ChangingTimes

A Book To Check Into

2009-04-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

Post-Petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook:
Recipes for Changing Times
by Albert Bates

Synopsis

Over the coming years we will need to move from a global culture addicted to cheap, abundant petroleum to a culture of compelled conservation, whether through government directive or market forces. The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook provides useful practical advice for preparing your family and community to make the transition.

This book takes a positive, upbeat, and optimistic view of "the Great Change," promoting the idea that it can be an opportunity to redeem our essential interconnectedness with nature and with each other. The many rifts that have grown up since oil became the world's prime commodity can be mended: between cities and their food sources; the design of the suburban-built environment and its car-oriented sprawl; runaway greenhouse warming, and the clearing of forests and toxification of rivers, oceans, and land. Topics covered include:

Rebuilding civilization
Changing your needs
Water and waste disposal
Energy and transportation
Equipment and tools

ISBN-13: 9780865715684

Baltimore Herb Festival - Baltimore, Maryland

2009-04-03T10:40:00.000-07:00

Baltimore Herb Festival, May 23, 2009 from 10am - 3p
@ Leakin Park

Herb and plant vendors from five states will gather for the
Herb Festival on Saturday May 23rd. In addition to plant
and garden related sales, entertainment will include two bands,
Art of Meaning and Durham Station Bluegrass, free rides on
real miniature steam trains, attending herb and gardening lectures,
touring the historic Crimea Mansion and walking in scenic Leakin Park.
Lunch with an herbal twist is also available.

To get to Leakin Park, take Exit 16 (Rt. 70) off the Beltway
(Rt. 695) toward Baltimore. Turn off on Security Blvd.
Right at first light onto Forest Park Ave. Right at next light
onto Windsor Mill Rd. You’re at the Festival! Follow signs for parking.

Drought and Food Ravages Future Food Costs

2009-03-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

Did anyone see the national news on ABC on March 28, 2009?
They did a story about the 3-year drought in California causing drops in crops. Last year the drop was noticeable, a loss of 100,00 acres in Central Valley in 2008. But this year the acreage planted is dropping by as much of 450,000 (in Central Valley alone), there will be a loss of as many as 40,000 jobs, and a lose of as much as 1.5 billion dollars in revenues. Current unemployment in Central Valley is at 35%.

How that translates to you…food costs are going to rise, swiftly! The cost of fresh California produce will go out the ceiling this year. Frozen vegetables and fruits, and canned products based on California produce will skyrocket as well.

You saw the stories on the Fargo, North Dakota floods, on the late winter blizzards over the plains states as far south as Oklahoma in late March, and the flooding all the way through the Gulf Coast of Mississippi all these coupled with drought in California will cause massive impacts on your food budget. Did I say budget? Forget a budget, just to eat you will have to increase your outlay for food by gargantuan amounts.

Now add into the above natural disasters the increase again in gas costs occurring, and then you swell the energy and transportation costs as well. Add all this up and you spell disaster on a grand scale for the simple American just trying to support their families with just the basics.

All of the above news supports the concept of returning to the Victory Garden. Plan and plant a garden this season. If you have never done it, now is the time to start! If you have had a garden in the past, consider enlarging it, so that you grow enough for the year, and maybe have some to share. Learn to freeze, can, and dehydrate your foods for storage. Learn about safe storage practices! Prepare, prepare prepare!

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of planning for your families needs. Buy what you think you will need of the staples that you cannot grow, in advance of the rising costs. Flour and sugar, rice and oatmeal, toilet paper and other paper goods can be gotten and stored for future use while the costs are still down.

If you live in an apartment the issues become more difficult. There is virtually no room to grown food in and very little extra storage space in an apartment. But here are a few ideas people have utilized for many years: use the patio or balcony for potted and hanging plants, store food in plastic containers under beds, behind the sofa against the wall, and buy locally! Buying locally grown food cuts all the shipping costs out, keeps the food fresher and healthier, and keeps the economy stronger in your area. Try finding Community Garden spaces; some people will even rent out an area on their property so that others may garden.

Victory Gardens - An Old Idea Revisited

2009-03-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

During World War II when food and so much else was rationed, people made their ration stamps for food go further by growing Victory Gardens. Today when there is so much pressure on us all to cut back our family budgets, going back in time and revisiting the Victory Garden seems a wise idea. If we just shuffle through our memories from last summer we would dredge up the salmonella scare on fresh fruits and vegetables. By growing our own, we eliminate that threat to our families. Two very good reasons to plan a garden now…. plant it…. tend it…. and harvest it.

It is time to stop complaining about rising food costs and try and do something for our own benefit for a change. It is time to stop looking to the government and big brother for the next fix. Our new president is doing everything in his power to help the American people come through this economic crisis. They are even planting a garden on the White House grounds this season…If the Obamas can do it, why can’t you?

An idea I was toying with was encouraging everyone to write Mr. President, request him to remind people about the Victory Gardens of the WWII era, and ask him to encourage the American people to follow his lead in just that effort. The rest of us can go to our local Town Councils and ask for Community Garden Space to be made available. We can grow more than we need, and knock on the single mothers door down the street, or the aged guy in the apartment complex where your elderly mother lives (you know the kind of people I mean!) and share your produce. Some food banks even accept produce that is locally grown, call, and find out if your excess can feed someone else this year. Someday you may need the same help!

Many of us have already cut expenses to the bone…. we own no credits cards, no loans, drive as little as possible, cut the car insurance back to state legal limits, have cut off cable or satellite TV, and have started our own Victory Garden…. We are making the effort to conserve…how about joining us?

Clean & Green

2009-03-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

Recent clinical findings show that we are not staying healthier by cleaning with anti bacterial products, but the reverse, we are becoming sicker! But how do you clean so that things are clean, really clean? We do not want to spread viruses or bacterial infections, so what are some other effective ways to clean?

Baby Bottles…. Back in the day before disposable liners in baby bottles women sterilized bottles in a boiling water bath. Now that seems like lot of work, and it is. But there is a simpler method if you have a dishwasher…. just clean all the parts of the baby bottle (bottle, ring, and nipple) in the dishwasher. The water temperatures in the dishwasher are high enough to sterilize all parts of the bottles.

Vinegar…. especially apple cider vinegar, is disinfecting. Vinegar is actually weakly acidic, making it a powerful cleaning agent. The acid in vinegar cuts through grease and germs found on counter tops while also inhibiting bacteria and mold. Vinegar can be used to naturally disinfect bathrooms, counters, and floors. You can clean using a diluted solution (1:1) of vinegar and water. Far less cost and just as good a result. If you’re worried about the odd smell of vinegar being left behind in your home, don’t fret. The smell will dissipate and you’ll be left with an odor free home. Add a ½ part of rubbing alcohol to the mixture and use it to wash windows and glass surfaces. Apple cider vinegar can be used to rinse your hair after washing it with baking soda. Your hair will be shiny and soft as if you used an expensive shampoo after using the baking soda/apple cider vinegar combo for a while.

Cuts grease and removes stains; removes soap scum and cleans toilets (add a bit of baking soda if you like). Pour down drains once a week for antibacterial cleaning, and add to water in a spray bottle to kill mold and mildew. White vinegar in the washer will soften the water and help remove stains from laundry. In fact, if you put a cup of vinegar in a wash load of colored articles, your colors won't "bleed" into white clothing.

To clean showerheads and faucet aerators with calcium build up that has affected the nozzle function, either remove the showerhead and soak it in the vinegar or fill a plastic bag with vinegar and place the bag around the showerhead like a feedbag for a horse. Fully immerse the showerhead in the vinegar. Tie the open end of the bag with a twist tie and let it soak for 24 hours. Let it run for a minute after you remove the bag and then use it.

To clean showerheads and faucet aerators with calcium build up that has affected the nozzle function, either remove the showerhead and soak it in the vinegar or fill a plastic bag with vinegar and place the bag around the showerhead like a feedbag for a horse. Fully immerse the showerhead in the vinegar. Tie the open end of the bag with a twist tie and let it soak for 24 hours. Let it run for a minute after you remove the bag and then use it.

Baking soda… is great natural cleaner for scrubbing tubs and showers, freeing stoves and pans from baked on grease and neutralizing odors. Make a paste with water and baking soda and scrub away. More water will equal a softer, more liquid scrub and less water will give more oomph. Baking soda can also be used for brushing your teeth, washing your hair, and exfoliating your skin. It is the gentlest, while it will still be extremely effective, scrubber to be found in the chemical-free cleaning world.

An all-purpose cleaner especially effective for cleaning glass coffee pots and glassware, and removing red-wine stains from carpeting. A paste (made with water) can shine stainless steel and silver, and remove tea stains from cups and saucers. Make a paste with a castile- or vegetable-based liquid soap and a drop of essential oil (tea tree or lavender) to clean sinks, countertops, toilets, and tubs. Pour 1 cup down the sink to clear a clogged drain, followed by 3 cups of boiling water or better yet, hot vinegar. Baking soda and vinegar also clean the toilet bowl.

Use baking soda to freshen up the scent in any room that has carpet by shaking some into the carpet. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes to absorb any odors, and then vacuum it up. Sprinkle some into the bottom of hampers, trashcans, litter boxes, ashtrays, or anywhere else that bad odors reside. And of course we all know about leaving a box of baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb smells. You can do this trick in any cupboard or closet as well

Drain Cleaner
Pour approximately ½ cup of baking soda into your drain, followed by a generous cup of white vinegar. This will start fizzing and popping (the best part!), cleaning away any moderate grease or dirt blockages in your drain. Cover with a stopper for a few minutes, and then pour boiling water down the drain for a final clean. Great maintenance recipe!

Alcohol, Rubbing…a natural cleaning product that will kill germs is easy with rubbing alcohol. Along with removing gum and paint, rubbing alcohol can be used to disinfect surface after they are contaminated with raw meat. However, rubbing alcohol should not be used on wooden cutting boards at all because they will dry them, crack them and allow more bacteria inside. Hydrogen peroxide is a good natural cleaning product choice for cleaning wooden cutting boards.

Bleach…. Bleach has been used for ages as a disinfectant on glass, plastic, and wood! It is not just for your clothes! To insure that water is drinkably safe after a disaster, bleach can be added to the water, allowed to sit for 30 minutes, and consumed safely.

Coarse salt… Cleans copper pans and scours cookware. Sprinkle salt on fresh spills in the oven, then wipe off. Sprinkle salt on rust stains and squeeze a lime or lemon over them, let sit for several hours and wipe off. When you burn the inside of a pot while cooking, put some water in it, add a generous amount of salt and this will loosen the burnt food, which you can then scrub off more readily with steel wool.

Grapefruit seed extract… Add to water in a spray bottle for an odorless way to kill mold and mildew. I use only 20 drops to a spray bottle of water. You can also use it to wash produce to get rid of pesticides, and take it internally to kill parasites and most "bad" bacteria and viruses. It's also a better way to disinfect kitchen surfaces than by using bleach or other cleaners. I use it on and find that my counter tops feel cleaner than when I use commercial cleaning products.

Lemon juice: Lemon Juice is one of the strongest food acids, marked by its sour taste. Because the pH is so low, lemon juice can kill most household bacteria, while also leaving your home smelling fresh. Lemon juice is an all around natural cleaning wonder. With it, you can remove lime scale, make windows and mirrors shine, polish copper or brass, clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces, and remove sweat stains. Use as a bleaching agent on clothing, and to remove grease from stoves and countertops. Add 2 Tbsp lemon juice to 10 drops of (real) lemon oil and a few drops of jojoba oil to clean and polish wood furniture.

Olive oil: Use to lubricate and polish wood furniture (three parts olive oil to one part vinegar; or two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice).

Furniture Polish recipe #2
Mix together ½ cup olive oil to ¼ cup lemon juice. Add a couple of drops of lavender oil to this mix – smells amazing! Rub in a small amount to the wood surface and then wipe clean with a soft dry cloth. Lovely shine with a hint of lavender!

Tea tree oil: Can be added to vinegar/water solutions for its antibacterial properties. Use it to kill mold and mildew, and on kitchen and bathroom surfaces instead of chemical products. Add 50 drops to a bucket of water to clean countertops and tile floors.

Borax or Boric Acid… Borax has many defining properties that make it an excellent cleaning agent. When mixed with water, borax reacts to make a hydrogen peroxide / water solution. It also can act as a chemical buffer when cleaning, so the pH is what it needs to be to make something effectively clean. Borax is best known as an alternative to bleach. However, this natural cleaning product also cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, and effectively renews painted and wallpapered walls.

Add Borax to deodorize laundry. Also use ½ cup Borax with ½ -cup vinegar & 1 gallon of hot water as a general purpose cleaner. 2 Tbsp Borax, ¼ cup lemon juice and 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle is a good cleaner, too.

Note: While borax has a wide array of uses, and is naturally occurring, it can irritate the skin, and is toxic if ingested. Please keep borax out of reach of children and pets, and make sure to rinse clothes and surfaces before use.

Cornstarch… is actually derived from corn and is known for its fine, silky texture. Since it is a great deodorizer and can get into very small spaces, cornstarch is great for cleaning carpets and shining smooth surfaces. Also, as a starch it can be added to water to make a liquid starch solution perfect for ironing.

One of it’s most amazing cleaning qualities is its ability to remove grease stains. Not many products can claim to do that!

Depression Era Revisited

2009-03-04T19:11:00.000-08:00

The economic outlook for America is pretty gloomy right now. Much like the Great Depression of 1929-1932. Our Grandparents made do with less. So can we. Bringham Young once said, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” If we live by that as our motto, as our grandparents did in the Depression, we too will survive as they did.

Following are a few of the recipes from that period. I have laid them out like menus. It makes it easier to imagine eating it! There is something here for any meal, so browse, try them out, and enjoy spending less, doing with less and doing it well!

Day 1

Breakfast:

Depression Rice Pudding
½ cup long grain white rice
½ cup sugar
1 can evaporated milk, diluted to make one qt [must use evaporated milk]
1 cup raisins
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
Cinnamon to taste
Grease a glass 9" x 13" Pyrex dish with solid shortening.
Preheat oven to 300F.
Place all ingredients except cinnamon in pan.
Generously sprinkle top with cinnamon.
At least once during the baking, stir cinnamon crust into the rice and sprinkle top again with cinnamon.
Let bake until rice is tender, or approximately 1-½ hours.
Let cool and serve either warm or cold.

Hard Times Coffee
Mix well 2 qts. Wheat bran and 1 pt. yellow corn meal.
Add 3 well-beaten eggs and 1-cup sorghum molasses.
Beat well, spread on pan and put in dry oven, on very low heat. (Wood stoves were kept warm at all times.)
Take great care to stir often while browning.
A handful is enough for two people.

Lunch:

Potato Soup

4 large potatoes, rinsed, peeled, cubed
Water
salt & Pepper
4 Tbsp plain flour
butter

Cook potatoes in water until overdone and falling apart.
Take some of the broth in a coffee cup.
Add the flour and wish with fork until smooth.
Pour into the potatoes and stir. Add Butter and serve.

Quick, Muffins

1/2 cups of flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup of butter or butter substitute

Mix into a bowl the flour, and baking powder, salt, sugar and egg.
Add milk, pour gradually into the bowl with other ingredients, beating with a fork as it is added. When the mixture is smooth, add butter or butter substitute melted.
Beat until the dough is smooth and creamy; this takes but a moment.
Grease the tins and only fill them half with the batter.
Place in hot oven 400 degrees F. Bake 25 Min.

Blackberry Tea

Pick the blackberry leaves and dry them. When you want to make tea, just crumble a couple of teaspoons of leaves to one cup of boiling water. Steep for five to ten minutes, and you have blackberry tea.

Dinner:

Meatless Loaf

1 cup rice
1 cup peanuts crushed
1 cup cottage cheese
1 egg
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon salt

Combine all the ingredients together.
Bake in a loaf pan, for 30 minutes, or until loaf is good and set.

Scalloped Corn

1 can corn
3 eggs
3 tablespoons butter
2 cups sweet milk
1/2 cup soda cracker crumbs
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Beat eggs separately, put 1 teaspoon of butter in baking dish and 2 tablespoons butter melted butter into cracker crumbs. Add yokes of eggs, milk, salt and sugar to corn, fold in whites of eggs. Bake in casserole dish for fifty minutes in moderate oven.

Dessert:

Candied Orange Peel

4 oranges, peeled
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
8 drops oil of peppermint
1/2 cup cinnamon candies

Cut orange peel into thin strips with scissors.
Put in a saucepan, cover with cold water and let come to a boil.
Drain, cover again with cold water and bring to a boil again.
Drain; Add sugar and water.
Bring to a boil; Add cinnamon candies, continue to cook slowly until all but one tablespoon of syrup has boiled away.
Dredge in sugar.

(My kids are adults now….and every Christmas my son still begs for this candy!)

