lipids, and maintaining a healthy balance of digestive yeasts and bacteria in the intestines.

Seaweed is an exceptional ally to the wise woman healing those with gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, ulcerated colon, colitis, constipation, watery stools, and other intestinal ills, thanks to its bio-available nourishment, high algin content, mucilaginous fiber, and rhythmical resonation.

Seaweed is an ally in women's mysteries

Seaweed flows and shifts like the energy of a woman. Saline solutions of ocean and uterus rock in rhythm. Pulses of tide, menstruation, heartbeat, and fertility join seaweeds and wombs. Nourishing breast milk merges with waves of green fronds...

Seaweed eaten daily is a powerful ally to a wise woman for, prevention and healing herself or others with osteoporosis, breast cancer, mastitis, uterine cancer, irregular menstrual cycles, ovarian cancer, fibroids, ovarian cysts, infertility, fibro-cystic breast distress, and pre-menstrual / menopausal problems such as water retention, emotional freak-outs, chills and hot flashes, fatigue, lack of lubrication, loss of calcium, and general irritability.

Seaweed is a great way to stay in shape

By providing optimum nourishment to the thyroid, helping to regulate metabolism, and increasing the effectiveness of the digestive system, seaweed helps you get in shape and stay that way.

 

Seaweed Properties and uses

Protective - Anti-radiation, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-toxic, anti-rheumatic, antibiotic, antibacterial, alterative.

Nutritive - Trace mineral supplement, cardio-tonic, rejuvenative, aphrodisiac.

Mucilaginous - Emollient, demulcent, aperient, anti-constipative, diuretic.

Anti-stress - Analgesic, calmative, anti-pyretic.

To learn more about seaweed, read more about Healing Wise

   

NEW LINKS to check out...

Menopause Metamorphosis - Meno (menstruation) pause (stops) is, technically, the last menstrual flow of a woman's life. The years just before and just after the menopause itself are referred to as the climacteric. For most women the climacteric spans from early/mid 40s to late 50s/early 60s, including the premenopausal years, the menopausal climax years, and the post-menopausal years, popularly known as the Change of Life. This Change is a metamorphosis (complete change at a cellular level). This metamorphosis follows, and may even be the matrix for, the three classic stages of initiation: isolation, death, and rebirth/reintegration. Each woman's Change includes these three stages, as well as three phases; each has special needs and offers special challenges. Learn more about the stages of menopause.

http://www.aware.org - Arming Women Against Rape & Endangerment - Effective self-protection for intelligent women who want help, not hype. AWARE provides information and training to enable women to avoid, deter, repel or resist crimes ranging from minor harassment to violent assault, with special services for stalking victims. Security is like fitness - everyone needs it and people can achieve it in many different ways. Nonprofit AWARE exists to provide personalized safety information and advice.

HERS
FOUNDATION

http://www.hersfoundation.com The HERS Foundation is an independent non-profit international women's health education organization. It provides full, accurate information about hysterectomy, its adverse effects and alternative treatments. FACT: 98% of women HERS has referred to board-certified gynecologists after being told they needed hysterectomies, discovered that, in fact, they did not need hysterectomies. HERS is an independent, international organization dedicated to the issue of hysterectomy and advocates for fully informed medical choices by women.

http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/ At Earth Mama Angel Baby, the birth of every new baby is another opportunity for the world to heal itself. Earth Mama Angel Baby supports this miraculous process with natural products and information for pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding and babies. This site offers a wealth of information and products that support the miracle of birth in a natural way. Browse through resource pages and check out an ever-expanding library. Also take advantage of the free, customized, interactive birth plan that will help you prepare for the arrival of your angel baby. Earth Mama: nurturer, guardian, provider, forgiver, teacher, healer, dreamer...

http://menopaus.icors.org/ Judy Bayliss - founder & owner of the Menopaus mailing list, invites you to visit her site Menopaus, a site that covers virtually every aspect of menopause including hard-to-discuss topics such as menopausal symptoms that doctors may not recognize, assessing your risks, traditional and alternative solutions, Medical reports and a glossary, plus where to get more information on Menopause.

