I know the plants I use, the ones that grow near where I live.
There are millions of plants out there, but how many do you actually recognise ?
How many actually grow where you can find them ?
How many would you actually utilise ?
Don't get bogged down with sheer numbers and information.
Everyone of us is different, we all react differently (within certain parameters) to herbs, drugs and the like. That, and the fact that where and how the plant grows will affect it's properties to some extent, makes this a judgement topic.
Think of the most common ailments that you have to deal with and concentrate firstly on finding, and using, native plants that are recommended as effective.
Right now, with Autumn upon us, is not the best time to find the full flush of plants. It's a good time for the last fruits and nuts though, and as the grasses die down it's a good time to spot things like the meadowsweet, the yarrow and the clovers and selfheals.
The meadowsweet will mostly disappear over Winter, but if you know where it is, then you can find the roots if needed. Clover's not much use unless in flower so that's one to remember for next year. The Yarrow will mostly have 'some' leaves through Autumn, maybe a few remaining through Winter but in Spring it'll open up the feathery new ones.....and then the grass will hide most of it again. Similarly the selfheal, which is worth while introducing into your lawn if you're not that fussy about it being a pure green sward. It'll cut short with the grass and still produce flowers for gathering
What would we suggest as the most likely uses? might be a better way to approach this.
cuts, grazes,
bites, stings,
burns and scalds,
headaches,
sore throats,
colds,
flu,
upset guts,
skin rashes,
eyes; dry or inflamed or infected.
sinusitus,
fungal nails, etc.,
fever and chills,
earache,
mouth; ulcers, bleeding gums, toothache,
hair; lice, dandruff,
Bearing in mind too that there are good reasons for the potions of the pharmacist and the Doctor really does know an awful lot more than we are ever likely to about the body, this is still an interesting and relevant discussion for us
I admit I prefer the personal recommendation, rather than, "someone said that someone's granny used...", kind of reply. More along the lines of Harlequin's yarrow styptic response
Good thread TeeDee
cheers,
M
There are millions of plants out there, but how many do you actually recognise ?
How many actually grow where you can find them ?
How many would you actually utilise ?
Don't get bogged down with sheer numbers and information.
Everyone of us is different, we all react differently (within certain parameters) to herbs, drugs and the like. That, and the fact that where and how the plant grows will affect it's properties to some extent, makes this a judgement topic.
Think of the most common ailments that you have to deal with and concentrate firstly on finding, and using, native plants that are recommended as effective.
Right now, with Autumn upon us, is not the best time to find the full flush of plants. It's a good time for the last fruits and nuts though, and as the grasses die down it's a good time to spot things like the meadowsweet, the yarrow and the clovers and selfheals.
The meadowsweet will mostly disappear over Winter, but if you know where it is, then you can find the roots if needed. Clover's not much use unless in flower so that's one to remember for next year. The Yarrow will mostly have 'some' leaves through Autumn, maybe a few remaining through Winter but in Spring it'll open up the feathery new ones.....and then the grass will hide most of it again. Similarly the selfheal, which is worth while introducing into your lawn if you're not that fussy about it being a pure green sward. It'll cut short with the grass and still produce flowers for gathering
What would we suggest as the most likely uses? might be a better way to approach this.
cuts, grazes,
bites, stings,
burns and scalds,
headaches,
sore throats,
colds,
flu,
upset guts,
skin rashes,
eyes; dry or inflamed or infected.
sinusitus,
fungal nails, etc.,
fever and chills,
earache,
mouth; ulcers, bleeding gums, toothache,
hair; lice, dandruff,
Bearing in mind too that there are good reasons for the potions of the pharmacist
and the Doctor really does know an awful lot more than we are ever likely to about the body, this is still an interesting and relevant discussion for us I admit I prefer the personal recommendation, rather than, "someone said that someone's granny used...", kind of reply. More along the lines of Harlequin's yarrow styptic response
Good thread TeeDee
cheers,
M
