Complete Guide to Natural Home Remedies E-Book

Melissa Corkhill

• Herausgeber: IMM Lifestyle Books
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Seitenzahl: 191

Beschreibung

Complete Guide to Natural Home Remedies is a comprehensive guide including 100+ recipes and nearly 70 applications to understanding how to use herbs and oils to help the mind, body and soul. Herbal remedies include everything from teas to ointments to tonics and tinctures. They help with ailments such as bug bites and stings, food poisoning, insomnia, shingles, sore throat, acne, arthritis and so much more! Easy to follow chapters are divided by the body's primary systems including digestive, nervous, respiratory, urinary, and skin as well as sections on the remedies to help the heart and mind. With the recipes and their uses in the forefront, this book is the go-to guide for home remedies.

Leseprobe

© 2024 by Melissa Corkhill and Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc., 903 Square Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552.

Portions of Complete Guide to Natural Home Remedies (2024) are taken from Self-Sufficiency: Natural Home Remedies (2016), published by IMM Lifestyle Books; an imprint of Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holders.

Print ISBN 978-1-5048-0137-9

eISBN 978-1-6374-1319-7

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023943858

The views expressed in this book are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of Fox Chapel Publishing.

Disclaimer: This book should not be considered a replacement for professional medical treatment; a physician should be consulted on all matters relating to health. While the information in this book is believed to be accurate, the publisher cannot accept any legal responsibility for any injury or illness sustained while following given advice.

To learn more about the other great books from Fox Chapel Publishing, or to find a retailer near you, call toll-free 800-457-9112 or visit us at www.FoxChapelPublishing.com.

We are always looking for talented authors. To submit an idea, please send a brief inquiry to [email protected].

CONTENTS

Getting Started

Introduction

How to Use This Book

Plant Knowledge

Essential Home Remedy Kit

Your Herbal First Aid Kit

Growing Your Own Medicine

Creating an Herb Spiral

Treating Ailments

Mind and Emotions

Addiction

Anxiety

Memory Loss

Depression

Insomnia

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Phobias

Stress

Plant Profile: Rose

Nervous System

Multiple Sclerosis

Stroke

Parkinson’s Disease

Shingles

Migraine

Headache

Neuralgia

Epilepsy

Plant Profile: Rosemary

Digestive System

Nausea and Vomiting

Gastroenteritis

Stomachache

Travel Sickness

Indigestion and Heartburn

Constipation

Diarrhea

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Flatulence

Hepatitis

Crohn’s Disease

Plant Profile: Dandelion

Plant Profile: Milk Thistle

Urinary System

Kidney Stones

Urinary Complaints

Cystitis

Stress Incontinence

Urine Therapy

Plant Profile: Nettle

Respiratory System

Flu

Hay Fever

Common Cold

Sinusitis

Nosebleeds

Sore Throat

Cough

Asthma

Pneumonia

Lung Infection/Bronchitis

Catarrh

Plant Profile: Lavender

The Skin

Eczema

Psoriasis

Prickly Heat

Perspiration

Acne

Athlete’s Foot

Chilblains

Cuts and Sores

Cold Sores

Sunstroke

Rashes

Warts

Boils

Hair Loss

Dandruff

Sunburn

Insect Bites

Plant Profile: Calendula

Heart and Blood Health

High Blood Pressure

Low Blood Pressure

Anemia

Angina

Hemorrhoids

Varicose Veins

Plant Profile: Hawthorn

Bones, Muscles, and Joints

Osteoporosis

Sprains and Pulled Muscles

Fractures

Rheumatism

Backache

Arthritis

Plant Profile: Comfrey

Eyes and Ears

Conjunctivitis

Eyestrain

Styes

Ear Wax Buildup

Middle Ear Infection

Plant Profile: Fennel

Women’s Health

Menstrual Cycle

Fertility

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Anemia

Pregnancy Backache

Pregnancy Constipation

Bleeding Gums

Cramps

Pregnancy Indigestion

Pregnancy Insomnia

Fluid Retention

Dizziness

Morning Sickness

Pelvic Pain

Pregnancy Hemorrhoids

Stretch Marks

Thrush

Tiredness

Childbirth

Breastfeeding

Milk Production

Sore, Cracked Nipples

Engorgement

Problems with Let-Down

Inflammation

Fatigue

Menopause

Plant Profile: Motherwort

Plant Profile: Sweet Violet

Babies and Children

Sore Throat and Coughs

Colds

Croup

Chicken pox

Earache

Eczema

Head Lice

Measles

Diaper Rash

Teething

Fever

Mumps

Plant Profile: Chamomile

Photo Credits

About the Author

GETTING STARTED

Nature provides us with a wealth of natural remedies that can help to ease and soothe illnesses, ailments, and common health complaints. The following pages contain all you need to know to begin treating yourself and your family by increasing your plant knowledge, putting together an herbal first aid kit, and even growing your own medicine.

Introduction

I started this journey as a child, always fascinated by plants and intrigued at the natural remedies that my mother used to treat us when my brother, sister, and I were ill. She had a huge collection of homeopathic remedies and through her treating us, I learned about many of them, what they were made from, and what symptoms they could be used to treat. I came to understand that a heavy cold could benefit from a dose of Pulsatilla, that a case of nerves before an exam was effectively treated using Gelsemium, and that a hot honey and lemon drink was the best remedy for a sore throat.

Lavender essential oil, shown here, is just one of the essential oils mentioned in this book that can heal ailments rapidly.

Homeopathic remedies can be grown right in your own garden.

When my own children were born, I started to use natural remedies to treat their illnesses. Eventually, as they got older, they were able to decide what remedy would work best for them. They now instinctively know what plant will be most effective to help their bodies to heal. I have learned to trust their innate knowledge, and at the time of writing none of us has seen a doctor in seventeen years! We are our own doctors, which is a liberating feeling.

No one can know and understand your body better than you can. I like to do a body scan meditation occasionally, to give my body a chance to really let me know how it is feeling and to identify any problem areas that need attention. To do this, simply lie down in a comfortable place where you can be sure that you won’t be disturbed for at least twenty minutes. Bring your attention to your feet. Think about how they feel. Give your body time to respond, as you may not be used to focusing on individual parts in this way. If you can’t decide how your feet are feeling the first time, don’t worry, simply move to your ankles and focus on them.

Slowly move up your body, thinking about how it is feeling, until you get to the head. You may have thoughts such as, “I’m tired; I feel confused; I feel stuck.” After you have worked through the whole body, sit up and jot down each of the messages from your body parts so that you have a reference to work with over the coming weeks. You can then refer to the advice given in this book to treat and heal any problem areas.

Do a body scan, paying attention to each part of your body, to better understand what you need.

When parts of my body feel stiff or blocked, I use yoga and herbs to help me release the tension. Yoga is an incredible therapy for moving and releasing blockages that might go on to cause illness if allowed to build up. For example, I developed a benign lump in my breast thirteen years ago, and through the practice of yoga and use of natural remedies I managed to shift the blockage and now feel healthier than ever.

A hot honey and lemon drink, like this one, heals a sore throat.

In this book, I will share remedies and techniques that I have used myself for decades and on my children for over twenty years. Many of the recipes for healing lotions, infusions, and tinctures are ones that we use regularly in our home. I hope that they will be useful for you to help you create optimum health for you and your family.

How to Use This Book

I have divided this book up into bodily systems, so you will find remedies for the respiratory system in one chapter and how to heal disorders of the digestive system in another (see the illustration below). I prefer to work with the body as a whole rather than just the symptoms, but for ease of use and understanding I have chosen to organize the book in this way. You may find that you need to look in more than one section to find a selection of treatments that work for you. For example, if your child has chicken pox, you’ll find some useful remedies in the Babies and Children section on page 146. However, you may also want to check out the Skin chapter on page 79 to find ways to help soothe the inflamed rash that accompanies the chicken pox virus. Alongside the remedies are plenty of recipes that you can create at home.

