Sometimes, nervous tension is one the causes of sleepless nights. There are times you may need help to get to sleep, but you should not rely on any drug or herb for long periods of time. They are to be used only as a temporary solution. If the problem persists, you should see your physician for the cause of insomnia. If your health is good, it may be caused by an emo­tional problem.

Many times, we just do not need as many hours of sleep as we think we do. If everything is going pretty well in your life, but you just can’t get to sleep, listen to your body. Maybe you need to stay up later than usual and attend to other things. Sometimes a sleepless night is a good time to get things done that you just don’t have the time for during the day. There really is no need to worry if occasionally you are unable to get to sleep. There are studies that prove that staying up for 24 hours sometimes cures or helps depression. The time to worry is when you consistently cannot get to sleep and the lack of rest interferes with your daily life. That is the time to contact your physician for help.

In addition to helping with headaches and sleeplessness, the recipes that follow for these are also good to use when you have a cold or the flu, as one of the symptoms is often a headache.

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Herbs have the power to heal the weakest

We have learned much about herbs from the American Indi­ans. They taught the first English settlers how to use many differ­ent herbs. Milkweed is still used today to treat poison ivy, ring­worm, and a host of other skin ailments. It is also considered to be a food.

Early American physicians used the root to treat asthma and other respiratory problems. The down was used to stuff life jackets during World War II. Because the milkweed down has insulating properties, it has been and is still in use today as stuffing for jackets, pillows, and blankets. How much more can be expected from a single plant? It fed us, clothed us, and served as a medicinal remedy—yet few people give the common milk­weed any credit for being so useful. It is sprayed, cut down, and destroyed wherever it is found.

The same can be said of cattail. The roots of cattails serve as a food, the pods are crushed and used to insulate jackets, blan­kets, and such. It serves to insulate, as well as being waterproof. The leaves are used to make baskets, and serve other purposes as well. So, what do we do? We cut it down, spray it, and destroy a natural resource. We still, however, use the pods to enhance fall bouquets and flower arrangements.

Another herb with many uses is tarragon. It is used exten­sively for food enhancement now, but in ancient times it was called dragon herb because it was used as an antidote for treat­ing the bites of venomous animals. About 1650, tarragon was transported to America where it was used to induce menstrua­tion. As a poultice, it is still used to treat bruises and swellings.

Red clover tea is still in use today to treat colds, fevers, and debilitating diseases. Native Americans used red clover in a salve to treat burns. It was also used as a pot herb. A pot herb is a green, leafy vegetable, often served as a side dish for meals. Red clover is a member of the pea family and has many of the same crucial vitamins and minerals.

Native Americans also used raspberry root bark to treat many illnesses. Pharmacologists today admit that there is value in using the tea for childbirth and painful menstruation because it contains a substance that helps one to relax, as well as another substance that stimulates the uterine muscles.

I must admit that I have an ulterior motive for getting you interested in using herbs. I feel that as you become more aware of the uses of herbs, you will develop a respect for mother nature. If herbs become important to you, you will probably become more protective of our environment and start to prac­tice habits that save our natural resources and gifts. As you become more aware of our environment, you practice better health habits and this leads to a more spiritual lifestyle. This in turn makes you even more aware of your responsibilities to Mother Earth in a spiritual way.

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• A Brief History of Herbs – Part I (0)
• Herbal remedies for Menstruation (0)

The herbs with the reddish flowers are all good blood purifiers and/or alternatives. The color red indicates the astringency or the healing effect of cer¬tain herbs. Herbs with this color can be used to treat skin disorders that are caused by blood impurities. The active ingredient of many of the alterative herbs are considered to be antibiotic in nature.

Herbs that have purple or blue flowers are without exception used as a sedative or relaxant. These are good to add to a recipe when the patient needs to stay calm during an illness, or in treat¬ing muscle spasms. Most of our illnesses are caused by stress and most of the herbal remedies would benefit from the addi¬tion of a calmative or sedative. They are also considered good blood purifiers, so they have their place as a tonic as well.

2.    The growing conditions of the herb is the second thing you look at to ascertain the signature of the herb. Herbs that grow in an area with a lot of gravel indicates that the plant can be used in treating illnesses that have to do with stone or gravel in the body. These herbs help to cleanse and remove harmful accumulations from the alimentary and bronchial systems. They are used to treat kidney stones or gallstones.

So-called stone-breakers are parsley, peppergrass, shepherd’s purse, sassafras, and mullein. Mullein will grow just about any¬where. I find it quite often growing in gravel along railways and roadways.
You would not necessarily use the same kind of plants or herbs if you found them growing in other conditions. For instance, milkweed growing in sandy soil has twice as many active ingredients as the same species found growing in a good, rich soil.

Herbs found growing in mucky, swampy, or wet ground are good to use in recipes designed to treat excessive mucous excretions, such as respiratory problems dealing with asthma, colds, coughs, and rheumatic disorders. Willow, verbena, boneset, and elder are examples of this.

Herbs that grow near fast-moving water are good to use as diuretics. These help to clean the alimentary systems of toxins and harmful wastes.

Always be aware of the growing conditions when gathering herbs for a specific treatment. A good example of differences found in the herbs is the sage plant. Sometimes a pink and a blue bloom will be found on the same species of sage growing right next to each other. This would indicate to me that the blue-flowered plant would be used only as a sedative. Because of the astringent nature of sage, both pink and blue-flowered sage can be used as a blood purifier, but I would choose the pink-blossomed plant, because the pink flowers indicate that it has more blood purifying properties.
3.    Different textures indicate different uses. Herbs that have a soft texture to them are useful for treating swollen or inflamed areas. They can also be used in so-called wet colds or any chest disorders. No herbal remedy for internal use is considered com¬plete unless one of these emollient herbs is included in the recipe. Horehound, mullein, and hollyhocks are good examples of emollient herbs.
4.    Any of the herbs that have thorns or are prickly are used in disorders where there is sharp pain. Thistle is used as a tonic for all the organs. Hawthorn can be used as a tonic for the heart because it has sharp thorns and is indicative of sharp pains in the heart. Hawthorn is also considered a diuretic and that is helpful in any heart treatment. Wild prickly lettuce is used as a pain reliever and as a sedative. It has blossoms that may be white, yellow, or blue. The prickles are indicative of its useful¬ness in treating sharp pain.
The epidermal hairs of some of the plants are suggestive of their use in internal problems where there are sharp or stitching pains. Hops, nettle, and mullein are three plants that come to mind immediately.
5.    Any herb that clings to itself is believed to cling to and help remove any hardened mucus of the inner systems. Any of the herbs that have a “sticking to” propensity are good to use in ridding the body of toxins and virus germs. Balm of Gilead is used in chest complaints because it has a sticky substance cover¬ing it. The ground-covering herbs are also considered good to use in ridding the body of hardened mucus. Examples of this are coltsfoot, sage, thyme, horehound, and mallow.
6.    Herbs that are also vines are considered good to use in remedies for the blood system and the nervous system because they resemble them. The blood vessels and the nerve paths throughout the body call to mind the vines. Another way to check whether or not the herb will be useful for these disorders is to check the root system of the plant. If it has a vein-like root sys¬tem, then the herb may be used to treat disorders dealing with the blood system or nervous disorders.
7.    The skin healers have signatures in several different ways. They have thin, threadlike roots and stems. Cinquefoil, gold thread, and septfoil are good examples of this. The roots resem¬ble the structure of the veins in the skin.
8.    Fissures in the bark of certain trees are indicative of their use in certain skin disorders. Cherry, white birch, and elder are examples of trees with healing properties for skin ulcers and sores. Balsamic resinous exudations help to heal cuts and ulcers of the skin. Moss, lichens, and molds are good choices when making preparations used to treat skin diseases (such as psoriasis) because these herbs resemble the appearance of these disorders.
9.    Sometimes, just the name alone can indicate the use of that particular herb. Heartsease, eyebright, pleurisy root, fever¬few, cancer root, and throat root are just a few. Many of the plants, such as eyebright and chamomile, are indicative for eyes because the floral parts resemble eyes.
10.    Many of the herbs that have a root structure resembling the human torso are used as aphrodisiacs, or as a way to overcome sterility. Ginseng is an example of this.
Skullcap and walnut have forms that resemble the shape of the human head, and can be used in treatment of headaches and nervous disorders.
11.    Another important herbal signature is aroma. The strong-smelling herbs such as cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and rosemary are used as disinfectants. Most of the aromatic herbs are highly antiseptic or germicidal and have antibiotic properties. Sage, pen-nyroyal, all mints, tansy, and yarrow are good examples.
12.    Another good rule to remember: herbs that attract bees can also be used as an antidote for bee and insect bites. Bee balm and basil are good examples of this. Just crush several leaves and rub on the area.
Some of the signatures will not apply in every case. There are some herbs that have no signature. Study the properties of the plant that you plan to use and become familiar with the signa¬tures of that plant (or lack of signatures) before using it in any recipe.
Becoming familiar with the signatures of the herbs is a first step in getting control over our health. When the ancient shamans and healers concentrated on just a few plants and became experts in the use of those few, their remedies were effective. Diet played an important part in their treatments. They realized that a healthy diet was linked to a healthy body and a healthy mind.
We live in a world that has become dangerous to our health and we should start where we can do the most good. Taking care of those we love and teaching them to take care of their body, spirit, and mind is the most important difference we can make. By studying about the ways mother nature can make our life better, we also become more spiritually-minded. We soon realize that we are all connected and learn ways to deal with our own excesses. We learn to work with nature and not against it. We learn that we are responsible for our own health and take steps to stay healthy.

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If we are to become knowledgeable about herbs we should have a little history about them. Herbs have always contributed to human health. Their use goes far back into antiquity. One of the first well-known and important books written about herbs is titled De Materis Medica, attributed to a Greek physician, Dioscorides, and written about a.d. 60.

The manuscript was used as a refer­ence source by many herbalists. It was circulated for hundreds of years throughout the Middle East and the West. It contained the properties of over six hundred plants.

Occasionally, superstition became associated with the use of herbs, but basically the information was founded on sound plant lore and use. Ancient herbalists became familiar with the uses of the herbs through experience. The knowledge was kept and handed down through the ages by people like you and me.

Documents found in the ancient pyramids were passed on to the Greeks, then to the Romans. Many different sources com­ment on the uses of herbs. Herbs are mentioned in the Bible as well as many of the sacred books of our major religions. The Druids were among the first people to use plants in religious rites.

In Great Britain, monasteries served as early herbal laboratories. The monks grew, collected, and used the herbs. They kept records of their uses. They opened hospitals and were among the first to use the plants in a scientific way. Their herbal knowledge soon became commonplace. Today, we have reached the point where we can again, with increased appreciation, learn to use these natu­ral products.

Many people still think that learning to use herbs is too com­plex, too involved, so they don’t even try to become knowledge­able about how to use them. If they only knew how big a part herbs play in their lives right now. Every tree, shrub, flower, and plant is an herb, and I believe that they are all useful. We just don’t know what all the uses are right now.

Modern scientists are studying the uses of herbs; we are get­ting new products and medicines every day. Herbalists have long known what can be used because that information was passed down to them. Now we will be able to prove or disprove some of the folklore surrounding herbs. Most of the old herbal reme­dies are proving to be valid and are used today in modern medi­cines. Digitalin, found in foxglove, is still in use today to treat heart disorders. At least 75 percent of all prescribed medications come from herbs. Even the spices we use daily have their part to play in modern medicinal uses.

Throughout history, people have been healed by using herbal extracts that were not in common use by the medical profession of their time. Some of these spices are still used today by pharma­cologists in preparing prescribed medications. Scientists are find­ing that many of the old herbal remedies have fewer side effects than prescribed drugs and are effective in helping to balance the body’s system. Researchers have found, for example, that milk thistle (Cardnus marianus) contains properties that carry bile from the liver. It was used for centuries for this purpose before modern scientists tested the plant. They found that it does stimulate regenerative growth of liver cells, promoting self-repair in a dam­aged liver. It is used in treatment of hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.

Mint is an example of an old favorite that is used in new ways. It is used extensively for many of our products. We use it in gums, candies, teas, toothpaste, mouthwashes, and as a flavoring or in prescribed medications. It is now a cash crop that yields fifty pounds of oil per acre.

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• A Brief History of Herbs – Part II (0)

Because there are some illnesses that you are not able to pre­vent, it is good to have a family physician that you can turn to when it becomes necessary. Herbs are not meant to take the place of your family doctor; they are for simple illnesses that you would be able to treat at home.

There are also times in our lives when medical care is not available and we have to deal with certain diseases on our own. By practicing a preventive lifestyle, you will find your family has to cope with less sickness.

Often we need to learn how to handle an emergency situa­tion when our physician is not available. Unfortunately, many of us have also learned to seek a doctor every time we have an-upset stomach or a slight cold. We are placing an unfair burden on the medical doctors and hospitals and pricing ourselves right out of medical insurance. We take prescription drugs and keep our systems full of drugs that are totally unnecessary. We would be able to respond more readily to emergency treatment if we learned to care for simple illnesses by a more natural method.

Herbs are a natural way to treat many such illnesses. Most herbs taken for treatment will pass harmlessly through the sys­tem if not needed by the body. Can you say the same for many prescription drugs? Many prescribed drugs are stored in the liver or other organs, and eventually our bodies stop responding to cer­tain drugs that may have been life-savers if used for emergency treatment only.

A healthy, chemical-free diet and lifestyle helps strengthen your immune system and thus allows the body to heal naturally. Also, by keeping the system chemical-free, your body reacts much more quickly and positively to any emergency treatment that your doctor may deem necessary. This means the treatment time will probably be shorter.

Learning to prepare your own herbal remedies involves much more than mixing together herbs. You must become familiar with the properties of the herbs in order to treat an illness suc­cessfully The easiest way to become familiar with the proper­ties of the herbs is to grow them. If you have decided to use herbal remedies, then you must decide which herbs to grow.

Long ago, most of the herbalists and shamans concentrated on just a few herbs and learned all there was to know about those few. This is just about the best advice I can give you. If you try to learn about too many at once, you will waste much time. Most herbs serve more than one purpose and are useful for more than one remedy. Even if you purchase most of your herbs, you still have to get acquainted with the reasons for using one particular herb over another and even substituting one herb for another.

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