Judson Carroll

In this chapter, I will discuss how to turn plants into herbal medicine. I will start with how to make an "herbal infusion." That is an impressive term, isn't it? It really just means tea. Like most every field of study, herbalism has its own jargon. I try not to use jargon, because it creates a barrier to entry. My goal is to make herbal medicine available to normal people, so I try to speak in plain terms, or to define the more esoteric terms as I go. If a clinical herbalist says to a client, "I recommend an herbal infusion of yarrow to act as a diaphoretic," that sounds very impressive. The grateful client will gladly pay the bill of someone who sounds so learned in secret and mysterious knowledge. All that really means though, is a hot tea of yarrow to induce sweating and help "break a fever." Since I am a teacher and not a clinical herbalist, I'll stick with that.



Herbal Infusions

As I said, an herbal infusion is simply a tea. How it is made though, does matter. The two things one should never do in making an herbal tea of the leaves and/or flowers of an herb is to boil the herb, or to let it sit open while it steeps. When we use the tops of herbs, the volatile oils they contain are among their most important constituents. If you boil the herb, or let it steep uncovered... or pour it into your cup and either sip or blow on it to cool it down enough to drink, those oils evaporate and your herbal medicine is substantially weakened.

The correct way to make an herbal tea is to bring the water to a boil, then either toss your herbs into the pot and put a lid on it or put our herbs in a tea pot with a lid and pour boiling water over them. Allow the herbs to steep at least 15 minutes, or until cool enough to drink. If the tea is still steaming when you pour it into your cup, place a saucer or other cover over it. There are actually special herbal tea cups that are marketed; they look like adult sized "sippy cups".... I don't use them!

How much of the herb or combination of herbs you use depends on how much tea you are making. Generally, we use dried "cut and sifted" herbs in making teas, but you can use a fresh herb if it is in season. Drying herbs merely a means of preserving them so you have what you need on hand. Many herbals will recommend something like 1-2 ounces of dried herbs to around a pint of water. That is basically 2-4 tablespoons of the dried herbs. It all really depends on how strong you want the tea. I never measure. I grab a few pinches of the herb or each of the herbs I want to use - about enough to fill the palm of my hand - and just toss them in. It is usually best to have a few sips of the tea every hour, but for a sore throat or to break a fever a cup at a time often works better. In a case of diarrhea, for instance, a few sips taken regularly would be more effective.

Some people also make "cold infusions", which are basically like sun tea. If you were in a situation with no electricity or means of cooking, this would be a viable option. I have a little, alcohol burning stove that is always in my backpack for emergencies, so it isn't really something I do. But, if for some reason you could not have a campfire... like if you are dumb enough to still live in California.... Put the dried herbs in a jar with some water and either set it in the sun or let the herbs steep for a couple of days. Cold infusions do not work well for fresh herbs, because the herbs will begin to rot or ferment. Sometimes, we can use fermentation in our herbal preps, but this is not one.



Decoctions

The third type of infusion is called a decoction. This is simply an herbal tea made with the roots, bark, stems or any woody part of the plant. Unlike the tops of herbs, we are not concerned with volatile oils. We simply need to boil or simmer the herb long enough to extract its medicinal properties. You start by adding your herb/s to a pot of cold, clean water. The measurements are basically the same for the herbs as for tea, but you may want to use more water since it will boil for a while and evaporate. The longer it boils, the more concentrated the medicinal properties of the herb become in the water. It is usually a good idea to allow the herb/s to soak for a while in the water before you turn the burner on. Bring the water to the boil, then turn the temperature down to a simmer. Allow it to simmer for at least 20 minutes, or until the amount of water is reduced to about half. If you reduce the water down to 1/4th the original volume, that is called a double decoction. Either way, don't make more than you can use within a couple of days, or the decoction may begin to ferment or spoil.

Washes and Soaks

Infusions don't have to only be teas. Some very useful herbs should not be taken internally at all. Regardless, herbal washes and soaks are made the same way as infusions. Washes can be very useful for skin conditions, rashes, burns, sunburns, etc., when used cold. You simply bathe the area with the cold tea or decoction. Soaks are excellent to help disinfect and heal deep cuts and puncture wounds, for bruises, strains and sprains and for painful joints. A soak is generally used warm and can be anything from a full bath to a small basin of water in which to soak a smaller body part.

Oil Infusions

Infusions may also be made with oil. As oils are absorbed through the sin, a good, food grade oil is usually best. Coconut oil is very versatile, and olive oil is always nice, but you do not have to use expensive oils. Any kind of oil that you are comfortable cooking with or using in a salad dressing will be fine. The old mountain folks I learned from used lard or bear grease! If you use a fat that will harden or thicken at room temperature, such as coconut oil or an animal fat, you must use a hot infusion method and keep in mind that fats can go rancid. Don't keep such infusions for too long or store them in conditions which may encourage rancidity. Obviously, it is much easier to simply use an oil. But even with a fairly shelf stable oil, be careful to only use fully dried herbs. Fresh herbs can rot. In such a low acid environment, even botulism could be an issue. Generally, oils are used externally and need only common sense to be made and stored safely.

Cold oil infusions are made by simply putting an amount of dried, crushed herbs into a jar and adding oil until the jar is full. Be sure to allow the herbs to settle and keep adding oil until all air has bubbled out. Allow the herbs to infuse in the oil for up to two months. Then, strain out your herbs. If you leave them in longer, it could cause the oil (olive oil for instance) to become rancid. After straining, the infusion should last up to two years - let you nose be the judge.

Hot infusions are made gently warming the oil before adding the herbs. Most herbalists use a crock pot. Some even use heating pads, place the oil on a hot water heater, covered with a towel to hold in heat or use sunlight to warm their oil infusions. Using the sun or placing the oil by a cooking fire was the way it used to be done before electric heat. The key is to keep your oil just warm enough (not hot enough to cook) for about two days to a week. Then, you strain out your herbs and the oil should have the same shelf life as a cold infused oil. Herbalist and teacher Dr. Patrick Jones gives excellent advice, "Deep fried herbs are not good!" Always remember in making infused oils, to keep the oil temperature well below cooking temperature.



Salves, Lotions and Balms

Oil infusions have many uses. Some, like an infusion of Arnica or Saint John's Wort are excellent for first aid or sore muscles, rubbed into injured or sore areas. Arnica should not be taken internally, but many other herbal oil infusions may be made into salves, lotions and lip balms. If you used coconut oil, you already have an oil infusion that can be used as a salve, lotion or a balm as coconut oil solidifies at room temperature. For this reason, I prefer to use coconut oil when possible. Otherwise, the difference between a salve, a balm and a lotion is how much bees wax you use. It really is that simple. Use natural bees wax, melt it at a low temp and begin blending in your infused oil. If you use a little bit of oil, the wax will harden to a Chapstick -like consistency. A little more oil, and you have a softer lip balm. A bit more oil and you have a salve that easily melts and rubs into the skin. If you use more oil and a blender to whip everything to a light, smooth consistency (stick blenders work best) you have a lotion. The best way to find the texture you like is to experiment. I do not find specific ratios helpful for "kitchen medicine". When you get it just right for your needs and preferences, write down how much oil and wax you used for future reference. Water and alcohol-based infusions can also be blended into wax... to a point. Water and oil don't mix, and this yields a "grainy" texture. Oil infusions are much nicer.



Now, we will get into making tinctures with alcohol, starting with liniments.

Liniments

Liniments are simple and very easy to make. A Liniment is simply an herbal extract using alcohol that is intended for EXTERNAL USE ONLY. This is an important point, because while you can make liniments with ethanol alcohol that you could drink, to do so would be a waste of money. Most often, liniments are made with isopropyl rubbing alcohol. The herbs you use are those that are good for rubbing on sore muscles and joints, sprains and bruises. Liniments should not be applied to open wounds or broken skin. To make a liniment, simply put your dried herbs (usually an ounce or so) and add at least enough rubbing alcohol to cover them, but adding twice as much alcohol by volume to the herbs is best. Allow the herbs to steep in the alcohol. How long you let them steep depends on the herbs you are using. Generally speaking, 4 weeks is plenty for most leaves and flowers. Roots and stems often take longer, some even up to six months to fully infuse. The scent and color of the alcohol will tell you when it has extracted enough from the herbs. If you are using leaves or flowers, once they look "worn out", or like you had made a tea from them, they are ready to be strained out.

Tinctures

Tinctures are probably the most common way that clinical herbalists dispense herbs. A tincture is simply an alcohol extraction using ethanol - unusually vodka or brandy. The liquor needs to be at least 40% alcohol, or 80 proof. In the mountains where I grew up, most folks used moonshine, but any store bought vodka that is of decent enough quality not to wreck your stomach or give you a terrible hangover headache from just a drink or two will work just fine for most herbs. 40% alcohol is sufficient to make an extract of most herbs in which you use dried leaves, flowers and roots. You will need a higher proof alcohol for fresh herbs and some roots. The reason is that the alcohol dehydrates fresh herbs, pulling the water out of them until a stasis of alcohol and water is met. This causes the liquor to become diluted by the herbs and the total alcohol content is no longer able to preserve the herbs - they may begin to rot.

With dried herbs, simply follow my directions above for making a liniment, but using a drinkable alcohol. Tinctures may also be made using vinegar or glycerin. However, such tinctures are not as strong and have shorter shelf life. I never use them. Alcohol based tinctures are administered in doses that range from by the drop to maybe a teaspoon full. People who wish to avoid alcohol can put the tincture in a cup of hot water and allow the alcohol to steam off. However, this will only get rid of most of the alcohol. If you are a recovered alcoholic who cannot tolerate even a drop of alcohol, you may want to stick with teas or explore vinegar tinctures.

There are very few herbs that cannot be used in a dried form. Lemon Balm, for instance is a wonderfully relaxing, stress, pain and anxiety relieving herb, that sometimes induces sleep. Most people though, never experience the true potency of fresh Lemon Balm, only having it in its dried form, perhaps in a tea. In the dried form, it is much like its cousin, Catnip. Lemon Balm, harvested fresh, in the morning, while it is full of volatile oils is much more potent if processed immediately. Pour a high proof vodka or neutral spirit (usually Everclear) into a blender, turn the blender on, toss in your lemon balm and put the lid on tightly immediately. Once the herb is completely ground up and liquified into the alcohol, allow the infusion to cool, with the lid still sealed. Then transfer to a jar, screw the lid on tightly and allow the herb to steep and infuse for about a month in a cool, dark place. That will make the difference between a tea or tincture that is mildly calming and one that can literally knock you down.... which can be a good thing if you are in extreme pain, panic or have insomnia.

Percolation

I am not going to really get into detail on percolations, because they are so very rarely used in home medicine, that it would not be practical. Percolations were developed by doctors, chemists and pharmacists back when most medicine was plant based. It uses an inverted glass cone, with a cap on the small end that allows a specific drip rate as alcohol percolates through the herbs. This technique requires specific, high proof alcohol that is usually available only through chemical supply companies. It also requires a lot of math. A specific quantity of the herb is allowed to steep for a specific time in a specific proof alcohol. Then, the saturated herb is packed into the cone. After that, an alcohol of a specific proof is added to the herb, as it is allowed to drip at a specific rate. This allowed pharmacists to be confident in the exact degree of potency of the herb extracted in a specific quantity of an alcohol infusion. Such accuracy was very important when a doctor would prescribe an herb like Digitalis/Foxglove, or Gelsemium, which could be deadly if a drop too much was used. If you want specifics on how to make percolations, the information is available on the late herbalist, Michael Moore's Southwest School of Botanical Medicine website. By the way, I learned the fresh Lemon Balm tincture from Moore's classes, as well.



