First Aid - Medical Plants & Folk Remedies

MEDICINAL PLANTS NOTES:
OLD SCIENCE MEDICAL PLANTS
More than 250 plants were know in the old days in Egypt for their curative healing effects
The most know were of course the *#genevievre, sene, fenouil# and analgesic effects of the #pavot# as the *belladonna is used against cold & asthma. We find the quinine to fight *#paludism# and coca as pain killer.

This a field which needs more information and work*.**

If you have the possibility to grow your own plants that will be used for medicinal purposes the results will be far better since the potency of them is greater when they are fresh.
MAKE SURE that you wash your plants very well especially those that you have gathered in the wild state since they could have been sprayed with insecticide.

WARNING!:
Any natural or synthetic plants or substances can cause an allergy this is why one should be careful at first and give it a kind of dry run before going berserk on using it on him or anyone
else.
Test it first by using a small quantity then wait for 3 days at least.If after this delay nothing has happened then you can use it without fear.
If there is an allergy then don't use it but it still can be good for others however. The most used forms to prepare & used these plants are these:

INFUSION:
Pour 1/2 litre of boiling water on 2 tbsp. of dry leaves.
Let infuse 10 minutes before drinking or 3 hours if you are going to use it for external usage.

DECOCTION:
Same proportions as above but heat it up on LOW heat in a pot with its cover on for 5 to 10 minutes.

#UNGUENT#:
You need 1/5 of crushed powdered herbs for 4/5 of fat or grease that has no odour, one could use vaseline or some other shortening but MAKE SURE it has no perfume of any kind.
This grease or fat is melted by low heat then you add the herb(s) that you mix well together then you will add a few drops of *Benjon tincture to help the preservation. If you were to use it
right away then you can do it without.

AROMATIC OIL:
Prepared with petals from fresh flowers or any other odorous plants that you let macererate in pure oil that has no odour whatever otherwise it will not work.
After one or two days you throw away the petals and replace them by fresher flowers.
This procedure is repeated 7 to 8 times until the oil has acquired an odour or aroma as strong as the original plant that you wanted the scent from.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR PRESERVATION:
The infusion and decoction* MUST be kept in the fridge or very cool place and used within the first 3 days, after that you better throw them away and make new ones. As for the oils & #unguents# they can be kept for many months on the condition that they are kept in a cool and dark place.
NOTE:

The dried plants MUST be kept in a dark fresh cool place into tightly sealed containers. Used any containers with the exception of metallic ones especially aluminium.

#ROMARIN#:
The Romans thought it was good for the memory. When applied by cold infusion on the hair it fights dandruff.

ALOE: *
Already used by the native Indians to fight wrinkles and the loss of hair. The liquid that comes from the leaves soothes the small burns & bugs bites.
Just break off a leave and gather the jelly like sap and smear it on the burn or sting.
The leave can be kept for a while in a fridge, its sap can also be used for a mild case of skin irritation.

BASILIC: *
According to the Indian monk its strong scent favours the meditation. It also helps to repel mosquitoes and bugs and drunk in infusion it helps a bit at times against headache.

CAMOMILE:
Because of its soothing effect it is used to help someone to sleep and can also be used against tooth ache. It is also used to condition hair and its flowers give a very nice scent.

#CONSOUDRE#:
It has the reputation to help mend the broken bones. You use it in the form of pomade or cataplasm. *

GINSENG:
According to many this is the plants of the gods for its aphrodisiac properties. It also stimulates the appetite and should not be used if you are on a diet.

#CLOU DE GIROFLE#:
Used in China in the old days to perfume the breath. Under an oily form it is also used to help fight tooth ache because of its analgesic and antiseptic property.

#EAU DE ROSE#:
Used in many body or facial cream bases. Its #pouvoir hydratant# helps to keep the skin young.

ALMOND:
Another soft oil that is used for beauty purposes and products. It's also strongly recommended to help cleaning the skin in a smooth way.

