Nettle

Nettle Leaf – urtica dioica – The analysis of the fresh Nettle shows the presence of formic acid, mucilage, mineral salts, ammonia, carbonic acid and water. It is the formic acid in the Nettle, with the phosphates and a trace of iron, which constitute it such a valuable food medicinally. Nettle has a reputation in herbal medicine and is regarded in homoeopathy as a useful remedy. Preparations of the herb have astringent properties and act also as a stimulating tonic. Warm nettle tea doesn’t taste like a normal tea not bitter, spicy, minty or lemony, it is more like a strong stock of a rich, deep, green plant essence, and it’s one of the most nourishing drinks of all. Whenever you feel run down, tired, or even irritable, make some. Many of the benefits are due to the plant’s very high levels of minerals, especially, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, silica, iodine, silicon, sodium, and sulfur. They also provide chlorophyll and tannin, and they’re a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and B complex vitamins. Nettles also have high levels of easily absorbable amino acids. They’re ten percent protein, more than any other vegetable. Nettle is anti-asthmatic: the juice of the roots or leaves, mixed with honey or sugar, will relieve bronchial and asthmatic troubles and the dried leaves, burnt and inhaled, will have the same effect. As an expectorant, it’s recommended for asthma, mucus conditions of the lungs, and chronic coughs. Nettle tea compress or finely powdered dried nettles are also good for wounds, cuts, stings, and burns. The infusion has been used internally to stop excessive menstruation, bleeding from hemorrhages, bloody coughs, nose bleeds, and bloody urine. It is known to help blood clot, but major bleeding is dangerous, indicative of a serious underlying condition. Consult a competent practitioner in such cases. Use for minor cuts. It is said that eating nettles or drinking the tea makes hair brighter, thicker and shinier, and makes skin clearer and healthier, good for eczema and other skin conditions. Nettles have cleansing and antiseptic properties, so the tea is also good in facial steams and rinses. A decoction of Nettle yields a beautiful and permanent green dye.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: An expectorant, it’s recommended for asthma, mucus conditions of the lungs, and chronic coughs. Nettles have cleansing and antiseptic properties

New Jersey Tea

New Jersey Tea – ceanothus americanus – This herb does make a refreshing tea, it is a stimulating replacement for black tea although it contains no caffeine. The herb is astringent, expectorant, haemostatic, antispasmodic and sedative. It is used to treat chest problems such as bronchitis, asthma, and whooping cough. It stimulates the lymphatic system to remove excess fluid build up, loosens phlegm, soothes sore throats. It has been used in preparations to aid the prevention of hemorrhage after surgery.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: The root is astringent, antispasmodic and expectorant. It is used to treat asthma, whooping cough, sore throat, and tonsillitis. It also stimulates the lymphatic system, aiding in the removal of fluids built up in the tissue.

Nigella

Nigella – nigella sativa – Used both as a culinary herb and medicinal herb. Nigella is beneficial to the digestive system: calming, easing stomach pains and flatulence. The seeds are also used to promote lactation. Externally, this herb is used to relieve eczema, wounds, bites, stings, abscesses, and hemorrhoids.
The oil in the seeds is a natural insect repellent.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: A digestive herb – easing stomach pain and flatulence. Also used to increase lacation. Antiseptic – used on external abscesses, wounds, hemorrhoids, eczema.

Nightshade, Black

Nightshade, Black – solanum nigrum – This plant has many properties but is mostly used externally. Poultices or washes are used to treat boils, sores, and wounds. Also, the plant is antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic making it an ingredient used in analgesic ointments and creams.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Can be applied, externally, in a poultice to relieve boils, wounds, sores. An ingredient in analgesic ointments.

Oak

Oak – quercus alba or spp. – Also known as Tanner’s Bark, White Oak, and Common Oak. A Druid Holy tree, the oak was the King of trees in a grove. Oak bark and galls are astringent and antiseptic. Oak bark provides tannin and as leather tanners seemed immune to tuberculosis, the bark was used for treatment of the disease.
The white oak, Q. alba, is the best for internal use. Infuse the inner bark or young leaf, before Midsummer, for douches and enemas. Internal rectal problems, hemorrhoids, leukorrhea, menstrual irregularities, and bloody urine are also benefitted. Take internally as a tea. The tea brings down fevers, treats diarrhea, and makes a wash for sores. Up to three cups a day may be safely taken. As a gargle, it treats mouth sores and sore throats. Being an astringent, it stops internal bleeding. Black oak -Q. tinctoria- and red oak -Q. rubra- can be used externally. English oak -Q. robur- can be used both externally and internally.
Oak leaves are prepared in infusion for douches to treat vaginal infections; gather them before Midsummer. To prepare, steep one tablespoon per quart of water for thirty minutes. A tea of the buds is a valuable tonic for the liver; steep two teaspoons per cup of water for twenty minutes. Simmer the bark in salves to make a remedy for hemorrhoids.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: The tea brings down fevers, treats diarrhea, and makes a wash for sores. Up to three cups a day may be safely taken. As a gargle, it treats mouth sores and sore throats.

Other Uses: Symbolizes abundance, fertility, longevity, protection, and the ability to withstand the lightening blasts of spiritual awareness while remaning firmly rooted in the material. All oak tree parts are powerful protective charms, which bring healing.

Oakmoss

Forms Available: essential oil, absolute

Oakmoss – pseudevernia prunastri – Oak Moss is a whitish blue to green, shrubby lichen. A lichen is an alga,which photosynthesizes, and a fungus operating together in a symbiotic relationship. The Arabs use ground Oak Moss to leaven bread. It is collected as a violet-scented fixative and an oleo-resin, extracted for perfumes and soap. Native Americans used it when binding wounds; it is a stomach tonic and an expectorant, and soothes coughs. Oak Moss yields a purple wool dye, but air pollution has made it scarce.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Native Americans used it when binding wounds; it is a stomach tonic and an expectorant, and soothes coughs.

Other Uses: Use to attract money.