Camomile cream

Camomile cream is good for curing hemorrhoids and wounds, applied externally. For curing hemorrhoids you can also drink camomile (Matricaria chamomilla) tea.

To make camomile cream take 250g of pigs fat. Heat it to the temperature of frying steaks, than add 2 handfuls of fresh camomile flowers. Fry it shortly, stir and remove from fire. Pigs fat foams so be careful. Cover the pan and leave it to cool over night. Next day warm it a bit and strain. When straining press the herbs with something or squeeze them. For straining you can use strainer or cloth or both.

Pigs fat is excellent for making herbal creams becouse skin absorbs it better than artificial creams.

When to pick mistletoe

Time to gather mistletoe is from the begining of October to mid December in the automn, and in the spring in March and April. Stems and leaves are picked and left to dry, some recommend cuting the herbs before drying.

Berries are removed from the plant because they are poisonous if you eat them. In March and April there are less berries because they fell of or birds ate them, so it can be easier to gather mistletoe.

It is best to pick mistletoe from oak and poplar, but it is also good from pines and fruit-tree.

Mistletoe is often used as a Christmas decoration, but it is also a valuable remedy.

St. John's Wort tincture

Put 2 handfuls of St. John's Wort flowers (Hypericum perforatum), picked on a sunny day, into a glass jar and pour over 1l of alcohol (about 40%).

Close the jar and leave it in the sun or near heat source for 3 weeks. Shake it from time to time. Strain after 3 weeks.

Use it for massage or drink it once a day 10 – 15 drops in 1 tablespoon of water.

St. John's Wort tincture is used for neurosis, insomnia, nerve diseases, nerve weakness, inflammation of the nerves.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe (Viscum album) is a herbal remedy good for metabolism, diabetes, pancreas, hormonal disorder, epilepsy, chronic cramps, hysteria, typhus, dysentery, preventing cancer and menopausal symptoms.

Mistletoe strengthens the heart and normalizies blood flow, because of this mistletoe is recommended for different heart diseases and troubles with blood flow like troubles with circulation, bleeding in the lungs and bowels, palpitation, different heart troubles, heavy menstrual bleeding, troubles with veins, etc.

It gets blood pressure to normal, high and low, as well as conditions relating to irregular blood pressure (loss of energy, vertigo, etc).

To make tea put one teaspoon of mistletoe (dry stems and leaves) in a cup of cold water, and leave it over night (about 12 hours). In the morning heat it a bit and strain it. It is recommended to drink 1 to 3 cups of mistletoe tea a day, not more.

If you make 2 or 3 cups, in the evening put the tea in water for example 2 teaspoons in 2 cups of water (3in 3), in the morning heat boat cups a bit, strain them and drink one cup. The other you can put in a Thermos for later or heat it a bit before you drink it.

How many cups of tea person needs to drink dependes on how serious the problem is.

Agrimony cream

This cream is very good for varicose veins, used externally.  Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) is picked  while it is blooming, from June to August.

Take 250g of pigs fat, warm it to the temparature of frying steaks. Then add 2 handfuls of agrimony (leaves, stems, flowers, cut into small pieces). Fry it shortly, stir and remove from fire. Pigs fat can foam so take big pan and be careful while frying. Cover the pan and leave it to cool over night. Next day warm it a bit and then strain. Pour it while it is warm into small containers.

Marjoram oil

Marjoram oil is made by puting fresh marjoram in a glass jar and pouring olive oil over it to cover the marjoram. Jar is left in a warm place for 10 days, then strained with a strainer or a cloth.

It is best to have extra virgin olive oil becouse of its good quality and fresh marjoram, but if necessary dry marjoram can be used as well.

Marjoram oil is recommended for malignant gland diseases and other gland problems. Oil is used together with crushed plantain leaf, plantain needs to be fresh.

First apply the oil on the troubled area and put crushed plantain on it, wrap it with a bandage. Some say that this helps in a short period of time.

Common speedwell tincture

Tincture is made from common speedwell (Veronica officinalis), picked while it's blooming, and alcohol (about 40%).

Take 2 handfuls of common speedwell (leaves, stems, flowers) and cut it into small pieces. Put it in a glass jar and pour over 1l of alcohol. Cover the jar and leave it in the sun or near heat source. Shake it from time to time. Strain it after 14 days or more.

This tincture is used for rheumatism and painful bones. Rub it on the painful places or drink it 3 times a day 15 drops with litlle bit of water or tea.

Camomile oil

To make this oil you need fresh camomile flowers picked on a sunny day and extra virgin olive oil.

Put the flowers into a glass jar (don't press them). Pour the olive oil over so that it covers the flowers. Close the jar and leave it in the sun for 14 days or near the heat source. Then strain.

Camomile oil is used for neuralgia, paralysis and pain in the limbs.

Comfrey tincture

To make this tincture you need alcohol (about 40%) and comfrey (symphytum officinale) roots. Roots are dug in the spring or autumn. Wash the roots, chop them into small pieces and put in a glass jar (don't press it). Pour alcohol over, so that it covers the roots. Close the jar and leave it in the sun or near the heat source for 14 days. Shake it from time to time. After 14 days strain it.

Comfrey tincture is used as a compress for external and internal wounds and injuries of all kinds, contusions, bone fractures, hematoma.

It is also good for rheumatism and swollen joints. In that case rub the tincture on the painful area.

Camomile steam inhalation

Inhaling camomile can be realy helpful for closed nose. I have used this few times when my nose was closed so I could breathe just through my mouth. Camomile steam melts mucus in the nose, so that you can blow it out, and the airways become clearer.

If you want to try this, first you need to make camomile tea. Put 1 teaspoon of camomile in a cup of boiling water, stir and cover. After 5 minutes strain the tea and put it in a bowl, pot or cup from which you want to inhale. Tea needs to be warm, but not to hot to burn skin or airways.

Put the cup on the table, lean over it and cover your head and cup with towel. Inhale camomile steam for a while (5-10 minutes), blow your nose if you need to. You can repeat this proces (if you want to), with the same tea, reheat it a bit, or make a new one.

Some people even drink this tea after they finish inhaling, this is optional. After inhaling stay inside where is warm, do not go outside if it is cold.

Marjoram

Marjoram as a herbal remedy is used for troubles with stomach, bowles and bile. It also helps with nerve diseases, allergies and cold with coughs.

Marjoram is a well known spice for pasta, potatoes, wine and etc. can be planted in the garden or pot whether you want to use it as a cure or spice. It is rather easy to find and buy its seeds or small plants for planting.

For tea put 1 teaspoon in a cup of boiled water, stir and cover. After 2 minutes (or if you prefer 5 or 10 minutes) strain it. Some people recommend 2 tablespoons to leave for 5 minutes.

Natural tea or tea bags

Natural tea, tea in its original form, is always better than tea in tea bags (filters). Natural tea has more taste (better taste) and I think better effect than the tea in tea bags.

Many people are used to drinking tea from tea bags, because it seems easier or just don't know otherwise. I was one of those people and it was something new to me that you can put dry leaves that you picked or bought in boiling water and make tea.

Making tea from cut herbs may seem more work but once you get used to this proces it realy is easy and better. Herbs have better quality than in tea bags where sometimes you can find just herb dust.

If you make tea often, you don't need to wash your equipment every time you use it, just rinse it under water and leave it for next time. Try original tea and see the difference.

Walnut tincture

Tincture made from green walnuts (Juglans regia) purifies stomach, liver and blood.

It also removes stomach weakness and it's good for bowles and against blood thickening.

Drink 1 teaspoon of walnut tincture when necessary.

Recepie

To make tincture, take about 20 green walnuts (picked around mid June), cut them into quarters and put in a glass jar. Pour 1l of alcohol (about 40%) over, so that alcohol comes about 5 cm above nuts.

Close the jar and leave it in the sun or warm place for 14 days or 4 weeks. Shake it sometimes. Then strain and pour into bottles.

This is a recepie from Maria Treben.

Camomile for relaxing

Camomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is very soothing for nervous system. If you are anxious, feeling bad or just want to relax drink cup or more camomile tea and soon you will feel better.

Because it calms nerves, camomile works wonderful if you have trouble with sleeping.

I like to drink a cup of camomile few hours before going to bed. Works fantastic, helps me to sleep better, to have nicer dreams and to wake up more rested.

To make tea put 1 teaspoon of camomile in 1 cup of boiled water, stir it, cover and leave for 2 minutes, then strain. Enjoj!

Mistletoe for regulating blood pressure

Mistletoe tea regulates low and high blood pressure. Mistletoe (Viscum album) balances blood pressure to normal. Food and medication used to lower blood pressure usually aren't good for rising, and other way around.

Mistletoe isn't such medication, becouse it helps in both cases.

To make tea put one teaspoon of dry mistletoe (stems and leaves) in a cup of cold water over night (about 12 hours). In the morning heat a bit and strain it.

It is recommended to drink one to three cups a day, not more, depending on how serious the problem is. If you make more cups of tea keep it in a termos or heat it a bit before you drink it.

People with high blood pressure should drink more water, 2 liters a day, couse often they don't even drink water or drink small amounts and just drinking water can help them. Someone who usually doesn't drink water or has heart condition should slowly increase amount of water they drink. 

People with low blood pressure should take some salt, few times a day to get their pressure up. Salt is necessary for the body, to function properly (in normal amounts).

Little herbal bags

Herbal bags made from lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) leaves or lavender flowers, put under the pillow or by the bed, are soothing and relaxing. Mostly becouse of theire essential oils, who act through respiratory system, inhaling.

If you are making it yourself, make a small cloth bag, what ever size you like (for  example 5 x 10 cm), put dry herbs in it and close the bag, with a ribbon or sew it.

Lavender bags are easy to find if you want to buy one, they are often used against moths in closets and usually are very cheap.

Mint

Mint (Menta spicata) enhances digestion, is very good for intestinal cramps and gases.

Activates mind, makes thoughts clearer.

Mint is a good antiseptic. Soothes tooth ache and headache.

People who suffer from insomnia or very irritable persons should be careful when useing this remedy.

Blackberry – herbal remedy

Blackberry is a tasty fruit, but it also has curative properties. Tea made from blackberry leaves, roots and fruit is used as a herbal remedy for inflamed tonsils, craw and wounds in the throat for gargling, it refreshes and tightenes.

Tea made from  blackberry leaves is used to relieve troubles with urination and digestion. Blackberry purifies blood.

Tea from blackberry leaves is very effective for inflamed appendix, to cure the infection. For this, tea is made from fresh leaves, put one teaspoon (1 leaf) in a cup of boiled water, stir it, cover and after half a minute strain it.

Once I felt slight pain in my lower abdomen on the right side where the appendix is located, I went outside, picked a blackberry leaf and made tea. I'm not even sure if I had such inflammation, but the pain went away, very quickly. Now when I see blackberry thorney stems and leaves, I remember this good properties.

Common Knotgrass - herbal remedy

Common Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare) as a herbal medicine is used for diseases of urinary system, kidney stones, diabetes, epilepsy, gastric ulcer, diarrhoea and blood flow.

Whole plant without roots is gathered while the plant is in bloom.

To make tea put one teaspoon of dry herb in a cup of boiling water, stir it and leave it covered. After 2 minutes strain it, some people recommend longer time 5, 10 minutes or even more, to leave it in boiling water, if you want to use it you can decide for yourself what is best for you.

Drying and keeping herbs

If you want to preserve herbs, you need to dry them. So that you can use them all year. Herbs can be dried outside but allways in the shadow or inside where it's aired and warm, away from heat source and sun.

Spread herbs in thin layer on cloth or clean paper (not printed or colored). I don't cut herbs before drying, some people do, they cut it in small pieces. To me, it seems better to cut them when they are dry because fresh herbs  leak their juice when they are cut. But which method is actually better I don't know.

