Wildcrafting

What is wild crafting? It is simply harvesting wild growing plants for use. Our focus has become directed to wild crafting this year as we are excited to identify and harvest the things growing on our very natural 85 acres which we just moved (in Dec.) on to homestead. We have 60% pasture and 40% woods. We have 5 small springs, and lots of wild life. It was last used (SEVERAL years ago) as a grazing cattle farm with about 50 head of cattle...but it has been sitting for along time..This is very exciting because it has had time to work out the nitrates from the cattle and also we were ensured that chemicals have not been used on it for many many years (at least the last two owners). (Perfect conditions for wild crafting!) Since we live in the country, we have been able to talk with previous owners and family of previous owners and learn the property's history. That is pretty cool!

Anyway...I digress...back to wildcrafting. My garden planting is "not happening" this year, since our attentions are in so many other directions on the homestead. (There are 2 blueberry bushes, 4 tomato plants and 2 pepper plants despite my severe neglect.) I have "let that go" with the intent to pick it up next year. This year, one of the many things I want to focus on is what is already growing here....Wildcrafting. We are armed with resources, mentors, courses and motivation to explore our land. (More on all those things to come in future posts!) I have tweaked the kids lesson plans to include this as a part of our school so it takes precedence (we live a lifestyle of learning, "schooling" year round). I have the dehydrators set up on the back porch ready to receive a bumper crop of delights so that we can experiment all year long. I have jars and a dark pantry prepared for storage. I have bees wax grated, assorted oils, alcohol and glycerin standing by. Homemade muslin tea bags, my Berkey Filter and jelly cloths. Not to mention I've got a family of 8 homesteading for the first time, with every kind of scratchy/itchy stingy plant and bug out their. There will be no shortage of remedies needed i am sure. :-) I will be featuring information on herbs, as well as plants, trees, and critters we discover on the farm. Of course we will also have recipes, resources, tips and techniques too! My focus will not only be herbs for medicine but also for food. This is going to be so much fun!

So far we have identified/studied/harvested (off the top of my head): Honeysuckle, Roses, Musk Thistle, Yarrow, Elder, Plantain, Burdock, Fleabane, Red Clover, Cow Vetch, Poison Ivy, :-), Black Berries, and Ox Eye Daisies.

Yesterday me and my 4 year old son, took the 4 wheeler in the pasture across the street (our property has a dead end road running through the center of it). We have 8 of the neighbors horses grazing in that field, to help us manage the grass until we get some animals or a tractor of our own. The horses were all very curious about the 4 wheeler. My son and I were off it and approaching our specimen (a 12 foot tall Elder bush surrounded in a thicket of blackberries!). The horses, surrounded the four wheeler and started sniffing it and nibbling at it...if only they could talk! They want to taste and smell this strange thing that we road in on...I had a back pack with some supplies and loppers strapped to the back of it on the rack and I had to shoo two horses away from it because they were yanking on it trying to get it off the machine. I thought it was very funny. I tried to get pictures, but they didn't turn out well...I was too close to it all and I didn't want to vacate the scene long enough to get a good shot with my boy in the midst of all those horses...but I wish you could have seen it. My four wheeler was clearly "the new kid on the block" to the herd! As it turned out, after getting scratched up pretty good, I only took a small test batch of blossoms home to play with...I am hoping to get DH to help me go back and manage the thicket to harvest more. I want to use discernment in how many blooms I take, because I will sacrifice the berries they would have turned into in doing so...and I am looking forward to harvesting those too! I can see the bush from my front porch with binoculars, so I am going to try to beat the birds to the berries at the end of the summer. The bush was teaming with life though! I never heard so many bees buzzin'! I wonder if their might be a hive close by! What an amazing thing that would be!!!! I've been praying for local honey! LOL!

Today, we "went to town" to get some muslin and stop at Tractor Supply for some industrial weed eater attachments, and I saw all kinds of treasures along the road side! I am going to have to find a "I stop for weeds" bumper sticker soon! :-) (My DH humors me and does stop. He's so wonderful!)

Stay tuned...if you are like me - you will never see weeds the same again!

Garlic Oil

One of the staples in my kitchen is garlic oil. It is so useful, so delicious, and super healthful and easy to make! You can use it in place of any cooking oil used for savory cooking. It effortlessly adds so much flavor to your cooking. I always have a handy pouring jar of it in my fridge. (not pictured) Than I started experimenting with it by adding herbs to it and that another level of YUM!!

How to: I like to use extra virgin olive oil and whole fresh garlic cloves. You simply put your peeled garlic cloves in the bottom of a Mason jar (I started with pints, but not I make it by the half gallon!) and fill it up with oil. Put a lid on and but it in the fridge to marinate. Its that easy! Its will start to gain flavor in a few hours, but you can let it sit for weeks (even months) as it gets stronger.

As long as you put it in the fridge it is a way to store your garlic! You dip a spoon in and pull cloves out and use them like usual (as long as a little oil is OK). I often buy garlic in bulk; I also started growing it! This is one of my favorite ways to store it. It is the wonder herb! :-) The pictures above show oil in the making. I don't have many cloves in these jars because this is for the purpose of the oil and I plan to let them marinate for a long time. If I were doing it for the purpose of storing the garlic, I would fill the jar with cloves than oil to cover, so it would look different than this. When the garlic to oil ratio is switched to more garlic than oil, I would top the oil off (because it would be VERY strong) or keep that for my medicinals.

