Natural Remedies and Health Alternatives

First, let me make a few disclaimer statements.

I am not a licensed doctor. Anything I put on here is through my own research and experimentation. Does my family go for all my crazy ideas? Uh, No. But I think the Amish and others are on to something since they never go to the doctor. Also, some things I put on this page are not a cure for any ailment. In an emergency situation, go to the doctor and get help. Discuss taking any herbal or vitamin regimens with your doctor before mixing them with prescription medicines. Some work against each other. God did give us some common sense to take care of our bodies. God put all plants here for a reason. Egyptians used and still use herbal remedies today for health, as do a lot more countries like China, Japan, and Europe. People are searching for more natural ways to take care of their bodies.

This page will be dedicated to Herbal/Vitamin Alternatives to Prescription Medication. Herbal Natural Remedies.

IMPORTANT!!! If you are taking a prescription medication for an ailment, do not quit taking it abruptly. You could send your body into shock, and conditions could worsen. Herbs are not quick fixes or cure-alls. Weaning is the key. Remember that herbs are “not” synthetic chemical substances. It takes herbs longer to get into the system and take effect. You have to be patient with Herbs and Vitamins; they affect people in different ways. Synthetic, chemical medications take effect immediately and shock the body too quickly. If you are pregnant or nursing, please consult a physician before starting any herbal remedy. 

I would like to say first and foremost, just so everyone knows where I stand. I do not have anything against modern medicine because I do know people who really need it for what they are dealing with. There is one medicine I have to take in order to keep me from getting handicapped. It is not a cure, but it stalls things from progressing so fast. I do, however, talk to my doctor about herbal and holistic remedies. Neither my Rheumatologist nor my primary care physician has a problem with it. If you have a doctor who want even hear your thoughts or concerns and shuns you for even bringing up holistic or natural remedies, that should be a red flag. 

I believe with all my heart what the Bible says in Genesis 1: 11-12

11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Everything was created by God for us to use to sustain our bodies. Whether it be for food or medicine. If he says it's "good" then I believe and trust him. 

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2004. I went through a lot of medicines until they found one that was right for me, and steroids to get the pain and inflammation down quickly. I had gotten handicapped. It's like it came on all of a sudden. First, I noticed I couldn't hardly get up and down just 3 steps without hurting. Then I started noticing this tingling sensation in my hands and arms. I went through MRIs, Nerve Conductive study tests, carpal tunnel X-rays, and shots; you name it, they had a test for me.

If it were not for my oldest son, who was 5 years old at the time, I don't know what I would have done. While dear husband worked, our oldest son learned how to change diapers, cook simple things, and do anything else I could teach him to do. I was wearing braces on my hands, and my hands and arms felt like they were on fire 24/7. I could not touch anything. I never slept and was up all night, some nights just crying. We finally found a medication that helps slow the progression of RA, but it is not a cure. I still have to make changes to help deal with this autoimmune disease. 

 

For other ailments that I might have like a common cold or such, I do try herbal remedies when I get sick, but since my immune system is low anyway and my white blood cells are compromised, if it has gone on for too long and I'm not getting over it in a timely manner or I'm not doing something right by all means I will utilize the services of my doctor and go get help. God did give me common sense to know when to get help and take care of myself. Even Luke the disciple was a doctor in Jesus’ day.

I started doing research on things that I could do to help my own body and go along with my current regimen that my doctors and I discuss. These are some handwritten notes of mine when I did some research on the internet on natural remedies to certain prescription meds. Sorry about my handwriting; it gets worse the older I get. Maybe some of these ideas will help you in your current situation. 

I started looking into different forms of plants, flowers, and herbs. There are essential oils for medicinal purposes, supplements, teas, and tinctures. We will discuss all of them in some form or another. You can even combine different forms and come up with your own protocol. Let's start with essential oils.

Using Essential Oils:

Note: the thing to remember about using essential oils is to know the difference between therapeutic and food-grade. Therapeutic is topical use only, which means skin contact. Food Grade can be ingested (swallowed orally). Some people get carried away and get crazy with oils and do not pay attention to labels and directions, and have harmed themselves.  Please follow directions and dosage suggestions.

I have my favorite oils that I love to diffuse due to the helpful properties that help with certain issues. 

This is my largest diffuser that I use for bigger areas in the home. You can use smaller diffusers for smaller rooms. 

I store my essential oils in a safe place out of the reach of children with labels. 

I have learned so much about essential oils by using this book

I even make roller bottles for on-the-go help for ailments. I purchase all my roller bottles and accessories from Amazon. Basically, you need your essential oil and a carrier oil. A carrier oil is an oil that you mix your essential oil with to carry the oil where it needs to go. A carrier oil also serves the purpose of not applying essential oil directly to the skin to ward off allergic reactions or burning the skin.  You can choose jajoba, vitamin E, shea butter, or coconut oil to use as your carrier oil. You will place the number of drops of essential oils you are using, then fill the rest of the roller bottle with your carrier oil. Place the roller ball back on and lid and give a good shake. Label your roller bottle a well. 

These fit perfectly into a makeup bag or your purse. 

 

Although I use several essential oils for different uses, there are 5 Main Staple essential oils that I keep on hand at all times. 

Peppermint:

The first is a mint of some kind. Peppermint is usually my first choice, but it is a little strong. So you can use Spearmint if you like. Peppermint is lively, awakening, and used for pain. It helps respritory relief, allergy relief, reduces nausea, boosts energy, boosts skin health, eases sunburn, headache relief, used in oral health, IBS  relief, and a bug repellent. 

Citrus Essential Oils:

I try to keep some kind of citrus essential oil on hand. Lemon, Grapefruit, and Orange are my go tos. 

Lemon is an antiseptic, detoxifier, helps with digestive issues, sore throat, anxiety, blood pressure, fever, it is a relaxant, and reduces fatigue. 

Grapefruit is an atiseptic,  helps with weight loss, cellulite, and detoxifying. 

Orange essential oil is an antidepressant, aphrodisiac, antiseptic, antispasmodic, and antioxidant. 

Frankincense:

So many things I can list about this one essential oil. It is Biblical. People in the Holy Lands, Egyptians, and Romans used this. It was even one of the gifts that was brought to Jesus in Bethlehem by the Wise Men. It is also used for spiritual and religious purposes.

Frankincense is a hardened sap (a resin) that is found on the bark of the Boswellia Tree. Some of its properties include anti-inflammatory, antiseptic disinfectant, helps with stress and anxiety, strengthens the immune system, improves skin health, and reduces skin imperfections. 

Rosemary:

Ah, yes, Rosemary. Rosemary stimulates hair growth, it boosts concentration, mental clarity, focus, and is a memory enhancer, relieves stress and anxiety, eases digestive discomfort, supports respritory health, improves skin health, helps circulation, relieves muscle pain and inflammation, boosts immunity, and promotes emotional well-being. 

Lavender:

Lavender is probably the number one relaxant oil. It helps reduce stress and anxiety, relaxes muscles, it promotes sleep when battling insomnia, improves mood,   heals skin wounds, soothes sunburn, and improves hair health.

Tea Tree:

This is your "anti" everything oil. Anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties for just about everything. 

Did you know that you can add tea tree oil to your shampoo to help ward off lice? Yes, you can. You can also add it to any lice treatment that you purchase. Lice hate tea tree oil. 

I also use essential oils in homemade products such as homemade Lysol, bug spray, and cleaning sprays. 

Here are a few:

Homemade Lysol:

*Water

*Alcohol or peroxide 

*Vinegar

*Tea Tree Oil

*Lavender

*Peppermint

*Lemon 

*Rosemary

*Frankincense

I do not have exact measurements for each of these. I just eyeball everything. You can choose the size spray bottle that you like. Add the vinegar, alcohol, or peroxide, and 10 to 15 drops of each essential oil to your bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Give a good shake each use. Use it to disinfect your home as you would use Lysol. 

Homemade Bug Repellent:

To a small spray bottle, add

*Water or witchhazel

A few drops of each essential oil:

*Lavender

*Peppermint

* Lemongrass or Lemon

*Eucalyptus 

*Geranium (optional, but it does smell nice)

Put the spray nozzle back on and give a good shake to mix everything well. Make sure not to get in the eyes. 

Homemade Linen Spray:

To a small spray bottle, add:

10 to 15 drops of Geranium or Lilac oil and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Give it a good shake every time you use it. It makes the bed linens smell great. 

You can research your own essential oils and make what is called "blends". They are blends of a few or several oils put together to diffuse or topically with a roller bottle. 

I have a roller bottle that I label "energy blend. It consists of a mint and citrus essential oil. 

I have a roller bottle that I label "pain blend". It consists of mint, citrus, eucalyptus, and rosemary. 

Then I have a roller bottle that I label for "nighttime". It is nothing but lavender. 

You can create your own blends for any ailment, like sickness, digestion, inflammation, hormones, stress, anxiety, etc. 

I have seen studies where Vetiver is good for anyone who suffers from Bipolar Disorder. I didn't say it cured it, only helps ease symptoms. There are calming essential oils for PTSD. 

Please do your research to see what essential oils are right for you and how you would like to use them in your home or on your person. 

Here is a video version that might also help:

Herbs: 

If you love to grow herbs, here are 5 Major Herbs that I love to grow for their medicinal benefits. We eat them fresh, and I even find different ways to preserve them to make them last longer or shelf-stable. Herbs can be used fresh, dried, in plant form, or the essential oil extracted. If you don't like essential oils, maybe plant forms might suit you better. You can always grow your own herbs and make your own medicine. You can eat fresh, dry, and make teas or make tinctures. I purchased this book on Amazon because I wanted to learn more about different herbs, flowers, and plants and their medicinal benefits. It is so full of information. It is by Nicole Apelian, Ph.D, and Claude Davis.

My 5 Major Herbs are: Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Basil, and Sage. Basil is my ultimate favorite culinary herb. Rosemary and Thyme are my win wins for medicinal properties. I can grow them in the winter if I like, by using a hydroponics system. You can look that one up. I also use grow lights to help. 

Here is a video version of how I preserve these fresh herbs in their culinary form for a longer shelf life. 

You can make your own tinctures with fresh or dried herbs. You simply take the leaves of the herbs, pack them kind of tightly into a jar, fill with 100% proof alcohol or apple cider vinegar, leaving a one-inch head space. I chose ACV. Make sure leaves are under the liquid so they do not mold. Place the lid on the jar and store it in a cool, dark place for 4 to 6 weeks. After this time has passed, open the jar, strain the liquid into a bottle or bowl, and discard the leaves. Keep stored in a jar or bottle and store in your pantry. You can also pour some into a little glass amber bottle with a dropper. You can take as many dropperfuls as you would like. 

These same 5 Major Herbs I also use for making herbal medicine. In this video, I will show you how to make tinctures and explain how each herb helps the body.

If you are interested in how I grow my herbs indoors anytime by using a hydroponics system, you can watch these videos here by clicking below:

Spices:

There are a few spices that we use for medicinal purposes as well. The three main ones we use are Turmeric, Ginger, and Ceylon Cinnamon. Let's look into each one. 

Turmeric is anti-inflammatory, eases degenerative eye conditions, lowers cholesterol, eases anxiety, eases muscle soreness, and supports kidney health. Turmeric helps the blood circulate, also. I use it for my Rheumatoid Arthritis and as a natural blood thinner for a blood clot. 

Ginger is a powerful spice as well. Ginger and Turmeric work almost the same. Ginger eases muscle pain, supports kidney health, supports the cardiovascular system, is anti-inflammatory, promotes digestion, and relieves nausea. 

Ceylon Cinnamon is the purest organic form of Cinnamon. It is known for lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics, anti-inflammatory, lowering blood pressure,  it supports the cardiovascular system. rich in antioxidants, anti-microbial, aids in digestion, brain health, aids in weight loss, improves mood, and blood blood-thinning properties. Dear hubby is prediabetic, and we are using it to keep his blood sugar levels in check. 

Certainly, we have discussed any and all of these remedies with our doctor. 

Here is a video of how I make our own supplements in capsule form. 

Goldenrod:

September is the season of Goldenrod.  Gorgeous, sunny, bright yellow flowers and tall green stalks. The flowers and leaves both have medicinal properties. 

Goldenrod gets blamed, however, for allergies this time of year, too. You see, Ragweed blooms too at this time. You will be able to tell the difference and identify. The reason Goldenrod is NOT to blame this season is that Goldenrod is not a wind-blown pollinator, which means its pollen sticks to itself. Ragweed is blown by the wind, which means its pollen goes everywhere. 

Goldenrod has been used for centuries, dating back to Biblical days (as with all of God's natural medicine he created for us), for all kinds of ailments and preventions in the human body to which I will include in this post further down. 

For now, let's get started gathering and preserving this wonderful plant. 

When you are getting ready to harvest Goldenrod,  you can find it growing in pastures and wooded areas. If you see some in pastures or even along roadways, be careful. Some farmers can use pesticides and fungicides, and along roadways, you can have car emissions that reach those in the wind as well. Word to the wise, try to find a reputable source of a farmer and ask permission to harvest or collect from your own pasture, should you find some growing. If you need to collect from a roadway, go further back off the road and bypass the ones up front closer to the road. 

Harvest as much as you can, because there are at least 3 ways I preserve mine. Just please leave some for the bees. They need it. 

When you have harvested all you can, find a place where you can thresh it really good. The reason for this is that not only have bees been harvesting the pollen, but little spider mites, as well as other bugs, love it too. 
You want to make sure to shake all those out before you bring them into your home. 😳😲

You can go one extra step and wash them after bringing them in if you like. I do it just for precautionary measures. 

After they have dried off a little (presuming you washed them), let's get to the next step. 

I love to use Goldenrod fresh and dried. The next thing I will go ahead and do is grab a handful and place stems together and flowers headed in the same direction, like you are making a bouquet.  Tie the ends of the stems together really well to make a bundle. Hang them in a place where they can completely dry, probably up to 4 weeks. 

After 4 weeks of drying, we are going to remove the flowers and leaves and store them. I use the dried flowers to make medicinal herbal tea. 

To prepare the dried plant for tea, untie all your bundles and take one stem at a time and strip the leaves and petals (flowers) off the stem. Be careful not to accidentally cut yourself. The stems are pretty brittle. 

They should look like this when you're done. 

Now just store them in an airtight container,  jar, or plastic bag so no air reaches them. 

I'll quickly show you how to make tea. There are two ways I prepare my tea. First way is, I have some reusable cotton drawstring tea steeping bags I bought from a health food store, or you can find them on Amazon.  I have some in my Amazon Storefront on my Kitchen Essentials List.  

I will take a few tablespoons of the dried flowers and place them into the tea bags, pull the drawstring, and place them in a pot of water and bring to a boil first,  then reduce the heat and let steep for 10 minutes. 

Then I will remove the tea bag and squeeze out all the water to draw out more goodness. I pour the tea into my cup, add some honey to taste, and enjoy. 

You can also steep this in the microwave if you need it faster. 

The second way I prepare tea is by using a porcelain cup that has a filter in it with a lid. 

I place water into the cup and put it into the microwave for 3 to 4 minutes to reach the desired temperature of the water. While the water is heating, I take the filter and place a few tablespoons of the dried flowers in it. When the water is done in the microwave, I remove the cup, place the filter with the dried flowers inside, and put the lid on. I let this steep for 10 to 15 minutes to draw out all the medicinal properties.  Remove the lid, lift the filter out,  press down the flowers with a spoon to extract more tea, sweeten with honey, and enjoy. 

This particular tea cup with a filter is also in my Amazon Storefront.  (My link to my Storefront is below.) 

I have even made tea and drank it ice cold too in a pinch. 

Wow!!!!! Did you see that? 

Now, let's go back to those fresh flowers, and I will walk you through how I use them in two more ways for medicine. 

The second way I use Goldenrod is by making a tincture. 

If you washed the flowers, let them dry because you do not want moisture in your tincture. It can cause the flowers to mold. 

Next, begin cutting your flower stalks down into smaller pieces. Yes, stems, leaves, flowers, and all. 

Start packing the smaller pieces into your jar, packing and pressing down, but not so tightly that there is no room for a little space. If that makes sense. It will when you pour your liquid in. 

Now, for this part, you will need to decide what liquid you want to use in your tincture. Normally, tinctures are made using 80 to 100 proof alcohol such as vodka. I have a conviction about alcohol, so I choose to use apple cider vinegar.  You can also use vegetable glycerin if you like. 

Next, I pour ACV into the jar, covering the flowers all the way up to the neck of the jar. I will take a knife and debubble to make sure the liquid is seeping into all the flowers, nooks, and crannies. I don't want air in the jar either. 

Wipe the rim of the jar off and place lid and band on fingertip tight. 

You will store these in a cool, dark place for 4 to 6 weeks. (If you are not interested in the next way I use Goldenrod,  you can skip further down, and we will get to the next step to do after 4 to 6 weeks.) 

While we have some fresh flowers left over, I will show you the third way I use Goldenrod.  I use this wonderful plant to make an all-natural anti-inflammatory topical ointment (oil). We also use this for severe breakouts from poison oak, ivy or sumac. 

To do this, I use the same procedure as above for cutting the flowers, stems, and all, stuffing the jars. The only thing I do differently is, in the ointment, I use an oil of some sort. You can use jojoba, coconut, vitamin E, or olive oil. I choose to use olive oil. Olive oil is Biblical not only for ingestion but so many other reasons. This is the only oil they used for multiple purposes. 

Make sure your oil covers the flowers and seeps into all the nooks, cracks, and crannies as well. Debubble to make sure whether or not you need to add more. Fill to the neck of the jar. Wipe the rim of the jar, add the lid and ring, and tighten finger tip tight. Store this in a cool, dark place as well for 4 to 6 weeks. 

Please make sure to label which is which if you do both tincture and ointment. They look the same. 

Now we get to the good part. It has been 6 weeks, and I am ready to strain and pour them up to use. 

Let's start with the tincture. 

You will need a bowl, strainer, potato masher, measuring cup with a pour spout, and a brown glass amber bottle with a dropper. You will probably need an extra dark bottle to store leftover tincture in for storage. 

It is time to strain the liquid tincture from the flowers. Here is my setup. 

Open your jar, drain all the liquid out, then you might have to reach in and grab the flowers and pull them out.  Take your potato masher and press all the liquid out. If you would rather use a cheesecloth for this, you most certainly can. 

After rendering all the liquid out, pour it into a spouted measuring cup to pour more easily into your bottle. 

There you have your tincture. I had a brown glass olive oil bottle that I saved and washed. I stored the rest of the tincture in it. 

Now I am going to repeat the same process for the ointment. Even though I labeled my tincture from the ointment, you can still see a color difference so that will be nice if I forget to label them. 😬

Look how lovely. 

I pour mine into little jelly jars. You can pour yours into anything you have on hand. 

Be sure to label your jars. 

And there you have your wonderful dried flowers for tea, a tincture, and an ointment.  

Now, for the part that has been needed to add to this post is all the medicinal benefits of Goldenrod, just so you can have them for your records for your Apothecary cabinet. 

Goldenrod is a powerhouse of medicinal benefits and multiple uses. 

Diuretic: Goldenrod is an excellent diuretic, which means it flushes out the system and body of toxins. It is used in people with kidney issues. Breaks up kidney stones. Flushes the kidneys. It is used for Urinary Tract Infections, Bladder Infections, and Yeast Infections. If you have kidney issues, it can be used long-term. 

Diaphoretic: means it is used for the Upper Respiratory system. Bronchitis, Colds, Flu, chest congestion, and continuous coughing. Seasonal Allergies, itchy, watery eyes, and sneezing. It can also be used on pets for pet dander. 

Anti-inflammatory: This covers a multitude of issues. Muscle aches and joint stiffness or inflammation, lower back pain, tendonitis,  and chronic inflammation elsewhere in the body. 

Dermatology uses: It has been used for skin rashes, eczema, psoriasis, and itches such as poison oak, sumac, and ivy. It can also heal burns and wounds. 

Goldenrod has been used on certain kinds of cancers (still in research) and combats Insulin Resistance and Type 2 diabetes. 

With all these medicinal benefits, why would we not harvest and preserve it to add to our apothecary cabinet?

I hope you have found this post very informative and educational. But there is more. There are also video versions of this same article, broken down into parts. 

Here is the first part: How To Harvest/Preserve Goldenrod To Use as a Natural Remedy. 

Part two: Goldenrod/Making Tincture and Infused Oil 

I also love to make our own homemade remedies for Cold and Flu Season, Allergies, and Cough Remedies. 

Elderberry: 

Be careful if you are foraging for elderberry. There is another berry that looks just like this one, but the berries are in more of a cone shape on the stems. They are called Pokeweed and are toxic. I've had to remove several of the Pokeweed out of our pastures because of the animals. 

Elderberry is known for being anti-inflammatory, supports the immune system, reduces high blood pressure, promotes heart health, anti-viral, lowers cholesterol, supports the cardiovascular system,  lowers blood sugar levels, supports respritory health, good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin  A, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and copper, and is a powerful antioxidant. I use it in the cold and flu season for coughs and congestion, and I make an easy Elderberry Syrup with it. 

Elderberry Syrup:

You will need a 1/2 a cup of dried elderberries, honey (as a preservative and sweetener), and 1 cup of water. 

To a small pot, add berries and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes. You can mash the berries just a little with a potato masher to break open the berries and release more juice. If it starts evaporating too much water, add about a 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of water. Once it has simmered, remove from the heat. Strain the liquid from the berries,  mashing them more as you go to get all that goodness out, and set the berries aside. Let the syrup cool a little, then add the same amount of honey as you have syrup now. Stir to mix well. Store syrup in a bottle or jar with a lid. Elderberry syrup can be stored at room temperature if taken quickly. This is the reason for making a small batch at a time. If the syrup is not taken quickly, store it in the refrigerator. Take 2 teaspoons full every 4 to 6 hours. 

Here is the video version.. Just click on it below:

My Herbal Cold and Flu Season Remedy:

You will need a quart jar

1 or 2 lemons

1 ginger root

honey

To a quart jar, slice your lemons kind of thinly, roughly chop your ginger into small chunks, no need to peel, and take turns layering the lemons, ginger, and honey. Rotate between the three until you reach the neck of the jar. Top off with honey and then place your lid on the jar. Store in a cool, dark place for at least a week and let it steep and marinate. You will see that it gets more watery. This is a good sign. It means that the honey is drawing the properties out of the lemons and ginger. After 7 to 10 days, you can start taking it by the spoonful every 4 to 6 hours, or you can strain and add a teaspoon of the liquid to a warm herbal tea like peppermint. 

This concoction is great for colds, flu, RSV,  severe congestion, sore throats, and all things upper respritory. There are so many health benefits to lemons, ginger, and honey all by themselves, but you put these together and you have a powerhouse.

Here is the video version if you would like to watch it: 

Allergy Relief:

We all know that springtime plays havoc on our allergies and sinuses. I love to use herbal teas as well for this. Although I do not grow these particular plants, I still have a good source to buy some, or you can get them online. We have a Mennonite/Amish store right down the road from us that carries anything I need. It is also where I get my Elderberries from. Echinacea and Stinging Nettle are the two main ingredients in this tea. I buy the dried Echinacea and Stinging Nettle. 

Benefits of Echinacea:

Echinacea is also known as Coneflower. Its main purpose is to be an all-natural antibiotic. It boosts the immune system. It helps with upper respritory issues, infections, and increases the white blood cells. It is anti-inflammatory and a pain reliever. It also stimulates the gastrointestinal tract,  and it has been studied for its properties for helping children and grown-ups with ADD. 

THIS PLANT IS NOT SOMETHING TO TAKE ON A DAILY BASIS.  It is taken on an "as needed basis". 

Stinging Nettle:

Be careful foraging for this plant. There is a reason it is called "stinging" nettle. Please use caution and wear gloves. 

Stinging Nettle is known for its antihistamine properties, but it is also packed with vitamins and minerals such as Vitamins B, C, and K, Iron, Calcium, Potassium, Selenium, and Magnesium. Helps with Gout, Urinary Tract Infections, Prostate problems, women's reproductive system, perimenopause, and menopause, blood pressure, blood sugar, autoimmune diseases, is anti-cancer, and helps with heart, kidney, and gallbladder health.

I use these two plants in dried form and make an herbal tea. I take a few teaspoons of each dried plant and put them into a filter or a reusable tea bag and steep in boiling hot water for 10 minutes. Strain and sweeten with raw honey and drink. 

Here is a video version. 

Medicinal Cold Iced Tea

You don't just have to drink warm tea if it is not your thing. During the summer, if I need a medicinal tea, I can make cold, sweet iced medicinal tea. Use whatever dried herb or plant you want, steep in boiling hot water for a bit, strain, and sweeten while it is warm. Pour into a jar or pitcher and store in the refrigerator. When you are ready to drink, just enjoy it as you would cold tea. 

Here is my method for making medicinal tea and drinking it cold in video form. 

Tonic to Boost the Immune System:

Tonics are good too, and can also be called Wellness Shots. I love to make my own. You just need a pineapple, minced ginger, turmeric, and honey. 

After cutting up my pineapple and eating it, I will use the core and peels and place them into a pot of water on the stove. Bring this to a boil, then let it simmer for about 30 minutes to extract more juice from the scraps. Strain the juice into a jar or pitcher and add honey, a little turmeric and ginger. If you are using ginger and turmeric bulbs, you will need to peel them and cut them into small pieces, and blend them in a blender. Store in the refrigerator. Take a shot once per day during the cold and flu season or if you feel something coming on.

You can see how I make this wellness shot here:

Dandelion:

There are more plants that I use to make herbal medicine with, and another is Dandelion. This is just like Goldenrod, but these bloom in the spring. They are just as powerful as Goldenrod. Everything that Goldenrod does, Dandelion does too, so I want retype those details for you to read. You can make the same things with these as you would with Goldenrod. I do not grow and dry my own dandelions, but I can get dried dandelion leaves and roots from our local health food store in our community. If you can forage some, that is even better, because you can use the flowers in fresh form and make a tincture with them as well. 

In this video, I explain all the medicinal benefits and show you how to collect, dry some for tea, and use some fresh to make a tincture 

If you are not sure how to take tinctures, here is how I take mine. Since I make my tinctures with apple cider vinegar, I do not like the taste of the vinegar. I will disguise it in an acidic juice, such as orange juice or grapefruit juice, or a sweet juice such as grape juice. I will take one to two dropperfuls into my cup of juice and drink. 

 You can see me do this here:

Benefits of Cornsilk:

All my life, I helped my grandparents plant, grow, and harvest corn from the garden they raised. I remember having to shuck all that corn and silk it. I thought those strands of hair were the most annoying thing ever created because they stuck to you like crazy when you were already hot and sweaty. It was not until just recently that I was enlightened about the benefits of something as simple as cornsilk. 

Let me help you understand. 

This is just a few things that cornsilk helps do:

* Helps lower cholesterol. 

*Stimulates blood circulation, which helps distribute oxygen where it is needed, especially to the brain.

*Reduces blood sugar levels. Very helpful to diabetics.

*Relieves gout pain.

*Treats kidney function, painful urination (UTI), inflammation, kidney stones, etc. 

*Prostate disorders

*Diuretic- which means it detoxifies the body.

*Stimulates the secretion of bile by the liver. 

*High in Vitamin C

*Great source of Beta Carotene, Riboflavin, Selenium, Niacin, and Limonene

*Anti-inflammatory

Now do you see? Something as simple as strings in corn can be beneficial to our health and well-being.

I can't help but think of all the corn silk I have wasted over the years. But not anymore. I have learned how to save those precious strings and make wonderful things with them since we grow our own corn. 

There are several ways you can preserve these for medicinal purposes. 

First, find yourself some handy dandy little helpers like we have

As you shuck your corn, pull the silks out and save them.  Bring them inside. No matter how I am going to use these, I want to start with clean strings. I know bugs and worms have been crawling all over them. I gently rinse and strain. 

 

First thing I am going to try is a simple tea. I take a small pinch, add it to the little filter that fits into my tea steeping cup. 

I pour boiling water on top and set it aside to let it steep for 10 minutes. 

After it was done steeping, I strained the silks and removed the filter. Sweetened with a little honey and drank. 

It was surprisingly good. 

I reserved the remainder of the tea and stored it in the refrigerator for later use. 

I can get it out, heat it up, and drink again. If you are going to drink the tea, since it is a diuretic (which means it flushes out the system, makes you urinate a lot), I would drink it first thing in the morning or afternoon, not at night. 

I love this teacup for my medicinal teas. It also microwaves very well. It also has a steeping lid, but unfortunately, I broke it. 😢😢

The next thing I did was make a tincture. I started with clean and dry silks. You do not want water in a tincture. It can turn the contents moldy over time. I stuffed corn silk down into the jar, but did not overcrowd it. Preferably to the neck of the jar. 

I poured apple cider vinegar into the jar, making sure the contents were completely submerged, leaving a one-inch headspace. 

If you want to use alcohol, you most certainly can. Just make sure it is 100% proof alcohol, like Vodka. 

Place the lid and band on fingertip tight and store in a cool, dark place for 4 to 6 weeks. 

After 4 to 6 weeks, strain the silks and pour the tincture back into the jar. You can also pour some into little amber glass bottles with a dropper. 

Since I use apple cider vinegar to make my tinctures, I don't really like the taste of the vinegar, so I disguise it in something like an already acidic juice. I can take a dropper full up to two times a day. Doses may vary due to a person's ailments or what they are using it for.

Of course, you can dehydrate them.  Spread your corn silks on a dehydrating tray, careful not to overcrowd them, and dehydrate them at 95 degrees to completely dry. You can also do this same method in your oven. Spread them onto a big baking sheet and dry on the lowest setting in your oven until they are all dry. 

Store dried cornsilks in an airtight container or jar.   When you want to make a tea, take out a small wad or pinch and place it in a cup. Pour some boiling water over the silks and let them steep for up to 10 minutes. Remove silks, sweeten to your liking, and drink. I have not dried any yet, but I will be in the future. 

These are some more medicinal plants and flowers that I am planning on incorporating into my garden or a medicinal garden. I want to start growing Mullein, Echinacea, Feverfew, and Yarrow. I am eventually going to purchase my own Elderberry trees as well. As for now, I will keep purchasing them from our local health food store right down the road from us. 

Mullein:

Let's talk about Mullein for just a few minutes. I use Mullein in dry flower and leaf form and make a tea or a tincture. Before I started making my own tincture, I would get it already made. Thank goodness the more I learn, the more I can do for myself. 

Benefits of Mullein: Mullein is normally used for anything upper respritory. Especially lungs. Aids in asthma, sore throat, dry cough (cough suppressant), chest congestion, bronchitis, ear infections, bursitis, hair growth, dry scalp, inflammation from gout and migraines, heart health, stomach issues like constipation or diarrhea. It is antiseptic, antiviral, and antibacterial, and can be used as a disinfectant. 

Feverfew:

Feverfew reminds me of little daisies. 

Feverfew is used to treat several ailments, such as fever (as known for its name), migraines, stress, anxiety, menstrual discomfort,  coughing, and asthma. It lowers inflammation, such as arthritis, chronic joint pain, and gout. It is also used as an analgesic. 

Yarrow:

You need to be very careful because this one also looks similar to Queen Anne's Lace, which can be toxic. 

Yarrow is wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, gastrointestinal remedy, hormonal balance, antiseptic, mastitis, reduces blood pressure, asthma, colds, and flu remedies. 

Honey and Garlic: 

Honey

Honey has been used since ancient times. Mesapatomia Times. Adam and Eve, Noah, the Egyptians, the Israelites, and on down for centuries. Honey is not just a sweetener or sugar substitute. Honey is  ANTI EVERYTHING. Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antiseptic, and an all-natural antibiotic, well, you get the picture. Honey is used for just about everything. 

Garlic: 

Garlic is the same as Honey. It is also a natural antibiotic. It is classified as antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibacterial as well. 

These two are considered all-purpose, well-being powerhouses. They are known for helping just about every system in the human body. Cardiovascular, Respritory, Digestive, etc. 

Now, you combine these two and WOW!!!!!!

You can make your own natural antibiotic in a jar. It is so easy. An extra bonus is that, after you combine these two together, you let it ferment, which adds more antimicrobials to help battle whatever ailment is bothering you. 

Here is how I make mine. To a pint jar, I add whole, peeled garlic cloves. Then I pour raw, unfiltered honey over the cloves, making sure they are all submerged under the honey. Try not to pack your jar tightly with cloves. They need room to move and soak up all the honey they can. Leave a little space at the top of the jar because there will be a little foaming and bubbles as it ferments.  Place the lid on loosely. Store in a cool, dark place for at least 7 to 10 days. As it ferments, the honey will get more watery. When it is time to take, you can eat one whole clove up to 3 times a day. If you just want to take the honey, that is fine too. You can take up to 3 tablespoons a day. 

If you would like a video version, just click below to watch the video:

Have you ever thought of making your own eye drops for allergies or dry eyes? Well, you know me, if I think there is a way, then I am definitely going to research it. 

Eye drops are basically a soft saline solution and some kind of moisturizing oil. You can make your own saline solution with salt and filtered water, but I'm not sure of the ratios, and I would not want to get too much salt and burn my eyes. Plus, you need to boil the water first and make it pure. Here is where Little Noses Nasal Remedy comes into play. It is a soft saline solution that is safe for babies, so you know it is not going to be harsh. Plus, they have already sanitized the water and portioned out the salt to get the right ratio. So no guesswork. Now you just have to add a soft moisturizing oil. Mineral oil is a good choice, but I chose a drop or two of castor oil. Castor oil has great benefits for the eyes as well. 

Here is how I make my own moisturizing eye drops. 

If you have a small eye drop bottle that is empty, save it. It is perfect to reuse. You need to remove the cap and the little nozzle from the top of the bottle. Add two drops of mineral oil or castor oil to the bottle, then squirt or pour the saline solution into the bottle. Replace the nozzle and cap. Give a good shake, and you are good to go. Shake the bottle before each use. Use as you would normal eye drops. If you have pink eye or conjunctivitis, you can add only one to two drops of tea tree oil. This will burn just a teenie tiny bit, so beware. I would be cautious and start out with one drop. Both pink eye and conjunctivitis are viral, with a little bacteria in them as well. Tea tree oil helps with both. If the amount of saline solution is too strong, you can add more water. 

If you would like a visual demonstration of making your own eyedrops, you can watch it below:

Speaking of Saline, did you know you could also make your own Nasal Spray? Yes, you can. If you are already using saline in a nose spray, all you have to do is use one or two all-natural ingredients. The thing with most nose sprays is that they are full of chemicals, and I have been known to use them because I was fed up with a stopped-up nose and wanted instant relief, especially at nighttime when trying to sleep. But when it burns and then it just comes right back 8 hours later, I didn't see the point. Not to mention, if it gets out of hand and lingers for weeks, it turns into an infection. After suffering from a bad sinus infection for a week or two, I had to go to the doctor. I had done all I could do, but it had obviously been there a while before I could head it off with a pass. It had gotten out of control. The infection was spreading to my ear. I was given heavy antibiotics to speed the healing process. This got me doing some major research. The words infection and antibiotics caught my attention. I started thinking, what if I make my own nose spray? So, fast forward and much research later, I did. 

Saline is nothing but salt and water. Nothing wrong with those. But what would I need for the infection? Well, that would be an all-natural antibiotic. Boy, just pick one. I chose Garlic. I know that sounds strange, but here's the thing. I had some garlic oil on hand. The reason I chose this is that it is also moisturizing since it is in oil form. Two for one. Whatever natural antibiotic form you have, you will need some kind of moisturizing oil to soothe and lubricate the sinuses.

I kept an old nasal spray bottle that mists, and used it to make my own. To a bottle, add about 5 to 10 drops (or however strong you want it to be) of garlic oil. Then add saline solution. Once again, I used the Little Remedies because I knew it would be gentle enough. Replace the lid and shake. Shake each time before each use. Spray one to two times in each nostril and breathe in through your nose really quick. If this solution is too strong, you can dilute it with a little water. 

  

Just by doing research and studying all the wonderful things God made for us, we can understand how so many things can be used as medicine for our bodies. Just remember to do your own research and use your own discernment before trying anything new, and talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

I hope you have found this information and research very informative. Please use your own discretion.