Women, Healing & Lore: Herbal Properties

 

I think we are all trying to go more green these days. If not for the environment, if not to go easier on our septic systems and land, then without a doubt, just  a chance to save a buck.

Not sure about the rest of you but I am a Self-Admitted – Cleaning – Product- Junkie. The big, fat amount of “Money Due” added to the end of my grocery bill each week, though, has broken me of that.  Pinching pennies where we can so we can save up to buy more land has made me more aware of what I can make and what I better not mess with. Plus, not sure if anyone else has noticed but while the price of products have gone up, their cleaning potential and once-alluring-power has went down. Way down. Not sure if Companies are diluting them or reworking recipes to cut costs, but either way, it sure has ruined what those products used to be able to do.

Below, you will find a list of Herbs — most are easy to find– and their beneficial properties. Some of these are real easy to come by. Some are special order but can be found online, or will take a trip to a Health Store or Herbal Shop. Some of you may grow them.

Use them to clean or work them into a tonic for healing.

HERB	PROPERTIES
Bay	Antibacterial
Bergamot	Antibiotic
Camphor	Antibacterial
Cardamom	Antibacterial
Chamomile	Antibiotic, Antibacterial
Cinnamon	Antiviral
Citronella	Antibacterial
Clove	Antibiotic, Antiviral
Cypress	Antibacterial
Eucalyptus	Antibiotic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral
Ginger	Antibacterial
Hyssop	Antifungal, Antibacterial
Juniper	Antifungal, Antibacterial
Lavender	Antibiotic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral
Lemon	Antibiotic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral
Lemongrass	Antibacterial
Lemon Verbena	Antibacterial
Lime	Antibiotic, Antibacterial
Marjoram	Antibacterial
Myrtle	Antibiotic, Antifungal
Nutmeg	Antibiotic
Orange	Antibacterial
Oregano	Antibiotic, Antiviral
Patchouli	Antibiotic, Antifungal
Pine	Antibiotic, Antibacterial
Rosemary	Antibacterial
Sage	Antifungal, Antibacterial
Sandalwood	Antifungal, Antiviral, Antibacterial
Savory	Antifungal
Spearmint	Antibacterial
Tea Tree	Antibiotic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral
Thyme	Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral
Vervain	Antibacterial
Wintergreen	Antibacterial, be careful when handling

Sources: The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegal-Maier

Women, Healing & Lore: Holly

Since today’s Ancient Calendar marks the season of the Holly King, (Read Here), I thought, what could be a better opportunity than right here and now to delve deeper into the folk medicine and lore of something we are all somewhat familiar with.

Holly actually has quite a few nicknames. For the Celtic Tree Month, we know it by Tinne, but it is also called, Christ’s Thorn, Bat’s Wings, Holm Chaste, Hulver Bush, Aquifolius and Hulm. It’s proper name would be quite the tongue twister, Ilex aquifolium or I. Opaca.

Here in the mountains, we know it as Holly and it’s something that stretches as far as landscaping to the table and wreaths inside our homes. And while today, most of us are oblivious to it’s true history or purpose, not so long ago, those dead and gone from these mountains, knew it all quite well.

While present day Pagans might plant Holly by the front door for protection, it wasn’t much different in times of old. Not only did people believe that Holy warded off evil spirits but they also believed it kept them safe from lightning, dark sorcery and poison.

People used to make something called, Holly Water. Was this the origins of “Holy Water”? They would make Holly Water by infusing water with Holly. This was used to protect babies, especially when they were first born, by sprinkling a few drops of the water upon their heads, much like baptism.

Holly was deemed so powerful, when thrown at wild animals, people believed it made them lie down and grow silent.

It was carried by people for luck – especially by men– and hung around the home at Yule for an extra dose of something special.

According to, Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Herbs, there was even a special ritual surrounding Holly. It had to be done on a Friday after Midnight, but if someone gathered nine Holly Leaves (from a smooth plant) and wrapped them in a white cloth created nine knots, then they could sleep with it under their pillow– making their dreams come true.

Medically, the leaves, berries and bark is used. The berries are actually harmful to people. Animals, however, love the Holly Bush. Deer eat them during winter. Birds feast on the berries and for those who keep rabbits, a stick placed in a rabbit hut, will give them something to gnaw in order to restore their appetites. A tonic, if you will.