Capsules, Pills/Pastilles and Lozenges

Capsules are probably the most common way herbs are bought by consumers. They are so simple to make that once you have purchased the supplies, you will wonder why some companies charge so much. The reason is that they are tedious to make at home. Most people simply don't have the patience to grind dried herbs finely and then stuff the powder into gelatin capsules. Empty capsules can be purchased at most any drug store. There are also little trays of forms that make filling them go faster. If you were to need a lot of herbal capsules, you would probably want to invest in a machine to fill them. You will also need a digital scale to measure out the right amount of the powdered herb to fill the capsule.

Traditionally, herbalists have skipped all this and simply mixed their powdered herb into honey, molasses or another sticky, gummy substance. Saps and resins have also been used. Once the desired amount of herb has been mixed with enough of the sticky stuff to form a solid ball, it is left to dry a bit, then given a dry coating. In generations past, our ancestors would frequently buy little tins of such herbal pills or pastilles from apothecaries.

While cough drops or lozenges can be made the same way for home use, you can make your own that rival or exceed the commercial product. Many herbs are good for coughs, sore throats and hoarseness. All you need is a formula you like, some sugar, water, a candy thermometer, a pot and an understand of how sugar behaves at various temperatures. The art of candy making is a bit beyond the scope of this book. But, after sugar melts it will harden when cooled to specific textures depending on the degree it reaches while cooking. Sugar melted down in an herbal tea can be transformed into hard lozenges or candies. Some herbs, like Horehound, Peppermint and Licorice, have a long history of being taken in candy form.



Syrup

Syrups are a similar concept. You simply combine a tea or decoction, a mix of tinctures, or even elderberry juice with a thick, sweet liquid. This can be honey and water cooked down, simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) or a glycerin base. You can add a bit of alcohol. We have all had Over The Counter (OTC) cough syrup or cold remedies. Syrups are NOT rocket science. Add what you like and make your own formula. Cherry bark is particularly effective to suppress coughs and expectorate mucus congestion. Sugar acts as a preservative, but these are not for long term storage.










This article is an excerpt from

Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and Permaculture People: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/10/herbal-medicine-for-preppers.html

Available on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B09HMWXL25




PS. New today in my Woodcraft shop:


Mahoganized Holly Scoop

https://judsoncarrollwoodcraft.substack.com/p/mahoganized-holly-scoop



The Spring Foraging Cookbook: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-spring-foraging-cookbook.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRP63R54

Read about my other new books:



Medicinal Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/11/medicinal-ferns-and-fern-allies.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMSZSJPS



A Daily Catholic Devotional Reflections on the Daily Mass readings July-December, 2024
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-daily-catholic-devotional-reflections.html

Medicinal Weeds and Grasses of the American Southeast, an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/medicinal-weeds-and-grasses-of-american.html

Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47LHTTH

and

Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/confirmation-autobiography-of-faith.html

Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK

and

Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast An Herbalist's Guide

Read about Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast An Herbalist's Guide: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/06/medicinal-shrubs-and-woody-vines-of.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6: by Judson Carroll


Visit my Substack and sign up for my free newsletter:

Judson Carroll, Master Herbalist
Herbal Medicine
Read about my new other books:

Medicinal Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/11/medicinal-ferns-and-fern-allies.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMSZSJPS

The Omnivore’s Guide to Home Cooking for Preppers, Homesteaders, Permaculture People and Everyone Else: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-omnivores-guide-to-home-cooking-for.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGKX37Q2

Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/06/medicinal-shrubs-and-woody-vines-of.html

Available for purchase on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6

and

Growing Your Survival Herb Garden for Preppers, Homesteaders and Everyone Else
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/04/growing-your-survival-herb-garden-for.html

