John De Witch's Herbal Grimoire
With autumn coming on and the weather changing, I am going to pass along some herbal remedies for some common ailments... Please note that if you are currently taking prescription medication, check with your doctor before taking any herbals as they may interact with some prescription drugs. Where possible, I have so noted this...
Chest Cold
1 part pleurisy root
1 part fenugreek
1 part licore root
Boil the herbs in water for approximately 30 minutes. Strain. Drink as a tea. Sweeten with honey.
I have found this very effective if used when you first feel the cold settling in. You do want to be careful with the licorice as too much may elevate blood pressure. If this is a concern, use the recipe below.
Chest Cold (Alternative)
1 part pleurisy root
1 part fenugreek
1 part coltsfoot flower
Boil the pleurisy root and fenugreek for approximately 30 minutes. Steep the coltsfoot for approximately 5 minutes. Strain. Sweeten with honey.
Head and Chest Cold
1 part Osha
1 part usnea
1 part fenugreek
1 part pleurisy root
1 part lobelia
1 part hyssop
1 part slippery elm bark (if accompanied by sore throat)
Boil the fenugreek, pleurisy root, and slippery elm for approximately 20 minutes. Add Osha and usnea, and steep for another 5 minutes. Strain. Sweeten with honey, if desired.
I've experienced very good results with this blend. I started feeling ill on Thursday. By Friday, the cold was so bad I could barely talk, yet alone breath. I started drinking the tea on Friday, about every 1-2 hours. By Sunday, I was feeling pretty good with only some chest congestion. I continued with the tea another 4 days, dropping to about every 2-4 hours. By the end of the week, I was back to normal.
NOTE: Another name for lobelia is pukeweed, for good reason. Too much lobelia can cause nausea and vomiting.
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