Chickweed - Stellaria media

This is one of my favorite little medicinal plants. Once I  realized what it had to offer, I thought back to all those times I used to pull this "weed" out of my flower beds wondering, what in the world is this and how can I keep it from growing back! Since that time, chickweed has become my go to plant for just about any skin issue.  

Plant description and where to find it 

The light green leaves are small, oval shaped with pointed tips. The
leaves are smooth but yet at times can be slightly hairy.
Slender stems stretch along the ground forming a dense mat 
anywhere from 1 to 10 inches tall. It has tiny white flowers. Each flower has 5 petals that are lobed. Lobed is like having a cut in the individual petal which gives it the appearance of having 2 petals and not just one. Hence, with chickweed, 5 petals looking like it has 10. 


Chickweed grows in a wide variety of habitats and soil textures. It's one of the most common plants found in yards. (No wonder it was always growing in my veggie and flower beds.) You can also find it in fields, pastures and along the roadside. This plant loves cooler weather so start looking for it as early as April and into the early summer months, then to reappear again in the late fall and in some areas throughout the winter months.  

Parts used: leaves, stems and flowers

Medicinal properties: diuretic, lymphatic, nutritive, anti-viral, anti-bacterial 

High in nutrients. Delicious when mixed with other greens in a salad or made into an herbal infusion
High in saponins; regulates blood sugar, reduces internal inflammation.

 As a lymphatic cleanse, chickweed tea or an herbal infusion is commonly taken in the spring to aide in stimulating and clearing toxins from the body. 

As a diuretic, the medicinal properties release excess water from your body through an increased urine flow. (Makes you pee more) This process flushes out bacteria from the kidneys and urinary tract system, helping to relieve painful urination and inflammation associated with urinary tract infections. Although not commonly used to "treat" UTI's, but rather, to soothe the symptoms.

Chickweed has a cooling effect on red, itchy, inflamed skin associated with poison ivy, poison oak, bee stings, bug bites, minor burns, eczema, psoriasis, diaper rash, minor cuts, scratches, boils, rashes and just about anything else that has to do with issues with the skin.            

chickweed loves cool weather

Regarding the eczema and psoriasis; any preparation whether it be herbal or pharmaceutical is really not going to address these types of skin issues head on and will only offer temporary relief. These particular skin issues need to be dealt with from the inside out as well as outside in. 

There is a root cause to the symptoms. It could be from food allergies, a chemical allergy from laundry detergents, soaps, shampoos and lotions. Emotional and or mental stress can also be the cause. 

Another area to look into would be diet. On a daily basis, the body needs a good amount of water to stay hydrated; healthy fats, vitamins and nutrients from fruits, vegetables, nuts and or seeds in order to "feed" the skin from the inside out. So be sure to address the root cause/s in conjunction with any treatment you are using. 👌

Chickweed can also help in drawing out splinters. You can try this by simmering some fresh chickweed in water for 1- 2 hours. Stain the liquid, be sure to keep the plant as well. Soak a cloth in the liquid then squeeze out gently. Be sure to leave a good amount of the liquid left in your cloth. You can wrap the cloth around the area of the splinter just as is or you can take some of the plant you saved and lay that across the area first and then wrap your soaked cloth around the area. Replace this every 1-2 hours until you can see that the splinter has come to the surface enough to where you can safely pull it out. 

* In acute ophthalmia, the bruised leaves will likewise be found a valuable application.            ~King’s American Dispensatory

* An ointment, made by bruising the recent leaves in fresh lard, may be used as a cooling application to erysipelatous and other forms of ulceration, as well as in many forms of cutaneous disease (J King). ~ King’s American Dispensatory

* A tincture of Stellaria media has been extolled in some quarters as a remedy for rheumatic pains of a fugitive and shifting character.
 ~ King’s American Dispensatory

A couple summers ago, I was using a loofah sponge. If you're familiar with one you know how the edges can be somewhat scratchy. I managed to scratch my arm with the edge of the sponge. A couple days later I noticed that the scratch was becoming infected. I used other forms of ointments, however, it kept getting worse and worse. I finally went out and gathered some fresh chickweed and simmered it in water for about 2 hours. I then took some of the plant out of the water and laid it across the infected area on my arm. Then I took an ace bandage and soaked that in the chickweed liquid then wrapped that around the chickweed I had placed on my arm. I replaced the plant and re-soaked the bandage every 2 hours throughout the day. I did this for just one day. 2 days later, I could hardly tell where that infected scratch was on my arm. 😀


My granddaughter, when she gets into poison ivy or gets a bug bite, her skin swells up and is very painful to the touch and itches like crazy. I'll apply chickweed infused oil on her skin every couple of hours. For her, it's usually the next day and the bug bites or the poison ivy is pretty much all cleared up. Now, I'm not saying that it will work this fast for everyone. But I do know from experience how it works for me and my family.