GARLIC:
Used for a long time by the Egyptians for all kinds of sickness.
EX; diarrhoea, bad blood circulation since it stimulates and cleanses the system. (Flushes it out sort of speak.)
A note here is that we hear that a blade smeared with garlic juice will give a cut that will not heal easily so be careful when cutting garlic that you don't cut yourself.
Garlic is a very old recipe for all kinds of stomach troubles so for some little daily digestive problems just add a cuss or two of garlic into your dishes it will be an excellent stimulant.
Now as for the odour in your breath chewing a few leaves of parsley helps along, and if every one else has eaten your dishes then they should not smell your breath since they themselves have
eaten the same food with garlic.

CIDER VINEGAR
Very much in used since the old days for its virtues (boosting)
#reconstituents# and calming. Added into the bath it helps soothe
any itching.

LANOLIN:
It is extracted from the sheep wool and is used for dry skins. It is very much used in the bases for beauty cream.

HONEY:
It is a mild sedative and at the same time an excellent stimulant when you need energy.
When someone has collapsed from exhaustion you put a spoonful of honey into its mouth and bingo the effect is on like a booster shot of a kind. Applied externally it feeds the skin and soothes
small irritations.

#AIRELLE# : A PLANT AGAINST COLD & COUGH from IRELAND!
Cook a cup of #airelles# into two cups of water until the skin of the berries splits open. Strain and then add a bit of honey then you warm up the mixture till it starts to boil and remove it from
the fire.
Next you *#delayer a tbsp. of fecule of potato# into two tbsp. of cold water and then you pour it slowly on the #airelle# juice while you stir very well the whole thing.
Once this is done you put it back onto the fire ALWAYS stirring it, till it becomes thicker and gets a sort of transparent aspect and serves while hot with cream & sugar. This an old Irish recipe to fight cold and at the same time it is an excellent desert.

HOME RECIPE AGAINST COUGH & SORE CHEST:
If you have some pepper, some honey or molasses and a little butter or margarine, then you are on, first you use 3 tbsp. of honey that you add 1/3 tbsp of pepper that you pour into a skillet containing one tbsp of butter, warm it up and mix it all together then serve while hot as a hot cough syrup.
If your chest hurts crazy from all this coughing and you have ice then put the ice cubes into a wet towel that you then lay this bundle onto your chest and leave it there for a while.
I know it sounds crazy but it works, since the cold ice cubes will sort of numb your lungs that are irritated from all that coughing, believe me it works.
Although I MUST admit that the first time it was tried onto me I thought that she wanted my death rather than my well being.
Wonder NEVER ceases. Fighting a cold with ice reminds me of fighting fire by fire.

SORE THROAT:
Prepare infusions from either #Consoudre Romarin# or camomile and add some honey and lemon. To this you can also add two tbsp of vinegar into a cup of hot water.

#GARGARISM#:
To fight the beginning of #angine# make a #gargarism# from a decoction made of #feuille de ronces# or strawberries or raspberries out of 50 grams per litre of water.

COUGH SYRUP:
Boil a lemon into water for 10 minutes or heat it near the fire.
Then cut into two and press out the juice to which you add two tbsp of glycerine and honey.
This syrup will soothe the irritation provoked by the coughing. Use it at regular interval according to your needs.

HEADACHE & NERVOUSNESS = MINT TEA:
For occasional low mood and headache drink a cup of mint tea or from *papaya it will stimulate you. If you are too nervous however then drink a cup of camomile tea or simply a glass of milk.

INSOMNIA PROBLEM:
Beside Camomile at night you can take before going to sleep an infusion of #tilleul or fleur d'oranger# or #aubepine# that all have a definite soothing action. The following recipe is said to
resolve the worst case of insomnia.
I should try it, since I write all the time at night but then again I am a night bird like all barmen we are the owls of life.
Now back to the grinder with this recipe; sleep on it. In one litre of water let infuse 1/4 of a tbsp of petal de #coquelicot# with 10 grams of lettuce leaves and a pinch of #aubepine# flower and a pinch of #metilot#.
No, you don't have to drink the whole litre of water because you would be up all night running to the bathroom.

TIRED AND IN NEED OF A BOOST:
Beside Spirolina capsule that was mentioned somewhere else in those files you can also use this recipe every day.
Just take two tbsp of vinegar and honey diluted into a cup of water. This mixture will give you pep & energy. To Burn rubber?

VINEGAR OR LEMON BATH?:
To tone the body and calm the irritations of the skin due to the repeated used of a soap that was too alkaline just add to your bath water a little bit of vinegar or lemon.
This will give back to your body its natural acidity. This bath is also recommended for its stimulating action.

