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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Sept 7, 2015 0:54:48 GMT -5
A lady told me at the farmer's market a few weeks ago that I was the only person at market offering herbs... I was confused, because I often see basil, and oregano, and dill. I asked her to clarify. Eventually it became clear that she was calling me a medicine man. I was immensely pleased. I often gather plants that are renowned for their medicinal properties and take them to market with me. I give 90% of them away because they don't sell, but at least I made the effort, and a few people really appreciate what I do. What that means, is that the local shamans and medicine women associate with me a lot. A couple days ago I told one of the shaman that the deer had eaten about 1/3 of my cantaloupes, and that was OK with me, because "When/Where else are the deer folk going to get to taste such glorious muskmelons?" The response was along the lines of, "I think that you have just out shaman-ed this ol shaman".
I never would have imagined 7 growing seasons ago when I started down the path of landrace gardening that it would result in me being called a medicine man or shaman. But once I started saving my own corn seed, then it wasn't a very big step to start making my own catsup. It was only a small step from there to growing flavorings like stevia, garlic, mustard, dill, and fennel. And if I'm already growing my own food and flavorings, then I might as well be growing my own medicines. And if I'm growing and using medicinal herbs, then I might as well take them to market with me.
So during the next few growing seasons, I intend to put more thought and effort into growing medicinal herbs. I'd welcome feedback about which herbs you find the most useful. Any suggestions about growing conditions? Winter hardiness? etc...
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Post by blackox on Sept 7, 2015 16:29:56 GMT -5
I only dabble in medicinals and don't know all that much about them, but...
White Yarrow. Parents use it in a poultice to stop bleeding (along with some other things like colloidal silver and sometimes a mullein leaf as a bandage). It's a very cold hardy plant but also does well with heat, I don't know how it would react to drought. If you don't have it growing wild in Utah I have lot's of it growing here and it should be about ready for seeds now (...or well past, I'll have to look).
Jewelweed. Great for poison ivy/oak/sumac as well as bee stings and burns. I don't know how this would do in Utah, I think it likes more moisture. Jewelweed being a bumblebee magnet is a huge plus. There's a yellow-flowering type and an orange one (orange being more desirable for medicine). I've got these growing everywhere and know for sure that they're producing seeds. I'll go out soon and collect some for you (pods are fun to play with as they pop open). They do need a cold period to germinate.
There are plenty of plants that have medicinal properties whom I don't remember that I can list off of the top of my head - chickweed, stinging nettle, bee balm, peppermint, sassafras, fenugreek(?), many different kinds of sumacs, among others.
I'll talk to my mom, she's more into herbal remedies than I am.
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Post by flowerweaver on Sept 8, 2015 11:44:55 GMT -5
I'd recommend getting copies of Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West, Los Remedios all by the late herbalist Michael Moore to discover the useful herbs you can wild collect around you. One of my teachers, Stephen Harrod Buhner, has written a lot about plant shamanism. I'd suggest his Lost Language of Plants: Ecological Importance of Plant Medicines on Earth, Sacred Plant Medicine: The Wisdom in Native American Herbalism, and Sacred Herbal Healing Beers. Using an old ranching remedy Michael Moore tought, I gather the native Gutierrezia texana or snakeweed, also known locally as Yerba de Vibora (herb of the snake), when in bloom, hang it upside down to dry, then chop it into a leaf tea. It is consumed as a tea (has a chamomile-like taste), and the tea is added to my bath to relieve joint and muscle pain--perfect after a long day of farming. Michael Moore says any Gutierezia sp. will do, and you have G. pomeriensis and G. petradoria in Utah. I grow comfrey as a groundcover in the shade here, but I know it survives New England winters as much larger plants in the sun. It has many medicinal qualities, but I use it to make compost tea and a mulch since it is a dynamic accumulator of potassium.
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Post by billw on Sept 8, 2015 12:02:48 GMT -5
There might be a real opportunity to achieve something novel (especially for a chemist) breeding medicinal plants. It doesn't seem like there has been much work done in that field, or at least I'm not aware of it.
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Sept 8, 2015 12:10:17 GMT -5
flowerweaver, blackox, billw: Thanks. Regarding Gutierrezia is looks like another one of those damned yellow composites.... Be worth learning to ID if it would help with the aches and pains of farming... I ain't getting any younger...
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Post by toad on Sept 8, 2015 14:24:26 GMT -5
My most important medical herb is Calendula officinalis. Easy to grow, early, happily self sowing. I make a tincture, last for years. When using, 10 drops in a glass of water 1-3times a day is enough. Defeats herpes and mouth ulcers.
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Sept 8, 2015 16:32:21 GMT -5
toad: Calendula officinalis is the name I was trying to remember! One of the medicine women asked for it by name.
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Post by steev on Sept 8, 2015 21:28:44 GMT -5
Joseph: you're not getting any younger? Damn! There's a lot of that around; I think it may be an epidemic; maybe Congress can authorize a study; nah; we'll all be long gone by the time they can get their shit together.
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Post by 12540dumont on Sept 8, 2015 22:06:48 GMT -5
I make valerian. Grow the plant, smash the root, add alcohol, 30 days in the pickle jar, in the dark, turning. Then decant into dropper bottles.
Elderberry syrup is also a staple here.
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Post by steev on Sept 8, 2015 22:37:09 GMT -5
Elderberry wine is very medicinal and pleasant, but don't go digging Panama Canal "locks" in the basement.
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Post by raymondo on Sept 9, 2015 3:44:45 GMT -5
Some like their elderberry wine served with arsenic and old lace.
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Post by kyredneck on Sept 9, 2015 10:39:16 GMT -5
My most important medical herb is Calendula officinalis. Easy to grow, early, happily self sowing. I make a tincture, last for years. When using, 10 drops in a glass of water 1-3times a day is enough. Defeats herpes and mouth ulcers. toad: Calendula officinalis is the name I was trying to remember! One of the medicine women asked for it by name.
I've harvested, gave away, sold, and used this for years. Great for any kind of ulcers, including stomach ulcers. Use as dry powder or a tincture. Know what it is? :
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Sept 9, 2015 12:10:14 GMT -5
I've harvested, gave away, sold, and used this for years. Great for any kind of ulcers, including stomach ulcers. Use as dry powder or a tincture. Know what it is? Well, it's common name has to be something like Yellow Root. So looking that up leads to Yellowroot ==> Xanthorhiza simplicissima. But the tubers don't look right, so scratch that... Perhaps the rhizomes are more orange than yellow, so gotta check out Orange Root. Ha! That leads to Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). which looks more like it...
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Post by reed on Sept 9, 2015 13:46:19 GMT -5
My first guess was also yellow root. I used to go with my dad to hunt squirrels and various roots. Your making me want to get out and refresh my memory on the when and what of such things. How about ginseng? It's the only one I'v hunted in recent years and not as easy to find as it used to be so I seldom dig any, I just like to visit it. I grew it on the north side of the house under a big oak tree when I lived in town but no luck where I live now. That would be a real challenge for you. To try to adapt it to your climate.
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Post by kyredneck on Sept 9, 2015 22:50:13 GMT -5
Give Joseph a peanut! Goldenseal it is (but we call it yellow root around here). It and ginseng ('sang') both grows within walking distance of our place. My younger brother and uncle both healed stomach ulcers with a tincture made with bourbon. Dried and powdered it's outstanding for mouth sores.
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