**  For additional information check out Dr. John R. Christopher's research on chickweed.

Nettle - Do you think it is a weed plant...?

Dioecious beetles are among the known medicinal plants. On the other hand, however, many people consider it to be weed and some too "ordinary". This is a mistake, because the nettles contain a number of interesting natural substances and have a versatile use.

Although we all know the nettle, it will not hurt to get closer to the beginning. The nettle, the Urtica dioica, belongs to the family of the nettle (Urticaceae).


It is a perennial plant that can grow up to 150 centimeters in height. Petiolate serrate leaves have a cordate base. The stalks and the leaves are just the famous hazel hairs (they are expertly called trichomes), through which the nettles can torture us a lot. These stubborn hairs contain a mixture of three substances - histamine for skin irritation, acetylcholine to cause burning sensation and serotonin to increase the effects of the two previous substances. Nettle flowers are unobtrusive and green in color. Nettle fruit is small.

Despite your ability to burn you thoroughly on unprotected skin, if you are not careful, the nettle nettle has become a very popular helper in natural healing.





As a curative drug, nits, leaves and root are processed from nettle (in the pharmacopoeias are included as a medicinal drug its leaves). They contain a number of important natural substances. In freshly harvested nations, histamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, formic acid and leukotrienes can be found. The first three substances were already mentioned. Formic acid is hot and has a slightly corrosive effect, as we can see through burning. They serve nettles to protect against unwanted intruders. Leukotrienes promote anti-inflammatory processes. We can find flavonoids, silica, silicates as well as high potassium and nitrate levels throughout the nation. In the nettle root steroids (beta sitosterol and others), lectins, hydroxycoumarins, polysaccharides, lignans and other substances are included. Among other natural substances which are in common nettle occur can still be an overall list of add vitamins ( C , A , B2 or riboflavin, and also B or pyridoxine), minerals ( iron , calcium , etc.), carotenoids (lutein, β - carotene, lycopene and zeaxanthin), mucilages and other substances. At the "ordinary" nettle quite a long list ...

What is all these natural substances in the nettle good for?

The extract from its root is a suitable supplement for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia . We can be with her, so list as one ingredient for the dietary supplements recommended for this disease. Also, nipple is an important addition to the treatment of urinary tract diseases , kidney and gall bladder stones, and rheumatism. In folk healing, nettle was used for swelling, day and hair loss. It is also recommended by some sources as a complement to treatment for diabetes and liver disease. The contained beta carotene promotes pigmentation of the skin when exposed to sunlight.

The hoof is also used in natural cosmetics (especially in shampoos). Here, her healing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect is applied. It is suitable for the treatment of minor frostbites, abrasions or scalds.

They work in shampoos because they act against hair loss, strengthens and prevents them from over-drying. It suppresses the scalp and dandruff. Gives shine to dark hair and bright hair darkens. The hair is dense and cheerful. The nettles cleanse and regenerate the skin. Someone may be more sensitive and irritable.

However, the use of the plant does not end. its leaves are also very useful in the kitchen. It must, however, be crushed and cooked to destroy their stubbornness. Traditionally they are used in spring morsels and soups.

Remarkable is the use of this unobtrusive herb. Its fibers were used during World War I in the absence of raw materials for the fabrication of fabrics. At present, some growers return to this use and start to breed special fiber varieties for processing in the textile industry.

But when should nets not be used? Generally, during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Nettle nets should not be used to hold urine in the body when the cause of this symptom is heart and kidney insufficiency. Side effects include stomach irritation, allergic reaction, or inflammation of the oral cavity and gums. It must not be combined with iron because it worsens its absorption. The substances contained in the nettle root do not cause, according to experts, any undesirable effects or interactions with drugs (i.e., affecting the effect of drugs).

Elderberry - Sambucus

Ahhhh, behold, the elderberry. Packed full with anti-viral, anti- inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it's no wonder this plant is such a wonderful immunity booster.

