Insomnia? - Cherries and Sage.

I'm having a bout with insomnia this week. It usually happens when the seasons change, I'm under stress or having allergy problems. This fall (yes it is fall where I live) I'm being hit with all three. So grumpy/tired and sneezy is where I'm at. When this sort of thing happens I stock up on cherries. Yep cherries and fresh sage if I can find it. If I'm feeling restless I find a cup of sage tea with a little maple syrup does wonders and no it doesn't taste like stuffing - It is kind of wonderful and a wee bit minty - I've told my Dad about it and he is also hooked.

Sage Tea (for one cup)

• Water Boiling
• 4 Medium Sized Sage Leaves (I like the Pineapple or Broad leaf kind)
• Sweetener to taste.

Pour the Boiling water over the sage leaves turn saucer upside down over the cup so none of the goodness escapes in the steam and let steep for a minute or more.
Why it works: Sage has natural anti-depressant properties that help to calm the mind before you go to bed. It is also supposed to be great for women going through menopause.

Cherries
There have been many medical studies that have proven that consuming cherries helps with insomnia. Cherries are filled with the hormone melatonin. "Melatonin is naturally made in the body by the pineal gland. It is produced by the body during sleep and around the night hours to induce sleep. The body produces less of it as we age, though, which is thought to be directly related to age related insomnia"
A lot of people buy melatonin as a supplement (liquid or pill) to help them sleep - but I prefer to go straight to the source :) - much tastier that way and less risk of side effects. Melatonin is contained mostly in the skins of cherries so I eat them whole or juiced and added to a little soda water depending on the weather and my mood. Around 1 cup a day for a few days seems to do the trick for me. Cherries have also been proven to be good for people suffering with arthritis or gout! Give it a google lots of info out there.

More info on Cherries: Medical News Today

Cherry/Sage Tea (one large mug)

• Water Boiling
• 4 medium Sized Sage Leaves
• 1 shot glass of black cherry juice
• sweetener if you like ( I like honey but, if that goes against your belief system/diet requirements - try maple syrup)

Zuvo Water Filter Giveaway!

One of my favourite bloggers Bitt over at a "Bitt of Raw" is holding a great contest until August 27th. She is giving away a Zuvo water filter. Zuvo water filters hook up easily to most standard faucets. Here is the link to Bitt's site to enter. I'm posting the You Tube Video about it below. Good Luck! Crossing my fingers I'll win it myself :)

Enter Here: http://www.bittofraw.com/2010/08/importance-of-good-water-zuvo-water.html

More things I love - Starfire and You Say Tomato.

I went to Skagway, Alaska this weekend and had a fantastic meal at a local hot spot called Starfire 4th Ave between Broadway & Spring it is a Thai restaurant that has several veggie friendly options (cooked). Another great spot is You Say Tomato a health foods store packed full of fun goodies including local produce. Inside You Say tomato is North Eden (a little hole in the wall take away - burritos and the like - again veggie friendly) You Say Tomato is at State at 21st Street.

Garden Goodness

A fresh summer salad loaded with goodies from my friend Krista's garden. Spinach, Peas, Berries, Romaine lettuce... YUM YUM YUM.

Garden Goodness Salad
1C Baby Spinach
1C Baby Romaine
1/2C Peas Chopped
1/2 Baby Tomatoes Cut in Half
1/4 Medium Red Onion
1/2 Cup Mixed Raspberries & Saskatoons

Curried Dressing
1/4C Balsamic Vinegar
4T Dark Maple Syrup
1/4C Soaked Cashews
1T Curry Powder
1 Pinch Ground Corriander
1 Pinch Ground Cumin
Pulse in high power blender or food processor until nuts are crumbled (or you can blend until smooth I like a bit of crunch)

Full Moon In Aquarius - new directions

The full moon in Aquarius is a time to tie up loose ends and take an individual stand for what you believe in. Let go of any old self defeating patterns. Start preparing yourself for new things that are coming. Let go of your preconceived notions about how things "have" to be or "should" be start looking in new directions.

