Welcome to Alice's World

The purpose of this blogsite is to bring glory to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. There will be many different topics discussed, so hopefully you will enjoy your visit with me. Some of the topics may be very controversial, while others may be the normal stuff everybody already knows a little about. Because I am a Christian as well as an herbal enthusiast and also grow and am always learning about organic gardening and heirloom seeds and plants, I believe in going to what I believe to be the "book of books," meaning the Authorized King James Version of 1611 Bible, for most of the things discussed here. The things mentioned will be involving these topics. Of course, from time to time you may see pictures of my family (my grown children and my grandchildren as well as my other half, i.e.HUSBAND), but for now I would just like to say THANKS for joining me!







Tuesday, September 27, 2011

September 2011 Newsletter

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herbs for the service of man: that he
may bring forth food out of the earth...


  Comfrey             St. John’s Wort      Arnica

From The Herb Patch
Howdy once again folks!
Betcha missed me last month. Anyway, I missed writing the August newsletter due to traveling to another locality in what I will esteem as a “vacation”. Sometimes a person just needs to get away from it all, but the downside is that when that person gets back home, there is a lot to catch up on. During the month of August, I got to spend some time with some great people in the Virginia Beach area in which I go from time to time and visit Bible Believers Baptist Church. No, I don’t go to lounge on the beach. As a matter of fact, I try to go with the church down on the street for preaching and handing out gospel tracts. There are thousands of people coming through there and it is a wonderful opportunity to reach people for the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, I got to do some chicken watching! Try to explain that one. Really, my son in law and daughter went with their children to Texas to visit his parents and to visit a friend in Pensacola, Florida and I was asked to feed and water the chickens that they are raising for food purposes as well as selling the eggs for profit.

This month I have decided to finish talking about the herbs that I use in Me Me’s Butt Salve. Also, I will talk about two more ingredients, St. John’s Wort and Arnica, found in Me Me’s Muscle Rub. And then hopefully I can finish next month with Rosemary and Eucalyptus. The brochures I sent with the last newsletter had pictures of these two products, but I have decided to change the labeling on the salve back to the original label. So, once again you will get a better looking product according to a trusted friend of mine named Sandy that buys this salve for many purposes. She has used this salve on different ailments. The latest was when her husband was in an accident (four wheeler) and scraped the skin on his leg. He was in so much pain from bruising she rubbed it all over  praying that it would heal up quickly and take away the pain knowing that he had to go back to work pronto! Thanks to the healing power of Calendula, Marigold, Echinacea, and Plantain, he was so much better that he actually was able to go back to work sooner than expected! I have taken out the cocoa butter and coconut oil because it makes a “mushy” salve and I don’t like it. Another young friend of mine named Keyra who just had a baby has written that the salve is wonderful! The muscle rub is in a different container than shown in the brochure due to my realizing that this is a better container. So, bear with me while I use some trial and error on what I’m doing. I always welcome feedback on my products. So, this month we will talk about Comfrey which I added to Me Me’s Butt Salve.
C
omfrey is among the oldest herbal remedies for skin problems, dating back to ancient Greece. Modern researchers have discovered that it contains allantoin, a chemical that promotes skin repair. Allantoin is an ingredient in a number of commercial skin creams. A review of the scientific literature by Commission E uncovered evidence that comfrey is also anti-inflammatory. That’s why the commission endorsed applying it to the skin to treat bruises, dislocations and sprains. This herb is also known as Bruisewort, Knitbone, and Boneset.
This vigorous self-seeder originated in Europe and temperate parts of Asia. Comfrey has dark green, long and oval shaped leaves that grow on upright branches on top of the plant. Soft, bell-shaped flowers in yellow or purple bloom from May until September. Comfrey enjoys a wet, shady area and will do well in most soil types. Though it makes a beautiful addition to the garden, it can sometimes be bothersome to get rid of, as new shoots grow easily from pieces of severed roots.
More recently, Comfrey has been the subject of a hot new composting trend. Because the plant yields large amounts of leaves, breaks down quickly and contains natural compost activators, you can create a compost tea from comfrey for fertilizing your plants.
According to Herbalist James Duke research seems to bear out the claims for the healing properties of comfrey leaf. In one major European study, an ointment based on comfrey root proved more effective at relieving both pain and swelling in 142 patients with sprained ankles. In another study with over 300 participants showed that comfrey leaf treatments of varying types (ointments, salves, compresses and other topical applications), were very effective in treating eczema, dermatitis, viral skin infections and ulcers of the lower leg.
Comfrey also is a great herb for after sun care. Just steep fresh comfrey into a tea, strain the leaves and let it cool. You can then soak the sunburned areas in the cooled tea to help reduce pain and discomfort, and promote healthy skin regeneration.
*A note from Alice: This is why I felt it would be a good additive to the salve which already has so many great healing flowers and herbs. This salve is truly an all purpose salve!

