Greetings to our Blogotrite followers,

With the posting of the July Featured Herb: Yarrow, we are taking a hiatus from publishing new articles. We will return with wonderfully informative and, hopefully, entertaining pieces on the plants that are contained in the WishGarden Herbal remedies. Knowing about the medicinal properties, as well as the folklore and spiritual influences of the tinctures and Body Care products, make for well-informed consumers. We are happy to count you as one of these.

Please continue to read the blog to find out about any specials being offered on our remedies as well as the goings-on here at our WishGarden central Boulder office and the ever-expanding markets being opened around the country.

Blessed Be,
Prema Rose

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Yarrow is a member of the Asteraceae family whose origins stem from Europe and Asia and was brought to the northern regions of America and other countries. It is known by many names including Milfoil, Old Man’s Pepper, Soldier’s Woundwort, Bloodwort, and Nosebleed. It is ascribed to the Greek hero, Achilles who carried it into battle to treat his troops. The word stems from the Anglo-Saxon “gearwe”.

One can glean some of the medicinal properties of this herb by the quaintness of these names. For instance, in order to stop a nosebleed, one would stuff a leaf of yarrow into the afflicted nostril. Woundwort comes from the battlefield, where yarrow grows plentifully, and soldiers would pack a wound with the leaves. We will examine some of the other remedies particular to this common versatile herb.

It is hard to find a place where yarrow cannot grow, spreading through a network of rhizomes. It likes a sunny spot in well-drained soil and therefore it is readily found growing alongside railroad tracks, roadways, and in open fields. Drought resistant, it can grow to a height of up to 36” on a single fibrous stem with alternate feathery leaves, hence its Spanish name of “Plumajillo” (little feather). Perched atop the rough stems are flattop panicles in bunches which consist of numerous tiny white, or pink, flowers heads. It blooms between May and August, depending on the elevation.

Yarrow is a boon to other plants that grow nearby as it promotes their secretions of oils, making them more resistant to bugs and nourishes the soil. Cavity nesting birds, like starlings, reduce the growth of parasites in their nests by lining them with this beneficent plant. It attracts ladybugs and butterflies love it.

The flowers and leaves are gathered when in bloom and then dried to use in teas and washes, reducing the discomforts of eczema and bug bites. The fresh herb is often used in salves since it contains volatile oils and resins, which repair tissues and can be antiseptic and anti-inflammatory for sore joints. Its properties include tannins, silica, and coumerains, which act as an astringent for healing tissues. The salicylic acid is relieving for headaches. The leaves can be chewed to alleviate a toothache.

Yarrow is widely known as an aid for digestive disorders, stimulating the flow of bile. It is used for diarrhea and dysentery. Also, it encourages the healing of stomach ulcers and purifies the blood. It increases perspiration, is a vasodilator, good for hypertension, and an emmenagogue. It is anti-hemorrhagic and is used to reduce heavy menses and alleviates cramping.

The list goes on, making yarrow something of a miracle plant, good for the liver, the lungs, and the kidneys. Made into a tea, it is also used for fevers, colds and flu. It reduces swollen organs, varicosities, aids circulation, and prevents thrombosis. It is high in flavenoids, an antioxidant. It can give relief from cystitis, kidney stones, and bladder infections. It is, also, a tonic for the nervous system. As a matter of fact, there is hardly a condition for which yarrow is not beneficial.
You can use different parts of the plant to treat a variety of ailments. Diverse cultures have used it in different ways.

We spoke before about the Greek hero, Achilles, who healed the soldiers’ wounds. So too, in Scotland, yarrow was renowned for staunching bleeding.

The Navajo Indians called it “Life Medicine”, chewing it to relieve a toothache and pouring it into ears for an earache. The Chippewa inhaled the steam from an infusion of leaves in boiling water for headaches. For the Cherokee, it was a digestive aid and promoted restful sleep.

In China it is called I-Chi-Kao, where it is said to increase intelligence and brighten the eyes. This brings us to the more subtle effects of this herb. The dried stalks of the plant are employed in the divination teachings of the I Ching. Forty-nine stalks are grasped in a certain way and released to make up the patterns of the hexagrams. They are then interpreted to give answers to a person’s questions. A sign of the times is evident in virtual yarrow stalks.

There is a practice of going out to a patch of yarrow with another person and posing a question to the plant. The other person receives an answer from the plant and conveys it to the first. Thus Yarrow is known to be a tool for communication. It increases powers of intuition and psychic abilities.

Some cultures have vilified yarrow, and dedicated it to the “Evil one”, calling it “Devil’s Nettle” or “Devil’s Plaything”. Conversely, it has been used in amulets and to invoke Aphrodite. Either way, it has been used in incantations.

As much as yarrow is a medicinal plant it is, also, a culinary herb, with a sweet, slightly bitter, taste. The crushed flowers, added to a dry white wine, steeped for three months, and strained is good digestive aid. It has been used as a flavoring for beer, called “gruit” in the Middle Ages, instead of rose hops. The leaves eaten in a salad, is highly nutritious and delicious. Since it is a stimulant, it has even been inhaled as snuff.

Make a tea with 1tsp of yarrow to 1 cup of boiling water and let steep. It is recommended to drink a cup between meals 3-4 times a day for colds, flu, fevers, stomach ulcers, abdominal cramps, bleeding, and to reduce inflammation.

An infusion, 1 cup flowers in a quart Mason jar, full to the top with boiling water and steeped at least four hours, is a good wash for skin irritations and rashes. It can be inhaled for relief of asthma and hay fever.

A tincture is especially good for urinary disorders, cardiovascular issues, and menstrual problems. A pad soaked in a dilution can be placed on varicose veins as a compress.

Prema Rose
Retired Midwife, Author and Freelance Writer, Filmmaker, Holistic Health Practitioner
References:
www.altnatur.com Alternative Nature Online Herbal
www.herbs2000.com
www.wikipedia.org
www.essortment.com > Home & Garden
Christopher Hobbs, “Pocket Guide to Herbal Medicines”
Michael Tierra, “Planetary Herbology”


WishGarden Herbs includes Yarrow in these tinctures:

Bite Balm
Kick-It-Immune
Endometrio-Assist
AfterEase
Bummer’Rhoid Balm
Bummer’Rhoid Sitzbath
Mastitis Compress
Deep Lung
Kick-It-Immune Throat Spray

June Featured Herb

Yerba Santa (Erodictyion californicum)

Yerba Santa, is called “Sacred Herb” by the Cumash Indians in California, and grows in the arid hilly areas of northern New Mexico, California, and Oregon. It is also known as Bear’s Weed, Consumptive Weed, Gum Bush, and Mountain Balm. It is in the Hydrophyllaceae, or water leaf , family and regulates the water element in the body.

As such, it is an excellent remedy for emotional and soul blockages and helps to release grief, despair and melancholy, which can be held in the heart and lungs.

Several other herbs also carry the distinction of being honored as “Sacred Herb”. It is known to be a bringer of spiritual blessing to a home if placed on the altar with a mixture of other herbs which also carry a name with “Holy” or “Blessed”. Add to dried Yerba Santa some Holy Basil (Tulsi), Blessed Thistle, Cascara Sagrada, and Angelica.

Speaking of the Temple of the Body, Matthew Wood states, “The sanctity of psychic space is the internal property, which Yerba Santa guards.

The shrub like plant grows to a height of from 2 feet up to 8 feet. Its white to deep blue, five petal fluted flowers top a smooth stem in clusters. The thick yellowish leaves are covered lightly with a black resin. They are gathered in the spring and early summer and dried for medicinal preparations. They can be smoked or tinctured in alcohol, or made into an infusion. It makes a good syrup for coughs.

