Comfrey ("Knitbone") A.K.A Blackwort EXTERNAL ONLY! BE VERY VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS HERB!

Comfrey-Symphytum Officinale (pictured above) ~ was traditionally used in healing fractures.  Comfrey contains a chemical called Allantoin* which encourages the growth of various tissue cells & so increases healing rates.

In Europe is is acceptable as an External remedy. However, it is currently banned in Australia & many American States.

NB=> DO NOT USE INTERNALLY!

Do not apply to broken skin!!

*Allatoin can speed up tissue growth to such an extent that it can heal the wound before any dirt or pus has had a chance to escape (thus keeping these components in the wound & possibly infecting the blood & surrounding tissues).

The likes of herbal remedies like Comfrey should only be used under the supervision of a Herbal practitioner. 


There is an awful lot of information about Comfrey out on the web. Some is really great advice however there are some people out there putting up posts claiming that you don't need to even clean the wound first, just apply Comfrey directly or if you break a bone just slap some Comfrey on it and forget the Doctor. This "advice" is so reckless and harmful that I just though it had to be highlighted.

Garden Herbs (found naturally without planting a seed)

Hi all, hope everyone is doing well.

Yesterday I was over in the garden cutting back some overgrow plants and as usual came across dandelion's and stinging nettles. It got me thinking that I should do a post about these two herbs that are commonly thought of as weeds and are ripped up, thrown out and considered a "bad" thing amongst many gardeners. However, for the budding herbalist these little gems can be used for an array of home remedies.

Let's start with Dandelion's

(Taraxacum officinale)

The parts of the plant that are used medicinally are the root, both fresh and dried and the young tops.