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09X4LYV9R


The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Bitter Herbs: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-encyclopedia-of-bitter-medicina.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5MYJ35R

and

Christian Medicine, History and Practice: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/01/christian-herbal-medicine-history-and.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B09P7RNCTB



Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/southern-appalachian-herbs

Blog:

https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/

Free Video Lessons: https://rumble.com/c/c-618325

Disclaimer

The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/show-232-hawthorn-trailing-arbutus-and-twisted-stalk--65558688

In this episode I discuss two wild edible plants and a medicinal plant.  The first, Trailing Arbutus, is somewhat rare, but you might consider growing it. The second, Twisted Stalk is very abundant where I live. And the medicinal, Hawthorn is super abundant and one of the most important of all medicinal herbs.





Tune of the week: Hesitation Blues
I play my version of "Hesitation Blues" and give a bit of a lesson on the history of the tune and how to play it. If you would like more instructional content in my videos, like I did on this one, please let me know. Or, if you'd rather just hear me pick, sing and tell stories, let me know that. Either way, ENJOY!  https://youtu.be/mufY_YwP0CE

New today in my Woodcraft shop:
Toasted Holly Cooking Spoon - Judson Carroll Woodcraft
https://judsoncarrollwoodcraft.substack.com/p/toasted-holly-cooking-spoon

Email: judson@judsoncarroll.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southern-appalachian-herbs--4697544/support

Read about The Spring Foraging Cookbook: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-spring-foraging-cookbook.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRP63R54


Medicinal Weeds and Grasses of the American Southeast, an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/medicinal-weeds-and-grasses-of-american.html

Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47LHTTH

and

Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/confirmation-autobiography-of-faith.html

Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK


Visit my Substack and sign up for my free newsletter:
https://judsoncarroll.substack.com/


Read about my new other books:

Medicinal Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/11/medicinal-ferns-and-fern-allies.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMSZSJPS

The Omnivore’s Guide to Home Cooking for Preppers, Homesteaders, Permaculture People and Everyone Else: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-omnivores-guide-to-home-cooking-for.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGKX37Q2

Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/06/medicinal-shrubs-and-woody-vines-of.html

Available for purchase on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6

and

Growing Your Survival Herb Garden for Preppers, Homesteaders and Everyone Else
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/04/growing-your-survival-herb-garden-for.html

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09X4LYV9R


The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Bitter Herbs: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-encyclopedia-of-bitter-medicina.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5MYJ35R

and

Christian Medicine, History and Practice: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/01/christian-herbal-medicine-history-and.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B09P7RNCTB


Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and Permaculture People: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/10/herbal-medicine-for-preppers.html

Also available on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B09HMWXL25

Podcast:  https://www.spreaker.com/show/southern-appalachian-herbs

Blog: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/

Free Video Lessons: https://rumble.com/c/c-618325 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southern-appalachian-herbs--4697544/support.

Hey y'all I really want to get much more into pottery this year.  It seems my property is on a creek which was named by the local tribes for its fine, white clay.  I've done some terracotta type pottery when I was younger, with low firing temps.  But, we used to have several local potters who made stoneware using wood fired kilns.  They fired in huge batches in "groundhog kilns".  I don't want to go as large scale.  I would like to use wood though, in a simple backyard kiln if possible.  Can anyone give me some smaller kiln designs that would work or advice on glazes that will work at lower temps? If I recall correctly, the pit firing style I learned in summer camps and such we could hit about 1,400F max.  Just looking online, it seems like most commercial glazes need a much higher temp. For glazed stoneware, it looks like I will need to get over about 2,100 F or so.  

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/show-231-sweet-cicely-tansy-and-hazelnut--65381080



In this episode I discuss two wild edible plants and a medicinal plant, that are very tasty and have a rich history. I also discuss youtube, facebook and censorship that suppressed information on herbal medicine over the past few years.





