Grow Your Own Drugs

Bad Breath?

For Bad Breath

10 tsp fresh thyme leaves
10 tsp fresh mint leaves
5 fresh eucalyptus leaves
3 tsp aniseed
3 tsp cloves
200ml vodka
rind of 1 lemon
1 tsp artificial sweetener
4 tsp glycerine

Strip the thyme, mint and eucalyptus leaves from their stems and chop.
Place in a blender and whiz. Add the aniseed and cloves to the blender
and whiz again.

Place in a dark bottle with the vodka,lemon and sweetener and leave for 10 days to a month to macerate

Strain through muslin. Add glycerine then stir and pour into a 50ml spray bottle.

Spray into mouth when needed

Will keep for up to 1 year.

From Grow Your Own Drugs by James Wong

Use Natural Remedies for Endometriosis

(NaturalNews) Endometriosis is a condition where the tissue lining in the uterus spreads and grows outside the uterus. Symptoms of endometriosis are not always apparent and can go undetected for long periods of time. When symptoms do present themselves it is in the form of pain, scarring, menstrual problems, and difficulty in conceiving. Although conventional treatment includes surgery and the use of hormones, there are effective natural alternatives which include diet, herbs, and nutrient supplementation.

When a woman has endometriosis the lining of the uterus that should have been eliminated during menstruation instead migrates and attaches itself to other parts of the body outside the uterus. These parts can be varied, including other organs of the body. It can entwine itself around the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and intestines and in some cases can travel to distant areas such as the lungs.

Endometriosis symptoms include premenstrual and menstrual pain that intensifies each month. Bleeding can be heavy during menstruation, together with spotting or bleeding between periods. Another common occurrence is pain during intercourse. Other areas can also be affected, such as the stomach or lower back.

Natural medicine considers this condition to be a hormone related disease. Either the body is producing too much estrogen or too little progesterone or the liver is not breaking down the active estrogen in a timely manner. Therefore, emphasis in treatment is placed on supporting the liver and digestive system with the proper nutrients and supplementation, together with balancing the hormones with herbs.

The following natural treatments are used in treating Endometriosis:

The first is to cut back on animal fats, especially high-fat dairy, red meat and fish. These animal fats contain dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) which have been associated with endometriosis.

Nutrients that help in the balancing and metabolic process of estrogen are found in foods such as Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, and bok choy.

Additional beneficial foods and herbs include:

* Flavones, celery and parsley of which are an excellent source.

* Flaxseeds, which are high in lignans and fiber.

* Chaste-tree berry.

Progesterone cream may relieve the pain experienced during menstrual periods and it is thought to slow the growth of abnormal tissue.

Studies have indicated that Omega 3′s may be beneficial when addressing endometriosis. These can be found in fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies. However, because of the dioxins and PCB’s that they contain, it may be preferable to take an Omega 3 supplement that contains a minimal amount of these environmental chemicals.

Excess cortisol also plays an important role in the progression of endometriosis. Prolonged stress leads to the elevation of this hormone which may result in hormonal imbalance. It is important to eliminate unnecessary stress or relieve and learn to cope with the stresses brought on by day-to-day life. Relaxation exercises, meditation, and breathing exercises are effective in developing these coping mechanisms.

Herbs and supplements recommended for stress relief include ashwagandha, B-Complex vitamins, vitamin C, zinc, calcium and magnesium. Calcium is necessary for the proper absorption of magnesium. When taking these supplements it should be on a calcium magnesium ratio of 2:1 or 3:1. Other beneficial supplements include vitamin E, folic acid, and selenium.

Herbs that support the liver and digestive system are goldenseal, dandelion, artichoke, milk thistle, and burdock, while xanthoxylon, ocotillo, goldenseal, and witch hazel improve pelvic circulation. Ginger tea may be effective in relieving the nausea associated with endometriosis.

Hydrotherapy is also recommended by many alternative practitioners.

Instead of relying on pain relievers, there are natural alternatives that will relieve pain, such as crampbark, black haw, valerian, and wild yam.

Week 6 -Final Episode

Week 6-click here

This week’s recipes

In the final episode in the series, James shows how vegetables can be used to make natural remedies.

Artichokes are used to make a tasty snack which could make a great addition to a low cholesterol diet.

