Summer Perfume Series

Summer is on its way. I can’t wait until I am soaking up the sun poolside with a good book, bees buzzing cheerily around me.

These three new fragrances, Herbs, Flowers and Summer evoke the feeling of that summer freedom, idling the hours away in pure warm tranquility.

Herbs– Rosemary, grapefruit and lemongrass

Flowers– Lavender, Lemon balm and chamomile

Summer– Coriander and pink grapefruit

Recipes:

Herbs (rosemary 15, grapefruit 15, lemongrass 5)

Flowers (lavender 18, Lemon balm 9, chamomile 3)

Summer (pink grapefruit 20, coriander 30)

Wellness Workshop 22.4: Recipes

Period Pal Capsules

Medicinal Actions:

Vitex (Chaste berry)influences dopaminergic transmission. It also regulates prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone (LH), which may regulate testosterone levels, as well as levels of other reproductive hormones.

Cramp bark is an antispasmodic. It quickly and effectively alleviates uterine muscular tension, pain, and the inflammation from which cramps originate

Black cohosh helps relieve menstrual cramps and premenstrual symptoms, such as hot flashes, irritability, mood swings, and sleep disturbances.

Ashwagandha regulates the level of cortisol (the stress hormone) in the body which helps to regulate moods and decreases the overall state of stress, anxiety and irritability. This also allows your body to make more of the sleep hormone melatonin, helping you to get to sleep and stay asleep. It may also improve sweet food cravings. The body typically craves sweet foods when cortisol levels are high as a prehistoric survival mechanism. 

Dosage: 1 capsule 2 times a day one week before menstrual cycle and one week during menstrual cycle

Uterine Bliss Tincture

  • Dried plant material of: black cohosh, chasteberry, hops, Eleuthro, Passion flower, smilax
  • Alcohol (at least 45%, brandy, vodka or Everclear 80% if using root)
  • Sterilised jar and lid

Grind or chop the plant material as finely as possible. I use my juicer to grind the dried plant material.

Add the plant material to the jar: Dried- fill 1/2 of jar

                                                             Fresh- fill the entire jar

Add the alcohol. Fill to the brim. Keep an eye on it for the next several minutes and keep adding alcohol until all the plant material is covered.

Seal well and label with the plant name, date, percent and type of alcohol and the date 6 weeks out.

Shake the jar daily and store in a cool, dark place.

After 6 weeks, strain out plant material and decant the tincture into sterilised bottles for use.

Label bottles with the tincture name.

Whole Plant Tincture

I prefer to make a tincture from the whole plant, thus I combine the root and aerial parts tinctures. This allows for the overall effectiveness of the tincture to be increased simply because different parts of the plant have differing strengths of similar properties.

Medicinal Actions

Vitex (Chaste berry)influences dopaminergic transmission. It also regulates prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone (LH), which may regulate testosterone levels, as well as levels of other reproductive hormones.

Black Cohosh is most commonly used for menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes (also called hot flushes) and night sweats (together known as vasomotor symptoms), vaginal dryness, heart palpitations, tinnitus, vertigo, sleep disturbances, nervousness, and irritability

Hops is used for anxiety, sleep disorders, restlessness, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and other menopause symptoms

Eleuthero is used to manage the effects of menopause. Modern medicine has corroborated this as eleutherosides have been shown to bind to estrogen receptor sites. As a result, eleuthero may lessen the effects of estrogen withdrawal in menopausal and peri-menopausal women. In addition, eleuthero can help reduce bone loss that occurs during menopause and can help in the early treatment of osteoporosis.

Passion flower can treat menopausal symptoms, such as vasomotor signs (hot flashes and night sweats), insomnia, depression, anger and headaches, and it may be an alternative to conventional hormone therapy.

Smilax will balance the glandular system and hormones and can be used as a general tonic during menopause and improve debility and low libido, aphrodisiac, testosteronic, progesteronic

Dosage: 3-5 ml twice a day, one hour before bed and right before bed

Immune Harmony Tincture

  • Leaves, flowers and seed of E. purpurea (dried or fresh) or root of E. angustifolia, flowers and berries of elderflower tree
  • Alcohol (at least 45%, brandy, vodka or Everclear 80% if using root)
  • Sterilised jar and lid

Grind or chop the plant material as finely as possible. I use my juicer to grind the dried plant material.

