Wound Infections Add two sliced onions and
50 g each of beeswax, honey and elder leaves to
275 g of petroleum jelly. Warm over a low flame
for about 30 minutes. Strain and apply to the
wound with a clean dressing.
Practical Uses for Herbs: Urticaria
Urticaria Infuse 600 g (21 oz) of black alder bark
in 1.1 litres (2 pints) of water and 225 ml (7 fl oz)
olive oil. Wash the affected area frequently. An
easy alternative is a poultice of clay mud.
Practical Uses for Herbs: Toothache Mix
Toothache Mix oils of peppermint and clove.
(You can then mix this with a teaspoon of rum,
if liked.) Apply directly to the tooth
Practical Uses for Herbs: Stomach Ache
Stomach Ache A tea of equal quantities of mint,
strawberry leaf, catnip and blackberry mixed
with one tablespoon of brandy should ease the
stomach.
An alternative is ground brown rice steeped
in warm water for 15 minutes. Add sugar and
nutmeg to taste. Add to boiled milk and drink.
Practical Uses for Herbs: Sore Throat
Sore Throat Tea made from sage leaves and
mixed with Sore Throat will ease a sore
throat.
Practical Uses for Herbs: Sleeplessness
Sleeplessness Equal quantities of the stalks and
leaves of valerian, catnip and peppermint made
into a tea will ensure better sleep
Practical Uses for Herbs: Itching
Itching Blood root pulverized and steeped in
apple vinegar until well incorporated then
added to lotions made from aloe, coconut oil,
and/or cocoa butter will ease itching.
Practical Uses for Herbs: Heartburn
Heartburn Add two teaspoons each of
cinnamon, lavender flowers, baking soda,
peppermint leaves and half a teaspoon ground
ginger to 125 ml (4 fl oz) of water and allow to
steep. Strain and drink warm after meals.
Practical Uses for Herbs: Fever
Fever Infuse the peel of two oranges and one
lemon in whisky. Take two teaspoons after each
meal.
Practical Uses for Herbs: Eye Rinse
Eye Rinse In 300 ml (8 fl oz) of water, warm 25 g
(1 oz) of elderflowers and a half teaspoon of salt.
Strain and use as needed to refresh eyes or
relieve itching
Practical Uses for Herbs: Dandruff Mix
Dandruff Mix together one measure each of
violet leaves, peppermint, nettle, red clover,
witch hazel and rosemary. Before shampooing,
warm a quarter measure of the dried herbs in
two measures of water and use as a rinse.
Practical Uses for Herbs: Coughs
Coughs In 1.7 litres (3 pints) of boiling water,
place a large quantity of peppermint leaves, 150
ml (5 fl oz) of rum, 85 ml (3 fl oz) of lemon juice,
25 g (1 oz) of cinnamon bark and 25 g (1 oz) of
comfrey root. Blend well, then allow to cool and
strain. Add 225 g (8 oz) of sugar and 50 ml (2 fl
oz) of honey. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
Cool and store in an air-tight container
Practical Uses for Herbs: Chapped Skin
Chapped Skin To 25 g (1 oz) of melted wax add
110 g (4 oz) of glycerine and 4–5 drops of oil of
roses or rejuvenating oil. Warm until well mixed
and apply as needed.
Practical Uses for Herbs: Chancre Sore
Chancre Sore Sorrel (approximately a handful) soaked in warm water until soft, then strained and drunk as a tea, will help clear them up
Practical Uses for Herbs: Burns
Burns A poultice made from wheat flour,
molasses and baking soda will relieve a burn
and often hasten the healing process
Practical Uses for Herbs: Bruises
Bruises Take 600 ml (1 pint) of almond oil and
450 g (1 lb) each of Balm of Gilead and St John’s
Wort, which you should bruise by pounding in
a pestle and mortar. Warm together over a low
flame. When the oil has taken all the colour out
of the buds, cool and strain the liquid. Then
apply as needed to the bruised area.
Practical Uses for Herbs: Bee/Wasp Stings
Bee/Wasp Stings A drop of myrrh juice on the
sting will help draw out the poison.
Practical Uses for Herbs: Athlete’s Foot
Besides keeping your feet dry
and powdered with orris root, try a vinegar
rinse of one cup of water and one teaspoon of
cider vinegar to which one tablespoon of thyme
and red clover have been added. Soak for 15
minutes daily
Practical Uses for Herbs: Acid Indigestion
Acid Indigestion Warm a cup of milk and steep
four eucalyptus leaves in it. Drink this to ease
discomfort.
Practical Uses for Herbs
Herbs have always had extremely practical
uses in addition to magical properties.
Traditionally, women who had learned their
craft as witches had also learned about the
healing properties of the herbs they used. This
aspect of a witch’s abilities falls into the
category of folk medicine, but it also entailed
the women linking in with an ancient tradition
by which a deity was assigned to each herb.
Sometimes witches earned a reputation for
being able to achieve miracles, but when
something went wrong they would be blamed
for it or accused of putting the evil eye on
people they did not like. Notwithstanding that
they had done their best with the resources
they had, these women were both revered and
feared. Often the women would add other
strange ingredients to their lotions and potions.
In Scotland as late as 1865 there is gruesome
evidence that the ashes from a human skull
were much sought after as an ingredient in a
cure for epilepsy. In this particular case, the
powder was required to be added to a mixture
administered to a girl suffering from fits.
Today many ingredients, similar to those used
by our ancestors, are available to us for healing
purposes. Unlike the healers of old, we can avail
ourselves of scientific information to ensure that
we use specific herbs appropriately. Below are
some recipes that have proved their worth.
Often it is the synergy (combined influence) of
the herbs that makes them so effective. Just as
essential oils derived from plants can be
combined, so also can the herbs themselves in
order to achieve a particular end.