Herbal Remedies For

Specific Ailments: H-Y

Headache
No single treatment works for all headaches.  Feverfew is probably the best known treatment.  Some people try ingesting the leaves directly, causing mouth sores.  The good news is that you can also brew a tea with two to eight fresh leaves steeping in boiling water.  Do not boil the leaves however, as it breaks down the effectiveness. 

Pregnant women SHOULD NOT take Feverfew nor should women who are breast feeding.

Heartburn
Camomile is the best source for heartburn and stomach problems.  Licorice might be a second choice, but take care.  Too much Licorice will produce headache, lethargy, and a potential serious loss of potassium as well as the possibility of high blood pressure.

Hemorrhoids
Use the following salve after each bowel movement. 

One teaspoon Calendula
One teaspoon Camomile
One teaspoon Yarrow
One teaspoon Plantain
One teaspoon St. John's Wort

Mix each herb in powdered form with enough emollient oil (almond) to form a paste then apply.

High Blood Pressure
Try vegetable soup.  Yes, vegetable soup.  Add any of the following:  Celery, Garlic, Hawthorn, Kudzu, Onion, Tomato, Broccoli, Carrot, Purslane (any anything else that contains magnesium), Saffron, Valerian, Fennel, Oregano, Black Pepper, Basil and Tarragon.  Consume on a regular basis.  Eliminate pork, beef, and alcohol from your diet.  Eat more plant foods and herbs and use a good vitamin regimen.

Indigestion
Create a tincture of:
A dash of  Angelica, Anise, Camomile, Coriander, Fennel, Ginger, Rosemary and Turmeric along with two dashes of any mint herbs.  Steep these herbs overnight in the refrigerator in a mixture of alcohol and water (one shot of vodka per cup of spring water).  Drink as a tea or mix with juice.

Insect Bites/Stings
Try using Citronnela Oil.  Do not use without first diluting.  Add several drops to vegetable oil and rub directly on your skin.

Insomnia
Lemon Balm is a sedative as well as a stomach soother.   Try a tea made with two to four teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water.

Liver Problems
Use Milk Thistle for all types of liver troubles.  Available in capsule form at health food stores.

Menopause
Black Cohosh is recommended for many "female complaints."  It contains estrogenic substances that relieve menopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes.  Native American women knew to use it for childbirth and other gynecological problems.  Try 2 parts Chasteberry, 1 part St. John's Wort and 1 part Life Root. To 5ml of tincture taken three times a day.

Motion Sickness and Nausea
Raspberry leaf tea, used for morning sickness is also a good treatment for motion sickness.  Ginger is another treatment for motion sickness.  Munch it or buy Ginger capsules at the health food store.

Osteoporosis
Few people know that high protein diets leech calcium from bone.  Reduce protein intake and try this broth:
Place leftover fish bones in a large pot.  Add a few quarts of water.  Bring to a boil.  Cover and simmer 30 minutes.  Add a couple handfuls of finely chopped Cabbage, Dandelion Greens, Stinging Nettle greens, Parsley, Pigweed and Purslane.  Season to taste with salt, pepper and any other seasonings you prefer.  Remove fish bones before serving as a vegetable/herb soup or as a stock for hearty bean soup.

Pain
Use clove oil for toothache, applied directly to the painful tooth.
Red Pepper contains capsaicin that stimulates the release of endorphins.  Use in recipes.

Willow bark contains salicin, the original aspirin.  Start with a low dose tea.  If you are allergic to aspirin, avoid this treatment.

Pneumonia
There is no substitute for your doctors recommendations, but you might enhance treatment with a tea comprised of Dandelion.  Cook the greens and roots. And drink the juice that remains after the green are cooked.  If fresh Dandelion is not available, use the dried herb.

Prostate Enlargement
Make a spread of Saw Palmetto, Licorice and Pumpkin Seeds.  Place a half cup of fresh Pumpkin Seeds in a food processor.  Add one Saw Palmetto Capsule contents (without the capsule), and add a few drops of Licorice extract.  Blend until smooth.  You may add a little Brazil Nut oil to make it spread easier.  Eat a couple of tablespoonfuls every day.  Make small batches at a time to insure freshness.

Psoriasis
Folk healers have recommended rubbing mashed Avocado on psoriasis patches.  If nothing else, it is cool and soothing.

Shingles
Try using a mixed mint tea.  Use lots of Lemon Balm plus ay other mints you would like:  Hyssop, Oregano, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Self Heal, Spearmint or Thyme.  Add a little Licorice as well.  Drink it, of course, but also try applying it directly to the rash.

Sinusitis
Create your favorite vegetable soup.  Add heaping amounts of Garlic, Onions, Horseradish, Hot Pepper and Ginger.  Enjoy the dish while feeling your sinuses open.

Skin Problems
In addition to Aloe, the best known herb for skin treatment, try Evening Primrose Oil.  Apply directly to the irritation.  Should be available in your health food store.

Sore Throat
Slipper Elm capsules will do the trick for a raging sore throat.  Just remember that it is probably a portent of a cold, flue or strep to come.  Another treatment is a few teaspoons of crushed Euclyptus leaves per cup of boiling water for a soothing tea.

Sunburn
Use wet teabags to apply to sunburned areas.  Aloe applied to the affected areas is always a good recommendation.  Calendula speeds the healing of burns.  You can probably find commercial creams that contain Calendula at your health food store. 

Swelling
One of the active components in Ginger is Zingibain.  One gram of Zingibain can tenderize as much as 20 pounds of meat.  The most pleasant method of ingesting Ginger is to eat Ginger candy.  Pineapple is also known to contribute to the reduction of swelling.  Tastes good too!  Dandelion is a potent diuretic and can remove some of the excess fluid that causes swelling.  Youc an also purchase capsules.

Tinnitus
Hands down, Ginkgo is the best treatment for Tinnitus.  The best way to take it as an extract which you will probably only find in a health food store.  When shopping look for 50:1 on the label.  40mgs per day is recommended to treat Tinnitutis.

Tonsillitis
Echinacea and Goldenseal are a good bet to treat Tonsillitis.  Combine the two as a tea and gargle as well as ingest.

Toothache
As mentioned earlier, Clove Oil is a good treatment for toothache.  Another is a compress of Ginger and Red Pepper.  Mix the powdered spices in enough water to form a paste.  Use a small cotton ball to dip in the paste then apply the cotton directly to the tooth without letting it touch the gum.  If it is too hot, rinse your mouth and try a different remedy.

Ulcers
You may find this recipe too tasty to be called a treatment!
Bananas, Pineapple, Blueberries, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Cloves, Ground Ginger, Honey.  Cut up the bananas and pineapple and place in a serving bowl.  Add blueberries and season generously with the Cinnamon, Cloves and Ginger and sweeten with the Honey.  Or, use above ingredients to create a anti-ulcer drink.

Vaginitis
Carefully peel a clove of Garlic so that no nicks are made in the meat.  Wrap in clean gauze with a clean, unbleached string creating a small tampon like packet.  Insert into the vagina each night for up to six nights.  If this treatment does not cure the infection see your physician. 

Yeast Infections
Mix two to three drops of Tea Tree Oil in a tablespoon of yogurt.  Soak a tampon in the mixture.  Insert the tampon at night for up to six nights.  Care must be taken when using any plant extracts.  They are extremely concentrated and even in small doses can cause harm.

On the next page we will talk about Choosing The Right Herb and Things To Avoid.