Sticking plasters that could help relieve aching muscles are made from chillies, and garlic is used to make a footbath and a preparation that could help treat athlete’s foot.

As a beauty treat, James shows how cucumbers can be used to make a soothing eye gel.

These recipes are taken from the book Grow Your Own Drugs, published by HarperCollins.

Artichoke and hawthorn bar for healthy cholesterol

4 artichokes
1 litre water
475 g hawthorn berries (if using dried hawthorn berries, first cover them with water for 24 hours to rehydrate them)
225 g sugar
1 cinnamon stick
Juice of 1 lime

1. 1. Chop the artichokes, place in a saucepan, cover with the water and boil for 10 minutes, or until cooked. Remove from the heat, then leave to steep for 20 minutes. Strain into a bowl.
2. 2. Heat the oven to 100C.
3. 3. Place the artichoke infusion, hawthorn berries, sugar and cinnamon stick in a pan, and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, or until the mixture is soft. Take out the cinnamon stick and blend in a liquidizer with the lime juice, then pour into greased, lined baking trays to a thickness of about 1 cm.
4. 4. Dry in the heated oven for 2-3 hours.(Check after 2 hours; you want it to be chewy, but not too tough.) Leave to cool, then slice into bite-sized pieces.

USE: Chew on a piece of fruit bar whenever you like.

NB If high blood cholesterol is suspected, you must see a doctor. This recipe may be used in addition to, not as a substitute for, proper medical treatment. If you are on other heart medication you shouldn’t eat hawthorn berries. The remedy is not suitable if you are diabetic.

STORAGE: Keep in greaseproof paper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Chilli plasters for muscle sprains

200 g orange Scotch Bonnet chillies
4 tbsp mustard powder
200 g coconut oil, non-fractionated
6 tsp beeswax
4 packs Melolin wound dressing pads, 10 x 10 cm
4 packs adhesive wound dressing, 12 x 12 cm

1. 1. Wash and finely slice the chillies. Combine the chillies and mustard powder with the coconut oil in a saucepan. Cover to keep in the vapour and gently heat for 2 minutes. Leave to cool with the lid on.
2. 2. Put the chilli mix into muslin over a sieve and squeeze out the oil into a bowl below. Place the oil back into the saucepan and return to the heat.
3. 3. Add the beeswax to the oil and heat very gently until dissolved; this will take less than 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
4. 4. Soak the dressing pads in the oil mixture while it’s still hot. When they are saturated, remove the pads and leave to stand for 10 minutes on greaseproof paper, or until set.
5. 5. Once set and dry, the pads can be layered on top of each other, wrapped in clingfilm and stored in the refrigerator until needed.

USE: Place a pad on an adhesive wound dressing, then apply to the affected area. Keep the area warm (by covering with a blanket, for example) and leave on for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

STORAGE: Keeps for 1 year in the refrigerator.

Garlic vinegar footbath

2 bulbs garlic
Cider vinegar (or whatever you have)
20 heads fresh lavender
Sage leaves

1. 1. Drop the garlic into a jug and cover with vinegar, using roughly twice as much vinegar as garlic.
2. 2. Crush the sage leaves with a pestle and mortar, and add them along with the lavender heads to the jug.
3. 3. Pour your mixture into an airtight container, making sure you have enough vinegar to totally cover the other ingredients.
4. 4. Infuse the mixture for between 2 weeks and a month. Simply add 5 tablespoons to a hot footbath and soak your foot when required.

USE: Dilute 5 tblsp of the mixture in a washing up bowl (size) of hot water, and soak the feet for at least 10 minutes each day for 3 times a week for 2 weeks.

STORAGE: Keep in a sealable container or jar in a dry, cool place for up to 6 months

Garlic talcum powder for athlete’s foot

4 tbsp dried sage leaves
4 tbsp dried garlic (commercially prepared is fine)
7 tbsp (70 g) cornflour
7 tbsp (70 g) bicarbonate of soda
24 drops tea tree oil

1. 1. Grind the dried sage in a mortar and pestle, then place in a medium-sized bowl. Add the dried garlic. Sprinkle over the cornflour and bicarbonate of soda and mix well.
2. 2. Add in the tea tree oil and stir until well distributed. Place the powder into a salt or sugar shaker for use.

USE: Dust on liberally 3 times daily, until symptoms disappear (usually a few weeks). Continue using for 1 week after all signs of infection are gone, as previously dormant fungal spores can cause reinfection.

STORAGE: Keep in a dry, dark place and use within 1 year.

Cucumber Eye Gel

1 small cucumber, chopped
1 aloe vera leaf
1 sachet vegetable gelatine
50 ml distilled extract of witch hazel BP
1 white tea teabag
3 drops peppermint essential oil

1. 1. Roughly chop the cucumber. Peel and slice the aloe leaf to extract its gel. Put the cucumber and aloe gel into a blender and process until smooth. Strain the mix through a sieve to extract the juice. Measure out 100 ml of the strained juice and set aside.
2. 2. Add the witch hazel to a pan, whisk in the gelatine and add the teabag. Gently heat the mixture until it just starts to thicken. As the mixture cools, take out the teabag, then whisk in the cucumber and aloe juice mixture and the peppermint oil.
3. 3. Bottle up the gel in a sterilized, airtight pump dispenser.

USE: Apply to the eye area before bed, then wash off in the morning.

STORAGE: Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.

Stye Treatment

the treatment has made my stye go!!

thankyou

ashleigh

Question: Have you got a remedy for treating a stye?

1. Boil some hot water.
2. Put a teabag in a cup.
3. Pour boiled water over the tea bag and let it steep.
4. Let the tea bag cool down until it is easily handled.
5. Place the tea bag on the eye with the stye.
6. Enjoy your tea and let the teabag sit on the closed eye until you get sick of it.
7. Repeat as necessary.
8. Never attempt to squeeze a stye, they are basically a pimple containing bacteria that will (in time) form a head and release the fluid themselves, the warmth of the teabag ecourages this to happen and the acid in the teabag helps dry out the area reducing redness and swelling.
9. Always wash your hands before and after, stye’s are contagious and can be spread to other parts of the eye lid. Two styes are not better than one!
10. If the tea bag is too hot when applied to your eye, it may make things worse. Or, more accurately stated, if the tea bag is too hot when applied to your eye, it will burn you severely and make you wish that all you had was a stye.

Grow Your Own Drugs Week 5

See Grow Your Own Drugs Here

You can get the book  Grow Your Own Drugs by clicking here

This week James turns his attention to roots. He shows how marshmallow and liquorice roots can be easily grown in the garden and how they can be combined to make a soothing syrup to relieve the discomfort of a cough. Valerian is used to create a delicious hot chocolate, which could help to relieve stress.

A homemade tincture is made from echinacea, which is used to make spicy ice-lollies that could help fight a cold. And ginger is made into some tasty treats, which could help people with travel sickness.

Marshmallow and liquorice cough syrup

If using dried marshmallow root:
4 tbsp dried marshmallow root, chopped roughly
2 dried liquorice roots, broken up into small pieces
3 heads/bunches fresh elderberries
1 tsp cloves
Peel of 1 mandarin
1 tsp aniseed seeds
1 sprig fresh eucalyptus leaves
500 ml water
100 ml honey
Juice of 1 lime
5 tbsp glycerine

If using fresh marshmallow root:
8 tbsp fresh marshmallow root, chopped roughly
4 dried liquorice roots, broken up into small pieces
Other ingredients as above

1. 1. Put the marshmallow, liquorice, elderberries, cloves, mandarin peel, aniseed and eucalyptus leaves into a pan with the water. Simmer until the liquid is reduced by one-fifth. Remove the liquorice and eucalyptus leaves and discard.
2. 2. Blend the mixture in a liquidizer until smooth. Pour back into the pan and add the honey, lime juice and glycerine, then stir and simmer for 2 minutes.
3. 3. Pour into sterilized, clear 250 ml bottles.

USE: Take 2 tbsp, 3 times a day for no more than 5 days.

STORAGE: Keep refrigerated. Use within 2 weeks.

Valerian hot chocolate for anxiety

Makes 3 cups:
3 tbsp fresh valerian root
3 tbsp fresh lemon balm leaves
3 tsp fresh lavender flowers
6 leaves and 3 heads from fresh passion flowers
Peel of 1 1/2 oranges
900 ml full-fat milk
50 g dark chocolate (minimum 50% cocoa solids)
Dash of vanilla extract

1. 1. Chop the top and bottom from the fresh valerian root. Add the valerian, lemon balm, lavender, passion flowers, orange peel, and milk to a pan and gently heat for 5-10 minutes. Strain.
2. 2. Pour the infused milk back into the pan, then add the dark chocolate and vanilla extract and stir until melted. Drink at once.
   1. 1. Peel the fresh ginger root and thinly slice.
   2. 2. Put the ginger in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and cover with water, adding more to allow for evaporation. Bring to the boil and partly cover with a lid. Boil gently for 1 hour, or until the ginger is almost cooked but slightly al dente; the time will vary slightly depending on the freshness of ginger.
   3. 3. Drain the ginger and weigh it. Put it back in the saucepan with an equal amount of golden caster sugar. Add 2 tbsp water. Bring to the boil, then simmer over a medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon for 20 minutes, or until it starts to go gloopy and the ginger becomes transparent.
   4. 4. Reduce the heat and keep stirring until it starts to crystallize and easily piles up in the middle of the pan.
   5. 5. Meanwhile take a large, deep, baking tray and sprinkle caster sugar on it. Tip the ginger into the baking tray and shuffle it round in the caster sugar. Separate any clumps of ginger pieces. Place in a sterilized jar.
   1. 1. Wash and chop the echinacea root, then put in a jar and pour over the vodka to cover completely. Leave for 2-4 weeks.
   2. 2. Wash and slice the chillis. Peel and thinly slice the ginger.
   3. 3. Combine the chillis, ginger, honey, gelatine and cranberry juice in a saucepan, then stir and simmer for 5 minutes. Take off the heat and leave to cool. Sieve into a bowl.
   4. 4. When the drained liquid is cool, stir in the lemon juice and Echinacea Tincture. Pour into ice lolly moulds and freeze.

USE: You can drink up to 3 cups a day for 2 weeks at a time.

NB. Valerian can cause drowsiness so check with your doctor if you’re taking anti-depressants or sleeping pills.

Crystallized ginger for nausea

Makes about 250 g:
350 g fresh ginger root
Golden caster sugar, to match weight of cooked ginger, plus extra for sprinkling.
USE: Chew on a piece of crystallized ginger when you feel nauseous.

STORAGE: Keeps in a cool place for 3-6 months.

Echinacea ice lollies

To make the tincture:
20 g fresh echinacea root
80 ml vodka

For the ice lollies:
2 medium-sized red chillis
8 cm root ginger
240 ml honey
1 sachet animal gelatine
800 ml cranberry juice
Juice of 2 large lemons
80 ml Echinacea Tincture (see above)
NB. Contains alcohol so not suitable for children.

Use: Take during colds and infection – 1 a day for up to 2 weeks. Each lolly contains one typical dose of Echinacea.

STORAGE: The lollies keep in the freezer for 3 months

Self Sufficient Life

I have found this terrific website that has a lot of interesting books; well worth a look .   Click here

Obtaining Herbs etc

I have had a number of enquiries about where to obtain the dried herbs, flowers, tinctures and oils mentioned in the series. You can get all of these things online, but I found one myself which looks very interesting:

http://herbmoonhollow.com/shop/

I really know little about them except that they answered my emails very quickly. The website looks good though. If anyone has any recommendation please  send them to me as a comment.

Grow Your Own Drugs -Part 4

HERBS -Part 4 here

This week’s recipes

This week, James Wong explores how herbs can be used to help treat a range of minor everyday ailments.

Using lemon balm, he creates a lip salve which might help when cold sores strike. He also shows how plantain leaves can be used to make a cream to help soothe insect bites and stings.

For those keen to have fresh breath, James shows how to make a spray using thyme. And for a beauty treat, he uses peppermint and other common garden herbs to whip up a fragrant homemade body scrub.

These recipes are taken from the book ‘Grow Your Own Drugs’, published by HarperCollins.

Lemon balm lip salve for cold sores

21 tbsp (approx. 50 g) fresh lemon balm leaves
3 tbsp wheatgerm oil
115 ml olive oil
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp beeswax
5 drops tea tree oil

1. 1. Wash and strip the lemon balm leaves and chop finely. In a pan over a slow heat, stir and crush one third of the lemon balm leaves with the wheatgerm and olive oil for 10 minutes, or until it starts to bubble. Take off the heat and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.
2. 2. Strain the oil through a muslin-lined sieve or colander into a bowl, squeezing the leaves to get out all remaining juice. Throw away the squeezed leaves.
3. 3. Repeat this process twice more with the remaining 2 batches of lemon balm leaves, using the same oil.
4. 4. Place the oil in the pan on a gentle heat and add the honey and beeswax. Stir until melted, then take off the heat and stir in the tea tree oil.
5. 5. Pour the salve into small sterilized jars, where it will set solid within 10 minutes.

