Meet the Remedies

Greater Stinging Nettle

N.O Urticaceae

Urtica sp.

Name comes from Uro – meaning to burn.  Touching the plant causes a strong local reaction, burning, stinging, itching, urticaria.   Homeopathically the remedy is used for sunburns.  Herbally it will increase milk production in nursing mothers, has a reputation as a blood purifier and builds up the blood, is boiled and eaten like spinach in the early spring  (it is delicious),  the stems were used for ropes, cloth and could be made into a fine linen.

Plate 019

Verbascum officinalis

Homeopathic:  Verbascum  (oil)

Herbal:  Mullein or Great Mullein

N.O. Scrophulariaceae

                  This remedy comes to us from herbal tradition.  Mullein is a common weed in our area.  Mullein oil was made by collecting the flowers and setting them in a jar in the sun for several hours  - the resultant oil was dropped in the ears for earaches and for dry scaly, itchy ears, respiratory tract and bladder problems. Used herbally as an asthmatic tobacco, for colds and mucusy conditions.  Mullein has a repution of quieting nerves, and relieving bronchial, and urinary irritations.  Pains are tearing, stitching, cramping, squeezing, crushing, and paralyzing.   A greatly overlooked homeopathic medicine that is well worth studying.

Thuja occidentalis

Homeopathic  Thuja

Herbal:  White Cedar

N.O. Conifera

The white cedar was used by the American Indian as a medicine, the volatile oil is disinfectant, antiseptic and antibiotic, M. Wood claims it is used for lymphatic conditions.  This remedy is one of Hahnemann’s primary anti-sycotic remedies which is known to assist in many common disease states. “Acts on skin, blood, gastro-intestinal tract, kidneys, and brain. (Boericke)”

Plates #’s 130-3081-131-336

Artemisia abrotanum

Homeopathic:  Abrotanum

Herbal:  Southerwood, Lady’s Love

N.O. Compositae

Known for Rheumatism and Diarrhea, the person needing this remedy is wasting away yet has a good appetite, trouble breathing, their airway may feel raw, there are hard lumps in the abdomen, undigested food is in the stools, and pains in the arms, wrists, ankles and across the chest.  Hair can fall out.

Rhus toxicodendron

Homeopathic:  Rhus tox

Poison Ivy -  CAUTION:  POISONOUS!  (‘Leaves of three, let them be’)

N.O.  Anacardiaceae

A common USA perennial herb known for its contact dermatitis, which causes a red, burning,  blistering, rash,  it is not to be used herbally under any conditions.   However it makes a very popular and effective homeopathic remedy for many rheumatic complaints.  Known as the ‘Rusty Hinge’ remedy, people who stiffen when at rest, feel pain on first movements and feel better from continuous motion have greatly benefitted from this plant in homeopathic preparations.  Other indications include strains, over exertion, overlifting heavy loads, and ailments from becoming cold and damp.   This remedy was introduced to us by Hahnemann in 1816.

Symphytum officinalis

Homeopathic:  symphytum

Herbal:  Comfrey,  Bonset, Knitbone

N.O. Borraginaceae

A great medicinal botanical in use for hundreds of years, Comfrey enjoys a long reputation of being able to sooth inflamed tissues, promotes the healing of epithelial and bone tissues three times faster than is normal, good anytime a soothing remedy is needed to promote expectoration.  Currently out of fashion in modern medicine, a person drank 52 cups of comfrey tea and took big handfuls of comfrey root capsules and suffered liver damage. This medicine has been used since ancient times for broken bones and the pain associated with these breaks, for bronchitis, and bone abscesses, it is a wonderful herb if used conservatively and sensibly.  Homeopathic indications are the same as the herbal: broken bones, osteoporosis, abscess, bone pain and back aches, and for enlarged glands.

Urtica dioica

Homeopathically:  Urtica

Herbally:  Stinging-Nettle, Great Stinging Nettle, Common nettle

N.O. Urticaceae

Once a very common and useful herb, stems were used like flax for ropes and fibers, a fine linen like fabric can also be made from it.  The herb contains little hairs which inject a (usually) harmless irritant into the skin which will cause raised, itchy eruptions.  The name comes from ‘uro’ meaning to burn. This herb is said to build up the blood, improves and increases milk in nursing mothers, and makes a nice blood purifying spinach in the early spring.

Plates 131 & 3103

Eupatorium purpureum

Homeopathic:  Ep-per

Herbally:  Queen of the Meadow, Joe Pye Weed, Gravel Root

N.O. Composite

The common name of Gravel Root hints to this herb’s virtue, used for kidney stones (gravel), irritable bladder problems, urine leakage, and diabetes insipidus. But, let’s not stop there with the curative ability of this herb, it’s got a reputation for addressing infertility and impotence, miscarriages that occur in the third or fourth month as well as for insufficient labor pains.

