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By Root 920 0

and an effective liver tonic, hepatic, which acts to “cool” (detoxify) the liver; its cholagogue action decongests the gallbladder by increasing bile flow; and its choleretic action promotes bile production. It is anti-rheumatic, as it stimulates cell metabolism in the body, assisting the body to dump metabolic waste into the blood to be cleansed by the liver. It is alterative, relieving skin disorders and degenerative joint disorders, lowering blood cholesterol. It is a mild laxative, bitter. The leaf is a safe, highly effective diuretic, the best natural source of potassium which avoids potassium depletion, so common with the use of other diuretics; bitter. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads; they are best mixed with other salad greens and tossed with a favorite salad dressing.

Echinacea (an at-risk plant, use only organically cultivated) is an immune stimulant, assisting the body to resist infection more efficiently; it is anti-microbial and increases cellular resistance to virus, and activates the macrophages that destroy both cancerous cells and pathogens; it is anti-catarrhal and alterative.

“When you settle a share of land, first plant an Elder tree, then make your home there.”

—T. ELDER SACHS

Elder, Black, if I recall correctly, stood at the top of each of our CSHS lists, being nearly a complete pharmacy by itself. Elder’s leaves used externally are vulnerary and emollient. When used internally the leaves are purgative, expectorant, diuretic, and diaphoretic. Its flowers prepared as a cold infusion are diuretic, alterative, and cooling; as a warm infusion the flowers are diaphoretic and gently stimulating. Its berries are diaphoretic, diuretic, aperient, and when fresh they make good juice and jam. Elder is the reliable home remedy for cold, flu, fever, skin eruptions, sprains, bruises, wounds, hayfever, sinusitis, tension, constipation, rheumatic discomfort, and so on. Look this plant up in a variety of sources; probably no single herbal tells Elder’s complete story.

Fennel is carminative, relieving flatulence and colic, and stimulating digestion and appetite. It is very helpful in improving the flavor of other herbs. Combined with Catnip (Nepeta cataria), it makes the best child’s remedy for fever, colic, and general restlessness; it is anti-spasmodic, having a calming effect on coughs and bronchial disorders, and anti-inflammatory as a compress and eye wash for infected eyes and inflamed eyelids, and galactogogue.

Ginger is a diffusive stimulant that is warming by increasing peripheral circulation; an emergency remedy whenever immediate stimulation is needed, a master herb for relieving nausea and motion sickness; an anodyne in gastric and intestinal pain; a carminative and anti-spasmodic in the digestive tract; diaphoretic for promoting perspiration in feverish conditions; anti-inflammatory particularly useful in rheumatic conditions that benefit from heat; anti-microbial; rubefacient; and a reliable emmenagogue.

Goldenseal (an at-risk plant; use cultivated Goldenseal or substitute with other berberine-containing plants or other plants that offer similar actions) is hepatic, cholagogue, a bitter digestive stimulant, and a primary anti-microbial for acute infection. It is an invaluable tonic stimulant for over-relaxed, profusely secreting mucous membranes having a wide effect on the respiratory, digestive, and genito-urinary systems, and it has an anti-catarrhal effect, especially in sinus conditions. It is astringent and emmenagogue.

Gumweed is a relaxing expectorant, which relaxes the smooth muscles. It is antispasmodic and hypotensive, useful for treatment of asthmatic and bronchial conditions, especially when accompanied by rapid heartbeat and nervous response.

Hawthorn is a heart tonic of the first order which maintains the heart in a healthy condition. It directly effects the cells of the heart muscle, enhancing both activity and nutrition. It is a specific remedy in most cardiac disease and facilitates a gentle but long-term sustained effect on degenerative, age-related changes in