Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger – asarum canadense – Wild ginger was used by Native American Indians for many things, one of which was as a contraceptive measure. The root is used internally to treat: asthma, coughs, rheumatic problems, and irregular menstruation. It also stimulates circulation, promotes perspiration, and aids digestion. The root has antibiotic properties. The leaves can be applied as a poultice, externally, to wounds and inflammations.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Used internally to treat: asthma, coughs, and rheumatic problems. Regulates menstruation. It stimulates circulation, promotes perspiration, and aids digestion.

Wild Lettuce

Wild Lettuce – lactuca sp. – wild lettuce is considered a substitute to opium. It acts as a sedative and pain reliever. It is has calming and sedating properties. It has been used to induce sleep, to calm coughs, relieve headaches and other general aches and pains. It is often recommended to calm excitablity in children. The sap of the wild lettuce has been applied to acne and skin rashes.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Calming and sedating. Used to induce sleep, to calm coughs, relieve headaches and other general aches and pains.

Wild Onion

Wild Onion – allium cernum – The onion bulb, leaf and flower can be eaten raw or cooked. Medicinally, the onion can be used similarly to garlic but it can also be used as a poultice in various problem specific places – on the chest for chest infections and pleurisy pain, on the throat for sore throats, or on a particular area of swelling. Internally, the juice can be used to treat sore throats, colds, croup etc. The juice has also been used to treat kidney stones.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Apply as a poultice to treat respiratory ailments, sore throats, and swellings. The juice of the onion has been used to treat kidney stones.

Wild Quinine

Wild quinine – parthenium integrifolium – The flowers have been used to treat fevers – in the place of quinine. The root, applied externally as a poultice, to relieve burns. The root has been used as a kidney and bladder tonic, reducing inflammation.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: The flowers have been used to treat fevers. The root, applied externally as a poultice, to relieve burns. The root has been used as a kidney and bladder tonic, reducing inflammation.

Wild Rose

Wild Rose – rosa sp. –

Wild Spikenard

Wild Spikenard – smilacina racemosa – A contaceptive and haemostatic plant used in past by North American Indians. A tea made from the leaves was a contraceptive and a poultice from the leaves, applied externally, was applied to cuts. The root can be used to regulate the mentrual cycle, relieve rheumatism, and even treat cancer.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Contraceptive, menstrual regulating, haemostatic.

Wild Yam

Wild Yam – dioscorea villosa – Wild Yam has been used for centuries as a medicinal herb by the Aztec and Mayan peoples for a wide range of ailments including many female problems and to relieve the pain of childbirth. Research indicates that this is a powerful alternative medicine containing many steroidal saponins, mainly Dioscin, which is widely used to manufacture progesterone and other steroid drugs used as contraceptives and in the treatment of various disorders of the genital organs as well as in other diseases such as asthma and arthritis. A decoction of the root is used to alleviate many of the symptoms of menopause and PMS such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and vaginal dryness. It is also used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, gall bladder complaints, spasmodic cramps, painful menstruation, and in small doses is especially helpful in treating the nausea of pregnant women.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Amongst other things it is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, gall bladder complaints, spasmodic cramps, painful menstruation, and in small doses is especially helpful in treating the nausea of pregnant women.

Willow

Willow – salix alba – Also known as White Willow, European Willow, Tree of Enchantment, and Witches Aspirin. One of the Seven Sacred Trees of the Irish. A Druid sacred tree, the willow is a Moon tree sacred to the White Lady. It’s groves were considered so magical that priests, priestesses and all types of artisans sat among these trees to gain eloquence, inspiration, skills, and prophecies. The stem bark is a painkiller, a fever-reducer, and an original source for salicylic acid for aspirin. The infused leaves make a tea for nervous insomnia and are added to baths to ease rheumatism. The Salix species provide the best-quality artists’ charcoal, branches are used for weaving, and the White Willow var. caerulea is the source of wood for cricket bats. The genus name Salix comes from the Celtic sal-lis, “near water”.
Black willow -S. nigra- bark is used to treat gonorrhea and ovarian pain. The white willow contains salicin, the active constituent from which Aspirin was first synthesized. White willow bark is used for rhematic complaints, arthirtis and headaches as well as diarrhea and dysentary. Fevers, edema, and the aftereffects of worms are treated with willow bark. To make the tea, steep three teaspoons of the bark in one cup of cold water for two to five hours, boil for one minute, and strain. Willow is also available as a powder. The dose is one teaspoon, three times a day in tea or capsules. The tincture can be taken in 10-20 drop doses four times a day.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: The stem bark is a painkiller, a fever-reducer, and an original source for salicylic acid for aspirin. The infused leaves make a tea for nervous insomnia and are added to baths to ease rheumatism.

Other Uses: The willow is a guardian tree, said to protect from evil influences. The willow tree has a healing aura that blesses all it touches. All parts of the willow guard against evil and can be carried or placed in the home for this purpose.

Wintercress

Wintercress – barbaria verna – This is an edible cress. The seed is sprouted for salads or can be used to obtain an edible oil. The leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked.