Yarrow Beautiful Magical Healing Plant

White Yarrrow, Achillea Millefoliumfor a large flat-topped clusters of small white flower heads, a member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae) which is native to Europe and has naturalized throughout the United States.

The name is derived from the Greek hieros which means sacred and was found preserved in temples.

Yarrow also has a long association with magic used as a charm against negetive energies, awaken visions and found in ancient Chinese Oracle, the l Ching.

The healing powers of yarrow were said to have been discovered by the Greek warrior Achilles.

I recently purchased White Yarrrow, Achillea Millefoliumfor a seed give away on my facebook page. In light of the event I thought I would write a little and share some interesting excerpts and add an insect repelling balm recipes.

Yarrow (Achellia millefolium) This lovely perennial weed is grown in many herb  gardens for it has a multitude of uses. Cut the flowering tops (use  only white-flowering yarrow) and use your alcohol to make a  strongly scented tincture that you can take internally to prevent colds  and the flu. (A dose is 10-20 drops, or up to 1 ml). I carry a little  spray bottle of yarrow tincture with me when I’m outside and wet my skin  every hour or so. A United States Army study showed yarrow tincture to  be more effective than DEET at repelling ticks, mosquitoes, and sand  flies. You can also make a healing ointment with yarrow flower tops and  your oil or fat. Yarrow oil is antibacterial, pain-relieving, and  incredibly helpful in healing all types of wounds. Excerpt from the wonderful herbalist Susun Weed

Yarrow has insecticidal properties and harvesting its benefits as a natural insecticide are very simple and quick. Often available for harvest and excellent for hiking camping trips where unexpected insects may be awaiting your arrival.

Simple and quick insect repellent using Yarrow~  Make a yarrow tea infusion with fresh or dried, cool to room temperature, place in clean spray bottle for use,  top off with (geranium, rose geranium essential oil, lemon and citronella essential oil for mosquito’s), ( Sand Fleas/Ticks lavender, basil, lemon, eucalyptus) This is not something that will store but can be made easily with or with out essential oils. You never know when you might be in the forest and need some help, little Yarrow behind the ear.

Little more complicated only in time and patience. Lovely yarrow pine balm is worth the effort and will have a very long shelf life. 1/4 cup yarrow oil infusion done a week or two in advance, harvest some resin from a pine or cedar tree, very slow heat infusion with a heat-resistant oil such as grapeseed oil. After the resin is dissolved combine both oils ready to be made into a lovely healing balm/salve. There’s really no mistakes here too thick add oil.. too thin add bee’s wax or dissolved resin.

It is a good ingredient for tea's dream pillows incense

Yarrow wash for Oily skin. Naturally astringent it makes a beautiful None toxic facial wash. Simply infuse some fresh or dried herbs in a cup of water allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes or even over night left sitting at the bathroom sink it makes for easy use in the morning.

The Western Herb is not your average herb ruled by venus the planet of love. Folklore tradition says a girl who places a stalk of Yarrow under her pillow and repeats this verse will dream of her future husband.

Thou pretty herb of Venus’ tree, Thy true name it is Yarrow; Now who my bosomfriend must be, Pray tell thou me to-morrow. Halliwells Popular Rhymes.

Free Medicinal Herb Seeds

Like us on Facebook and your entered free seeds and soaps promotion on 04/01/2012

Spring has officailly began and I couldnt think of a better way to introduce my company Vickaryous Naturals then by giving beautiful Herbal Seeds. Listed Below and in the video

List of just some of the more unique herbal seeds we will be giving away . I’ve collected some amazing medicinal seeds for this and also giving away soaps sharing recipes.  I just want to make it fun,  spread some love and introduce you to Vickaryous Naturals my company 100% Natural, Organic, Wild Harvested.

I just wanted to add the seed give away ended but if you find me on facebook I still have some seeds available. I ask that you mail me a self addressed stamped envelope and I’ll send you some of what I have left.

Seeds I’ve added Yarrow~Achillea Millefolium, Wild Lettuce LACTUCA VIROSA Bitter, Hyssopus Officinalis, Echinacea purpurea~purple cone flower, Cymbopogon flexuosus (East Indian lemongrass), Artemisia Vulgaris ~ mugwort, Hops ~Humulus Lupulus, Arnica montana, known commonly as leopard’s bane, OSHA (Ligusticum canbyi), Marshmellow herb~althaea officinalis, Passiflora maypop, purple passionflower and more.