As a child, growing up in Pennsylvania, I remember seeing these bushes growing in the wild, they would be covered with the most beautiful shade of deep purple berries. I didn't know what they were at that time or how in the years to come how much that beautiful berry would become a medicinal mainstay in my household. It seems that nature was actually instilling the love and curiosity of her medicinal bounty as I was growing up. That is just so amazing to me. And chances are, if you're here reading this now, nature has instilled that love and curiosity in you too. 💓 

In my experience with elderberry, nothing matches it's abilities when it comes to boosting the immunity and or aiding the body in healing from colds, flu and bronchitis. When taken on a schedule during an illness, (10 drops of elderberry tincture in 1/8 cup of water 3 times a day for 10 days works wonders for me.) it not only shortens the duration of symptoms but also lessens the severity of symptoms too. 

* A study published in the Journal of International Medical Research shows that when the extract is used within the first 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms, it can shorten the duration of flu symptoms by an average of four days.

If it's that time of year for the cold and flu and you're starting to feel run down or have been around someone that is sick, one can start taking elderberry on a daily schedule to boost your immunity. That doesn't mean you won't get sick, but if you do, like I mentioned above, it will shorten the duration of symptoms and lesson the severity of symptoms too. Just remember, everyone's body is different. The dosage that works for you may not be the same dosage that works for someone else. This doesn't necessarily have to do with age or weight, it's just that everyone's body chemistry handles medicine differently, whether it's herbal or pharmaceutical.  

What I have learned over the years is that the smaller the dose the better. If that smaller dose does not seem to be helping then you can always increase it the next dosage time. If you do your research, you will find that you can take up to 30 drops in one dose. So, starting with say 7, that gives you some room to find what works the best for you.

Parts used - berries and flowers

Both berries and flowers offer antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
  
Antiviral - inhibits the development of a virus. Gives your immune system a boost which helps your body to fight off and shorten the duration of a virus and also reduces the severity of symptoms.

Anti-inflammatory - helps with a sore inflamed throat and sinus inflammation that comes with a head cold. Reduces the inflammation in the bronchial tubes, which leads to less coughing.

Antioxidants - work by protecting and repairing the cells from cellular damage - strengthening the immune system. 

* A 2016 study published in Nutrients showed that elderberry supplementation was able to reduce cold duration and symptoms in air travelers. Travelers using this herb from 10 days before travel until four to five days after arrival overseas experienced, on average, a two-day shorter duration of their colds as well as a noticeable reduction in cold symptoms.


The flowers, being a nervine, help to relax the nerves and anxiety by supporting the nervous system through stressful periods.  

Those beautiful white flowers are also great for skin care. They carry within their flowers diaphoretic properties. Although these particular properties in elderflowers are most commonly used for  fevers by aiding the body in sweating the toxins out, the flowers can also be used as a warm facial wash. In doing so this is said to aide in opening the pores thus allowing the skin to "purge" toxins. I make a small warm tea and apply with a cotton ball all over my face. I love it! It smells amazing.

I make an infused oil with the fresh flowers and carrier oil such as raw coconut oil or grapeseed oil. That is then used to make body butters and herbal salves. The salves are used for sunburns and skin rashes, the body butter is used in place of skin lotion. 
  
You can also make a flower essence from the fresh blossoms. Many have found that elderflower calls to them in the way of aiding in the opening of their crown chakra.  
Located at the top of the head, the crown chakra gives us access to higher states of consciousness. However, that is not to say with elderflower essence that is the only path in which she assists. 

Over the years I have come to learn that one particular flower may heal and or assist another person in a completely different way, and given the opportunity, the flower can and will seek one out for a particular healing. That is why in my teachings on flower essences I promote learning how to tap into your intuition, so you are able to hear for yourself the call from a particular flower in regards to a healing. 💓    

To learn more about flower essences, click here 
To learn about making elderflower infused oil, click here
To learn about making tinctures and other herbal preparations with elderberry and elderflower, click here.