This book is designed to empower you to be able to take control of your own health using your kitchen and garden. You will also find instructions on how to create a healing herb garden and in each chapter a spotlight on one of my favorite herbal healers. I have chosen plants that are well known, easy to find, and that I use regularly at home, such as nettles, rose, lavender, and comfrey. In addition, I have put together my suggestions for an herbal first aid kit (see page 15) that you can have on hand for emergencies, including my top recommendations for treatments to carry when out and about.

You will learn how to use the plants in your garden, like comfrey here, into healing salves.

Bodily Systems

Plant Knowledge

It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with what plants grow in your area. Spend time in the garden with a notebook to record what you find. Make drawings, press leaves and flowers between the pages, and take notes. It doesn’t have to be scientific. Write down what you see and how you interpret the plants around you. Ask questions—does it have large or small leaves? What are they shaped like? Is it flowering now? Where is the plant growing—in shade or full sun? Soon you will start to build up a good knowledge of the plants growing in your backyard, then you can start to learn about their healing properties. Don’t expect this knowledge to come all at once. I have been working with and learning about plants for over twenty-five years and there is still so much more to learn, but each season I gather a bit more knowledge about what I can use to help heal my family.

Take a notebook and record what you find in your garden or around your neighborhood.

Once you have studied the plants in your area, take your notebook further afield and observe the hedgerows around your home, local wasteland, or park. Make notes on what is growing or flowering now, what is coming up, and where you found it. Highlight plants to visit again in a couple of weeks’ time. For example, if you spot an elder covered with tiny white buds in mid spring, make a note to come back in a week and you’ll be rewarded with plumes of frothy white flowers that can be harvested to make an excellent remedy for hay fever. Soon, you will have built up knowledge of your local plants; you will possess an invaluable resource for when it comes to treating your body holistically.

You can use your knowledge to create a map of natural healing remedies that are easily accessible in your area. It will soon start to become second nature to brew up a batch of nettle tonic in early spring or to harvest a couple of handfuls of hawthorn berries in the autumn to make a hearty concoction of hawthorn brandy that can be used to treat heart conditions in the months ahead.

Dandelions, nettle, and milk thistle can be grown and gathered for natural healing.

Essential Home Remedy Kit

To learn about natural remedies, it is a good idea to build up a toolkit of home medicines that you can try out on yourself, your family, and friends. I have listed some of the basic remedies that I like to have on hand here.

It is helpful to have the remedies that you use frequently on hand, so that they are easily accessible when you need them. I have a shelf in a kitchen cupboard where I keep some of my remedies. Others, such as garlic, can be found in the vegetable basket or as herbs, growing in pots by the front door. You might like to include a notebook in your kit. This can be useful for noting down what you have used, on what date, on whom you used it, and how effective it was at treating the problem. This will be a great source of information for your family when a similar problem occurs.

It’s helpful to have a notebook on hand to record notes about the herbs you use.

Toolkit Basics

Garlic

A powerful treatment for a range of ailments. Use raw as a decongestant and to treat infection. I like to make it into a syrup with honey for chesty coughs and colds.

Aloe Vera

I have several pots of this succulent growing around the house. It can be used on burns, stings, and irritated skin to give almost instant relief.

Lemon Juice

Has antibacterial qualities and is very cleansing. Combined with honey, lemon juice makes a soothing treatment for colds and coughs.

Cloves

Excellent for treating toothache as they act as an analgesic. Pop one in your mouth and chew on it until the pain subsides.

Honey

An effective treatment for burns, it can also be used to make a soothing drink for sore throats and colds.

Lavender oil

I like to always have a supply of this essential oil available. It can be used on bites and stings, cuts, and wounds to help the skin to heal and applied to the temples to soothe a headache.

Calendula

I keep this on hand as an ointment to treat sore, irritated skin and just to use as a lip balm or moisturizer. I like to grow it in the herb beds for the beautiful sunshiny flowers, which can be used in several skincare preparations and as a colorful addition to a salad.

