Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha 

Jo Francks MH

Not many of us go for too much time in our busy lives that we don’t feel stress of some sort. There are so many ways to describe stress that I won’t attempt to do so in this article. I was working with a young lady not too long ago whose family has been through some very difficult and stressful times. I felt strongly to recommend she use the herb ashwagandha.

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that can aid the body in resisting stress, relieve fatigue, nervous tension and anxiety and aid in cognitive function and memory support. She was asking for something that would do all of these things.

Aashwagandha has been used to improve thinking ability, to help with inflammation, and to prevent the effects of aging. It is also used for fertility problems in men and women.

Many studies have been done on this herb for many different types of conditions. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, decrease or stop the growth of tumors and help increase ones immunity during chemotherapy treatment.

In Sanskrit Ashwagandha means “the smell of a horse,” and is a combination of the word ashva, meaning horse, and gandha, meaning smell indicating that the herb imparts the vigor and strength of a stallion, and has traditionally been prescribed to help people strengthen their immune system after an illness.

Belonging to the same family as the tomato, Ashwagandha is a plump shrub with oval leaves and yellow flowers. It bears red fruit about the size of a raisin. The herb is native to the dry regions of India, northern Africa, and the Middle East, and today is also grown in more mild climates, including the United States.

The root of the plant is used medicinally and has been an important herb in ayurvedic medicine for over 2000 years. It is often referred to as Indian ginseng because it has very similar qualities as ginseng does in traditional Chinese medicine. It benefits the neurological, immune, reproductive, endocrinal and energy production systems of the body. It is very beneficial in balancing the thyroid and adrenal glands.

Shepherd's Purse

Shepherd’s Purse

Capsella bursa-pastoris

Jo Francks MH

One of the first plants to come up in the spring is shepherd’s purse. This plant is

considered a weed by most, but those who have had opportunity to use it and see its

virtues think differently. The plant receives its common name from the shape of its seed

pods which resemble an old fashioned leather purse which used to be carried by

shepherds. One of the greatest virtues of this plant is to stop bleeding. It is used quite

often to stop bleeding during and after childbirth, to stop a nosebleed, or to regulate

heavy menstrual flow.

A lady who was a river guide was wondering what to do because she typically had heavy

menstruation and an upcoming trip would coincide with her cycle. She was told to make

a sun tea each day of equal parts shepherd’s purse and red raspberry leaves. She used a

plastic Gatorade bottle (glass was not allowed on the river) and put about a tablespoon of

each herb into the bottle and filled it with water to make a quart of tea. She then put it on

top of the baggage pile to steep in the sun. She drank this every day and to her

amazement, experienced very little bleeding or discomfort.

Shepherd’s purse has many other uses as well. It is used as a diuretic and in cases where

there is scalding urine or white mucus in the urine. It can also be used to help heal

wounds.

You can make your own shepherd’s purse tincture by filling a glass jar half full with

dried shepherd’s purse, then fill the jar to the top with 100 proof vodka or raw unfiltered

apple cider vinegar. Put the lid on the jar and shake 3 or 4 times a day for 2 weeks.

Strain off the liquid and keep this liquid in a clean amber glass bottle. This is your

tincture and can be used for bleeding. For heavy bleeding use one or two droppers of the tincture

every half hour until bleeding slows down or stops. If you have access to fresh

shepherd’s purse, fill the jar to the top with the fresh plant, add ever clear to the top of the

jar, cap tightly and shake 3 or 4 times a day for 4 to 6 weeks and strain. The tincture can be

used internally for bleeding or externally on cuts and wounds

Cleanse and Nourish

Cleanse and Nourish

Jo Francks MH

Recently I had someone ask “What can I take for low thyroid?” After talking to this person a little about how the body works the question was asked “What can I take for high blood pressure?”  Not long after that someone else asked “What herb can someone take for Leukemia?”

In these cases these people seemed to want a magic pill that would cure the condition they were asking about. In all these cases the same information was given. Our bodies create symptoms and disease because of the way we eat, drink, feel, think and live. Taking the right herb for specific conditions can only do so much. Lifestyle changes need to be made in order to change what is going on in the body. First we need to cleanse the system of toxic accumulations which have been building up over time. We do this by doing a three day cleanse and following the mucusless diet and using herbs that help the body cleanse itself. We also need to change our thoughts since thoughts lead to emotions. For some people this is harder than changing our diet. We’ve spent a lifetime with our thoughts and they become habits. In Karol Truman’s book Feelings Buried Alive Never Die there is a list of ailments and conditions and the thoughts and emotions that are connected to them along with some cases where people have overcome conditions by changing their thought patterns. Our mind is powerful and our thoughts are powerful. They can put us in a good mood or in a bad mood and they can motivate us to be positive or negative. And guess what?  Positive people and happy people are also healthier.

Our bodies were designed to work perfectly. We are all born with some genetic weaknesses but amazingly we survive. We can change and move toward wellness no matter what our condition is at the moment. Spring is a wonderful time to do a cleanse and commit to a more healthy diet. It is also a time to see things anew with all the new growth all around us.  Take one negative habitual thought that is going on with you and each time it comes up reverse it to a positive thought. It takes a conscious effort to change. I hope you will commit to changing one thing this month and see how powerful you really are.

Gathering and Harvesting Herbs

Now is the time to go out and gather your own medicine.  If you have been growing herbs or if you want to go out and wildcraft herbs for your own use it is a good time to do so.  

I have noticed that in my area there seems to be a bumper crop of valuable herbs growing. I have been harvesting a lot of flowers lately.  To harvest flowers, pick off the flower head and dry them in the shade.  I’ve found that shallow boxes, the ones canned food comes in works very well.  Line the box with a paper towel, spread the herb or flower in a single layer to dry.  I stack the boxes and turn them opposite ways to save space.  Just rotate the boxes every day and it will take about a week to dry if you’re in a dry climate. 

Storing:  After the herb is completely dry, it is ready to store or use as a tea, ointment, tincture, etc.  There are a number of ways to store herbs.  Remember to keep them in a cool dry place.  Amber glass jars work well.  Clear glass jars work well if they are kept out of the light.   

These are some of the herbs I have been aggressively gathering so the plants will keep producing all summer. 

Chamomile:  is soothing to the nerves, aids in digestion, helps reduce swelling. 

Calendula:  is abundant in medicinal qualities.  Increases immune function, is demulcent, and anodyne.  It has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial effects, and it helps heal wounds quickly. 

Red Clover Blossoms:  Many herbalists have referred to this herb as an antidote to cancer, and is a very powerful blood cleanser. 

Mints: Spearmint, Lemon Balm, Peppermint

 Comfrey Leaves:  Cell proliferant. This is a most wonderful healing and soothing herb. I would never want to be without it.  Take care in drying the leaves in a single layer.  They contain so much moisture that they spoil if not spread out.

These are just a few of the herbs you will see laid out to dry at my place.  In the fall I will be busy turning these efforts into wonderful medicine my family will use through the year to keep us well and healthy.

Jo Francks
Master Herbalist, Certified Iridologist, Quantum Touch Practitioner

The Sunshine Vitamin

Vitamin D The Sunshine Vitamin

Jo Francks MH

 

An important part of Dr. Christopher’s Incurables Program is the sunbath.  He recommended that you “take a sunbath each day in the nude and not through glass but in the direct sun.”  There are two types of ultraviolet light from the sun, UVA and UVB rays.  UVA rays are longer and penetrate deep into the skin to produce a dark tan. When in the sun too long they cause wrinkles and sun spots.  UVB rays are shorter and cause the skin to burn. They are also the only rays that make vitamin D. Vitamin D is actually a steroid and is a powerful antioxidant.  It is an important nutrient in preventing cancer including skin cancers. It is important for proper immune function and to prevent autoimmune diseases.  It helps with proper brain function, diabetes prevention and is needed for absorption of calcium and phosphorus.

“Only allow two minutes on the front and two minutes on the back the first day. Then add two minutes front and back each day, but no more.”  You should never stay in the sun long enough to get burned.  The body stops making vitamin D once the skin starts to turn pink. When SPF sunscreen is applied it stops vitamin D production and may make you more susceptible to some skin cancers.
 
“The sun is the world’s greatest doctor but must be used by building up the exposed time in the sun gradually so as to not burn.”  The best time for vitamin D production from the sun is 11:00 am until 1:00 pm or when the sun is the brightest.  That is when the UVBs are most direct.  They are not as effective when they come in at an angle and they are easily filtered out by smog, pollution, fog, clouds and windows. 
  
“If it is a cloudy or cold day, use a sunlamp, but do not allow a burn.” The best source for vitamin D is from natural sunlight, but in the winter, it is not possible to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from the sun.  Sunlamps or tanning beds are another option and some provide both UVA and UVB rays for vitamin D production. Most salon tanning beds are calibrated to produce about 95% UVA light, but there are some that will produce both UVA and UVB rays.  The same caution should be used with a tanning bed as with sun exposure and they can safely produce vitamin D in the winter months. Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University has shown that vitamin D produced by UVB radiation from a tanning bed maintains longer lasting and more consistent levels of vitamin D than taking vitamin D supplements.  Dermatologists have found that tanning makes the skin give off endorphins which improve feelings of well-being and make you feel happier.

