Tag Archives: Gladstar

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Calcium

Useful For:  Bones, teeth, heart, muscles, nerve transmission

Herbal Sources:  Alfalfa, Amaranth, Borage, Cayenne, Chickweed, Chicory, Dandelion, Eyebright, Fennel, Fenugreek, Flax, Hops, Horsetail, Kelp, Lemongrass, Mullein, Mustard Greens, Nettle, Oatstraw, Paprika, Parsley, Peppermint, Plantain, Raspberry Leaf, Red Clover, Rose Hips, Shepherd’s Purse, Violet Leaves, Watercress, Yarrow, Yellow Dock

Food Sources:  Seaweed, yogurt and other cultured dairy, dark green leafy vegetables, almonds, sesame seeds

 

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Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Name:  Peppermint

Latin:  Mentha piperita

Other Common Names:

Family:  Mint

Parts Used:

Vitamins/Minerals:  Calcium

Used for:  Fights inflammation, is a bronchiodilator, has some effect against headaches, can be a coffee substitute, and is an effective element in cold and flu preparations.  It is also good for most digestive issues.  It can ease pain, and supports proper liver and nerve function.  One of the reasons it makes a good coffee substitute is that the stimulation it gives comes from a healthier angle.  Peppermint stimulates because of the nutritive value and by increasing circulation.  It wakes the system up, rather than agitating it.  Because it is kind of a catchall, I often use it to make medicinal teas more palatable, as it assists in mitigating unpleasant flavours.

Use in tandem with:

Uses for Pets:

Directions & Warnings:

Edibility:  So many different ways.  In water, in tea, in cocoa, in lemonade, in cookies, in cakes, in frosting, in…..  I also saw a suggestion for mixing sprigs of it in with peas, which I will have to try.

Other Uses for:  Bugs don’t like it when fresh and growing, so it can be used as a barrier along a house, or as an assist for more delicate plants.

Growing:  Mint likes shade, so if you have a darker area that you aren’t sure what to plant, mint is a good fill-in.  A bit literally, actually, because it really likes space, and will propagate itself in a number of ways all over the place.

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Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva)

Name:  Slippery Elm

Latin:  Ulmus fulva

Other Common Names:

Family:

Parts Used:  Bark

Vitamins/Minerals:

Used for:  The powdered inner bark can be combined with milk or honey to assist in palatability.  Useful for coughs.  Can assist in settling intestinal issues, including soothing ulcers.  As a poultice, used for sores and wounds.  If integrated as part of a nerve formula, can help to soothe and protect inflamed nerve endings.

Use in tandem with:  Goldenseal, Comfrey

Directions & Warnings:

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Stinging Nettle (Urtica Dioica)

Name:  Stinging Nettle

Latin:  Urtica Dioica

Other Common Names:

Family:

Parts Used:

Vitamins/Minerals:  Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Cobalt, Potassium, Copper, B-Vitamins

Used for:  Due to the nutritional denseness of this plant, it is one of the best tonic herbs.  Eating a bit of this a day, or drinking a cup of infusion daily, will almost insure that you are getting enough of the basics.  The nutrients contained make this herb particularly good for the kidneys, adrenals, and thyroid, which allows them to stabilize and increases energy levels.  It also contains chromium in enough quantity to help stimulate appetite, under the right circumstances.  If utilized regularly, nettle also assists with minimizing the effects of hayfever and other allergies.  The sheer amount of calcium and magnesium also strengthens bones, hair, skin, and teeth.  An additional side effect of the nutritional denseness is and increase in fertility, making nettle one of the best choice for that particular goal.  The array of nutrients also make this a supportive herb for the nervous system.

Use in tandem with:

Directions & Warnings:

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Catnip

Name:  Catnip

Latin:  Nepeta Cataria

Other Common Names:

Family:  Mint

Parts Used:

Vitamins/Minerals:  Calcium

Used for:  Can be used for easing menstruation, relieving colic, and to relax you into sleep.    Also falls into the category of herbal pain relief, working by soothing and strengthening the nerves and muscles, rather than by deadening nerves.  Also acts as a muscle relaxant and antispasmodic, and can assist with cramps and spasms.  Good choice for herbal vinegars, due to the amount of calcium it contains.  More commonly used for cats, to make them act somewhere between happy and a bit crazy.

Use in tandem with:

Directions & Warnings:

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Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

Name:  Passionflower

Latin:  Passiflora incarnata

Other Common Names:

Family:

Parts Used:

Vitamins/Minerals:

Used for:  Is a good herb to use to ease the effects of stress.  Can help to calm anxiety and ease nervous tension.  Good herb to include in preparations for headaches, if stress is a factor, and can also assist with asthma.  Used as an alternative to sedatives for both people and animals.  Passionflower is one of the herbal pain-killers, although not in the pharmaceutical drug sense.  Rather than deaden nerve endings, it soothes and nourishes the nerves and muscle tissue.  Can also be used as an antispasmodic.

Use in tandem with:

Directions & Warnings:  Preparations involving passionflower should be tested for the first time at a point when tiredness will not be an issue.  For some people it is a fairly potent sedative.

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Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)

Name:  Lobelia

Latin:  Lobelia inflata

Other Common Names:

Family:

Parts Used:

Vitamins/Minerals:

Used for:  The tincture of this herb is a wonderful anti-spasmodic.  Generally works within 5-15 minutes when a few drops are put under the tongue.  Lobelia is also a powerful relaxant.  If used regularly during waking hours, you may wish to mix it with a more stimulating herb such as cayenne, peppermint, ginseng, or ginger.  Lobelia is also a nerve sedative.  It both nourishes and strengthens the nervous system, and through this action can help with pain.

Use in tandem with:

Directions & Warnings:  Smokers may require more Lobelia to get results, as there is a potential cross-tolerance between Lobelia and nicotine.  Due to the potent relaxation this herb can provoke, it is also not recommended for regular use by diabetics.

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Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Name:  Ginger

Latin:  Zingiber officinale

Other Common Names:

Family:

Parts Used:  Rot

Vitamins/Minerals:

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.

Use in tandem with:

Directions & Warnings:

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Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium)

Name:  Ginseng

Latin:  Panax quinquefolium

Other Common Names:

Family:

Parts Used:

Vitamins/Minerals:

Used for:  Senility, longevity, energy, and memory.  Strengthens the endocrine glands, which assists in the metabolism of vitamins and minerals.  Used in conjunction with Sarsparilla to regulate male hormones.  Can also strengthen your immune system.  Supports the health and vitality of the nervous system.  Can be used as a gentle stimulant during times of stress.

Use in tandem with:

Directions & Warnings:  This herb should be used with care, as it does have a very intense action.