Day 2

Breakfast:

Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast

Makes a white sauce with butter melted in the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat and add flour until it is a thick paste. Slowly add milk, whisking constantly to keep smooth. Add enough milk to dilute to the consistency you want. Slice on package of chipped beef and add to the white sauce. Turn the heat back on and warm though.

Serve over toast

Lunch:

Depression Salad

1 can yellow hominy, drained
1 can black eyed peas, drained
1 green pepper, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, diced
1/4 cup cooking oil, optional
1/4 cup vinegar salt and pepper to taste

Mix all the above ingredients together and serve hot or cold.

Dinner

POOR Man's Casserole

1 small head of cabbage
2 large potatoes
1 large onion, diced
1 1/2 pounds of hamburger
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 stick butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon salt, more or less.
Depending on taste pepper to taste
Dash of paprika

Cut cabbage into cubes, salt and pepper to taste and cook until well done.
Drain. Peel and quarter potatoes. Salt and cook until well done.
Drain and mash potatoes with butter but make sure the mash potatoes are on the dry side.
Place hamburger in large skillet, add onion and cook until well done.
Drain off all the fat. Stir in the cumin. Line baking dish at least 3" inch deep with cabbage.
Place the meat mixture on top of cabbage.
Cover the top with the mash potatoes, sprinkle with paprika.
Bake for 25 minutes at 350/o. makes 4 large servings.
In the casserole you had your whole meal.

Wilted lettuce
1 large bowl of fresh clean garden picked lettuce pieces
8 slices of bacon fried and crumbled. (More if you like)
1 small onion diced small
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons sugar

Break lettuces into a large bowl and salt and pepper.
Add remaining ingredients to bacon fat in frying pan. (Use not more than 4 tablespoons of the bacon fat)
Bring this to a boil stirring constantly, pour over the lettuce, and toss lightly with salad fork and spoon until the lettuce is wilted.

Poor Man's Bread

1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Water
Stir in enough water to make a batter and pour into greased skillet. (Use a cast iron skillet.)
Fry until brown on each side like a pancake.
Tastes great with homemade butter and jam.

Dessert:

ScrewdoodlesRoll

A piece of bread dough into a 8" rope, twist, fold in half and pinch ends. Fry in hot oil until golden brown, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. (This was always my favorite part of the meal!)

Saving Money with Cooking Basics

2009-02-16T18:00:00.000-08:00

With the economy in the state it is, with people losing their jobs, families moving in together to conserve, and costs rising while incomes dwindle we all need to find ways to conserve. One of the best ways to do this is to make your own…go to the basics and find ways of conserving.

Stale bread – Why waste it? As long as it has gone stale before it has gone moldy there is no reason not to still use it. Granted it will not be very good for a sandwich anymore, but we can still keep from spending money on bread based items using stale bread.

1. Seasoned Bread Crumbs:
6 slices bread, dried out and crushed
¼ tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp Parmesan, Romano, and Asiago cheeses mixed

Mix these and store in a recycled glass jar with the lid secured.

2. Dry Bread Crumbs: Save all your stale bread in plastic bags and store in
the refrigerator. (Whole wheat and rye bread crusts are also useful, but store and prepare them separately.)

Place bread on jellyroll pan and dry completely in a very slow oven (about 250º) until golden brown. Remove from oven and pulverize small batches in a blender. Or, put the dried bread crusts in a plastic or paper bag and crush with a rolling pin. These crumbs will keep several months if stored in a tightly closed container and, kept in a dry place.

3. Croutons: Croutons are an essential ingredient for Caesar salad, split pea,
or lentil soup, stuffing and many other dishes. To make them easily at home:

Bread (any type will do)

Remove the crusts from slightly stale bread. (Save these crusts to make breadcrumbs). Before bread is completely dried, cut into half-inch cubes, spread them out on a dry, flat jellyroll pan. Set the oven as low as possible (sometimes the pilot light will make it warm enough) and place pan in center of oven for about 3 hours, or until croutons are very dry.

Storage: They will keep several months in the refrigerator if stored in a heavy plastic bag or airtight container, and even longer in the freezer.

4. Garlic Croutons:

1-cup croutons
2tbsp butter
1 ½ tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced

Take all ingredients and sauté in a large skillet until golden brown. Let cool and use as desired

5. Italian Croutons:

1-cup croutons
2tbsp butter
1 ½ tbsp olive oil
1clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp Italian seasoning (or 2 tsp basil, 1 tsp oregano. 1 tsp parsley)

Take all ingredients and sauté in a large skillet until golden brown.
Let cool and use as desired

Bouquet Garni: Is a collection of herbs (traditionally fresh parsley, fresh or dried thyme, and bay leaf) that are bundled together and cast adrift in your pot to flavor a soup, stew, or broth. They are tied together so they can be removed easily at the end of the cooking. Below are some suggestions.

1. Fresh Herb Garni

Make a fresh herb bouquet garni by gathering together

3 sprigs of parsley
1 sprig of thyme
1 bay leaf.
If you want a hint of citrus, add a curl of lemon or orange peel.

Tie the herb sprigs together with a piece of kitchen twine. Drop the herbs in the pot and tie the other end of the twine to the pot's handle or the top of the lid.

Remove the garni from the pot when ready to serve the pot's ingredients. Simply untie the string from the handle and throw the garni in the trash.

2. Dried Herb Garni

Cut a square of cheesecloth or tulle and lay it out on the counter.

Measure out herbs and spices appropriate to the dish you're making.

Place the herbs and spices in the center of the square. Gather the corners together and tie with kitchen twine. This bouquet garni will be easy to find in your dish so you don't have to tie it to the pot handle or lid.

Use a slotted spoon or small hand-held colander to remove the dried garni from the pot, and then throw it away.

3. Bouquet Garni Seasoning
2 tsp. parsley flakes
2 tsp. thyme leaves
2 tsp. oregano leaves
1 tsp. rosemary
1 tsp. basil leaves
1 tsp. marjoram leaves

In a small jar with a tight fitting lid combine all herbs; shake well. Store in cool dry place. Shake before using, measure and crush slightly. Use 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon for 4 servings. Can be used in stews, soups and with meat, fish, poultry or vegetables.

Bath and Body Cleaning Substitutions

2008-10-27T23:43:00.000-07:00

Over the years Americans have gotten used to running to the market or pharmacy to get all the little personal cleaning aides needed. From shampoos to toothpaste to mouth wash to soap and beyond. Often these things are not always earth friendly, they leave footprint in our lives and on our Mother that are not healthy or wise.

In the old days these products were not available, so how did our ancestors survive? They used more earth friendly, often earth provided things to do the same jobs.

Egg Shampoo for Dry Hair: Beat two eggs until frothy and massage well into scalp. Leave on the hair for a few minutes and rinse off with warm water (hot water will cause the eggs to congeal.) To cut the film left from the whole egg shampoo add 2 or 3 tablespoons of cider vinegar to rise water for brunettes or the juice of half a lemon for blonds.

Avocado Deep Conditioner for the Hair: Ingredients: 1 small jar of mayonnaise, 1/2 avocado Directions: Peel avocado and remove pit. Mash avocado then mix all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl with your hands until it's a consistent green color. Smooth into hair. Use shower cap or plastic wrap to seal body heat in. Leave on hair for 20 minutes. For deeper conditioning wrap a hot, damp towel around your head over the plastic, or use a hair dryer set to a low to medium heat setting. Store extra in refrigerator.

Rosemary as a Versatile Hair Aid: Add an infusion of rosemary to the final rinse after a shampoo to prevent oiliness and give a sheen to dark hair. A rosemary rinse also makes hair more manageable and easy to set. It is said to help with dandruff also.

Bath Oils: Turkey-red oil, a derivative of castor oil, acts as an emulsifying agent on other oils so that they do not leave a film of oil on the skin or the bathtub. Mix three parts turkey oil with one part essential oil of your choice and add a few drops to your bath.

Oatmeal scrub: Oatmeal makes an excellent nonalkaline soap substitute. Wrap a handful of dry oatmeal in a wash cloth (a sock can work very well), dampen it, and rub it over your body in place of soap when you shower or bathe. Oatmeal is a soothing, softening cleaner. If your skin is dry, use ground almonds in place of the oatmeal, they are particularly moisturizing.

Honey and Almond Cream: This traditional recipe makes a very moisturizing night cream for dry hands. Melt 2 oz honey in a double boiler and mix in 4 ounces lanolin until thoroughly combined. Remove from heat and allow to cool before stirring in 2 ounces sweet almond oil and a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

Age Spot and Freckle Fading: An old French recipe uses fresh cucumber juice.
Cucumbers are said to be excellent bleaching agents for the skin, and can be used on brown spots. To make a lotion, mix 1 tsp of the cucumber juice with 2 tsps of water. Apply once in the morning and once at night, letting it dry on the skin

In France, a freckle lotion is made from 1 oz. of
powdered alum and 1 oz. of lemon juice in a pint of rose water. Shake well and apply.

In Israel, brown spots are treated with a paste made by mashing 1/3 cup of chickpeas in a little water. Smear on the paste and leave it on until dry and crumbly. Wash completely. You can apply this mixture daily.

Cucumber Facial: Use this facial to soothe and cleanse the skin. Some say cucumbers with lemon juice ease freckles. This recipe is certainly astringent. Cukes also contain a hormone thought to work against wrinkles. For best effect, apply after a shower or facial steaming. Be sure the skin is clean before you apply the mask.

2" chunk fresh cucumber, seeded, and pureed
1 tsp. witch hazel
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 egg white
1 tbsps. cream or plain yogurt
2 tsps. powdered milk

Lip Butter: 20 ounces Almond Oil1/2 pound Anhydrous Lanolin8 ounces Glycerin3 3/4 ounces Beeswax5-10 drops of Essential Oil

Over low heat, dissolve the lanolin in the almond oil, add the glycerin, and stir until all three are dispersed. Add the finely-chopped beeswax, stirring until just melted, add the essential oil, and pour the salve into containers. Stir the pot frequently and pour as quickly as reasonable. If you take too long the lanolin and glycerin may begin to separate

Athletes Foot Remedies: Rubbing diluted alcohol on the affected area with cotton balls is one of the athletes foot remedies.

Applying aloe vera gel twice daily on the affected areas is one of the other athletes foot remedies. Apple cider vinegar having antifungal properties in one of the other widely used athletes foot remedies. Soaking the feet in a mixture of equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water for ten minutes daily up to ten days or until symptoms disappear is one of the best athletes foot remedies.

Soaking the feet in a solution of baking soda and water for about 30 minutes daily is one of the other athletes foot remedies. This helps change the pH of the skin. Washing the feet in a mild solution of boric acid is one of the other common athletes foot remedies. Chaparral is one of the other effective athletes foot remedies.

Healing Cracked Heels: Clean and moisturize your feet daily. Before going to bed, soak your feet in warm, soapy water for 15 minutes, wash and dab it dry. Take one teaspoon Vaseline, add lemon juice extracted from one lemon. Rub this mixture on your feet mainly the cracked areas. Let the skin absorb this mixture. Do this daily to get maximum benefits.

Mixture of glycerin and rosewater applied on daily basis helps heal the cracked feet.
Cold Sore Treatment: Lemon balm has been known to have strong anti-viral property. In a recent study, patients blisters went away 5 days quicker than patients that didn’t use lemon balm. Another good homeopathic remedy is peppermint oil. Studies done found that peppermint essential oil was found to enter the skin and have a strong virucidal effect on the virus. It was also found to have a strong effect against certain strains of the virus that have been known to be stronger than other strains. Rhubarb and sage cream has also been found to have powerful effects over cold sores. It has also been found to be one of the most powerful creams out on the market.

Acne Treatment: Steam your face for five to ten minutes to clean the pores with hot infusions of lavender, chamomile, or thyme. Rinse your face with honey water, rosewater, or a dilute infusion of marigold tea to tone and close the pores. Do this every day until the skin starts to heal.

Herbal Gargle for Bad Breath: 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lavender (1 teaspoon (5 ml) dried)1 tablespoon (15 ml) peppermint (1 teaspoon (5 ml) dried)1 cup (250 ml) waterBring the water to a boil. Put the herbs into a clean glass jar. Pour the boiling water over the herbs and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain the solution. Now simply Gargle.

Three Sisters Gardening

2008-10-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

In late spring, we plant the corn and beans and squash. They're not just plants- we call them the three sisters. We plant them together, three kinds of seeds in one hole. They want to be together with each other, just as we Indians want to be together with each other. So long as the three sisters are with us we know we will never starve. The Creator sends them to us each year. We celebrate them now. We thank Him for the gift He gives us today and every day.
Chief Louis Farmer (Onondaga)

For more years than the people have counted, the Three Sisters, have been planted together. These three plants were the vegetable base for native diets, they provided balance. When the Staving moons were here, and meat was scarce it saved many from death. Many eastern seaboard tribes have claimed the origination of this planting method. The Haudenosaunee (hah-dee-no-show-nee), or "People of the Long house" are just one of many.

These three plants were so important in the lives of the Native American that many rituals revolved around them. Among the Cherokee they were: In late June or July was the Green Corn Ceremony, the dates scheduled for the celebration depended upon the time the first corn ripened. It was performed when the new corn was ripe enough to eat. New corn was not to be eaten until after the ceremony took place. In August or September came the Ripe Corn Ceremony, it celebrated the maturing of the corn crop and is one of the few ancient ceremonies to last into the 21st century

Myths among the people also reflected this importance of these three plants, especially corn. Among the Cherokee there is the story of Kanati and Selu (corn). Among the Sioux we find the myth of The Forgotten Ear of Corn and The Hermit, The Origin of Corn. Among the Abenaki we find The Strange Origin of Corn.

The traditional Three Sisters garden forms an ecosystem by creating a community of plants and animals. This system creates a beneficial relationship between the three plants- each plant helps the others grow. This is a form of companion planting. Corn provides support for beans. Beans, like other legumes, have bacteria living on their roots that help them absorb nitrogen from the air and convert it to a form that plants can use. (Corn, which requires a lot of nitrogen to grow, benefits most.) The large, prickly squash leaves shade the soil, preventing weed growth, and deter animal pests. The three sisters also complement each other nutritionally.

To plant the Three Sisters wait until the soil warms in spring. Make a mound of dirt about one foot high and two foot in diameter. In the center of the mound plant 5 or 6 corn kernels, tamp down the ground well. Space the mound approximately 4 feet apart, remember you will be dodging squash vines to cultivate and harvest.

When the corn sprouts and reaches about 5 or 6 inches high it is time to plant the bean seeds, make sure they are the climbing variety. You will want to plant 6 to eight of them around the top of the mound. You do not have to plant just green beans, grow some kidney beans, or pinto beans if you like.

About 1 week later, after the beans emerge from the ground, plant the squash seeds on the flat ground around each mound. You can plant all the way around or choose to plant just two opposite sides of the mound, to possibly control some of the rambeling that the vines do. If you plant all the way around 6 to 8 plants are sufficient. If just on opposing sides then 2 or 3 per side is fine. Also consider planting diferent types of squash to make a more varied diet.

Good companions to plant either interspersed thoughout the garden or making a border around the Three Sisters are: Marigolds, to keep bean beetles away; Sage, to encourage bees; Nasturiam, to discourage squash borers; Catnip, to discourage been beetles; Summer Savory, discourages the Mexican bean beetles; Dill, French Tarragon and Basil lure bees.

To keep up tradition, plant more than you plan to consume…..first for the wild critters…..seconly, considering todays economic situation, it will give you produce to share with family, friends, less fortunate people or food banks.

To Smudge or Not to Smudge

2008-09-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

What is Smudging? Smudging is a ritual that is used by many cultures and many traditions. The Catholic Church uses incense burners during high mass suspended from long chains which the priest then swings over the congregation…the Priest waves the therafur in which they burn any combination of aromatic herbs…in the old days it was frankincense and myrrh. The story of its beginning dates back to the Black Plague. The Priests used the incense to cleanse the people, and cover the smell of death.

In the Native American Culture smudging is used for cleansing spiritually and physically. The four main herbs used are sage, sweet grass, cedar, and tobacco. Although others have been utilized also. There is an old story of where it came from on the East Coast….after the smallpox was introduced to the people, a young man of mixed ancestry (Cherokee and black slave) found he was immune to the disease. Everyone around him was dying…..He went out into the swamp and prayed to Creator for the healing of his people. He had a vision where he was shown holding a large clam shell with smoke spiraling from it. In the vision he fanned the smoke over the sick, and slowly, one by one, they got better. He returned home joyous that Creator had given him a vision that showed how to heal his people. He proceeded to collect the cedar, the sweet grass, the sage, and the tobacco and smudge his people. Lo and behold, they slowly arose from their sick beds healed.

But in all I have found one constant……smudging smoke carries the prayers of the petitioner to Creator God.

Smudging may be done several ways: with loose herb in a fire-proof container, or using smudge sticks.

