BARKS

 
The bark should be taken when the sap is
rising in the spring.  Shave off the rough
outer part; then peel the inner part from the
trunk of the tree.  To dry put in the sun for
a short time, then complete the drying in the
shade.  Be sure they are completly dry to
prevent any molding.

 ROOTS


Dig up the roots either in the spring when the
sap is rising or in the late autumn, after the
sap has gone down.  Slice and dry the roots 
in the shade, tie them up in small bundles, and
put them in the attic or some place where they 
are sure to keep dry.

  FLOWERS, SEEDS, & LEAVES


Flowers, seeds, and leaves should be gathered when
they are in their prime, gathering only the perfect
ones.  These should also be dried in the shade.
When thoroughly dry, put them in heavy brown paper bags.

Do not preserve herbs in glass, because
glass sweats and mold may occur.

When bark, roots and other herbs are thoroughly dried
they will retain their medicinal value for years.



Preparation of Herbs

  INFUSION: 

An infusion is usually made just like tea.  The average
amount of herb used in 1/2 to 1 oz. in a pint of water
or 1 tsp. of herb in 1 cup of water. After the hot (just
off the boil, for boiling water disperses valuable volatile
oils in the steam)water is poured over the herbs let seep 
10-20 minutes covered.
 
  DECOCTION:

A decoction is made by simmering the plant part in water,
in a nonmetalic container covered, for up to 1 hour or the 
volumn has been reduced by 1/3.  
Use 1 tsp. of the powdered herb or 1 tbs. of the cut herb
to a cup of water.  Directions for taking are the same
as infusions.
 
  TINCTURE:

A tincture is a very concentrated extract of an herb in
liquid form.  Tinctures are useful when it is unpleasant
to take the herb in another form because of its bad taste
or taken over a long period of time.  Tinctures are also
used to rub on the skin as a liniment.  Tinctures are
usually made from potent herbs that are not commonly used
as teas.  Tinctures are made by steeping the dried or fresh
herb in a 25% mixture of alcohol and water.  Any part of 
the plant may be used.  Besides extracting the plants
active ingredients, the alcohol acts as a preservative, and
tinctures will keep up to 2 years.  Commericial tinctures
use ethyl alcohol, but diluted spirits are suitable for 
home use.  Vodka is ideal, since it contains few additives,
although rum helps to disquise the flavor of less palatable 
herbs.  Put the herb in a large jar and cover with vodka/water
mixture.  Seal the jar, and store in a cool place for 2 weeks
and shake occasionally.

 
  EXTRACT:

An extract is a highly concentrated liquid form of an herb,
about 10x as potent as a tincture.
It is made by a variety of means such as high pressure,
evaporation by heat, or cold percolation.
Extracts are a popular and convenient way of
taking and storing herbs and they are faster acting than teas,
capsules, or powdered herbs.
Herbal extracts are readily obtained in local herb or health
shops.  The usual dosage is from 6 to 8 drops.
This amount is about equal to 1 tsp of the tincture.
 
  TEAS:

There are some general rules to follow when making teas.
The usual amount of herb used is 1 tsp. of dried herb or 3
tsp. of the freshly crushed herb to one cup of boiling water.
Let seep 10-20 min. 

HOW TO MAKE SYRUPS: 

Dissolve 3 pnds. of brown sugar in a pint of boiling water
and boil until thick.  To this you may add any medicinal
substance. 
Malt honey, bee's honey, or Karo syrup may also be used.
To make herb syrup, you simply add the cut herbs ( or if
using granulated herbs, sift them first).  Boil to a syrupy
consistency and stir thoroughly; then strain through a 
double cheesecloth and then bottle in dark glass and seal 
with cork stoppers only(syrups often ferment and form gas
and screw lids can explode).
 
HOW TO MAKE HERBAL SALVES: 

Use fresh leaves, flowers, roots, barks or powdered
herbs.  Use 1 pnd. of herbs to 1 1/2 pnds. of cocoa
fat or pure vegetable oil and 4 oz. of beeswax.
Mix the above together, cover and place in the hot 
sun or in the oven on low for 3-4 hrs. Strain thru
a fine seive or cloth, when it is cold it will be
firm and ready for use. 
 
OINTMENTS:

An old form of herb magic as well as medicine, an ointment
is simply any fatty substance to which powdered herbs and/or
oils have been added. To 1 cup of base, (such as lard, beeswax,
vegtable shortening etc...)add 3 tbs of the powdered herb(s).
An alternative method is to melt the base over low heat.
Add the herbs and steep for about 9 minutes or until the 
herb is "fried".  Strain and allow the oinment to cool.
A third method is even easier; melt the base and add drops
of the appopriate oils, and cool.
Using ointments is easy simply apply to the body at pulse
points.
 
BATHS:

Baths are often used in herb magic, for they are an 
easy way to spread an herb's power over the entire body.
There are two methods; one, make a sachet ( use about
1/2 to 1 cup of the appropriate enchanted herb)of
cheesecloth.  Drop this into the warm bath water.
A better way is the preparation of an infusion (see above)
add the strained liquid to the bathwater.
Essential oils are sometimes used, just add a few drops
but remember too much may irritate the skin.
 
INCENSE:

Incense composition and use is an art form in itself.
Basically, an incense is any combination of plant materials,
perhaps combined with essential oils and a base, which
are mixed together and burned or smouldered on charcoal.
(This type of incense is known as "raw" or "granular."
In composing your own incense fromulae remember that more
is not always better.  Any recipe requiring over 9 substances
is probably too complicated.  Simply choose a few plants 
appropriate to your need.  For a love incense for instance:
you might chose lemon balm, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and
vanilla.  The herbs are reduced to powder form with the mortar
and pestle and then enchanted.  The mixture is then ready for use.
To use incense, ignite a charcoal block and place in a heat proof
container.  An incense burner is fine or as a dish half full
of salt or sand.  Sprinkle a small amount of your mixture on 
the glowing charcoal as desired.
 


HERBS FOR COMMON ILLNESSES
  
ACHES
Skullcap, motherwort, valerian, catnip, peppermint,
cammomile.

ANEMIA
Comfrey, dandelion, fenugreek, barberry bark, agrimony,
centaury, rasberry leaves, quassia chips.

ASTHMA
Black cohosh, comfrey, clotsfoot, horehound, hyssop,
lobelia, masterwort, milkweed, mullein, myrrh,
pleurisy root, prickly ash, saw palmetto berries,
skunk cabbage, thyme, vervain, wild cherry, flaxseed,
balm of gilead, red root, red sage, boneset, 
cubeb berries.

BACKACHE
Nettle, pennyroyal, tansy, uva-ursi, buchu, wood betony.

BLEEDING
Self-heal, mullein ( stops bleeding from the lungs)
shepards purse ( for lungs, stomach, kidneys and bowels)
wild alum root, golden seal, blackberry leaves,
comfrey, bayberry and yellowdock.

BOWL TROUBLE
Water pepper, white pond lily, wintergreen, dandelion,
wood sanicle, bethroot, chickweed, myrrh, witch hazel,
bayberry bark, echinacea, birch, bitterroot, blue violet,
caraway seeds (expels gas), catnip (for acid)chickweed,
comfrey, coriander, cubeb berries, fenugreek, goldenseal,
gum arabic, hyssop, magnolia, masterwort, milkweed,
mugwart, mullein, origanum, pilewort, rhubarb, rue,
sage, sanicle, sassafras, slippery elm, spearmint,
strawberry, sumach berries, tansy, vervain.

BRUISES AND CUTS
Bugleweed (for internal bruises) comfrey, hyssop, lobelia,
mugwort, giant solomens seal, St. Johns wort, bittersweet
(combined with cammomile as an ointment)pennyroyal, tansy,
balm of gilead, burnet.

BURNS
Aloes, bittersweet, burdock, calamus, chickweed,
elder, poplar, onions (bruised)comfrey.
Immerse burned part in very cold water and keep it cold.
Keep immersed until all the heat is drawn out and 
no blisters will form.

CANKER SORES IN MOUTH
Bayberry bark, bistort (combined with equal parts of 
red rasberry leaves)golden seal, gold thread, myrrh,
pilewort, rockrose, self-heal, sumach berries, white
pond lily, wild alum root, birch, burdock, pennyroyal,
rosemary, prickly ash, hemlock, wood sanicle, red root.

COLDS
Bayberry bark with yarrow, catnip, sage, peppermint, wood betony,
angelica, blue violet, butternut bark, ginseng, lungwork, nettle,
wihite pine, pleurisy root, prickly ash, rosemary, saffron,
summer savory, sweet balm, tansy, valerian, vervain, water pepper,
wood sage, yarrow, bloodroot, elder, ginger, gentain, golden seal,
hyssop, masterwort, pennyroyal, sarsaparilla, saw palmetto berries,
spiknard, wild cherry, horehound.

COLIC
Blue cohosh, caraway seed, carrot seed, catnip, dill, fennel,
masterwort, origanum, pennyroyal, peppermint, prickly ash,
rosemary, rue, sassafras, spearmint, summer savory, wintergreen,
wood betony, flaxseed, valerian, fringe tree, angelica, 
motherwort.

CORNS & CALLOUSES
Bittersweet and cammomile caombined into an ointment, herbal
liniment.

COUGHS
Blue violet, comfrey, coltsfoot, ginseng, horehound, hyssop,
lungwort, myrrh, origanum, white pine, waterpepper, black
cohosh, bloodroot, borage, flaxseed, marjoram, rosemary,
spikenard, balm of Gilead, bethroot, red sage, tansy, wild
cherry bark, mullein (dried leaves, tied together and lit,
let the smoke fill the air), golden seal, red clover blossoms,
cubeb berries, skunk cabbage.

CRAMPS
Blue cohosh, cayenne (stomach cramps), coral, fennel, motherwort,
rue, thyme, twinleaf, wood betony, masterwort, pennyroyal,
peppermint, balm.

CROUP
Mullein (same burning technique as with coughs), white pine,
antispasmodic tincture ( lobelia ) !!

DANDRUFF
Burdock, nettle, sage.

DIARRHEA
Bayberry bark, birch, bistort root, comfrey, colombo, elder,
marshmallow, mullein, nettle, peppermint, pilewort, poplar,
red raspberry, rhubarb, St. Johns wort, slippery elm, straw
berry, thyme, white pond lily, witch hazel, wild alum root, 
yarrow, wormwood, ginger, rock rose, hemlock, bethroot,
cinnamon, shepherds purse, plantain, blackberry root,
cranesbill,  ONE HEAPING TSP OF POWDERED CHARCOAL EVERY 
2 HOURS.

EARACHE
Hops, origanum, pempernel, lemon juice (pure) burnet.

EARS, RUNNING
Yellow dock, lemon juice (diluted one half with water)
oil of origanum, peroxide of hydrogen (put in ear, warm)
myrrh, echinacea.

ECZEMA
Balmony, beech, clovers, dandelion, golden seal, nettle,
strawberry and leaves, willow, bloodswort, wild Oregon grape,
poke root, white poplar bark, plantain, yellow dock, blue
violet, origanum.

FEVER
Catnip, sage, shepherds purse, sumach berries, sweet balm,
tansy, thyme, valerian, vervain, wahoo, wild cherry bark,
willow, wintergreen, wood sage, wormwood, yarrow barage, 
dandelion, peruvian bark, apple tree bark(intermittent fever)
bitterroot(intermittent fever,)camomile, cinchone bark,
cleavers, colombo, butternut bark(all fevers)calamus(intermittent
fever) coral, elder, fenugree, fireweed, fit root, 
gentain root, hyssop, masterwort, lobelia(excellent) 
magnolia, mandrake, nettle, parsley, pennyroyal, peppermint,
pleurisy root, poplar, quassia, mugwort, cayenne, fringe tree,
echinacea, angelica, yarrow(breaks up fever in 24 hours)
sarsaparilla, red sage, baoneset, lily of the valley, cedron,
black cohosh, willow(bark or leaves).

GAS
Anise, calamus, caraway seed, catnip, dill, fennel, mint,
origanum, peppermint, sage, sarsaparilla, sassafras, spearmint,
thyme, wild yam, wintergreen, yarrow, ginger, nutmeg, valerian,
angelica, wood betony.

GUMS, SORE
Bugleweed, myrrh, golden seal, bistort root, herbal liniment.

HALITOSIS
Rosemary, myrrh, golden seal, echinacea, parsley, herbal laxitive.

HAY FEVER
Mullein, poplar, skunk cabbage, coltsfoot, black cohosh.

HEADACHE
Blue violet, catnip, coltsfoot, peppermint, rhubarb, rosmary,
rue, sweet balm, thyme, vervain, virgins bower, wood betony,
elder, marjoram, calamint, pennyroyal, fringe tree, red root,
holy thistle, mountian balm, yerba santa, cammomile, tansy.

HEARTBURN
Balmony, bay leaves, beech, bitterroot, buckbean, cayenne,
gentain root, ginseng, golden seal, gold thread, poplar,
peruvian bark, coltsfoot, lobelia, wild cherry bark, bayberry
bark, skullcap, nutmeg, balm, bloodroot, marjoram, rosemary, 
wood betony, wormwood, red root, willow, angelica, burnet 
(excellent), origanum (excellent to strenghten the stomach for
gas.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Broom, black cohosh, blue cohosh, hyssop, wild cherry bark,
valerian, vervain, sanicle, boneset, skullcap, golden seal,
myrrh, herbal laxitive.

HOARSENESS
Marshmallow, golden seal, lobelia, wild cherry, hyssop, horehound,
mullein, coltsfoot, skunk cabbage.

INFLAMATION
Fenugreek, golden seal, hops, lobelia, marshmallow, mugwort,
sarsaparilla, slippery elm, solomons seal, sorrel, tansy, 
white pond lily, withch hazel, water pepper (smartweed) and
charcoal poultice, flaxseed oil, hyssop, chicweed, gum arabic,
cayenne pepper.

ITCHING
Buckthorn bark (oinment), origanum, virgins bower, yellow dock 
(excellent), borage, marjoram, pennyroyal, plantain, poke root
(fine), chickweed.

NAUSEA AND VOMITING
Ginger, lavender, nint, origanum, peach leaves, pennyroyal (but
should not be taken during pregnacy), peppermint, red raspberry,
spearmint, sweet balm, wild yam, anise, giant solomons seal,
golden seal (will allay nausea during pregnacy).

NERVOUSNESS
Camomile, celery, cinchona bark, dill, fit root, skullcap with
golden seal and hops, lobelia, motherwort, origanum, peach
leaves, pennyroyal, queen of the meadow, red clover, rosemary,
rue, sage, skullcap, skunk cabbage, spearmint, squaw vine,
St. johns wort, thyme twin leaf, valerian, vervain, wild cherry,
wood betony, blue violet, sanicle, buchu, mistletoe, red sage, 
catnip, peppermint, marshmallow root, mugwort, nettle, 
poplar bark, slolmons seal, ladys slipper, antispasmodic tincture
(lobelia) for quick results!!

PAIN
Catnip, fit root, mint, mullein, nettle, skullcap, skunk
cabbage, solomons seal, giant solomons seal, twin leaf, 
wood betony, cammomile, dill. Cohosh is an excellent pain 
reliver for general muscular pain and arthritis.

PHLEGM
Hyssop, nettle, white pine, vervain, wild chery, borage,
pennyroyal, coltsfoot.

PIMPLES
Spikenard, valerian, gentain, plantian, bistort root.

POISON IVY/OAK
Lobelia, golden seal, myrrh, echinacea, bloodwort, solomons seal,
Equal parts of a strong tea made of white oak bark and lime
water is very good for poison ivy or oak.  Apply a bandage
wet with this solution and change as often as it becomes dry.

RINGWORM
Golden seal, lobelia, blood root, borage, plantain,
sarsaparilla.

BURNING URINE
White poplar bark, burdock seed, spearmint, cubeb, queen of
the meadow, peach leaves or cleaver for cystitis or any
inflammatory condition of the urinary organs.  If there is 
bleeding, use shepherd's purse or the old usual
PURE CRANBERRY JUICE BY THE GALLONS !!

SCALDS AND BURNS
Bittersweet, chickweed, elder, onions (bruised).  Submerge 
the burned part in very cold water, keeping it cold 
(to withdraw the heat)and hold the injured part there until
it stops burning.  If this is done and soon enough a blister
will not form...do not use butter or grease of any type, it
holds in the heat...cold aloe vera gel is the best oinment 
after the cold water treatment.

SCARLET FEVER
(not asuncommonas you might think, it is common for a child
to contract this after a bad bout with the chicken pox),
Cayenne, cleavers, golden seal, pleurisy root, saffron,
twinleaf, valerian, red sage.

SINUS TROUBLE
Plantain, saw palmetto berries, golden seal, bayberry bark.

SNAKE BITES
Black cohosh, borage, skullcap, bistort root, fennel,
gentain root,hyssop, marjoram, pennyroyal, wood betony,
echinacea, plantain,sweet basil, cedron.

SORES
Peach, pimpernel, poplar, blue violet, hemlock, echinacea,
poke root, aloes, cayenne, bayberry bark, bittersweet, 
calamus, carrot (poultice),poplar, cammomile, chickweed,
comfrey, elder, flaxseed, golden seal, mullein, myrrh,
plantain, sage, sanicle, prickly ash (apply powder),
self-heal,skunk cabbage, Solomon's seal, St. John's wort,
sumach berries, valerian, vervain, virgin's bower,
white clover, witch hazel, wood sage, yellow dock,
bistort root, borage, masterwort, bloodroot.

SORE THROAT
Bayberry bark, bistort root, bloodroot, blue violet, cayenne,
funegreek, ginger, horehound, hops, hyssop, mullein origanum,
white pine, rock rose, sage, sassafras, saw palmetto berries,
twin leaf, vervain, white pond lily, wild alum root,
wintergreen, wood sage, borage, wood sanicle, echinacea,
red root, golden seal, red sage.

SPRAINS AND MUSCLE STRAINS
Comfrey, lobelia, origanum, wormwood, bittersweet combined
with camomile as an ointment.

TONSILLITIS
Mullein, white pine, echinacea, red root, sage, golden seal,
tansy. 
(Use the teas strong, gargle every few minutes, and swallow
a mouthful)

TOOTHACHE
Hops, origanum (essence), sassafras (oil of), cloves (oil of),
summer savory, balm, broom, marjoram, mullein, pennyroyal,
plantain, pimperel, tansy and Kloss's herbal liniment.

VOMITING, PREVENTION
Sweet basil, colombo, peach leaves, white poplar bark, clover,
spearmint.  Use equal parts of white poplar bark and clover
to stop vomiting during pregnancy.  Give peppermint and
peach leaves in small doses.








SPECIFIC RECIPIES:

St. Johns Wort Liniment

If there is pain in the muscle tissue or any nerve pain,
a liniment based on this oil can be most effective.
You can prepare the oil yourself in late summer by picking
fresh blossoms and putting them into oil.


Pick 4 OZ of fresh, just opened blossoms and crush them
into 1 TBS of olive or sunflower oil.  Pour 1-pt of the
same oil over the whole, mix it well and put in into a 
clear glass container.  Leave the container open in a warm 
place to ferment for 3-5 days, then seal the container 
well and place it in sunshine or put it in another warm 
place for 3-6 weeks, shaking it daily, until the oil has 
become bright red.  After this time, press the mixture 
through a cloth and let the oil stand for a day to 
seperate the oily from the watery part.  Use the oily 
part only, which should be carefully poured off and 
stored in a airtight opaque container. 
APPLICATION: Apply to general areas of pain. 





OIL BASED CREAMS

2 TBS Sweet Almond oil
2 TBS Jojoba oil
1 1/2 TSP Beeswax
10 Drops of German Chamomile oil
or Calendula or Carrot seed oil

Heat Almond and Jojoba oils and beeswax in double boiler 
just till wax is melted, mix well.  Add the final essense 
oil, pour into a 2 OZ container and store up to 1 year.





WATER BASED CREAMS

1 TBS Grape seed oil
1 TBS Jojoba oil
1 TSP Beeswax
2 TSP Rose Water
1/4 TSP Borax

Heat the oils and water in a double boiler till melted.  
In seperate container, heat Rose water then stir in the 
Borax till dissolved when the oil mixture and water 
mixture are same temperature, whisk the water mixture 
into the oil and store in a 2 OZ containter up to 1 month.





INDIVIDUAL COSMETIC ADDITIVES

You can adapt lotions for your skin type using following 
recipies, which are made for 2 OZ cream.

NORMAL SKIN:
10 drops Vitamin A & E oil
5 drops Orange essense oil


DRY SKIN:
10 drops Calendula essential oil
15 drops Aloe Vera concentrate
2 drops Coriander Seed essential oil


BROKEN CAPILLARIES:
10 Drops of German Chamomile oil or Vitamin E oil
or 10 Blue Cypress essential oil





CALENDULA OINTMENT

Infuse about 1/2 C dried flowers into 1 C olive oil 
and soak 14 days, strain well and refridgerate. 
(be sure to by Calendula and not the 
American Marigold tagetes) If you prefer a Salve 
instead add 1 OZ beeswax to 1/2-3/4 C oil and 1/2 C 
of calendula oil.  Its great for skin ailment and is a 
excellent wound healer.





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