http://www.Mamashealth.com is a website aimed at increasing the awareness of conditions, illnesses, and diseases that affect women. Offering up-to-date Health Information for You, including statistics, treatment options and new discoveries about many different conditions. Each month, a health book is given to 5 lucky people who have visited mamashealth.com. Sign up for your free book today!

http://www.inspiration2go.com Inspiration2GoWill Fill Your Life With Joy, Freedom and Inspiration: Motivation articles, e-books, newsletter and personal counseling will empower and motivate you to create an abundance of joy, freedom and inspiration in your daily life. Rediscover your inner wisdom and power. Break through your fears, blockages and limitations. Let go of past conditioning. Grow through love and joy, rather than pain and struggle. Clarify your personal vision. Live a more balanced life. Make your dreams come true.

Know of a good site to recommend?

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Herbal Medicine Chest


Wild Foods for Wise Women: The Missing Part of Your Diet May Be In Your Own Back Yard

c. 2002 Susun S Weed

 

Boost Your Immunity and Prevent Cancer With Dandelion, Honeysuckle, Clover and Other Ordinary Weeds

Did you know that many of those unglamorous "weeds" that you've been poisoning or pulling out of your garden and lawn are some of the world's most well-respected and powerful healing plants? If not, you aren't alone: Many people don't realize that common ordinary weeds can build and maintain good health. Common weeds that grow by you can boost your immunity, strengthen your liver, help you build strong blood, counter colds and the flu, increase your vitality, and even prevent cancer .

Health-promoting weeds are easy to find (even in the city), easy to identify, easy to prepare, incredibly abundant, and as delicious as high-priced gourmet goodies. Go outside right now and see if you can find one or more of my seven favorites: Burdock, Dandelion, Honeysuckle, Plantain, Red Clover, Violet, or Yellow Dock. (To the botanist: Arctium lappa, Taraxacum officinale, Plantago majus, Trifolium pratense, Viola odorata, and Rumex crispus.) You probably take them for granted. But if they could talk, they would say "Here we are! We love you! We're waiting to change your life!"

How can they change your life? When properly prepared and used, these weeds can boost your immunity, strengthen your liver, renew your energy, and help prevent cancer. And the best part is, they're free!

Immune System Boosters

Dandelion and Honeysuckle are particularly good builders of the immune system. (The immune system is a network of cells and cell products that defends the body against disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and cancer cells.) Dandelion root tincture (20 drops, 2-3 times a day) actually increases the production of interferon, a protein that inhibits viral multiplication and activates T-cells.

Can a powerful immune system prevent cancer? Put cancer into remission? Prevent the recurrence of cancer that has been treated? Stop a cancer from metastasizing? In my book Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way, I answer these questions affirmatively (and share recipes for immune-building soups, too). Building powerful immunity can help us remain cancer-free and it provides long-lasting benefits -- and long life -- for relatively little effort.

Liver Strengtheners

The liver is the body's recycling center. This large organ is critical to healthy digestive functioning, utilization of hormones, and removal of chemicals from the body. Dandelion is an outstanding liver strengthener. It is known to protect, heal and tone up the liver, helping to relieve food allergies and aid digestion, as well as repairing damage done by drugs, chemicals, alcohol, and infections such as hepatitis. Burdock, Red Clover, Plantain, and Yellow Dock are also powerful liver strengtheners.

Most experienced healers that I've met are unanimous in their agreement that a healthy liver is the basis for a healthy and long life. Perhaps the single most important benefit to be gained from befriending the weeds is the strengthening of your liver function. Dandelion, Yellow Dock, or Burdock roots are used in tinctures (20 drops, 2-3 times a day) or vinegars (1-2 large spoonsful on salad daily); Red Clover is best taken as an infusion; Plantain leaves are eaten in salad or infused in apple cider vinegar. (See recipe following.)

Blood Builders

Yellow Dock builds strong blood. Strong blood is rich in iron and other minerals needed for health. Strong blood is nutrient-rich -- so vital organs get the nourishment they need for optimum functioning. Strong blood helps muscles work well without cramping and aching. Strong blood is low in cholesterol and moves easily through the circulatory system. Strong blood is packed with plenty of energy, for life, for work, and for sex.

Other green allies that build strong blood are Dandelion leaves, Red Clover blossoms, and Plantain leaves. (And for strong veins, Burdock root vinegar is a trusted ally.) Daily doses of Yellow Dock root -- vinegar (see below) or tincture (5-20 drops once or twice a day) -- often increase iron levels in the blood twice as fast as iron supplements. If you wish to avoid alcohol, soak chopped fresh Yellow Dock roots (or any of the other plants mentioned here) in vinegar to cover for 6 weeks. I use 1-2 tablespoons a day of the resulting medicinal vinegar to build strong blood.

Counter Colds and the Flu

Throughout the orient, Honeysuckle flowers are steeped in water and the resulting strong tea -- scientifically established as antiseptic, anti-microbial, and anti- infective-- drunk to ward off colds and the flu. (An injectable form of Honeysuckle is used in Chinese hospitals to counter severe infections.) Red Clover blossoms mixed with ordinary mint and steeped in hot water for several hours is an effective "cold remedy" passed down from Colonial housewives.

Increase Vitality, Even Prevent Cancer

The leaves of Violets and the blossoms of both Honeysuckle and Red Clover are renowned as safe, life-enhancing tonics. In addition to enhancing vitality and rejuvenating fertility, they have a proven effectiveness against pre-cancerous conditions. Red Clover especially is noted for its ability to reverse in situ breast cancers, cervical dysplasia, and pre-cancerous polyps of the colon. Violet, whether drunk in infusion or applied as a poultice, has a reputation as a dissolver of breast lumps and a protector of the lungs, even checking the growth of tumors.

Anti-cancer Agents: The most amazing thing about these seven humble plants is that each of them has been associated with cancer prevention. Plantain is an important Latin-American folk remedy against cancer. Burdock as a specific cure for breast cancer dates back to at least 1887 in the Ukraine. Around the world, Red Clover is a widely used folk remedy against cancer and is known as "The herb of immortality." Dandelion is known to stop the promotion of oncogenes. (When damaged or turned on, an oncogene initiates cancer).Violet slows tumor growth. Honeysuckle is a popular anti-cancer agent in China. Yellow dock is one of the original plants in the Native American anti-cancer brew now known as Essiac.

As you can see, these seven plants are not useless weeds by any means. Even if you don't reach out and pick them from your yard (or that nearby vacant lot), I know you'll be more aware of the abundance of green blessings surrounding you.

For more information on how to prepare and use herbs consult any of my books including Healing Wise and Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way. Click here for excerpts and reviews.

How To Use These Amazing Plants

Burdock

Dig first-year roots in autumn; use mature seeds.
Used internally, it resolves chronic skin problems; fresh root binds and removes heavy metals and chemicals.
Use daily for six or mote weeks; it is not unusual to take burdock regularly for 2 to 3 years.
Dried root infusion: 1 to 2 cups
Cooked, dried, or raw root: eaten freely
Fresh root vinegar: 1-4 tablespoons
Tincture of fresh roots or seeds: 30-250 drops.
Infused oil of seeds: as needed on skin or scalp to encourage growth of new hair.
Burdock is slow acting but miraculous.

Dandelion

Leaves are nourishing, roots are tonifying
improves outlook, improves digestion and appetite, relieves food allergies.
Can use daily for prolonged use.
Fresh leaves and flowers: eaten freely
Cooked greens: 1/2 to 2 cups (125 to 500 milliliters)
Dried root infusion (tea) 1 to 3 cups (250-750 ml.)
Tincture of fresh plant, including root: 15-120 drops.
Wine of fresh flowers: no more than 6 oz (200 ml)
Infused oil of fresh flowers: as needed.
Dandelion is a superb ally for liver and breasts. Regular use-internally before meals and externally before sleep-helps keep breasts healthy, reverses cancerous changes. Digestion is settled and strengthened a few minutes after taking a dose. Results in breast tissue are slower, taking six weeks or more to become evident.

Honeysuckle

One of the most vigorous vines known, Honeysuckle makes an excellent complementary medicine for many Western drugs, moderating or eliminating many of their damaging side-effects. The flowerbuds are harvested in May or June, dried quickly in the sun without turning or handling, infused in water overnight (one ounce dried blossoms to one quart boiling water in a tightly sealed jar steeped for 4-10 hours), and drunk freely.

Plantain

Use leaves, harvested any time, or ripe seeds with hulls.
Internal use: Seeds: anti-microbial, against thrush.
Leaves: promote blood clotting, increase in iron, strengthen digestion.
Used externally: leaf poultice or oil reduces cysts, heals skin and connective tissues, stops itching and prevents scars.
Daily use: no limit
Raw leaves: 3-20 chopped in salad
Fresh leaf vinegar: 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml)
Fresh leaf oil/ointment or poultice: as needed.
Internal response is prompt; noticeable improvement in blood iron is seen in two weeks of daily use. External response is also rapid: itching ceases, bleeding stops, pain abates, and swelling recedes in minutes. Plantain promotes quick, scarless healing from all wounds.

Red Clover

Use the just-opened blossoms with a few leaves clinging.
Internally: alkalinizes, builds blood; helps prevent the recurrence of cancer, protects liver and lungs, improves appetite, relieves constipation, eases anxiety; relieves symptoms of menopause, increases fertility.
Externally: softens and reduces breast lumps. Is antifungal.
Daily use is without limit.
Fresh blossoms: eaten freely
Infusion (tea) of dried flowers: up to one quart (1 liter)
Tincture/mother tincture of fresh blossoms: 15-100 drops.
Fresh flower vinegar: 1-4 tablespoons (15-60 ml.)

Note: Overconsumption of blood-thinning coumarins, which are present only in low amounts in red clover but found in greater amounts in other clovers such as sweet clover, can lead to the breakdown of blood cells and increase risk of hemorrhage.

Red clover (legume family) shares with its sisters, lentil and astragalus, the ability to repair damaged DNA, turn off oncogenes, and reverse both pre-cancers and in situ cancers. According to J. Hartwell, author of Plants Used Against Cancer, medical literature has reported and confirmed hundreds of cases of remission of cancer after consistent use of red clover. I agree.

Violet

Use the leaves, harvested any time, even during flowering.
Externally: Eases pain and inflammation, heals mouth sores, softens skin, antifungal
Daily dose: Use without limit, non-toxic.
Fresh leaves: in salad, as desired.
Dried leaf infusion: up to one quart (1 liter)
Fresh or dried leaf poultice: Continuously.
Internal and external use of violet can shrink a breast lump in a month.

Yellow Dock

Use roots of a plant at least two years old, dug after autumn frosts, or very early in the spring; leaves, harvested at any time, use ripe seeds.
Integrally: As root tincture or vinegar, yellow dock builds healthy blood, protects liver, and acts as a laxative. As a seed tea, it heals mouth sores and checks diarrhea.
Externally: Poultices dissolves lumps, counter tumors and kill fungus infections.
Can be used daily for up to 12 months.
Tincture of fresh roots: 10-60 drops per day.
Fresh root vinegar: 1-2 tablespoons (30 ml) per day
Dried seed tea: no more than one cup (250 ml) per day.
Fresh root oil/ointment: liberally, as needed.

If you enjoyed learning about these herbs, you may enjoy the Wise Woman Herbal Series:

 

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional western medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat,cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material on this website/email is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health and healthcare.

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