To make a smudge stick is not difficult. You need to select the herbs you want, being sure you know for certain the plant is the one you believe it is (you Do Not want to smudge with a toxic plant). You may cut and hang to dry, or as some people do, make the smudge stick then let it dry. I personally prefer to use dried herbs (since the herbs shrink when drying, the wraps could get too loose if tied before drying). Also drying before hand ensures that the herb actually dries and does not mold…you Do Not want to burn moldy herbs, you could get very ill.

Next take the ends of the herbs (stem ends together) and tie snugly with a thin twine or thread. I personally like embroidery floss, 3 strands thick. The colors can represent the herbs used in the bundle. Then wrap around the bundle, spiraling down to the other end. At the other end, again tie the bundle off. Do not cut the threads, instead spiral back up the bundle to the beginning, it will end up looking criss-crossed. Once you reach the beginning end, tie off again.

The final stage is just tiding, cut the ends straight across, for better lighting capability. Trim the side the length of the bundle, if anything is straying to the outside, unless you like the look.
You can use Sage straight (not Garden Sage, some people have bad reactions to it burning, it has been known to set off asthma attacks in those sensitive) or combine it with cedar. Straight Lavender is nice too.

Good Luck and have fun with your smudging!

Recycle for Christmas

2008-09-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

It’s not too early to begin planning for Christmas (Chanukah, Kwanza, Yule) now. And it is never a bad gift when your hands make it; your love and creativity construct it therefore you make it personal.

Start keeping jars for recycling into your treasures. Old spaghetti jars are just the right size to put all dry ingredients for bean soup in. Just place the ingredients, including spices into the jar, seal it. Cover the lid with a scrape of cloth and ribbon leftovers. If the different kinds of beans are layered to show off the colors , it is very pretty. Next make a nice label, either attached to the jar or hanging from the ribbon. On the label place the name of the soup, gifted by, and full directions for cooking the soup, including ingredient list. The label becomes a recipe card at the same time!

6 Bean Soup

Ingredients for Jar:
¼ cup baby lime beans
¼ cup small white beans
¼ cup black eyed peas
¼ cup garbanzo beans
¼ cup pink beans
¼ cup pink beans
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup dehydrated onions
½ cup dehydrated celery
½ cup dehydrated carrot
¼ cup dehydrated green pepper
½ cup dried parsley, minced
¼ teaspoon powdered garlic
½ bay leaf crumbled
½ teaspoon fines herbs
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes
2 envelops chicken noodle soup (opened and poured into jar)

Ingredients for Label:
Parmesan Cheese grated

Directions for Label:
To soak beans: For each pound of dry beans, any variety, add 10 cups hot water.
Up to 2 teaspoons of salt per pound of beans may be added to help the beans absorb water more evenly.
Heat to boiling, let boil 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove from heat, cover and set aside for at least one hour, but preferably four hours or more.
The longer soaking time is recommended to allow a greater amount of sugars to dissolve, thus helping the beans to be more easily digested.
Always discard the soak water.
To maintain color integrity, soak beans separately.

Drain beans.
Combine vegetables with soup mix, 2-1/4 quarts water, bay leaf, fine herbs and soaked beans. Simmer, covered, about 1 hour to desired tenderness.
Serve hot sprinkled with cheese.

Note: a small zip lock baggy can be attached to the label filled with the cheese. Another zip lock baggy can be used inside the jar to hold and separate the spices and soup from the beans. Also note this is a large recipe and a larger jar will be needed.

Keeping the same idea, you could make up all the dry ingredients for brownies, layer it so the flour is white with the cocoa’s brown separate on top. On the label add directions for assembly and cooking- but do not forget to tell them what “wet” ingredients they have yet to add!

Brownies for Jar

Ingredients for Jar:
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup cocoa
1/3 cup red candy covered pieces (like M&M’s)
1/3 cup green candy covered pieces (like M&M’s)
½ cup chopped pecans
1 cup brown sugar packed
1 cup white sugar

Ingredients for Label:
¾ cup softened butter
4 eggs, lightly beaten

Directions for Label:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Place mix from jar into large bowl
Add butter and eggs
Mix until completely blended
Spread into lightly greased 9x9 pan
Bake for 35 minutes or until brownies just start to pull away from sides of pan
Cut into 16 pieces, 2x2

Another suggestion for the spaghetti jars you are recycling is to make bath salts up and place in the jar. Again the lid can be covered with fabric and ribbon with a label telling them what they have, how to use it and what the ingredients are (in case of allergies).
Making a bath salt is as simple as adding essential oils to some Epsom salts and….voila! instant bath salts. (In the next post I will put several different bath salt recipes, some far more complicated.)

Disaster Preparedness - Clean Drinking Water in Any Situation

2008-08-25T14:04:00.000-07:00

Whether you have a natural disaster, like an earthquake or hurricane, or just need to be sure the water you consume is clean when hiking, it is important to know how to find and purify water for safe consumption.

After a natural disaster that threatens the water you drink there are several sources readily available to you that were safe before the problem arose, and if you can reach them are most likely still safe and clean. Every home in modern America has a hot water heater….this water is safely contained and housed from contamination and may still be used safely. You also have within your home toilets that have reserve tanks, this water stands a good chance of still being clean if the tank is not breached. Also check your freezer…ice cubes are a good source of water.

A very good idea is water storage. Putting water in clean, hard plastic bottles for future use is excellent planning. You can use any container that once held drinkable liquids, do not use bottle that held bleach or other household chemicals! Also one note on bottles…although gallon milk jugs with screw caps work, you will find that the seams on the bottle do not hold up well. Water can be stored for up to a year safely. The main complaint is that the water tastes “flat”, this is due to the oxygen slowly leaving the water, so just re-oxygenate it by pouring it from one container to another before consumption.

How much water should you plan on storing you might ask…. A normal active adult should drink at least 1/2 gallon of water per day. Additional water is needed for brushing teeth, bathing, cleaning cooking utensils, and also for cooking food in. Store as much water as you have space for, but a three days supply is considered to be a minimum amount. Do not forget your companion animals when planning amounts of water to store…..if you do not plan on their consumption then you will go through water faster than you imagined.

If your water storage gets ruined in a disaster or you are hiking and run out of potable water, the need arises to obtain clean water for survival. If the water you find is cloudy you need to filter it before anything else……there are ways to do it with next to nothing available. Take a funnel, if you have one, or make one from an old 2 liter soda bottle or a rolled leaf into a cone shape (large, waxy leaves like those of the Southern Magnolia work well). Place the funnel into a collecting container. Inside the funnel place a rolled up white sock, pour the water slowly over the sock (a white sock allows you to see when the sock gets dirty and needs to be replaced).
Next take the filtered water and boil it for 10 minutes. This kills many of the bacteria found in water. If bleach is available you can then add it to the water to finish the cleaning process. Bleach must be the type that says on the label that is contains 5.25% hypochlorite. You then take an eye dropper and add it in the amount of 8 drops per gallon of clear water and 16 drops per gallon of cloudy water. For 5 gallons you use ½ tsp for clear water and 1 tsp for cloudy water. Let this stand for 10 minutes before consuming.

For additional information call the EPA - Safe Water Hotline (800) 426-4791.

Some Oils and Their Uses

2008-08-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

The following list is a guideline only. There are many more essential oils and numerous uses for each plant. Use this list as a launching pad only for future reference.

Angelica - Angelica archangelica – Used in Chinese medicine for promoting fertility

Basil, Sweet - Ocimum basilicum – Used in India to brighten mode – Do Not use during pregnancy

Bay - Pimenta racemosa – Used in the West Indies for stimulating hair growth - avoid during pregnancy

Bergamot - Citrus bergamia – has been used for relieving stress – may cause photosensitivity

Black Pepper - Piper nigrum – From Madagascar used to stimulate circulation

Calendula - Calendula officinalis – Used for any skin complaint

Atlas Cedar - Cedrus atlantica – Used by the ancient Egyptians to relax tense muscles

German Chamomile - Matricaria recutica – is an anti-inflammatory – avoid in early pregnancy

Citronella - Cymbopogon nardus – In Chinese medicine used for an insect repellent – avoid on damaged skin

Clary Sage - Salvia sclarea – Used for eye problems in the past

Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus globules – Used for congestion by the Aborigines of Australia – avoid if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy

Fennel, Sweet - Foeniculum vulgare – used for rheumatism and arthritis – avoid during pregnancy or is epileptic

Frankenscense - Boswellia species – for healing fears and grief

Ginger - Zingiber officinale – reducing muscular aches and pains

Hyssop - Hyssopus officinalis – Used to heal bruises – avoid during pregnancy and epilepsy

Jasmine - Jasminum grandiflorum – Used as an aphrodisiac

Juniper berry - Juniperus communis – used to energize and relieve exhaustion

Lavender - Lavandula officinalis – Used to relieve tension and headache, promote sleep

Lemon - Citrus Limonum – To balance nervous system – may cause photosensitivity

Myrrh - Commiphora myrrha – Used to heal wounds and nurture aging skin

Neroli - Citrus aurantium var. amara –Used to heal scars and increase circulation

Nutmeg - Myristica fragrans – Used for warming and to stimulate heart and circulation – avoid during pregnancy, may be mildly toxic if over used

Orange, Sweet - Citrus sinensis – Used to brighten mood, relieve melancholy and apathy

Patchouli - Pogostemon cablin – Used to relieve stress and nervous tensions, an aphrodisiac

Peppermint - Mentha piperita – for energy and mental clarity

Pine - Pinus sylvestris – Used to ease breathing, immune system stimulate

Rosewood - Aniba rosaedora – Used to relieve stress and balance central nervous system

Sandalwood - Santalum album – Used to lift melancholy

St John’s Wort - Hypericum perforatum – Used to treat fungal infection, oily hair

Tea Tree - Melaleuca alternifolia – Used as a disinfectant

Ylang Ylang - Cananga odorata – Used as an aphrodisiac, to relieve anger and anxiety

Plants in Modern Medicine

2008-08-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, herbs were the only source of medicine. Today modern Medicine has a myriad of chemicals to be prescribed by your medical doctor. But did you know that at least 120 of these medicines that they have available to prescribe are plant based. In other words Herbology!

If you should go to your doctor and ask for herbal remedies instead of the chemical pharmacy company products, and he says NO…..remind him/her of these contributors from the plant kingdom. Many more of the prescriptions written are for medicines that are simple synthetic modifications or copies of the naturally obtained substances. For example, many years ago a plant chemical was discovered in a tropical plant, Cephaelis ipecacuanha, and the chemical was named emetine. A drug was developed from this plant chemical called Ipecac which was used for many years to induce vomiting mostly if someone accidentally swallowed a poisonous or harmful substance. Ipecac can still be found in pharmacies in many third world countries but has been mostly replaced by other drugs in the United States.

Many European countries, including Germany, regulate herbal products as drugs and pharmaceutical companies prepare plant based drugs simply by extracting out the active chemicals from the plants. A good example is the plant substance/drug shown below, cynarin. Cynarin is a plant chemical found in the common artichoke (Cynara scolymus). In Germany, a cynarin drug is sold for liver problems and hypertension which is simply this one chemical extracted from the artichoke plant or a plant extract which has been standardized to contain a specific milligram amount of this one chemical. These products are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, sold in pharmacies in Germany and a doctor's prescription is required to purchase them. In the United States artichoke extracts are available as natural products and sold in health food stores.

Some examples of these plant derived medicines follow:

Digoxin - Digitalis purpurea

Atropine - Atropa belladonna

Caffeine - Camellia sinensis

Camphor - Cinnamomum camphora

Cocaine - Erythroxylum coca

Codeine - Papaver somniferum

Emetine - Cephaelis ipecacuanha

Ephedrine - Ephedra sinica

Morphine – Papaver

Papavarine - Papaver somniferum

Pilocarpine - Pilocarpus jaborandi

Pseudoephredrine - Ephedra sinica

Quinine - Cinchona ledgeriana

Salicin - Salix alba

Scopolamine - Datura species

Strychnine - Strychnos nux-vomica

Many of our newest drugs are coming from plants of the Rainforest. And yet the rainforests are being burned, slashed and destroyed daily. The future cure for AIDS or cancer may already be extinct due to these practices!

Thus far seven plant-derived anticancer drugs have received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for commercial production. Some of them are listed below:

Taxol from the Pacific Yew

Vinblastine from the Madagascar Periwinkle

Topotecan from the Chinese tree Campototheca acuminate

Teniposide from the Mayapple plant family

Definitions of the Ways to Use Herbs

2008-08-12T11:56:00.000-07:00

There are many accepted ways to use herbs. You will occasionally find references to a tea, an infusion or a decoction….are they the same or different? How are they dissimilar?
This small piece will hopefully add to your understanding of the differing terms and allow you to make wise choices in how you utilize the herbs.

Compress - In a compress an infusion or decoction is made first and a piece of clean cloth or gauze is soaked in the resultant liquid. The cloth or gauze is applied to the affected area. When using a compress, use it as hot as can be tolerated, you can cover the compress with plastic wrap, to keep it hot longer, and change it when it cools off.

Decoction - an infusion which has been reduced to one/half of its original volume by slow steam release. Not brought to a boil, the decoction is taken to the point of steam release and the heat is then reduced very low to continue the steam process. Decoction is handy for those herbals which taste bad or bitter, requiring only one quarter the dose. Decoctions are strong and can be kept longer if gin or vodka is added.

When you’re dealing with roots, bark, seeds or hard dense pieces of herbs a decoction is usually the better choice. Pieces should be small.

Extracts - These usually require a still and are difficult and expensive to try to do at home. There are a wide variety of extracts on the market, check your local health food store.

Infusion - a tea made from the flowers, leaves or roots of an herb, with a longer steeping time than a general tea. The water is boiled fully, the cup or pot is heated and the herbs and water are covered during the steep to prevent steam escaping. The standard measure is one teaspoon of dried herbs, two of fresh, to one cup of boiled water. Covered steeping time is generally up to ten minutes for flowers, twenty minutes for leaves and up to four hours for the root.

Most appropriate for stems, leaves, flowers you can infuse bark, roots and seeds, but seeds should be bruised (use a mortar and pestle for this) and bark and roots should be powdered first.

If you wish to make larger quantities at one time, be sure to refrigerate after brewing, herbal infusions are usually so rich that bacteria can multiply and thrive very quickly. Even a refrigerated infusion shouldn’t be kept more than 2 days.

Inhalations – Inhalations have been used for centuries, it conveys the therapeutic essences of the plants through hot, moist air through the nose and into the lungs. A simple form can be used with hot, steaming water, a few drops of essential oil and a tea towel over the head while inhaling the steam (be careful of burns if the steam is too hot). It can be used for treatment of many respiratory disorders and emotional states.

Poultice - For a poultice you would use the plant material itself. For poultices, you can use fresh or dried herbs. Fresh herbs can be bruised and applied directly to the skin. If the skin is particularly sensitive, the poultice can be placed between layers of gauze. When using dried herbs they must be moistened first. Make a paste by adding hot water or apple cider vinegar to the dried plant material. Keep the poultice warm as for a compress. You may want to cover the skin with a thin layer of oil as this protects the skin and may make removing the poultice easier.

Salve - an herbal decoction blended with a beeswax or olive oil base, reduced and placed in jars. These are semi-solid and are usually used externally, applied to the skin. For use on burns, chapped skin, scrapes and other skin irritations, depending on the herb used.
Some people use petroleum jelly as a base. I know, I know, it isn’t "organic". But…it’s easy and quick, it isn’t absorbed by the skin, it’s fairly water-proof and makes a great covering which won’t let anything in from outside either. It simply acts as a carrier and lets the herbal stuff sink into the skin... and it works!

Syrup - an infusion or decoction which is then mixed into a sugar base, using brown sugar, molasses, honey or corn syrup. (Caution - children under three should not ingest honey) Syrups are used in cases of sore throat, upset stomach in children, etc.

Tea – a tea never boils the plant matter, only steeps it, and only to taste. Place the plant matter in a pot, pour boiling water over it and allow to sit until desired strength is reached

Tincture - a strong infusion or decoction prepared in an alcohol base (vodka, brandy or gin) and are much more stable for storage and long life. Most times, alcohol makes a stronger tincture than water, glycerin or vinegar.

NOTE: any use that heats the herb causes some volatile oils to be lost and cell wall destruction, if those factors are not desired it is recommended by many to use tinctures instead of teas, infusions or decoctions.

How to Make Your Own Recycled Paper

2008-08-06T17:02:00.001-07:00

First off.....I need to apologize in advance......Not for this article, but because of the authorship of it. Years ago I found this article, online. I didn't know much then, I didn't copy the URL or the name of the author......SO, I honestly don't know where it came from. It is a great, short piece on recycling paper, I knew it needed no improvement, so include it here. Again my apologies if it is your work with no credit.

Don't throw away your old newspapers. Try making your own recycled paper!

Recycled paper can be made from old newspaper, following the instructions below. Recycling paper uses cellulose (plant fibers) over and over again, it uses less electricity, less water, a lot less pollution, and it saves trees from being cut down!

