Borage

Ouch, he says, it’s prickly. Borage, mama?  We bend over picking star shaped flowers, popping them off their stems. A light sweetness in my mouth. 

Borage is special plant. I find it to be reassuring. It appears, two small fuzzy leaves in the spring soil. Sweet flowers, healing leaves, soothing tea. 

Borage   Borago officinalis

Parts Used   Flower, leaf & seed

Habitat   Native to the Mediterranean, borage grows in fields, woods and gardens in drier soil.

Collection   The leaves should be harvested in early summer. Flowers through the summer.

Actions   Leaves/flowers- adrenal stimulants, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, galactagogue, tonic

Constituents   Leaves/flowers- saponins, mucilage, tannins, vitamin C, calcium, potassium

Use   Borage is often used as a adrenal tonic for those recovering from steroid therapy or suffering from stress. Borage is a great plant to use for cases of stress and anxiety, as well as depression. It can be used to lower fevers. It an anti-inflammatory for conditions such as pleurisy. Borage also increases milk flow during lactation.

Dose and preparation   Infusion- 1 cup of boiling water poured over 2 tsp. of herb, steeped for 15 minutes or more, drunken 3 times a day. Tincture- 1 to 4 ml tincture, 3 times a day. Try and use fresh borage whenever possible, as it looses more medicinal qualities when dried.  

Sources
Gladstar, Rosemary. Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal: A Guide to Living Life with Energy, Health, and Vitality. Storey Books: North Adams. 2001. p316.
Hatung, Tammi. Growing 101 Herbs That Heal: gardening techniques, recipes, and remedies. Storey Publishing: North Adams. 2000. p165.
Hoffman, David. The Herbal Handbook: A User’s Guide to Medical Herbalism. Healing Arts Press: Vermont. 1988. p180.

Chamomile

Chamomile  (Anthemis nobilis (Roman) & Matricaria recutita (German))

“… is agreeing unto the nature of man, and is good against weariness…” -William Turner, 1551

Other names   Ground Apple

Parts Used   flowers & leaves (though less potent)

Habitat   native to Southern Europe

Harvest   when flowers just open

Actions   Anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antispasmodic, carminative, analgesic, antiseptic, bitter, sedative, vulnerary, prevents vomiting, tonic 

Uses

Internal Uses

● colic, indigestion, flatulence

● nervous stress (including insomnia & depression)

● soothing, cleansing & tonic

● infections

● female ailments

● ulcers, tumors, lassitude due to congestion & poor body tone

● febrifuge

● irritable bowel syndrome

● poor appetite

● External Uses

● in bath to encourage sleep

● brightener for hair

● eye lotion

● soothes & heals inflamed gums,

● mouthwash, mouth inflammations

● poultice (w/ poppy heads & linseed)

● to relieve pain & reduce tumors

Preparation

● a few drops of tincture given to aid in digestion before eating

● infusion to soothe indigestion, colic or stress

● given in bath, soothing to both skin & nervous system

● massage, E.O., to soothe aching muscles and relax

 

Caution   Do not use essential oil during pregnancy due to it being an uterine stimulant  

Notes

● great children’s herb

● related to ragweed, asters & chrysanthemum, be aware in case of allergies

Sources

Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal, p.320

Common Herbs for Natural Health, Juliette de Bairacli Levy, p.37

The Herbalist, Joseph E. Meyer, p.50

Summer salve

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Oats

a cycle

a history

a worship

gracefully waving 

  in the wind

full and secure

  i breath you in

ancient but not old

old in memory

soothing to the being

moving delicately

  but strongly

your cycle enters

  ours

 

 

Oats   Avena sativa

Parts used   Aerial parts

Habitat   Fields, mostly under cultivation.

Collection   Collect when the plant is still green, just before it starts to yellow. This way the fruit in the top is harvested. 

Actions   Nervine tonic, demulcent, anti-depressant, nutritive, vulnerary

Constituents   Seeds: 50 percent starch, alkaloids (trigonelline and avenine), saponins, flavones, sterols, vitamin B. Straw: silicic acid, mucin, calcium

Uses   Oats is a wonderful tonic for the nervous system. It is used in cases of stress, nervous debility and exhaustion. It is beneficial as a nerve tonic, blood tonic, for nails, hair and teeth, and for bone-building. Oatbran (and oatmeal) can help to reduce high blood cholesterol levels. The straw and tops can be used for thyroid and estrogen deficiency. Oats are used externally for a soothing remedy for skin conditions.

Dose and preparation   Oats can be prepared in a number of ways, commonly eaten as a cereal but also made into a tasty infusion. Oats is commonly prepared with other nervine herbs (relaxants or stimumlants) to strengthen the nervous system as a whole. I think oats tastes so full and yummy on its own, but combined with other nervines it is extremely helpful for the system. Combines well with valerian for a sleep aid, lemon balm as a nerve tonic, or a digestive bitter such as dandelion for upset digestive system ailment. It can be applied externally in a bath and can be combined with chamomile or lavender for soothing. Also used externally as a poultice or as a cleansing agent for the skin. Can also be taken as tincture, though not as common or effective.

Sources

de Bairacli Levy, Juliette. Common Herbs for Natural Health. Ash Tree Publishing: New York. 1997. p113.

Gladstar, Rosemary. Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal: A Guide to Living Life with Energy, Health and Vitality. Storey Books: North Adams. 2001. p354.