Medicinally speaking: Garlic oil is a great way to kick colds, flues and assorted sicknesses quickly! If you haven't put garlic in your natural healing (and preventative) regiment I want to encourage you to start! It works! You can take it like a germ killing elixir by the spoon full. You can make it a point to incorporate large amounts of it in meals to protect others from getting sick while fighting current sickness at the same time. Another very effective way to use garlic oil is to massage it into your feet at night before you go to bed, (using a generous amount) and putting a pair of socks on (to help keep it on your feet and off your sheets). You may wake up with garlic breath (YES, from putting garlic oil on your FEET!) but you will heal much faster, maybe even kick it overnight! I know most people don't think of treating sore throats or coughs with oil on their feet...but try it! It is wonderful to use with other natural methods too.

Fast Food: Repeat after me, "Garlic Oil = Fast food"! Toss garlic oil into pasta, or rice, other grains or potatoes, or veggies or to dress a salad and you have fast nutritious and delicious food! (Dip crusty bread or Pita in it and you'll think your in the Promise Land! Also quite tasty if you add Parmesan cheese or balsamic vinegar or herbs to that bread dip! Can you tell we like it that way?) If you pull out some cloves and simmer them in filtered water for a little while, with a little sea salt and pepper and you will make the tastiest broth with a snap! Drizzle it on popcorn. Use it to make super tasty tortilla chips by spritzing some on cut flour or corn tortillas (with salt) and than baking them until crisp. YUM! Garlic toast! Just spread on bread and sprinkle a little sea salt on it and pop it in the oven until toasted. (Garlic toast and garlic broth are favorite "quick sick foods" in our house) You can also sub it for the oil in your bread or cracker recipes! (It is a very tasty sub in most bread recipes that call for oil..except for Challah...that is much better left alone with that mild nutty sweetness we have come to expect in our Challah! I learned that the hard way. :-)) Garlic oil also makes the most amazing croutons and will add a whole new dimension to grilled cheese (in place of butter on the bread). For an Asian flare, add some ginger (and/or sesame oil or chili paste) and Braggs (or soy sauce); for Mexican add cumin and chili powder. For Italian add the Italian herbs; for French Herbs d France and red wine; for Greek lemon and basil; You get the picture. Use garlic oil with your spice rubs on the grill this summer....oh oh another super yummy (and beautiful) summer treat is fresh mozzarella cheese, juicy red tomatoes from your garden, both sliced & layered alternately (like fallen dominoes) on a plate, topped with chopped fresh basil and drizzled with garlic oil! It also makes a wonderful base for marinading grass feed meets and wild game!

Have you had enough suggestions? Make and use the oil, would ya? :-)

I might mention, me and my husband's first date was at a Garlic Restaurant in San Fransisco called, " The Stinkin' Rose". We love us some garlic! :-) I also might mention that we don't get sick very often, and when we do...it doesn't hang around long. (Now you know that deodorant recipe in a previous post must REALLY WORK!)

Here is a tasty combination that is one of our favorites. I copied it from the ingredients label of one of our favorite little family owned Italian Restaurants in PA, called Fiorentinos. It was their house oil. I make it a little different each time, but its always good! It is pictured in one of the jars of this post. I subbed a dried Ancho Pepper for the jalapeno pepper this time, because it is what I had in stock. I use dried herbs in my oils.

Fiorentinos Olive Oil
Olive Oil
Garlic
Rosemary
Bay Leaf
Pepper Corns
Jalapeno Pepper (fresh)

If you make it too strong, just add oil to dilute it or tweak it by adding more of something and taking out the "too much" item and letting it sit longer. Oils are really easy and fun to tailor to your tastes.

Lastly, I got a very informative link about the Medical Benefits of Garlic from my friend at Our Wild Journey that I wanted to share with you. After reading it, i think I have decided to chop my garlic for my oil from now on...it says that it is suppose to release more of the good stuff. Check them both out if you get the chance.

An important note: Garlic oil should be stored in the fridge or freezer or made per use. Fresh garlic should be stored in a cool (60 degrees-) dark place in the head. Like other fresh low acidic foods, storing garlic oil at room tempature creates a very attractive environment for botulism to develop.

L'chaim!

The BEST Deoderant

I got this recipe from a friend who raved about it. Then another friend tried it and raved about it. Since I have been on the lookout and tested what seems like EVERY natural deodorant on the market for 20 years (I am not exaggerating...I used to run a whole foods business!) I was a bit resigned to the fact that one must reapply natural deodorant and one must
freshen up through the day. Those days are over! I am so absolutely tickled!!! It is simple and easy to make too.

Equal parts Corn Starch and Baking Soda (you might try 1/4 C each) and Coconut Oil*.

You just put your powders in a bowl than take a spoon full of (hard) coconut oil and work it through the powders with the back of the spoon to form a smooth paste in the consistency you like. I store it in a little Pyrex jar or 1/2 pint jelly jar. Scoop a little out with your finger and apply to your pits like lotion. It doesn't stain, it doesn't show, it goes on "dry feeling", it lasts ALL day and night, it has no scent**.