You will need:

a food processor or an old blender
an electric iron
an old wire hanger
an old pair of panty hose
newspaper or other paper, torn into 2-inch squares
white glue
water
an insect screen or strainer (optional)
food coloring (optional)
a big sink or tub filled with 4 inches of water

Make sure you have a place to work where you can make a big mess!

Step One:Make a frame out of the coat hanger. You'll need a frame for each piece of paper you make. Stretch the hanger and bend it into a rectangle/square shape. Take one leg of the panty hose and stretch it carefully over the hanger frame. Make sure it is tight and flat.

Step Two:Put a handful of the torn up paper and some water into the food processor or blender. Blend the mixture on high until it becomes mushy. Keep adding paper and water until you have a big gray blob. You may have to add a little more water to keep things moving smoothly. Keep the food processor on until all the paper has disappeared. Then leave it on for 2 minutes.
For some color, add a handful of brown or red onion skin (not the onion itself, just the papery outer skin).

Step Three:Put 2 tablespoons of white glue in the sink water and add all of the paper pulp you just made. Mix it really well. Use your hands.

Step Four:Scoop the frame to the bottom of the sink, then lift it slowly. (Count to 20 slowly while you are lifting.) Let the water drain out for about a minute.

Step Five:Hang the frames on a clothesline or put them out in the sun. Wait until they are completely dry with no dampness at all. You can then gently peel off the paper.

Step Six:Use the iron, set on the hottest setting, to steam out your paper. You can keep making paper until the pulp is all strained out of the sink. Mix up the sink every time you make a new piece.

Try other things like using in insect screen over a wood frame, or a strainer instead of the pantyhose and hanger.

Try adding lots of food coloring, for colored paper, or try adding lint or leaves to the food processor. Your paper will have an interesting texture.

Making your own paper can be fun, and it's a great way to re-use old paper.
You can recycle all kinds of paper for re-use.
Sometimes paper printed from color-inkjet printers will run, that is, the color will bleed off and become part of your new paper, but that can make for an interesting effect!

Wildcrafting the Herbs You Use

2008-08-03T20:07:00.000-07:00

When you walk the earth, there is a need to remember that she is our Mother, without her we have no place to be. In remembering she is our mother we need to bear in mind that it is our responsibility to care take all her creatures great and small. It is our duty to harvest conscientiously, remembering that we impact the 7 generations that follow us.

In the Native way we do not harvest the first plant we spy, but rather offer a gift of tobacco to thank the “Grandparent” plant for the sacrifice of the others we might harm. We never harvest from an area that does not have an abundance of the herb we seek, and we never, ever take all of a plant in an area.

If you are in a position of having the ability to plant gardens in your self acclaimed space, then do so. Consider also planting a Wild Garden in which you plant the wild herbs you use most often. A bed developed with Echinacea, Black Eyed Susan, Queen Anne’s Lace, Violets, Butterfly weed, Chickweed and others can be stunning. The scents can make the mind reel with their delicacy, and reward the soul.

When you do go to harvest in the wild remember to consider if the plant is endangered. If it is, you do not take it. To find out if the plant is rare, endangered or threatened in your area, contact the state horticulturalist or the local chapter of the Native Plant Society.

When you are out in the ‘wild’ remember to look around you, see the land, the animals, the insects, the wind, feel the vibrations of life around you. Connect to your Mother, feel her breath lift your hair, wet your fingers in the streams of her life giving waters, gently probe her skin, walk with beauty, walk in gentleness…..impact your Mother with care. When you have found the proper stand of plants from which you decide to harvest; take note of the other plants in the area. Are there sufficient plants to continue growing after your harvest year after year? Are the plants healthy enough for you to use? Can you harvest a few seeds to scatter in a new area? Are there sufficient seeds to allow natural reseeding in that area for the future?

There are a few things to consider before harvesting a plant….is it the right time of the year? Will it do harm to the plant? Can the harvesting be done in a less impacting way?
Never take so many leaves from a plant that the plant looks denuded, try to make the plant look like it has not been harvested at all…..in other words take a little from many to get the amount of herb that you need. If it is bark do not strip the main trunk, but rather take bark from downed wood or from branches that you cut and strip. Try not to harvest from steeply pitched slopes, as the removal of plants may make an erosion problem. If possible harvest from gently inclined slopes.

Let me regress a little….you must have an absolutely positive identification. Without a definitive identification you could poison yourself. I cannot stress this too much, for example…Queen Anne’s Lace and Poison Hemlock have flowers that are very similar in look…the mistake has been made before with deadly results. Do not jeopardize your safety that way!
The next consideration is the distance from a roadbed. There are noxious fumes given off by gasoline and diesel engines that will affect the plants along the roadside. Many plants like disturbed areas, like along roadsides, so care must be taken to harvest only plants at least a minimum of 50 feet from the nearest source of the contaminants.

Next a few suggestions for the actual harvest:
Select only 2 – 5 plants to harvest on any one trip
Keep plants totally separate from each other to not cross contaminate
Harvest early, but after the nights dew has dried
Process the plants as quickly as possible to avoid loss and waste
Leave all sites just as you found them: fill any holes, cart out all trash, etc.
Never harvest in excess of your expected use

Heal All

2008-07-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

Common Name: Heal-All, Prunella, All-Heal, Hook-Heal, Self Heal, Slough-Heal, Brunella, Heart of the Earth, Blue Curls, Carpenter-weed, Common Selfheal, Consolida Minor, Lance Selfheal, Sicklewort, Woundwort, Xia Ku Cao

Scientific Name: Prunella vulgaris

Origin: Europe

Range: Europe, Asia, Japan and the U. S….. Found growing in waste ground, grassland, woodland edges, usually on basic and neutral soils

Botanical Description: Vary in color from pinks and purples to while, bloom in the early and midsummer. Attractive perennial flower that acts as a well-behaved ground cover in the garden; will bloom for nearly 2 months.

Part Used: Flowers, leaves

What’s in a Name? It’s name is a description of what was felt for centuries to only be self discriptive

All in the family: Heal All is cousin to such choice delicacies as peppermint, oregano, rosemary and thyme

Harvest: Gather whole plant when flowers bloom, dry for later herb use. Leaves and small flowers are edible. Harvest the aerial parts of self-heal while it is in flower. This may have to be hand harvested with snips or scissors, as the plant is very low growing. May also have to rinse dust from the leaves after harvesting, as the plants can get quite dirty from rain splash.

Cultural Uses: Prunella Vulgaris, or Heal All Plant, has been used for over 500 years for all kinds of wounds, open sores, inflammation, sore throats and most any kind of skin ailment. A cold water infusion of the freshly chopped or dried and powdered leaves is a very tasty and refreshing beverage, weak infusion of the plant is an excellent medicinal eye wash for sties and pinkeye. It is taken internally as a medicinal tea in the treatment of fevers, diarrhoea, sore mouth and throat, internal bleeding, and weaknesses of the liver and heart. Clinical analysis shows it to have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of pseudomonas, Bacillus typhi, E. coli, Mycobacterium tuberculi, which supports its use as an alternative medicine internally and externally as an antibiotic and for hard to heal wounds and diseases. It is showing promise in research for cancer, AIDS, diabetes, and many other maladies.

As the flower spikes resemble the throat, the herb was also used to treat inflammations of the mouth and throat. In Chinese medicine, the flower spikes are regarded as being very specific for the liver and gallbladder, cooling an over-heated liver condition, call “gan hao, or “liver fire,” from which the phrase “gung-ho” is thought to be derived. In western herbalism, leaves and young shoots applied to fresh wounds to stop bleeding and as first aid for clean cuts.

Medicinal Uses: The whole plant is medicinal as alterative, antibacterial, antipyretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, stomachic, styptic, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary.

Food Uses: Edible, it is chewy and flavorless, so more to be eaten for nutrition than gastronomic delight. As a woodland grower, it affords good greens to people who hike far from cities. By all means, eat some leaves and fresh flowerheads if you have access to tender rank-growing specimens. It is good for you. Just add some pieces to sandwiches or salads.

Active Compounds: The plants most useful constituents are Betulinic-acid, D-Camphor, Delphinidin, Hyperoside, Manganese, Oleanolic-acid, Rosmarinic-acid, Rutin, Ursolic-acid, and Tannins. Contains the anti-tumor and diuretic compound ursolic acid. Also rich in natural antioxidant compounds, containing more rosmarinic acid than Rosemary.

Research: Herpes- Research shows Prunella may lessen the severity and duration of outbreaks, however there is no proof that it will completely kill the virus in humans. Even if you don't have outbreaks, you can still spread Herpes to other people.

Recent research suggests the plant possesses antibiotic, hypotensive, and anti-mutagenic qualities. Contains the anti-tumor and diuretic compound ursolic acid. Also rich in natural antioxidant compounds, containing more rosmarinic acid than Rosemary.

In Lore, Legend and Life: Once proclaimed to be a Holy herb and thought to be sent by God to cure all ailments of man or beast, and said to drive away the devil, which lead to the belief that Heal-All was grown in the Witches garden as a disguise. The root was used to make a tea to drink in ceremonies before going hunting by one Native American tribe to sharpened the powers of observation.

Recipes: Medicinal tea or infusion: Add 1 oz. dried or fresh herb to a pint of boiling water, steep till cool, take in ½ cup doses, sweetened with honey, as a general strengthener

Pokeberry

2008-07-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

Scientific Name: Phytolacca Americana

Common Name: Pokeweed, Pokeberry, Poke, Inkberry, Pigeonberry

Botanical Description: A large, smooth, branching herb from a large, perennial rootstock, and with green, red, or purple stems; leaves alternate and simple; flowers white, on a long stem, more or less erect; fruit a dark purple berry composed of 5-12 segments fused in a ring, the stem drooping. P. rigida differs by having shorter, erect fruiting stems
The berries are believed to be toxic to humans, but are eaten by birds. It is a native of northeastern North America where it is a common weed of disturbed, usually fertile, soils. The closely related Indian pokeberry, P. acinosa, is quite similar in appearance.

Range: Forest or natural areas, weedy in disturbed areas, in fields, fence rows, low grounds, clearings, waste places, roadsides.

Cultural Uses: The fresh and very young spring-time greens of the pokeberry were boiled, drained, and boiled again to make "poke salad" the traditional rural dish in the southern U.S. immortalized in the 1960's hit song "Poke Salad Annie". The plant is generally poisonous so this, and all other uses of this plant are not recommended without the guidance of a seasoned expert. This plant contains chemicals called the "pokeweed mitogens" that are being studied for use in treatments of autoimmune diseases including AIDS and rheumatoid arthritis. Mitogens are substances that promote cell division and may activate mitosis in animal cells that normally would not divide. Some lectins, e.g. those in pokeweed mitogens, can activate mitosis in white blood cells; it is this property that is of interest to AIDS researchers. Pokeweed is also being studied as an agent to combat fungal infections. The berries of the Indian pokeberry have been used for dye production.

Edible Parts: Young tender leaves eaten only as thoroughly cooked greens (in two waters). Cooked berries are safe for making pies. CAUTION: Berries, roots and mature plants are poisonous, therefore, only use as new, young growth. Also any red-tinged plant material should be discarded. To avoid possibly collecting part of the toxic root, do not cut below ground level.

Harvest: Only collect young shoots from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. Collect in early spring. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES: Wash young shoots thoroughly with warm water. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue. Peel and parboil tender young shoots (less than eight inches) in two changes of water several minutes each. Boil in a third water until tender and serve like asparagus. Young stalks less than one foot tall, with leaves removed, and before red tinged, can be cut and rolled in corn meal and fried like okra. They can also be pickled. Young leaves taken from stalks less than one foot tall can be parboiled in two changes of water for several minutes each and
boiled in a third water until tender. To freeze, parboil leaves twice, cook, pat dry and place them in plastic bags. (SOURCE: Larson, Ken. 1995. God's Free Harvest, Rhema Publishing, Inc., Suwanee, GA. 231 pp.)

Active Compounds: Toxic principle: Phytolaccatoxin and related triterpene saponins, an alkaloid (phytolaccin), and histamines.

Toxicity Rating: Low.

Animals Affected: All animals may potentially be affected.

Dangerous Parts of Plant: All parts, especially roots and seeds.

Class of Signs: Gastrointestinal irritation (colic, diarrhea which may be bloody). Rarely: anemia, possibly death. Birth defects and tumors may also be possible.

Animals do not voluntarily eat this plant unless there is no other forage available. If the animals are forced to eat pokeweed (especially if it has been incorporated into processed feeds), the primary signs relate to the irritant effects of the saponin toxins, in particular phytolaccigenin. Salivation, abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may become bloody) can be noted. Horses and ruminants do not exhibit vomiting, which is seen in humans, dogs, cats, and pigs. Signs usually resolve within a day or two. Only if large doses are consumed will the animal display more serious signs: anemia, alterations in the heart rate and in respiration, and in very rare cases, death.

Noted in the human literature but not well published in the veterinary literature is the mutagenic and teratogenic properties of pokeweed, that is the ability to induce mutations (and possibly cancer) and birth defects. For humans, even handling the plant is considered dangerous, so it would seem wise to not only prevent human contact with the plant, but animal contact as well. Despite this, the plant is eaten as a spring vegetable in the southern U.S. after cooking it first in several changes of water. Consumption of the plant is not advised.

First Aid: For gastrointestinal irritation, provide better feed and symptomatic care, and signs should abate in about 24 hours. Discard all feeds containing pokeweed, since the plant is never safe for consumption. For severely affected animals, or if it is known that a large amount was consumed, consult a veterinarian promptly for emergency care

Prevention: Pokeweed should be removed from pastures and barnyards. Exercise caution when doing so, since the plant is toxic to humans as well. Good pasture management, with mowing and weed removal, will suffice in keeping pokeweed under control.

Research: Used by Harry Hoxsey in a controversial cure for Cancer (in conjunction with other herbs). The formula is under long term study at the University of Texas School of Public Health. Early results are encouraging.

Silver Lupine

2008-07-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

COMMON NAMES:Lupine, Bluebonnet, Quaker-Bonnets

LATIN NAME:Lupinus perennis (wild)
Lupinus polyphyllus (cultivated)
(pea family)

TOXICITY RATING: Low to moderate in Indiana. In the western rangelands, where lupine grows plentifully, the risk of toxicosis would be high. Different species of lupine have different toxicities. According to reports, L. leucophyllus (velvet or wooly-leafed lupine) is the most toxic and should never be grazed since all stages of plant growth are toxic.

ANIMALS AFFECTED: Sheep are primarily affected, but all animals are susceptible.

DANGEROUS PARTS OF PLANT: All parts, especially pods with seeds.

CLASS OF SIGNS: Breathing problems, behavioral changes, trembling, birth defects, coma, death.

PLANT DESCRIPTION: Lupines (fig. 6) are herbaceous perennials grown in gardens or found wild along roadsides, in fields, and in open woods. Wild lupines are common only in the prairie and lake counties of Indiana. In the rangelands of the West, they are a leading cause of livestock poisoning. Several stems often grow from one creeping root and reach 12 to 30 inches in height. The leaves are alternate and pal-
mately compound with 7 to 11 spear-tip-shaped, softly hairy segments. Elongate spikes of blue, purple, white, magenta, or bicolored pea-like flowers in early summer are followed by 1- to 2-inch, fuzzy, pea-like pods.

SIGNS: Toxicity in lupine is believed to result primarily from the alkaloid D-lupanine. The signs of lupine poisoning can develop within an hour or may take as long as a day. The signs are related to the nervous system and resemble the signs seen with excessive consumption of nicotine (tobacco): twitching, nervousness, depression, difficulty in moving and breathing, and loss of muscular control. If large quantities were consumed, convulsions, coma, and death by respiratory paralysis may occur. In cows that graze lupine, skeletal birth defects in calves can occur, and the syndrome is called "crooked calf".

FIRST AID: There is no antidote. Allow affected livestock to rest quietly, especially if they are unfamiliar with human contact. Handling, trailering, or other stress on the animals after they have been grazing lupine will make the signs worse and can increase losses.

SAFETY IN PREPARED FEEDS: The alkaloids in lupine remain after the plants have dried, so prepared feeds are unsafe for consumption, especially if the feeds contain lupine seed pods.

PREVENTION: Do not allow hungry animals access to lupine, particularly when in the seed stage, if other forage is not available. If lupines are prevalent in the pasture, become familiar with the particular species, since toxicities vary. Do not handle, process, or ship animals that are heavily grazing lupine since this type of stress will increase the number of animals that will become sick and/or die. Livestock can graze lupine without incident as long as excessive ingestion is avoided and animals are not handled or trailered while on lupine pastures (and if the animals are not pregnant). In cattle, to avoid birth defects, do not allow grazing between days 40 and 70 of gestation.

Chicory

2008-07-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

Scientific Name: Cichorium intybus

Common Name: chicory

Range: throughout the United States; found along roadsides, in field borders, in waste lands and barren meadows

Origin: chicory is native to Europe and temperate regions in Asia; it has been naturalized to the United States.

Botanical description: Chicory has a long fleshy root filled with a milky sap, much like that of its sister dandelion. Leaves form a basal rosette along the ground with a tough branched stem that is hard to break. Upper leaves are small and insignificant; lower leaves are large and toothed. The flowers are usually blue, although on some rare occasions they are white or pink. They are ray flowers with fringed edges and are about 1½ inches in diameter. They face toward the rising sun in the morning and by afternoon are faded and withered, to be replaced by a new set of flowers the next morning. Chicory is easily recognizable during its flowering season by the daisy-like blue flowers that seem to be in constant supply; when the flower is gone, the leaves and arrangement do resemble dandelion but are distinguishable because they have tiny hairs on them, while dandelion leaves are hairless.

What’s in a name: The origin of chicory’s name is uncertain, but it is suggested that an alternate name for the plant, succory, comes from the Latin word succorrere, meaning to run under, for the length and depth of chicory’s root. It is also suggested that the name may be a corruption of the Egyptian word Ctchorium (meaning unavailable). The species name of chicory, intybus, is derived from another name for the plant, Hendibeh, which is a name also used for endive, the only other member of the genus Cichorium.

All in the family: Chicory is a member of the composite family, a large group of wildflowers that includes dandelions, purple coneflower, daisies, and endive.

Cultural uses: Traditionally, chicory juice was used as part of a remedy for headaches. The Romans used chicory as a vegetable or in salads. The root was ground and used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute. It is still used that way today, and is the special ingredient in Luzianne coffee, a mellow blend of coffee and chicory that is sold in Louisiana.
A tea made from the flowers and leaves is good for the liver and gall bladder, and is used to treat jaudice, dyspepsia, loss of appetite and mild laxative, especially good for children. Chicory is also taken for gout and rheumatic conditions.

Active compounds: inulin, sesquiterpene lactones, vitamins, minerals, fat, mannitol and latex

Research: An article in the Journal of Nutrition examined the effect of chicory inulin in a variety of disorders. The results were favorable for the effectiveness of inulin in reducing risk of heart disease, treating gastrointestinal distress, elevating immune functions, facilitating the metabolism of lipids and reduction of risk of colonic carcinogenesis. Other research confirmed the cardioactivity of chicory in frog hearts in vitro, ascribing to the plant a digitalis-like property. This study has not been carried out in humans. It has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory activity in rats, but this also has not been tested in humans. Like many other herbs, chicory must be more thoroughly tested.

In lore, legend and life: Chicory is known as the blue sailor weed in some countries, based on a legend about a young woman who fell in love with a sailor. The sailor left her for his true love, the sea, and the young woman was left alone. The gods took pity on her and turned her into the beautiful blue flower we know as chicory

Echinacea

2008-07-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

Scientific Name: Ecinachea purpurea

Common Name: purple coneflower

Range: Most of the eastern United States; another similar species of the flower is found in Western states with similar medicinal and cultural uses; found in open woods, thickets, fields, and meadows.

Origin: Purple coneflower is native to Eastern and Central United States

Botanical description: Purple coneflower is a 2-3 foot perennial with large, daisy-like flowers with swept back reddish-purple rays. The center disk of the flower is cone shaped, large and orange-brown in color. The leaves are low on the flower stem, long and tapering with a rough-toothed edge. The flower is unmistakable; it resembles a black-eyed susan dipped in raspberry juice. When not flowering, the plant is somewhat harder to identify.

What’s in a name: Purple coneflower’s genus name, Ecinachea, is derived from the Greek word for hedgehog, which was inspired by the appearance of the central cone.

All in the family: Purple coneflower is a member of the Compositae family, the composites, which includes the daisy-like flowers, dandelions, chicory, and a host of other Echinachea species that are also used medicinally.

Cultural uses: Purple coneflower has a long history of medicinal use. Native Americans used it as an antidote for snake bit and other venomous bites and stings. It was also used in a smoke treatment for headaches. Purple coneflower was used to calm toothaches and sore gums, and tea form it was drunk to treat colds, mumps, arthritis, and a blood purifier (often a euphemism for the treatment of venereal diseases). Further, it was used as a treatment for pain, indigestion, tumors, malaria and hemorrhoids. After a long period of disregard, purple coneflower has come back into vogue in recent years. It is used primarily as an immune-system booster and it has been used as a treatment for skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis, boils and wounds, burns, cold sores and genital herpes. It is also recommended for use to treat bronchitis, tonsillitis, meningitis, tuberculosis, abscesses, whooping cough, arthritis and ear infections.

Active compounds: alkamides, caffeic acid esters, polysaccharides, volatile oil, echinolone, and betaine

Research: Research has yet to determine what exact compounds in purple coneflower give it its medicinal properties. Early research with purple coneflower and its relatives were done with adulterated or misidentified samples, so results of those tests are unreliable. Although clinical trials have been poorly designed, animal and test tube studies have shown that purple coneflower extracts do fight certain viruses and appear to stimulate the immune system to ward off bacterial infection. Some animal studies have shown that purple coneflower promotes phagocytosis, but the results are not conclusive. Laboratory findings have shown that purple coneflower is effective in healing superficial wounds. More study must be done before any clear recommendations about the use of purple coneflower can be made.
In lore, legend and life: No particular stories ascribed to purple coneflowers could be located.

Common Plantain

2008-07-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

Scientific Name: Plantago major

Common Name: common plantain

Range: throughout the United States; found in lawns, pastures, meadows, cracks in sidewalks, waste places and disturbed habitats

Origin: native of Europe and temperate parts of Asia

Botanical description: The common plantain has broad, irregularly rounded to oval leaves, 1-6 inches in length that form a basal rosette that is prostrate to the ground. The leaves have smooth, wavy, or toothed edges; 3 – 11 parallel veins run their length and are large and noticeable. A tall spike of inconspicuous flowers, then tiny seeds cover the central flower stalk, which stands erect from the center of the basal rosette and can be 3 – 12 inches tall. This spike of seeds easily identifies common plantain. The round, prominently veined leaves are readily found during all seasons. Plantain is so common in grassy areas that it is likely to be overlooked.

What’s in a name: Plantain’s common name comes from the Latin word planta, which means sole (as in sole of a shoe). Native Americans associated the plant with the Europeans, who seemed to leave a trail of the alien weed wherever they went, and called it “white man’s foot”.

All in the family: Common plantain is in the same family as Plantago psyllium, the plant whose mucilaginous fiber is the active ingredient in Metamucil and other bulk fiber/laxative products.

Cultural uses: In Gaelic, plantain is known as the “healing herb” because it was used in Ireland to treat wounds and bruises. Plantain was hailed by Pliny as a cure for the “madness of dogs”, and Erasmus claimed it to be an antidote for spider bite toxins. It was also said that if someone was bitten by a mad dog, rubbing plantain on the bite would heal it. Native Americans used it as an antidote to snakebite venom by rubbing its juices on the wound. It was listed as one of the nine sacred herbs in Anglo-Saxon medicine because of its healing powers. It was used as a cure for disorders of the kidney, a remedy for worms, a diuretic, and a cure for hemorrhoids, as well as a laxative.
Current use of plantain is the commercially significant extraction of its mucilage – a carbohydrate fiber that is used in gentle laxatives. Ironically, plantain infusions can be used to halt diarrhea. Mucilage also acts as an appetite suppressant and reduces intestinal absorption of fat and bile. It reduces LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Plantain is commonly used as an astringent; its juice, when rubbed on an insect bite or bee sting, immediately sooths the area and begin the healing process. Plantain may also stop poison ivy from blistering and itching if applied to the skin immediately after contact. Plantain is still considered a diuretic; in addition, it is used as an expectorant and decongestant. It is also thought to sooth the throat and is taken to relieve laryngitis. Finally, when chewed, plantain acts as a breath freshener. If eaten early enough in the spring, plantain leaves are said to make a tasty cooked vegetable dish.

Active compounds: beta carotene, mucilage, calcium, monoterpene alkaloids, glycosides, sugars, triterpenes, linoleic acid, iridoids, and tannins.

Research: Clinical studies have verified plantain’s astringent properties; research has been conducted into the possible connection between allergic responses and the inhalation or ingestion of psyllium (see Arlian, Vyszenski-Moher, Lawrence, Schrotel, Ritz; 1992).

In lore, legend and life: Shakespeare referred to plantain in Romeo and Juliet as a cure for a broken shin; he also spoke of it as cure for sores. Chaucer also made reference to the healing powers of plantain.
Native Americans carried a small bag of powdered plantain root as a charm against snakebite.
Unscrupulous herbalists long ago removed a portion of plantain seeds from the recipe for a salve and planted them instead; the patient then had to return to the herbalist for another dose of the medicine.
Plantain, like dandelion, is a ubiquitous weed that vexes all who wish for a perfect lawn. Left to its own device, plantain can quickly overtake any grassy area.

White Clover

2008-07-04T12:46:00.000-07:00

Scientific Name: Trifolium repens

Common Name: white clover

Range: throughout United States, except Great Plains and extreme South; found in lawns, fields, roadsides, and disturbed habitats

Origin: native to Eastern Mediterranean and Asia

Botanical description: White clover is a perennial plant with alternate compound leaves found in threes. The dark green leaves often have a white “V” or crescent in their center.
The flowers are white, sometimes tinged with pink, and are actually dense groups of individual red clover by this close to the ground growth pattern and, of course, the white flowers when flowerettes arranged in a round head. The plant grows close to the ground and is notorious for its ability to creep, or spread, by the use of stolons. White clover is most easily distinguished from blooming. Red clover plants often have larger leaves than those of white clover.

What’s in a name: Like red clover, white clover’s genus name, Trifolium, means “three leaves”, and its species name, repens, means “to creep”.

All in the family: White clover is a member of the Leguminosae family, which includes red clover and other plants such as peas, beans and peanuts that are nitrogen fixers (see description in red clover information sheet).

Cultural uses: White clover blossoms were used in folk medicine against gout, rheumatism, and leucorrhea. It was also believed that the texture of fingernails and toenails would improve after drinking clover blossom tea. Native Americans used whole clover plants in salads, and made a white clover leaf tea for coughs and colds. White clover is thought to clean the system, decreasing irritation and muscular activity of the gastrointestinal tract. It is also used to decrease the activity of the central nervous system. Like red clover, it was thought to give anyone who carried its leaves the ability to detect witches, sorcerers and good fairies in his presence. It also was seen as representing the Trinity by Christians.

Active compounds: The active compounds of the white clover are unknown.

Research: none found

Red Clover

2008-07-04T12:36:00.000-07:00

Scientific name: Trifolium pratense

Common name: red clover

Range: throughout the United States; found in lawns, on roadsides, in fields and in other disturbed habitats.

Origin: native to the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia; naturalized to the United States

Botanical description: Red clover grows up to 16 inches, with a hairy upright stem. The leaves are made up of three (and sometimes, the lucky four!) oval leaflets with a prominent white “V” mark in the center, called a chevron. The flowers are purple to pink and are egg-shaped. Red clover are found in fields and grassy areas and are readily identified by the three part leaves, the white V in the center of each leaf, and the distinctive purple-pink flower. Without the flower, the key to differentiating red from white clover is the V mark on the leaves, present in the red clover but absent in the white.
Also, leaves of white clover are all on stems that originate from the base of a central stem; red clover leaves spring from both the base of the central stem and above.

What’s in a name: The genus name Trifolium means “three leaves”, which is characteristic not only of red but also of white clovers.

All in the family: Red clover is a member of the Leguminosae, or pea family. Other members of the family include not only peas, but beans and peanuts. These are a group of plants that are able to take nitrogen from the atmosphere and “fix” it, or make it biologically available to other plants. Nitrogen fixation is of critical importance in protein production in plants and makes the legumes a critical player in agricultural planning.

Cultural uses: Historically, tea made of the red clover flower has been used as an antispasmodic, expectorant, a mild sedative, and a blood purifier; additionally, the tea has been used for asthma, bronchitis and respiratory spasms. A wash made from the flowers is used as a topical remedy for cancer; the belief was that a concentrated decoction applied to the site of the tumor would draw it out and clear it from the body. Red clover was also used for athlete’s foot, sores, burns and skin ulcers. The flowers were also smoked in “anti-asthma” cigarettes. Today, red clover flowers are made into a wine as well as the previously described tea; they are also used to treat coughs and respiratory spasms. Estrogens in red clover may be useful in treating menstrual problems. Native Americans have been known to eat red clover in salads, and dried flowers can be dried and turned into flour that can be used in breads, muffins or pancakes. Use of red clover as an anti-AIDS and anti-diabetic medicine has been suggested.

Active compounds: flavenoids, phenolic acids (including salicylic acid), volatile oils such as methyl salicylate and benzyl alcohol, sitosterol, fatty acids, tannin and starch

Research: Studies are being done in the use of red clover for combating AIDS, diabetes and the increased cardiovascular risk associated with menopause.

In lore, legend and life: Red clover is the state flower of Vermont.
The V or crescent markings on the leaves of the red clover were once believed to be a sign that the plant would be useful in curing cataracts (in accordance with the Doctrine of Signatures, which was a belief that a plant’s appearance indicated the ills it would cure).

In ancient times, the red clover was believed to bring good luck in gaming as well as in living.
It was believed that whoever carried a three-leaf clover with him would be able to detect witches, sorcerers and good fairies around him.

Christianity believed the three-leaf clover to be a symbol of the Trinity, so the plans of churches and church windows are designed around a cloverleaf.

A favorite activity of children is to pull the individual blossoms out of the red clover flower head and suck the nectar out of the ends

Queen Anne's Lace

2008-07-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

Scientific Name: Daucuscarota

Common Name: Queen Anne’s Lace, wild carrot

Range: throughout the United States; found in fields, meadows, waste places, roadsides, fence rows, and disturbed habitats

Origin: native to Europe

Botanical description: Queen Anne’s Lace has feathery, finely divided leaves and a stem that rise 2-4 feet tall. The showy white flower is shaped like an umbrella and is made up of many small flowers in a lace-like pattern. At the center is a purplish-black floret. The root of Queen Anne’s Lace is thick and resembles a carrot. When in bloom, Queen Anne’s Lace looks like no other flower; without the showy white umbrella of florets, the leaves of the plant look like those of the domestic carrot and a pair of deadly relatives, poison hemlock and fool’s parsley.

What’s in a name: The word carrot is Celtic and means red of color; the species name, Daucus, comes from the Greek word dais, which means to burn, signifying Queen Anne’s Lace’s pungent and stimulating qualities

All in the family: Queen Anne’s Lace is a member of the Apiaceae, or parsley, family. It is the ancestor of the domestic carrot, and is related to parsley, and the aforementioned poison hemlock and fool’s parsley.

Cultural uses: Traditionally, tea made from the root of Queen Anne’s Lace has been used as diuretic to prevent and eliminate kidney stones, and to rid individuals of worms. Its seeds have been used for centuries as a contraceptive; they were prescribed by physicians as an abortifacient, a sort of “morning after” pill. The seeds have also been used as a remedy for hangovers, and the leaves and seeds are both used to settle the gastrointestinal system. It is still used by some women today as a contraceptive; a teaspoon of seeds are thoroughly chewed, swallowed and washed down with water or juice starting just before ovulation, during ovulation, and for one week thereafter. Grated wild carrot can be used for healing external wounds and internal ulcers. The thick sap is used as a remedy for cough and congestion. The root of Queen Anne’s Lace can be eaten as a vegetable or in soup.

Active compounds: Queen Anne’s Lace contains flavonoids, essential oils, vitamins B and C, pectin, lecithin, glutamine, phosphatide and cartotin, a vitamin A precursor

Research: Chinese research has confirmed the function of Queen Anne’s Lace seeds as an abortifacient; other research has shown the plant to be a bactericidal, a diuretic, a hypotensive, and an effective treatment for parasites.

In lore, legend and life: Queen Anne’s Lace is said to have been named after Queen Anne of England, an expert lace maker. When she pricked her finger with a needle, a single drop of blood fell into the lace, thus the dark purple floret in the center of the flower.

Disaster Preparedness -- Take Your Companion Animals With You

2008-07-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

Storm Warning! Emergency Preparedness

Everyone has been informed of the necessity of being prepared for an emergency evacuation. Very frequently the animals you are closest to are forgotten or left behind. We have all seen on TV reports in flood areas of rescue workers saving a dog from the roof of a submerged house. There is one easy solution to these and worse tragedies...TAKE YOUR PET WITH YOU!
With careful preplanning and preparation there is no need for animals to be lost or injured due to a hurricane, flashflood or anything else that may arise that you need to get the “family” to safety.

My children were always taught the necessity of being prepared no matter what the crisis (they grew up near 3-mile Island in Pennsylvania)….they carry backpacks with extra clothes, first aid kits, potable water and emergency rations of food in the trunks of their cars. They have also been taught that their companion animals are their children and should be planned for also.
So when the situation arises, everything is ready…..people, animals and supplies, all
set to go. Get in the car and leave before the situation turns deadly, go when life is easily spared.