Tune of the week: My version of Elizabeth Cotten's "Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie"..... I think I learned this one from Doc Watson, but it may have Jerry Garcia.... not sure, but everything got mixed together in my head and this is what came - ENJOY! https://youtu.be/k1x45gn1N7Y?si=I8i2tqVUFO0nrwzD

New today in my Woodcraft shop:
Toasted Holly Cooking Spoon - Judson Carroll Woodcraft
https://judsoncarrollwoodcraft.substack.com/p/toasted-holly-cooking-spoon

Email: judson@judsoncarroll.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southern-appalachian-herbs--4697544/support

Read about The Spring Foraging Cookbook: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-spring-foraging-cookbook.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRP63R54


Medicinal Weeds and Grasses of the American Southeast, an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/medicinal-weeds-and-grasses-of-american.html

Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47LHTTH

and

Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/confirmation-autobiography-of-faith.html

Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK


Visit my Substack and sign up for my free newsletter:
https://judsoncarroll.substack.com/


Read about my new other books:

Medicinal Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/11/medicinal-ferns-and-fern-allies.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMSZSJPS

The Omnivore’s Guide to Home Cooking for Preppers, Homesteaders, Permaculture People and Everyone Else: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-omnivores-guide-to-home-cooking-for.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGKX37Q2

Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/06/medicinal-shrubs-and-woody-vines-of.html

Available for purchase on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6

and

Growing Your Survival Herb Garden for Preppers, Homesteaders and Everyone Else
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/04/growing-your-survival-herb-garden-for.html

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09X4LYV9R


The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Bitter Herbs: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-encyclopedia-of-bitter-medicina.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5MYJ35R

and

Christian Medicine, History and Practice: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/01/christian-herbal-medicine-history-and.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B09P7RNCTB


Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and Permaculture People: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/10/herbal-medicine-for-preppers.html

Also available on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B09HMWXL25

Podcast:  https://www.spreaker.com/show/southern-appalachian-herbs

Blog: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/

Free Video Lessons: https://rumble.com/c/c-618325 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southern-appalachian-herbs--4697544/support.

Maieshe Ljin wrote:Thank you for sharing your music!

As a side question, I would be interested to know, what sorts of herbal nutrition might you suggest for musicians? Such as plant medicines that strengthen the voice, prevent accumulation of phlegm, or strengthen the fingernails for fingerpicking?

Thanks, that is an interesting question - certainly equisetum for the nails. Sage or mullein tea would be good. Swedish bitters are always great.

Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie
https://judsoncarrollmusic.substack.com/p/oh-babe-it-aint-no-lie

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Riona Abhainn wrote:Keep posting and sharing your unique experience and perspective and knowledge with us.

Will do - thanks!

This not a fern, but is so often confused with ferns that I though I should mention it. Sweet Fern is also a very useful and interesting medicinal herb. Sweet fern is native to North America and its history of use begins with the Native Americans.

Tis Mal Crow tells us of the Muskogee tradition (formulas omitted – buy his book):

Sweet Fern Leaves are used as a refrigerant against fevers. They can be used to make a tea, or the fresh leaves can be crushed and placed against the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet or the forehead.

Sweet Fern root is used to make a hair rinse, more specifically for hair damaged by permanents, treated hair, for people that are losing their hair, and in a mixture for itching scalps.

Sweet Fern is especially good for babies with cradle cap, older people with really scaly scalps, or other people with reactions to a food allergy, or some other contaminate that causes scaling and itching of the scalp. Whenever there are sores, Sweet Fern is preferred. It will heal.

A leaf tea is used externally to treat poison ivy rash.

A strong leaf tea is used for relief from dysentery, diarrhea and intestinal cramping.

For boils, Sweet Fern is mashed and mixed with water to make a thin paste.

A very strong tea is used as a mouthwash for gum problems, periodontal disease and mouth sores.

The leaves are used to make a strong tea, and the tea is added to a lukewarm or cool bath for people who have convulsions. If possible, they can be immersed in the bath while the convulsion is occurring. A cool towel soaked in the tea can be used around the chest and abdomen of a person who is experiencing convulsions.

