Storey BASICS® HERBS FOR COMMON AILMENTS How to Make and Use Herbal Remedies for Home Health Care Rosemary Gladstar ß Storey Publishing Common Ailments_3rd pages_jef_7_24.indd 1 8/13/14 4:41 PM The mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by publishing practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment. Edited by Deborah Balmuth and Melinda A. Sheehan Series design by Alethea Morrison Art direction by Cynthia N. McFarland and Jeff Stiefel Text production by Theresa Wiscovitch Indexed by Nancy D. Wood Cover illustration © Meg Hunt Interior illustrations by Alison Kolesar, 37; Beverly Duncan, 15, 19, 29, 45, 50, 51, 64, 68, 71, 95, 99; Charles Joslin, 89; Judy Eliason, 91; Mallory Lake, 55; and Sarah Brill, 42, 52, 57, 59, 87 © 1999, 2014 by Rosemary Gladstar A previous edition of this book was published under the title Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbs for the Home Medicine Chest This publication is intended to provide education information for the reader on the covered subject. It is not intended to take the place of personalized medical counseling, diagnosis, and treatment from a trained health professional. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce illustrations in a review with appropriate credits; nor may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other — without written permission from the publisher. The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author or Storey Publishing. The author and publisher disclaim any liability in connection with the use of this information. Storey books are available for special premium and promotional uses and for cus- tomized editions. For further information, please call 1-800-793-9396. Storey Publishing 210 MASS MoCA Way North Adams, MA 01247 www.storey.com Printed in the United States by McNaughton & Gunn, Inc. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gladstar, Rosemary. [Herbs for the home medicine chest] Herbs for common ailments / by Rosemary Gladstar. pages cm “A Storey basics title.” Includes index. Previously published as: Rosemary Glastar’s herbs for the home medicine chest, 1999. ISBN 978-1-61212-431-5 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN 978-1-61212-432-2 (ebook) 1. Herbs—Therapeutic use. I. Gladstar, Rosemary. Rosemary Gladstar’s herbs for the home medicine chest. II. Title. RM666.H33G534 2014 615.3'21—dc23 2014020898 Common Ailments_3rd pages_jef_7_24.indd 2 8/13/14 4:41 PM CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: Understanding Herbs . . . . . . . . . . . 1 CHAPTER TWO: The Art of Making Herbal Remedies . . . 7 CHAPTER THREE: The Home Herbal Pantry . . . . . . . . 26 CHAPTER FOUR: Making Your Own First Aid Kit . . . . . . 74 CHAPTER FIVE: Simple & Effective Home Remedies . . . 82 Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Common Ailments_3rd pages_jef_7_24.indd 3 8/13/14 4:41 PM ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There is a circle, green hands enfolded, lives entwined, of fellow herbalists. I’ve held each of their hands and laughed and prayed with them, these old friends who influenced my earliest teachings. Their thoughts are embedded in my heart and flow into the words of this book. It has been over three decades since we first met at the earliest herb gatherings in Sonoma County. We offered some of our original herb classes and went on some of our earliest herb walks together. At a time when herbalism wasn’t popular or faddish, we “followed our bliss,” our green passion. Now practically elders, ever more impassioned by the green world, we face a new millennium, wondering not what the world has in store for herbalism but what the herbs have in store for us. You always run the risk of forgetting someone very important as the night lights fade and the years draw on, but for this moment, I’m remembering these faces from 30 years ago: Svevo Brooks, Nan Koehler, Rob Menzies, Jeannie Rose, Drake Sadler, Ed Smith, Christopher Hobbs, Michael Tierra, Sara Katz, Gabrielle Howearth, James Green, Kathi Keville, Ryan Drum, Mindy Green, Steven Foster, Mark Blumenthal, Warren Raysor, Nam Singh, David Winston, and several who have already crossed “the great divide” — Cascade Anderson Geller, Jesse Longacre, Selena Heron, Jeannine Parvati Baker, Gail Ulrich, and Michael Moore. May the circle ever grow and the weeds be plentiful. iv Common Ailments_3rd pages_jef_7_24.indd 4 8/13/14 4:41 PM CHAPTER ONE UNDERSTANDING HERBS I was at a large conference a few years ago participating in a panel of “experts” on herbal medicine. Each person on the panel had been involved in herbal studies for more than two decades and was quite well known and knowledgeable about the subject. It was a long workshop, with discussions on different aspects of herbal medicine. I think we all felt fairly good about the perspectives we were sharing and the overviews we had given, but when it came time for questions and answers, the very first question came from a woman sitting in the front row. She stated quite simply, “I came here hoping to gain some clarity about how to use herbs for myself and my family, and now I’m more confused than ever.” This book is written for her. 1 Common Ailments_3rd pages_jef_7_24.indd 1 8/13/14 4:41 PM CHOOSING HERBAL MEDICINE With all the possible options offered by health care today, making a wise choice can be challenging. What is the most responsible thing to do? Each situation is different and warrants a different approach. In one instance antibiotics and a hospital visit may be a wise choice; in another situation herbal remedies and home treatments may be the most responsible approach to take. So how do you decide? Basically, if your grandmother would have treated the prob- lem at home, you probably can too. This is a sweeping state- ment, I know, and there are many exceptions to it. Though herbalism can be, and is, effectively used for complex health situations, even life-threatening situations at times, it is best as a home health care system. Most illnesses and imbalances respond to nourishment, rest, and gentle natural treatments. If your body does not respond in an appropriate manner or does not respond quickly enough for the situation, then consider consulting a medical practitioner, ideally one who is interested in and knowledgeable about holistic treatments. Keep in mind that unless health care practitioners are educated about herbs, they will not be able to give you good advice on the use of herbs, and most practi- tioners will instruct you not to use them simply because they aren’t familiar with most herbs’ effects. 