"This Full Moon is also Midsummer Night, the night of mistaken identities and magical shifts between the worlds. The line between conscious and unconscious is blurred. And the trine of the Sun to Jupiter and Uranus shows that anything is possible! Miracles can happen, dreams can suddenly come true."

Sources: http://artcharts.com/blog/2010/07/full-moon-july-25/

http://celestialspace.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/full-moon-in-aquarius/

A fun little aside...

* In Sweden on Midsummer in the evening it a tradition for unmarried girls to go out and pick seven different types of flowers - remaining silent while picking each one. That night when they go to bed the girls put the 7 flowers under their pillows. It is believed that on this night only if a girl does this she will dream about the man she will marry.

More things I love... Crows

Summer Head Cold - Raw Garlic Soup

Ugh. Am I the only one who would like to strangle people who come to work sick and pass it around? I for one would rather handle the extra work load than catch a nasty head cold. But people do and colds are a part of life. I have fought - it is settling in and instead of being angry at my thoughtless coworker. I'm turning my mind to juice and food so I can assist my body in recovering as quickly as possible. So a list of a few natural things I do when I feel a cold coming on...

1. Oregano Oil great for the immune system and sinus - don't take the drops straight they will burn the inside of your mouth instead put 2-4 drops in tea or water with a bit of sweetener - or what I do get veggi caps from a health food store (the kind to make your own vitamin capsules with) and mix 4 drops of oregano oil with grapefruit seed extract. I take 2 or 3 of these a day - never on an empty stomach when I feel something coming on.
2. Garlic, onions and ginger all great immune system builders. If I'm feeling really lousy I'll make ginger tea (cut up ginger steeped in boiling water for 10 minutes or so - I let it cool and drink it with a little lemon juice, cinnamon and black pepper as a tea). Garlic/Onions - I make garlic soup when I'm sick - I think it works just as well or better than chicken soup (just as tasty too - recipe at the end of this post).
3. Orange Juice - fresh squeezed of course :)
   
4. Hot Bath - I'll put in a bit of dried yellow mustard and epsom salts if I feel I need to sweat it out.
5. Rest - sometimes giving up the fight and just sleeping it off is the best remedy of all.

RAW Garlic Soup

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium white onion (about 1 1/2 cup)
• 1 teaspoon pink sea salt
• 1pinch of black pepper
• 4 cups vegetable juice (for this I use a blend of whatever I have on hand usually carrots, celery, and red pepper)
  
• 1c walnuts (soaked)
• 1c cashews (soaked)
• OR 2C soaked almonds OR 1C nuts and 1 small zucchini (if you use the zucchini only use 3 cups of veggie juice)
  
• 1/2 C fresh cilantro
• 1tsp of curry (or 2tsp of paprika)
  
• 1tablespoon of tahini
  
• 4 cloves of garlic
• juice of 1/2 lemon, or to taste

Blend all together until smooth in a high speed blender - I keep mine blending in my Vitamix until it is warm. Sprinkle top with Hemp hearts. (I'll find a photo and post a little later :)

Under Pressure - Green Smoothie

Feeling a bit argg! Even after popping my trusty B complex and C vitamins which usually do the trick for me. When I'm feeling stressed out I'm often temped to grab refined carbohydrates to stuff the feelings down. During my Juice Feast I learned that the best answer to stress is keeping my body clean from all the "comfort food" junk - however - yesterday I must admit the refined carbs won out 4 chocolate chip cookies later I realized okay - maybe I needed a little release but, lets go on from here and not do this again. So on that note... some great foods that help the body heal from stress overload (and not a one is a chocolate chip cookie!).

Blueberries - We all know these are one of the healthiest foods around. Blueberries are very high in vitamin C, which has been shown to give the body added reserves to help it deal with high levels of stress. Also, blueberries contain a high amount of fiber, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels that fluctuate too much are a major contributor to stress for some people.

Oranges Another food that is rich in vitamin C. When you are stressed, your body releases even more free radicals than usual. Vitamin C helps to keep the free radicals in check, and repairs the body.

Green Vegetables Broccoli, kale, and other dark green vegetables are chock full of vitamins that help replenish our bodies in times of stress. Many vegetables also contain potassium which is great at calming down your nervous system.

Almonds A good source of Vitamin B2 and E, as well as magnesium and zinc, almonds are high in fat, but most of the fat is unsaturated. Like vitamin C, vitamin E has been shown to fight the free radicals associated with stress, and in particular, those free radicals that cause heart disease.

Dried Apricots Rich in magnesium. Some say that magnesium helps reduce heart palpitations brought on by stress. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant as well. (also high in fiber and vitamin C) ... check out my "Moons of the Faithful Biscotti" recipe for a sweet tasty stress busting treat.

Avacado Contains healthy fat that can help battle stress.

Sweet Potatoes—Sweet potatoes can satisfy that carb/sweets when we are under great stress. Full of beta-carotene and other vitamins, and the fiber they contain helps your body to process the carbohydrates slowly.

Stress Busting Green Smoothie

• 1/2C Blueberries
• 1C Fresh Orange Juice
• 1C of Mixed dark leafy greens (like Kale and Spinach)
• 1/2 cup of almond milk

Blend leaf greens and orange juice and almond milk in a high speed blender until smooth add blueberries and pulse until frothy. I like to sprinkle some sliced almonds on top of mine as well... yummy. If you haven't tried a green smoothie before you will be surprised at how unsalad like this tastes - very berry fruity!


"You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection."
- Buddha

Best Juices for Singers

I was looking up throat remedies for my boyfriend who sings yesterday and ran across a couple of great juicing tips for public speakers and singers who want to keep their voices in tip top shape during a show.

Pineapple Juice
A number of professional singers gargle or drink Pineapple juice during shows.
According to Isabella Snow , a long time blues singer it is very important for singers to keep their throats well lubricated - to do this she says Pineapple Juice does a great job .
"Far and away, the best choice available. Doesn’t matter if it’s room temp or a bit chilled, but nothing cold. And nothing with chunks in it, those can make you cough. Pineapple juice is slick, it will instantly moisten your throat, wet your tongue – and cause you to salivate, which is the best lubrication you can find. 1 glass per 45 minute set, a sip or two between songs, that’s all you need. Remember, you’re just lubricating, not quenching thirst. Do not go overboard with pineapple juice, you will spend the next morning in the bathroom. Crazy as pineapple juice sounds, it’s the best thing you can use, and I’ve converted every opera singer I’ve ever mentioned it to."

Source: http://hubpages.com/hub/Tips-For-Singers-and-Public-Speakers-Throat-Lubrication-
Tori Amos' Lemonaid

On stage, Tori Amos drinks a lemonade like drink to rehydrate herself. She calls it "Duncanade" after her former chef Duncan Pickford, is similar to an electrolyte replenisher. (she also uses lip gloss to keep her lips moist during performances - thinking Raw Coconut Butter/Oil might do the trick just as well :).

Duncanade:

• 2 L. water
• 2 lemons, chopped, seeded and pithed (1 whole lemon per L. of water)
• Blend lemons with 1 1/2 L. of the water
• Strain and discard pulp
• Blend that with 10-12 oz. honey that's been blended with 1/2 L. water
• Add the remaining 1 L. water
• 4 pinches of salt (1 pinch for every 1/2 L. water -- more if you sweat a lot)
• 24 drops of essential lemon oil (6 for every 1/2 L. water)
• 1/4 t. cinnamon
• Strain again

"This magical lemonade works wonders for me. The honey in it feels smooth going down your throat, and best of all, provides instant salivation. Duncanade is also extremely tasty -- not too sweet, and not too sour."