A tea or tincture of the leaves can be used for food poisoning or a nervous stomach.

Bradford Angier wrote:

The beverages, both potent and delicate, brewed from the fern-like leaves of this fragrant wild tea were used in a number of ways by Indians and settlers. They were taken internally and also used as a wash for poison ivy rashes, blisters and sores. In fact it was believed that, if the wash was used for these soon enough after exposure, it would dissolve and wash away the irritating substances and prevent the trouble which was transferred not only by direct contact with the irritant but indirectly as from the fur of dogs and cats which had passed through an ivy bed.

A strong enough leaf tea was believed to ease both stomach and intestinal cramps and diarrhea. The complete perennial, so brewed, provided a remedy for paroxysms of acute abdominal pain, perhaps localized and caused by spasms, obstruction, or twisting of the colon. Care had to be taken, of course, not to be mislead by appendicitis, characterized by extreme sensitivity in the right lower abdomen, and in the early days hopefully treated instead by cold compresses.

Such tea drunk in childbirth was believed to help physically in the delivery of the baby. Supplies of frost-wilted leaves were gathered in the fall, dried, and kept throughout the cold months for all such purposes.

It was also drunk for a stimulating effect especially by convalescents recovering from a fever, and its aromatic pleasantness was used to make such early remedies as cough syrups taste better. It was one of the many arthritis treatments, both as a beverage and for hot moist applications to ease pain in the afflicted part. In this regard, the leaves were simmered by Indians for providing a hot moist poultice to be held against the cheek to ease the agony of a toothache.

Also used as a closets and drawer scent and moth replant. The aromatic shrub was said to repel mosquitoes and other winged biters when spread damply over the dwindling coals of a campfire or smoked by someone on the go.

No less an authority than the US Dispensatory stated that a decoction of the medicinal be used to treat diarrhea, while other authorities recognized its value in difficulties arising from poison ivy and the like.

America’s first herbal, “Towards and American Materia Medica”, was written while our nation was still a British colony. It briefly mentions Sweet Fern, misidentifying it (as was common at the time) with a similar European herb:

The Liquidambar asplenifoliumf of Linnaeus is well known by the name of Sweet-Fern. It has often been found useful in diarrhoea. Other virtues have been ascribed to it… Liquidambar asplenifolium. Colden was informed, that the Indians chew the root of this vegetable, with a view to stop haemorrhages in recent wounds. This effect of the Sweet-Fern may, perhaps, meet with some credit from those who have witnessed the wonderful powers of small doses of the preparations of lead, in diminishing and stopping, almost immediately after their reception into the stomach, haemorrhages from the uterus, intestines, &c.

Sweet Fern was much used by America’s first true school of herbal medicine, the Ecclectics – from the American Ecclectic Materia Medica:

Sweet Fern is mildly astringent and somewhat tonic. It is used in New England in diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera infantum, and in cases of general relaxation, and in debilitated states of the bowels. In these diseases it forms a grateful astringent, tonic, and aromatic drink, prepared by adding sugar and cream to the decoction. It is acceptable to the stomach and agreeable to the taste.

Resources of The Southerns Fields and Forests states:

FERN BUSH; SWEET FERN, (Comptonia asplenifolia, Ait.) Mts. of North Carolina and northward. An aromatic astringent used by Barton and others as a pleasant drink in the summer complaints of children, Shoepf says on the authority of Colden, that chewing the root will check a spitting of blood, and that it is useful in rachitis and the debility following fevers. -Griffith

Resources of The Southern Fields and Forests, like many such books of the era, included advertisements in the final pages. The advertisements of Patent Medicine companies (etc.) helps offset the cost of printing. Interestingly, one such advertisement includes an offering of Sweet Fern:]

Comptonia Asplenifolia [Sweet Fern). — Tonic, astringent and alterative. It possesses all the properties of the tonic and astringent balsams, and is useful in dysentery, diarrhea, hemoptysis and lucorrhea. Barton recommends it for summer com- plaints of children.
Fluid Extract — Dose: 1/2 to 1 dram.