    

Blueberries for Good Health

I just love these beautiful, vibrant, sweet tasting little berries! Used to be a time when food was just something to fill me up when I was hungry. I didn't really think of food in the sense of how it actually helps in healing our body when it's out of balance and how what we choose to eat on a daily basis is so instrumental in our overall health. Take the blueberry for example;  


Did you know this berry is one of the most antioxidant rich fruits in the world? In brief, antioxidants work by protecting and repairing our cells from cellular damage. What causes this type of damage? Diets that lack fruits and vegetables, consuming too many unhealthy fats, the artificial colors, flavorings and other chemicals  in our foods, drinking water, bath and beauty products. Also, air pollution, smoking, stress, lack of sleep. All these factors are what contribute to the weakening of, and damage to, our inner cellular structure. Over time this leads to an imbalance in our bodies, which can then lead to the manifestation of illnesses and diseases - like heart disease, cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure, auto-immune disease and skin issues. So eating foods that contain antioxidants is pretty important for our overall health.

Urinary Tract Infections 

These berries contain a compound called proanthocyanidins. What they do is prevent infectious bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract and bladder. With no place to attach to, the bacteria is flushed out with your urine. Bye bye UTI. 😉    


Where do they get that beautiful blue color ?

From a natural plant pigment called anthocyanin. This is also where other fruits, veggies, leaves, stems, roots and flowers get their red, blue and purple coloring. There are many health benefits and medicinal properties associated with anthocyanins as well. 

anti-cancer - inhibits the growth of cancer cells by reducing inflammation within the body.  

anti-viral - inhibits the development of a virus. Giving your immune system a boost which helps your body fight off and shorten the duration of a virus and reduces the severity of symptoms. 

anti-inflammatory - food allergies, consuming foods high in sugar, unhealthy fats, smoking, lack of exercise, carrying excess weight, emotional and mental stress, all contribute to creating chronic inflammation in the body. When your body reaches this point, you leave yourself open for heart disease, stroke, cancers, diabetes, arthritis and autoimmune disease. Eating foods with anti-inflammatory properties reduces inflammation in the body. However, if a change in lifestyle is not introduced, there is no way any anti-inflammatory is going to be able to help heal the body from any illness brought on from chronic inflammation.  

 
 Regarding chronic inflammation - Resources

The best way to get the health benefits from blueberries is by eating them in their natural form. Raw. You can freeze them, although some feel this does hinder some of the health benefits and medicinal properties and then again, some feel that it does not. I don't know whether it does or not. I do know that I love eating them frozen as well as fresh. I especially like adding the frozen berries to my oatmeal. Yum.  

The leaves of the plant have the same health benefits and medicinal properties as the berries. Sipping on a warm cup of tea made from either fresh or dried leaves will give your immunity a boost and also help in the recovery of colds and or the flu.  

I could go on and on here about the benefits these sweet little berries have to offer health wise, but then this post would end up being waaay too long. Be sure to do some more research and incorporate them into your daily diet. Your body will thank you with healthier skin and hair, stronger bones, healthier digestive system, enhanced brain health.         

Monarda fistulosa - Bee balm

I'm fortunate to have several chemical free areas close to where I live to harvest wild flowers. This plant here, Bee Balm, she is one of the most beautiful plants to see growing in the wild. It grows quite abundantly in my area, in large tall clumps. ( up to 5 feet ) Bees, butterflies and humming birds are attracted to this beauty, making it somewhat of a challenge to harvest, but sooo worth the time and patience. 



Medicinal Properties

Antibacterial - healing topical wounds and infections. I have found that applying a healing salve or a cloth soaked in a strong bee balm tea clears up wounds and topical infections quite well. A tincture or tea can be used as a mouth wash to treat mouth ulcers and gingivitis. Also makes a good mouth wash to freshen the breath.  😁

Anti-inflammatory - applied topically, a healing salve or tea soak helps with the swelling and pain associated with wounds and infections. A tincture or drinking a cup of bee balm tea helps with the burning and inflammation that comes with a yeast infection and the inflammation associated with digestive issues.  

Anti-fungal - yeast infections, ringworm, athletes feet. A healing salve, oil or tea soaked cloth can be applied topically for athletes feet. Although treating from the inside out does seem to be more effective. In that case a tincture can be taken in addition to the tea soak. If caught in the early stages, a tincture or tea can be taken for a yeast infection. I have found, for me, that the tincture works better. However, that doesn't mean the tea won't work better for someone else. Everyone's body is different.     


Bee balm is also good for cold and flu season. An herbal and or sipping on a warm cup of tea made with the leaves and flowers or honey infused bee balm can be taken on the onset of a cold, flu or sore throat. Also helps with digestive issues such as gas, bloating, cramps, colic, nausea and vomiting.     
There is so much more medicinal information out there on bee balm. You really should do some more research and see what else it has to offer.  