*For storage sake -note: Do not substitute another oil for coconut oil. If you are not familiar with it, it gets hard when cool (room temp) and wet (like olive oil) when warmed in storage. So keep that in mind...I just keep it in my bathroom and it stays solid, but if it gets super hot or stored in a car while traveling in summer or something - it will soften or "get wet" in storage. It doesn't hurt it...you might want to keep that in mind with your container for travel.

** I plan to make another batch with essential oils for fragrance and added bacterial protection, however, it is nice to have one unscented so you have other fragrance options (and DH doesn't smell like lavender!). I like to use oils and flower essences from time to time.

p.s. It doesn't sting after a shave either!

Ticked

In the last 48 hours we have removed 11 ticks from our beagle; 2 from my 4 year old; 3 from my 9 year old; 1 from my 3 month old; and one from my 3 yr old and one from my husband. Welcome to farm life...this is our first Spring here.

Does anyone know of an herbal remedy for ticks and fleas THAT WORKS? (especially ticks) Safe for people and pets. We have tried several over the counter premade herbal products, that do not seem to work. I would LOVE to find a homemade recipe THAT WORKS. We have resorted to Frontline for the pets...but would love an alternative for them too.

Desperately Yours,

Wildcrafting Herbs

Last summer I had a passion ignited for wildcrafting herbs. Basically, that just means identifying, harvesting and using herbs that grow wild. We bought 85 acers with lots of life on it. So I got some good clippers and started doing some homework. Here are some great links I wanted to share, but forgot to post them (oops).

http://www.wildcrafting.com/
http://www.wildcrafting.net/
http://www.herbmentor.com/

Herb TV

Wildcrafting is a great survival tool for the whole family to learn, weather you are camping, at a park, in the wilderness or in your back yard. This has become a major focus in "Science" in our homeschool and will continue to be for years to come! Wildcrafting skills will prove to be a valuable tool in maintaining natural healthly lifestyles and you could even save someones life! (Not to mention it is very economical!)

Herbal Remedies for Teething Baby

The Encyclopedia for Natural Healing for Children and Infants,by Mary Bove ND
(my comments in color)

• Give herbs to reduce discomfort, sooth inflamation, and support the immune system. This helps to avoid secondary infection and fever. Use calendula flowers, catnip, echinacea, elder flowers, meadowsweet, lemon balm, or usnea. Mix these with herbs such as chamomile flowers, linden flowers, willowbark, oe wintergreen leaves to calm and decrease pain. These herbs can be used as teas, popsicles, glycerites or tinctures. Chamomile, Lemon Balm and Catnip would be my first picks. You could also add a little lavendar in the mix. Freezing tea in icecube trays or saturating a washcloth in an herbal blend and freezing it is a great way to to apply the herbs ot the gums. The cold is also benficial as an anti inflammatory and pain reliever. You can also use a dropper or for bigger kids let it cool and give them a sippy cup.
• Herbal chewing sticks are long thin pieces of licorice root or marshmellow root that can be given to the baby to chew on. The sweet taste of both herbs is very pleasant.
• Try teething tablets. Several combinations of homepathic remedies for teething are available in healthfood stores. (This was a popular alternative to many of my customers when I had the health food club. Hyland brand was commonly ordered.)
• Make an herbal gum rub. Rub the gums with a dab of honey combined with a dab of essential oil of clove or wintergreen. This reduces pain and swelling. 2-3x a day. (I am a HUGE fan of Clove oil for the teeth/gum issues. But i am very picky about which oil I use, all are not equal when it comes to medicianl use. I am a fan of YOUNG LIVING OILS. Clove can be "HOT" so you have to dilute it for the kids. I have always used olive oil (or other good oil), but this honey idea is worth trying! **
• I have also used Bach's Recue Remedy. You can rub it right on the gums, I have also dropped it on the nipple at feeding time.
  
  In the book Natural Healing for Babies and Children by Aviva Jill Romm here are few suggestions:

• Velarian Tincture (You can buy it at the healthfood store). Althugh it is strong smelling, she says it actually has a pleasant taste. 5- 10 drops rub right on the gums. She says it's one of her favorite teething remedies.
• Chickweed and Burdock Root (tea or tincture)are reliable in reducing gum inflamation. Rub directly on the gum.
• In a pinch, you can rub brandy on the gums.

** There are those in the main stream who recommend "no honey for the first year" for fear of botulism. Personally, I go light on the honey generally speaking for the infants, but have no concern about it in baked foods, because it is a mute point. Same is true in most medicine. For instance when honey is paired with clove oil, the clove oil's properties are powerfully antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral (to name a few). I think it would cancel out anything that may possibly reside in the honey. The reason why it is a problem in infants (and not any older) is because it may be such a mild trace of these elements and babies are generally more susceptible as they are working out digestion issues. However, I also think it has A LOT to do with the health of the baby. For instance; I believe that nursing full term babies (from healthy moms) are more protected FROM ALL MANOR OF THINGS, where as formula babies would be at higher risk to uncooked honey when not mixed with other medicinal compounds. That is my 2 cents about it. However, I thought I should mention it because everyone should be aware and make informed choices.

This Post was shared at The Wood Wife's Journal

Kid's Calcium Tea

I think I got this recipe by Rosemary Gladstar. It is a winner in our house! (It's not just for kids!)
3 parts Rose
2 parts
lemon balm
lemon grass
oats
nettle
raspberryleaf (or billberry)
1/2 part cinnamon

Stevia to taste

I store my teas in a Mason Jar and use about 1-2 tsp per mug. (also good cold!)

Nutritional Herbology

Nutritional Herbology, A Reference Guide to Herbs, by Mark Pedesen
This is a wonderful resource to use to find out what nutrients are in herbs to make your own teas and herbal mixes. I have never seen anything like it. It gives you the chemical breakdown and amounts of the components in many many herbs. It gives a comprehensive description of each herb, its individual components and its uses, A very worthy resource for anyone who uses herbs to heal and be well!

http://www.amazon.com/Nutritional-Herbology-Reference-Guide-Herbs/dp/1885653077

Vita Mix Tea

2 parts Peppermint

1 part
Alfalfa
Nettle
Oatstraw
Lemongrass
Red Clover
Hibiscus
Dried Goji Berries


Mix it up, keep it in a mason jar. Use 1-2tsp per mug of tea. It's tasy and packed with nutriants.


Here are just some of the nutrients. I serve teas to my kids instead of juice or things like that. They love them in thier sippy cups and water bottles warm or cold:

• Peppermint: Very High in Magnesium, Phospherous, Riboflavon, Thiamine, Vit A - High in Calcium, Ash, Fat, Iron, Niacin, Potassium, Protein, Sodium
• Alfalfa: Very High in Crude Fiber - High in Cobalt, Fat, Niacin, Protien, Riboflavin, Vit A & C
• Nettle: Very High in Calcium, Chromium, Magnesium, Zinc - High in Cobalt, Manganese, Phospphorus, potassium, Protein, Riboflavon, Selenium, Silicon, Thiamine, Vit A & C
• Oat Straw (Oatgrass): Very High in Chromium, Magnesium, Silicon, Sodium - High in Calcium, Crude Fiber, Dietary Fiber, Niacin, Vitamin A
• Lemongrass: a good source of Folate, Magnesium, Zinc and Copper, and a very good source of Iron, Potassium and Manganese.
• Red Clover: Very High in Chromium, Tin - High in Calcium, Fat, Magnesium, Niacin, Phosphorus, Potassium, Thiamine, Vit C
• Hibiscus: a good source of Vitamin A& C
• Goji Berries: You'll have to look this one up, but I know they are loaded with vits and antioxidents. :-)

Cherry Bark Blend Tea

This is a pleasant tasting medicinal tea that I developed to help sooth cough and cold. It has become a family favorite.

2 Parts
Lemon Thyme
Wild Cherry Bark

1 Part
Mullein
Peppermint
Orange
Hyssop

1/2 Part
Horehound

I make a batch, store it in glass jars in the dark, so we have it when we need it. I have made this into a tincture too, but it so pleasant to sip, we use more of the tea. Enjoy!

Lung and Chest Tea

This is a great remedy I developed for bronchial ailments:

2 parts Licorice Root

1 part each
Cinnamon
Echinacea
Elecampane
Ginger
Astragalus Root

Mix up a batch and star it in a glass jar in a dark place, to have on hand when needed.

*I never liked licorice flavored candy or anything like that, but the herb is DELIGHTFUL in tea, so if you have not tried it, I encourage you to give it a chance. It is soothing and sweet. It is now one of my favorite ingrediants to use to cover the flavor of other herbs that are not so delightful. :-) Of course it's healing properties a very valuable too. :-)

Herbs and Pregnancy

Many herbs stimulate the uterus and are unsafe for women who are pregnant. I have gathered this information form several resources to help with awareness during pregnancy. You are responsible for your own health.

These herbs should be avoided for who are pregnant:

• Arbor vitae (Thuja occidentalis): A uterine and menstrual stimulant that could damage the fetus.
• Autumn crocus (Colichicum autumnale): Can affect cell division and lead to birth defects.
• Barberry (Berberis vulgaris): Contains high levels of berberine, known to stimulate uterine contractions.
• Basil oil: A uterine stimulant: use only during labour.
• Beth root (Trillium erectum): A uterine stimulant; use only during labour.
• Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosus): May lead to premature contractions; avoid unless under professional guidance. Safe to use during childbirth.
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis): A uterine stimulant that in quite small doses also causes vomiting.
• Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides): A uterine stimulant to avoid unless under professional guidance. Safe to use during childbirth.
• Broom (Cytisus scoparius): Causes uterine contractions so should be avoided during pregnancy; in parts of Europe it is given after the birth to prevent blood loss.
• Bugleweed (Lycopus virginicus): Interferes with hormone production in the pituitary gland, so best avoided.
• Clove oil: A uterine stimulant used only during labour.
• Comfrey (Symphytum officinale): Contains toxic chemicals that will cross the placenta; do not take internally.
• Cotton root (Gossypium herbaceum): Uterine stimulant traditionally given to encourage contractions during a difficult labour, but rarely used medicinally today.
• Damiana (Turnera aphrodisiaca) An aphrodisiac that stimulates sex hormones, a nutritive for the endocrine system and promotes healthy libido. Not for use in pregnancy.
• Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens): Uterine stimulant, oxytocic.
• Dong quai (Angelica polymorpha var. sinensis): Uterine and menstrual stimulant, best avoided during pregnancy; ideal after childbirth.
• Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium): Uterine stimulant; may cause premature contractions.
• Golden seal (Hydrastis canadensis): Uterine stimulant; may lead to premature contractions but safe during childbirth.
• Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus): Uterine stimulant; may cause premature contractions.
• Horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) Reduces vascular fragility and moderates inflammatory swelling. Helpful for varicose veins, spider veins, and hemorrhoids. Not for use in pregnancy.
• Juniper oil (Juniperus communis): A uterine stimulant; use only during labour.
• Lady's mantle (Alchemilla xanthoclora): A uterine stimulant; use only in labour.
• Liferoot (Senecio aureus): A uterine stimulant containing toxic chemicals that will cross the placenta.
• Mistletoe (Viscum album): A uterine stimulant containing toxic chemicals that may cross the placenta.
• Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris): A uterine stimulant that may also cause birth defects; avoid unless under professional guidance. Also avoid when breastfeeding.
• Pennyroyal American (Hedeoma pulegioides): Reputed uterine stimulant to be avoided during pregnancy.
• European pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium): A uterine stimulant that may also cause birth defects; avoid unless under professional guidance. Also avoid when breastfeeding.
• Pokeroot (Phytolacca decandra): May cause birth defects.
• Pseudoginseng (Panax notoginseng): May cause birth defects.
• Pulsatilla (Anemone pulsatilla): Menstrual stimulant best avoided during pregnancy; limited use during lactation.
• Rue (Ruta graveolens): Uterine and menstrual stimulant; may cause premature contractions.
• Sassafras (Sassafras albidum): A uterine stimulant that may also cause birth defects.
• Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris): A uterine stimulant; use only during labour.
• Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum): A uterine stimulant that may also cause birth defects; avoid unless under professional guidance. Also avoid when breastfeeding.
• Squill (Urginea maritima): A uterine stimulant that may also cause birth defects.
• Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare): A uterine stimulant that may also cause birth defects.
• Wild yam (Diascorea villosa): A uterine stimulant to avoid unless under professional guidance; safe during labour.
• Wormwood (Artemisia absinthum): A uterine stimulant that may also cause birth defects; avoid unless under professional guidance. Also avoid when breastfeeding.
  

I love to use Medicinal Strength Essential Oils for healing, however, some things that are fine for culinary use or a small accents in teas, are dangerous in high doses or with excessive use. Here is a list of some of those things. Essential oils are considered "high dosage", even though you only use small amounts because they are so concentrated. (Which makes them GREAT medicine any other time!) So be wise and careful.

Herbs to use only in moderation during pregnancy. In other words, High dosage especially for extended periods of time or essential oils are concerns but can still be used. I wouldn't "panic" about these, but I thought I would post them anyway in case there are folks who use them in extra ordinary doses:

• Alder buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula): Strongly purgative, so should not be taken in high doses or for long periods.
• Angelica (Angelica archangelica): A uterine stimulant in high doses, but quite safe as a culinary herb.
• Anise and aniseed oil (Pimpinella anisum): A uterine stimulant in high doses, but quite safe as a culinary herb; avoid using the oil entirely.
• Bitter orange (Citrus aurantiam): A uterine stimulant in high doses, but quite safe as a culinary herb or in moderate use.
• Caraway (Carum carvi): A uterine stimulant in high doses, but quite safe as a culinary herb.
• Cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana): Strongly purgative, so should not be taken in high doses or for long periods.
• Celery seed and oil (Apium graveolens): A uterine stimulant in high doses, but quite safe as a culinary herb.
• Chamomile oil: The oil is a potent uterine stimulant to be avoided, but the dried or fresh herb is safe in moderation.
• Chili (Capsicum spp): Avoid high doses as they may lead to heartburn; can flavor breast milk when breast-feeding. Moderate culinary use is fine.
• Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): A uterine stimulant in high doses, but quite safe as a culinary herb; avoid the essential oil completely.
• Cowslip (Primula veris): Strongly purgative and a uterine stimulant in high doses.
• Elder bark: Strongly purgative, so should not be taken in high doses or for long periods.
• False Unicorn Root (Chamaelirium luteum): A hormonal stimulant to avoid unless under professional guidance. Reproductive tonic, used to promote female infertility. Cleansing to the reproductive system and improves delayed menses, leucorrhea, ovarian pain, and male impotence. Contains estrogen precursors. Eases vomiting in pregnancy (small doses). Helps prevent threatened miscarriage.
• Fennel oil: A uterine stimulant in high doses, but quite safe as a culinary herb; avoid using the oil entirely.
• Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum): A uterine stimulant in high doses, but quite safe as a culinary herb or during labour.
• Gotu kola (Centella asiatica): Possible uterine stimulant; use in moderation for occasional teas only.
• Jasmine oil: A uterine stimulant best reserved for childbirth to ease labour.
• Lovage (Levisticum officinale): A uterine stimulant traditionally used in slow and difficult labour; safe as a culinary herb.
• Marjoram oil (Origanum vulgare): A uterine stimulant in high doses, but quite safe as a culinary herb; avoid using the oil entirely.
• Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca): A uterine stimulant in high doses; best limited to the final weeks and during labour.
• Myrrh (Commiphora molmol): A uterine stimulant that may lead to premature contractions; avoid high doses.
• Nutmeg Oil: Inhibits prostaglandin production and contains hallucinogens that may affect the fetus; once erroneously regarded as an abortifacient. Safe in normal culinary use.
• Oregano (Origanum X marjoricum; O. onites): A uterine stimulant in high doses, but quite safe as a culinary herb; avoid using the oil entirely.
• Parsley (Petroselinum crispum): Uterine stimulant that may also irritate the fetus in high doses; safe in normal culinary use.
• Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata): A uterine stimulant in high doses; safe for moderate use.
• Peppermint oil: A uterine stimulant; avoid the oil entirely, although low doses of the dried herb can be used.
• Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus): A uterine stimulant in high doses; best limited to the final six to eight weeks and during labour.
• Rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum): Strongly purgative, so should not be taken in high doses or for long periods.
• Rosemary oil: A uterine stimulant in high doses; safe in moderation and normal culinary use. Avoid using the oil entirely.
• Saffron (Crocus sativa): A uterine stimulant in high doses; safe in normal culinary use.
• Sage oil: A uterine and hormonal stimulant in high doses, but quite safe as a culinary herb; avoid using the oil entirely.
• Senna (Senna alexandrina): Strongly purgative, so should not be taken in high doses or for long periods.
• Squaw Vine (Mitchella repens) Tonifies the uterus and helps promote an easy labor. Helps to ease cramping and relaxes the nervous system. Not for use in pregnancy until it is time for labor.
• Thyme oil (Thymus vulgaris): Some reports claim that it acts as a uterine stimulant, though the research is disputed; the herb is quite safe in cooking.
• Vervain (Verbene officinalis): A uterine stimulant in high doses; best limited to the final weeks and during labour.
• White horehound (Marrubium vulgare): Reputed uterine stimulant; safe in moderation in cough drops.
• Wood betony (Stachys officinalis): A uterine stimulant in high doses; best limited to the final weeks and during labour.
• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): A uterine stimulant in high doses; best limited to the final weeks and during labour.

A Just FEW Helpful Herbs During Pregnancy:

• Parsley, Celery, Land Cress. Rocket are taken for vitamins and minerals. Do not use the seeds.
• Raspberry Leaf is used to tone the uterus.
• Cramp Bark (Vlburnum opulus) Relaxes muscle tension and spasms, soothes ovarian pain and uterine cramps. Used to prevent threatened miscarriage.
• For Morning Sickness: Camomile Tea (1 cup before rising); Ginger ( tincture, up to 1ml/day, 2-3 drops at a time); Peppermint (Tinture 2 ml in hot water 3x daily); Black Horehound (tincture -2 ml in hot water 3x daily)
  

Helpful Herbs For Delivery and After:

• Goldenseal can be taken during labor to assist the uterus.
• St. John's Wort (apply an oil infusion to the area, or add a strong infusion to a hip bath)
• Use the oil with added lavendar to heal the perineum after birth.
• Prepare a tincture with oats to use for postpartum depression.
• To boost milk production for nursing after the baby is born: Fenugreek, Fennel, Caraway, Borage and Milk Thistle are good.
• Sage is used to reduce milk production when weaning.
• Colic is soothed with Fennel
• For Mastitus, bruise Cabbage leaves, or Echinacea and use as a compress.
• Use calendula cream for diaper rash and cracked nipples.
• Caraway tincture or infusion, can help ease labor pains and stimulate the flow of breast milk.

A friend forwarded me some information from another friend who is an herbalist. This is what she had to say about herbal dangers during pregnancy, so I thought I would include it here as it appears to be wisdom:

All of the herbal advice I am giving is straight from what I learned at the School of Natural Healing. Their knowledge will probably differ drastically from other herbalists. What they know and what works is from tried and true years and years and years of case studies. (Decades and centuries). Other herbalists will tell you a lot of herbs are dangerous for pregnancy. This is based off of FDA herbal studies, where they isolate one compound in the herb and mulitply is dozens of times (synthetically) then inject it into an animal. Herbs in their whole food state (as the bible instructs) are for our food and medicine. There are some herbs that are best to avoid in early stages of pregnancy but can be used in the last few weeks for labor. (For instance pennyroyal, and black and blue cohosh). I also learned, and you may want to heed my learning, that colloidal silver is really not good for our bodies. It does> not differentiate between the good and bad flora. It will> kill infection and bacteria, but also the good stuff that we need to fight infection. Colloidal silver is great to disenfect water, if you need to. However, garlic is anatural antibiotic, antifungal, infection fighting, flu fighting, plague fighting herb that does no harm............

