Healing Wise

Are You Ready for Winter?

Are You Ready for Winter?
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Here come the colder, darker, often sicker, days of the year. Are you ready?
Colds, coughs, flu, stuffy and runny noses, and fevers are the most common winter miseries. To counter and deal with them, I need anti-infective, anti-viral, soothing, and immune enhancing herbs.

A mainstay of preparedness is having plenty of anti-infective herbal remedies on hand to prevent and treat colds, flu, and fevers. Two of my favorites are echinacea and yarrow. I also use Phytolacca (poke).

Yarrow is best tinctured in the summers, while in full flower. I never make this remedy with dried herb; it is too bitter and too harsh for me. But yarrow doesn't mind frost, and an excellent anti-infective tincture can be made with the large leaves available now. Herbalist Gretchen Gould prefers the autumn leaves when making yarrow oil. Fill a jar with well-chopped leaves. Add 100 proof vodka right to the top. Lid and label.

Echinacea roots can be dug after the first frosts and promptly tinctured. And dried Echinacea augustifolia roots can be tinctured anytime. I buy a pound of dried root and make four quarts of tincture, spaced about three months apart. I find tinctures from dried roots are best after sitting for at least twelve months.

Read this article here:
https://www.wisewomanmentor.com/healing-archive/are-you-ready-for-winter%3F-part-1
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Instead of Antibiotics

Instead of Antibiotics

There are good reasons to use antibiotic drugs. That said, itis agreed that they are often overused. If the infection is not life threatening, you may wish to try herbs instead of, or in addition to, regular antibiotics.
Of the most-often used herbal anti-infectives - calendula, chaparral, echinacea, goldenseal, myrrh, poke, usnea, and yarrow - it is the lovely purple coneflower that I most often turn to.

I find echinacea as effective as antibiotics (dare I say sometimes better than!) if E. angustifolia/augustifolia), not E. purperea, is used; tincture, not capsules or teas is used; the root, and only the root, is used; and very large doses are taken very frequently.

To figure your dose of echinacea, divide your body weight (in pounds) by 2; take that many drops per dose. There are about 25 drops in a dropperful; round up to full droppers. If you weigh 180 pounds, take 90 drops/4 dropperfuls. There is no known overdose of echinacea tincture.
With acute infection I take a full dose every 2-3 hours. When chronic, a full dose every 4-6 hours.

excerpt from 'Down There: Sexual and Reproductive Health the Wise Woman Way'
www.wisewomanbookshop.com
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Nourish Immunity with Food

Winter Wellness
Nourish Immunity with Food

Sauerkraut: A spoonful daily is the best preventative of colds and the flu. If you didn't make it last fall, it's not too late to do it now. It's ready to eat in a few days. Store bought doesn't work as it has been pasteurized.

Ginger: has shown activity against numerous infectious pathogens. Most notably, fresh ginger inhibits viruses that commonly cause respiratory infections.

Garlic: has been used to prevent infection for thousands of years; and it still works! No need to upset your stomach (and loved ones) by eating it raw; cooked garlic retains its antibacterial powers, so long as you eat enough of it. During plague times, some healers wore a stiff cone of paper or bark stuffed with garlic and spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg) tied over the nose to ward off contagion. That's a little cumbersome for modern times, but inhaling the aroma of a cup of spicy chai tea sweetened with garlic honey could help you stay well.

Read the rest here ...

 

Comfrey Conference

The Comfrey Conference was amazing!

We hope you enjoyed all of the presentations, Comfrey shorts, and Live Zooms by our 16 amazing Presenters and multiple contributors of shorts.

If you didn't finish all of the content, or didn't sign up in time, Don't worry! The whole conference, including all of the Live zoom recordings, is available for you to watch at your leisure.

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www.wisewomanschool.com/p/the-comfrey-conference
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We're already looking forward to a new conference next year!
(psst check the wrap up section for a hint ..)

Green Blessings are everywhere.
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Stout-hearted Soup

Stout-hearted Soup
Serves 4 - 6

These ingredients feed your immune system and lower your cholesterol.