2 Understanding Herbs Common Ailments_3rd pages_jef_7_24.indd 2 8/13/14 4:41 PM When to Use Herbs Each situation requiring medical attention is different, and each of us as individuals responds differently to treatment. But here are some guidelines for recognizing when herbal treatments can be a better choice than allopathic medical treatments: As preventive medicine. Herbs are inimitable for building and strengthening the body’s natural immunity and defense mechanisms. They nourish the deep inner ecology of our sys- tems on a cellular level. Herbs are also powerful adaptogens, increasing the body’s ability to adapt to the ever-changing environment and stressors of life. Having evolved with herbs for thousands of years, our bodies have an innate familiar- ity with them, recognize them on the deepest levels, and effi- ciently utilize them. For most nonemergency medical situations. Everyday prob- lems such as bruises, swellings, sprains, cuts, wounds, colds, fevers, and mild (first degree) burns respond well to herbal healing. Herbs can also be an effective, “on the spot” first aid treatment for emergency situations in which medical help is unavailable or on its way. As therapeutic agents. If you choose to undergo more radi- cal forms of treatment for serious illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune disorders, herbs serve as excellent secondary therapeutic agents, sup- porting and replenishing the body’s life energy. Herbs and allopathic medicine work compatibly in these critical situa- tions and can be used to complement and enhance the effects of one another. Understanding Herbs 3 Common Ailments_3rd pages_jef_7_24.indd 3 8/13/14 4:41 PM Complementing Allopathic Health Care Herbalism and allopathic medicine often seem at odds with one another. But they are, in fact, complementary and work together quite compatibly. Whereas allopathic drugs actively kill bacteria and viruses, herbal medicines build and restore the system. Allopathic medication generally has a specific agenda; herbs, through a complex biochemical process, take the whole person into consideration and replenish the body at a cellu- lar level. When taken correctly, herbs do not upset the body’s innate sense of harmony, so there are few or no side effects. Using herbal therapies to complement pharmaceuticals often helps eliminate or lessen the side effects of drug therapies. Though some of the strongest herbs should not be used in combination with allopathic drugs, most herbs do not interfere with the actions of pharmaceuticals and can safely be used to augment allopathic treatments. (None of those “strong” herbs are called for in this book.) There is a growing body of informa- tion about drug/herb interactions, but it’s important to note that most of this research is in its infant stage. People react differently to both herbal medicine and pharmaceutical medi- cine. Because of this, whenever you’re considering using herbal medicine but you’re also taking a pharmaceutical, you should consult with a holistic health care professional, who knows and understands herbal medicine, to determine if herbs are recom- mended in your situation. 4 Understanding Herbs Common Ailments_3rd pages_jef_7_24.indd 4 8/13/14 4:41 PM Getting Perspective on Herb Safety Herbs are among the safest medications available on earth. This does not mean that there are not toxic plants or herbal remedies that can cause side effects or harmful reactions in the body. But herbalism as a system of healing has been practiced for several thousand years. The herbs we use today have been used for centuries by people around the world. Herbs that have toxic side effects have been noted and well documented; wisely, most of these herbs are not available for sale in this country. Occasionally an herb will stimulate an idiosyncratic reaction in an individual. This doesn’t make the herb toxic, just a poor choice for that particular individual. Strawberries, a perfectly delicious fruit, are sweet nectar to some and a noxious substance to others. Wheat, another per- fectly benign food, is an allergen to a large number of people and can cause dire consequences in a few. There are many reports surfacing these days about the toxicity of herbs. Even perfectly benign substances such as chamomile and peppermint are finding themselves on the “black list.” I think the reason for this is not that more people are using herbs, as is often suggested, but that people are using herbs in ways that allow greater and more concentrated dos- ages. In the past, herbs were most often taken as teas and syrups, in baths and salves, and in tinctures and extracts. But herbal capsules, which allow people to swallow greater amounts, and standardized preparations, which are far beyond the normal concentrations found in nature, have not been available until recently. Understanding Herbs 5 Common Ailments_3rd pages_jef_7_24.indd 5 8/13/14 4:41 PM