Healing Herbs

By Tamara McIntee – Chartered Herbalist

Stinging nettles, Urtica dioica in Latin, grow like a weed, often in wasteland areas. They have heart-shaped leaves covered with coarse stinging hairs. This useful plant grows abundantly on Texada Island, among other places.

You may remember stinging nettles from the Sleeping Beauty story. They surrounded her castle to keep the prince away. There is much more to nettles than their sting, however. This plant was cultivated in ancient Greece and Rome. At first possibly used to keep out intruders, it was then discovered to be a tasty food and useful medicinal plant. This herb was used to treat gout, rheumatism, snake bites and poisonous insect bites. In harvesting this plant nothing was wasted; even the stalks were used to make fabric.

When collecting fresh nettles, you may want to use yellow rubber gloves to avoid the sting. Be careful! Their sting will go right through clothing. If perchance you do get stung, a poultice made with fresh yellow dock leaves can help alleviate the pain.

Stinging nettles should be collected only in the spring while they are still young and tender. Once they are old and tough, wait until they go to seed-then the seeds can be collected and used as an aphrodisiac.

There are several ways to preserve nettles. They can be hung to dry, dried on screens or dried in brown paper bags. Test to see that they are completely dry by breaking the stalk in half: if it snaps crisply, they’re dry; if the stalk still bends, they need more time. Once dried they can be stored in air-tight glass jars away from the light.

by Tamara McIntee

Earthy, sweet, aromatic rosemary is one of the best known and easily grown common herbs. Her Latin name is rosmarinus officinalis. The magical name is ‘dew of the sea.’ Guardrobe and rose marie are two of her folk names. Incenser was an old French name for dried, powdered rosemary which was then rolled together with sugar to make a mixture burned as purification incense. First known to be used in ancient Egypt, rosemary was valued for beautification and purification.

There are several important caveats about using rosemary.  First, never ingest rosemary essential oil—its potency has a toxic effect on the body. Rosemary may also interfere with iron absorption, so should not be used by anyone with an iron deficiency. (To boost your body’s iron, drink stinging nettle tea regularly.) Rosemary will raise blood pressure; so individuals with a history of high blood pressure or hypertension should avoid it.  Steer clear of rosemary while pregnant, especially during the first trimester. Watch for skin reactions when using rosemary topically. Do not rub rosemary oil onto varicose veins because the oils increase blood circulation.  To use rosemary medicinally, listen to your body.  Use with care; do not overdose. Take in small doses throughout the day, not exceeding 8 ounces of infusion daily; in tincture form take only 40 drops, twice daily. Ms. Rosemary warns, “Moderation is the key.”

Peppermint, whose Latin name is mentha piperita, is a helpful agent in cases of stomach flu, nausea and indigestion. Peppermint oil relaxes the smooth muscles of the bowel, while its antibacterial properties fight the flu. Peppermint prevents gas and increases the action of bile in the body while alleviating the nasty sinus headache that often accompanies stomach flu. A well recognized folk remedy for over 200 years, mentha piperita can be differentiated from other types of mint by the purple color on the underside of the leaf.

It is best to plant peppermint in a contained space; otherwise this plant can take over your garden! To dry peppermint, cut the stalks and tie them into small bundles, to be hung in a warm, dark, dry spot. Test for complete dryness by snapping the stalk in half; if it bends at all, it needs more time.

The best time to harvest this plant is right before it flowers. As with most herbs, it is best when fresh, and the high content of volatile oil in peppermint proscribes boiling. To make a peppermint infusion, first let the water in your kettle sit for a few minutes after boiling. Next, pour the hot water over the herb and steep, covered, for 5-7 minutes. Strain and enjoy your peppermint tea!

by Tamara McIntee (chartered Herbalist)

With just a couple more months of winter to chill us out, February is a good month to heat life up while woodstoves are burning. Why not free our internal fires and share your passion with the one you love?

Here’s some of my research on herbs, foods, and scents that act as aphrodisiacs to the body and mind—keeping the home fires burning. (Note to pregnant mothers: Do not take any herbal remedies without contacting a professional health advisor.)

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by Tamara Mctee—Chartered Herbalist

Spring is on her way and flowers are peeping through the ground as Mother Earth awakens. This month I have chosen to focus on the herb Blue Flag, whose Latin name is Iris versicolor. It’s also sometimes known as fleur-de-lis or liver lily.

Blue flag is a North American perennial that grows well in wet lands and peaty soil. The root and root stock are the good parts, medicinally; the flowers are purely ornamental and not for human consumption. The leaves of an Iris can also be bruised and used externally on burns and sores. When processing Iris root, make sure to dry it very well: this root should never be used fresh. Blue Flag should be avoided during pregnancy.

