Baltimore Herb Festival - Baltimore, Maryland

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.

Bath and Body Cleaning Substitutions

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.

Definitions of the Ways to Use Herbs

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.

Heal All

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

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.

Chicory

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Dandelion

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

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.

Basil

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

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

Sagebrush (Artemisia)

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

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

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?

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