Tag Archives: Headaches

by

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.

by

Feverfew

Name:  Feverfew

Latin:

Other Common Names:

Family:

Parts Used:

Vitamins/Minerals:

Used for:  Used for headaches, particularly migraines.

Use in tandem with:

Directions & Warnings:  Not for use during pregnancy, or if wishing to become pregnant.  Feverfew is a potent emmenagogue.

by

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.

by

Pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegiodes)

Name:  Pennyroyal

Latin:  Hedeoma pulegiodes

Other Common Names:

Family:

Parts Used:

Vitamins/Minerals:

Used for:  Good as a poultice for burns.  Works on uterine muscles to promote contractions, and is a good tonic for menstrual problems.  It is a powerful emmenagogue, however, and should not be taken while pregnant or trying to become pregnant.  The oil can be helpful for headaches, if the scent is inhaled.

Use in tandem with:

Directions & Warnings:  Not for use during pregnancy or while attempting to become pregnant.

by

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Globulus)

Name:  Eucalyptus

Latin:  Eucalyptus Globulus

Other Common Names:

Family:

Parts Used:  Leaf

Vitamins/Minerals:

Used for:  This is an herb to use with a fair amount of caution, and only in small doses, particularly when taking it internally.  A smattering of flakes will be plenty for a full quart jar of loose tea.  Eucalyptus helps to dilate capillaries for better circulation, which can be useful when dealing with migraines.  A small amount on the tongue can quell nausea.  It is an antiseptic, which means it can be good for wounds, or as a scent or steam to inhale for internal infections.  When diluted with olive oil or vitamin E, the oil can be applied as an ointment.  The oil is also a decent insect repellent.  For coughs, it actually outstrips Robitussin as an expectorant.

Use in tandem with:

Directions & Warnings:  Eucalyptus is very useful, but you must be careful with the dosages, as it can be incredibly toxic when overdone.

by

Cayenne (Capsicum)

Name:  Cayenne

Latin:  Capsicum

Other Common Names:

Family:

Parts Used:

Vitamins/Minerals:

Used for:  Cayenne is one of the “miracle herbs,” falling into the same category of niftiness as garlic and turmeric.  It is good for your digestion, and quite an assist to the circulatory system as well.  It helps to regulate your heart and blood pressure.  Used in conjunction with ginger, it can help to clear your sinuses and bronchial tubes; garlic increases the effects on blood pressure.  It helps to mitigate shock, and can help with clotting (internally).  It can also be used as a liniment for headaches and muscle aches.  It is also an intensifier when used with other herbs and spices, making them more effective.  Cayenne can also stimulate salivation, which can help with dry mouth.  It also increases metabolism, making it a good thing to include in foods when working on weight loss.  And rolling on through the myriad effects of cayenne, it is a healthier stimulant than caffeine, doing so through nutrition and a systemic revitalization rather than agitation.  The way in which it acts as a stimulant can also help with the emotional responses to stress.

Use in tandem with:  Garlic, Ginger, Turmeric

Directions & Warnings: