The Pharmacy In The Forest
(Page 3 of 8)
Laxatives are prominent on grocery and drugstore shelves,
but many of them treat the bowels harshly. The seeds of the
psyllium plant are the natural way to handle this problem.
RELATED CONTENT
Psyllium, also known as fleaseed, fleawort, and plantain,
is native to southern Europe, North Africa, and western
Asia. and is also cultivated in North America. It is an
annual herb growing up to 15 inches tall with narrow
lance-shaped leaves growing in opposite pairs and whorls of
three to six. Its habitat is usually poor soils and waste
places in full sun.
Psyllium has long been used as an intestinal lubricant and
laxative. The best way of making use of this herbal
medicine is to soak an ounce of seeds in water for a couple
of hours before taking. The gum of the seeds soaks up the
water and provides both bulk and softness to the bowels,
working as a nature-based alternative to the harshness of
many commercial preparations.
Tea for Stomach Irritation
Heartburn and gastritis (inflammation of the gastric
mucosa), both of which are caused by excess stomach acid,
are almost always chronically recurring disorders. Three to
five cups of this tea daily will bring gradual but
effective relief. It is best to space out the drinking of
this tea over the whole day.
8 parts angelica root
4 parts chamomile flowers
4 parts balm leaves
4 parts peppermint leaves
2 parts caraway seed
2 parts fennel seed
1 part wormwood
Privet
Who of us hasn't experienced a sore throat that doesn't
seem to want to go away? We try over-the-counter remedies
that appear somewhat ineffective when we could be tapping
into nature's drugstore for a time-tested source of relief.
One of these sources is the privet, a plant transported to
North America for cultivation as a hedge and readily
available at most nurseries. Its abundant leaves form a
thick screen and if the plant is allowed to grow it can,
like psyllium, reach 15 feet in height.
The privet belongs to the olive family and grows well from
the Canadian border south to Pennsylvania and North
Carolina. It has lance-shaped-to-elliptical leaves which
are smooth and dark green and grow in opposite pairs.
Numerous small white flowers appear during the summer,
appearing in terminal clusters, followed by the development
of black berries.
The privet has a solid reputation as a medicinal plant,
particularly as a gargle for sore throat. To prepare this
herbal medicine, simply boil a cup of ground privet leaves
in a pan of water, then filter through a cloth and when the
extract has cooled down, use as a throat gargle.
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