Taken internally, it alleviates excess mucous and is an excellent remedy for a host of respiratory problems, which include bronchitis, coughs, colds, bacterial pneumonia, asthma, and tuberculosis. In Chinese meridian medicine, it is good for the lungs and spleen. Containing flavones, it is also known as an antioxidant, boosting the whole system and counteracting fatigue. It cleanses the blood, tones the nervous system, and stimulates the mind. In combination with Grindelia, it is a remedy for pulmonary infections.

Yerba Santa is, also, used for gastrointestinal issues. It is a remedy for stomachaches and diarrhea. It is a digestive aid, since it increases salivation, and can control the appetite.

Externally, as a poultice, the leaves can be crushed in a loose weave cloth, like gauze, placed in a shallow dish, and steeped in boiling water for ten minutes. Placed on the chest, it helps to dilate the bronchioles and relaxes spasming muscles. Then, the water can be drunk as an infusion. Native Americans used an infusion as a wash to bring down a fever.

It has, also, been used externally for mosquito bites, rashes, bruises, wounds, and sprains, the sticky leaves being used for bandages.

When burned in sacred ceremony, Yerba Santa nourishes and protects that which is wild in one’s self. It can be burned when in need of encouragement and courage.

Extracts are used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and as a flavoring in beer. It helps to disguise the unpleasant taste of quinine. It has a sweet, slightly bitter taste and has been used as a mouthwash.

There has not been a lot of good research done with humans, so most of our information has been gleaned from traditional and folk usages. It is generally regarded as safe (GRAS). The wide expanse of treatments gives a picture of the ubiquitous nature of the medicinal properties of Yerba Santa.

Since it is an energizer, do not take it before bedtime, if you are subject to sleep disorders or insomnia.

To make an infusion, take 1 ounce of herb and place it in a quart Mason jar and fill to the brim with boiling water. Let that steep for at least four hours (overnight is better) and strain off the liquid.

You can make a tea by steeping a teaspoon in a cup of boiling water for ten minutes.

For adults, a dosage of tincture is 10-30 drops, four times a day, or every 3-4 hours. Do this for a maximum of ten days.

For children, half this dosage, but still take it four times a day.

Some people may have an allergy to Eriodyctyon. It may interfere with the processing of certain drugs in the body so that the level of drugs can increase in the blood stream, causing serious harmful reactions. This can also affect other herbs and supplements.
It is best to take separate from pharmaceuticals.


Prema Rose
Retired Midwife, Author and Freelance Writer, Filmmaker, Holistic Health Practitioner


References:
Alternative Medicine Encyclopedia
Healthline.com
Indian Mirror
Matthew Wood, “Seven Herbs/Plants as Teachers”
Michael Moore, “ Medicinal Plants of the Mountains West”
Michael Tierra, “Planetary Herbology”
Mrs. M. Grieve, “A Modern Herbal”


WishGarden Herbs remedies that contain Yerba Santa:

Kick-It-Allergy
Cold Seasons
Kick-It-Immune
Kick-It-Allergy for Pregnancy
Cold Seasons for Pregnancy
Allergy Relief Tea
Deep Lung
Kick Start Immune and Throat Spray
Kick-It-Sinus

Featured Wishgardener

David Bentley

David came to WishGarden from a background in Microbiology, having graduated from University of Iowa in 2009. His focus was on the genetics and physiological aspects of microbiology, with research experience in Bacterial cell division. He was brought onto the team to ensure that the products are FDA compliant.

During the time that he has worked here, his mind has been opened to many things he never thought about before. He has been such a good sport when teased about the Hawkeyes and his love of chicken wings, endearing himself to his fellow Wishgardeners. His stories about his family and friends in Iowa provide a snapshot into his world of loving pranks as well as a high standard of ethics.

WishGarden has given him a perspective that medicine comes in many forms and the world of plants and nature have valuable gifts to offer in the pursuit of maximum wellness.

He says, “It is good that people have alternative ways to treat conditions”.

In the fall, David will move on to a broader calling. He will be attending the Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California to pursue a career as a doctor of Podiatry.