     

Elderberry Glycerite - Tea

At the time I wrote this post I had a doozy of a head cold and a sore throat from all that sinus drainage. This tea.. the sweetness from the berries, flowers and vegetable glycerin, really make this a delicious and soothing tea for colds and sore throats.💓
   

I made this particular glycerite with fresh elderberries, fresh blackberries and fresh elder flowers. If you don't have access to fresh berries and flowers, you can use dried or frozen berries or dried elder flowers. 

Okay, let's talk about the herbs I used for this delicious glycerite. I chose the elderberries, blackberries and elder flowers for their antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. 

Antiviral properties inhibit the development of a virus. Gives your immune system a boost which helps your body to fight off and shorten the duration of a virus and also reduces the severity of symptoms.  

Anti-inflammatory properties help with a sore inflamed throat and the sinus inflammation that comes with a head cold. Also reduces inflammation in the bronchial tubes, which leads to less coughing. 

Antioxidants work by protecting and repairing the cells from cellular damage - Damage caused from a poor diet, chemicals in our food, water, bath and beauty products. Air pollution, pesticides, smoking, mental stress, emotional stress, lack of sleep. All these factors contribute to the weakening of our inner cellular structure - resulting in illness and at times, disease. 

Elder flowers

Because this herbal preparation is concentrated, I only added 10 drops to a cup of hot water and sipped three times a day.    

 If you don't have your herbal glycerite prepared, you can still get the same medicinal benefits by making a tea with fresh or frozen berries and fresh or dried elder flowers.   😊

Aloe Vera

I love, love, this plant. The glycoproteins and polysaccharides contained in the liquid part of the plant is where the anti-inflammatory, cooling, skin growth and repair properties are. Works wonders for minor burns, sunburns, and those ooooh, so painful steam burns. The thick liquid inside those leaves provide a protective layer over the burn which helps to retain moisture, cool the burn and aide in healing.  

One of my favorite ways to use fresh aloe is to squeeze the liquid in my hands and gently apply that to my face and neck before bedtime. 

Before applying to your face, rinse with warm water as this will open your pores and allow the aloe to soak into your skin better. Then the next morning, rinse your face with warm water, then with some cold- to shrink the pores which helps to keep air borne pollutants out. I just love what this does for my complexion. It doesn't clog my pores or leave my skin feeling dry or greasy. Feels very soft, refreshed and hydrated. Gives the skin a bit of a glow too. 

Also increases collagen production which firms the skin and reduces the look of wrinkles. Some people have had good results in using aloe for acne by applying the liquid to areas on their face. Also, my granddaughter had fallen and skinned her knee, it was like a bad rug burn, after applying fresh aloe to the sore for a couple of days, it was already well on it's way to being healed. Yep, most definitely "one" of my favorite plants.

Bee balm Honey

Fill a glass jar with fresh bee balm flowers, slowly add raw honey. Be sure to use raw honey as raw is unprocessed unlike pure or natural honey. Keep poking and gently stirring with a knife until the flowers are submerged in honey. Cover with a lid and let infuse in a cool dark place for 2-4 weeks. The longer it infuses the stronger the honey will taste of the bee balm. 


You may have to keep turning the jar on it's side during the process as the flowers do have a tendency to float to the top of the jar. After infusing you can leave the flowers in the honey and use as is or strain the honey through a sieve. If you choose to strain the flowers out it makes it easier to warm the honey first. Keeping in mind to "gently" warm the honey. Too much heat will kill the medicinal properties in the honey. The used flowers added to a warm cup of water alone or with a little honey makes a delicious tea. 

Besides tasting amazing, honey is loaded with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which makes it great for minor burns, wounds and pressure / bed sores. When used for wound care, the medicinal properties promote healing and new tissue growth. It also creates a protective barrier which helps to prevent infections while the skin is healing. You can either place the honey directly on the skin, or apply the honey to a bandage and place that over the area. If using on burns, be sure to cool the area off first before applying honey. You can do this by running cool water, not cold, over the area for 10-15 minutes, then apply the honey.

Bee balm also has those anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties as well as pain relieving properties which can help soothe sore throats and coughs. So when infused with the honey you're getting even more healing benefits. I've found that taking a teaspoon of the honey 3 times a day really does speed up the healing of my sore throats. Also taste good in a cup of warm tea.