MUSCULAR PAINS AND JOINTS ACHES:
Make a solution using a cup of *hamamelis mixed with 1/4 cup of friction alcohol and give a smooth but firm massage to the sore muscles to help them relax.

SORE FEET?:
If you have any lavender just add a few drops of this extract into your foot bath and let them rest for a while.
You can also use this quick but excellent trick after a long walk by simply placing some #feuille de fougere# into your shoes.
I even heard of someone using this into the crib of a small baby who was too weak to help her get some strength, it seems to work wonders for that purpose so she told me 30 years later.

DIGESTION PROBLEMS:
Many Indian tribes simply used mint infusions. But you can also use the #clou de girofle# in case of strong nausea* that might prove itself very good for pregnant woman.
But this I don't know yet it could be worth a try, first lets find a woman then get her married and pregnant then I will tell you more.
It is also known that dry fruits and fresh fruit juices taken before meals stimulate the gastric juices and help along to avoid stomach cramps.

STOMACH CRAMP OR BAD DIGESTION:
To help along in your digestion if you get stuck just use bicarbonate of soda that fights the acidity causing the stomach pains.
Just dissolve 1/2 tbsp of bicarbonate into a cup of water either cold or hot and you can add if you want a few drops of lemon juice except in case of vomiting.
You will be happy to know or surprised that the basis for many "Eno" types of products that are there to help you digest is nothing else then the old bicarbonate of soda that they have
added a fizzing agent. See also the note on garlic via stomach troubles.**

HICCUPS:
Just take a spoon full of peanut butter to solve the "hic" problem.

HELPING SOLVE #HEPATIC# PROBLEMS?:
Eat as often as you can raw or boiled vegetables such as carrots, asparegus, aubergines, artichokes or some fruits like melon and raisins.
Also you can swallow before breakfast a tbsp of olive oil. Many plants infusions are beneficial to this problem, among which you find sage, #romarin, pissenlit# that you mix in the proportion of 20 to 30 gram per litre of water.

BURNS BUG BITES AND SKIN IRRITATIONS:
POISON IVY REMEDY:
*#Balsamine# is used effectively to soothe the irritations from the Poison Ivy.
The good news being that those two plants usually GROW NEARBY ONE ANOTHER that permits you to use it immediately on the irritated part of the skin.
First wash it good with soap and water then apply a pomade of #Balsamine# . Also drinking milk and other fruits rich in vitamin C will help along.

SUNBURN = Tea:
Tea helps relieve sunburn, just throw 3 tea bags into your bathtub water and dive in. If you have a decoction of #racine de consoudre# it will replace the tea just as well.

SMALL BURNS LOTION:
Grind two tbsp of marshmallow and of #racine de consoudre# & mix them with a cup of olive oil & a cup of wine. Let it heat on slow fire for 30 minutes then let it cool off and strain the whole thing so as to gather only the decoction which you then apply on the burn.
#Guimauve and consoudre# are well known for their regenerating properties. Maybe some chemist could lean on to this bit of knowledge and find the reason why.***

MEDICINAL PLANTS:
Many forest plants can be used to help along, here's some:
FASTER HEALING = VULNERARY:*
Very few persons know that the "Geranium" leaves constitute a marvellous vulnerary**. Crushed upon a cloth & apply upon any wound.
The geranium leaves will sensibly speed healing of a wound or a scratch. You can also simply apply a geranium leave right on the wound and maintain it in place with string or adhesive.

AGAINST BITES & STINGS OF INSECTS:
CLAY:
Damp earth uses natural yet MAKE SURE it's clay, not earth mud for tetanus dangers.