Reishi in cancer research

Reishi in Cancer Research

Studies of Reishi in cancer research have been largely conducted in Japan, where Reishi was scientifically proven to have an anti-tumor effect. This research has continued in Korea, Japan, and China.An example of Reishi’s cancer-fighting potential occurred in the summer of 1986. A 39 -year old Japanese woman approached Dr. Fukumi Morishige, M.D., Ph.D, a renowned Japanese surgeon and a member of the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, for help in treating her lung cancer. It was a complicated case, and she had been refused an operation by several hospitals. Hopeless, she returned home where she found her husband had collected Reishi in the forests. He boiled the mushroom and gave it to her to drink as a tea.While this was going on, she begged Dr. Morishige to do something for her cancer, regardless of its very advanced stage. From what was evident six months earlier, Morishige was surprised when he found no increase in swelling. Then he looked at her X-rays. Something wasn’t right: her tumor showed as only a trace on the X-ray. When she told him she had been drinking Reishi tea, Morishige operated with great curiosity. He was “astonished” to find only scar tissue, and although cancerous cells remained, they were now benign.Reishi mushroom hailed in ancient medicine as the mushroom of immortality and Medicine of kings.

Immune boosting action

The information gathered above ~ References:
1. Kenneth J. REISHI: Ancient herb for modern times. Sylvan Press, 1992.
2. Wasson RG. Divine mushroom of immortality. Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, Los Angeles, 80-93, 1968.
3. “Lingzhi”. In Pharmacology and Application of Chinese Materia Medica, Vol. I. Chang HM and But RPH, eds. World Scientific: Singapore, 642, 1986.
4. Stanislaus CS. LingzhiMedicine of Kings. New Editions Health World, 38-41, June, 1995.
5. Carlson J. Reishi Mushroom. New Editions Health World, 23-25, April, 1996.
6. Stavinoha WB, et al. Study of the anti-inflammatory activity of Ganoderma lucidum. Presented at the Third Academic/Industry Joint Conference (AIJC), Sapporo, Japan, 1990.
7. Lin JM, Lin CC, Chiu HF, Yang JJ, and Lee SG. Evaluation of the anti-imflammatory and liver protective effects of anoectochilus formosanus ganoderma lucidum and gynostemma pentaphyllum in rats. Am J Chi Med, 21:59-69, 1993. 3215, 1985.

Reishi mushroom hailed in ancient medicine as the mushroom of immortality and Medicine of kings

McDunalds Chocolate Shake Recipe… (Sort of)

Wow I am really excited to share this elixir I’ve been making.  It has a texture and consistency that can only be described as like a McDonald’s Chocolate shake.  Here is the catch though… It is warm and has no chocolate in it.  It may be one of those things that other people won’t fully appreciate, but I am so enamored that I thought I’d break down the recipe.

ingredients:

 4 cups warm Tea:

• Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum)
• Birch Tinder Polypore (Fomes Fomentarius)
• Artists Conch (Ganoderma Apalatum)
• Chaga (Inonotus Obliqus)
• False Turkey Tail (Stereum Ostrea),
• He Shu Wu (Polygonum Multiflorum)
• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

1 or 2 bananas (depending on how sweet you want it)

1/2 cup brazil nuts

1 bunch chicory (enough so that the perimeter of the stems together is about the size of a 50 cent piece)

3 tablespoons maca

1 tablespoon chlorella

1 tablespoon kelp

1 teaspoon zeoforce

directions:

I prepare the tea the night before and leave to simmer in a crock pot.  The drink ca be ade with hot tea, although I prefer to let it cool a bit before I blend it up.

In a high power blender combine everything but the chicory and blend.  Stop the blender add the chicory (at this point I find that a tamper is useful) and bring the speed back up on the blender.  Blend until smooth.  I know that it is perfect if it is steaming ever so slightly.

Pour into a glass and enjoy with a glass straw.

McDunalds “Chocolate” Shake (for trademark reasons of coarse I had to change the name to Mcdunalds. Posted by Matthew Portwood

_________________________________________________________

Ganoderma

 

Reishi

– Reishi

 

Reishi Double Extraction

 

1. Powder, as well as possible, 2 parts Reishi. (1200 g)

2. Macerate 1 part Reishi (600g) with 5 parts menstrum (3 Liters). This is how much fluid it takes to cover that fluffy Reishi: Menstrum = 1 part 95% ETOH (1L) & 2 parts Glycerine (2L)

3. Let sit 2 weeks or so. Press (Retrieve 2/3 of original menstrum = 2L) Reserve marc for decoction.

4. Add 1Liter 95% ETOH to pressed menstrum. Macerate 2nd part Reishi (600g) with this 3L of menstrum (again a 1:5 ratio).

