Guest guest Posted July 21, 2001 Report Share Posted July 21, 2001 Hi all, I'm trying to learn more about herbal remedies. Skogs-Edwig is a character I play, she's an herbal healer/midwife from 13th century Sweden. Anyhow, I'm sick of using stuff like crushed aspirin and such and pretending they are remedies she would use, I'd rather learn the real thing, made from scratch (okay, so I'm willing to buy dired herbs in a bag, but other than that...) I've tried to do some research online, and all I have found is general descriptions of what herbs do what, and lots of ads for pre-made concoctions in gaudy modern containers. I'm wondering if anyone here can give me advice on how to *make* a decent herbal first aid kit? It should include at a minimum: * a good all purpose disinfectant * ointment or salve for cuts and scrapes * an alternative to plastic bandaids with artificial adhesives (which, BTW, I am alergic to...) * aloe vera gel (that isn't bright blue) for cooking burns * fever remedy * cold/runny nose remedy * headache remedy * insect repellant * insect bite anti-itch treatment * stomache ache and/or diarhea remedy * anything else? More than just what herbs to use, I'm looking for how to actually prepare them, how much to use, etc. Thanks for any help you can give! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2001 Report Share Posted July 21, 2001 I'm sure people will not mind helping you, but are you looking for reality based TV (you said you are playing a character), or, are you interested in learning herbals; as that is alot of info to " spill " just so your props/show is more believable! In Health, Steve ----------------------------- Hi all, I'm trying to learn more about herbal remedies. Skogs-Edwig is a character I play, she's an herbal healer/midwife from 13th century Sweden. Anyhow, I'm sick of using stuff like crushed aspirin and such and pretending they are remedies she would use, I'd rather learn the real thing, made from scratch (okay, so I'm willing to buy dired herbs in a bag, but other than that...) I've tried to do some research online, and all I have found is general descriptions of what herbs do what, and lots of ads for pre-made concoctions in gaudy modern containers. I'm wondering if anyone here can give me advice on how to *make* a decent herbal first aid kit? It should include at a minimum: * a good all purpose disinfectant * ointment or salve for cuts and scrapes * an alternative to plastic bandaids with artificial adhesives (which, BTW, I am alergic to...) * aloe vera gel (that isn't bright blue) for cooking burns * fever remedy * cold/runny nose remedy * headache remedy * insect repellant * insect bite anti-itch treatment * stomache ache and/or diarhea remedy * anything else? More than just what herbs to use, I'm looking for how to actually prepare them, how much to use, etc. Thanks for any help you can give! Federal Law requires that we warn you of the following: 1. Natural methods can sometimes backfire. 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any natural remedy. 3. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and to prescribe for your own health. We are not medical doctors although MDs are welcome to post here as long as they behave themselves. Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any person following the advice of anyone posting here does so at their own risk. It is up to you to educate yourself. By accepting advice or products from list members, you are agreeing to be fully responsible for your own health, and hold the List Owner and members free of any liability. Dr. Ian Shillington Doctor of Naturopathy Dr.IanShillington Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2001 Report Share Posted July 21, 2001 herbal remedies, " bigbird3969 " <bigbird3969@m...> wrote: > I'm sure people will not mind helping you, but are you looking for reality based TV (you said you are playing a character), or, are you interested in learning herbals; as that is alot of info to " spill " just so your props/show is more believable! I'm looking for both. It is sort of a safe pace to begin learning about herbals, which frankly I distrust - I have seen as much materialsim in the herbal community (on a smaller scale, but the same phenomenon) as in the allopathic industry, and I don't know who to trust and how to tell truth from snake oil cure alls. Learning to treat cuts and scrapes and unset stomaches is a start - if that works herbally, I'll have some proof and be willing to learn more. It is also, yes, a bit of stage props, and I don't want to ask for advice dishonestly by iding that. But I wouldn't create such a character if I didn't have the spark of interest in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2001 Report Share Posted July 22, 2001 To start with, you might want to get the book " Brother Cadfael's Herb Garden " by Rob Talbot and Robin Whiteman. Brother Cadfael is the main character in a series of novels by Ellis Peters. The time period is late 12th to early 13th century and the good monk is an herbalist. The book details herbs used in that time period - would be really good for authenticity. >> Hi all, I'm trying to learn more about herbal remedies. Skogs-Edwig is > a character I play, she's an herbal healer/midwife from 13th century > Sweden. I'm wondering if anyone here can give me advice on > how to *make* a decent herbal first aid kit? It should include at a > minimum: > >> * a good all purpose disinfectant<< try steeping some calendula petals in a cup of hot water (make tea), cool, then use to disinfect cuts & scrapes. >> * ointment or salve for cuts and scrapes << Basic salve recipe: 1 oz. herb 1 oz. wine 8 oz. olive oil 1 oz. beeswax Mix herb and wine in non-metal saucepan (I use glass) and add oil. Cook till wine is evaporated (Bubbles no longer rising on sides of pan - this is why I like glass). Strain and cool very slightly, then add beeswax and stir, using wooden spoon, over med. heat till melted. Remove from heat and beat with wooden spoon till cool and thick. One of those thawing trays works great as it cools from the bottom. Also, we made a wooden skewer wisk that fits in the chuck of an electric drill to speed up the whipping process - use it on low speed. If using essential oils instead of herb,melt beeswax in plain olive oil and whip till cool and thick - then add essential oils - how much depends on what you are using and what you want it for. for cuts & scrapes I use comfrey root as the herb and combine the strained oil with an equal amount of calendula oil, then add the beeswax. To make the calendula oil, fill a clean jar with calendula petals, cover with olive oil, cover the jar & sit in the sun for at least 2 weeks. Then strain it & use to make salve. Because of the olive oil it keeps well - in a cool, dark, dry place is best. >> * an alternative to plastic bandaids with artificial adhesives (which, BTW, I am alergic to...)<< Dig up a dandelion root & smear the sap on the wound. Dandelion pulls poisons (we used it on a spider bite) and the sap makes a natural, waterproof bandaid. >> * aloe vera gel (that isn't bright blue) for cooking burns<< go to the nearest garden center & buy the plant! >> * fever remedy<< I use chickweed tea for this >> * cold/runny nose remedy<< fresh, raw garlic at the 1st sign of a sniffle >> * headache remedy << I use lavender essential oil for this, but to be authentic, just crush some petals & smell them >> * insect repellant << I find lavender & patchouli work well for this - for the time period suggest hanging sprigs of lavender in doorways >> * insect bite anti-itch treatment << good old dandelion - either the raw sap, or use the root in the above mentioned salve recipe >> * stomache ache and/or diarhea remedy << slippery elm powder is best, but chamomile tea with peppermint works as well >> * anything else? << cooled calendula tea - well strained - can be used as an eye wash for conjuctivitis (pink eye) >> More than just what herbs to use, I'm looking for how to actually prepare them, how much to use, etc. Thanks for any help you can give! << Doc has LOTS of good recipes in the list files, but I highly recommend the book to keep your time period straight. Enjoy! Lory > Federal Law requires that we warn you of the following: > 1. Natural methods can sometimes backfire. > 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any natural remedy. > 3. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and to > prescribe for your own health. > We are not medical doctors although MDs are welcome to post here as long as > they behave themselves. > Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any person > following the advice of anyone posting here does so at their own risk. > It is up to you to educate yourself. By accepting advice or products from list members, you are agreeing to > be fully responsible for your own health, and hold the List Owner and members free of any liability. > > Dr. Ian Shillington > Doctor of Naturopathy > Dr.IanShillington > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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