PLANTS & REMEDY: ***
Cedar leaves:(natural) /#Herbe a dinde#: leaves & flowers (natural) / *Comfrey: (roots & leaves Natural) / #L'Herbe a dinde# (Achillea Millefeuille) in infusion will heal a head-ache.
The stem flowered tip in concentrated Decoction = Throw the plant in cold water & let it boil. It will drop fever./
Insects bites or stings apply leaves or flowers of that plant will ease the pain, just as the leaves and flowers in infusion will be good for digestive troubles.
The chewed stems will be good for stimulating./ Insects bites or stings can be avoided if you rub your skin with the Cedar leaves.*also rub tobacco juice on you.
Flowers, leaves & bark of the *#sureau blanc & genevrier# in infusion against constipation & digestive troubles.
The decoction of the bark of *#Vinaigrier# (Rhus Typhina) against Diarrhoea as well as the bark & leaves in infusion of the #aulne et the des bois #
As stimulant: Spruce needles in small quantities and but only good in winter however.
Other stimulants: Leaves of*#the des bois, plant & roots of *savoyanne#, bark & sap of Larch-tree. The internal aromatic bark of the Wild-cherry tree, & the flowered tips of the *#herbe a dinde# can be used as such or in infusion or in decoction.
The bark & leaves of Birch-tree in infusion or decoction can be use to purify blood or for Rheumatism.
SPRUCE SAP: (gum)
Can be used as Antiscorbut, Antiseptic for Wounds and Cataplasm for Burns.

FOLK REMEDY::
I once heard yet not tried medicine, the sap made of the yellow moss growing on old wooden roof house in woods or country would heal quickly cuts and eczema.
These soft yellow buds are picked up in Sept-Oct., the size of 1/2 a dime. I wouldn't try any houses in town because of pollution. A research can be made that way to tell us more, it's just an added foot note.*

BLADDER & KIDNEY TROUBLES:
#Verge d"or #: (Flowered stems in infusion) / Couch-Grass use the roots in infusion also: #raisin d"ours# : fruits & roots in weak infusion. Burdock: Use leaves in infusion.
Walnut-tree: leaves in infusion; / Valerian: plants in infusion. / Corncob hair: *stigmates in prolonged long infusion / #Epine- vinette# fruits & leaves in infusion or nature. / White-birch: Use leaves & bark in infusion.

TOOTH ACHE:
*#Belle-angelic (natural by putting pieces in tooth). / Tansy *(natural in the tooth or scrubbed on the gum).
Wild onion (mild onion) (natural in the tooth) but don't let it get in the stomach because it's dangerous. You take off the burning sensation with #Sorrel# * which you chew a few times.

EYE TROUBLES:
#Bleuet-centauree# (flowers in infusion) / Elder-tree: flowers in infusion, as eye-salve to wash the eye. / #Burdock# (decoction of leaves, a few drops)*

NERVES TROUBLES:
White-willow use the leaves./*Lime-tree: fruits & leaves */ Feverfew: leaves & flowers in infusion.
Hawthorn: bark & flowers in decoction./* Valerian in infusion./ *#Spiree cotonneuse# : infusion of leaves.

RHEUMATISM & GOUT ATTACK:
Burdock: leaves & roots in decoction./ Walnut tree (leaves in decoction./ Willow tree: (bark in decoction / Birch: (leaves & bark in infusion & decoction./ Hazel nut tree: bark & leaves in decoction.

LIGHT NARCOTIC:
White Willow: (leaves in infusion)/ Valerian: (plantin decoction)/ Lime tree: (leaves & bark in decoction)./ * #Scutelaire# : (Plant without the root in long infusion.)/ Coquelicot or Wild Opium of garden: (leaves & flowers in infusion).

HAEMORRHAGE:
Oak: (Bitter fruits, bark, leaves in decoction & natural)/ #Vinaigrier# *(bark in decoction.) Alder tree: (bark in infusion). /Plantain: (Plantago Major) (natural, leaves crushed in hands to extract the juice then apply on the Wound).
#Bourse a Pasteur# : *(flowered stem to be used internally or externally.
Mulberry tree: (leaves in decoction & natural)./ Strawberry &
Raspberry: leaves & stems, natural or in infusion

WOUNDS, SPRAINS, FRACTURES:
Comfrey: (leaves & roots in nature & in infusion) / Herbe a dinde* (natural or infusion./ Burdock. (Leaves & roots natural or in decoction.)
Red Spruce Fir tree: (bark in infusion) / Fir tree or spruce: bark & sap (gum) in infusion & natural./ Walnut tree: (leaves in infusion and decoction)

CONSTIPATION:
White Elder tree (flowers, leaves & bark in infusion)./ #Bleuet- Centauree# (flowers in infusion).
Wild Chicory: (Flowers & roots = natural; flowers in infusion / Juniper tree: (bark, leaves & fruits (nature & infusion). Beech tree: (leaves, bark & almond: nature & infusion. / Bindweed: (leaves & roots in infusion) / Robinia: (leaves in infusion).

DEFECTUOUS CIRCULATION:
#Epinette-vinette# :leaves, fruits, bark, roots, natural& infusion. / Walnut-tree;(leaves in infusion & decoction.
Wild Chicory: (flowers & roots) / #Belle-Angelic#: (roots, natural & infusion).
Hawthorn: (bark & leaves, fruits in infusion & leaves in natural state)./ White willow tree: (leaves, bark, roots & young spring shoots in infusion & decoction).

STIMULATING PLANTS:
Walnut-tree: (leaves)./ Tansy: (flowered stems)./ Thyme: stems & flowers)./ #Epinette-vinette#: fruits, leaves & roots)./ #Tea des bois# its: (leaves)./ Savoyan: (Plant & roots)./ Redfir tree:
(bark & sap or gum)./ Burdock: (leaves) White Willow: (bark)./ Spruce needle but in winter only and small quantity.) / Wild Cherry: second aromatic bark. ALL these plants can be used Natural, infusion or decoction.

DIARRHOEA:
Oak: (bark, acorn, leaves: natural or infusion./ Alder tree (bark & leaves in infusion / #Vinaigrier# (bark in decoction)./ Ginger (natural or in cold infusion./ Maple tree: (bark in infusion).

BAD BLOOD:
Birch: (bark, leaves in infusion)./ Bardock: leaves & roots in infusion or decoction / Walnut-tree (leaves in infusion & decoction).
#Patience#: (roots in infusion)./ # Violettes des bois#: (flowers & leaves in infusion #pensee sauvages# : (flower & leaves in infusion).

DIGESTIVE TROUBLES:
#Belle-Angelic# : (roots, nature & in infusion)./ Savoyan: (roots, nature & infusion)./ #herbe a dinde: (leaves & flowers natural or infusion.) / Tansy: flowers, leaves natural or weak
infusion Dandelion: (Leaves & roots natural or decoction, roasted roots as
coffee./ same for Wild Chicory as Dandelion. #Epinette vinette# : (fruits & leaves, natural or decoction./ White Elder-tree: (leaves and flowers in infusion) Strawberry :(leaves in infusion or natural

EXHAUSTION: AS A STRENGTH BOOST UP!!!
Walnut tree: (leaves, natural or in infusion & decoction./ #epinette-vinette# (fruits natural)./ White Willow: (bark & leaves in infusion, natural or infusion.)
Lime tree or #bois blanc#: leaves and bark natural and infusion./
Fever Few or small Pine nuts: (flowers & leaves in hot infusion./
Tansy: (flowers in infusion)./ Spruce needles: (natural & small quantity.)

STOMACH TROUBLES:
#Belle-angelic#: (roots, natural or infusion)./ Savoyan: (roots, natural & infusion./ Bardock: (leaves & roots in weak infusion.
Walnut tree: (leaves in strong infusion)./ White Willow: (leaves & bark natural and infusion)./ Lime tree: (leaves and flowers in infusion).

HAEMORRHOIDS:
#Violets#: (flowers in infusion as bath)./ White Elder tree: (flowers in infusion as bath & beverage at the same time.)
Walnut tree: (leaves in infusion use for bath and beverage)./ The mixture of the above plants forms the ideal remedy.

HEAD ACHE:
#Lierre terrestre# *: (leaves in powder drank with water.)/
#Herbe a dinde# : (aroma to breath if need be or infusion). /
Tansy: (aroma to breath by nose, or compress over head.
Pepper-mint: (natural as aromatic)
#Verge d'or#: in infusion work on kidney which may cause the headache.

CUTS, SPRAINS, SCRATCHES:
#Plantain# : (leaves)/ Comfrey: (leaves & roots)./ #Vinaigrier# : (leaves & bark).
White Willow: bark / #bourse a pasteur#: (natural plant)./ Oak (leaves & acorn or bark in powder as scar-healer & blood coagulator.