If you need only leaves but you have picked them with stems, you can remove leaves from stems , drying will be faster.

Don't wash herbs before drying, only roots need to be washed.

Roots, peel and very juicy parts can be dried with the help of heat source, but temparature must not go over 35⁰C. It is good to cut them in small pieces before drying, they will dry faster.

Best way to keep herbs is to put them in paper bags, cardboard boxes or glass jars, avoid plastic and metal. Herbs should be kept away from light. I make little paper bag from clean paper, put dried herb in it, write it's name and year of picking on the bag and then I put that and other bags with herbs in larger cloth bag. I keep it in storage where it is cooler, some herbs that I use more often I keep in kitchen cupboard.

Don't gather to much herbs, because they loose their cureing properties after some time. It is best to keep them just for one year.

Rules for gathering herbs

First and most important rule is knowing herbs. Study their photos, drawings and characteristics, or ask someone who knows. Always be sure that you have the right herb before you use it.

Second rule is finding place (from which you will gather) that is away from any pollution. Away from roads, polluted waters and industry, etc. Place which is not treated with pesticides or artificial fertilizers.

Ideal conditions for gathering are on sunny day, when herbs are dry. Herbs should be healthy, clean and without bugs.

While you are gathering herbs don't pull their roots. Don't put them in plastic bags, and never press them.

Best time to gather flowers is in the beginning of flowering, leaves before and while the herbs are flowering. Roots are gathered in the early spring or autumn, and fruits when they are ripe.

About rosemary

Rosemary is an old folk medicine for improving memory. It is used for curing vertigo, cough and illness of respiratory tract. Rosemary can help deactivate cancerougenus. It stimulates passing of urine and blood flow, and  is used for water illness, rheumatism, giht and inflamed joints.

Stimulates releasing bile, becouse of this digestion and bowel emptying is easier.

Rosemary acts soothing, its characteristic sent is relaxing and is used for good mood.

As a part of an old tradition in some countries, like Croatia, rosemary stems with little ribbons on them are put on wedding guests as a decoration, what means that they are part of the wedding group.Guests can sense its lovely aroma and I am sure that it puts them in a good mood, at least it is one way of achieving good mood.

Can be used if someone is feeling weak, tired and stressed after hard work or exercize.

Also rosemary is a good tonic for all skin types, especially for dehydrated, aged or unpure skin.

Rosemary is often used in cooking, I like it especially with fish.

Comfrey cream

Cream from comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is good for curing wounds for humans and animals.

To make this cream you need 4-6 fresh roots of comfrey (washed) and 250g of pigs fat.

Cut roots into small pieces and fry it shortly in pigs fat, leave it during night. Next day warm it and strain trough cloth. Pour into small containers and keep in the refrigerator.

Lime tea

Lime is an excellent remedy for respiratory system during cold, for chronic cough, it relaxes nerves, good for sleep, helps with anemia, purifies blood and kidneys.

I drink lime tea when I have sore throat. To make tea put one teaspoon of lime flowers in one cup of boiled water, keep it covered for 10 minutes, strain and sweeten with honey.

Lime tea is very tasteful and nice smelling, so it is nice to drink it even if you are not ill.

Marigold in the garden

Marigold (Calendula officinalis) is very easy to plant in the garden, whether you want to use it as a herbal remedy or just to admire it. Seeing its lovely yellow flowers every day from my window is a remedy by itself.

Marigold grows almost wildly in my garden, it spread its seeds and in the  spring starts to grow everywhere throughout the garden and beyond. It grows mixed with vegetable to protect them from bugs who want to eat them.

From spring to late automn I have a fresh supply of marigold, if I need it to make marigold cream, oil, pick fresh leaves or to dry them.

Can be grown from seeds or plants. Some seeds that can be bought have more decorative then curative properties. Old types are the best and very resistant, when planted one year, next year they grow by themselves. One plant can grow as a small bush.

Even when clouds cover the sky, marigold flowers look full of sun.