She also said:

Being pregnant you will really really need a natural source of calcium. The baby is going to draw all it needs from your food, but if you aren't getting enough, it will pull the calcium from your teeth, bones, veins, even muscles. Calcium tablets are not a good way to assimilate calcium. Take calcium via herbs and foods. All green leafy veggies, (Lots of them), spirulina, teas made from Horsetail grass, dandelion root and leaf, nettle (especially nettle), alfalfa. Drink teas all day. Make a big gallon and you can drink it cold. (I actually experianced my son drawing calcium from my teeth in my second pregnancy. I will post some of my tea recipes on this site under "herbals" that are very high in calcium and tasty too. They will say so. If you are interested.)

I am thankful for this information; I will still be cautious and dicerning with what I use during my pregnancy, I use alternatives to some things, but it has given me a little more "freedom" to use things I thought would be fine but showed up as "cautions" in my search. Especially if they do not state a specific side effect and is something that is very common (like peppermint for instance).

I hope you find this helpful and welcome any further comments.

Tea Bag Dryer

My (almost 9yr old) son surprised me with a prototype of my upcoming Mother's Day gift. I am a blooming herbalist, making my own teas, tincture and salves for our family's health and medicinal needs. I am really big into the teas. I have made my own reusable tea bags out of muslin because I found they work better than the metal tea balls. This has resulted in me "drying tea bags" above the kitchen sink constantly, since the whole family drinks tea regularly. I was using the tops of wine bottles, but it was really unsightly, impractical and took up a lot of space. So my son (being the industrious little creative engineer he is!) made a very cute solution for me for Mother's Day! We hung some wet bags up on it and it works great! He says it's just a prototype, that he wants to make another one which is more sturdy because it will get so much use. Don't you love the details? The green grass, and laundry basket with muslin in it! I just LOVE IT!

Midwifery Tips - Preparing the Cervix for Birth

My first Midwife taught me to use Evening Primrose Oil in preparing the cervix for a healthy birth. The evening primrose oil softens the cervix, making the birthing process more "comfortable". (Ha ha) This was a blessed thing, because my first delivery was breach - butt first! Talk about uncomfortable. :-) I have had midwives comment on the fact that my cervix was like "mush" when giving birth. I have never torn. So this is something I always recommend when people ask.

Application:

Any good quality Evening Primrose Gelcaps will do. I prefer to get the strongest ones I can find. They are bigger to swallow, but handy for the second part of the process. You could get the smaller cap to take orally if you prefer.

You start 6 weeks before your due date:

• Taking 1 capsule daily for the first four days.
• Than increase to 2 caps for the next three days.
• Then increase to 3 caps for the next week.
• Than increase to 4 caps for the next week.
• Than increase to 5 caps for the next week.
• When you are two weeks away from your due date, while continuing the oral dosage, you add a topical regimen. You start applying the oil topically along the vaginal walls daily in the evening at bed time. Do this by poking a clean pin into the gel cap and squeezing out the gel and applying topically.

Midwifery Tips - Hemorrhoid Healing

Wishgarden Herbs has many wonderful remedies, here is another one that I have used; now called Hemm Sitz. http://www.wishgardenherbs.com/index.php?load=pregnancy&group_id=9#Hemm'%20Sitz I plan to make my own now since I am a budding herbalist.

Ingredients: Witch Hazel leaf & bark,Yarrow flowers, White Oak bark, Plantain leaf, Comfrey leaf & Sea salt.

Directions: Gently shake jar to redistribute any settled herbs. Place a handful (approx. 1/3 cup) of herbs into a quart of boiling water. Simmer for 10-12 minutes. Strain out herbs and add remaining liquid to warm water in Sitzbath tub. Soak in healing sitzbath 1-3 times a day as desired for relief.

Inexpensive sitzbath tubs are available in most pharmacies. Otherwise, a large bowl or small tub may be used. Less conveniently, a large bowl, or small tub, may be be used instead. Do not over-dilute herbs by adding to a full bathtub of water.

My Preferred Method - Make your own "Tucks" Pads:

• Make the "tea" and put it in a water bottle with a sports cap and store in the fridge. The cold application is very soothing whenever possible.
• Get some of those flat cotton cosmetic pads (or cotton balls will work in a pinch). They are either round or square. Saturate with solution and store in the those low round mason jelly jars in the fridge or by the toilet. Use to wipe with instead of TP. The herbal solution is healing and it reduces irritation from wiping with dry TP.
• You can carry in Ziploc baggy on the go for when you are away from the house.
• ***You also use them as a compress, letting the pad stay in place for 15 minutes at a time to overnight. Using a pantie liner in the panties or a towel in bed is necessary when doing this, because it is a little drippy. However it is the most effective way to reduce the roid quickly. This is a much more practical application than a sitz bath if you are running a busy household.
• If you make your own salves this makes a wonderful salve.
• Keep in mind it works for men too!

Midwifery Tips - Afterbirth Healing

My first Midwife introduced me to a wonderful product by Wish Garden Herbs about 11 years ago, called After-Birth Sitz Bath http://www.wishgardenherbs.com/index.php?load=pregnancy&group_id=6#AfterBirth%20Sitzbath We have used it for all of our births and I am going to make it for my next. It is a mixture of dry herbs brewed like a tea for external use.

Here are the ingrediants:
Uva Ursi leaves, Yarrow Flowers, Plantain Leaves, Sage Leaf, Comfrey Leaf, Comfrey Root, Witch Hazel Leaf, Sea Salt

• 3 ways to use this:
  
  1. In a sitz bath like the package says.
  
  These are the two ways my midwife taught me and I found were very helpful. I did not try the sitz bath though. Make a big batch of this "tea" ahead. It will keep in the fridge or freezer. It is an easy job for hubby or a helper during labor if you didn't get to it.
  
  2. Herbal Pads
• Prepare a large batch of the tea (like a big soup pot full) and let cool completely. Get a nice pouring picture to use for the next step.
• Get about 10-12 of those BIG hospital style Kotex from the birthing supply (in addition to what the midwife recommends for after the birth. The fluffy, really long, old-school cotton kind without any gel inside. You will also need the medical lap mats to lay under you in the bed after the birth).
• Lay the pads out onto a cookie sheet than gently pour the tea over the top (into) of each pads, soaking it well until saturated. (Try not to pour over the sides of the pad, this will cause the pads to freeze to the tray.)
• Put trays in the freezer. Freeze until solid. Take off trays and store in Ziploc or plastic Wal-Mart bags in freezer.

To use: Directly after your birth, you will use these pads as healing icepacks. You will lay a frozen pad on top of two dry pads inside the panty. (Stacked like one lays bricks. Two dry ones on the bottom and the frozen one on the top middle.) The pads below will serve two purposes, to absorb blood and melting tea. Do this for the first 12 hours or so (+ -), one after the other. You will need to be on your medical mats because it can get messy (but it is anyway!). The pads will melt, which adds a little more wetness, but it is so worth it! It is good to switch them quickly after they have fully melted, this keeps the coldness continuing to sooth any swelling or irritation as well and its a very comforting effect. If you dose off into naps or sleeping, that is fine (and good) you just swap them when you wake again.

3. Herbal Wash

• Collect some water bottles with sports caps ahead of time. You can get use 2 or 3 and have hubby or helper fill them as they empty. Or you can fill about a dozen of them ahead of time with the "tea" and fridge or freeze. (If freezing leave a little room for expansion.)

To use: After the birth you will use these in place of toilet paper. This is soothing and healing. It elimunates the irritation of abrasion that come with wiping. The herbs are healing, soothing and antiseptic. You squirt the tea liberally and with a good bit of force from front to back, while sitting on the toilet. It is kind of like a homemade bode (French style toilet). This is especially soothing when cold. (You can keep it in a little ice bucket near the toilet for the first few days.) I like to keep a bottle at the toilet for the first 5 days or so. It is a good job for your helpers to keep stocked for you.

Cramp Relief Formula

This is a recipe from Rosemary Gladstar (see reviews for her book).

1 part cramp bark

Prepare Decoction ahead, because the elements of this bark are harder to extract than the other herbs in the mix. * Put herbs in a small saucepan and cover with cold water. heat slowly than simmer for 20-45 minutes. The longer the stronger.

1prt pennyroyal
1prt yarrow
pepperment to taste (1-2 parts)

Add these ingrediants to the above hot liquid, cover and let steap 15-20 minutes and strain. Drink 1/4 to 1/2C every 15 minutes until cramps subside.

This may also be prepared as a tincture, take 1/2 to 1tsp every hour until cramps subside.

Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health

***** five stars
This is a wonderful resource, especially if you are new to working with herbs. Rosemary's style of writing is very inclusive and instructional and besides having lots of great recipe to start with, she equips you to be bold and try your own recipes by teaching you how to do the different things! Teas, tonics, tinctures, salves, lotions, poultices, lozenges, syrups, capsules, baths. You name it!! From personal care to health care. And this book breaks things down for children, special women's need, men's needs, and elderly needs. This book is a fabulous resource for any home health library! (She has other books, I am looking forward to checking them out too.)
It is safe to say we don't have the same spiritual beliefs...but you find that very hard to find in most herbal resources available out there. That has kept a lot of believers (especially those in Brickianty) away from the amazing things that YHVH has created for us to use and master for health and maintenance of our bodies. Don't this be a stumbling block for you, it is subtle and not worth getting uptight about. I say we all need to learn more, write materials and make them available, so we can get the body off of man made chemicals and drugs! :-) (I'm working it! It takes time.)

SMARTEA

Another result of this joyful kitchen scientist:

1 1/2 part each Ginkgo Biloba, Peppermint

1 part Goto Kola

3/4 part Sage

1/2 part each Lemon Balm, Lemon Grass

1/3 part Rosemary

1/6 part Stevia

1/12 part dr. Orange Peel

Use about 1/2T per mug (depending on size and strength desired).

(Variation: try 1 part peppermint and 1/2 part spearmint instead of 1 1/2 prt peppermint)

Smart and Savory Tea

I am trying to develop a couple tasty teas that stimulate memory retention, concentration, clarity AND energy with Ginkgo, Guto Kola and Ginseng. This is no easy task...because lets face it, they taste like dirt. :-( I have tried many from recipe books, but they aren't very enjoyable...so I set out to develop some of my own. Here is one. It is very peculiar (like it's maker!) but tasty. It is a savory tea, it reminds of sipping a broth instead of a tea. I find it very comforting. Let me know what you think.

2 parts
Ginseng
Lemon Balm
1 part
Ginko
Gotu Kola
Peppermint
Basil
1/3 part
Stevia leaves