Preplanning

Preplanning includes getting your supplies and your family ready for any emergency. Have a predesignated meeting place in or near your home. Just remember to have someone remember the dog, cat, bird, etc. They do not understand the words as children do.
Preplanning also includes having a place to go, contacts numbers set up outside of your area that anyone can call and reconnect with you if separated.

Preplanning also includes being ready for any type of emergency….injuries included to people or animal family members!

What to Take:

When you leave home plan for 1 weeks stay away. The following is a suggested list of items to have together and ready for an evacuation situation.

Medications
Medical records
First Aid Kite
Food & Water in sealed
containers
Bowls
First aide kit
Bedding
Litter and box
Leash
Collar and tags
Grooming supplies
Current pet photo (in case pet gets lost
A favorite toy or two
(esp. for cats) a sturdy well ventilated carrier

Where to Go

There are literally NO human emergency shelters which allow you to take your pets into the shelter with you, unless they are work animals (I.e. seeing eye dogs.) So the question arises HOW do you take the pet with you...preplanning!

Call now to find out which motels outside your area allow pets in their rooms, keep a list near the phone for easy access. When the situation arises, call and reserve a room early.
Another option is to set up with a family member or friend outside of your area that would allow you to come and stay with them during the crises, knowing that that would mean pets and all!
Find camping areas that allow your pets to come with, if you are fortunate enough to have an RV this should be simple! Post these numbers by the phone also so that reservations may be made as early as possible!

First Aide

Before worry over injuries prepare the pets with constant health maintenance, such as keeping all vaccines current, flea control and heartworm prevention monthly.

In preparing for an emergency evacuation it is wise to have the training and knowledge to handle any situation. A good early step in being ready is to take the Red Cross First Aid Course for animals. There they will teach you how to handle basic first aid procedures and animal CPR.

The next step is to have a basic first aid kit. Below is a list of first aide supplies to have in a water proof container to carry with you:

Latex gloves
Gauze sponges a variety of sizes, both large and small Roll gauze, 2 inch
Roll bandages, such as gauze wrap that stretches and clings to itself
Material to make a splint ( pieces of wood, news paper or magazines
Adhesive tape, hypo-allergenic
Non-adherent sterile pads
Small scissors (bandage)
Grooming clippers or a safety razor
Nylon leash
Towel
Muzzle
Compact thermal blanket
Pediatric rectal thermometer
Water based sterile lubricant
Hydrogen peroxide
Rubbing alcohol
Topical antibiotic ointment
Epsom salts
Baby dose syringe or non-glass eye dropper
Sterile eye lubricant
Sterile saline eye wash
Glucose paste or kayro corn syrup
Styptic powder or pencil
Expired credit card to scrape away stingers
petroleum jelly
penlight
clean cloth
needle-nosed pliers
A list of emergency numbers
Pet’s vet
24 hr ER Vet Hospital
National Animal Poison Control Center 1-800- 548-2423 or 1-900-680- 0000

Going Home

After an evacuation the return home can be just as traumatic. Prepare for it in advance also. Make sure that the authorities have cleared the area for entering, do a dry run home before moving back in and let others know of your plans to go and check everything out before you leave your evacuation place.

When you return home, Proceed with Caution, check out the area around your home and property for any hazards before allowing pets to enter, run and explore. A downed tree can be hiding live electrical lines; weakened floor boards can lead to a nasty fall; etc.

Check your food and water supply to make sure there are no contaminations.
Walk pets on a leash until all hazards are removed and the animal is reoriented to the area. Also until all repairs to home, fences, etc can be accomplished.

Disaster Preparedness - First Aide

2008-07-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

When preparing for a disaster one must think about the safety of the family. Injuries and sickness do occur, especially during time of emergency.

The best way to handle any emergency is thorough preperation. Take the time to contact The Red Cross in your area and take their first aide, advanced first aide and CPR classes. In fact every person, including children, should take these classes. Also purchase a good first aide book.....Red Cross also offers these.

You will need a first aide kit. The following items are suggestions only:

MEDICATIONS

· Antibiotic Ointment
· Medications For All Family Members
· Aspirin and/or Pain Relief Medication
· Diarrhea Medication
· Eye Drops
· Cold/Cough Medicine
· Benadryl
· Insect Spray
· Ear and Nose Drops
· Hydrogen Peroxide
· Skin Disinfectant Spray
· Extra Prescription Medication
· Old Pair Of Prescription Eyeglasses For Spare

MEDICAL MATERIALS

· Band-aids
· Medical Latex Gloves
· Surgical Mask
· Instant Cold Packs
· Instant Hot Packs
· Ace Bandages
· Butterfly Bandages
· Gauze Pads
· Cotton Swabs
· Adhesive Tape
· 2" & 4" Wide Sterile Bandage Rolls
· Triangular Bandage For Sling, Etc. (37" x 37" x 52")
· Tongue Depressors (Pop-sickle Sticks)
· Splint Material Spray Bottle With 10% Bleach Solution For Disinfecting Objects

Remember that this list is a suggestion only....every family is different, with different needs, allow for this, plan for this

Dandelion

2008-07-01T09:27:00.001-07:00

Scientific Name: Taraxacum officinale

Common Name: common dandelion

Range: throughout the United States; found in lawns, fields and meadows, along roadsides, cracks of sidewalks, and disturbed habitats.

Origin: Native of Europe and Asia

Botanical description: The common dandelion is a perennial, herbaceous plant with long, lance-shaped leaves that are deeply toothed. The leaves are 3 to 12 inches long and grow from a basal rosette. It has yellow composite flowers that are 1-2 inches wide and grow individually on hollow, purplish stalks 2 to 18 inches tall. Each flower head is made up of hundreds of tiny rays. Familiar to most viewers is the white, globular “seed head”.

The dandelion has a thick, highly branched taproot. All parts of the plant contain a sticky, milky white sap.

Dandelions are generally easily recognizable in all seasons. The growth of leaves from the basal rosette, the leaf shape with its characteristic multi-toothed edges (although some dandelions exhibit less toothiness and a smoother, broader leaf – these are generally found in shady areas) is easy to spot even in winter. If unsure, break a stem or leaf and the characteristic milky sap will emerge. When in bloom, dandelions are bright yellow and hard to miss.

What’s in a name: The genus name of the dandelion comes from the Greek word taraxos, which means disorder, and akos, which means remedy. The species name, officinale, means that it is used medicinally. The common name may come from the Greek word leontodon, which means lion’s tooth. Other sources claim the word dandelion comes from the old French word Dent-de-lion or from the Latin dens leonis, both also meaning lion’s tooth or teeth.

All in the family: The common dandelion is a member of the Composite family, with relatives including Ecinachea (purple coneflower), chicory and other daisy-like flowers.
Cultural uses: Various Native American groups used dandelions for food, a dermatological aid, a gastrointestinal aid, a cure for sore throats, an analgesic, a blood purifier, a sedative, a laxative, an emetic, a love potion, and a general tonic for good health. The first use of the dandelion as a medicine was by Arabian physicians in the 10th and 11th centuries. References to the use of dandelion as a medicine was also found writings of physicians in Wales in the 13th century.
Today, dandelions are still used as food; many enjoy the dandelion leaves boiled like spinach or mixed in salads. Baby dandelion leaves are often found in haute cuisine. The root, when dried, has been used in coffee substitutes. But it is as a medicine that dandelion continues to shine. Dandelion leaves are used as a diuretic, but an unconventional one. While most diuretic preparations leach potassium from the body, dandelion leaves provide an abundant source of potassium. Leaves are also used to treat high blood pressure because of their ability to reduce the volume of fluid in the body. Dandelion root has been shown to stimulate bile production by the liver and is used to cleanse the liver. The root is also a gentle laxative. It is considered one of the most effective detoxifying herbs. It works on the liver, the kidneys and the gallbladder to accelerate the removal of toxins from the body. It also is used to relieve constipation, skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis, to prevent and possibly dissolve gallstones, and to treat osteoarthritis and gout. Parts of the dandelion may be consumed in a tea, a wine, an extract or tincture, or in combination with other medicinal herbs and flavorings in a reduced broth.

Active compounds: sesquiterpene lactones, triterpenes, vitamins A,B,C,D, coumarins, carotenoids, potassium and other minerals, taraxacoside, and phenolic acids

Research: Various clinical studies have demonstrated the legitimate use of dandelion as a diuretic, a bile production stimulant, a mild laxative, and an excellent source of potassium. Other studies have been only mildly indicative of any medicinal properties of dandelion, and those have been done in mice and rodents.

In lore, legend and life: Dandelions were actually brought to the United States from Europe to provide food for honeybees; now they grow wild worldwide and are more difficult to exterminate than almost any other weed.

Dandelions are used to make an herbal beer in England and Canada. Children use dandelion seed heads to make wishes by blowing the seeds away from the receptacle on which they are held.

Dandelion pollen causes severe allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to other pollens such as ragweed.

Young dandelion buds can be fried in butter and eaten; enthusiasts claim they taste like mushrooms.

Dandelions have been called “piss-a-beds” because of their strong diuretic properties.

Common Milkweed

2008-06-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

Scientific Name: Asclepias syricaCommon Name: common milkweed

Range: throughout most of the United States; this species is not found in the Western states, but similar milkweeds are available: found in old fields, roadsides, meadows, waste places and disturbed habitats.

Origin: native to the United States and Canada

Botanical description: The common milkweed is thick-stemmed and upright. It grows to be 3-5 feet tall. Its leaves are elliptical, and opposite; they are velvety on their upper surface, and downy underneath. They are 4-9 inches long and quite wide.

The pinkish-purple flower buds look like loose broccoli; the flower itself is large and made up of individual florets gathered in an umbrella shaped globe that droops from the stem. The stem is hairy. The seed pods are the most recognizable feature of the common milkweed; they are green, elliptical shaped and about 1-4 inches in length with a pointed tip; inside, they contain myriad seeds with silky parachute-like attachments. Another easily recognizable characteristic of the common milkweed is the profuse, milky white sap that flows from any broken part.

What’s in a name: The genus name, Asclepias, comes from Asklepios, the Greek god of healing.

All in the family: Common milkweed is a member of the Asclepiadaceae, or milkweed, family. Its relatives include other milkweeds such as swamp milkweed, the butterfly weed, and showy milkweed. The butterfly weed and Western states versions of milkweed are toxic.

Active compounds: beta carotene, vitamin C, latex, alkaloids, asclepiadin, volatile oils

Cultural uses: Common milkweed has been used traditionally a tea prepared from its root as a diuretic for kidney stones, a laxative, and an expectorant. It has been used to treat asthma and bronchitis and it induces sweating. The sap has been used for chewing gum, which is considered very dangerous because of the presence of cardioactive compounds in the plant. The sap has also been used as a topical remedy for worts, ringworm and moles. Some Native Americans used milkweed as a contraceptive. It was also a folk remedy for cancer. Today, milkweed has limited medicinal use; other milkweed species, such as the swamp milkweed, have more widespread use. Parts of the milkweed plant can be eaten, but the similarity of this plant to toxic look-alikes would serve as a caution against this practice. It is used by some as an emetic, a potion to sooth the nerves, and as a stomach tonic. It is also believed to kill parasitic worms.

Research: no information available

In lore, legend and life: In World War II, children in the United States were encouraged to collect milkweed pods and turn them in to the government, where the fluffy silk was used to stuff lifevests and flying suits. The silk was especially good because of its exceptional buoyancy and lightweight. Also in World War II, because of the shortage of natural rubber, scientists in the United States tried to turn common milkweed’s latex into a rubber like substitute.
Monarch butterflies are particularly attracted to the flowers of the common milkweed and other milkweed relatives.

In Hindu mythology, relatives of the common milkweed were considered to be the king of plants; it was believed that the creating god was under the influence of milkweed juice when he created the universe.

Backyard Medicine

2008-06-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

The concept that the dreaded weed is really beneficial may be surprising for some, but there is an old adage that goes….’A weed is only a plant we do not yet know the uses and benefits of yet’.

This is so true. Dandelion and Chicory are diuretics, making elimination of excess fluids in the body easier. Common Plantain, when crushed, releasing the juices, is a wonderful balm for a scrap or bite. Staghorn Sumac and Sassafras have been used for hundreds of years as spring tonics. The white sap of Common Milkweed has been used to remove warts.

So before you use those herbicides on the lawn….look a little closer and find out what treasure chest you might have growing willingly in your backyard.

It is so much fun to learn about these plants that many people are now starting gardens to foster some of these plants in their yard. To do so would add to your yards diversity…..allowing the beautiful orange blooms of the butterfly weed to grow and attract butterflies is a wonderful balm to the soul, encouraging Echinacea to bloom and return to your yard year after year allows a wonderful medicine against flu to flourish, and Dandelion and Chicory roots can be harvested right from your yard to make a different kind of coffee substitute, one that was utilized in World War II when rationing meant many didn’t have coffee at all without it’s use.

So the next time you mow the lawn….maybe you could leave a small area to grow wild, see what is really there. Look closely for all your new friends…you may be surprised to find their smiling flower faces gazing back at you.

Basil

2008-06-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

Ocymum basilium

Synonyms:

Part used: herb

Medicinal use: The name comes from the Greek word for King, so this plant has been referred to as the "royal" herb.

It has been used for flatulence and griping pains in the abdomen. When added to food while cooking it decreases the incidence of indigestion and helps prevent constipation.
Basil added to cooking can help in the digestion of most foods heading off any indigestion. If after eating there is still a problem try adding basil to a glass of white wine and sipping on it as an after dinner drink. (1/8 teaspoon per glass should do it.)

Historically it was used in cases of fainting spells, mild nervous disorders and to bring on menstruation.

Basil oil has been used as a treatment for acne, intestinal parasites and as an immune stimulant. It also appears to have estrogen like effects and should be avoided by pregnant and lactating women

Allspice

2008-06-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

Pimento officinalis

Synonyms: pimento, Jamaica pepper

Part used: fruit, particularly the shell

Habitat: Pimento, familiarly called Allspice, because it tastes like a combination of cloves, juniper berries, cinnamon and pepper, is the dried full-grown but immature fruit of the Pimento officinalis or Eugenia Pimenta. It is an evergreen tree growing approximatly 30 feet high in the West Indian islands and South America.

Medicinal use: Allspice was formerly official in both the British and United States Pharmacopoeias. Pimento Oil was dropped from the British in 1914, but Pimento Water is still listed in the British Pharmacopoeia Codex. It was also dropped from the U.S. Pharmocopoeia but admitted to the National Formulary IV.

Pimento (or allspice) is one of the ingredients in the Compound Tinture of Guaic found in that formulary. The Essential Oil, as well as the Spirit and the distilled Water of Pimento are useful for flatulent indigestion. Two or three drops of the oil on sugar are given to correct flatulence (gas). The oil is also given on sugar and in pills to correct the griping tendancies of purgatives.

Preperations: powdered fruit: dose 10 to 30 grains

Kitchen Medicine

2008-06-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

Introduction
.
No matter where we find ourselves, there will always be times when we are not our healthiest. If you depend on a family doctor, that requires you to see him or a substitute when the need arises. If you follow herbal practices with your health, that requires that you know the plants in the area in which you find yourself, and that changes with environment.

One constant in our new, modern age of shipping, is that supermarkets anywhere in the United States and Canada carry very similar (if not identical) items. In Fresno, California you can go into a food store and find ginger, when you have menstrual cramps , just the same way you do in a food store in Miami, Florida. Should you find yourself in Honolulu, Hawaii with a sore throat the food chain predominant there also sells sage that can be used for a gargle the same as the food store at home in Manhattan, New York.

In other words a well stocked kitchen can help save money, prevent needless trips to the pharmacy or doctor, and also allows you the ease of travel, knowing that the next town has a store with the needed spice or food remedy.

Probably everyone knows that prunes are a laxative. But did you know that strawberries are also? And gentle enough for a child?

You probably know that honey sooths a cough, but did you know that onions do as well?

We will look at common spices and foods from a new standpoint. Not just as flavorings or as nutritional aids in diet, but also how they can help keep you and your family healthy. There is truth in the old adage, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away"!

Disaster Preparedness - Food Storage

2008-06-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

Many people 'put by' food, either in the fall after harvest and canning, or when things are on sale at the grocery. There are still others who make it a habit to have extra food on hand at all times, the Mormons have a policy of having 1 years food supply for all members of the family at all times, many survivalists do also.

There are some issues with doing this....knowing proper, safe methods of storage, and proper rotation, so that everything stays as fresh as possible.