It is a general stimulant to the system, but especially to the urinary organs, and is chiefly used in kidney and liver disorders. Dandelion is not only official but is used in many patent medicines. Not being poisonous, quite big doses of its preparations may be taken. Its beneficial action is best obtained when combined with other agents. The tincture made from the tops may be taken in doses of 10 to 15 drops in a spoonful of water, three times daily. The tincture can be bought at your local health shop. A. Vogel is a brand I trust and use myself. It is said that its use for liver complaints was assigned to the plant largely on the doctrine of signatures, because of its bright yellow flowers of a bilious hue. In the hepatic complaints of persons long resident in warm climates, Dandelion is said to afford very marked relief. A broth of Dandelion roots, sliced and stewed in boiling water with some leaves of Sorrel and the yolk of an egg, taken daily for some months, has been known to cure seemingly intractable cases of chronic liver congestion. A strong decoction* (above) is found serviceable in stone and gravel: the decoction may be made by boiling 1 pint of the sliced root in 20 parts of water for 15 minutes, straining this when cold and sweetening with brown sugar or honey. A small teacupful may be taken once or twice a day. Dandelion is used as a bitter tonic in atonic dyspepsia, and as a mild laxative in habitual constipation. When the stomach is irritated and where active treatment would be injurious, the decoction or extract of Dandelion administered three or four times a day, will often prove a valuable remedy. It has a good effect in increasing the appetite and promoting digestion. Dandelion combined with other active remedies has been used in cases of dropsy and for induration of the liver, and also on the Continent for phthisis and some cutaneous diseases. A decoction of 2 OZ. of the herb or root in 1 quart of water, boiled down to a pint, is taken in doses of one wine glassful every three hours for scurvy, scrofula, eczema and all eruptions on the surface of the body. * Decoction - a method of extraction by boiling. Preparations and Dosages Fluid extract, B.P., 1/2 to 2 drachms. Solid extract, B.P. 5 to 15 grains. Juice, B.P., 1 to 2 drachms.  Dandelion Tea  Infuse 1 OZ. of Dandelion in a pint of boiling water for 10 minutes; decant, sweeten with honey, and drink several glasses in the course of the day. The use of this tea is efficacious in bilious affections, and is also much approved of in the treatment of dropsy. Or take 2 OZ. of freshly-sliced Dandelion root, and boil in 2 pints of water until it comes to 1 pint; then add 1 OZ. of compound tincture of Horseradish. Dose, from 2 to 4 OZ. Use in a sluggish state of the liver. Or 1 OZ. Dandelion root, 1 OZ. Black Horehound herb, 1/2 OZ. Sweet Flag root, 1/4 OZ. Mountain Flax. Simmer the whole in 3 pints of water down to 1 1/2 pint, strain and take a wine glassful after meals for biliousness and dizziness. For Gall Stones 1 OZ. Dandelion root, 1 OZ. Parsley root, 1 OZ. Balm herb, 1/2 OZ. Ginger root, 1/2 OZ. Liquorice root. Place in 2 quarts of water and gently simmer down to 1 quart, strain and take a wine glassful every two hours. For a young child suffering from jaundice: 1 OZ. Dandelion root, 1/2 oz. Ginger root, 1/2 oz. Caraway seed, 1/2 oz. Cinnamon bark, 1/4 oz. Senna leaves. Gently boil in 3 pints of water down to 1 1/2 pint, strain, dissolve 1/2 lb. sugar in hot liquid, bring to a boil again, skim all impurities that come to the surface when clear, put on one side to cool, and give frequently in teaspoonful doses. Liver and Kidney Mixture 1 OZ. Broom tops, 1/2 oz. Juniper berries, 1/2 oz. Dandelion root, 1 1/2 pint water. Boil ingredients for 10 minutes, then strain and add a small quantity of cayenne. Dose, 1 tablespoonful, three times a day. Medicine for Piles 1 OZ. Long-leaved Plantain, 1 OZ. Dandelion root, 1/2 oz. Polypody root, 1 OZ. Shepherd's Purse. Add 3 pints of water, boil down to half the quantity, strain, and add 1 OZ. of tincture of Rhubarb. Dose, a wine glassful three times a day. Celandine ointment to be applied at same time. So the nettles I'm talking about are those tall, dark green you know they're going to sting you nettles. The Latin name is Urtica Dioica. It's also known as the common nettle or the stinging nettle. If you get stung by these nettles you will generally find Dock leaves near by. You take a leaf rub it over the sting and it minimises the pain if not completely rids you of it. Nettles have long be known to provide a rich source of iron and Nettle Soup can be made very easily. Medicinal Uses of the Nettle Parts employed: The whole herb, collected in Mayand June, just before coming into flower, and dried in the usual manner prescribed for 'bunched' herbs. When the herb is collected for drying, it should be gathered only on a fine day, in the morning, when the sun has dried off the dew. Cut off just above the root, rejecting any stained or insect-eaten leaves, and tie in bunches, about six to ten in a bunch, spread out fan wise, so that the air can penetrate freely to all parts. Hang the bunches over strings. If dried in the open, keep them in half-shade and bring indoors before there is any risk of damp from dew or rain. If dried indoors, hang up in a sunny room, and failing sun, in a well-ventilated room by artificial heat. Care must be taken that the window be left open by day so that there is a free current of air and the moisture-laden, warm air may escape. The bunches should be of uniform size and length, to facilitate packing when dry, and when quite dry and crisp must be packed away at once in airtight boxes or tins, otherwise moisture will be reabsorbed from the air. The seeds and flowers are dried in the sun, or over a stove, on sheets of paper. The Nettle is still in demand by wholesale herbalists, who stock the dried and powdered herb, also the seeds. Homoeopathic chemists, in addition, employ the green herb for the preparation of a tincture. Action and Uses Although not prescribed by the British Pharmacopceia, the Nettle has still a reputation in herbal medicine, and is regarded in homoeopathy as a useful remedy. Preparations of the herb have astringent properties and act also as a stimulating tonic. Nettle is anti-asthmatic: the juice of the roots or leaves, mixed with honey or sugar, will relieve bronchial and asthmatic troubles and the dried leaves, burnt and inhaled, will have the same effect. The seeds have also been used in consumption, the infusion of herb or seeds being taken in wineglassful doses. The seeds and flowers used to be given in wine as a remedy for ague. The powdered seeds have been considered a cure for goitre and efficacious in reducing excessive corpulency. In old Herbals the seeds, taken inwardly, were recommended for the stings or bites of venomous creatures and mad dogs, and as an antidote to poisoning by Hemlock, Henbane and Nightshade. An efficient Hair Tonic can be prepared from the Nettle: Simmer a handful of young Nettles in a quart of water for 2 hours, strain and bottle when cold. Well saturate the scalp with the lotion every other night. This prevents the hair falling and renders it soft and glossy. A good Nettle Hair Lotion is also prepared by boiling the entire plant in vinegar and water, straining and adding Eau de Cologne. For stimulating hair growth, the old herbalists recommended combing the hair daily with expressed Nettle juice. The homoeopathic tincture of Nettle is made of 2 OZ. of the herb to 1 pint of proof spirit. The powder of the dried herb is administered in doses of 5 to 10 grains. Preparations Fluid extract of herb, 1/2 to 1 drachm. Infusion, 1 OZ. of the herb to a pint of boiling water. Nettle Soup  In a large pot, melt 1 Tbsp. butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft, about 3 minutes. Add potatoes and broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer and cook 15 minutes. Add nettles and cook until very tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in remaining 1 Tbsp. butter, pepper, and nutmeg. Puree soup with an immersion blender or in a blender or food processer in batches. For a silken, less fibrous texture, run mixture through a food mill or sieve. Stir in cream, if using. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if you like. Serve hot, garnished with sour cream, yoghurt if you like.  Use glove when picking or you will be stung.  Fill the pot, the Nettles will shrink down.  Mix well. Starting to look more like soup, now.  Look's delicious now doesn't it? :-) Nettle Tea- Very good for period pain, also full of Iron naturally. Hope you all enjoyed the read. As always Stay Safe and we look forward to hearing from you.

