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CRAMPBARK TEAS AND RUBS FOR MUSCLE SPASMS |
This tea is a multipurpose, unisex remedy, since it is as good sipped as it is gently rubbed on the body. Young women can relieve menstral cramps by sipping this gentle decoction of the bark of crampbark, Viburnum opulus, or black haw, Viburnum prunifolium, all day whiletheir symptoms persist. Native athletes use this same decoction as a muscle relaxant. The catawba, Penobscot, Meskwaki, and Menominee use these shrub and root bark medicines to treat cramps, colic, swollen glands, and diarrhea. Many other tribes have similar uses for these two viburnums. Although it can be gathered at other times, late spring and summer--while these deciduous shrubs are flowering--is the best time to gather bark. This is the easiest time to identify the shrubs, as well as their time of greatest potency. Measure the dried bark into the bottom of an 8-ounce teapot. Pour boiling water over it. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain this into a cup and sip as needed throughout the day. VARIATIONS: You can steep this decoction for a longer time if you want to use it as a lotion or a poultice on sore muscles or other areas where you have aches or pains. For stronger relief, you can also make a tincture with either one or both of these medicinal barks, using vodka or vinegar. A vinegar tincture is excellant when used externally as a liniment. And several drops of the tincture blended into 1/4 cup of vegetable oil, such as corn or sunflower seed oil, makes a good massage oil for abdominal cramps, legs, and feet. 1 rounded tablespoon dried crampbark or black haw bark 8 ounces boiling water |
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A SELECTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN HEALING REMEDIES |
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RESTORATIVE BATHS AND SKINS WASHES |
You can add healing herbs to a hot bath to relax and soothe irritated skin and sore muscles or just to improve general skin tone and comfort. A generous handful of fresh chickweed, Stellaris media, crushed and tied in a cotton cloth and immersed in a hot bathtub provides relief for eczema and will even ease the irritation caused by stinging nettles. The summer blossoms of calendula, Calendula officinalis, are soothing for eczema and acne. Allow yourself to soak for 15 to 20 minutes in a bath of hot water in which you've immersed a generous handful of fresh blossoms, crushed and tied in a cotton cloth. Calendula flowers are also used in tinctures, creams, and burn ointments. |
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IRON-RICH ENERGY FOOD |
Young people may need extra iron in their diets to help them through the physical changes of puberty. This is especially true for young women, who lose iron during menstruation. Nettle, Urtica dioica, is a delicious iron-rich potherb. Additional iron-rich plants are yellow dock, skullcap, ginseng, chickweed, hops, burdock, mullein, sarsaparilla, rosemary, and peppermint. They can all be used similarly, on their own or in combinations of your choosing. To eliminate nettles' stinging properties, clip the top four to six inches of young nettle tops and fill a small pot with the leaves. Pour 1/2 cup water over them, cover, and place on medium-low heat. Bring to a slow boil and immediately reduce heat to a simmer for four or five minutes. At this point, you have several choices. You can eat the nettles like spinach and drink the iron-rich broth. Native peoples from the Adirondacks to the Andes have long enjoyed this infusion as a daily tonic, Creamy Nettle soup is another option. When you remove the pot from the heat, simply puree the contents in a blender with 1/2 cup each of steamed carrots and onions. |
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YUCCA ROOT AND CORNMEAL FACIAL MASK |
Yucca root shampoo mixed with fine cornmeal makes a cleansing, healing skin wash that helps to feed and tone the skin, and is especially good for clearing up facial blemishes. This cleansing formula and the variations listed are based upon early American Indian practices. They are very active, organic treatments. Your skin may start tingling immediately after application. The first several times you try this cleansing facial mask you may want to leave it on your skin for only five minutes. Mix ingredients together and work into a paste; add water if it seems too dry. Gently pat the mixture all over your face and especially on trouble spots, making a mask. You can even put some under your chin and on areas of your neck that need attention. Rest for 10 to 15 minutes, if possible. Then gently wash off all of the herbal mask with cool water to close the skin pores. Pat your skin dry, or allow to air dry. VARIATIONS: Instead of yucca, substitute 1 tablespoon fresh pureed cucumber, 1 tablespoon chilled plain yogurt, and 1 teaspoon raw honey. Mix with 1 teaspoon of sine cornmeal. Blend well and follow the directions above for making a mask. When they are in season, use strawberries instead of the cucumber. In any of these recipes, you can use oatmeal instead of cornmeal to achieve similar benefits. 1 tablespoon pounded or beaten yucca roots (you can do this at home in a blender) 1 teaspoon fine cornmeal |
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HAZEL LEAF BODY RUB AND EYEWASH |
You can use this stringent tea, warm or cool, to clean your face, close skin pores, and tighten skin surfaces. It also adds shine and vigor to hair. Add 1 cup to a tub of warm water and soak in it for 20 minutes to relieve fatigue and sore muscles. This tea also makes a good eyewash. Use it in a sterile eyecup to flush out impurities in your eyes. It also makes an excellent poultice for drawing out redness, calming itching and irritation, relieving eyestrain, and soothing eyes. Apply it with a cotton ball or gauze compress, placed lightly over the closed eyelids for 10 to 20 minutes at a times. When using this astringent for the eyes, it is best to use fresh tea, and it will feel better if you refrigerate it first. Crush the leaves and place them in a 2-quart pot. Pour in the water. Place the pot over medium heat and bring to a slow boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Stir the leaves and cover the pot. Allow it to simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool. Strain and use this astringent tea immediately, or bottle, label, and date it for future use. Refrigerate to reduce spoilage, but use it up within a week. Since these plants are deciduous and their leaves are not available for six months of the year, you may want to freeze a supply of this useful herbal remedy. Pour the cool, fresh tea into ice cube trays and freeze overnight. Remove the cubes and place them in labeled snap-and-seal freezer bags; then return them to the freezer. You now have little cubes of relief for the myriad future uses, especially for treating burns, heat rash, poison ivy, muscle spasms, and cooling off your face and neck on a hot summer day. Try using it on your arms and legs after strenuous activities. Simply take an herbal ice cube from the freezer and lightly rub it over the afflicted areas for a minute or two at a time, until the cube melts away. The intense cold helps to reduce swelling and calm pain. If it is too intense for sensitive skin, use a light touch--alternating a minute on and several minutes off--until you find your own tolerance level. 4 to 6 large leaves witch hazel or hazelnut, fresh or dried 1 1/2 quarts cool water |
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MARIGOLD-CALENDULA DEODORANT CREAM |
Marigolds and calendula are two flowers long used in skin treatments. Marigolds are acient natives of the desert Southwest and Mexico; the origins of calendula lie in the Mediterranean, but the flowers escaped to North America long ago. Both have mild pleasing fragrances and soothing mineral healing qualities. This cream is well absorbed into the skin; it is especially pleasant in the heat of summer. Creams are usually composed and simmered in a double boiler for about three hhours in order to create a fine emulsion. Measure ingredients into the top of a double boiler. Heat at a low simmer, blending everything together. At the end of the cooking time, pour the cream into a clean bowl. Stir or whip it continuously until it cools and sets. Spoon the cream into sterilized dark glass jars and label. To counter mold growth or spoilage and extend the shelf life of the cream, you can add 4 drops of tincture of benzoin at the very end of the cooking process. 2 1/2 ounces glycerine 5 ounces emulsifying was or beeswax 2 1/2 ounces distilled water 1 ounce dried marigold petals, pulverized 1/2 ounce dried mint or bergamot leaves, pulverized |
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MARIGOLD-CALENDULA CORNSTARCH BODY TALC |
Using the sames herbs as in the previous recipe, you can make a remarkably soothing body talc. Measure these ingredients into a sterile jar or bottle. Cap tightly and shake well; label and date. Keep this in the bath and use it as a choice dusting powder or carry it with you in your gym bag. 2 ounces each dried marigold petals, dried calendula petals, and dried bergamot leaves, pulverized 6 ounces cornstarch |
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WHITE CEDAR SKIN SALVE |
A salve sits on the skin surface and provides protective healing benefits. The cooling properties of white cedar are especially rich in minerals that calm burns or irritated skin. Mix and heat the herbs, cocoa butter, and beeswax together in a small covered pot over low heat for two hours, stirring frequently. If desired, toward the very end add the honey and vitamin E. Blend the mixture thoroughly and pour it into small containers or onto clean foil in little cookielike pools. Allow it to cool and become firm. 3 ounces powdered dried white cedar leaves 7 ounces cocoa butter or pure vegetable shortening 1 ounce beeswax (use more or less, depending upon the consistency desired) 1 ounce raw honey (optional) 2 or 3 drops vitamin E (optional) |
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ARNICA MASSAGE OIL |
Every morning and evening, make it a regular practice to gently massage your feet. While you are gently rubbing your soles, concentrate on easing all of your burdens and stimulating healthy blood flow. Use four or five drops of a mild arnica oil in the palm of each hand, and work this well into the skin, going around each toe and massaging the whole foot. Always work from the toes back toward the ankles and up the leg. You can use this fragrant oil to massage sore, aching muscles or for total body massage. Chop or bruise the arnica as you place it in a sterile 8-ounce jar. Pour in enough oil to cover all the plant material. Put the lid on tightly and agitate the jar briefly to mix and thoroughly coat all materials. Place this on a sunny windowsill for three weeks, shaking the jar daily. Pour this cold-infused oil into a muslin or gauze filter over a clean jar and strain out all plant material. Squeeze the oil through the cloth, then pour the oil into clean storage bottles and label. This should last up to a year if kept in a cool place, but your intent should be to use it daily. Arnica (Arnica cordifolia), enough to fill a 8-ounce jar Sunflower seed or corn oil |
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STIMULATING FOOT BATH |
Try this just before cutting your toenails. rush the herbs as you drop them into a big pan. Pour a kettle of boiling water over them and steep for a few minutes. Add the cider and fill the pan half full of warm or cool water, depending upon the season and your preference. If you like, add some cayenne pepper. Sit comfortably with your bare feet immersed for 15 to 20 minutes, if possible. Wiggle your toes, flex your feet, and do simple foot excercises for a minute or two at a time, then relax. Repeat every 3 minutes. 1/2 cup fresh bergamot or mountain mint, blossoms and leaves Boiling water 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar Water Cayenne pepper (optional) |
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