Iris is uniquely relaxing and stimulating, letting your body relax while it does healing work. This herb clears blood impurities and influences the glandular system: the lymphatics, the liver, the gall ducts, and the intestinal glands. Blue Flag stimulates the flow of saliva and bile. She gets things moving when, for example, there is constipation associated with liver problems and biliousness. Iris is useful in treating a migrane, especially one caused by stomach disorder. Venereal diseases like syphilis and herpes can be treated with this versatile herb, which is also helpful in cases of chronic vomiting, heart burn, sinus problems, enlarged thyroid gland, uterine fibroids and chronic hepatitis.

To prepare Iris versicolor root, make a decoction by putting one teaspoon of the dry herb into one cup of water. Bring to a boil, allow to simmer ten to fifteen minutes, and drink three times a day. If taking a tincture, 3-10 milliliters three times a day can be helpful.

by Tamara Mctee—Chartered Herbalist

Thyme is famous for its use in savory culinary dishes. Often used with roasted chicken, and an excellent addition to winter soups and stews, in the kitchen this herb combines nicely with bay leaf and parsley. Not only an essential spice in your kitchen, thyme is also an primary herb for the medicine cabinet. It contains high amounts of two volatile oils, thymol and carvacrol, making thyme is an antispasmodic, antiseptic and a digestive.

Thyme has many aromatherapeutic uses. Burning essential oil of thyme will help cleanse the air. A combination of the essential oils thyme, mint and rosemary infused into the air can sooth headaches and migraines. Try mixing it with lavender essential oil to relieve insomnia.

Adding essential oil of thyme to a household spray bottle of water can help fight mold. A few drops in a small dish of olive oil can be used as an external rub to relieve muscular pain and rheumatism. Add some thyme essential oil to a plain cream as a handy antiseptic medium for your medicine cabinet.

There are many ways to use an infusion of thyme externally. A bath of thyme can sooth sore breasts in women and sore eyes in children. It’s a good external disinfectant for wounds, abscesses and burns. This tea can help heal bruises; a compress can be used to soothe a toothache. Thyme makes a good gargle for mouth ulcers when mixed with sage and raspberry leaves.

The Romans used to burn dried thyme to ward off “venomous creatures”, and in the Scottish Highlands, wild thyme tea was said to prevent nightmares. All myths aside, small doses of thyme tea taken before bed can prevent bedwetting in children.

by Tamara Mctee—Chartered Herbalist

The festive season brings the familiar, comforting scent of cloves and cinnamon from spicy apple cider or Mom’s holiday baking.

Cinnamon essential oil has a powerful effect on micro-organisms. When treating bronchial infections with essential oils in an infuser, cinnamon, cloves, and lavender oil together stimulate the immune system.

Try dropping some cinnamon or clove oil onto your vacuum cleaner’s bag before vacuuming. (Caution: never apply essential oils directly to skin; only lavender oil is safe to use in this way.)

Cloves’ Latin name, Eugenia caryophyllata, barely hints at what this aromatic herb can do. A stimulant, antispasmodic, antioxidant and antiseptic, this spice draws its intense flavor and reputation for fast relief from teeth and gum pain from the chemical eugenol. A few drops of clove oil in water can relieve nausea or constipation, stop vomiting, and curb flatulence and bloating.

The evergreen clove grew only on five small Indonesian islands, the Moluccas, before its introduction to east Africa, the West Indies, and China. The buds of the clove flower are picked before they open; then dried. The clove resembles a short nail (clavus in Latin). Whole cloves can be used in stewed fruit, hot spiced drinks, and marinades. In baking, ground cloves can be added to breads, cookies, spice cakes, curries, and meat dishes. For extra holiday fun, keep in mind that cloves are an aphrodisiac!

Cinnamonium zeylanicum and cinnamonium cassia, varieties of cinnamon, come from the inner bark of an evergreen, peeled, cut, rolled and dried. Whole sticks are of superior quality to the powder. Sticks can be grated, or ground in an electric blender: do not use a coffee grinder. (I broke mine trying that!)

by Tamara Mctee—Chartered Herbalist

The air is crisp. Leaves are falling. Autumn is definitely here. Now’s the time to harvest all those good roots which are so potent during this season.
Unearth them with a shovel. Cut the root away from the rest of the plant. Bang the dirt off. Then wash the remainder of the dirt off and scrub gently with a veggie brush. You can dry them with a clean towel.