BUSH REMEDY FOR STOMACH & BOWEL UPSETS:
A very simple remedy for many abdominal troubles to chew & swallow a piece of charcoal every 2 or 3 hours. A lump of dime size should give some relief, if trouble is similar to gastric or
bilious upset.
A frequent cause of stomach ache is the drinking of very cold water while through walking.
It is a good precaution under such conditions to drink very slowly & warm each mouthful of water in the mouth before swallowing it.

NOTE: When we say boil water it is 10 minutes.

SOME USEFUL HERBAL PREPARATIONS:

STRAWBERRY ROOTS:
Contain a #descaler# to clean teeth.

DELPHINIUM SEEDS:
Can be crushed to treat head lice.

BIRCH BARK:
Can be distilled to produce a tar oil which soothes skin complaints.

LAVENDER:
Makes a decoction to clean the skin.

BURNS TREATMENT: FOLK MEDICINE*
With fast result and no scars or hardly any, unless burned to the bones, you once again put grated raw potato on the burned area and apply clean cotton or gaze over it, change every hour or 3 hours this is yet to be found I lost the notes on this.***

BURNS TREATMENT:
A friend of mine got burned over the face arms and legs at 2 years old when the house stove blew up, today she has no scars that are visible.
How? Well the doctor of that time which is around 1950 did a very strange thing, he would cover her burns with a boiled cheesecloth then he would rip it off, and he did this every day for 1 month.
One may say that this was a cruel treatment but the result was that today she has no scars to show this tragedy. This was old folk medicine.

NOTE VIA BURNS:
The story of nurse with 3rd degree burns who changed her bandages every 3 hours, by a new wet sterile compress for 3 months = NO SCARS, as a result. Body is made of 90% water.
Try sterile clay mixed in water might help worth trying in some place to check *** Check also the new burn bandages made of 90% water.***

TO COOL THE BLOOD IN YOUR BODY:In case of high fever or high sweating because of heat simply
submerge your wrists, it will cool the blood in your body fast.

DANGEROUS PLANTS: PLANTS WARNING:
The colour RED associated with a plant in tropical or sub- tropical areas can be regarded as a DANGER SIGNAL.
ANY PLANTS which shows RED in any parts of its growth, in its fruits, in its leaves or in its stalks should be regarded as suspicious unless you know for certain that it is absolutely safe.

EX: Strawberry, raspberry, wild cherry, mulberry are known to be safe for eating, yet some people are allergic to it, too bad.
Rhubarb has a red stalk, but the leaves are deadly when cooked because they contain a fatal quantity of oxalic acid.
Beets and their leaves are excellent, so are tomatoes, yet the nightshade which is of same family is deadly..So in general way be suspicious of any plants showing the danger red signal, unless absolutely certain its safe to eat. This is particularly applicable to Tropical berries & fruits

WARNING #2 PLANTS POISON ID:
Another general sign of probable poison is any fruit which is divided into 5 divisions. This is a generalisation, but it is better safe then sorry and poisoned.

DANGEROUS LEAVES & TESTING!:
The leaves of many trees, shrubs & ground plants are edible & very palatable & can comfortably sustain life. The only test is to taste the leaf.
If its tender & pleasant to the palate & the danger of almond, bitter, or extreme acid are not present then you can eat a small quantity, & if there are no ill consequences, the leaves of that particular tree or shrub are safe & will be good for you. The leaves of most plants contain oil cells which give the leaves its taste or flavour. This is generally more marked in the young leaves at the end of branches.

BEWARE OF ALL TREES WHICH HAVE A COLOURED SAP, WHITE, RED OR BLACK:
Many of these saps are a danger signal, & some particularly the white saps, can inflict painful burns to the skin, or if allowed in the eye can cause blindness.
Also Beware of ground trefoils particularly those which have little corns or tubers. These are generally Oxalis & have a dangerous high content of oxalic acid which is a poison.

FUNGI: ALL FORMS OF FUNGUS GROWTH SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

BURN: FOLK REMEDY
Raw grated potatoes put on a burn to heal it and stop scars.

AGAINST POISON IVY:FOLK REMEDY
According to an old Folk remedy Oat meal is good treatment.

GANGRENE FOLK REMEDY:
Gangrene can be cured with raw grated potatoes, you wrap the wound with it and change it every 3 hours or so, it will take months but it is better than to cut it off.