In olden times, Holly was used to treat smallpox, pleurisy, fevers, rheumatism, and catarrh. It’s leaves were used in tea and because of it’s tannins, it is known as a good blood purifier, diuretic and was also, highly revered as a diaphoetic (which made it good for fevers and such).

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Women, Healing & Lore: Black & Green Tea

While coffee can sponge up the vitamins in your body,  black and green tea have the opposite effect. Now if you don’t know what black and  green tea is—think Lipton Tea (something popular in the States) Lipton tea is made of black and green tea.

Black Tea . . .

is tea that has been fermented. It can be found in any tea isle of any grocery store. Some popular varieties are : Breakfast teas, Orange pekoe, Darjeeling, and so on.

Unlike coffee, the lower amounts of caffeine in black tea help blood flow in the brain (alertness) without putting pressure on the heart. The tea has something in it called Tannins–which is an astringent (a chemical causing retraction of body tissues and canals–Word Web)  found naturally in many herbs which have soothing anti-inflammatory effects on a person’s digestive tract.  Tannins also help the mind. Black tea also has small traces of Fluoride and is said to help tooth decay–so again, way better than coffee.

Black Tea can stop diarrhea—steep a cup of water for 15 minutes –this makes sure the tannins leave the tea and enter the cup–drink unsweetened.

Black Tea can lower cholesterol levels–drink 2 cups of black tea everyday for 3 weeks.

Green Tea comes from the same plant as Black tea only its not been fermented. And sometimes, certain types of Green tea is lightly roasted.

Green Tea . . .

has many of the same qualities as Black tea–the same tannins, prevention of tooth decay, lower blood pressure, detoxification, anti-inflammatory, improves concentration, invigorates the body, and lowers the rick of heart disease and some types of cancer.

To lesson the caffeine in Green tea–pour some water over the leaves before putting them in your cup. Strain the water off after 30 seconds.  Caffeine is the first to flood any cup of water–the longer the tea soaks, though, the more tannins enter the cup.

For those who are trying to quit drinking coffee, green tea seems to help  since it has a slight bitter taste.

Healing & Lore: The Wild Strawberry

The Wild Strawberry is  apart of the “Rose” family. You should start seeing the berries around June. The seeds are actually the fruit. When you harvest the Wild Strawberry, you want to take the leaves, berries, and roots. When you dry these out, keep them out of humidity and dampness.

Leaves and Roots…

Tannins live in the leaves and roots. Tannins can be found in most vegetables and fruit. The leaves, when dried, are when Tannins pack a punch. By definition, Tannins are various complex phenolic substances of plant origin; used both in tanning and in medicine. The Tannin in leaves have astringent effects – as do most tannins elsewhere. It’s the astringent that aids in the antidiarrheal and anti-inflammatory super-powers of the leaves.

 

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What’s in the Berries?

The berries have 60 milligrams of Vitamin C per 100 grams of fruit. Not to mention the Minerals, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Manganese, Calcium, Zinc and Fruit Acids. The leaves of Wild Strawberries also have:

• Triterpene Alcohols (Anti-Inflammatory)
• Flavonoids (Powerful Antioxidants)
• Citral (Lemony Scent)
• Essential Oils

 

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What to do with it?

• American Indians used the root for jaundice, stomach ailments and and heavy bleeding during menstruation—again, much like Raspberry Leaves.
• For sore throats, gargle 1/4 cup chopped leaves to 1/2 cup boiling water. Steep for 30 minutes.
• For sunburn, apply crushed berries. Leave for 10-20 minutes.
• For diarrhea, add 1 gram root to 1/2 cup cold water. Heat and steep for 30 minutes. Drink 2 cups daily, 1 before each meal.

 

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Now, what sort of Mountain Lore or Folk Lore surrounds the strawberry?

• It was known for two things: Love and Luck. Perhaps one of the reasons Strawberries are a must during a romantic interlude is because back in the day, if someone was in love with you or if you were in love with someone else, you would give or serve them strawberries.
• If you wanted luck, stuff your pockets with the leaves.
• And like Raspberry Leaves, pregnant women often carried a small packet of the Strawberry leaf to help ease pain.

 

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 Magical Associations

Strawberries are Feminine in nature and belong to the planet, Venus. Their element is Water and they are linked to the Goddess Freya.

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