Time to get the sunscreen's ready.

So, we've had really bad weather here in Ireland and are only starting to see a bit of a change this weekend. I mean if we hit 20° Celsius here we are having a good "Summer" :-)

I started some time ago looking for some herbal sunscreen's but my local health shop does not strangely provide any which got me thinking about some recipes if you will to make my own without all of those harsh chemicals.

Now what people don't realise is that we need Vitamin D which we get naturally from sunlight. Places, like Scotland and Ireland produce people who are more likely to have a Vitamin D deficiency. Now, years ago Doctor's thought that Vitamin D was mainly good for maintaining healthy bones but this Vitamin also plays a role in the functioning of the human body and helps reduce the risk for certain illnesses.

For instance, did you know a lack of Vitamin D can contribute to;

Flu, Psoriasis, Muscle weakness, Chronic Kidney Disease, Diabetes, Asthma, Periodontal Disease, Cardiovascular Disease and even Cancer (some studies show).

So as you can imagine, many people turn to supplements to get their Vitamin D. However, many supplements like these can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to get into your system and start taking effect. The easiest way for us to get Vitamin D is through natural sunlight.

But, we must protect our skin when out in the sun. I'm not talking about the hottest of days but even when it's a bright day out. You must wear an SPF (Sun Protection Factor)

Now, say the sun is splitting the rocks as we say here in Éire and you need a quick sunscreen so you can go outside. You can whip up a quick remedy. Here goes;

Grab your favourite lotion. Note: make sure there are no citrus oils in it

Add a few tablespoons of Zinc Oxide (DO NOT INHALE THE POWDER- Wear a mask if you have one)

Mix together and hey presto you're ready to go.

If you have time ahead and want to make up a batch of some really yummy smelling sunscreen that has an SPF of around 20 (although you can increase with more Zinc Oxide) then here you go my dears;

You will need;


1/4 cup of Coconut Oil (ah the smell of Summer with a natural SPF of 4)

1/2 cup of Olive oil or Almond Oil (make sure you do not have a nut allergy for Almond oil, pictured below)

1/4 cup of some Beeswax (you can buy online or in some herbal health stores)

2 Tablespoons of Zinc Oxide (you can get this at your local pharmacy)

Method;

Mix everything except the Zinc Oxide in a jar or glass bowl. If you have a empty jar from say Beetroot, Pickled Eggs or Onions, that kind of size, you can use that. Place the lid loosely over the jar.

Grab yourself a pot and fill with approx 3 fingers of water and put on a moderate/medium heat.

Now take your jar and pop it gently into the pot. The ingredients will all start to melt and mix up so stir them up every now and then until there are evenly mixed together.

Get the Zinc Oxide, again be careful with this ingredient, and stir it in well.

Then pour your mixture into whatever jar you are planning on keeping your sunscreen. I don't recommend a bottle with a pump at all. The mixture will not pump well. It will actually just clog the pump and create more hassle for you.

Stir the mixture as it cools to make sure that the Zinc Oxide is incorporated to the mix.



This sunscreen is good for Six Months.

Options;

You can add 1 tsp Vitamin E oil as an extra to your sunscreen,

or 2 tsps of Shea Butter (gives you an extra 4-5 SPF).

You may also add essential oils if you wish. Vanilla is good, Lavender is a good insect repellent as well. It's up to you.

NOTE: If you just want a lotion, remove the Zinc Oxide and you have a nice body lotion. If you want a thicker sunscreen add more beeswax, less for a smoother one.

Store in a cool, dry place or even the refrigerator. Make sure you label so someone doesn't come along and try to eat it :-)

There you have it, home made sunscreen with an SPF to suit you best.

Remember to take care of your skin when you're young. Your body will thank you as you age, and your skin. You don't want UV (ultra violet) damage. Always use your SPF, it will prevent early signs of ageing, liver spots, wrinkles and crow's feet.

Get yourself into a daily routine at an early age and pass this wisdom on so you can enjoy healthy skin for longer.

As always guys Stay Safe! :-)