Sources: Herbal Home Health Care by Dr. John R. Christopher

Primal Body, Primal Mind by Nora T. Gedgaudas, CNS, CNT

Baby Boomer Diet by Donna Gates

Mercola.com/Tanning-Bed

Elder

Elder Sambucus canadensis: (Caprifoliaceae)

Jo Francks MH

The International Herb Association has named Elder as herb of the year for 2013. There is more romance, folklore, tradition, and superstition recorded in history about this remarkable plant than about any other herb known.

The great herbalist, Henry Box of England, stated, “For colds, influenza, fevers, inflammation of the brain, pneumonia, inflammation of stomach, bowels, or any other part, this is a certain cure. I have never known it to fail, even when given up and at the point of death, it will not only save at the eleventh hour, but at the last minute of that hour. It is so harmless that you cannot use it amiss, and so effectual that you cannot give it in vain.”

The flowers and berries are the parts of the plant that are most used internally although the bark and leaves have been used externally for skin conditions such as boils, swelling, bruises, and eczema. The bark and root are not used internally so much because they are strong purgatives and emetic.

The berries are a wonderful herb to use in colds and flu. I like to combine them with rose hips and calendula flowers and make a tea or an extract. Use equal parts of each dried herb for each preparation.  For a tea use a teaspoon of combined herb per cup of distilled water. Boil the water and pour over the herb, cover and let steep for 15 to 20 minutes and drink while warm. To make an extract fill a glass jar half way with the herbs and fill the jar the rest of the way with a combination of equal parts distilled water and vegetable glycerin. Cap the jar and shake it several times a day for 2 weeks, strain off the liquid through a piece of muslin or cheese cloth. The liquid that you strained off is the extract.  Use a half teaspoon of this preparation several times a day.

It would be good to learn more about this herb. It is one of Dr. Christopher’s 100 herbs and a very good choice for herb of the year for 2013. Get some and keep it in your supply to have on hand in case your family needs something for the seasonal illnesses going around. 

Recipe:

Flu Remedy, fevers, inflammation

From Dr. Christopher’s School of Natural Healing book

1 ounce Elder flowers (Sambucus canadensis)

1 ounce Peppermint leaves (Mentha piperita) 

Preparation: Place in appropriate vessel and pour ½ pint of boiling distilled water over the herb, cover tightly and keep warm on stove for 15 minutes, strain and cover immediately and keep warm.

Dosage: 1 teacupful every 30 to 45 minutes until the patient perspires; then 2 tablespoonfuls every 1 to 2 hours. 

Administration: This tea taken hot will break down congestions, equalize circulation, and restore a functional equilibrium. Keep patient well covered in bed overnight; then sponge the body in the morning with equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water (this will act as a tonic and cleanse waste from the pores). For children: Give smaller doses and sweeten. (SNH)

The Gray Area

THE GRAY AREA

Jo Francks MH 

There are many herbs that have been used as hair rinses.  I think the one people have been most interested in from the classes I have taught is the one to get rid of the gray hair.

Dr. Christopher promised that if you rinse your hair with yarrow tea two or three times a week, within a year you would have your natural hair color back. That’s quite a promise, so I decided to put it to the test.  In February I started using yarrow tea to rinse my hair.  I make a quart of the tea by boiling a quart of distilled water and adding 2 handfuls of dried yarrow leaf then cover and let it steep for 30 minutes.  The tea is stored in a quart jar in the fridge and will keep for about a week.  It takes about a half cup of tea to rinse the hair after it has been washed and the tea is not rinsed out.  A plastic bottle with a squirt lid works well for applying the tea.  Squirt it on the head and massage it in to the scalp.  I have been using it every day and so far I can tell that I have less gray hair now than I did when I started. 

The progress has been slow, but it’s the comments from other people that are the biggest clue that it is working.  I see my hair every day and so does my family so the change is not as obvious to us.  Some of the comments I have heard are “Your hair is getting darker,” and “You’re looking younger and younger all the time.”  The best one is when the hair dresser was cutting my hair and he said “Jo you’re really lucky that you don’t have much gray in your hair.”  This is enough incentive to keep it up and I even have my husband using it.  I’ve also noticed that I’m not losing as much hair.

Not only do herbal teas help to get rid of gray hair, they can also be used to bring out natural highlights.

Chamomile is used to bring out the highlights of blond hair.

Sage is used for darker shades and henna for auburn hair.

Rosemary is good for dark hair and it stimulates the roots to prevent hair falling out and to stimulate new growth. It is also used to prevent dandruff.

Nettle tea is an excellent hair tonic and will bring back the natural color of the hair. Use as the last rinse when shampooing.  Make a cup of the tea by steeping a teaspoonful in a cup of boiling water for thirty minutes.  Dip the fingers in and thoroughly massage the scalp.  This will cure dandruff.  It is well to boil the leaves in vinegar for this purpose. (Back to Eden, Jethro Kloss, Pg 161)