Source: http://retrogrademusic.blogspot.com/2009/03/singers-with-sore-throats-beyond-normal.html

All Praise the Cabbage

Many people overlook the health benefits of cabbage. It has been recognized for centuries for its ability to cure stomach and intestinal distress. Uncooked Cabbage is high in glutamine, an amino acid that is essential for intestinal health. It has also been proven to be both antibacterial and antiviral. Cabbage contains Vitamin K (essential in the production of blood clotting proteins); potassium (helps regulate blood pressure); and quercetin (antioxidant that is a natural antihistamine that can benefit allergy sufferers). Cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin C. It is also a very good source of fiber, manganese, folate, vitamin B6, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acieds. Cabbage is also a good source of thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, and protein.

Good for what ails you… :)

• CONSTIPATION The juice of cabbages is often used to relieve constipation. Beware can make you windy if you have a lot of junk in your system it needs to break down.
  
• ENLARGED PROSTATE
  
• Anemia: High in chlorophyll - good for blood building.
• OBESITY Research has shown cabbage contains a chemical called tartaric acid, which inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat.
• JOINT PAIN Raw cabbage is one of the best vegetables you can take to ease inflammation of the joints. You can eat it however you like, just make sure it is fresh and uncooked! Herbalists suggest to eat fresh cabbage in the morning prior to any other food. I've also been reading that cabbage leaves rolled with a rolling pin until they are releasing their juice and wrapped around a sprain (held in place with a banage) or pulled muscle work wonders.
• ULCERS many people claim they feel better after drinking fresh cabbage juice for only 5 days! "1 liter of the fresh juice per day, taken in divided doses, resulted in total ulcer healing in an average of 10 days. The high content of glutamine, an amino acid that is the preferred fuel for the cells that line the stomach and small intestine, is likely the reason for cabbage juice's efficacy in healing ulcers. "
• Alzheimer's Red cabbages contain significantly more protective phytonutrients than white cabbages and are said to help alzheimer's patient. Antioxidant polyphenols can protect brain cells against the damage caused by amyloid-beta protein, suggests a study published in Food Science and Technology.

Interesting Historical Tid Bits…
The Egyptians ate cabbage with vinegar before a night of drinking to prevent hangovers. Cabbage is still today considered one of the best remedies to cure hangovers! The Romans also ate cabbage to cure every imaginable ailment under the sun! They ate it raw with vinegar before and after each meal.

Cultured Cabbage Juice (good for GI tract killing fungus and parasites)

1. Fill blender with chopped green cabbage.

2. Add distilled water until 2/3 full. Blend on hiigh for 1-2 minutes.

3. Pour out into large bowl and repeat for 2 more batches.

   Cover with cheese cloth, gauze or stocking and let stand at room temperature X 3 days.

4. Strain to separate juice & pulp. Place cultured cabbage juice in refrigerator.

   When supply gets low start new batch, but add 1/2 cup of cultured juice (Starter) and new batch will be ready in 24 hours."

When juicing cabbage you should not drink more than about 4oz of cabbage juice at a time and it is best mixed with other juices such as carrot / apple juice. The flavour combination of carrot and cabbage is well tested, as cabbage and carrot are the base ingredients of many varieties of coleslaws. Coleslaws are highly popular dishes that regularly appear in a raw food diet.

If you consume too much cabbage juice in one go then you may experience a feeling of gas and slight cramps in the intestine due to the sulphur in the cabbage juice reacting with bacteria that exist in the intestines.

Sources:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=19#healthbenefits

http://www.happyjuicer.com/juicing-ingredients/Cabbage-juice.asp

Herbal Liniment

I hurt myself a few days ago - running up and down a long flight of stairs... I'm currently walking like an 80 year old - ouch - it ALWAYS pays to stretch (yes John, I was listening). A good reminder I suppose. So on that topic another use for my herbs... liniments and another post from mountain rose herbs... (rub it on and relax with a cup of Yarrow tea - made from the dried white flowers on the top - a good natural pain killer).

Full Moon In Capricorn - Deal with it.

Today's full moon is also a partial lunar eclipse. Capricorn is a sign of practicality, achievement, responsibility and structure.

Solar eclipses, help us to uncover things that have been unclear to us, especially when it comes to emotions. If you've been having problems clearing away any old emotional junk now will be the time you find the energy to do it. Many will find they no longer have the patience to deal with situations that are at a dead end. This eclipse will effect anyone whose natal planets are in the early degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Capricorn, Cancer). Any emotions that come up now are most likely fears or anxiety over situations we have been avoiding dealing with. This is not a time to be afraid - things are pushing us to move forward whether we like it or not. If we take a good hard look and are honest with ourselves during this full moon we can discover what is real in our lives and what is illusion. This will probably cause a lot of people to feel uncomfortable and rushed. Expect some cranky folks out and about today or/and some emotional conversations or thoughts to be coming up. Try not to over react and keep in the moment for the next few days. Remember to stay true to yourself and to keep processing how certain situations are making you feel. It is time to get our heads out of the sand and to deal with it - whatever those emotions are that have been nagging at us it is time to take a closer look.

"We may find ourselves establishing or reevaluating our goals/aspirations and define what the necessary steps are toward achieving them, including what we must sacrifice or let go of."

For more check out

http://www.astrogrrl.com

Wild Harvesting - Herbal Oils

Another fun thing to do with herbs is to make herbal oils and salves. Easier than I thought it would be! Here is my stew of Dandelion and Wild Rose Petals in an almond oil base (soothing facial oil). - Bubbled in a double boiler then strained through cheese cloth.... How to make a salve by Mountain Rose Herbs (comfrey in their example) and guess what - you can eat the oils! How great is that. Some people choose to let their herbs steep in the oil for 45-60 days stirring daily and watching to make sure nothing is turning funky then strain. I enjoy the smell of the herbs simmering on my stove top. I plan to try making "raw" dandelion oil this weekend for salad dressings :) I'll post when it is done.

Wild Harvesting - Usnea

More of a medicine than a "food"... but I have a photo so up it goes :) Usnea is a lichen that grows on trees (this one on Pines). Lichens lack the water-repellent covering that plants rely on to help them conserve water, so a lichen can absorb water and the nutrients it contains directly through its surface rather than through a root system as plants do. Some lichens of the genus Usnea are able to keep growing even when broken off from the parent thallus and are just draped over a branch or wire. Usnea's particularly efficient ability to absorb minerals from the air has significant implications for people. ** someone just msged me that this photo might not be old man's beard - the herbalist we went on a walk with claims it is - I've just hunted around the net to find out more info... Several photos look like this - there is also a plant called Old Man's Beard... I'll keep hunting around and will post another photo if I find this isn't the right thing but so far looking like it is.

* Note: One of the best ways I know to positively ID the lichen (because there are look-alikes) is to gently pull a green thready bit apart until you can see the white inner core. If there’s no white inner core, it’s not Usnea.

Uses:

• usnea contains very strong antibacterial components that ware said to help prevent wounds from getting infected and, thereby, contributes to more rapid healing.
• In China, it is used to make decoctions in the treatment of bronchitis and is used as part of herbal cancer therapy, particularly for thyroid cancers.
• It contains Usnic Acid which is effective in treating uberculosis, staphylococcus, streptococcus, and pneumococcus
• Traditional Uses: cleanses lungs, resolves phlegm, controls bleeding, removes toxin
• The moistened herb also makes an excellent bandage to be used directly on the wound or affected area. (some may have a mild reaction to it on their skin if so - don't use it :) Usnea can be applied directly to an open wound in emergency situations, it will serve as an antimicrobial compress to stop bleeding and prevent infection.

