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Learning about herbs


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The best and quickest way to learn about herbs is to research the health problem in question.

Once you have a Drs. diagnoses, the next step is to check online or in your books for the herbal alternative to the prescribed Meds.

In this forum I will try to point you in the right direction, but you will need to do the research as I am not in possession of a medical license. It is a good idea to research any health problems that you know you might have to deal with in an emergency situation. once you have the info you want print it out and put it in a folder or note book for your use.

I have 2 books,

Nutritional Health, by James F. Balch, M.D. & Phillis A. Balch, CNC.

The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine , by Micheal Murry, ND and Joseph Pizzorno, ND

 

They both list the medical problem and both the prescribed meds and the herbal alternative.

I like to compare the suggestions against each other and look for agreement or dissent.

Posted by Lois

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  • 3 weeks later...

I also have The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. I also used The Herb Book, by John Lust, The Herbal Drugstore, by Linda B White, MD, Steven Foster, and the staff of Herbs for Health; Everywoman's Guide to Natural Home Remedies, by Sally Freeman, & Essential Guide to natural Home Remedies by penelope Ody.

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  • 2 months later...

My favorite book is "The Herb Book" by John Lust

This little book costs less than $10 and has a wealth of Info. including terminology, the nutritional value of not only herbs but the foods we eat every day, how to make decoctions and tinctures, which flowers to use and how to use them for dyes. Plus lists the herbs and their uses. Give both the common and botanical name for plants. As I said, a wealth of information.

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  • 2 weeks later...

this first link is the one I use as a quick reference for what herbs are best for what condition... there is a quick look up that takes you to the herbs as well as several types of alternative treatments : http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates/center.asp?centerid=1  This page is unavailable but you can find the site at Healthy.net.  Lots of info there. 

you can also look up info on individual herbs here as well.

 

my second favorite site for more detailed info on specific herbs is : http://www.henriettesherbal.com/    This one is still active.

in it it gives very inclusive listings of uses, doses, etc.. and includes traditional and older texts on herbs

as well as the herbal materia medica... worth checking into.

it also has photographs AM.

Edited by Mother
Updated info 2022
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  • 1 year later...

not sure where this goes, but the Alum info I think belongs here...

 

http://www.debidawn.com/Fdstrgbklt.htm     This linc is still active. There is a LOT of storage and prep info on it.  

 

 

Edited by Mother
Update info 2022
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You are right, Westy, there's lots of useful info here for this forum, especially among the spices. Because there's also a lot of other good simple and easy to understand other info you might ALSO want to put it in Are You Really Ready or one of them. I like the idea that she gives the reasons for storing a lot of the foods.

 

Thanks for the link.

 

((( )))

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GOODMORNINGORANGEJUICE.gif

 

Wes, did you know this lady is non other than Lois. smile

 

Lois knows so much about all of this, and I am glad you brought this thread back up. I am going to check in the library the next time we go and see if they have the book she mentioned. smile

 

HAPPYTUESDAY3.jpghaveagreatday.gifHUGS22.gif

 

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  • 4 months later...

One of the sections I'm creating in my prep notebooks (plural!) is a medical section with the ailment, the Rx/script, an OTC equivalent and the traditional herbal/plant remedy.

 

A good source, too, for ancient remedies would be medieval sources and some of the best can be accessed from the Medieval re-enactment groups, including the SCA at

 

www.sca.org (main site - click on 'resources') and try this one:

 

http://anvil.unl.edu/agnes/Herbindex.htm   This page seems to be inactive.  You might find it at the anvil.uni.edu addy.

 

 

Edited by Mother
Updated info 2022
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I was in SCA back in Texas but between teaching and raising my twins, I didn't get to 'play' very much. One of the things my 'persona' was into was medicinal herbs. So prepping is giving me a chance to get back into that. The SCA folks are sticklers for authenticity, so they are a pretty good asset to preppers for techniques and skills that don't rely on high tech stuff.

 

I know of one SCA participant who grows her own fibers, and the plants to dye them.She's built an authentic period loom. Her persona is a 12th c Scottish woman and her weavings and clothing are amazing! This is great for me; I can prep and be back in the 12th century at the same time!

 

Here's another link to Regia Anglorum, a major re-enactment group in England.

 

http://www.regia.org/

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  • 2 months later...

Can anyone give me any tips on making wood sorrel lemonade powder...or just anything concerning wood sorrel?

 

I found some info on the web but it was pretty sketchy.

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Sadie, Wood sorrel lemonade can be made by steeping the leaves for ten minutes in hot water, similar to make a tea, then chill. I have also made it like sun tea where I steep the leaves in cold water in the sunshine. It's a great addition to other herb teas. You can use fresh or dried but I like fresh better.

 

I have dried the leaves for winter use. They are okay that way but I have other dried lemony herbs that I would use quicker such as lemon balm, lemon verbena and etc. for a drink and use the dried leaves of wood sorrel mostly medicinally in the winter.

 

Fresh leaves can be tossed in a salad for a refreshing sour/lemony taste. Even the flowers look pretty in a salad. Adding the leaves to soups just when they are ready to be served gives low sodium soups a bit of flavor.

 

Historically the leaves were chewed for nausea, mouth sores, and sore throats. I've used them for that myself with good results. The leaves can be used as a poultice on old sores and ulcers that won't heal. The tea is used for fevers, urinary infections and in the past for scurvy.

 

They are rich in vitamin C but are also high in oxalate acid which could interfere with the absorbtion if used for long periods of time or in large doses. It can also cause oxalate poisoning. Some are more sensitive than others. I use this plant sparingly and occassionally but I love to chew on the leaves when I'm working in the garden. They are a great thirst quencher.

 

As always, be positive of your ID before you eat them.

 

Hope this helps some smile

 

bighug

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 months later...

i am looking for something for my husband's chronic pain. he has kicked the fentanyl patches, which when you see someone detox from that stuff,,,,,,well, you won't believe the agony i saw him go through for several days on end. bad stuff. my questions are, what can he use when the lights go out. i need some urgent information befor e he gets back on synthetics again from his doctors. i know he cant tolerate the pain because i've seen the effects when he is not taking anything. he can't sleep, concentrate, or focus on anything but the pain. aand he's just going to be to valuable to others to just dope up again. he's an electrical engineer, qa,aas and an inventor, scientist in solar and wisnd related projects. please help.

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What is the cause of the pain, tweety?

 

Most of what would really work to kill pain isn't legal to grow or process in this country, although last I heard valerian (muscle relaxant) is still legal. So is white willow, although that boils down to aspirin, and if he's been on fentanyl, he might not feel any benefits from it at all.

 

If he can't get relief through rehab or yoga or something, your best bet might be stockpiling his medication, and see if you can avoid using it. If he can get relief from rehab or yoga or something, you need to get him into that now.

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Originally Posted By: tweety
i am looking for something for my husband's chronic pain. he has kicked the fentanyl patches, which when you see someone detox from that stuff,,,,,,well, you won't believe the agony i saw him go through for several days on end. bad stuff. my questions are, what can he use when the lights go out. i need some urgent information befor e he gets back on synthetics again from his doctors. i know he cant tolerate the pain because i've seen the effects when he is not taking anything. he can't sleep, concentrate, or focus on anything but the pain. aand he's just going to be to valuable to others to just dope up again. he's an electrical engineer, qa,aas and an inventor, scientist in solar and wisnd related projects. please help.


I don't know if this is any help or not. I asked a similar question (Pain medication Question [http://www.mrssurvival.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=234565&page=1#Post234565] - I have degenerative arthritis of the spine). If you look at the replies, Comfrey was mentioned, as well as the cautions for it.
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ambergris and campy...thank you both for your replies. i had already seen your question, campy, and read the replies and ambergris, he has tried the valerian. helped some. the herbs are a totally new field to us and there is so much out there

that we would like to learn. went to a GNC store close by and found a huge book with just about anything you would need to know. he has been going through it daily and also looking on the net. thanks again...marie

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  • 5 months later...

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/find_use?MED_USE=Anodyne     This says the link is unsecured. 

 

I've been researching herbs and their uses and one of the best sites I've found is the Plants for a Future Database. They have an incredible search engine, including one that you can search herbs by their medicinal uses. The link above takes you to the search I did for anondynes (relaxants/pain relievers)

Edited by Mother
Updated info 2022
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  • 13 years later...

This thread was started in 2005 by Lois, a well respected and loved member who is no longer with us.  it’s well worth a read through again.  
 

This link has lots of info for prepping and storage besides the herb/spice info. 

 

 http://www.debidawn.com/Fdstrgbklt.htm

Edited by Mother
  • Like 3
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