Following are some suggestions for your stores list:

Food Supplies – rotate every 6 months

BEVERAGES
· Milk - Dehydrated or Evaporated
· Soda
· Coffee, teas, instant cocoa - remember, drinks with caffeine in them will move water through your body faster, so you might consider storing 1/2 again as much water.
· Powdered Beverages as desired - Don't forget, these will require extra stored water to make.
· Fruit, tomato and vegetable juices
· Sport drinks, such as Gatorade

Grain Products
· Multi-packages of individual serving breakfast cereal
· Instant HOT cereal in the paper packages
· Pancake mix - get the type that requires water only
· Bread - store in freezer
· Pasta
· Flour
· Corn meal
· Soda Crackers
· Rice

Protein Sources
· Canned Meat: bacon, spam, sausages, meat spreads, chile con carne, beef stew.
· Canned Poultry; chicken, turkey
· Canned Fish: tuna, salmon, sardines
· Cheeses: hard wax wrapped cheese lasts longer
· Dried Eggs

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
· Canned berries
· Canned pears, peaches, apricots, plums
· Canned citrus fruits
· Canned vegetables
· Dry peas
· Instant mashed potatoes
· Dry packaged beans

STAPLES
· Salt
· Sugar
· Cooking oil
· Shortening
· Baking Soda
· Honey

SEASONINGS AND SPICES
Include seasonings appropriate for the meals you choose to store. Spicy foods increase the consumption of fluids

SNACKS AND OTHER FOODS
· Nuts
· Peanut butter
· Hard Candy
· Dried fruit
· Jerky
· Dry soup mix
· Canned soup

Disaster Preparedness

2008-06-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

Here on the east coast of North America we are headed into hurrican season, in California it is Earthquake season all the time, and in the center of the country it seems to be severe flood season right now. If a disaster, natural or manmade, were to strike right now do you have a clue how to be ready and how to survive?

If your answer was no....then read on. The surest way to survive any unknown situation is to be prepared. To be prepared takes planning and time. I want to survive, my family and pets with me. So I have taken time to think things through, and have sought out advice from the Red Cross, FEMA, and anywhere else I could find reliable information. I plan to share some of this information in the next several posts with you. I hope it helps.

The first thing I did was to prepare an emergency kit for in the car, if someone gets stranded in a winter blizzard they can survive with this kit. (or any other unforseen issue that makes getting back to safety a problem)

HERE IS A LIST OF ITEMS WHICH SHOULD BE KEPT IN YOUR CAR'S MOBILE SURVIVAL KIT:
· Nylon Carrying Bag or Day Pack (I used a backpack and everything is in it)
· Bottled Water
· Non-perishable Food-Candy Bars, Dried Fruits, Jerky, Cookies, Crackers, Etc.
· Can Opener (if needed for the food packed)
· Transistor Radio and Extra Batteries (or a wind-up style)
· Flashlight and Extra Batteries (or a wind-up style)
· First Aid Kit
· Routine Medications - Aspirin, Tylenol, Cold Tablets, Etc.
· Gloves
· Essential Medication-Extra Prescription Medications
· Blanket, Sleeping Bags, Space Blanket
· Sealable Plastic Bags
· Pre-moistened Towelettes
· Small Tool Kit
· Matches,Lighter, and Candle
· Chemical Light Sticks
· Walking Shoes and Extra Socks
· Change of Clothes
· Jacket
· Entertainment Pack - Family Photos, Notebooks, Reading Material and Games
· Cash (Small Denominations and Coins)

There may be other things you think of that are necessary for your personal needs, add them also.

REMEMBER: You could be stranded for up to 72 hours. Make sure that you have enough supplies to meet your needs

Beginning Tips on Blending Essential Oils for Aromatherapy

2008-06-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

When starting to blend it is important to remember that there are different types of smells and that scents in the same catergory blend with each other the best. The basic types are:

Floral (i.e. Lavender, Neroli, Jasmine)
Woodsy (i.e. Pine, Cedar)
Earthy (i.e. Oakmoss, Vetiver, Patchouli)
Herbaceous (i.e. Marjoram, Rosemary, Basil)
Minty (i.e. Peppermint, Spearmint)
Medicinal/Camphorous (i.e. Eucalyptus, Cajuput, Tea Tree)
Spicy (i.e. Nutmeg, Clove, Cinnamon)
Oriental (i.e. Ginger, Patchouli)
Citrus (i.e. Orange, Lemon, Lime)

In general, but not limited to these, the following categories blend well together:

Florals blend well with spicy, citrusy and woodsy oils.
Woodsy oils generally blend well with all categories.
Spicy and oriental oils blend well with florals, oriental and citrus oils. Be careful not to overpower the blend with the spicy or oriental oils.
Minty oils blend well with citrus, woodsy, herbaceous and earthy oils.

Oils evaporate at different rates, so most blenders use oils that blend different evaporation rates, as one oil evaporates the effect and scent of the blend will change. There are three evaporation groupings, as follows:

Top Notes: (these have the fastest evaporation rates)

Anise
Basil
Bay Laurel
Bergamot
Citronella
Eucalyptus
Grapefruit
Lavender
Lemon
Lemon grass
Lime
Orange
Peppermint
Spearmint
Tangerine

Middle Notes:

Chamomile
Cinnamon
Clary Sage
Cypress
Geranium
Hyssop
Jasmine
Juniper Berry
Neroli
Nutmeg
Rose
Rosemary
Rosewood
Spruce
Tea Tree
Thyme
Ylang Ylang

Base Notes:

Angelica
Balsam, Peru
Cedarwood
Frankincense
Ginger
Myrrh
Patchouli
Sandalwood
Vanilla

None of these lists of evaporation rates are complete, they are just a starting point.

Some Tips for starting to blend:

Start out small, use the least number of drops, so you waste less while experimenting
Keep an accurate notebooks of the experiments you try, with notes on your thoughts and feeling of each blend as you make them. You have ahigher chance of duplicating a scent with accurate records.
When storing your blends be sure to label it clearly. If there isn’t sufficient room on the bottle, then assign it a code that is matched in your notebook to that particular blend.
After creating a blend allow it to sit for a few days to a week. Smell it again, the scent may change as the oils blend. Now decide if you like it or not.

How to use Aromatherapy

2008-06-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

There are several ways to utilize the essential oils used in Aromatherapy:

Massage
Baths
Compresses
Inhalations
Vaporisation
Perfumes

The use of massage with aromatherapy is maybe the most effective way of delivery. With the skin being the largest organ on the body it works to keep out contaminants, but some oils do absorb through the skin, which is why medicine makes use of skin patches for the delivery of some medicines. When you use massage you utilize two Alternative modalities simultaneously, Aromatherapy and Touch, getting the most beneficial combination.

Using the oils in baths is again very effective……as you use it on the skin and through inhalation of the moist air and vapors. Water itself has a very therapeutic effect and combined with essential oils enhances the healing powers of both.

Compresses use the therapeutic effect of the water and inhalation in a lessened way from the bath. It is placed on the area most needing the treatment, therefore concentrating the direction of action to just the vicinity needing healing. This method of application is best used in treating such conditions as: muscular aches and pains, varicose veins, sprains, bruises, menstrual cramps and respiratory congestion.

Inhalations have been utilized for centuries…today we use vaporizers on children with stuffy head colds and croup. Inhalations can be utilized for the treatment of a variety of respiratory disorders as well as emotional states. They are most effective for treating nasal or chest congestion where there is an excess or deficiency of mucus. (E.g. Sinusitis, bronchitis, hay fever, post nasal drip etc.)

Vaporization is the use of essential oils in room freshening methods. Air fresheners are excellent examples. Many know the use of vaporizers in a child’s room at night to keep the air moist and the breathing passages clear. This is an often ordered treatment by the doctor.

What is Aromatherapy?

2008-06-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

By definition of the compound word in Webster’s dictionary, we find the following:

Aroma – 1. A pleasant, often spicy odor, fragrance, as a plant, a wine, cooking, etc. 2. Any smell or odor

Therapy – The treatment of disease or any physical or mental disorder by medical or physical means, usually excluding surgery, sometimes used in compounds (i.e. hydrotherapy).

Therefore, we have the definition of aromatherapy as: The treatment of disease, physical or mental disorder with odor or fragrance that is derived from plants.

Ann Berwick in her book says: “Aromatherapy may be defined as the therapeutic use of the essential oils of aromatic plants.”

Valerie Gennari Cooksley states: “…the skilled and controlled use of essential oils for physical and emotional health and well being.”

Still others have stated it thusly:

Aromatherapy is the art and science of helping living things toward wholeness and balance using the essential oils, which can be extracted from plants

Essential oils are the vital life essence of aromatic plants and flowers in a condensed form. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for therapeutic effects

Aromatherapy is the art of using essential oils to enhance our physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being.

The nature of aromatherapy is as a holistic treatment, restoring balance to mind and body as well as its specific use in treating a wide range of symptoms.
So, no matter how you word it, it comes out the same. Aromatherapy is a complimentary therapy, to be used alongside more conventional types of medical treatment. It cannot be used for diagnostic work, in this country it is illegal to diagnose without a medical license. There is nowhere in the USA that grants this right through Aromatherapy. There is also nowhere that certification is required to practice aromatherapy, these certifications are granted through the schools themselves, no government as of now has a hand in this process.

How does it Work?

The oils interact with the body's organs and hormones to encourage mental, spiritual and physical change. They work subtly and in small quantities through the skin and the air and should never be put directly into the body in any other way.

Essential oils seem to work in three ways:
If used in baths, compresses, or cosmetics, the very small molecules involved will be absorbed through the skin and into the capillaries that underlie it. Or if used in vaporizers or diffusers, they will be breathed in and absorbed through the respiratory mucosa. Then they are carried by the blood through the body to the different organs they target to exert their physical effects.

They are also absorbed in the nasal mucosa and taken up by scent receptors, which send signals through the nerves to the limbic system. This is the area of the brain where memories associated with strong emotions are stored. It also links directly to the parts of the brain that control many of the automatic functions of the body, such as blood pressure, heart rate, respirations, and intestinal movements. Thus, the essential oils can have a strong effect on the emotions, both through the body functions associated with them and through memory. Go out to the garden and rub the lavender and then the rosemary...see how different these two smells make you feel.

Finally, and here is an area not predisposed to scientific study, the essential oils can have an effect on one's energy bodies ...clearing, stimulating, slowing, or opening according to their own nature. Thus their association with churches, meditation, and spiritual work for millennia. For example, anyone who has been in Catholic churches will remember the scent of frankincense and myrrh. These incenses did more than kill germs that hadn't been identified yet; they help to open people spiritually.

So when we speak of wholeness, we are acknowledging that all beings exist on spiritual, mental, and emotional levels as well as in physical bodies, and that all of these dimensions effect health and well-being. Most holistic practitioners acknowledge that dis-ease may start on the levels of spirit or emotion, blocking energy flows here for some time before the disturbance manifests on the physical level. Since essential oils can exert an effect on all these levels, they may be able to work on some of the causes of dis-ease as well as easing physical discomfort.

Sagebrush (Artemisia)

2008-06-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Common Names: Big Sagebrush, Blue sagebrush, Chamiso hendiondo (Spanish for ‘waist high gray bushes that stink’), Common sagebrush

Latin Name: Artemisia tridentate Nutt. (art-em ‘miz ee uh trye den ‘tay ta)

Artemisia – said to be named for Artemisia (Diana to the Greeks), the Roman goddess of
chastity, hunting, and the moon; also a botanist and a medical researcher who discovered
several herbs.

Tridentate – three-toothed, referring to the leaves

Navajo name: Ts’ah, the sagebrush

If not the most common, big sagebrush is certainly more conspicuous than the several other species of sagebrush growing in the Four Corners region. Vast stands of pale gray-turquoise announce the presence of this shrub. Because big sagebrush usually grows in deep, non-saline soils suitable for farming, today in many places these stands are being sectioned into agricultural land.
Even from a distance big sagebrush can be recognized by its smoky color and uniform spacing of plants. Up close its strong turpentine fragrance, especially after a rainstorm, is a dead giveaway.

Description and distribution: Big sagebrush, an evergreen, rounded, fairly compact shrub with gray-green foliage and very small yellow flower heads in long clusters, grows to a height of 2 to 5 or more feet and is aromatic. It is a dry looking shrub with long, soft bark that hangs in shreds. The leaves are about an inch long and wedge shaped, with three teeth at the end. Flowers are tiny and non-descript, flowering in late August to early October. The flowers are a silvery yellow in color, with most plants blooming only in wet years.
Extensive stands of big sagebrush and fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) occupy many areas between 6,500 to 7000 feet within the range of the big sagebrush from about 4900 feet up to about 7500 feet. Black greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) and fourwing saltbush; Colorado pinyon (Pinus edulis) and Utah juniper Juniperus osteosperma); ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Colorado pinyon (Pinus edulis) and Gambrel oak (Quercus gambelii) are other communities in which big sagebrush is a prominent member, especially on medium textured soils.

History: Before the present Ute, Navajo, Apache, and Hopi tribes occupied these lands, the Fremont people who lived north of Four Corners had developed an industry where much of everything that was woven or crafted from plant material was of big sagebrush. Ancestral Puebloans also used bark and other parts of the plant. On the Colorado Plateau and southward, sagebrush was one of the principal shrub fuels during Archaic, Ancestral Puebloan, and early historical times.
Sagebrush flowers, seeds, and leaves have been detected incoprolites from many Ancestral Puebloan sites, including Mesa Verde, and in enough quantity to suggest all were minor components of prehistoric diets and not just taken for medicinal purposes. Indeed sagebrush leaves are a good source or iron and vitamin C and in later years were eaten by the Southern Paiute during times of shortage.

Uses: In recent times plant parts have been collected for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. Humans have used the plant primarily as firewood—the volatile oils responsible for its pungent aroma are so flammable that they can cause even green plants to burn

Hopi Uses:
The leaves are used to combat digestive problems, headaches, and colds and as a general stimulant by the Hopi, who regard big sagebrush as being more potent than related species of Artemisia that grow on their reservation.

Navajo uses:
Medicinal: Artemisia tridentata is one of the life medicines and is highly revered by them. . Mixed with another species of sagebrush, it is said to cure headaches by odor alone. When the plant is boiled, it is said to be good for childbirth ( for the pain of child delivery), indigestion, and constipation; a tea of the stems and leaves is said to sure colds and fevers. The tea is drunk before long hikes or athletic contests to “rid the body of undesirable things.” A poultice made from pounded leaves is said to be good for colds, swellings, and tuberculosis or as a liniment for corns. The same medicine is used on animal sores.
Ceremonial: In Navajo legend, Coyote gave this tobacco to the Water Monster to calm her after he had stolen her baby. It is used in the Eagle Way, Water Way, Mountaintop Way, and Night Way. Medicine Men use sagebrush as the hearth of the ceremonial firedrill. It is also a sweat bath medicine.
Other uses: Navajo weavers boil the leaves and twigs to produce various shades of yellow and gold wool dyes.

Ute uses:
Ethnographer Anne Smith recorded the Ute’s many uses of these plants. She wrote of sacks of woven sagebrush bark lined with dry grass filled with food and placed in storage caches.
Wicks, or ‘slow matches,’ made of twisted sagebrush bark one to three inches in diameter and about a yard long, were carried when traveling.
“Women wore skirts of twined sagebrush bark, and both men and women in winter wore a poncho type of shirt of the same material….Leggings were also made of twined sagebrush bark or the legs were wrapped with sagebrush bark to protect them from the cold. Sagebrush bark was used for sandals in lieu of anything better…or placed inside sandals made from muskrat or beaver hides.” (Smith, 1974)

Collecting: Gather the leafing branches in late summer or early fall, preferably in wet years and from larger, healthier plants. Although Sagebrush survives in the most difficult circumstances, essential oils are much higher and the herb much stronger in favored places and times.

Cultivating: Spring-transplanted young seedlings dug in the wild are the easiest way to bring Sagebrush into the garden. Make sure you bring a substantial ball of dirt packed around the roots, so you can inoculate the planting hole with the proper microbes from the original soil. Sagebrush might seem tough and indomitable, but it is dependent upon its soil flora for root health. The seeds stay viable for years, but it is often hard to germinate intentionally.

Forage value: Even more nutritious than alfalfa, this shrub consists of 16 percent proteins, 15 percent fats, and 47 percent carbohydrates.
Grazing: Of the three subspecies of big sagebrush, big sagebrush is the most palatable. Preference ranges from poor to fair for cattle and horses and fair to good for sheep. Overgrazing by domestic livestock allows big sagebrush to increase.
Wildlife: big sagebrush is commonly eaten by elk and mule deer. It also makes up 76% of pronghorn diets in the spring. Sagebrush is a valuable forage plant for wildlife, particularly during the winter. It is browsed by deer, moose, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep, especially in late winter and spring. Ground squirrel burrows increase the amount of spring recharge of soil moisture, which enhances productivity of big sagebrush.
Small mammals and birds seek this species for cover more than other species growing in association with it. Sage grouse choose big sagebrush for cover 71% of the time when nesting. Offers cover for birds and is a butterfly magnet when flowering.
Sage grouse also feed heavily sagebrush, which also provides nesting sites for a variety of songbirds.