5. Let sit 2 weeks or so. Press. Measure volume of tincture made (should be about 2L).

6. Final extract should be 1:4 overall. We started with 2 parts Reishi (1200g) so final extract will be 8 parts (4800mL). Double decoct both batches of marc with just enough water to cover. (Together or separately).

Press and concentrate so that desired final extract volume minus the tincture equals the decoction concentrate.

7. Combine when cool. IMPORTANT! Pour tincture into tea to avoid excess

precipitation.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

 

Reishi Extraction (Robyn Klein)

 

Here is the recipe for a 70% water / 30% alcohol reishi extract

For a kitchen-manageable amount, chop up only 3 whole dried medium-sized reishi

mushrooms. Use Felco or Corona hand clippers. If you chop more than this you will have to use much larger containers to cook and strain into. Three mushrooms will make about 500mls extract.

First, here is a quick overview of the process:

Step 1: Weigh chopped herb.

Step 2: Make tincture using 100% alcohol (EtOH).

Step 3: Strain and press the marc (save the marc!).

Step 4: Make a 1:10 decoction with the marc.

Step 5: Add decoction and tincture together to make a 30/70 extract.

Fill in and follow this form below:

Weigh chopped reishi = _______ grams/ounces

Materia Medica Lesson 2 – page 3

Example: 110 grams of dried, hand chopped reishi.

Put chopped reishi in a large enough jar to accommodate the menstruum below.

Cover the chopped reishi with pure Everclear (95%

alcohol) for two weeks. But how much?

Weight of reishi _______ x 5 = _______ mls of

Everclear will be needed to cover the herb.

Example: 110 x 5 = 550 mls of Everclear

Strain and squeeze marc as much as possible. Save marc!

Measure how much tincture resulted and record here = _______ .

Bottle and label the tincture and set aside for later.

Put marc in top of double boiler and add water. How much water?

Original dry weight of herb = _______ x 10 = _______ total amount of water to start off with.

Start cooking down, but don’t boil! Plan on 2 hours. Strain off marc and toss marc.

Continue cooking down the decoction. But to what amount?

To figure this amount, fill in the numbers in the following calculation:

Amount of tincture _______ divided by .3 = _______ .

Subtract this number above _______ from 1.00 which will equal = _______ .

Take this number and multiply it by .7 = _______ .

This is the amount of decoction which you will need to add to the tincture to give a 30% alcohol/70% decoction extract. Rounding off the numbers to the nearest whole number is just fine. Herbalism is not about rigidity.

To check your math add the amount of tincture

_______ to the amount of decoction _______ = _______.

Then multiply this final amount _______ by .3 (30%) = _______.

And multiply the final amount _______ by .7 (70%) = _______.

Add these amounts together to get the total amount = _______.

When decoction has cooked down to the amount you need, cool the decoction and then add it to tincture.

Store in a dark glass container and label with the following: Reishi Extract Ganoderma lucidum/30% Alcohol/70% Decoction

Materia Medica Lesson 2 – page 4

This excerpt is from the lesson Herbal Materia Medica Lesson 2, link provided above and intended to inspire. There so little on the writings of mushrooms and medicine I had to add this for further research. Green Blessings to all as always this is for educational/inspirational purposes .. always do your home work

Herbal Wine and Liqueur

With endless possibilities for added medicinal benefits Herbal Wines and Liqueurs are something we should consider adding to our herbal pharmacies

Chamomile Flower Wine:

Makes about 1 quart
Serve chamomile flower wine in your favorite wine glass and couple it with a tasty herbal meal

• 1 liter dry white wine
• 1 cup dried chamomile flowers
• Grated zest of 1 orange
• 1½ ounces light rum (optional)
• 4 tablespoons honey (or to taste)

1. Pour wine into a clean glass jar or bottle. Add chamomile, orange zest and rum. Cover and steep for 1 week.
2. Strain through a coffee filter, add honey to taste and pour it into a clean container. Seal and store for up to 1 year.  Leah A. Zeldes~ The Herb Companion

Herbal wines date back thousands of years. Egyptian wine jars have been found with residues of herbs and resins. It makes sense, as we now know that alcohol breaks down the medicinal constituents of plants, making it more bio-available to the body. That’s why we make alcohol extracts as herbal tinctures to deliver botanical chemicals to our body. The famous 12th century German mystic, Hildegard of Bingen, recommended herbal wines such as lungwort wine for emphysema, honey-parsley wine for heart pain, and unsweetened lavender wine for congested liver. Click More To Continue Reading

Polypores Mushrooms and their Magical Healing Mysteries

No other organisms on this planet have a greater potential for healing then Mushrooms.