Peppermint

Peppermint tea can be used to treat indigestion or headaches. Pick a handful and steep in boiling water for ten minutes. Strain and drink as it is, or sweeten with honey to taste.

Ginger

Grated into boiling water to make a tea, this root will soothe respiratory and digestive problems. Combine with lemon juice and honey to make a powerful remedy for colds and coughs.

Chamomile

Whenever anyone in my family gets an eye infection, I turn to chamomile tea. I’ve even used it on our pet guinea pigs and cat. Allow the tea to cool and bathe the infected eye using organic cotton pads or a clean flannel.

Comfrey

An ointment made from this plant is useful for treating bruises and bites. I have a large pot of this magical plant growing by the front door.

Arnica

I use the homeopathic remedy and cream regularly so always have some available at home. It can be used in cases of (non-medical) shock and to treat bumps and bruises.

Rescue remedy

Every home should have a little bottle of this blend of five flower essences. It can be used to treat mild shock, trauma, and injury. Take five drops on the tongue or dilute in a glass of water for younger children.

A portable first aid kit stocked with healing plants is a good idea to bring along when going for walks or being outdoors.

Your Herbal First Aid Kit

It is a good idea to put together a pack of remedies that can be used for first aid at home. There are many natural treatments that can easily be administered to treat the body in times of shock and distress. As well as having a good selection of remedies at home to treat emergencies, it might be worthwhile enrolling in a first aid course where you can learn the basics of administering first aid, such as how to deal with broken limbs and resuscitation skills before medical help arrives.

Bites and Stings

Stings are common and easily dealt with using natural remedies. If an allergic reaction occurs, seek the advice of a doctor.

Plantain can ease the pain and reduce swelling. Chew the leaf in your mouth and apply the masticated leaves as a poultice to the sting.

Lavender oil* can be applied directly to a sting.

Rescue remedy*. If the person who has been stung is in distress, five drops taken on the tongue will work to calm the patient.

Aloe vera can be applied to the affected area. Split a leaf and spread the juice onto the skin.

Plantain leaves reduce the swelling from bug bites and stings.

Mild shock

Mild shock can be successfully treated with natural remedies; however, this condition should not be confused with medical shock which always requires medical attention.

Rescue remedy* to treat a patient who has experienced trauma.

Chamomile tea can be calming for the nervous system. Brew a cup and encourage the patient to take small sips while still warm.

Lavender oil* can be used to alleviate shock. Place a few drops onto a handkerchief and inhale until the shock subsides.

Aconite, Arnica,* and Ignatia are all homeopathic remedies that can be used to treat shock and distress.

Cuts and Wounds

If possible, raise the cut above the level of the heart (e.g. if the cut is on the arm, lift the arm above the head). Apply direct pressure to the area and continue until the flow of blood stops, or in more serious cases, until medical help arrives.

Aloe vera can be applied to cuts and grazes and will help skin to heal and prevent infection.

Tea tree* or lavender oil* are used to clean wounds with a few drops of each diluted in warm water. This will also act as an antiseptic.

Hypericum and arnica* are homeopathic remedies that can be used to help the body to heal.

Rescue remedy* can be applied directly to a graze to promote healing.

Comfrey ointment* can be applied to inflamed cuts. (See recipe below)

Apply the juice of aloe vera to the skin to ease the affected area.

Comfrey Ointment

•  1¼ pounds (500 grams) soft beeswax

•  2¼ ounces (60 grams) dried (or 5 ounces / 150 grams fresh) comfrey leaves, finely chopped

1.   Melt the beeswax in a glass bowl over a pan of boiling water.

2.   Add the comfrey leaves and simmer, stirring continuously, for about 1 hour.

3.   Pour the mixture into a muslin bag. Wearing rubber gloves, squeeze the mixture through the bag into a jug.

4.   Pour the ointment into a jar before it sets. Place the lid on the jar without securing it.

5.   When cool, tighten the lid and store in a refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Sunstroke

This is a type of heat exhaustion resulting from prolonged exposure to sun, often accompanied by headache, shivering, nausea, and dizziness.