* Chop 1-2 large onions and saute in olive oil until soft.
* Mince 10-12 cloves of garlic and saute for a few minutes with the softened onion.
* Slice thinly 2 cups of fresh shiitake caps and saute for a few minutes.
* OR cut 1 cup dried shiitake into pieces and add to onions and garlic.
* Pour in 8 cups cold water and turn heat to high.
* Grate a piece of ginger root about as big as your thumb and add it to the soup.
* Toss in 5-6 slices of dried astragalus root.
* Add 1 teaspoonful each dried thyme, dried rosemary, and dried parsley or celery tops.
* Stir in 1 tablespoonful salt.

Bring to a boil; turn down the heat and simmer for an hour or so.
Serve at once, or let cool and serve the next day. This soup keeps well.

excerpt from Your Healthy Heart Online Course
www.wisewomanschool.com/p/a-healthy-heart-the-wise-woman-way-unit-one

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Elder and St Joans

Elder and Saint Joan's Wort

Susun  talks about Elder Berries and Saint Joans Wort herbs. Two of the best anti-viral herbs.

 

 

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Learn how to be happy, healthy, and empowered.
No testing, no effort, just watch, listen and learn.

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Horseradish tincture

Horseradish tincture

Makes your eyes water and clears your sinuses. Intense!

Slice horseradish root into thin even disks. Cut disks into thin even strips. Chop strips into a small dice.

Fill jar to the top with diced horseradish.

Add 100 proof vodka and label.

While it is typical to wait six weeks before using a tincture, if the horseradish is finely chopped, this tincture can be used within 24 hours after
preparation.

The longer it sits, the stronger it gets.

Start with 5-10 drops doses (orally) and increase as needed to clear nasal and sinus congestion.
(do not use in nasal passage)
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Register now:
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Goldenrod

Goldenrod (Solidago juncea)

This photo shows a lovely example of early goldenrod, the first of the goldenrods come into bloom as the days shorten. Many others will follow it, for there are more than 60 species of goldenrod in my area, all used in the same ways. I think of goldenrods as fall tonics; they improve the functioning of the immune system and help protect us from colds and the flu.

I harvest the flowering tops and use them fresh to make vinegar or tincture; I dry some and use them for tea, too. Goldenrods are unjustly accused of causing pollen allergies. Sit with a patch of goldenrod if you can, and watch. See all those flying, creeping, crawling creatures? Goldenrod is a great source of nectar for many insects.

Since only plants that produce windblown pollen can cause allergic reactions, we can see that goldenrod is blameless. The culprit is a short plant with green flowers: ragweed.

See more weed walks:
www.wisewomanmentor.com/healing-wise

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Pain-relief Alternatives

Pain-relief Alternatives

excerpt from: Abundantly Well: Seven Medicines

Generally best not to combine these with drugs.

Serenity Medicine: Meditation alters brain regions that process pain.

Mind Medicine: Acupuncture releases endorphins.
* Alexander Technique is more effective than massage or exercise in relieving low-back pain.

Lifestyle Medicine: Regular exercise counters chronic pain.

Alternative Medicine: Reflexology releases endorphins.
* A cold plunge alters pain perceptions, counters chronic pain.

Herbal Medicine (safest first):

* High CBD (Cannabis) - up to five drops of tincture of the fresh flowering plant, taken as often as every fifteen minutes - is my favorite non-addictive pain reliever. Often, a single dose will do. There will be some THC in the tincture, as all plants contain a mix of cannabinols, but this does not, in my experience and the experience of many students and friends, make you “high.” First choice as an ally for transitioning off opiates/opioids.

* Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) - 5 drops of tincture of the fresh flowering plant, taken as often as needed - is my favorite pain relief, especially when I need to sleep.

* Kava kava (Piper methysticum) - sips of the lightly-fermented infusion or dropperful doses of root tincture - offer fast, effective relief of musculo-skeletal pain, traumatic pain, chronic pain from injuries, heartache. Less likely to put you to sleep, too.

* Willow (Salix alba) - 1-2 dropperfuls of tincture as needed - is as effective as aspirin and contains the same active ingredient.
So does meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria).

* Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) - tincture of the fresh sap taken by the spoonful - may be as pain-relieving as poppy juice.

* Valerian - up to a teaspoonful of root tincture - counters chronic pain, puts you out, leaves you hung-over and groggy.

* Poppy (Papavera somniflora) is the source of opium, heroin, opiates, and poppy seeds. Opiates are addictive; poppy seeds aren’t.
A tea of the fresh poppy seed heads entices the brain to make natural opiates (endorphins). Do not combine with drugs or alcohol.

excerpt from: Abundantly Well: Seven Medicines

Strengthen your immune system

Strengthen your immune system with a good diet, adequate sleep, regular physical activity, emotional well-being, and a few of the recommended herbal allies of your choice. Always remember to use herbs and herbal preparations simply and safely. Avoid immune compromising substances such as coffee, tobacco and medications.

With a strengthened immune system you will not only enjoy better health, but you will be less likely to be susceptible to infection and possible death from bacterial and/or viral invasions. Faith in your body's ability to protect itself will continue to bolster and reinforce the immune system as your mental well-being improves. Enjoy the upward spiral of health as you follow the path of the Wise Woman Way.

Read all of the recommendations for Strengthening your immune system in this article:

 * Click here to read *

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Slippery Elm Balls

Slippery Elm Balls

* Combine slippery elm powder and honey.

* Roll into balls about the size of a hazelnut.

* Roll balls in slippery elm powder to coat.

* Store in a metal tin.

* They stay good for a long, long time, maybe decades.

Slippery elm balls are great for digestion.
Slippery elm is so safe that you can dissolve a ball in your mouth as often as you want, any time you feel any distress.
If you’re working with an ongoing condition, at least two a day is good.
Slippery elm restores the lining of the intestines, prevents any agents within the body from disturbing the intestines, and neutralizes any poisons that are present in or around the intestines.

Astragalus

Astragalus - Easy Herbal Medicine with Susun Weed.

Susun shows us tinctures in different bottles. Including astragalus tincture, which prevents lyme disease, and is a gentle nourishing adaptogenic herb. Improves ability to deal with stress and warding off colds, flu and diabetes.



Part of Susuns online course, Easy Herbal Medicine & Natural Remedies in under 30 minutes per week!'. Enjoy new short videos and audios each week, for a fast, easy way to incorporate herbal medicine into your life.

Learn more about this course: https://www.wisewomanschool.com/p/easy-herbal-medicine

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Cavities

Cavities

A caller on blogtalkradio says her dentist wants to put in fillings and she would like to heal them herself. Susun talks about modern dentistry being good for us. She talks about horsetail for keeping teeth and gums healthy.
This audio is just over 4:00 minutes long.

 

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Join Susun Weed on blogtalkradio, Tuesday nights 7:30-9:30 pm EST. Call in with your questions or email ahead of time to [email protected]. 

Visit the link for more info:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susunweed

White pine

White pine

Susun shows us White pine, and talks about how to identify it. It is one of the most medicinal pines. Anti cough remedy, wound healer, great source of vitamin c.



Join Susun for a weekly virtual weed walk. 'Easy Herbal Medicine & Natural Remedies in under 30 minutes per week!', gives students new short videos and audios each week, for a fast, easy way to incorporate herbal medicine into your life.
Learn more: https://www.wisewomanschool.com/p/easy-herbal-medicine

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Mushrooms

Mushrooms

Wild and exotic mushrooms have been shown to enhance immune functioning, deactivate viruses, prevent the promotion and initiation of many cancers, slow tumor growth, and increase life span.

Wild and exotic mushrooms are rich in selenium, antioxidants, lignans, and adaptogenic compounds. For cancer prevention, I eat them once a month. Those dancing with cancer can partake more freely and frequently. Mushrooms foraging is risky. Mushrooms that smell good and taste good can kill you. For safety's sake, buy mushrooms at a store, or check your find with an expert or three field guides. Even after 30 years, I still do.

Mushrooms are part of my video course Adaptogens: Herbs for Energy, Longevity, and Optimum Health

 

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