So I have shared 10 of my favorite herbs and what Rosemary Gladstar (one of my favorite herbalists) says about the herbs in her book Medicinal Herbs. I highly urge you to have this book on your shelf for great home remedies. If you want to review those first 5 herbs, click here. Or the second 5 herbs, click here. BUTTTTT……. if you are here for these 5 herbs, I am so excited!!!! Why? Because these are 5 of my ALL TIME favorite herbs! I LOVE that they grow freely around my homestead, making them so easily accessible!!! Okay, here are the last 5 beneficial herbs… part 3!
5 Beneficial Herbs… Part 3
Dandelion
- Entire plant is useful: leaves, flowers, and roots; and can be used medicinally, as well as eaten
- Root is used as a liver tonic, stimulates the digestive tract, and encourages the production of bile which breaks down cholesterol and fat
- Leaves act as a mild diuretic, good source of potassium, iron, calcium, vitamins, and trace minerals
- Flowers can be made into wine or sautéed in butter
- Stems contain a milky latex substance that can help get rid of warts (apply several times daily for 3 weeks)
Calendula
- Long blooming season
- Very medicinal: promotes cell repair and growth, helps prevent infections
- Treats: bruises, burns, skin ulcers, rashes, infections, sores, diaper rash, cradle cap, skin irritations, and thrush (as salve/oil)
- Cleanses and stimulates the lymphatic system to drain (drink as tea)
- Anti-septic and anti-inflammatory
- Add flowers pedals to salads
Mullein
- Easily started from seed; once established, it will self-sow easily
- Anti-spasmatic and expectorant of mucus (helps coughs, bronchial congestion, chest colds, allergies, and other respiratory stresses)
- Poultice is effective for boils, glandular swelling, bruises, and insect bites
- Mullein flowers relieve pain and contain anti-septic and infection-fighting properties
Plantain
- Like dandelion, plantain is a “weed” you should let grow
- Draws toxicity from the body
- Rich in nutrients; stimulates the liver and cleanses the blood
- Poultice herb supreme- mash and apply directly to area; effectively treats insect bites and stings, skin disorders like boils and acne, infections, etc.
- Excellent drawing abilities (apply poultice to splinters, cover, wait, repeat until splinter is close enough to surface to remove)
- Wound healer
Burdock
- One of the safest, tastiest and most effective detoxifying and cleansing herbs
- Considered a “cooling” herb which makes it effective for “hot” conditions like boils, acne, behavioral issues like anger, etc.
- Great for skin problems; used both internally and externally to treat eczema, psoriasis, and other skin imbalances
- Makes an effective wash for dry, itchy, and/or irritated skin
- Lymphatic Detox: drink 3 to 4 cups of burdock tea a day for 1 or 2 days
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Happy Homesteading! (:
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