Roots of Healthy Living

What do you know about St. John's Wort? Living in the northwest it comes up a lot as an herbal remedy for seasonal depression. That's about all I knew.

Many people have found it very helpful with treating anxiety, stress, depression, chronic fatigue, etc. It is also wonderful for treating damaged nerve endings due to wounds, burns and other skin related injuries. I discovered this personally this past month or so.

In a recent herb class the teacher produced some olive oil that had been infused with St. John's Wort and shared a story where it had helped someone recover from nerve damage. Now, (I don't believe in coincidences) the week before I had suddenly lost the feeling down the front of my right leg. It had happened over night and I hadn't told anyone. Well, my hand shot up and I asked if it would be appropriate to try it on my leg. She actually gave me some oil to take home. I applied it that night and by the next morning it had already begun to work. It took about three weeks and the feeling in my leg was completely recovered. Amazing.

It is important to apply the oil where you think the nerve damage occured, not necessarily where you are numb. For example, If you had recent surgery or an injury in a certain place and all of a sudden you can't feel in another area...treat the area of the surgery or injury first.

In my case, I had a scar on my leg and was certain the damage there was what was causing the nerve damage. It worked like a charm.

So, how do you make an oil infusion? Here is a basic simple recipe that works for just about any herb or combination of herbs.

Recipe for St. John's Wort Infused Massage Oil
*Get a clean sterile glass jar (you pick the size, small pint jars work great)
*fill the jar with plant material a couple inches from the top
(with St. John's Wort use 70% flowers and 30% leaves)
They can be fresh or dried...doesn't matter (dried need a little extra room to reconstitute)
*Cover with good quality olive oil an inch above plant material
*Put in a dark place and shake twice a day for two weeks
*Strain, bottle in dark glass bottles and your ready to go!

Note: There are a lot of healthfood stores that carry bulk herbs, or you can find them online. Two of my favorite online sources are Wholesome Botanicals and Mountain Rose Herbs.

Ok, I know what you're thinking...weeds? Seriously? Here me out on this. One amazing thing I have learned is how great those weeds are that we've been taught to despise. When I first learned about Dandelions and how medicinal they are I wondered if I was being taken in. All I knew about them was how everyone sprayed religiously to eliminate them from their lawns. I have seen first hand the miracle healing power they contain. Don't dismiss the delicious dandelion...(yes I said delicious).

Did you know...

Dandelions are dynamic accumulators. What does that mean? They have the ability to extract those inorganic minerals from the soil and turn them into organic minerals we can use. Many plants are great at extracting a certain mineral but dandelion is great at extracting many minerals, including:

sodium, silica, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, cobalt, copper and other trace minerals.

-Did you know that they are also a rich source of vitamin A as well as B1, B2, B3, B5, Folic Acid, B12, and vitamins E, C, H, P (bioflavanoids) and more.

-Did you know dandelion has incredible healing properties for the liver and gall bladder? It is also known as a blood purifier, mild diuretic, and can even help with allergies, arthritis, menstrual cramps, lower back pain, anemia, eczema and acne. It has helpd with stimulating lactation, and even stomachaches. Because of the high vitamin A content it has helped many with vision problems.

-Did you know that it can be a great natural substitute for a water pill? One of the side effects from a "water pill" is losing potassium which helps to regulate heart rhythm. Because dandelion is high in potassium and also works as a mild diuretic it can help remedy this situation. My mother, father, and mother-in-law have all switched to Dandelion and found terrific results.

-Did you know that you can eat the whole plant, roots and all? Many people use the young leaves as salad greens, The milky stems are great for stimulating the liver. My personal favorite are the roots. I tried Dandelion Root Tea a few weeks ago for the first time and was surprised and how great it tasted. You can use fresh roots or dried. The roasted roots are often used as a coffee substitute. Many people like to use the root tea as a tonic in the spring to clean the liver after a harsh winter of heavy foods. I've even heard of people using the flower tops to make jelly. You can find dandelion in most health food stores. You can take capsules, tinctures, drink the tea, or find the greens in the produce section. Or be adventurous and go on a dandelion hunt with your family. So have fun, make friends with the dandelion, stop killing them and start harvesting them!

Recipe for Dandelion Root Tea:




* Place roots & cold distilled water in stainless steel pan.
(about a 1-2 tsp per cup of water)
* Slowly bring to a simmer
* Simmer anywhere from 15-30 minutes (the longer the better)
* Strain out the roots

Enjoy!




I like to squirt a little fresh lemon juice and honey in mine!