Grow Your Own Medicine

Control your Power and your Health

Jane Hawley Stevens Jane Hawley Stevens Four Elements Organic Herbals Four Elements Organic Herbals North Freedom, WI. North Freedom, WI.

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis

My favorite herb due to its many profound uses. Anti-viral, calming nervine , stomach ache relief, joy enhancing, soothing, sedative tastes great! Paraclesus believed it would completely revivify a man, esteemed of great use in all complaints from a disordered state of the nervous system The London Dispensary (1696) says an essence of Balm every morning will renew youth, strengthen the brain, relieve languishing nature, and prevent baldness Anti-viral quality has proven effective against herpes, mumps, the flu and Newcastle disease Considered a cure all: carminative, diaphoretic, anti-spasmodic, toothache, sore ,cramps, insomnia

Sage, Salvia officinalis

Salvia root word means to heal Antiseptic and drying in nature, so good for inflammation and infection, like colds and runny noses. A bit bitter, so good for digestion. Strengthening and tonifying for the endocrine, nervous and immune systems Great topically for infections and achy muscles. Infusion makes a great gargle for sore throats, bleeding gums and ulcers. Immune stimulant Helps with estrogen deficiency, assisting with pituitary and adrenal deficiency. Used for excessive perspiration

Echinacea purpurea

Echinacea purpurea or Echinacea pallida

Great immune system stimulant Perennial herb, easy from seed, but benefits from a cold treatment,(stratification) Grows well in most soil types, . Angustifolia likes it too dry for the Midwest. Harvest root in third year. Can also collect leaves and flowers for tea ingredient.

Echinacea- Immune System Stimulant

E. purpurea, E. pallida and E. angustifolia All of them work, the constituents levels vary, but work harmoniously. Have great antiinfective quality Best taken the day before you get sick, when you feel off. The best method is to take one or 2 droppers full of Tincture every hour or two at onset of infection. Helpful externally or internally. Indian name was Snakebite Root, implying the antiseptic action topically. All parts useful, flowers, leaves and roots. The most powerful overall herbal remedy for viral and bacterial infections Increases T cell formation, interferon production, phagocytosis, white blood cell activity, stimulates lymphatic system, is antiinflammatory, proven by the German Commission E.

Chamomile, Matricaria officinalis

Re-seeding annual Calming and sometimes even sleep inducing Great remedy for stomach complaints, calming bitter, carminative and aromatic. Great anti-inflammatory Makes an idea eyewash or eye compress Tastes great in tea Was called Plants Physician, stating that nothing contributes to the health of a garden as a number of chamomile herbs dispersed there. If another plant is drooping or sickly, 9 out of 10 times it will recover, if you plant chamomile there!

Calendula officinalis
Re-seeding annual One of the best skin herbs Gently stimulating and diaphoretic Anti-fungal, mild antiseptic Flowers relieve bug bites Useful in healing ulcers and varicose veins Useful for sprains and wounds Softening and healing on the skin

Dont forget about the Useful Weeds

Dandelion Root, Leaf and Flower Burdock Root Yellow Dock Root Chickweed Jewelweed Ground Ivy Portulaca Shepherd's Purse

Elderberry, Sambucus canadensis

The medicine chest of the Folk People useful as antiviral, astringent, febrifuge, vulnerary all parts are useful Woody perennial plant Propagate from dormant cuttings, division and seed Grows easily throughout North America, likes full sun , but can take partial shade

St. Johns Wort, Hypericum perfoliatum

Great for lifting spirits internally and healing nerve endings, topically. Makes a beautiful red oil traditionally used on sore or bruised muscles or tissues. Easy perennial from seed, cuttings or division Collect seed in September, store in cool dark place and sow in March. Or just dig one from a healthy population early in spring.

Blue Vervain, Verbena hastata

Wonderful nervine and bitter. Helpful for menopause to take the edge off. The bitters make the body function better. Beautiful perennial that prefers moist soils, grows around marshy areas. Grows easily from seed, division or cuttings

Black Cohosh
Cimicifuga racemosa ROOT Great for relieving muscle spasms Used for cramping, PMS, reduces fever and inflammation. Relaxing on various muscles, For coughs, rheumatism, for anxiety.

Blue Cohosh
Caulophyllum thalictroides ROOT Strengthens uterus, harmonizes labor Relieves tension, stimulates circulation Promotes detoxification, metabolic toxicosis (MOVES THINGS)

Black Cohosh, Cimicifuga racemosa

Classic remedy for menopause, great for relaxing muscles due to injury or overexertion Propagate by division or seed Seed takes 2 years to germinate, can dry seed. Save seeds in refrigerator: better than planting outdoors Easy from divisions, taken in fall. This is the preferred method.

Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum thalictroides

Woodland perennial Needs damp, well drained, shady spot. Grow from seed or divisions Seed takes 2 years to germinate, remove from germination inhibiting fruit and keep seed moist

Goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis

Excellent antiseptic, astringent root Long lived herbaceous perennial, grows in understory of hardwood forests. Needs at least 3 months of cold or freezing to survive, moist, but well drained soil in shade Need to remove pericarp, and keep seeds moist Propagate by seed or division I like to use other herbs high in berberine like barberry root, and save this one for exceptional uses. Goldenseal is the big guns

Wild Yam, Dioscorea villosa

Great plant, (root) for relaxing smooth muscles. So very high in saponins, that it can relieve hormonal discomfort applied topically. Grows in woods, and woods edge, likes shade Perennial vine with heart shaped leaves Propagate from seed or divisions Seed germinates the next year, hooray! Very easy from divisions, the roots are even shallow, and grow horizontally, making for an easy

Bloodroot, Sanguinarea canadensis

Lovely, woodland spring ephemeral, gorgeous white, waxy flower and beautifully lobed leaf which need moist, well drained soil and shade to thrive The acrid, red juice of the root is antiseptic, used as a mouthwash to keep gums healthy, and externally to burn off warts and cancers. The seed cannot dry out. Keep moist in soil or peat moss and will germinate the next spring Propagates from divisions, but do not overwater or they will rot You can use the easy to grow, prolific, Greater Celandine juice instead to burn off warts, and other unwanted skin growths

Growing from Seed

Typically sow seed about 6 weeks before last frost in a warm spot to grow a good sized transplant Use a soil-less mix to reduce losing seeds to fungus Need to stratify, or give a cold treatment to some northern medicinals; put in a cold, moist environment for at least 6 weeks. Like put shallow pot with soil mix and seed in refrigerator, or plant them in soil mix in Feb, then put in cold frame. Once plants show true leaves, pot up into larger size pot.

Taking Cuttings
Hardwood cuttings often taken from dormant wood Herbaceous perennials need to have intermediate stem, not too juvenile, (soft) and not too woody or hard Put in moist, sterile medium. My favorite rooting medium is 2 parts perlite and 1 part peat moss. Keep at 100% humidity for about a week, then gradually acclimate to environment

Dividing perennials
This is done in spring or fall, when the plant is near dormancy Lift plant out of soil and separate with shovel, knife or fingers especially in obvious spots, where it looks like it could be separated without damaging the herb

Choice Annuals and Perennials

ANNUALS Calendula Chamomile Holy Basil / Basils Cilantro Dill Fennel PERENNIALS Echinacea Lemon Balm Lavender Sage Thyme Codonopsis Mint

Tender Perennials: Rosemary, Lemon Verbena, Rose Geraniums

Herbs for the Shade

1. Sweet woodruff 2. Anise Parsley hyssop 3. Wild Sweet Woodruff ginger 4. Parsley 5. Shiso 6. Lemon balm 7. Chives Balm Lemon 8. Mint Mint 9. woodland herbs Plants : Black Cohosh Woodland

Herbs for the Shade

Blue Cohosh Bloodroot Trillium

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