We wish him the very best!

May
Nettle (Urtica Dioica Gracilis)

This month, we zoom in on the fabulous Nettle as our featured herb. This lowly plant deserves a place in the hallowed halls of Mother Nature’s medicinal cornucopia. Found in shady damp areas, often ditches, it is abundant in many areas of the world. We have many records of its various applications, as it has been used throughout history. There is so much to say about the enormous variety of beneficial uses and properties that accompany this herb; too much to cover in a mere blog.

The name Urtica refers to the tiny hairs covering the plant that carry formic acid, which is disgorged upon contact; hence the name “Stinging Nettle”. When I lived in England, I did a fair amount of gardening, digging the earth, and weeding to prepare the soil. I encountered Nettles on a daily basis and learned to reach down to the root of the stem, where it enters the ground, and pull it up from the base, without touching the stem or the leaves. Of course, I had my share of close encounters. Gloves are good. The antidote for the sting and rash is to rub on the juice of a leaf or stem in the Dock family, which is often found growing near Nettle.

“Nettle in, dock out,
Dock rub nettle out.”

Because of the antihistamines it contains, it is an excellent remedy for hay fever, asthma, and allergies, opening bronchial passages, loosening congestion, and reducing swollen tissues. Its water-soluble polysaccharides activate the immune system and it contains super lectin, which inhibits a range of viruses. It was used in Roman times to stimulate circulation when the soldiers were freezing in northern Europe. They would take stalks and flagellate their limbs. It is, also, used as a remedy for rheumatism.

Nettle is chock-a-block full of vitamins and minerals, which include:
Sulphur to support the immune system
Zinc to enhance the memory
Chromium to combat diabetes
Boron to build bones and with
Silicon to ease arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis
Selenium to prevent cancer
Vitamins A, C, D, E, F, and P
Iron to build the red blood cells
Calcium to build bones, muscle, strengthen hair and nails, and soothe nerves

As a retired midwife, I highly recommend a cup of Nettles and Raspberry leaf tea a day to provide calcium, iron, and trace minerals to support a mother’s uterine tone and the growth of her baby. It is one of the best sources of calcium you can find. It gets magnetized into the blood without having to be digested.

In England and Germany, during World War II, nettles were a main source of nutrition, helping people survive during extreme hardship. Nettle soup was a staple food. It was also used to make cloth and rope, as it is stronger than hemp or flax. Oil was expressed from the seeds to burn in oil lamps. Cut and dried, it provided hay for livestock, producing more milk. Chickens thrived on nettles powdered and mixed into their feed and they laid more eggs.

Bunches of nettles, hung in larders, keeps the flies away. And, if you plant it near beehives, it will keep the frogs away. The juice, rubbed into the thin cracks of a leaky wooden tub will coagulate and make it watertight. Dyes are made from the root and leaf, yellow for the root and green for the leaf. You can even make paper.

To prepare an infusion, you will place 1 once of herb in a quart mason jar and fill to the brim with boiling water. Cap it off and let it sit for at least four hours (longer is better). Refrigerate what you do not use and drink within three days. (It will spoil). Tinctures are powerful, potent, and will keep.

At WishGarden Herbs, the highest quality organic herbs are harvested and prepared with care and the intention to bring you the maximum benefit from the remedies. Here are some WishGarden products that contain Nettles.

Adult:
Kick-Ass A.L.R.G.
Kick-It-A.L.R.G. Tea
Deep Stress Tonic
Herbal Cal
Everybody’s Wonderfully Nutritional Tea

Women:
Fertility Prep
Wise Changes Menopausal Support
Womb Support Tea

Pregnancy:
Herbal Cal
Herbal Iron
Pregnancy Tea
Varicosity for Pregnancy

Children:
Kick-It-A.L.R.G.
Growing Pains


Prema Rose
Retired Midwife, Author and Freelance Writer, Filmmaker, Holistic Health Practitioner,