NOW FOR ME ME’S MUSCLE RUB!! This ointment is a combination of herbal ingredients known to greatly reduce inflammation of the muscles and joints while decreasing pain and increasing circulation. It contains Wintergreen oil, olive oil, peppermint leaf, calendula (marigold) flower, and cayenne peppers which I have already talked about in past newsletters. So, I will introduce two more of the herbs known as St. John’s Wort and Arnica flower.

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rnica Montana is also called Leopards Bane. The plant has a bright yellow flower that blooms mid summer. Preparations made from the flowering heads have been used in homeopathic medicine for thousands of years. It is one of the most popular holistic remedies in Germany, and over one hundred prescription drugs are made from the herb. It is a perennial species that is protected by law in some parts of Europe. Arnica works by stimulating the activity of white blood cells that take care of much of the digestion of congested blood, and by limiting trapped fluids from bumped and bruised tissue, joints and muscles. It is known to stimulate blood circulation and can raise blood pressure, especially in the coronary arteries. The plant is used externally for arthritis, burns, ulcers, eczema and acne. It has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities that can reduce pain and swelling, improving wound healing. Part Used: Extract of the blossoms. Common use: It is typically rubbed on the skin to soothe and heal bruises, sprains, and relieve irritations from trauma, arthritis and muscle or cartilage pain. Applied as a salve, Arnica is also good for chapped lips, irritated nostrils and acne. Care: Arnica grows in moist, sandy soil with adequate drainage. Likes full sun.

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t John’s Wort(Old English for plant). This herb has woody-based stems, with pairs of small, balsamic-scented leaves and clusters of lemon-scented gorgeous yellow flowers that turn blood-red when squeezed into tincture. It grows on the East Coast, West and Midwest in semidry soils. Taken internally, St. John’s Wort has a sedative and pain reducing effect, which gives it a place in the treatment for neuralgia, anxiety, tension and similar problems. It also has antiseptic, astringent, and anti-inflammatory properties and promotes healing. Great for collapsed veins. As a lotion it will speed the healing of wounds and bruises, minor cuts, rheumatoid arthritis, varicose veins and mild burns. The oil is especially useful for the healing of sunburn. According to Jerry Baker, America’s Master Gardener, St. John’s Wort works to reduce pain and swelling in the ear canal and also kills viruses.
Well, enough of that!


RECIPES

*I thought it a good idea to forward a few recipes on “Delightful Dressings” from Rhonda Malkmus’ Recipes for Life cookbook.

Herb Lemon Dressing
1/3 cup lemon juice                   1/3 cup water
1/3 cup honey                           Tbsp. Bragg Liquid Aminos
1 garlic clove                            1 Tbsp. minced onion
½ tsp. basil                               1 tsp. oregano
Mince garlic clove and onion and combine with liquids. Add herbs and allow to sit several hours for the flavors to combine.

Cucumber & Herb Dressing
1 large cucumber                                  1 small garlic clove
2 Tbsp. lemon juice                              2 Tbsp. organic maple syrup
3 Tbsp. dried dill                                  1 tsp. flax seed oil
Peel and seed cucumber, put all ingredients into blender, and blend until smooth. If not thick enough, chop celery to add to the mixture, and blend until pureed.
You may substitute 1 tsp. cilantro or ½ tsp. cumin, for dill if desired.



Cilantro Dressing
¼ cup raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar           
4 cloves of organic raw garlic
1 cup extra virgin olive oil                                            
  2 Tbsp. raw unfiltered honey
 1 cup fresh cilantro stems and/or leaves
Put into blender and process until desired consistency of dressing is reached.
*Note: According to recent studies, raw cilantro helps to remove mercury from brain cells.

*Article taken from the Herb Companion by Susan Belsinger

Create your own herbal first-aid kit with these 23 helpful healers.

OVER THE YEARS, my idea of first aid has changed as I have learned to make poultices, salves, teas, tinctures, and synergistic blends of herbs and essential oils. I also took an herbal apprentice class with Rosemary Gladstar, which was an amazing learning experience. These adventures are reflected in my first-aid kit.
            One of the first steps to making an herbal first-aid kit is selecting a container. I considered many boxes, but finally settled on a heavy-duty, three-tiered plastic toolbox. Here are some herbal items in my first-aid kit. Perhaps my kit will inspire you to create an herbal remedy kit of your own.

Dried Herbs to Have on Hand
            I keep these to make herbal infusions. Use them regularly, and replace yearly.
  • Chamomile soothes, relieves stress and aids digestion.
  • Comfrey. Use ground root and/or leaves externally as a poultice for bruises, sprains or strains, and bone injuries.
  • Lemon balm soothes the digestive tract and helps aid relaxation and sleep.
  • Milky oats. The seeds of this plant make a good-tasting tea to relieve stress and anxiety.
  • Peppermint and spearmint soothe the stomach and freshen breath.
  • Sage makes a good mouth and throat gargle.

Pack Powdered Herbs
            Powdered herbs can be packed in capsules, used in poultices or dissolved in tea. use mixtures within a year.
  • Echinacea boosts the immune system and speeds recovery from colds and flu.
  • Slippery elm soothes sore throats, scalded tongues or mouths, digestive complaints or constipation.
  • Powdered goldenseal root is used in poultices for infections and abscesses; discontinue use after two to three weeks; it can irritate mucous membranes.
  • Cayenne is a warming, stimulating powder that is good for the circulation and the heart, as well as digestion and congestion. Use sparingly because of its potent heat.
  • Use powdered, dried yarrow leaves to stop bleeding and to disinfect wounds. Gladstar recommends placing a pinch in the nose to stop a nosebleed.
Really Essential Oils
            Don’t use these oils directly on the skin; dilute in carrier oil (oils blended with herbs or essential oils that are used for specific ailments.) Be sure your essential oils are pure and not synthetic.
  • Lavender relieves pain, burns and bee stings, and is superb in the bath and in aromatherapy treatments for relaxation.
  • Tea tree  has antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal properties. It is well-suited for wounds, insect bites, rashes and for cleansing purposes. A skin test is recommended before using.
  • Add eucalyptus to baths to relieve achy muscles or cold and flu symptoms; use it for a steam inhalation to alleviate coughs and congestion; mix into insect repellents.
  • Thyme has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties and is good for cleaning bites and stings. Add it to bathwater to sooth muscle aches.
Other Healing Oils
            The following are carrier oils:
  • Arnica oil is for bruises and muscle aches.
  • Castor oil is used for swelling, for contusions and to pull out toxins; it will stain clothing and skin.
  • Mullein flower oil is for earaches.
  • Calendula oil soothes most minor skin irritations. It also regenerates cell growth.
Until Next Month!!!