Having just had a bout of something, viral or food reaction which ended up with my immune system compromised, I still want to heal naturally. It could have been an accumulation of salicylates or just 'that time of year' that hit me, but I felt awful with a sore throat & chesty cough. I went hard with chicken broths, raw garlic, colloidal silver & zinc supplement. The raw garlic was I think the most effective in loosening the congestion. I also gargled bicarb of soda & salt for the sore throat to reduce inflammation. I used to always take honey & lemon, but since being sugar-free was never sure that Rice Malt Syrup has the same mucus thinning properties as honey, & I now clearly react to lemons. In fact I'd had a herbal tea the day before the onset which I realised after had lemon in & my lips began to tingle & blister.
So what are the ones I want to have? & Why? Which can I use the plant as-is versus which would it be easier to have a ready-made tincture in store - or which better to just buy versus my gardening effort (or lack of green-finger in some instances).
- Garlic : Infection fighter, immune booster , natural antibiotic, antifungal, antiparasitic - all round superherb!
- Lemons : Cleansing, antibacterial, constipation relief
- Ginger : Immune booster, anti-inflamatory & pain relief, loosens congestion, anti-nausea aid, prevent motion sickness, aids digestion
- Lavender : Anti-inflamatory, calming - good for stress relief/insomnia/headaches, lice prevention, soothes inflammation, insect repellent
- Chamomile : Relaxant / antispasmodic, cooling, Anti-histamine, promotes digestion
- Aloe Vera : Digestive disorders, soothing - burns, cuts & abrasions, assists skin healing
- Echinacea : Lymph mover, immune booster & wards off colds
- Peppermint : Eases intestinal cramps, cools irritation & relieves itching
- Thyme : Cough relief, insect repellent to cabbage
- Rosemary : Lice prevention, circulation improver, ease muscle stiffness
- Sage : Insect repellent, mild antiseptic, relieves inflammation
I already have lemons, aloe vera, peppermint, rosemary & thyme doing well in the garden, but now need more effort on the garlic - its yet to do anything. We get through so much garlic, I wonder if I could grow enough however. I will endeavour to get some lavender & sage in there. Chamomile & echinacea will be best in tincture or tea form.
Next time your kids come a cropper with nettles, harvest those nasty stinging brutes and turn them into a most healthful cup of nettle tea! Truly. Nettles are the most amazing powerhouses of nutrition which makes up for them being such ghastly nasty plants in the garden. I am planning to cultivate an area of stinging nettles to try and try for my own tea. Once dried or blanched they no longer sting either. :)
ReplyDeleteSadly the ones we keep encountering are on a busy intersection... for dogs! When we're out bush next or visiting you will be sure to try :)
ReplyDeleteDog wee tea sounds a little less tasty. ;) I've not planted them yet but I have a kilo of the dried stuff.
ReplyDeleteYou can have as many dock weeds as you would like too. It's all through the grass that we occasionally glorify with the name "lawn". ;)