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Alternative Medicine

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18 of Nature’s Most Powerful Medicinal Plants. (Part of an Exclusive WebEcoist Series on Amazing Trees, Plants, Forests and Flowers) From marijuana to catnip, there are hundreds of remarkably common herbs, flowers, berries and plants that serve all kinds of important medicinal and health purposes that might surprise you: anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, insect repellent, antiseptic, expectorant, antibacterial, detoxification, fever reduction, antihistamine and pain relief.

18 of Nature’s Most Powerful Medicinal Plants

Here are eighteen potent medical plants you're likely to find in the wild – or even someone's backyard – that can help with minor injuries, scrapes, bites and pains.* Marijuana Images via Current and Street Knowledge Seriously. Lady Ferns Image via US Forest Service If you grew up in the Pacific Northwest you likely know what ferns are good for: treating stinging nettles.

California Poppy Images via Netstate and Mountain Meadow Seeds The brilliant blooms of the poppy make this opioid plant an iconic one. Blood Flower Tansy Image via Earth Heart Farm Korean Mint (hyssop) Sage. The Fifteen Most Fabulous Herbal Sedatives : Kitchen Table Medicine. Do you ever just feel like you need to take a pill to take the edge off?

The Fifteen Most Fabulous Herbal Sedatives : Kitchen Table Medicine

Well a lot of us get extra stressed around the holiday season, and if you don’t want to take something that will totally knock you out, try a gentle relaxing cup of sedative tea instead of popping a pill. Now opinions may slightly differ amongst herbalists as to what the best herbal sedative is, but I think we can all agree that the best herb is the one that works best for the individual. Here are my top fifteen favorites for making in to herbal tea as they are widely available and not endangered species (to my current knowledge.) I have included a brief blurb so that you can get an idea of the herbs that will work best for your constitution.Please always check with your naturopathic physician before combining herbs with prescription drugs. . #3 Schisandra- Referred to as “Chinese Prozac” this herb is commonly unappreciated and underutilized in American herbal practice.

. #9 St. Health Tips - Home Remedies That Work at WomansDay. Nobody is naysaying the wonders of modern medicine—what would we do without a medication like penicillin to treat infections?

Health Tips - Home Remedies That Work at WomansDay

But, as it turns out, everyday items have secret curing powers, too. Next time you don’t want to fork over money to get a common wart removed, consider using duct tape. Already popped two aspirin but can’t get rid of the headache? A pencil could do the trick. Below, get medical explanations behind a few bizarre—albeit brilliant—MacGyver-esque home remedies. Duct Tape to Remove Warts In 2002, a group of doctors compared duct tape’s effectiveness with liquid nitrogen in removing warts. Vapor Rub to Cure Nail Fungus While there are no studies to prove coating infected toenails with vapor rub once or twice a day is an effective treatment for nail fungus, a basic Internet search results in a number of personal testaments to the medicinal ointment's fungus-killing powers.

Oatmeal to Soothe Eczema “This is absolutely true, as oats have anti-inflammatory properties,” Dr. How to make a natural air freshener, and assemble your own laboratory for concocting teas, salves, and syrups. As a little girl I mixed up shampoos and lotions in my laboratory, trying to improve on the toiletries we had.

How to make a natural air freshener, and assemble your own laboratory for concocting teas, salves, and syrups

I never came up with anything worth mentioning, but I did once get scolded for spilling my mom's shampoo all over the bathroom rug. A friend of mine told me about the "laboratory" she'd had at age 12, in which she created, among other things, the cure for AIDs. You probably won't cure any diseases with your apothecary, but you will scratch that youthful itch to create something useful out of ordinary ingredients. narfmore I'll get your mad scientist career started with a list of ingredients to start a home apothecary, with which you'll be able to make herbal teas, salves, syrups, tinctures, eye pillows, and infused oils.

I've also included a recipe for an air freshening spray you can make. Starter herbs and their properties You can find these herbs online or in stores with large bulk herb selections. So, oils. Starter oils AND! Storage Lavender Mint Room Spray & Linen Mist Ingredients. Granma's Attic ...Old Time Beauty and Health Tips. Two tablespoons of sesame oil, one tablespoon olive oil, two tablespoons avocado oil, two tablespoons almond oil, 2000 IU vitamin E (D-Alpha Tocopherol), 100Thousand USP units vitamin A, a drop or two of your favorite perfume.

Granma's Attic ...Old Time Beauty and Health Tips

(optional) Pour the oils into a small jar or empty bottle. Take 10 gelcaps of vitamin E (200 IU ea) and 4 caps vitamin A (25,000 units ea). Puncture the capsules with a needle, and squeeze out the contents into your container. Perfume (optional). This formula is especially useful for those who have badly deteriorated complexion and prematurely aged or dry lifeless skin.