33-1215541886rCJzMany healing herbs, plants and flowers have been traditionaly used for centuries in our homes to treat a variety of minor illnesses and injuries. What if you’ll put together your 2010 Green Pharmacy of safe and useful herbs that can be used to treat different ailments and conditions during New Year.

  1.  Raspberries are my favorite berries, a good source of vitamin C. I love to eat them fresh, to put into my hot tea. When one of the members of my family has cold or flu  –1-2  teaspoons of raspberry preserve in a cup of tea helps to get rid of fever  and magically promotes fast recovery.
  2. Nettle, a blood tonic and cleanser is diuretic, tonic , and astrigent. Nettles are  a good source of iron, and especially good for people with anemia. This herb can be drunk as an infusion. Some people cook nettles like spinach. Experts don’t recommend to inhale the nettles’ steam because it contains the formic acid that gives this herb its sting burning your skin. The nettles are also thought to be good for the scalp and hair.
  3. Chamomile is a favorite calming and relaxing  herb for adults and for children’s complaints.  Make hot chamomile tea to help cure sleeplessness and soothe  digestion.   Chamomile lotion or cream is useful for inflammatory skin conditions, and chamomile shampoo is beneficial for healthy hair
  4. Peppermint is a well known refreshing and cleansing herb. Hot peppermint tea is useful for headaches provoked by indigestion,  for nausea, flatulence , colic, and period pains and discomfort. Wet a cotton ball in peppermint tea and treat hot and itch skin conditions by rubbing an affected spot.
  5. Rosemary, a tonic and inflammatory, aromatic herb can be applied to the scalp for danruff.  Make hot rosemary tea/infusion and treat your headaches, colds and colic. If you feel down and in low spirits, rosemary tea is your savior.
  6. Elderflower tea is a great aid if taken at bedtime to treat fever because it helps the body to sweat and release harmful toxins. It can be given safely to children in winter months sick with colds and flu.   Experts recommend to drink  elderflower tea three times a day for three months before the season to help prevent hayfever.
  7. Calendula is another one of my favorite flowers. It has names ‘marigold’, or ‘pot marigold.’ This amazing plant is a  good healer for inflamed skin, sores, bruises, and fungal infections. Calendula is ysed widely in preparations of a wash, ticture or ointments. Tea infusion can be given safely to children to treat fevers, swollen glands and tonsillitis.
  8. Aloe Vera is the most famous plant that can be taken internally as digestive and cleansing aid. Take the gel from the leaf of the young aloe plant and you have a natural, herbal medicine for burns, sunburn, eczema, dermatitis, skin rashes, and bites. Aloe gel is very helpful in treating athlete’s foot, too.
  9. Garlic  is one of the most powerful anticeptics.  It prevents high blood pressure; protects the arteries and heart, and improves the circulation. Eating fresh garlic every day helps to boost your immune system and prevent colds and coughs. Garlic is an effective healer of asthma, bronchitis , sinusitis and hayfever.
  10. Echinacea became a very popular herb in the last several years thanks  to its ability to boost immune system. Echinacea also helps to treat infections of the upper respiratory tract and skin rashes and other skin diseases.
  11. Dandelion is another my favorite plant. I use fresh dandelion leaves in salads and sandwiches because they contain large amounts of vitamin A.  This great plant known as weed is tonic and diuretic, and  successfully boosts the action of our life-important organs–the kidneys and liver.
  12. Marshmallow is known  to soothe the lining of respiratory, digestive, and urinary tracts. It helps to treat bronchitis, gastritis, and systitis.   If you feel your skin is dry, drink a cup of hot marshmallow tea/infusion to alleviate and bring it  to a healthy glow.
  13.  Lemon Balm, also known as melissa or bee balm, has a delicate fragrance and is mild but effective in treating colds and flu, feverish conditions. It encourages perspiration, gently sedative, and it’s pleasant to taste as tea/infusion, so the best to drink it at bedtime.
  14. St. John’s Wort, the sunny and powerful herb that has been used for centuries to heal wounds. Taken internally as a tea, it helps in menopause and eliminates feelings of anxiety.
  15. Thyme is an antiseptic and expectorant. It is useful in the treatment of coughs and bronchial infections because it brings up phlegm. Naturopaths also prescribe this herb for infections of the urinary tract. It is used widely as a pleasant spice for many meals.
  16. Fennel is good for fresh salads as a whole, but as a tea made from seeds can treat flatulence and colic. Breasfeeding mothers can  drink this tea to promote theflow of milk and prevent colic in babies. If you have sore eyes, you can use fennel tea as an eyewash.
  17. Comfrey is well known herb for its soothing and healing properties. It is widely used not only to treat wounds, bruises, painful joints, but it helps to treat gastric complaints, and such skin disorders as eczema and psoriasis.
  18. Slippery Elm  has been used for a long time by the Native Americans. It is useful for gastric complaints and in the treatment of duodenal ulcers. Slippery Elm has an ability to soothe the mucous membrane lining of the digestive tract, so why it is very important herb in herbal medicine.
  19. Feverfew is very popular in the treatment of headaches and migraines. Some studies are being done to test its effectiveness in treating rheumatism. Fresh leaves of feverfew can be layered into a sandwich to make them more tasteful.
  20. Cinnamon is a star of spices, but was used for centuries as a ready remedy for diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. As a warming remedy, it helps to treat colds, coughs, fevers, and even rheumatism. 

References:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Photo “Pink Flower in Hands”  by Anna Cervova; Complete Well-Being by Dr. Caroline Shreeve, Parragon, UK, 2003, ps.194-195; Mama’s Home Remedies by Svetlana Konnikova, MA, AN, Aurora Publishers, 2008