Warnings:
A body of evidence indicates that sagebrush has poisonous properties that can cause birth defects in animals but can be effective as an antihelminthic. The ancients probably knew how much could be ingested for food with no aftereffects and to what degree it could be used to kill intestinal worms without killing the patient.
Do not use internally or for any length of time externally during pregnancy.
Drinking copious amounts of sage tea can induce gagging.

Disclaimer: Nothing herein written is to imply diagnosis or recommendation for treatment.It is presented for historical interest only

References:

Mayes, Vernon and Lacy, Barbara Bayless, Nanise’: a Navajo Herbal, Navajo Community College Press, Tsaile, Arizona 1989….106-107

Dunmire, William w., and Tierney, Gail D., Wild Plants and Native Peoples of the Four Corners, Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe, NM, 1997……191-193

Moore, Michael, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe, NM, 2003……265-267

Yucca

2008-06-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

Common Names: Narrow leaf yucca, fine leaf
yucca, bear grass, mesa yucca, Indian
cabbage, pamilla, amole,
Spanish bayonet, Joshua tree,
datil, Spanish dagger

Latin Name:
Yucca angustissima
Yucca – Named after the root of the cassava plant from which tapioca is made (yucca is
a Carib word), perhaps because
of the similarity of the roots
Angustissima – narrow-leafed

Navajo name: Tsa’aszi’ts’ooz - narrow yucca (Talawosh, ‘water suds,’ name for root; Nidoodloho, ‘the green fruit’; Nideeshjiin, ‘stalk black,’ name for young, dark stalk; Nideesgai, ‘stalk white,’ name for taller stalk

Description & Distribution: Fine leaf yucca is a perennial with fleshy, long, stiff, narrow pointed leaves and a tall stalk of large white flowers growing almost directly from the fleshy roots. Leaves may extend to 20 inches above the root crown. The flowering stalk may reach 4 feet. The fruit is a large plump capsule with many medium seeds; the capsule becomes woody and splits open. So much energy goes into producing the flower, stalk and fruits that most yuccas bloom only once every few years. For fertilization of the flower, yuccas in the southwest depend upon a night visit by a tiny, highly specialized female moth that brushes the flower’s stigma with collected pollen as she enters the blossom to lay her single egg in the flower’s ovary.
Conspicuous but scattered, yucca occur in communities of blackbrush, and joint fir, shadescale and black greasewood, big sagebrush, and fourwing saltbrush, blue gamma and galleta, Colorado pinyon, and junipers, and ponderosa pine and
gambrel oak.

Elevations are from about 3,800 feet to about 7,000 feet.
Associates are green Mormon tea, sand dropseed, broom snakeweed and green rabbitbush. The sites are often slopes with coarse to medium soils.
A tall flower stalk rises from a thick clump of leaves. Height: 4' (1.2 m).Flowers 2" (5 cm), greenish white, cup-shaped, leathery, mostly
drooping, abundant; on annual stalk. Leaves 2', linear, stiff, sharp; edges white, fibrous, shreddy.

History: With an enormous variety of uses, yuccas constitute the single most important non cultivated group of plants for prehistoric and contemporary Indians living in the southwest. One of the basic requirements for a people progressing toward a more advanced society would have been the ability to tie one object to another; to do this, you usually need some kind of cordage. The long, tough fibers that could be extracted from yucca leaves played a fundamental role in early weaving, manufacturing, and construction, especially before cotton was imported from the south. Yucca fibers were twisted or braided into twine and rope that e=were used for lashing house beams, fixing ladder rungs, fashioning blankets or belts, making bowstrings, and nets for fishing or trapping small game, sewing animal-skin robes, and binding together all manner of items.

Mush more recently, in an experiment during WWII, fibers from narrow leaf yucca growing in the wild were commercially extracted and made into paper for use by the U.S. Navy.

During excavation of Aztec Ruins, aboriginal hairbrushes made from the pointed enda of yucca leaves were discovered. Strips of banana yucca leaves or whole narrow leaf varieties were employed to make paintbrushes, and to weave baskets, bags, mats, and tapestry at many Ancestral Puebloan villages. Perhaps the single most universal use was in the manufacturing sandals. The 406 sandals recovered during the 1970’s excavation of Antelope House at Canyon de Chelley showed surprising diversity in heel and toe shape, heel and toe strap design, weaving rhythm, weaving technique, and of course size. The mix included course plaited sandals made from banana yucca strips, fine plaited sandals made from narrowleaf yucca, as well as twined and wicker sandals made from yucca cordage. Some of these woven sandals employed both types of yucca, one in the warp and the other in the woof.

Although the preponderance of evidence for prehistoric use relates to manufacturing, there is plenty to indicate that yucca fruits were an item in the Ancestral Puebloan diet. This is particularly true of the thick, sweet fruit of the banana yucca, which could be eaten green. Although it was more likely dried and stored for use in winter.

Uses:
Hopi uses:
Food: The fruit of the banana yucca was dried and stored for winter use. Today they bake the fruit in earthen ovens.
Medicinal: The Hopi have used the crushed roots for a strong laxative and to cure baldness.

Navajo uses:
Ceremonial: Fiber from the narrowleaf yucca is used to tie ceremonial equipment- hoops, prayersticks, unravelers, and chant arrows. The juice is used to make paint for ceremonial pipes. Leaves of the yucca that a deer has jumped over are heated in coals. When they are soft, juice is wrung from the leaves onto small, flat stones that hold paint pigments.
Probably the most important ceremonial use of yucca is bathing in suds made from the yucca root. For example, boys and girls have their hair washed with yucca suds on the next to last night of the Nightway. Most ceremonies include a ceremonial bath of yucca suds for the patients as well as the singer, along with other cleansing rituals. Purification, clean thinking, and a serious attitude are important in Navajo ceremonies.
Navajo creation stories tell how the Navajos learned weaving from Spider Woman, a Navajo holy person. Before the 1500’s Navajos wove mats and sandals with fiber from the narrow-leaf yucca, the inner bark of the juniper and later with locally grown cotton. All this changed when the Navajo acquired sheep from the Spaniards.
Medicinal: Yucca is used in childbirth. The roots are soaked in water, the liquid is strained and given to a woman having a long labor. A cupful of yucca suds and sugar is given to the mother to help deliver the afterbirth.
Other: Yucca is used to wash wool and as an ingredient in several dyes. Soap made from the crushed root is used to wash hair. Sometimes sagebrush is added to make the hair smell good, grow long and soft, and to prevent it from falling out.
The 102 counters of the Moccasin game are often made of Yucca. An arrow poison is made with yucca juice mixed with charcoal from a
lightening struck pinyon or juniper tree and rubbed on 6 inches
of the tip of the arrow.

This yucca is often called the banana plant by Navajos
although the fruit tastes more like a date and is not considered
as good to eat as the fruit of the wide leaf yucca. However,
the fruit may be roasted in ashes, eaten raw or sliced and dried
for winter.
The crushed fruit is used to make a cheese from goat’s milk.
Other parts of the plant are edible. Flower buds are roasted in
ashes for 15 minutes, leaves are boiled with salt.
Jicarilla Apache: Use yucca suds to wash plant materials woven into baskets

Shampoo recipe: boil one-half to one cup of the chopped fresh or dried root in one and a half cups of water until suds form.

Collecting: The root at any time of the year. Should be split lengthwise, before drying. If for medicinal use, the bark may be removed; if for washing or rinsing the hair, the bark should be left on. Use only after drying.

Cultivation: From roots dug in the late fall and replanted in well-drained, sandy soil. A cinch.

Forage Value: Sheep eat yucca, especially the flower buds.

Warnings: None specifically, although strong tea, drunk in large quantities, has been used traditionally to stimulate birthing; therefore if you are pregnant, don’t drink five days worth in one sitting.

Disclaimer: Nothing herein written is to imply diagnosis or recommendation for treatment.It is presented for historical interest only

References:

Dunmire, William w., and Tierney, Gail D., Wild Plants and Native Peoples of the Four Corners, Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe, NM, 1997……pg 145-148

Mayes, Vernon and Lacy, Barbara Bayless, Nanise’: a Navajo Herbal, Navajo Community College Press, Tsaile, Arizona 1989….116-118

Moore, Michael, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe, NM, 2003……pg 280-282

Prickly Pear Cactus

2008-06-19T22:32:00.000-07:00

Common Names: Plains prickly pear, Many-spined cactus,

Latin Name: Opuntia phaeacantha (desert), polycantha (plains) and similar species

Phaeacantha – From the Greek phaea, “dark,” and akantha, “thorn”

Navajo name: Hosh niteeli, “broad cactus”

Description and distribution: Plains prickly pear is a short cactus forming small, waxy, greenish clumps of flattened, jointed, roundish stems under 1 foot tall. The pads (terminal stem sections) bear several principal spines and many glochids (short, stiff, sharp hairs) on most of the tubercles (orderly bumps) on the faces and margins ( spines on bumpsalong the margins may be as long as 1 ¾ inches). Marginal bumps bear the yellow flowers and fruits.

Sandy or gravelly soils of hillsides, flats, canyon rims, and mesas in grasslands, deserts, oak woodlands, chaparral, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and montane forests.

Clumps of prickly pear are scattered in woodlands of pinyon (Pinus sp.) and juniper (Juniperus sp.) and in overlapping woodland and forest between elevations of 6,000 and 7,200 feet (the higher elevations on south slopes). Broadleaf yucca (Yucca baccata) seems to be a common associate.

The Desert Prickly-pear is an erect or sprawling shrub with fleshy fruit and brown to black spines. This species has a very wide range, and up to ten or more varieties have been described, making exact identification confusing. Usually the varieties are distinguished by pad size, spine distribution on the pad, spine color and size, and fruit length. The Desert Prickly-pear has adapted to both the deserts of Texas and the cool moist forests of the Rocky Mountains. It blooms from April to June.

History: The fruits were regular dietary items for most Ancestral Puebloans, although at Chaco, where the fleshy-fruited species is absent today, they seem to have played a minot role. Much farther south, the Aztecs of Mexico recognized thirteen varieties of prickly pear fruits, some sour, some sweet; some eaten raw, others werecooked. The ancient Maya Indians also ate them. Prickly pear fruits would have provided a good source of protein, vitamin C, potassium, and calcium.
In more recent times prickly pear has been recorded as a food item for Hopi, Rio Grand Pueblo, Navajo, and Southern Paiute Indians.

Uses:

Hopi Uses: Food source.

Navajo Uses:
Medicinal: The fleshy leaf is peeled and bound over a cut to stop the bleeding.
Ceremonial: Cactus people are part of the Navajo origin myth, and thus, cactus is used in several ceremonies.
Other: The sweet juicy fruit was eaten by the Navajos, fresh, dried, or cooked in a stew with dried peaches. The spines of the fruit were removed by rolling the fruit in sand or by singeing it is hot ashes.
The sticky juice from cactus stems was used as glue in making the buckskin war shield.
The cactus was used to make an arrow poison. A mixture of rattlesnake blood, yucca juice and charcoal from the pith of the cactus was painted on at least 6 inches of an arrow.
A variety of rose and pink dyes can be made from the ripe cactus fruit. The riper or darker the fruit, the darker the dye. A rose dye is made by steeping ripe prickly pear fruit and bark or roots of Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) in water.
Ripe prickly pear fruits are still one of the most important wild plant dye sources for traditional Navajo rug weavers.

Dye Recipe: Rose Taupe Dye

1 lb. Mountain Mahogany rootbark
1 lb. Prickly pear fruit
1 lb yarn
1 cup juniper ash water

Boil rootbark for 1 hour in a 5-gallon can of water. Strain and cool until lukewarm. Soak cactus fruit in 1 quart of lukewarm water and strain, pushing the pulp through strainer. Add pulp and water to rootbark solution. Add yarn, which has been in juniper ash water. Allow to ferment in a warm place for 1 week. Rub dye into yarn often. Rinse thoroughly.

Ute uses:
Sometimes used cactus juice to temper their pots before firing.

Forage Value: This cactus is a nuisance on
rangeland, becoming more frequent
as grass is grazed away.

Nutritional Content of Prickly Pear fruit: (100 grams of raw fruit)
Water % - 88 Iron mg - 03
Calories – 42 Sodium mg - 2
Protien g - .5 Potassium mg - 166
Fiber g – 10.9 Vit. A IU - 60
Carbohydrates g – 1.6 Thiamine mg - .01
Ash g – 05 Riboflavin mg - .03
Calcium mg – 20 Niacin mg - .4
Phosphorus mg – 28 Ascorbic Acid mg - 22

Cactus Fruit Jelly Recipe:
Prep Time: 45 min Total Time: 2 hr
Serves: about 8 (1-cup) jars or 128 servings

Ingredients:1 Tbsp. each Ingredients:3-1/2 cups prepared juice (about 3 lb. fully ripe cactus fruit) 1 cup water 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 7-1/2 cups sugar, measured into separate bowl (See tip below.) 1/2 tsp. butter or margarine (optional) 2 pouches CERTO Fruit Pectin

Preparation:Bring boiling-water canner, half-full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot, soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling. Remove fine thorns and blossom ends from fruit. Cut into small pieces. Crush cactus fruit, one layer at a time. Place in saucepan; add water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place 3 layers of damp cheesecloth or jelly bag in large bowl. Pour prepared fruit into cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth closed; hang and let drip into bowl until dripping stops. Press gently. Measure exactly 3-1/2 cups juice into 6- or 8-quart saucepot. Add lemon juice. Stir sugar into juice in saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming, if desired. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin quickly. Return to a full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon. Ladle quickly into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches; add boiling water if needed. Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 5 minutes. Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger. (If lid springs back, lid is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

Warnings: These cacti have sharp spines as well as tiny barbed hairs called glochids that can be difficult to remove from the skin. The spiny pads often break off and stick in the noses and throats of livestock.

Disclaimer: Nothing herein written is to imply diagnosis or recommendation for treatment.It is presented for historical interest only

References:

Mayes, Vernon and Lacy, Barbara Bayless, Nanise’: a Navajo Herbal, Navajo Community College Press, Tsaile, Arizona 1989….76-77, 142

Dunmire, William w., and Tierney, Gail D., Wild Plants and Native Peoples of the Four Corners, Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe, NM, 1997……191-193

Dandelion: Weed, or food, or medicine?

2008-06-19T21:29:00.001-07:00

One of the earliest spring flowers, and one of the latest bloomers as winter sets in….Dandelion (Taraxacum officianale) or Hu tsi la ha (in Cherokee) is always present in the prettiest of lawns, it is the bane of the husbands weekend, trying to eradicate it.

BUT….it is also a food source, a medicine of old and a wine maker. This weed is persistent, if you do not get all of it’s tap root, it grows right back, with a vengeance.

To use as a food source you have to gather the leaves when young, so there is no bitterness in the leaves, then after washing it makes a nice addition to a green salad. During World War I, when coffee was at a premium, dandelion root, mixed with chicory root, was dried, chopped, and roasted. It was then brewed like coffee. The flowering tops have been used for a very long time in making a wine...I remember my uncle making it when I was a child.

For use as a medicine boil up a tea made from the flowering heads. This tea was given as a tonic to “make the woman stronger after childbirth.” It has also been used for heart trouble, boiling the whole plant into a tea. The benefit to the heart may lie in the fact that dandelion is a diuretic (removing excess fluid from the body) therefore reducing the risks inherent in fluid build-up around the heart.

Disclaimer: Nothing herein written is to imply diagnosis or recommendation for treatment. It is presented for historical interest only

Beginnings

2008-06-19T19:57:00.000-07:00

Hello all. This is the first post to the newest version of Changing Times. In its original format Changing Times was a news letter, now it is a blog.

The name should be self explanitory.....but if you like i will try to explain the vision that started this writing. Many years ago I became aware that things were changing around us. Old prophecies were coming true in our day and age. I became aware that the times were changing, and not always for the better.

Look at now, 2008, look at the gas prices, food prices and all the rest. Look at the many people losing their homes, foreclosures are rampant and the American Dream challenged. Too many are living with no shelter (we euphamistically call them "homeless"). Look now at the diseases that are raging....antibiotic resistant strains of common infectious diseases, and totally new ones. Look at the cost of health care......insurance does not cover hospital stays, medicines are costing an arma and a leg to purchase, and hospitals are closing or cutting back severely. Look and you will be appalled!

But what can we do? Can we actually help ourselves survive until the government decides what to do, then do it too late?

Yes we can. We can start to make a lifestyle change that will help ourselves, teach others to live better with less (although it maybe more work), and learn how to stay healthier than others around us.

Within this blog will be entries about alternative medicine, gardening, wildcrafting, crafts, cooking and long term food preservation, how to insure clean water, and raise a roof. Anything that might make life easier by looking to the past and bringing it to the now. By using what our ancestors utilized, without losing our modern advancements where possible. It is an adventure worth taking.

Come walk with us and take the first steps to positive change in an ever changing world in these our Changing Times.