USE: Apply to cold sores whenever needed.

STORAGE Keeps for up to 1 year.

Plantain cream for bites and stings

4 tbsp fresh chopped plantain leaves
150 ml boiling water
2 tbsp olive oil or sunflower oil
2 tbsp almond oil
1 tsp beeswax
2 tsp emulsifying wax
2 tsp glycerine
1 tsp vitamin C powder

1. 1. Wash and chop the plantain leaves. Divide into two – put one half in a bowl and the other half in a pan. Cover the plantain in the bowl with the water and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.
2. 2. In the pan, add the olive (or sunflower) and almond oils to the plantain and heat gently to simmering point. Don’t allow to boil – if it starts boiling, take off the heat immediately. Once at simmering point, remove from the heat and leave for 10 minutes to cool.
3. 3. Drain the infusion, taking out the plantain leaves. Set the liquid to one side.
4. 4. Drain the infused oil into another pan, extracting the plantain leaves. Heat the oil again. Add the beeswax and emulsifying wax and melt, stirring – you are aiming for a foamy consistency.
5. 5. Add 16 tbsp infused water to the pan and whisk to achieve a consistency like salad dressing. Add the glycerine and vitamin C powder.
6. 6. Pour into sterilized glass pots and seal.

USE: Apply to affected area as often as needed.

STORAGE: Keeps for 3 months in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Thyme breath spray

10 tbsp (approx. 25 g) fresh thyme leaves
10 tbsp (approx. 30 g) fresh mint leaves
5 fresh eucalyptus leaves
3 tsp aniseed
3 tsp cloves
200 ml vodka
Rind of 1 lemon
1 tbsp artificial sweetener to taste, if desired
4 tbsp glycerine

1. 1. Strip the thyme, mint and eucalypytus leaves from their stems and chop. Place in a blender and whiz. Add the aniseed and cloves to the blender and whiz again.
2. 2. Place in a dark bottle with the vodka, lemon and artificial sweetener (if using) and leave for 10 days to 1 month to macerate.
3. 3. Strain through muslin. Add the glycerine, then stir and pour into a 50 ml spray bottle (with a yield of up to 1 ml per spray).

USE: Spray 1 ml into the mouth when needed

NB This contains alcohol, so be careful not to overuse, especially if driving.

STORAGE Keeps for up to 1 year.

Herbal body scrub

50 g fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
50 g fresh eucalyptus leaves, finely chopped
50 g fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
Peel of 2 lemons
300 ml olive oil
400 g sea salt (fine-grained)
4 tsp vitamin C powder
Extra eucalyptus leaves and slices of lemon peel, to decorate

1. 1. Place the chopped herbs, black pepper and lemon peel in a pan, then add the olive oil. Place on a medium heat and stir, then leave for 2 minutes with the lid on. Place the paste in a piece of muslin over a sieve and squeeze out all the oil into a bowl below.
2. 2. Mix the sea salt and vitamin C powder in a bowl. Add most of the oil (reserving a little to seal the jar) and stir well. Place the mixture in a sterilized Kilner jar and press down well. Decorate the top with a few eucalyptus leaves and slices of lemon rind. Pour a layer of the remaining oil on top of the salt scrub to keep it airtight.

USE: Apply to wet skin in the bath or shower, when needed. Scrub, then rinse off well with warm water.

STORAGE: Keeps for 6 months, or 1 year in the refrigerator.

FREE Body Mass Indicator Calculator

If you want to check what sort of shape you’re in, the Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator is a useful guide. AND IT’S FREE.

It will tell you if you’re a healthy weight for your height. Just enter your height and weight in the BMI Calculator, click on Imperial or Metric, then click to calculate.

But remember this information is only a guide and it’s aimed at healthy adults. It isn’t suitable for children, young people or older people.

Whatever the results show, the most important thing to remember is that you need to make sure you’re eating a healthy balanced diet and keeping physically active.