Sources:
http://nature.ca/discover/treasures/plnts/tr3/usn_e.cfm
http://bearmedicineherbals.com/usnea-healing-from-the-forest.html

Making Tinctures

A great how to post :)

Wild Harvesting - Buying Vodka

(in this photo dandelion heads, horse ails and a few wild rose petals peeking out from under the horsetails)
This weekend I got busy in my kitchen with a few of the things I've been our harvesting for the past week. One of the first things I made was with horsetails I have a few jars of tincture steeping in my storage room - super easy and very satisfying. 50/50 chopped horsetails in vodka in a jar (one moon cycle before straining off the herbs:) and voila - tincture. I decided to buy a Canadian brand of Vodka and thought a huge glass bottle was probably the way to go because I have quite a few things I want to tincture. The sales person at the liquor store is married to a friend and made a comment about the amount of vodka I was buying so I felt I had to explain myself - ah the joys of living in a small town :) He may get some tincture in a month just so he knows I was serious and am not a vodka loving party animal...

Wild Harvesting - Spuce Tips

The little young tips on the ends of Spruce Trees a little lighter than the rest of the tree (new growth) used locally in Jellies, syrups and beers are a great source of vitamin c in the frontier days in North America they were used to prevent scurvy. They are also pretty tasty to nibble straight up :) on a hike if you like things that are a bit tart. Make sure you only take the soft new growth older bits that are hard will taste like turpentine! I've been blending a few into my smoothies in the morning and really enjoying them. Spruce tips can be gathered and used throughout the year, but they are best during the spring.

Spruce Tip Tea:

• Use 8-10 spruce tips
• 3 cloves
• 1drop of vanilla (or half a vanilla bean scraped)
• maple syrup to taste

in a medium tea pot cover with boiling water let stand for 8 minutes before serving. More recipes coming...

Sources:
http://homeschoolblogger.com/frontierfreedom/archives/782611
http://medcookingalaska.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-to-harvest-spruce-tips-with-recipes.html

Wild Harvesting - Yarrow

Here is a great one with a lot of mystical significance as well as being a medicinal herb. Yarrow leaves are fern like - the flowers ( I took this photo before) grow in several forked bunches with small, white heads - each tiny flower resembles a daisy. The most medicinally active part of the plant are the flowering tops. Gather stem, leaves and flower heads in bloom, dry for later herb use. The dry herb edible as a spice or flavoring, strong sage flavor.

Uses:

• Yarrow is commonly used as a tea or in a bath (flowers) to help raise your body temperature. The salicylic acid derivatives are a component of aspirin, which may account for its use in treating fevers and reducing pain. Yarrow tea is also said to be able to clear up a cold within 24 hours.
• It is believed that anti-allergenic compounds can be extracted from the flowers by steam distillation.
• The flowers are used to treat various allergic mucus problems, including hay fever.
• Flowers used in this way are harvested in summer or autumn, and an infusion drunk for upper respiratory phlegm
• The flowers can be used externally as a wash for eczema.
• Inhale a steam containing the flowers for hay fever and mild asthma.
• Soak a pad in an infusion or dilute tincture to soothe varicose veins.

Properties

Yarrow is a very valuable medicinal herb, with much scientific evidence of use in alternative medicine as an antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, stimulant, and tonics, vasodilator and vulnerary.

Yarrow is used against colds, cramps, fevers, kidney disorders, toothaches, skin irritations, and hemorrhages, and to regulate menses, stimulate the flow of bile, and purify the blood. Medicinal tea is a good remedy for severe colds and flu, for stomach ulcers, amenorrhea, abdominal cramps, abscesses, trauma and bleeding, and to reduce inflammation.

The main constituents are volatile oils including linalool, camphor, sabinene, and chamazulene, sesquiterpene lctones, flavanoids, alkaloids including achilleine, polyacetylenes, triterpenes, salicylic acid, coumarins, and tannins which prove these uses in alternative medicine to be effective.

The herb contains sterols, which have actions similar to hormones and aids in controlling the menstrual cycle. That yarrow is an extremely beneficial remedy for women; it is established from the fact that the herb moderates serious bleeding during menstruation as well as heals uterus blockages. It also helps in providing relief during heavy periods. Yarrow’s versatility as a herbal medication is again proved when it is said to be useful as a stimulant or tonic for the nervous system.

Interesting Points

• Yarrow was one of the herbs dedicated to the Evil One, it is also known as Devil's Nettle, Devil's Plaything, Bad Man's Plaything, is used for divination in spells.
• Yarrow oil has been traditionally used in hair shampoos.
• Some caution is advised , large or frequent doses taken over a long period may cause the skin to be more sensitive to sunlight.
• Yarrows can be planted to combat soil erosion due to the plant's resistance to drought.
• The stalks of yarrow are dried and used as a randomising agent in I Ching divination.
• In the Middle Ages, yarrow was part of a herbal mixture known as gruit used in the flavouring of beer prior to the use of hops.
• Infusions of yarrow, taken either internally or externally, are said to speed recovery from severe bruising.
• A folk belief states that if you hang a bunch of dried yarrow or yarrow that had been used in wedding decorations over the bed, you can thus ensure a lasting love for at least seven years.
• Yarrow was one of the herbs put in Saxon amulets. These amulets were for protection from everything from blindness to barking dogs
• Chinese proverbs claim that yarrow brightens the eyes and promotes intelligence.

Recipe

An aromatic tea: To 1 tsp. dried herb add 1 cup boiling water, steep for 10 min. sweeten to taste. Take at bedtime.

Sources:

• http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_yarrow.htm
• http://www.altnature.com/gallery/yarrow.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achillea_millefolium
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Koeh-149.jpg
  

Making Rose Water

Wild Harvesting - Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale)

Northern Bedstraw also commonly known as Clevers (it flowers eventually - little white flowers that grow in little forked clusters - if you search the net you can find lots of photos:)

Northern Bedstraw is related to coffee, the seeds can be dried, roasted and ground as a coffee substitute. The leaves and roots are often used to make tea. It is considered the fantastic lymphatic tonic, and is both alternative and diuretic. It has a long tradition of using in reducing tumors. A cautionary note continual use of this plant can irritate your mouth. It is suggested that people with poor circulation and diabetes avoid it!

Traditional Uses:

• Bladder Health Maintenance
• Bronchitis
• Cellular Regeneration
• Cleansing
• Detoxification
• Fever
• Immune System
• Infections
• Inflammation
• Respiratory Health Maintenance
• Skin Infections
• Swollen Glands
• Ulcers
• Urinary Tract Gravel
• Urinary Tract Infection
• Water Retention

More interesting Points:

• Bedstraw plants were used to make sweet-smelling hot compresses to stop bleeding and soothe sore muscles.
• Bedstraw tea has been used as a weight loss aid. It is said to speed up the metabolism of stored fat and to reduce weight in about 6 weeks.
• In the past decoctions of it were often used as a contraceptive.
• Diaphoretic and Diuretic
• A number of species in this genus contain asperuloside, a substance that produces coumarin and gives the scent of new-mown hay as the plant dries. Asperuloside can be converted into prostaglandins (hormone-like compounds that stimulate the uterus and affect blood vessels), making the genus of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry.
• The fresh juice of bedstraw has been used for treating scurvy.
• The herb tea was used internally and externally as a folk remedy against abnormal growths and the juice contains citric acid, which is reported to have activity against abnormal growths.

Dosage

• Juice: Blend the fresh herb in a food processor and strain. Drink half a glass a day.
• Infusion: Pour boiling water over 3-4g of cut Cleaver and allow to steep for 10 minutes before straining. Drink two to three cups per day. The cooled infusion can also be used as a wash or poultice for inflamed skin.
• Tincture: Take 20 to 30 drops in water, as required.

Sources:
http://montana.plant-life.org/species/galium_boreale.htm
http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/Canada/HealthInformation/Encyclopedias/Bedstraw.htm
http://www.health24.com/natural/Herbs/17-666-676,33341.asp