The Herb & Plant Thread!!!

[Aradia]

Ok so I love plants and the remedies, recipes and miscellaneous things that we can use them for. If you have any herbal concoctions that you use please share them with us in case we have a herb-mergency that we might need it for

[Shawn]

I live in Cali .... yeah everyone uses an herb out here to cure things

[La Croix]

YAY! Looks great, and I got to post first. Well, second but...

[Apparition]

Ah. Damn u cell hell!
but ok..I like to make my own salves for various things.
I use lot of plantain, nettle and pau d ' arco infused in extra virgin olive oil/beeswax for my daughters eczema.

[artemis]

For colds & sore throat: I boil shredded pieces of ginger, cloves, small cinnamon stick, cardamom, black pepper slightly ground & a bit of fennel oh & a bit of black tea. Boil well till it becomes sort of a dark strong tea, strain & drink with bit of honey.. I usually use small sake cups to sip it.

Works like a charm!

[artemis]

One thing that tastes quite yummy & good for the tummy (if the food is too rich & greasy):
Add fennel seeds to slightly warm water. Drink the water cold or warm & you can keep adding water to the seeds kinda like green-tea leaves that can be steeped multiple times.

[La Croix]

Vinaigre des Quatre Voleurs (Four Thieves Vinegar)
Red wine vinegar (enough to fill an empty whiskey bottle)
Wormwood, Mint, Juniper, Marjoram, Sage, Cloves, Rue, Lavender, Rosemary, Horehound (handful each)
1 oz. Camphor.
Set in the sun two weeks with a piece of leather over the mouth, and then stop it nightly.
Steeping these herbs in vinegar for six weeks before decanting.

[Aradia]

Originally Posted by icymaiden

Ah. Damn u cell hell!
but ok..I like to make my own salves for various things.
I use lot of plantain, nettle and pau d ' arco infused in extra virgin olive oil/beeswax for my daughters eczema.

I use plantain alot too. I make a tea out of it and keep in the fridge for a few days and use it topically on wounds, burns or just on the skin because it feels so darn good.

[artemis]

I just use aloe from the leaf for burns, even alletgic reactions on my dog's skin... And also as a general face mask treatment.

[La Croix]

Originally Posted by artemis

I just use aloe from the leaf for burns, even alletgic reactions on my dog's skin... And also as a general face mask treatment.

You treat your face mask?

[Aradia]

I grow lemon balm and chocolate mint in the garden for tea uses but inhaling the mint is said to be a stimulant and wakes you up. Also supposed to be good for curing headaches, but doesnt always work out so well. I grew bergamot for tea too a few years back, it was wonderful.

[artemis]

It is too simple but cucumber slices on the eyes really does work... I simply love it!! I keep swapping them for fresh slices when the wilt with body temp.

Mint steeped tea is excellent as a digestive & a fennel tea for colicky babies.

[Aradia]

Another thing that fascinates me is the dyeing of natural fabrics with herbs, plants, leaves and bark. I've purchsed some indigo and want to try it out on some cotton too. Messy they say to do but I wanna give it a shot. I have a plant book that has a section on different colors that can be obtained when using certain plants and mordants

http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-B.../dp/0140238026

Ive had it forever I think I took it from my mom when I was 15 and never gave it back lol

[Aradia]

Originally Posted by artemis

It is too simple but cucumber slices on the eyes really does work... I simply love it!! I keep swapping them for fresh slices when the wilt with body temp.

Mint steeped tea is excellent as a digestive & a fennel tea for colicky babies.

or green tea bags steeped and then put on a plate in the freezer for 5-6 minutes. Holy hell! Your eyes feel all anti-puff....frozen but anti-puff

[La Croix]

Intrigue Powder (women only)

equal parts catnip and rose petals
put in a sachet and wear across your body under your arm

[artemis]

Originally Posted by Aradia

or green tea bags steeped and then put on a plate in the freezer for 5-6 minutes. Holy hell! Your eyes feel all anti-puff....frozen but anti-puff

Can I use just the tea leaves say wrapped in a tissue? I have those metal ball sieves for my teas (all different sorts)

[scoobertina]

I'm starting to succeed with my flower garden and have wanted to plant an herb garden, now you ladies are giving me an intense craving to just do it next year..

thanks... I didn't know what I would do with the herbs once I grew them.. I will use this thread... a lot

[La Croix]

Originally Posted by artemis

Can I use just the tea leaves say wrapped in a tissue? I have those metal ball sieves for my teas (all different sorts)

I dont mean to but in here but yea, should work the same. Dont use the metal tea-ball though.

[La Croix]

Originally Posted by scoobertina

I'm starting to succeed with my flower garden and have wanted to plant an herb garden, now you ladies are giving me an intense craving to just do it next year..

thanks... I didn't know what I would do with the herbs once I grew them.. I will use this thread... a lot

I wouldnt wait till next spring, you can get a start on a lot of the perennial varieties now and they will be hearty enough by winter to survive. WHat are are you in?

[scoobertina]

Originally Posted by La Croix

I wouldnt wait till next spring, you can get a start on a lot of the perennial varieties now and they will be hearty enough by winter to survive. WHat are are you in?

Ga.. I'm so used to planting in the fall and spring that I never thought of planting now..

[La Croix]

a LITTLE BIT....little, little bit of high quality cinnamon in high quality baby oil makes a great home made KY warming (try mint, too)

seriously..

oh god i cant beleive i had to qualify that with "seriously"

[Aradia]

Originally Posted by artemis

Can I use just the tea leaves say wrapped in a tissue? I have those metal ball sieves for my teas (all different sorts)

yeah that will work or I know here they have little empty tea bags to like put tea in but even cheese cloth or whatever would work

Originally Posted by scoobertina

I'm starting to succeed with my flower garden and have wanted to plant an herb garden, now you ladies are giving me an intense craving to just do it next year..

thanks... I didn't know what I would do with the herbs once I grew them.. I will use this thread... a lot

Oh yeah you can have a few inside in a window too if you want! They can make you happy all year round

[Aradia]

Originally Posted by La Croix

a LITTLE BIT....little, little bit of high quality cinnamon in high quality baby oil makes a great home made KY warming (try mint, too)

seriously..

oh god i cant beleive i had to qualify that with "seriously"

Could you use it in a sweet almond oil? Do you think it would work as well? I love that for skin

[La Croix]

Originally Posted by scoobertina

Ga.. I'm so used to planting in the fall and spring that I never thought of planting now..

Yeah you could go ahead with things like rosemary, mints, oregano - some of the hearty stuff. Just start it in pots in the shade and baby it until it gets like 2 sets of adult leaves then you can set it out. But LOTS of water all summer and some evening shade wouldnt hurt. Should survive the winter fine and be ready to use next spring.

[La Croix]

Originally Posted by Aradia

Could you use it in a sweet almond oil? Do you think it would work as well? I love that for skin

yes ma'am...any oil that wouldn't do any harm to "that part" of a woman's body. NOTHING that has the seed in itself to ferment (like olive oil) or we'll be running to the store for some monistat if you get my drift.

oh god am I actually effin' talking about this? how gay am I?