The Sacred Hearth

Mugwort is a topical anesthetic with antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Fresh, crushed mugwort leaves applied to the skin relieves burning, itching and pain and, with continued application, can help get rid of warts.

It is also said that coating your skin with mugwort juice before exposure to poison oak will prevent a rash.

It is said that chewing fresh mugwort leaves will help relieve fatigue and clear the mind. A tea of the roots was used also for this purpose.

An infusioni of fresh leaves can be used for chronic stomach complaints and to stimulate the appetite.

Mugwort has also been used in Europe to induce abortions. It helps strengthen contractions and it is used in a compress to promote labor and help expel the afterbirth. It is also used to help regulate the menstrual cycle and ease painful menstruation and the onset of menopause. Use in combination with ginger in a tea to soothe difficult menstruation.

Interestingly, it has also been used in China to prevent miscarriage and ease excessive menstrual bleeding.

It is used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine to make Moxas to cure rheumatism and to correct fetal position prior to delivery. The fluff is carefully removed and rolled into a cylinder which is heated and placed near pressure points to relieve pain. This method is called moxibustion.

It has been used for centuries for disorders and epilepsy, as it has mild sedative and antispasmodic properties.

An infusion of the dried leaves and flowers helps expel pinworms.

Mix the dry herb with honey and apply to bruises to fade them (could try this on hickies too).

Infusioni - 1 ounce dried herb to 1 pint boiling water. 5-10 minutes. Do not make too strong as it is very bitter.

Tincture i- Cover four ounces of fresh herb with 1 pint 100 proof alcohol, vodka, gin or brandy. Cover and keep in a dark place, shaking several times per day for two weeks.

Do not continue to take Artemesias for more than 1 week. Break for several weeks before taking mugwort again as regular use of mugwort can cause nervous issues.

Eyebright, as its name implies, is traditionally used for just about any ailment of the eye. An infusioni of one ounce of herb per pint of water is an excellent all-purpose eyewash good for removing dust, debris and relieving irritation caused by allergies and mild conjunctivitis. Just put it in an eyewash cup and perform the eyewash as you would normally. (Read the directions that came with the cup)

For external eye irritations and inflammations, and to reduce general puffiness and dark circles, make the infusion with milk instead of water and apply to the eyelids and surrounding area with a cotton ball.

Eyebright can also be smoked to help relieve chronic bronchial inflammation.

Eyebright tea may be drunk as needed for general allergy symptoms, dry coughs and sinus infections. This is also said to enhance memory function.

Dimming of eyesight can result from prolonged us, or use of strong concentrations of eyebright.

None of the traditional uses of eyebright have ever been officially studied.

Because the safety of eyebright's use during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established, it is best avoided during these times.

Infusioni of eyebright is a must-have for your herbal first aid kit.

Wild comfrey contains allantoin, which is found in the milk of nursing mothers. It encourages cell reproduction and thus stimulates the healing of wounds. It also has a high mucilage content, which smooths the skin. This makes comfrey a valuable addition to salves and lotions and a soothing addition to baths.

Try adding comfrey to salves for burns, acne, bruising, abrasions and other topical complaints. It can also be used in poultices for breaks and strains and to reduce swelling from any cause.

Comfrey should not, however, be used for very deep or puncture wounds, because it can actually make the surface heal faster than the lower part of the wound, causing abscesses. Make sure a wound has been thoroughly cleaned before applying comfrey, so as not to seal dirt inside the wound.

The boiled roots yield a sticky paste which dries hard, and it has been used to set bandages. Simply spread it on the bandage, and then wrap the wound.

Taken internally, as a tea, the leaves are said to help speed the healing of broken bones and other internal injuries. The root is used for persistent, painful coughs as well as hemorrhage and ulcers.

However, one should be aware that comfrey can cause liver damage and is potentially carcinogenic. Interestingly, the toxic components are similar to those founds in acetaminophen, or Tylenol. But you wouldn't want to eat alot of that either. So keep your internal consumption of comfrey to a minimum and don't use it for long periods of time. Russian and prickly comfrey have the highest concentrations of toxic alkaloids, and the roots of any variety have higher concentrations than the leaves. These alkaloids are separate from the active healing constituents.

Comfrey should not be used internally or externally for longer than four to six consecutive weeks.

Pregnant or lactating women should not use comfrey.

No not use comfrey on deep or puncture wounds! The exterior of the wound where the medicine is applied will heal faster than the inside where the medicine can’t reach and you could end up with a pretty disgusting infection.

Both flowers and leaves make an excellent cough remedy in conjunction with horehound, licorice and marshmallow. You can make it into a syrup or tea. Steep 1-2 teaspoons of leaves or flowers in 1 cup boiling water. Drink no more than 3 cups daily. It can also be smoked by those with asthma, bronchitis and other lung problems, particularly those involving wet coughs.

Hot or cold coltsfoot tea compresses can be applied to swollen areas, and a cool such compress is soothing on the forehead or stomach when one has a fever.

A poultice of the leaves or flowers can be applied to eczema, sores, ulcers and insect bites.

The root is also useful for similar purposes, but it has higher levels of potentially toxic alkaloids and it is not recommended that it be used internally. Alli parts of coltsfoot contains these alkaloids, which can cause liver disease, but the leaves and flowers are considered safe for normally healthy adults to use in moderation. If you still aren't better after a few days, switch off with mullein for awhile.

Do not use while pregnant, trying to conceive or nursing. Do not give to children (that is, folks who are still growing).

Do not take more than 3 cups of coltsfoot tea per day, for three days. Do not take coltsfoot for more than 30 days out of the year.

Don't combine coltsfoot with blood pressure medication.

People who are allergic to ragweed are also likely to be allergic to coltsfoot, proceed with caution.

People with a history of alcohol abuse or liver disease should not take coltsfoot. Do not combine coltsfoot with other potentially liver damaging substances, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or comfrey.

If you ever begin to feel nausiated while using this herb, stop immediately. It is not a "normal" side affect, but a sign that the coltsfoot is hurting your liver.

Anise is helpful for all sorts of coughs and helps to relieve congestion. It is useful added to syrups and lozenges. Or a tea can be made by steeping one teaspoon of the seeds in a cup of boiling water for ten minutes. Take up to one and a half cups per day. You can also make a tincture to keep on hand by using two ounces of seeds per ½ quart brandy and a pinch of lemon peel. Let sit two to three weeks. Take one teaspoon as needed.

Some say anise is high in estrogen content and can be used to stimulate the flow of breast milk. It is also used to ease the pangs of childbirth. It may also help relieve the discomfort of menopause.

Anise seed is good for the digestive system and can be used to stimulate the appetite, aid in digestion, or relieve cramps, nausea, flatulence, or colic. A few seeds taken with water will cure hiccups.

Anise may increase the amount of iron that is absorbed into the body.