Plates 130-3039

Valeriana officinalis

Herbally:  Valerian

This herb used to be in everyone’s home many years ago, known for its calming action, Valerian fills the same receptors in the body as the Benzo drugs.  Nervous irritability, oversensitive, especially suited to weak hysterical women, dreads being alone, especially in the dark.  The odor of Valerian tincture is terrible, an old retired pharmacist once told me it smelled as if the septic tank overflowed when he would uncork the Valerian tincture in his pharmacy.  Fortunately it doesn’t taste as bad as it smells.  Used as a sleep aid when a person is uncomfortable and cannot pinpoint the source of their discomfort.

131 - 3101

Plantago Major

N.O. Plantaginaceae

Herbally:  Broad Leaf Plantain

A most ancient medicine, this plant is known around the world for its healing properties.  The herb is known to draw out impurities, cure toothaches in hollow teeth and addresses the bleeding of gums.  Plantain can be used for all kinds of skin disorders, and is known to counteract nettle stings. It’s most famous use is for intermittent fevers.    It particularly helps with facial nerve problems of the ears, skin or teeth.    This is a herb and homeopathic medicine that deserves much more attention than we tend to give it.

Plate 130; 3027

Ranuculus bolbosus

Buttercup, Bulbous Crowsfoot

Not used Herbally, it is poisonous, the juice in contact with the skin caused pinhead sized blue colored blisters in patches, violent itching, scabbing and thick herpetic looking lesions on the skin – and if illness is viewed from the homeopathic perspective this is a great homeopathic remedy for herpes.(Robin Murphy)   Pains are stitching, stabbing, shooting, the patient is restless, can be weepy, weak, trembles and can faint.  People needing this remedy are worse from cold air.

Viola sp

N.O, Violaceae

Herbally this plant contains a lot of vitamin C in the leaves, which can be eaten in salads in the spring, the leaves fresh or dried can be made into a tea, boiling water is poured over the leaves and left to stand for many hours, this tea was used both internally and externally as a compress for pain relief.    The flowers can be painted with beaten egg whites and sprinkled in sugar and placed around the rim of a drinking glass to dry, these were used for cake decorations.  Homeopathically the plant is a right sided remedy, used for bone and neuralgic pains, and is most know for headaches of various kinds, especially the ones across the forehead causing the patient to ‘knit the brows’. 

Plate 130. 3038

Chelidonium majus

N.O. Papaveracae

 Greater Celendine

This plant comes to us from the wonderful poppy family, known for its medicinal virtues throughout history.  A domestic remedy for warts, the yellow-orange sap was painted on warts that just caused them to disappear.  Most well known for it’s effects on the liver, considered an excellent liver drainage remedy it was used both herbally and homeopathically for this condition.  This is not a plant that should be used by anyone untrained in the healing arts.  Used for jaundice, hepatic and gallbladder obstruction,  gallstone colic, liver pains, and constipation.

Plate:  130-3079

Cimicifuga racemosa

Black Cohosh, Black Snakeroot

N.O. Ranunculacea

This  herb comes to us from American Indian herbal tradition, predominately a female remedy, said to be useful for morning sickness, promotes easy labor, and reduces after pains.  Also considered a great menopause remedy, and is good for all ages for nervous conditions.   A great keynote for this remedy is the feeling of a Black Cloud over everything, impending doom and dejection.

Plate 130; 3042

Sambucus Nigra

Elder’ Elderberry

N.O. Caprifliaceae

Considered to be one of the magical herbs, Elder enjoys a very long history of use, the plant grows in damp conditions, and is very brittle, the branches break very easily.  The bark contains an ingredient (Viburnic acid) which is similar to what is produced by Valerian Root thus the unpleasant odor.  This is a great remedy for respiratory spasms of all kinds, the remedy has been known for coughs and colds for a long time.  Besides it’s positive effects on the respiratory organs this medicine also works on kidneys and skin.  

Plate 131;3105

Rumex crispus

Yellow Dock

N.O. Polygonaceae

A common, definitely unappreciated weed, this plant is an unrecognized gem in our medicine cabinet.  Intense itching, enlarged lymph glands, constant cough caused by tickling in the throat from mucus dripping down the throat, obesity and asthma are conditions this remedy can be successfully used for.  This is also a wonderful acne and skin remedy.  Why do we rely on foreign and exotic medicines when what we have growing in our backyard is possibly even more effective?

Melissa officinalis

Fam. Labiatae

Lemon Balm, Balm

A sweet smelling herb, easy to grow, said to ‘raise the spirits’.  Makes a great breakfast tea, has antibacterial and antiviral properties, is used for skin injuries and inhibits tumor cells from dividing.  Good tea for hyperthyroid conditions, a nice remedy for emotional complaints as well as for headaches, palpitations, restlessness and excitability.  Said to have been used as a tea by many people who achieved great longevity.