Hoffman, David. The Herbal Handbook: A User’s Guide to Medical Herbalism. Healing Arts Press: Vermont. 1988. p75.
Ody, Penelope. The Complete Medicinal Herbal: A practical guide to healing properties of herbs, with more than 250 remedies or common ailments. A Dorling Kindersley Book: New York. 1993. p40.

.

Directions

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Red Clover

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

“Plinie writeth and setteth it down for ertaine, that the leaves hereof do tremble and stande right up against the comming of a storme or tempest.” -Gerard, 1597.

Parts Used   Flowerheads (more potent) and leaves

 

Habitat   Mostly found in fields, it also grows in disturbed areas, banks of streams and rivers, and mountain roadsides. 

Collection   Flowers (and leaves) can be gathered between May and September. When drying, the flowers must be spread so that they are not touching each other.

Actions   Alternative, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, expectorant, vulnerary

Constituents   Phenolic glycosides, flavonoids, coumarins, cyanogenic glycosides, salicylates, tannins

Uses   Red clover is a valuable detoxifying (as a blood purifier) and respiratory tonics. It is used for respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, hoarseness, chest infections, and coughs. For skin problems it is internally taken for eczema or psoriasis, and externally for burns, sunburn and inflamed skin. It is used broadly as an alternative for long term treatment of ailments. Used also in antitumor formulas and treatment of cancer. Red clover is rich in calcium, nitrogen and iron.

Dose and preparation   Infusion- 1 to 3 tsp. dried herb steeped in 1 cup boiling water, drunk 3 times a day. Tincture- 2 to 6 ml, 3 times a day. 

Red clover combines well with nettles and yellow dock for skin ailments. 

Sources

Gladstar, Rosemary. Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal: A Guide to Living Life with Energy, Health, and Vitality. Storey Books: North Adams. 2001. p357.

Harding, Jennie. The Herb Book: A Complete Guide To Growing And Using Herbs. Parragon: New York. 2004. p237.

Hartung, Tammi. Growin 101 Herbs That Heal. Storey Publishing: North Adams. 2000. p228.

Hoffman, David. The Herbal Handbook: A User’s Guide to Medical Herbalism. Healing Arts Press: Vermont. 1987. p174.

Mullein

I wish I were a mullein flower. They fall quietly. Caught by grand leaves, so soft and caring. The other day I starting crying as I held, a small yellow flower in my hand. To think of a more gentle beauty. 

The dirt under a mullein always stays dry. Thick leaves that tear like paper. In its second year of life it shoots up into the sky, sprouting leaves in each direction. A stalk curves it way from the leaves and yellow flowers emerge from green fuzz. 

Mullein seems like such a mythical plant. A pastel green. Soft fuzzy leaves like the coat of a lamb. Towering flower stalks that bend gracefully. Such delicate flowers that if one touches them, they leave their mark upon the petal. 

But then the leaves start to yellow and brown. It dries, and just as you think, I guess this is a normal plant after all, its stalk becomes rigid. And where there had been flowers, there are tiny compartments filled with seeds that rattle when shaken. These stalks can be dipped in wax and used as candles. I imagine wood nymphs running through the forest and fields on the Harvest Moon their torches in hand. 

Mullein is a fleshy lady in a green velvet dress. Striking beauty, catching the eye. Long elegant neck, her skirts flow out around her. The dew rests on her like jewels, reflecting her patience as she does not knock them off.

I saw a Goldfinch land on the stock of a mullein in the garden a few days ago. Rocking gently side to side till they both regained their balance. The small bird stood proudly, surveying the garden and then took off. Yellow flowers fell to be caught by the gentle leaves below.

Their song

It has been beautiful. Nights of trilling, croaking and jug-a-rums.
I lay in bed listing to their chorus, an orchestra in the dark water. Forgetting thoughts and entering their song.

 

Little bullfrog, only a few weeks ago I saw them swimming around as tadpoles.

Lamb’s Quarters

Lamb’s Quarters Pesto

I recently tried making a pesto out of lamb’s quarters. Wow! So delicious.

Ingredients: lamb’s quarters (2 cups), olive oil (1/3 cup), toasted almonds (1/4 cup), garlic (1 or 2) & salt

1. Grind up the almonds in a food processor.

2. Add lamb’s quarters and garlic.

3. Add olive oil. Salt to taste.

(If not completely adventurous, you may do a half basil substitute.)

 

Lamb’s quarters  (Chenopodium album) is an annual that grows abundantly throughout the northeast, though native to Eurasia. Also know as wild spinach, goosefoot and pigweed, lamb’s quarters is commonly pulled up, as considered a weed. But this beautiful plant is stock full of vitamin A, C, K and calcium, grows all throughout the summer, and makes a lovely pot herb. It likes to grow in disturbed soil, so it is often found in the garden (how perfect!) In the vegetable/herb garden it is fun to find lots of edibles that I didn’t plant (lamb’s quarters, dandelion, purslane, prickly lettuce, wood sorrel) and I mulch around them and the plants I did plant. Lamb’s quarters can be eaten in all different ways: salad and spinach substitute in dishes like spanakopita. It can be eaten raw, steamed, stir-fried, in soup, frozen and used in stuffing, quiches, breads and pie. Absolutely delicious (and I personally like it more than spinach) I recommend picking some and giving it a taste. Yum.

Echinacea purpurea