When I was a little girl my Mom use to paint on these Conch and it would be my first experience with conch’s.. better known as Polypores.

 

I’m going to be working on collecting and documenting on this wonderful fungus and various other fungi’s will be added as time goes on. This will be an ongoing journey into the world of the mushrooms and their magical healing properties.

Artist’s Polypore

Ganoderma applanatum (Known as Artist's conch)

Most often found on old or decaying cottonwood, poplar, birch, and aspen, the shelf like artist polypore can inhabit conifers as well. Artist’s Conch gets its name from the change in color which occurs when the white underside of the conch is scratched. The scratched trace immediately turns brown, allowing artists to create intricate drawings on this natural “canvas.”

Description: Shelf-like, more or less flattened, and woody, Artist’s polypore has a gray top with concentric bands and a white under surface. The prolific release (up to 30 billion/day) Older specimens can grow very large. Size can range from 2” to 35” in circumference and 1” to 8” thick.

Health Benefits and Healing Properties of Ganoderma. Click More To Continue.

Octobers One Winner, Once a Month Contest

Help me decide on a product line for my company Vickaryous Natural. Last months winner was selected and her Baby Bean  Massage Oil has been shipped.

Congratulations Jana we look forward to hearing how like it.

For this months contest I’ve created deeply restorative facial treatment massage oil a botanical & essential oil formula that will improve elasticity, regulate sebum production and stimulate circulation for all skin types.

This facial oil will help restore tone, color, texture of mature and young skin alike. I’ve been using this particular oil for months  and I’m very happy with the results so it will be really exciting to hear your voice and your opinion. 

Good luck to everyone that has registered with Karonv it is the only way to win the “One Winner Once a Month Contest“. If you are chosen the winner all I ask is that after you receive your “gift” try it out and come back and tell us your opinion… Did you like it, smell, effects .. etc. If you would like to earn extra entries have your friends and family join the fun for every one person you refer, you will get an additional 5 entries per month. You must contact me in advance to let me know so I can include your additional entries.

This contest will run until I’ve completely finished my product line and I will be offering everything from body butters, perfumes, healing massage oils, soaps, healing bath salts as free gifts.

GOOD LUCK

Congrats to joannecheek765@hotmail.com please contact me with your address so I can get your gift to you!!!

Warming Winter Brandy Recipe

Warming Winter Brandy Recipe from Patricia Kyritsi Howell

Use this brandy “tincture” to relieve cold symptoms, ward off winter chills, warm stiff joints, as a sleep aid or just because it tastes good! 1 to 2 ounces ginseng roots (I use the tiny roots often sold in Asian markets for use in soup stock)  2 ounces elderberries, dried or 4 ounces frozen/fresh, 1/2 ounce wild cherry bark, dried 1/2 ounce spikenard root (Aralia racemosa) or 1/2 ounce elecampane root, dried and powdered 4 ounces cherries, dried or 8 ounces frozen/fresh 1/4 ounce gentian root dried and powdered (OR ¼ ounce yellowroot) 1 2-inch piece of cinnamon bark 1 1-inch piece of fresh ginger root, sliced thinly6 cardamom pods, crushed, 10 black peppercorns, 3 tablespoons honey, 16 ounces good quality brandy.

Place all ingredients in a sterilized jar with screw top lid. Keep in a warm place (in full sun, near a woodstove, or on top of hot water heater) for four weeks. Shake energetically once a day for the first week, then every few days until ready. Strain out all herbs and spices. Store in a sterilized bottle.

Feel free to copy and share…just don’t make any changes. Thanks!

 

BotanoLogos School for Herbal Studies http://www.wildhealingherbs.com

 

A History of Theivery: Making Medicinal Vinegars

Excellent blog with the prompting to share this wonderful healing recipe. For more recipes see link included at the bottom of this page.

 

                                                     Death Plays with Medicine
                                                          Hartman Schedel, 1493
                                                    Image: Histoire de la Medecine

What is full of essential amino acids, vibrant enzymes, vitamins, and minerals and balances the bodies acid/alkaline state and tastes good?  Apple cider vinegar!  In the body, apple cider vinegar diminishes thirsts, helps to relieve feelings of restlessness, manages fevers, and has an overall cooling effect.  Externally, apple cider vinegar keeps skin smooth, treats sprains and bruises, checks perspiration odor, and relieves inflammation and itching.  Making medicinal vinegars is abundantly easy.  They are great alternatives to alcohol and glycerine based extracts and have a long history of use in western herbalism.  Ever heard of the infamous Four Thieves Vinegar?

One version of the legend has it that four thieves were robbing the dying or dead during the height of the European plague and when they were finally caught they made a deal with their captors.  In exchange for freedom they would reveal the secret that kept them from succumbing to the deadly disease.  Four Thieves Vinegar was the recipe that was revealed.

Want to make some Four Thieves Vinegar of your own?  How easy it is!

First, find yourself some good, unpasturized (raw), preferably local, apple cider vinegar.  Delight in its golden glow!

Next, gather some the dried herbs you will need for your thieving vinegar of health and wellbeing:
Sage Salvia officinalis
Lavender Lavandula officinalis
Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis
Rosemary Rosemarinus officinalis
Thyme Thymus vulgaris

It is important to use dried herbs for this recipe, with the exception of our next ingredient, to reduce the possibility of spoilage with the addition of any water content to the recipe.  In my experience, vinegar is an excellent and trusted preservative, but it is always best to  use caution.

Our next ingredient is fresh garlic, an excellent and zesty herbal remedy for colds and ‘flu.

Combine equal parts of each of the herbs and mix them into a course powder with a mortar and pestle, electric grinder or willpower.  Place all herbs into a clean jar and cover with raw apple cider vinegar.  Shake!

Let all the contents settle and top off with more apple cider vinegar, if necessary, so there is an inch of vinegar resting above the herbs.  Cap tightly (put a wax paper between jar and cap if using a metal lid to prevent erosion), label, shake and sing to daily.  In about three weeks time your brew will be ready.  Strain the herbs from your vinegar and enjoy your super vinegar elixir!  You can take a teaspoon up to four times daily when feeling sick to prevent feeling like you have the plague.  You can also add some to your salads – one of my favorite ways to get my daily dose of medicinal vinegar.

Above all, be generous and share with your friends and family.  They’ll probably think you’re clever – stealing away their health woes with your charmed bottle of vinegar.

For more of her wonderful recipes

Lemon Balm Tea’s Nature’s Sunshine

“Balm is sovereign for the brain, strengthening the memory, and powerfully chasing away melancholy.”~John Evelyn (1620-1706)

                                   Lemon Balm Tea

If  winter’s onset finds you a little blue or not feeling quite up to par try some of natures sunshine.

Tea’s can be elevating, healing, restorative and mood enhancing. Below you’ll find some simple recipes for winter time aliments.

Septembers Contest FREE MASSAGE OIL

                                            One Winner Once a Month

Summers end brings me to harvesting and storing wonderful plants that I have been blessed with to create soaps, oils, lotions, body butters. 

I’m in the process of creating a lavender and calendula infused massage oil for the entire family.  All essential oils are not acceptable for the entire family but this one is.  I will be giving away one free gift once a month. Your only requirement is to register and after you receive your free gift to come back and leave feed back on the actual product you receive no other strings attached.

I am so confident that you will be delighted with my massage products, that I’m paying the shipping.  If you would like to earn extra entries invite friends and family to join send me an email telling me who it was you refered and I will add 5 entries for everyone you send to participate in the contest.

I will draw names on the last day of the month and post the winner and contact informatioin needed.

I will continue to do monthly drawings while I’m creating these toiletries and thank you in advance for your participation.

I wanted to thank all the new subscribers for joining my cause of greener more sustainable life styles and helping me choose products to move forward with for Vickaryous Naturals. 

I’m more than excited to give away my essential oil/plant infused massage oil. Safe for entire family with emphasis being on children as these oils will work to help detox, heal little wounds, relax over played muscles. I don’t believe to date we have enough products on the market for children.

This will be a great way to end the day, brief little massage while kissing the little angels good night.

Massage oil is completed and ready for its new home, I will be drawing my first name on September 30th. Good Luck I hope its YOU!

OUR WINNER HAS BEEN PICKED!

Congrats to (((heronbrookhaven@yahoo.com))) … done by a random drawing and thanks so everyone who entered I will be doing another one next month. So if you havent registered please do its the only way I can add you in the drawing! Next months free gift is going to be a healing restorative face oil… woo hoo and its free I just want to know what you think of it! See you NEXT MONTH