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Yarrow

Sam Atkinson — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 12:30:18 +0000

Astringent Yarrow is an incredible herb and while it has many other uses, I like to use it primarily as a wound care agent. Undiluted tincture of yarrow used to clean and compress, and the Yarrow will not only stem any bleeding by sealing the bleeding vessels but will also cause the edges of the wound to knit back together before your very eyes. I can personally attest to this phenomenon! It is really quite incredible. Yarrow is also very antiseptic and is excellent for cleaning any kind of wound, broken skin or not. Bathe wounds using the yarrow and dress with calendula and plantain balm, or if the wound is actively bleeding, soak gauze or such in the tincture and compress on the wound. Repeat regularly over the next several days and the wound will heal rapidly and cleanly. Apply to blood blisters or trapped, old blood and bruises to promote blood circulation and speed healing.
Most of the yarrow I use is harvested from the community garden once again, and from my own garden too. This year I needed so much herb I enlisted the help of generous friend who had an abundant crop growing. Im working on having more growing in my own yard ready for next year. Yarrow is truly an amazing herb that is so easy to grow and can be used fresh on cuts and bites and wounds or infused into oil to make a healing salve. Greek mythology says that when Achillies was born, he was held from his heel by his mother and dipped into a vat of yarrow tea, thus coating him and making him invincible, no weapon could pierce his skin. The only weak spot he had was his heel, hence the term Achilles heel. Imagine that Yarrow provides the same level of protection for your skin. Indeed, it was a herb that was taken onto battlefields right up until the last war. A valuable member of the plant world.

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Focus Blend

Sam Atkinson — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 11:49:12 +0000

A special blend of herbs intended to help stimulate blood flow to the cranium and increase circulation in the brain. Rosemary is a well-known herb for improving and stimulating memory, and Ashwagandha is an excellent adaptogenic esp. helpful with moderating stress. Ginkgo also has well researched actions on cranial circulation and improved memory function in the elderly. Regular long-term use will help to improve and sustain concentration and focus stamina, ease brain fog and forgetfulness. Combine with the use of Lions Mane mushroom (I don’t stock this product yet) to help mitigate the signs of aging like memory loss. This is a tincture you should avoid if pregnant or trying to become so.
Homegrown rosemary picked on a hot day and straight into the menstruum, preserving those rich essential oils, premium Ashwagandha root and organic Gingko leaves kindly harvested by a fellow herbalist from his tree, right at the beginning of autumn when the yellowing leaves indicate the medicinal properties are at their peak.

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Ashwagandha

Sam Atkinson — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:39:56 +0000

Ashwagandha is a fantastic adaptogen herb helping to control the body’s responses to stress and anxiety. Widely used in Ayuervedic medicines and a favorite of athletes. It moderates the brain releasing stress hormones, and studies have shown it can also rebuild neural pathways after injury. It really has a noticeable positive impact on one’s ability to deal with daily stresses in life and keep the mood much more stable and even. Ashwagandha can help boost testosterone and infertility in men, increase oxygen uptake during sports, help sleep patterns, and it is widely considered to be safe for everyone, although very high doses can have adverse effects esp. during pregnancy, when caution and further research should be exercised. Ashwa meaning “horse”, this herb is said to instill one with the strength and vitality of a stallion, and the fresh root is meant to smell like the sweat of a horse. This is one tincture you may need to wash down with a little juice!
The pungent roots used to make this medicine are purchased as a quality dried product and supplemented with homegrown each year. I’m still trying to grow enough Ashwagandha to fulfill my needs!

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Conditioning Herbal Hair Treatment (for Darker Hair)

Sam Atkinson — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:23:24 +0000

This herbal hair rinse is wonderful for dandruff, flaky scalp, thinning or greying hair. These herbs are traditional remedies for baldness and scalp issues and were also used to darken hair colour. Regular use will leave your hair strong, shiny and soft, and itchy scalps are soothed; the effect is lasting. Smells wonderful. Brew a strong tea before showering, once cool enough, strain and use as the final rinse in your hair. Massage well into the scalp. Benefits are the same for light and dark coloured hair, though be aware these are traditional herbs used for centuries to darken hair, so may affect very light colours.

A wonderfully fragrant, woodsy blend of herbs collected from local gardens – bay, rosemary and sage from the community garden, cedar tips from grand specimens growing crouched by a stream, and stinging nettle from my garden and/or supplemented with quality dried herb.

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Wild Garlic

Sam Atkinson — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 09:59:46 +0000

Wild garlic is a potent antiviral/antibiotic/antifungal that I like to include a lot when I am treating an infection, but especially useful for colds and flus, chest and lung related complaints. Garlic is believed to be useful in lowering blood pressure and high cholesterol. It does indeed taste and smell like garlic!
Not recommended for those taking blood thinning medication.

I’ve found a few patches of this precious wild spice over the years, and I keep their locations a closely guarded secret. I carefully wildcraft my garlic, harvesting a certain amount each year – some goes for medicine, the rest to the kitchen. I was delighted to stumble across another considerable patch this summer, boosting my stash of garlic paste and more medicine for you, as this tincture has as somewhat limited annual supply.

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Wild Olive Leaf

dan — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 06:32:42 +0000

Olive leaf is an excellent antiviral to include in treatments against colds and flu but is also credited with helping to manage many conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure. Research shows that olive leaf extract prevents “bad” cholesterol from building up in the arteries. It has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and has demonstrated beneficial effects on the kidneys. If you are already taking medication for any of these conditions, you should check with your doctor before using olive leaf if you haven’t used it before.

These leaves were picked from a wild, feral olive that I discovered growing in the pine plantations behind Nannup. Sprouted in between two rocks and twisted and hardy. Probably sprouted from a seed dropped by a parrot, this plant’s medicine I felt was far more potent than a pampered backyard olive tree.

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Muscle Ease Liniment

dan — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 16:06:55 +0000

This liniment is great to apply before bed if you have sore and stiff muscles, after a hot shower, in the morning before starting up or just whenever you need. Traditional herbs like bay, rosemary and yarrow encourage the flow of fresh blood to the area helping ease stiffness, ginger and pepper bring warmth and peppermint cooling on the skin. Poppy and poplar help loosen any muscular stiffness and bring pain relieving properties. It is gentle, no hot/cold burning sensations, and quite effective, especially if applied several times throughout the day (1-3 applications).

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Dandelion Root

dan — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 19:21:39 +0000

Dandelion root as a tincture is great kidney, liver and digestive medicine, supporting these organs to flush out waste and excess water from the body and produce the right fluids for proper digestion. Useful in cases of water retention and oedema, urinary tract infections, sluggish digestion, heartburn, gastrointestinal issues and diabetes. Helps the body to absorb and assimilate nutrients, break down protein in the stomach, cleanses the blood and promotes clear skin through proper waste removal and liver/kidney function. This is a personal favourite of mine to use in the summer when it’s too hot to move much, and some fluid retention may occur in your feet and ankles. A few dropperfuls of dandelion root gets it all moving as it should. Pairs well with Yellow Dock root for added digestive benefits, especially constipation, malabsorption, poor appetite.

Dandelion is a herb that is a plentiful and well-known wild plant in the Norther hemisphere, where the soils are deep and rich. True Dandelion is somewhat less of a common weed here in WA, and the soils where I live are mostly sand and gravel. Not favorites of Taraxacum, and they grow much less abundantly. They like to pop up in the vegie patch or a well-fed pot, so I grow and harvest what I can but supplement the majority with quality dried herb I have purchased. I recently discovered that the weed Hawksbit, which does grow wild in abundance here, can be used in the same way as Taraxacum officinale and shares very similar properties.

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Saint John’s Wort

dan — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 11:18:14 +0000

Saint John’s Wort is a famous herb often cited in the treatment of depression. SJW can be useful in cases of mild melancholy and sadness, seasonal affectation disorder. Its essence reminds us that the sun is till shining and better times are not far away. It’s also a fantastic nerve medicine, useful in cases of sciatica, neuralgia, and damaged nerves. It can be used internally (tincture) or topically (infused oil) in the case of treating nerve issues. It is also a potent antiviral, particularly useful in cases of cold sores, herpes and shingles where stress and depleted immunity are a factor. SJW can interfere with other medications, mainly in the way that they are metabolized. If you are taking other medication, YOU MUST check with your doctor before using Saint John’s Wort internally in any form.
These gorgeous blossoms take a bit of work to get! Blooming only for a few short weeks in the peak of summer, Sant John’s Wort grows wild on the dry summer hills behind Nannup. One must venture out in the heat and flies and hike a small mountain in order to obtain the small golden blooms, but it is worth the trek. When crushed they release a purple red oil, they are infused into alcohol or raw olive oil to create potent wild medicines.

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Hawthorn

dan — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 19:13:51 +0000

Hawthorn is a famous heart medicine that’s been around for centuries. It is used to help protect and nourish the heart itself and help balance high or low blood pressure and control high cholesterol. Studies conclude Hawthorn increase coronary artery blood flow, increases circulation and strengthens heart contractions. It is also energy medicine for the emotional/etheric heart. Opens the heart to giving and receiving love, self-love and self-acceptance. It can also be useful in helping to heal broken hearts and build courage. Hawthorn is widely considered as safe for long term, even daily use, though if you are currently taking heart medication it’s best to check with your doctor first.

While Hawthorn grows wild as a pest in eastern Australia, choking ditches and roadsides, it is virtually unknown here. There is one small stand of trees in a town not far from mine, several friends and I have been trying without success to propagate cuttings or seeds, so I purchase quality dried haws for now. One day, I will have my own Hawthorn tree. I really love this medicine; it is one I take every day to keep my heart strong and healthy. The flavor of this tincture is sweet enough to take directly under the tongue, it tastes like cherries and calms a racing heart immediately.

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