King’s Medical Dispensatory of 1898 gives a comprehensive listing for this herb:

Botanical name: Comptonia peregrina

The plant and especially the leaves and tops of Comptonia asplenifolia, Aiton (Myrica asplenifolia, Linné; Myrica Comptonia, De Candolle).

Nat. Ord.—Myricaceae.

COMMON NAMES: Sweet fern, Meadow fern, Ferngale.

Botanical Source.—Sweet fern is a low, indigenous shrub, with a long, horizontal root, and growing from 2 to 4 feet high, the main stem being covered with a rusty, brown bark, which becomes reddish in the branches, and white-downy in the young shoots. The leaves are numerous, on short peduncles, from 3 to 4 inches in length, ½ inch broad, alternate, linear-lanceolate, sinuate-pinnatifid, resembling the leaves of the spleenwort fern, brown, rather downy on the under side, shining on the upper. The stipules in pairs and acuminate. The flowers are green, monoecious, amentaceous, appearing before the leaves; barren ones in long, erect, cylindrical, loosely imbricated catkins, terminal and lateral, with deciduous, 1-flowered bracts; the fertile ones in ovate, densely imbricated catkins, situated below the barren ones, with 1-flowered bracts. Stamens 6, adhering in pairs. Sepals 6, larger than the bracts; styles 2, capillary. The fruit is a small, ovate, brown, 1-celled nut (L-W.).

History.—This plant is found growing in thin, sandy soils, or dry, rocky woods, from Maine to Kentucky, flowering in May. The whole plant possesses a spicy, aromatic odor, especially when bruised, and an aromatic, astringent, faintly bitterish taste. The whole herb is used, and imparts its virtues to water or alcohol. The leaves have been used in the rural districts of New York state as a substitute for tea.

Chemical Composition.—H. K. Bowman (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1869, p. 194), found the leaves to contain 8.2 per cent of tannin, corroborated by Charles G. Manger, who, in 1894, made a complete analysis of both the rhizome and the leaves of Myrica asplenifolia. He found the amount of tannin to vary with the season; dried January leaves containing 7.06 per cent, July leaves 10.28 per cent. Tannin in the dried rhizome reached a maximum of 6 per cent in a sample collected in August. Starch was not found in the leaves, but the rhizome contained 8.24 per cent. By distilling the leaves with water, Mr. Manger isolated a small amount of an aromatic volatile oil, which was liable to resinify upon exposure to the air. R. T. Chiles, in 1873, found gallic acid in the leaves, the usual plant constituents, and a body resembling saponin. Peacock subsequently could detect traces only of gallic acid in a January specimen of the rhizome, and none at all in a specimen collected in June (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1892).

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Tonic, astringent, and alterative. Used in diarrhoea, dysentery, hemoptysis, leucorrhoea, rheumatism, debility succeeding fevers, and in rachitis. A decoction of it is very useful in the summer complaints of children, when given as an auxiliary. A pillow of the leaves is beneficial to rachitic children, and they may be used as a fomentation in contusions and rheumatism. Dose of the decoction, from 1 to 4 fluid ounces, 3 or 4 times a day.

Plants for A Future states:

Sweet fern was employed medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes who used it especially as a poultice to treat a variety of complaints. It is still used for most of the same purposes in modern herbalism. The leaves are astringent, blood purifier, expectorant and tonic. A tea made from the leaves and flowering tops is used as a remedy for diarrhoea, headache, fevers, catarrh, vomiting of blood, rheumatism etc. The infusion has also been used to treat ringworm. The leaves have also been used as a poultice for toothaches, sprains etc. A cold water infusion of the leaves has been used externally to counter the effect of poison ivy and to bathe stings, minor haemorrhages etc. The leaves are harvested in early summer and dried for later use.






This article is an excerpt from

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Disclaimer

The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.