Healing with Nature:

While safe and effective when used with knowledge and caring, herbal medicine can also be misused, even dangerous. Advantages include gentleness, and treatments for conditions that "MD/pharmaceutical company medicine" can not handle. Disadvantages include diagnostic system weaknesses, misinformation (i.e. herb fads, marketing bullshit and wishful thinking) and misuse of scarce resources (goldenseal, rhino horn).

Learning about the source plants and foraging our own helps protect us from unscrupulous marketers. Only education can assure that Nature's cures are being used properly.

Here are some safe, common, effective plants to learn more about, for starters:

Each of these has been tested by at least decades if not centuries of successful, safe, traditional use, and/or by rigorous scientific studies (controlled double-blind randomized, large sample, reviewed, and reproducible). They are safe if used in anything less than greatly unreasonable quantities. Nevertheless, be careful, and if you have doubts (and you should) always check with a knowledgeable health practitioner. Also, someone will be allergic to even the safest of these. I use them all, but I'm just an amateur.

1. Plantain (Plantago major)--On most lawns, other trampled places. A humble plant that treats beestings, abrasions, cuts, etc. Just short of miraculous for relieving pain and swelling, use as a fresh poultice. Astringent, with no known toxicity, contraindications, or side effects. (Info), (Scan) (Picture)

2. Catnip (Nepeta cataria)--makes a tasty tea that is soothing and calming to humans (cats are contrary). A cup or two a day is also good for the digestion, for flatulence, and is very safe. (Info, Scan)

3. Mint (Menta spp.)--this tea is excellent after a heavy meal. It relaxes yet stimulates the digestive system, and is very tasty. Safe, effective, and mildly stimulating, use it wild or tame, fresh or dried. (Scan)

4. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)--two uses. Fresh, it is a poultice for wounds that stops bleeding and speeds healing. Works well as a salve, too. Dried, made into a hot tea, it fights colds and flu, and promotes sweating, and heals internal wounds. It's bitter, and needs honey. It also soothes the digestion. Use cautiously during pregnancy, or if severely allergic to the aster family. (Scan) (Info)

5. St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)--two uses. Traditionally it does work as a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-viral. Recently, it has been found to relieve mild to moderate clinical depression and SAD. Used in many forms, it is a common, roadside plant. It is pretty in a humble way, but powerful. It rarely (if ever-I'm still skeptical) causes sunlight sensitivity, but theoretically can interact badly with some drugs such as SSRIs. (Scan)

6. Jewelweed (Impatiens biflora)--a simple antidote for poison ivy if applied soon after exposure. Crush the juicy stems and apply to the exposed area within ten minutes-one hour, and the rash won't develop. Some people freeze the tea in ice cube trays to keep it handy. The plant is a kick, with bright orange flowers and seed pods that pop.

7. Sage (Salvia officianale)--an astringent, anti-bacterial tea. It is tasty, and relaxing, but also good for colds. Because of its drying-up action, it makes an excellent mouthwash, and a wash for skin rashes. Don't drink more than two or three cups a day. Don't use while breast-feeding.

8. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)--in any form (candy, tea, ginger ale) it really helps relieve nausea, especially brought on by motion sickness. In Chinese medicine, it is considered a warming spice, i.e. ginger tea is good for warming up on a cold day. Although sometimes used for morning sickness, this is not recommended, as historically it has been used to cause miscarriages. Otherwise safe in normal doses.

9. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-proven to improve circulation to the brain, which relieves Alzheimer's disease. (Does not do much for routine, everyday memory failure.) Safe when used as a leaf tincture or capsules, it may take 6-8 weeks before effects appear. Also treats other conditions due to improved circulatory effects. (Scan) (Info)

11. Hawthorn (Crataegus momogyna)--effective for strengthening the heart, and normalizing the blood pressure. A long-steeped decoction from the berries takes weeks to work, is slow but steady, and very safe over the long term. Don't be so foolish as to ignore a doctor's care if you have heart problems.