Native American Remedies

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EARTH MOTHER HERBAL POWDER

A SELECTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN
HEALING REMEDIES

Like Parents today, many Indian mothers used
massage to naturally bond with their children and to
exercise their babies after many hours spent in their
cradleboards. They often used protective powders
like this one as part of the process.

You can also use this mild powder both to keep
creases and other moist areas of your baby's skin dry
and to soothe the irritation from lingering rashes. It is
especially useful when you put it on your baby's
bottom, under his arms, or in other spots where the
heat rash flares up. Sage is a purifier and it also adds
a light fragrance. Usa the powder by lightly sprinkling
it onto the baby's skin and gently rubbing it in.

Combine 2 cups of fine cornstarch and 1/4 cup of fine
sage. Blend well. Cover and store in a small, clean jar.

DRY-ROASTED CORNMEAL TALC

Here is an alternative to cornstarch powder that you
can also use as a skin treatment and to absorb
moisture. It's best to make this frequently-once or
twice a week-so that it stays fresh. It's easy to do.

Roast 1 to 2 cups of fine cornmeal on top of the stove
in a clean, dry skillet, shaking frequently to prevent
burning. Or spread the cornmeal on a clean cookie
sheet and roast at 325 degrees for 15 minutes or less.
The cornmeal is done when it becomes light brown or
honey-colored. Store it in an air tight container.

STRAWBERRY/RASBERRY LEAF TEA

This herbal tea and its variation are mild and can be
used, n moderation for infants. Massage any of them
onto your baby's gums to ease teething pains. If
you're a nursing mother, you can use the tea as a
digestive aid. And if you baby is colicky or has
diarrhea, drink some yourself and give the baby
some, lukewarm, a small spoonful at a time.

Strawberry/rasberry leaf tea also makes a pleasant,
mild skin wash for infants. To treat scalp irritations
such as cradle cap, use this tea, with a small amount
of honey added, once or twice a day. Lightly sprinkle
the tea on your infant's head and gently rub it in.
Leave it on for ten minutes to half an hour, then rinse
with plain water or unsweetened tea to lubricate the
skin and wash away any stickiness.

In a clean pot, pour the boiling water over the herbs.
Cover and steep for five minutes or more. Strain and
use as needed, warm or chilled; add maple syrup to
sweeten, if desired.

VARIATION: Use 1/8 cup to 1/4 cup dried mint leaves
for a cooling analgesic effect.

VARIATION: Use 1/8 cup fresh or 1 tablespoon dried
slippery elm bark or willow bark. When made into a
light tea, the smooth young inner bark of these trees
is a good pain reliever; rubbed on the skin, it relieves
heat or diaper rash.

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HONEY-WATER LOTION

This is a soothing lotion that calms burns and rashes;
it is also antibacterial. But it should not be used on
highly sensitive skin or where there are open wounds.
Apply the lotion on the skin as needed, one
tablespoonful at a time, and gently massage it in. For
diaper rash, use some with each diaper change; if
your child has highly sensitive skin, use it only once a
day.

You can also use this lotion to treat digestive
problems by applying it to the baby's abdomen and
softly massaging clockwise and then
counter-clockwise.

MAKE THIS LOTION WHEN YOU NEED IT; IT
DOESN'T STORE WELL.

Melt the honey in the hot water along with the bee
propolis and lemon juice. Stir until thoroughly
blended and dissolved. Pour into a sterile 8 ounce
bottle or jar.

VARIATION: For diaper rash, substitute black tea or
green tea for the liquid. Their tannins will calm the
inflammation.

1 tablespoon natural honey
1 cup strawberry/raspberry tea or plain hot water
1 teaspoon bee propolis (optional)
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice (optional-it adds a cleansing
benefit)

SLIPPERY ELM HEALING SALVE

Calendula blossoms and slippery elm bark have a
soothing, curative effect on the skin, as well as
fungicdal benefits. A salve provides a protective
coating for the skin; it is not readily absorbed. This
one is especially useful for chapped or extremely
irritated or sensitive skin. You can use it for sunburn,
chapped lips, bad diaper or heat rash, or even
ringworm.

First make a decoction, and then strain it and simmer
it a while longer with additional ingredients to
complete the salve.

Simmer first four ingredients ina small pot for half an
hour, stirring occasionally to blend thoroughly.
Strain off the liquid and measure. Return the liquid to
a clean pot and add an equal amount of corn or
sunflower seed oil. Simmer for about 3 hours on low
heat.

Note: Always be careful not to boil or burn; this will
make the product too harsh. Results are far better
when simmered.

Add beeswax, honey, and vitamin E oil. Stir
constantly and remove from heat when all of the
beeswax melts. Whip with a wire whip or sturdy
spoon until almost cool and thoroughly blended.
Pour immediately into small containers before it
hardens.

When cool, gently rub on dry, affected skin areas
several times a day while symptoms persist.

VARIATION: You can change this recipe to make a
deeper, penetrating herbal emollient cream or oil,
which will be absorbed and convey the herbs and
minerals deeper into the skin. To do this, omit the
beeswax and shorten the simmering time to about
1 1/2 hours.

1 cup calendula blossoms, freshly crushed
1 tablespoon slippery elm bark, freshly ground
1 teaspoon ginger root, freshly chopped
2 cups water
Corn or sunflower seed oil
1 ounce beeswax
1 tablespoon pure honey
1/4 ounce vitamin E oil

HUMMINGBIRD DIGESTIVE TEA

Wild bergamot, also called bee balm, is a favorite
flower for hummingbirds. A tea made from bee balm
and marshmallow has a soothing effect on the throat
and stomach. It can relieve gas and aid digestion. It is
good at any age, but mild enough to be given to
children.

Place ingredients ina tea ball or cheesecloth bag in an
8-ounce teapot. Pour boiling water over them to fill
the pot. Cover and steep for 5 to 10 minutes.

Pour 1/2 cup in a small glass and sweeten with a
teaspoon of honey or maple syrup. Drink 4 ounces
just before each meal.

1 tablespoon dried bee balm leaves, crushed
1 teaspoon dried marshmallow root, cut fine or
powdered

JEWELWEED SKIN RUB AND POISON IVY ANTIDOTE

You can easily tincture common plants in vinegar
solutions, which work better on young skin because
they are milder than those made with alcohol. These
tinctures can help soothe a variety of everyday
problems from insect bites to rashes.

Our common jewelweed has fungicidal value, making
it useful for treating ringworm and other fungal skin
infections. It is also a valuable antidote for poison
ivy, especially if you rub it on the skin as soon as
possible after contact with urushiol, the irritating oil
of poison ivy. It is more effective if you apply it when
it is cool. You may also substitute yellow dock leaves
and roots for the jewelweed.

You can add this tincture to a foot or tub bath to cool
and soothe heat rash, sunburn, chickenpox, and
other skin irritation. It also helps athlete's foot, tired
feet, or sprains.

Because this tincture is made without preservatives or
alcohol, it does not have a long shelf life. After about
six months or so discard it and make a fresh supply. It
will last a bit longer if you keep it refrigerated or in a
cool place. Remember to make a fresh batch to last
through the winter before the first killing autumn
frost.

Fill a sterile 8-ounce jar with freshly picked, clean
jewelweed plants (blossoms, leaves, stems--everything
but the roots). Press the plant material down until the
jar is full. Cover the plants with good apple cider
vinegar or white vinegar. Cover tightly and shake
gently. Label and date the jar. You can use this
tincture immediately, but it is better to let it rest in a
dark, cool place for a week to ten days. After
straining, it is ready for use.

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SASSAFRAS SQUISH TOPICAL INSECT REPELLENT

This recipe enhances the insecticidal properties of
sassafras, a common native plant. Sassafras is an
algonquian word meaning "green twig". Sassafras
twigs used as chew sticks revive the mouth and
massage the gums; they also make delicious
toothbrushes.

Since this insecticide is made without preservatives, it
is best to make it frequently in small amounts and use
it up. If refrigerated, it will last three days to a week.
Discard it if it apears moldy.

Crush 6 fresh sassafras leaves in a small clean bowl
with a charcoal tablet. (These are available at health
food stores. Do not use charcoal briquettes.) If you
want, you can substitute a small, clean pieace of
charred wood from the fireplace for the charcoal.
Bind the ingredients together with one to two
tablespoons of vegetable oil. Dot the mixture on your
forehead, nose, and around the mouth and ears and
rub gently. Allow it to sit on the skin. This natural,
homemade insecticide should be reapplied
frequently. The ingredients are nonstaining and will
wash out readily if the get onto your clothes.

VARIATION: Substitute the leaves of our native bee
balm, jewelweed, sweetfern, or the garden mints,
such as pepermint and spearmint.

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MAYAN CRAMP RELIEF TEA

The root of wild yam, Dioscorea villosa, has long
been used by native peoples in Central and North
America to treat painful menses. The Maya and
Indians also used this medicinal plant for pain relief.
Wild yam can act as a diuretic, and teas and tinctures
made from it are also effective treatments for
indigestion.

Measure the roots into the bottom of an 8-ounce pot.
Pour boiling water over them. Cover and steep for 5
to 10 minutes. Strain this into a cup and sip it
throughout the day to ease cramps.

1 tablespoon dried chopped roots of wild yam
8 ounces boiling water

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WOOD EAR MUSHROOM SOUP

This stimulating warm soup, filled with healthy
ingredients, can be a meal in itself. Enjoy this with
friends, or savor it yourself.

If reconstituting dried mushrooms first, place them in
a glass bowl, cover them with 3 cups hot broth, and
allow to soak for 30 to 40 minutes.

Reserving 1/4 cup of the mushroom broth, pour the
rest, along with the mushrooms, into a medium soup
pot. Add the additional water and bring this to a boil
over medium heat.

Add the vegetables and wild rice, stir well, and lower
the heat to simmer. Stir in the sea dulse and crushed
pepper, season to taste, cover, and simmer for 35
minutes.

In a small cup, mix the reserved mushroom broth
with the cornstarch until smooth; carefully stir this
into the soup, and raise the heat slightly, to medium.
Stir until the soup thickens.

Slowly pour the beaten egg into the soup while
stirring well. Remove from the heat and add the
vinegar. Spoon the soup into serving bowls and
garnish with fresh chopped green onions.

Yield: 6 generous cups.

1 cup fresh wood ears, or 1 ounce dried, reconstituted
3 cups hot vegetable or chicken broth, or hot water
2 cups warm water
1/2 cup chopped danelion roots or carrots
1/2 cup natural wild rice
2 tablespoons chopped onions
1 tablespoon sea dulse, chopped
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste salt and
pepper to taste
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 egg, well beaten
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/2 cup chopped green onions for garnish

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