Next, bruise the roots with a pestle or a clean rock. Slice lengthwise into slivers and allow to dry on a tray screen or wire rack. Dry the roots in a dry, well ventilated area, giving them a shake every day so they are sure to dry evenly. You will know they are ready to store in a sterilized amber jar when the root snaps and breaks instead of bending.

Roots keep their potency longer than leaves and flowers. They are good for two to three years, compared with only one year for leaves.
There are so many roots ready to harvest in this season—dandelion, comfrey, plantain, burdock, devil’s club, marshmallow—to name a few. Let’s focus on Mahonia aquifolium, more commonly known as Oregon grape or mountain grape (pictured above).

A good time to harvest Oregon grape root and bark is in the late autumn and early spring. This plant resembles the holly plant, with sharp leaves, but the root is bright yellow, almost the color of bile. This root actually stimulates bile production and aids the digestion of fats and oils. It can be useful in weight-loss plans when a sluggish system is suspected. A tonic for the gall bladder, Oregon grape root also clears up congestion of the liver, especially where there is nausea and vomiting.

by Tamara Mctee—Chartered Herbalist

Melissa officinalis, more commonly known as lemon balm, balm mint, cure all or gentle balm, has excellent results soothing all different kinds of nervous problems. Lemon balm lowers the blood pressure by toning the heart and circulatory system, calms palpitations of the heart and anxiousness, chasing away the black clouds of obsession and neurosis. It soothes nervous headaches and strengthens the memory, a blessing for those of us who tend to be absent-minded.

Lovely lemon balm is a safe herb to use during pregnancy, nursing, and for babies and young children. While pregnant, if you experience dizzy spells or headaches, relax, put your feet up, and drink a nice warm cup of lemon balm tea. This herb is also pleasant as a belly balm or oil.

Use lemon balm for chest colds, take hot for flu. Eases stomach and intestinal cramps, curbs flatulence – try chewing a fresh piece of lemon balm before or after a meal. Ladies – to relieve menstrual cramps or to bring on your period add a couple of handfuls of lemon balm to a nice hot bath.

Asthma sufferers rejoice – add mullein leaves, comfrey root, and lemon balm to hot water and infuse for 10 minutes for an attack-soothing tea. Sometimes it helps to repeat the mantra “Ahhhhhhhh!” while you wait for your tea – it helps open up the airways.
Melissa contains sedative oils, so parents may want to try giving some leaf for chewing to a high-strung child, or serving lemon balm iced tea at the next big birthday party. Lemon balm, chamomile and lavender flowers make a nice bed time blend for insomniacs. For a pillow to promote sleep, collect enough lemon balm leaves, mix in some lavender flowers and stuffing for softness, and voila – sleepy-time pillow is ready!
When used in an ointment lemon balm can ease rheumatic pains, heal bug bites, bruises, and sores. Now you can see why this herb is sometimes called a cure all.

by Tamara Mctee—Chartered Herbalist

Aloe vera is famous for its healing quality when soothing sunburn. But this succulent plant also has a myriad of other uses, both internal and external.

There are quite a few internal uses for the aloe plant that I will talk about here, but first a word of caution. When taken internally, moderation must be used. Overuse of aloe vera can cause loss of electrolytes, especially potassium. Overuse as a laxative can cause possible weakening of the rectum. During pregnancy aloe should never be taken internally because of its strong abortifacient qualities.

When used in moderation aloe vera is helpful in cases of colitis, peptic ulcers, and as an excellent colon cleanser. It can be taken to help keep a woman’s menstruation cycle regular; taken every three hours in dried powder form will help expel pinworms. In cases of constipation aloe helps to make things go again.

To do an aloe vera purge, make aloe vera juice by following these directions: cut two 8- to 10-inch pieces of the fresh plant. Wash, then blend with ginger tea and a spoonful of honey – using just enough liquid to blend nicely. Chug it down about a half hour before a meal – this should get things moving nicely.

When used externally aloe can treat infected wounds – placing the plant’s gel on the wounds will prevent and draw out infection while soothing the pain. It is also useful for bug bites, poison ivy, x-ray burns, acne, dry skin, and wrinkles. Apply to abscesses, haemorrhoids, and canker sores. When combined with cayenne pepper and raspberry leaf tea, aloe makes a nice gargle for sore throats.

Used as a conditioning shampoo, aloe leaves hair soft, shiny, and manageable. Simply rub fresh aloe gel into your hair and scalp the night before showering. In the morning, lather up and rinse, using water only.

Remember: the fresh plant is always best. Keep it in your window sill and it will serve you well.