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Summer is in full swing in the northern hemisphere. Nature abounds
with plant and animal life. This is great for us outdoorsy folk but
there is also the problem of heat, insects, sunburn, and poison ivy.
Here are six herbal remedies that can be made with common plants and
household items. Just make sure that you make an absolute positive
identification on plants collected for use.
Jewelweed (
Impatiens capensis). This
is a pretty little native plant found in damp, shady places across most
of North America. It is used by gardeners who like to include native
species in their landscaping. Use the fleshy stems like aloe leaves,
breaking them open for the juice, to soothe dry or sunburned skin. If
you come in contact with poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac,
jewelweed juice can be rubbed on the area immediately after contact to
prevent or reduce a rash. It can even be refrigerated or frozen as a tea
for later use.
Common chickweed (
Stellaria media). Found
all over North America, this is considered a weed by many but is useful
for a variety of reasons. Chickens love it as forage. This edible and
nutritious mat-forming plant can be chopped into salads and cooked
dishes for human consumption. Make a paste with its leaves and stems to
soothe skin irritations, bites, and stings.
Plaintain (
Plantago
spp.). A weedy perennial of disturbed and compacted soils, plaintain
was introduced to North America by European settlers. The young leaves
are edible and highly nutritious, and the plant is well-known for its
medicinal properties. Chew some leaves and apply it to areas affected by
insect bites or stings, sunburn, skin irritation, minor cuts,
infections, or boils. For a better treatment, make a poultice by
grinding and adding to water then apply the paste to the affected area
for 15 minutes. Brew as a tea for coughs and bronchitis.
Peppermint (
Mentha × piperita). Who
doesn’t love the smell of fresh peppermint growing in a pot out on the
patio? The hardy perennial will spread rapidly by underground stolons in
garden soil, so it’s a good idea to keep it contained. The tasty tea of
peppermint leaves is good for fighting headache, indigestion, bloating
and gas. Cold tea or a poultice can soothe itchy, irritated skin. Keep a
cold spray bottle of peppermint tea to spray on a hot face or irritated
skin
Ginger. The amazing and revered ginger root is the rhizome of the plant
Zingiber officinale
and has been cultivated for thousands of years for its edible and
medicinal properties. It is also an ornamental plant used for
landscaping in warm regions. While there are many folk uses, ginger is
well-proven to be effective at preventing motion sickness. Make a tea
with minced ginger root, eat candied ginger, or even drink a natural
ginger ale with real ginger.
Oats. Soak
in a hot tub of oatmeal. Seriously. But first, put the organic oatmeal
into a blender to make it into a fine powder. Use 1 cup of oatmeal,
blend into a powder, then mix in a regular bath and soak for 20 to 30
minutes. This will provide all-over relief for prickly heat, sunburn,
multiple bug bites, or poison ivy rash, while unplugging skin pores.
Source:
RealFarmacy.com
