Name: Plantain
Latin: Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata
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Used for: Plantain is a liver strengthener and blood builder. Holding the hot tea in your mouth can assist with tooth pain caused by infection. Used as a poultice, it can help a variety of skin conditions, including the rashes caused by stinging nettle, poison ivy/oak, bug bites, and burns.
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Name: Sage
Latin: Salvia officinalis
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Family: Mint
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Used for: Anti-bacterial, both internally and externally usable. It is also a gentle stimulant, adding energy to the system without overstressing it.
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Edibility: Lovely with poultry specifically, and a wonderful spice for a number of other concoctions. Makes a nice addition to a variety of teas. Suggested to lightly flour fry it in olive oil and serve as an appetizer. So many things to try.
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Growing: Perennial. It likes full sunlight and good drainage.
Name: Cardamom
Latin: Eelettaria cardamomum
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Parts Used: Seeds
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Used for: Cardamom seeds can be used to freshen the breath, improve digestion, and improve appetite. They are known to help tonify and condition the stomach, liver, and intestines. They can relieve coughs, mitigate bronchitis, assist against fevers, and ease inflammation of the mouth and throat. Cardamom also helps to strengthen the immune system. It is a useful aid during pregnancy for nausea, as it is a pregnancy-safe digestive aid. There is evidence that cardamom may also be an anti-viral.
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Name: Ginger
Latin: Zingiber officinale
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Parts Used: Rot
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Used for: This is a wonderful herb for nausea. I have persistent food issues due to chemical allergies and the after-effects of an old illness, and most of the time one variant or another of Ginger tea will settle my stomach enough for me to eat. It is used to settle the stomach and as an antacid because it blocks the breakdown of pepsinogen into the compound that causes a particular sort of ulcer and stomach irritation. 3 to 4 T added to bath water can help with detoxification. Taken as a tea before or during a meal, it will help to mitigate gas. Ginger also has anti-inflammatory capabilities, when used as a tea or eaten. It can also function as a healthier stimulant than caffeine.
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1 1/2 oz (1/2 c) blue cheese
3 T buttermilk
3 T sour cream
2 T mayo
2 T white vinegar
Season to taste (pepper, salt, garlic powder, etc…) Makes approx 1/2 pint. I mess around with this one a lot, but when properly messed with it is really tasty.
1/2 c cornmeal
1/2 c molasses
1/2 c cooking oil
2 1/2 c water
1 tsp salt
1 pkg yeast
6-7 c flour
Put 1 c water and cornmeal in a saucepan, bring to a boil slowly. Let it thicken, but not burn. Remove from heat, add oil, molasses, remaining water, and salt, and yeast. Stir smooth. Cool to around body temp. Put in 2 c flour and leave for 15 minutes for yeast proofing. Add flour and knead until slightly sticky, but smooth. Let rise in covered greased bowl until double. Punch down and let sit 10 minutes. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans. Shape into loaves, put into pans, let rise again. Bake at 450 for 30 minutes or to 190 internal temp. Let cool 30 minutes.
Name: Blessed Thistle
Latin: Cnicus Benedictus
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Used for: This herb is good for most urinary, pulmonary, and liver disorders. It can also be used to enrich and increase milk in nursing mothers. As a tonic, just prior to puberty, it can be used to help ease initial cramping. Also tonifies the stomach and the digestive system generally.
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Directions & Warnings: Large doses can cause nausea, so use care with amounts.
Name: Clove
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Used for: Used as a pain killer, typically for tooth pain. Can either be an oil that you use with a cotton swab or finger and brush over the area in pain, or you can tuck a whole clove into your mouth near the painful area and suck or chew on it.
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Used for: Use as a tea. Good for a bit of mood lifting after a dark time – suggested for the winter blues. Rich in vitamin C and contains some needed trace minerals. Good for arthritis. Taking 3 cups of birch leaf tea a day is said to help clear acne.
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Name: Yarrow
Latin: Achillea millefolium
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Used for: Taken internally it fights inflammation. Used externally, it can slow or stop bleeding, assist with pain, and promotes healing. Used internally or externally, it will fight or prevent infection. A spray in the back of the throat can help a sore throat. The same on an infected tooth can ease the pain. Spraying it on your feet can lessen aching. Used as an astringent, it can assist with acne. If made into a tincture and used as a spray, yarrow is an effective insect repellant. Studies done by the US Army indicated that it is more effective than DEET, although not as long lasting. Yarrow is actually more effective than the (now) classic combination of echinacea/goldenseal, and avoids the issues attached to those plants.
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Other Uses for: Folklore states that if used as a hair wash, it will promote curling.
Growing: Yarrow is said to make a good companion plant in the garden. Its root secretions strengthen other plants, and can actually make them more disease resistant. Yarrow is also said to keep ants and other harmful insects away.