Rescue remedy* will help the patient to recover. Take five drops in a glass of water and sip slowly.

Burns and Scalds

First, pour cold liquid onto the burn or scald for at least ten minutes, then use whichever of the following treatments you have available.

Aloe vera will cool the area and prevent infection. Split a leaf and gently apply the juice to the affected area.

Honey will help the skin to heal. Apply to the affected area.

Lavender oil* can be used neat on a burn to promote healing and prevent infection. Gently massage a few drops into the affected area.

Apply honey to the burn for a speedy recovery.

Food Poisoning

Warm water mixed with the juice of half a lemon will help to cleanse the system.

Honey can be dissolved in a glass of warm water and sipped frequently to increase strength and boost the immune system.

Bio live yogurt can be eaten after the vomiting has subsided to help repopulate the stomach with beneficial bacteria.

Chamomile tea can be calming and soothing for the digestive system. A tonic can be made using herbs from the kitchen cupboard, which will help to cleanse the system.

Sipping chamomile tea can soothe the digestive system.

Cleansing Tonic

•  1 teaspoon black pepper

•  2 cloves garlic, crushed

•  1 tablespoon cumin seeds

•  Pinch of salt

•  1 pint (600 ml) water

1.   Place ingredients into a pan and boil until the liquid is reduced by half.

2.   Drink twice a day to help cleanse the system and to treat diarrhea.

Growing your own herbs is a practice that has been used throughout history, and it’s easier than you think.

Growing Your Own Medicine

Herbs have been used throughout history as medicines, perfumes, insect repellents, and of course, in food. In most cases, herbs are perennial and are tough wild plants which, when introduced to the luxurious conditions of a garden, will thrive. Planting your own medicine garden is a simple, pleasurable activity that will benefit you and your family for many years to come. It is a good idea to plant a small herb garden near the house that you can use as a medicine chest. Apothecary gardens have been grown for centuries full of the healing powers of plants.

Positioning your herb bed as close to the house as possible will make tending and harvesting easier. When planning an apothecary garden remember that not all herbs like full sun; divide the area into sun, partial shade, and full shade and plant accordingly. I recommend selecting a circular plot and making an herb spiral.

Creating an Herb Spiral

An herb spiral is as simple as it sounds: a large spiral structure, typically measuring 1½–2 yards/meters-wide diameter at the base, spiraling up to a height of around 1 yard, with a planting path running up it. An herb spiral of these proportions is big enough to accommodate at least all the basic herbs included here, and a few slightly more exotic ones, too.

There are many advantages of creating an herb spiral. First, by making use of both the vertical and the horizontal space, it allows you to make maximum use of a small growing area. This is particularly beneficial to those with little or no garden. The curved nature of the planting beds also increases the growing area available, compared to more traditional straight-edged gardens. Due to its design, the herb spiral offers a variety of different microclimates and aspects that are all easily accessible.

The benefits of this diversity of habitats are obvious—the gardener can plant a wide range of plants, all with differing needs and uses, in a very small area. Oil-rich herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, and sage can be grown on the dry and sunny top-southerly side, whereas the moist and sheltered base on the northerly side is perfect for green foliage herbs such as mint, parsley, and coriander. There is even the potential to create a small pond or bog area at the base of the spiral for plants such as watercress and water mint.

Virtually any building materials can be used to construct the herb spiral, as long as they’re reasonably long-lived and not likely to rot away as untreated wood is liable to do. Anything from wooden stakes to large slates, bricks, stones, bottles stacked on their side, or even scrap tires can be used to create the walls of the spiral. If you are building directly onto earth, it’s advisable to mulch the area beforehand, to prevent weed problems while the herbs are establishing themselves. You can use anything water permeable, such as cardboard or old carpet. If you are building onto concrete, break it up to ensure adequate drainage.