Add the plant material to the jar: Dried- fill 1/2 of jar

                                                             Fresh- fill the entire jar

Add the alcohol. Fill to the brim. Keep an eye on it for the next several minutes and keep adding alcohol until all the plant material is covered.

Seal well and label with the plant name, date, percent and type of alcohol and the date 6 weeks out.

Shake the jar daily and store in a cool, dark place.

After 6 weeks, strain out plant material and decant the tincture into sterilised bottles for use.

Label bottles with the tincture name.

Whole Plant Tincture

I prefer to make a tincture from the whole plant, thus I combine the root and aerial parts tinctures. This allows for the overall effectiveness of the tincture to be increased simply because different parts of the plant have differing strengths of similar properties.

Medicinal Actions:

Echinacea is an immunostimulant, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial. It has an affinity for bronchial and respiratory infections as well as throat and overall oral infections. It has a full complement of polysaccharides, which help protect cells against invasion by viruses and bacteria. Other key constituents are: sesquiterpenes, linoleic acid, tannins, beta-carotene and Vitamin C.

Elderflower is used for swollen sinuses (sinusitis), colds, influenza (flu), swine flu, bronchitis, diabetes, and constipation. It is also used to increase urine production (as a diuretic), to increase sweating (as a diaphoretic), and to stop bleeding.

The berries and flowers of elderberry are packed with antioxidants and vitamins that may boost your immune system. They could help tame inflammation, lessen stress, and help protect your heart, too. Some experts recommend elderberry to help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms.

Dosage: when exposed to a cold or flu- 3-5 ml 2 times a day

When presenting with symptoms- 1 ml every 30 min to hour

Horrible Hormone Tea

  • 1 part Skullcap
  • 1 part Ashwagandha
  • 1 part Raspberry Leaf
  • 2 parts Lavender

Grind the herbs in a mortar and pestle or with a juicer or herb grinder.

Store in a cool, dry, dark place.

1 tablespoon of tea per cup of boiling water, let steep for 5-10 minutes covered.

Dose:  1 cup of tea as needed

Medicinal Actions:

Lavender: anticonvulsant, antidepressive, anxiolytic, sedative, and calming 

Skullcap is used to reduce inflammation, provide relief from spasms, stimulate blood flow in the pelvic region, help eliminate headaches, reduce fever and induce relaxation.

Ashwagandha regulates the level of cortisol (the stress hormone) in the body which helps to regulate moods and decreases the overall state of stress, anxiety and irritability. This also allows your body to make more of the sleep hormone melatonin, helping you to get to sleep and stay asleep. It may also improve sweet food cravings. The body typically craves sweet foods when cortisol levels are high as a prehistoric survival mechanism. 

Raspberry leaf: anti-inflammatory, mild hemostatic, anti-emetic, nervine, nutritive, galactagogue, uterine trophorestorative, relaxant, tonic/astringent, and parturient.

 

Pain Relief Salve

Warming

  • 1 cup Cayenne-infused olive oil Infused Oil Recipe
  • 1/4 cup bees wax
  • 20 drops clove and 10 drops cinnamon essential oils

In a double boiler (or a pot nestled in a larger pot filled with a bit of water) over medium heat, add the oils and beeswax. 

Stir until the beeswax melts and is fully incorporated.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool for a moment.

Add the essential oils. Stir.

Pour into clean and sterilised jars.

Safety: Spot test before applying to ensure no skin sensitivities are present

Medicinal Actions:

Cayenne: anti-inflammatory, analgesic (confuses pain transmitters), vulnerary, rubefacient

Clove: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory

Cinnamon: nervine, anti-inflammatory

Cooling

In a double boiler (or a pot nestled in a larger pot filled with a bit of water) over medium heat, add the oils and beeswax. 

Stir until the beeswax melts and is fully incorporated.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool for a moment.

Add the essential oils. Stir.

Pour into clean and sterilised jars.

Medicinal Actions:

Wintergreen: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, cooling

Coriander: antibacterial, soothing, cooling, anti-inflammatory

Lavender: nervine, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial

Pink Grapefruit and Coriander Face Cream

  • 3/4 cup (180ml) Coriander-infused sweet almond oil 
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) Balm of Gilead -infused almond oil
  • 1/8 cup (30 ml) Shea butter
  • 1/8 cup (30 ml) Coconut oil
  • 1/8 cup (30 g) beeswax
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) commercially prepared organic aloe vera gel 
  • 3/4 cup (180 ml) rose, lavender or orange blossom hydrosol
  • 10 drops of Vitamin E oil 
  • a few drops of grapefruit and coriander essential oils

Combine the oils, butter and beeswax in a saucepan over very low heat until everything is melted together

Pour into a measuring cup or container and let cool until the mixture is somewhat firm, thick and creamy

Scrape the oil mixture into a blender.

In a separate bowl. Combine the hydrosol, gel and essential oil

Turn the blender on full speed and slowly drizzle the the water mixture into the vortex created by the blender

Continue blending until all the water mixture has been absorbed by the oil.

The blender should “choke” as the mixture thickens and becomes creamy

After turning off the blender, scoop the cream into small jars. 

Store the cream in a cool dark place.

Medicinal Actions:
Pink Grapefruit: high in Vitamin C, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, skin regenerative, affinity for scar-healing and wrinkle smoothing, collagen synthesis

Shea butter: moisturising, anti-inflammatory, aids in skin’s natural collagen production

Balm of Gilead: antioxidant, heals scars, clears up eczema and psoriasis, anti-inflammatory

Coriander: antibacterial, soothing, anti-inflammatory

Veins Away Salve Works!

Roman pouziva Veins Away 1 a 2 uz par tydny na nohy. Uz rozdil pozna a mi dal zpetnou vazbu:

“Bylinková mastička na žíly po třítýdenním používání. Rozdíl je viditelný, určitě doporučuji.”

-Roman Vojslavsky

Diky Romane! Cim dal tim lepe!!!

Roman has been using Veins Away 1 and 2 for a couple of weeks now on his leg. He has already noticed a difference and gave me this feedback:

“The veins after using the herbal salve for three weeks. You can see the difference. I recommend this product.”

-Roman Vojslavsky

Thank you, Roman. Keep going with it!

BYLINKÁŘSTVÍ 101: LEKCE 2

 Translated by Dana Lebedova

Tak jako květiny rostou ze země, tak lék vyrůstá pod rukama lékaře. Lék není nic jiného než semínko, které se musí rozvinout v to, k čemu je předurčeno.

-Paracelsus

Aktivita 1: Pozorování
  • Vytvořte tři monografie, jednu pro každou vaši bylinku (navrhuji je ukládat v pořadači nebo zápisníku v abecedním pořadí)
  • Nakreslete barevný obrázek každé bylinky a přidejte jej do monografie; pokud možno i semeno, květ a kořen
  • Zahrňte do monografií energetické účinky těchto bylin, o kterých jste se mnou diskutovali
  • Vyberte 5 nejběžnějších léčivých účinků z monografií, abyste se s nimi blíže seznámili
  • Přidejte do tohoto seznamu: analgetické, hojivé, antiseptické, nervové, proti plynatosti, aromatické
Aktivita 2: Dotýkání, očichávání, ochutnávání, poslouchání
  • Seznámení s rostlinami z čeledi hluchavkovitých Lamiaceae
  • Vezměte meduňku, levanduli, mátu a bazalku
  • Všímejte  si tvaru stonků, tvaru jejich listů. Všímejte si podobností a odlišností.
  • Promněte listy mezi prsty a hluboce se nadechněte. Všímejte si aromatických podobností a rozdílů. (Připravte si kávu nebo kávová zrna, abyste si průběhu mohli očistit čichové orgány).
  • Ochutnejte každou bylinu a všímejte si podobností a rozdílů. (K očištění můžete použít citron nebo zázvor).
  • Všímejte si jak se cítíte, když vdechujete jejich vůni a energii, když je ochutnáváte.
Aktivita 3: Postup přípravy bylinné čajové směsi
  • Nasbírejte bylinky na uklidňující čaj
  • Připravte si čaj a ochutnejte: všímejte si chuti, energie (viz lekce 1 )
  • Upravte si recept na čaj podle svého vkusu. Dejte mi vědět, jaké úpravy provedete.
  • Podívejte se na léčivé účinky bylin v čaji. Všímejte si zejména účinků působících proti plynatosti a nervy uklidňujících účinků. Cítíte je, když čaj pijete?
Jedovaté Rostliny: Rulík zlomocný   
  • Přečtěte si tento článek o Deadly Nightshade
  • Vypište všechny rostliny z čeledi lilkovitých Solanaceae , které pravidelně jíte
  • Přečtěte si účinky Rulíku zlomocného Belladonna 

BYLINKÁŘSTVÍ 101: LEKCE 1

Translated by Dana Lebedova

Rostliny mají dostatek ducha, aby měnily naši omezenou představivost.

-Rosemary Gladstar

Aktivita 1: Vidění
  • Určete tři byliny, které rostou ve vaší blízkosti nebo které již znáte.
  • Přečtěte si jejich monografie online nebo na Kristas Herbarium. (Co je to monografie ?)
  • Přečtěte si ukázkové monografie na kristasherbarium.com – Bylinkářská dílna – Monografie
  • Ukázka monografie Calendula
Aktivita 2: Dotýkání, Očichávání, Ochutnávání, Poslouchání
  • Najděte tyto bylinky venku, v obchodě – sušené nebo čerstvé
  • Z vybrané byliny (pokud si nejste jistí, poraďte se s Kristou) si připravte čaj.
  • Poznamenejte si: chuť každé byliny (slaná, sladká, kyselá, hořká, štiplavá)
  • Přečtěte si: energetika
  • Poslouchejte, jak se vaše tělo cítí: teplé (myslím, že papričky) nebo studené (myslím, že máta), suché (myslím, že sušenky), nebo vlhké (myslím, že okurky)
  • Vytvořte si zápisky bylin, podle jejich chutí a energetických účinků
Aktivita 3: Cvičení – Vyrobte si louhovaný olej
  • Vyberte levanduli nebo heřmánek
  • Budete potřebovat 50 gramů sušené byliny, čistou sklenici, olivový olej
  • Postupujte podle receptury na louhovaný olej
  • Počkejte 4 týdny….
Následně s Kristou:
  • Pošlete mi fotky vašich čajů, olejů a zápisků
  • V případě jakýchkoli dotazů mě kontaktujte

BYLINKÁŘSTVÍ 101

Translated by Dana Lebedova

Bylinkářství je celé o smyslech:

pozorování, dotýkání, ochutnávání, čichu a sluchu.

pozorování:

  • poznávání rostlin podle čeledí
  • rozpoznávání rostlin podle hlavních rozpoznávacích znaků
  • schopnost určovat jedovaté rostliny
  • rozpoznávání rostlin v květu i mimo něj
  • chápání výhod a nevýhod Doctrine of Signatures

dotýkání:

  • cítit textury listů
  • rozpoznávání tvarů stonků
  • věnovat čas držení rostliny v ruce a  seznamování se s její energií
  • rozpoznávání rostlin podle jejich textur

ochutnávání:

  • rozeznáváme pět příchutí: sladkou, hořkou, slanou, kyselou  nebo štiplavou
  • schopnost určovat jedovaté rostliny bez ochutnávky

čich:

  • rozpoznávat sílu vůně pocitově, fyzicky a duchovně
  • pochopení toho, co to znamená, když bylina nevoní jednomu člověku, ale voní druhému
  • porozumění aromatickým bylinám a jejich použití

sluch:

  • naslouchat našemu tělu a tomu, co nám říká
  • rozpoznání příznaků a pochopení jejich příčin
  • naslouchat našemu tělu, emocím a duchu jako celku
  • konat v souladu s našimi smysly
  • pochopení léčivých účinků bylin
  • rozpoznat, jaké mají rostliny  energetické účinky a vnímat, jak na nás působí

Herbalism 101: Lesson 4

Activity 1: Seeing

Plant Families: Asteraceae

  • Read this article on the Asteraceae family.
  • List all the plants in the Asteraceae family that you use regularly and why.
  • Choose three plants from the Asteraceae family that interest you. Read their monographs online.
  • Make three monographs, one for each of your herbs, draw a colour picture of each of your herbs to add into the monograph; include seed, flower and root if possible.
  • Answer these questions: Which medicinal actions would you benefit from in these plants? How could you use them to aid in your health (e.g. as a tea, in food)?
  • Pick 5 more medicinal actions to familiarise yourself with.

Activity 2: Touching, Smelling, Tasting, Hearing

  • Getting to know plants in the Asteraceae family.
  • We will use chamomile, Echinaceae and calendula. If possible, find them fresh outside or in shops.
  • Note the composite flowers, the shape of their stems, the shape of their leaves. Note the similarities and differences.
  • Rub their leaves between your fingers and inhale deeply. Note the aromatic similarities and differences. (Have coffee or coffee beans nearby to inhale inbetween to cleanse your olfactory system)
  • Taste each one and note their similarities and differences. Can you describe their tastes: note the sensation on the tongue from Echinaceae. It should taste somewhat acrid and have a sparking sensation. (You can use lemon or ginger to cleanse your palate)
  • Make teas with each flower. List their medicinal actions.
  • Note: How each makes you feel when you inhale their aromas and their energetics as you taste them.

Activity 3: Practice-Making an Herbal First Aid Kit

You will be making Echinaceae Tincture, Chamomile Tea and Calendula Salve
  • Gather ingredients for the Herbal First Aid Kit recipes.
  • Make the tinture,salve and tea.
  • Write the medicinal actions of these herbs in these remedies. How will you use these preparations for healing?
  • If desired, make labels for your remedies.

Poisonous Plants: Tansy

  • Read this article on Tansy.
  • Read the monograph of Tansy.
  • Do you think you would grow Tansy? Why or why not?

Plant families: Asteraceae

Asteraceae Family

Key Words: Composite flowers in disk-like heads.

This family was previously known as the Composite family-Compositae.

Asteraceae plants are everywhere. From sunflowers that make the sky look even bluer to the lettuce that’s in your salad, you come into contact with members of this family regularly. The Asteraceae family is one of the largest plant families with several sub-genera within, such as the genera Artemisia and Arnica.

Mostly used for flowers and food, some members of the Asteraceae family have been used in folk medicine for centuries. Containing terpenoids and flavonoids, they produce many beneficial effects on our bodies. Some though may be allergic to these compounds, so a bit of general knowledge and information is necessary.

Asteraceae are recognised mainly by they composite flowers. though they look like a single flower, imagine a sunflower, it is actually a disk containing hundreds of single flowers known as a composite flower.

What is a composite flower?

Photo of aster by Skyler Ewing on Pexels.com

A word from Wikipedia about composite flowers:

In plants of the family Asteraceae, what appears to be a single flower is actually a cluster of much smaller flowers. The overall appearance of the cluster, as a single flower, functions in attracting pollinators in the same way as the structure of an individual flower in some other plant families. The older family name, Compositae, comes from the fact that what appears to be a single flower is actually a composite of smaller flowers.

The “petals” or “sunrays” in a sunflower head are actually individual strap-shaped flowers called ray flowers, and the “sun disk” is made of smaller circular shaped individual flowers called disc flowers. The word “aster” means “star” in Greek, referring to the appearance of some family members, as a “star” surrounded by “rays”. The cluster of flowers that may appear to be a single flower, is called a head. The entire head may move tracking the sun, like a “smart” solar panel, which maximizes reflectivity of the whole unit and can thereby attract more pollinators.

On the outside the flower heads are small bracts that look like scales. These are called phyllaries, and together they form the involucre that protects the individual flowers in the head before they open. The individual heads have the smaller individual flowers arranged on a round or dome-like structure called the receptacle. The flowers mature first at the outside, moving toward the center, with the youngest in the middle.

The individual flowers in a head have 5 fused petals (rarely 4), but instead of sepals, have threadlike, hairy, or bristly structures called pappus, which surround the fruit and can stick to animal fur or be lifted by wind, aiding in seed dispersal. The whitish fluffy head of a dandelion, commonly blown on by children, is made of the pappus, with tiny seeds attached at the ends, whereby the pappus provides a parachute like structure to help the seed be carried away in the wind.

Wikipedia
Photo of dandelion seeds (pappi) by Anthony on Pexels.com

Getting to know the Asteraceae Family

Courtesy of Thomas J. Elpel

This article by wildflowersandweeds.com is a great resource for the Asteraceae family.

Photo of daisies by Aaron Burden on Pexels.com

Members of the Asteraceae Family

Courtesy of britannica.com

Photo of calendula by Mitchell Luo on Pexels.com
American medicinal plants New York,Boericke & Tafel,c1887. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/84253

Asteraceae Medicinal Actions

Asteraceae or Compositae is an exceedingly large, annual and widespread family of flowering plants. They produce secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids and terpenoids which have lots of effect on our body. Many of the Asteraceae family are plants which have been used in traditional medicine. Many studies have shown the effects of Asteraceae family plants or their extract on immune-mediated diseases, especially their anti-inflammatory effect. 

http://jrhc.miau.ac.ir/article_3435.html
Members of this family can have these medicinal actions:

Diuretic, drawing, expectorant, draining, antiparasitic, respiratory support, gastric support, blood regulation, antibacterial, help with microbial infections.

Asteraceae: A Cautionary Tale

Many Asteraceae members contain metabolites called sesquiterpene lactones which, in those allergic, can cause inflammation, skin irritation and sensitisation. This same metabolite has been shown beneficial in treating cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as a host of other disorders from diarrhea to influenza,,. It is important to know the information, so I recommend reading these articles in order to get the full picture regarding this metabolite.

Beware the Asteraceae allergy:

The Asteraceae representatives consist of diverse secondary metabolites, which exhibit various advantageous effects in humans. In particular, sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) may cause sensitization resulting in skin irritation and inflammation. In this study, we tried to reveal the allergenic potential of several Asteraceae species. The Asteraceae-related allergy symptoms involve eczema, hay fever, asthma, or even anaphylaxis. Furthermore, the evidence of severe cross-reactivity with food and pollen allergens (PFS) in patients sensitive to Asteraceae allergens have been announced.

https://rdcu.be/cjoRt

Asteraceae for the win:

Studies of folk medicines implicate sesquiterpene lactones as the active ingredient in many treatments for other ailments such as diarrhea, burns, influenza, and neurodegradation. In addition to the anti-inflammatory response, sesquiterpene lactones have been found to sensitize tumor cells to conventional drug treatments.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709812/
Photo of bee on sunflower by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com
Photo of artichoke flower by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Poisonous Plants: Tansy

Tansy is beautiful. But I have a love/hate relationship with tansy. The flowers are beautiful, aromatic and the plant is a breeding place for ladybugs.

The ladybugs have taken up residence in my tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) plants.

I love seeing the whole life cycle of ladybugs in my tansy plants. But be warned, the tansies will take over your garden, are near impossible to get rid of and can be dangerous. Containing thujones (the same component that gives Absinthe its bad name), as well as other volatile oils, which can cause convulsions, liver and brain damage and can be lethal in the right amount. It is used in herbal medicine, but should only be used by an expert.

And tansy’s dark side is darker than most – it’s literally a killer. Despite historically being commonly used as a flavouring, bitter-tasting tansy contains a toxic essential oil that can cause liver and brain damage and even kill humans and other animals. On a less lethal level, it can also prompt an allergic reaction in some individuals when touching the leaves.

https://www.growveg.co.uk/guides/why-you-should-and-shouldnt-grow-tansy/

History of uses:

Tansy has a long history of use. It was first recorded as being cultivated by the ancient Greeks for medicinal purposes. In the 8th century AD it was grown in the herb gardens of Charlemagne and by Benedictine monks of the Swiss monastery of Saint Gall. Tansy was used to treat intestinal worms, rheumatism, digestive problems, fevers, sores, and to bring out measles.

During the Middle Ages and later, high doses were used to induce abortions. Contradictorily, tansy was also used to help women conceive and to prevent miscarriages. In the 15th century, Christians began serving tansy with Lenten meals to commemorate the bitter herbs eaten by the Israelites. Tansy was thought to have the added Lenten benefits of controlling flatulence brought on by days of eating fish and pulses and of preventing the intestinal worms believed to be caused by eating fish during Lent.

Tansy was used as a face wash and was reported to lighten and purify the skin. In the 19th century, Irish folklore suggested that bathing in a solution of tansy and salts would cure joint pain.

Wikipedia

Tansy is used as an excellent insecticide and anti-parasitic, but must be used with caution. Please do your research and rather use wormwood and black walnut as your antiparasitic.

Enjoy this mildly obscene video…

Ladybugs goin’ at it in the tansy…

Articles about tansy:

Asteraceae plant family resources:

Identifying a new plant

Using these resources, one is easily able to identify its genus and species:

Herbalism 101: Lesson 3

The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore the physician must start from nature, with an open mind.

Paracelsus

Activity 1: Seeing
Plant Families: Apiaceae
  • Read this article on the Apiaceae family.
  • List all the plants in the Apiaceae family that you use regularly and why.
  • Choose three plants from the Apiaceae family that interest you. Read their monographs online.
  • Make three monographs, one for each of your herbs, draw a colour picture of each of your herbs to add into the monograph; include seed, flower and root if possible.
  • Answer these questions: Which medicinal actions would you benefit from in these plants? How could you use them to aid in your health (e.g. as a tea, in food)?
  • Pick 5 more medicinal actions to familiarise yourself with.
Activity 2: Touching, Smelling, Tasting, Hearing
  • Getting to know plants in the Apiaceae family.
  • We will use cilantro (plant and seed), fennel (plant and seed) and parsley. If possible, find them fresh outside or in shops.
  • Note the shape of their stems, the shape of their leaves. Note the similarities and differences.
  • Rub their leaves between your fingers and inhale deeply. Note the aromatic similarities and differences. (Have coffee or coffee beans nearby to inhale inbetween to cleanse your olfactory system)
  • Taste each one and note their similarities and differences. (You can use lemon or ginger to cleanse your palate)
  • Make teas with the fennel seed and coriander seed. List their medicinal actions.
  • Note: How each makes you feel when you inhale their aromas and their energetics as you taste them.
Activity 3: Practice-Making an Herbal Salve
  • Gather ingredients for the Herbal Salve recipe.
  • Watch this video before making the salve.
  • Make the salve.
  • Write the medicinal actions of your chosen herbs for the salve. How will you use this salve for healing?
  • If desired, make labels for your salve.
Poisonous Plants: Poison Hemlock
  • Read this article on Poison Hemlock.
  • List the differences between wild carrot and poison hemlock.
  • Read the effects of poison hemlock.

Plant Families: Apiaceae

Apiaceae-Parsley/Carrot Family

Key Words: Compound umbels. Usually hollow flower stalks. Often aromatic.

Some of the most common plants, most loved and most eaten are in this beautiful Apiaceae family, as well as some of the world’s deadliest.

Mostly grown as vegetables or for food, whilst some are used as folk medicine, one must be sure of plant identification as many members of the Apiaceae family are poisonous. For this reason, it is important to get to know this plant family as one of the first families you study.

One can usually identify a member of the Apiaceae family by its distinctive umbel.

What’s an umbel?

Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay
Image by Thomas B. from Pixabay

A word from Wikipedia about umbels:

In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) which spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin umbella “parasol, sunshade”. The arrangement can vary from being flat-topped to almost spherical. Umbels can be simple or compound.

The secondary umbels of compound umbels are known as umbelules or umbellets. A small umbel is called an umbellule. 

The arrangement of the inflorescence in umbels is referred to as umbellate, or occasionally subumbellate (almost umbellate).Umbels are a characteristic of plants such as carrot, parsley, dill, and fennel in the family Apiaceae;  ivy, Aralia and Fatsia in the family Araliaceae; onion (Allium) in the family Alliaceae.

Wikipedia

Getting to know the Apiaceae family

Who hasn’t eaten a carrot? Or put celery in their soup base? Cut up some parsnip for a Sunday roast or used fennel or dill as a spice in a recipe? The Apiaceae family hosts some of our most common and well-loved ingredients. Cilantro for salsa, caraway seed in a curry or parsley in some sausage mix, this family has it all.

It’s a wonder we all are alive today. If foraging was necessary, many of us lack the skill to properly identify a Wild Carrot from its deadly cousin, Poison Hemlock. We must thank those that have gone before us, that have told the stories and drawn the illustrations, those that have paved the way in helping us to know the beauty and danger of this abundant plant family.

Courtesy of Thomas J. Elpel

When you recognize the compound umbels of the Parsley family then you know you have to be careful. You must be 100% certain of what these plants are before you harvest them for food or medicine. More than that, you must be right! People die just about every year thinking they have discovered some kind of wild carrot.

wildflowersandweeds.com

This article by wildflowersandweeds.com is a great resource for the Apiaceae family.

Members of this family include:

Apiaceae Medicinal Actions

Members of this family can have these medicinal actions:

Anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antibacterial, diuretic, emmenagogue, stimulating, antimicrobial, antioxidant. These constituents can help with bronchitis, hepatitis, gastrointeritis.

Poisonous Plants: Poison Hemlock

For him who fain would teach the world The world holds hate in fee— For Socrates, the hemlock cup; For Christ, Gethsemane.

-Don Marquis

About Poison Hemlock

Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is in the Apiaceae family, which also includes carrots, parsnips, parsley, fennel, and their wild counterparts.

It is an herbaceous biennial plant that can grow 5 to 10 feet (2-3 meters) tall or even taller.

It should not be confused with hemlock the coniferous tree which is completely harmless (and edible).

All parts of the plant are poisonous, including the flowers, leaves, stems, roots, and seeds.

Poison hemlock contains potent toxic alkaloids that affect the nervous system, and even small internal doses can cause respiratory collapse and death.

It can also cause a severe skin reaction similar to a burn when touched externally. Definitely not a plant to mess around with!

Historically poison hemlock was used in ancient Greece to poison condemned prisoners, and it was what killed Socrates after he drank a potent hemlock infusion.

growforagecookferment.com

How to properly identify poisonous members of the Apiaceae family

Image courtesy King County Noxious Weeds

Eating even a small amount of any part of this plant can kill people, livestock, and wildlife!

Poison-hemlock stems have reddish or purple spots and streaks, are not hairy, and are hollow. Leaves are bright green, fern-like, finely divided, toothed on edges and have a strong musty odor when crushed. Flowers are tiny, white and arranged in small, umbrella-shaped clusters on ends of branched stems.

King County

Poison Hemlock Look-Alikes

Flowering poison-hemlock may be confused with wild carrot (Daucus carota, or Queen Anne’s Lace). In contrast with poison-hemlock, wild carrot has one densely packed umbrella-shaped flower cluster on a narrow, hairy stem, usually with one purple flower in the center of the flower cluster, and is usually 3 feet tall or less. Wild carrot also flowers later in the summer.

King County

If you are not sure, don’t touch the plant. Even touching the wrong Apiaceae can lead to photosensitivity rashes.

Look for red or purple spots to help you identify poison hemlock.

Apiaceae plant family resources:

Identifying a new plant

Using these resources, one is easily able to identify its genus and species: