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-   -   What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them? (http://www.gentlechristianmothers.com/community/showthread.php?t=446007)

WaitPatientlyOnTheLord 04-13-2012 05:23 AM

What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
Does anybody grow medicinal anything? Im kinda interested in it but know NOTHING about it. So what do you grow and how do you use it? I'm especially interested in things that can be grown in containers.

MomtoJGJ 04-13-2012 05:25 AM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
ooh, subbing!

Elspeth 04-13-2012 07:27 AM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
:cup

greendelight 04-13-2012 07:58 AM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
I'm growing purslane and chamomile. The purslane I plan on just adding to a green salad. The chamomile I will use for tea.

thrillofhope 04-13-2012 01:16 PM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
:popcorn

treehugginmama 04-13-2012 01:18 PM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
calendula is super easy to grow.

WaitPatientlyOnTheLord 04-13-2012 01:34 PM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
So chamomile is straightforward to use (I think!) And that helps you calm down, right? does it do anything else?

What in the world is Purslane?! I'll have to google it but I dont think Ive ever heard of it before.

So if I grew calendula how would I use it? I have used calendula ointment before to help with wound and rash healing but dont know what I would do with the plant.

See what I mean about clueless? Haha.

treehugginmama 04-13-2012 04:00 PM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
For the calendula you could pick the petals and put them in olive oil to steep. Then use that on all kinds of aliments. Or make ointment with it.

Damselfly 04-13-2012 05:12 PM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
Well, I'm in a different region of the country from you so everything that grows easily here may not grow as easily there. Still, there should be some overlap. These are some of my favorite herbs which are relatively easy to grow.

Yarrow is one of my favorite herbs because of its versatility and it is one of my must-have herbs. I have planted it but I always seem to find it growing in the yard on its own as well. I use yarrow tincture to clean wounds and stop bleeding and as an insect repellent. I use yarrow compresses (cloths soaked in strong, strained herbal tea) for sprains and even breaks. I have used yarrow to slow excessive menstrual bleeding. I use the dried herb in my tea for colds. Once I soaked my feet in a strong tea bath of it to get rid of athlete's foot.

Mint is another easy to grow, versatile herb. I use it in tea for colds and also in tea for stomach issues. It adds a pleasant flavor to other less pleasant medicinal herbs.

I use catnip tea when I need to calm frayed nerves, help bring on sleep, soothe upset stomachs, ease pain, relieve headaches or bring down fevers. I grow it in containers which seems to discourage the neighborhood cats from bothering it.

Some common yard plants which I find really valuable are chickweed, lambsquarters, plantain and dandelion. If you're interested in using wild plants you may have a head start on your herb garden already. :) Purslane often grows wild, at least around here. It is a succulent plant which is sometimes featured in Italian cooking. I use it as food and I haven't heard of it used medicinally much in modern herbalism but it is reported to have cooling qualities.

I haven't found chamomile easy to grow but that's because this area is extremely hot and dry. I do use chamomile as a relaxing tea. I also include it in my blend for stomach aches and my blend for headaches. Herbalists consider it an antispasmodic which means it soothes muscular spasms.

simplegirl 04-13-2012 05:21 PM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
:cup

thrillofhope 04-13-2012 05:50 PM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
Jenny, how are you using dandelion medicinally?

I think we're probably pretty close to you climate-wise. AFAIK we don't have Purslane growing wild here, though.

Damselfly 04-14-2012 08:47 AM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Doodlebug's Mommy (Post 4573399)
Jenny, how are you using dandelion medicinally?

I think we're probably pretty close to you climate-wise. AFAIK we don't have Purslane growing wild here, though.

Dandelion is primarily considered a liver tonic. There are a variety of preparations but the way I'm using it now is as a dandelion root and leaf vinegar to support liver health and aid digestion. I also make a massage oil from the flowers. It can be mildly soothing to sore muscles.

Purslane is a pretty low profile weed so it might be around somewhere in your area. In the summer you might see it growing right on the edge of curbs where dirt collects on the edge of the road. (Don't eat any from there though because of contamination.) It likes places where water collects and then dries up completely. Last year I had some growing under where water runs off the eaves of my porch.

abh5e8 04-14-2012 10:15 AM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
how about aloe? my grandma always had a few pots of it growing, and would use it for sunburn and other minor skin cuts,etc.

Damselfly 04-14-2012 02:08 PM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by abh5e8 (Post 4574441)
how about aloe? my grandma always had a few pots of it growing, and would use it for sunburn and other minor skin cuts,etc.

Aloe is easy to grow in a pot indoors and it's super helpful for the things you mentioned. :yes It's not as versatile as many other herbs but it is a useful plant. I have some in my kitchen.

SilverMoon 04-14-2012 02:47 PM

Re: What medicinal plants can I grow and how would I use them?
 
:popcorn

Thanks for the thread!!! I have a ton of lemon mint growing in my yard from a formerly contained plant. I want to use it, but not sure how.

This link http://www.essences.com/vibration/es...ncemaking.html
is about making flower essences. I take some herbal essences so I'd love to make some of my own. DancingWithElves made some yarrow essence and gave me a baby jar full of it that will last a lifetime.


This 10 minute video is on how to make herbal tinctures:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dloPF1QDuw



I'd love to find instructions on how to make ointments. I no longer have a book my midwife gave me years ago that had instructions to make plantain ointment using olive oil. I'd love to use the basic recipe to make some arnica ointment since we go through the store stuff so quickly. I have a few purple coneflowers growing in my yard and I'd like to make some echinacea tea or tincture from them.

I have white yarrow growing in my yard and have read that white yarrow has more detailed use than yellow, which is great in it's own right.


Can anyone recommend a good book? Or Jenny, is the book you linked to a good one to have on hand?


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