COMMON NAME : Goldenseal, yellow root, eye root, Indian turmeric, jaundice root, ground raspberry, yellow puccoon, wild circuma, eye-balm, yellow paint, wild turmeric, and yellow eye. Goldenseal refers to the root scars from old growth which looks like the old seals or stamps used to seal envelopes.

LATIN NAME : Hydrastis canadensis

ACTIVE SUBSTANCES : alkaloids (Hydrastine, Berberine, Canadine, Berber-astine)

MAGIKAL USES:
Gender:Masculine
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Powers: Healing, Money

Goldenseal is a member of the buttercup family found in the eastern deciduous forest from Vermont to Minnesota and south to Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas. Goldenseal is a herbaceous perennial 6-18 in. tall, with a single hairy stem which emerges in early spring (mid-March to early May) producing two five-lobed, jagged leaves, small flowers, and raspberry-like fruit which turns red and ripens in July. The root system is composed of a bright yellow, horizontal rhizome, similar to the iris rhizome, 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch thick, with cup-like depressions where the annual stem falls away.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a native plant growing in most areas of North America. Red Clover provides nutrition for livestock, and also helps build the soil.

Some of the medicinal uses of red clover are as a diuretic, expectorant, antispasmodic and estrogenic. Red clover has been shown to also be a blood purifier as it increases urine production and mucous production in order to isolate toxic or pathogenic substances in

an attempt to cleanse the blood.

Red clover has even been shown to help with tumors and lumps although these are only testimonials at present and have not been scientifically studied to date.

Make your own Herbal Insecticide Sprays

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Here are a few recipes for reasonably effective herbal sprays to help control garden pests. To get the spray to stick to the plants use a wetting agent or a spreader sticker.

Wetting Agent

Pure soap used one teaspoon per quart of spray to make an effective wetting agent as a base for the sprays.

Spreader Sticker

Coconut oil added at one tablespoon per quart will help your spray stick to the plants.

Here is a General fungicide you can use for:

mildew

1) Flies or bees bothering you? Spray them with hair spray and they will take a quick dive.

2) Sealed envelope - Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. (hmmmmmm...)

3) Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.

4) For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn dishwashing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze. (wish I had known this for the last 60 years)!

5) Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda. Comes off with a little effort (elbow grease that is)!

Mixed interesting Information sent by a friend.

Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost

immediately-without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional

pain relievers.

Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for

burns.

Before you head to he drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with

mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong

Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in

Kava (Piper Methysticum)

Native of the South Pacific Islands including Micronesia,

Melanesia, and Polynesia. Now grown commonly in

Hawaii and possibly soon in Florida and California.

The kava plant is a large, rangy shrub with deep green,

heart shaped leaves that grows 12'-15' tall. The

leaves and stems have some medicinal values but the

network of long, thin lateral roots supply kavas

strength. It requires a minimum of three years

to produce enough roots to make a harvest worth-

while. However, Pacific Islanders often wait 5 to

8 years because the roots will be more abundant

and the older, more mature plants produce a stronger

beverage. In addition, unlike a fruit tree which

continues producing for many years, the entire

kava plant is used, because the roots are the

principal crop.

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BARLEY

Hordeum vulgare

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Cereal grain cultivated more than 10,000 years ago. Barley has been grown in the Nile valley since prehistoric times, for beer and bread. Commonly associated with Isis and Osiris. Planters containing barley have been found in Egyptian burial chambers.

Extremely hardy, barley can be grown from the polar regions to the tropics. Barley kernels are pointed at both ends while wheat is rounded at one end. Barley malt is made from barley that has been germinated and then dehydrated and sometimes toasted. Pearl barley is barley with the husk removed.

Demeter, the Barley Mother, as goddess of agriculture and fruitful earth, was worshipped through sexual rites in ancient Greece. It should also be noted that Jesus fed the multitudes with fish and loaves of barley.

One ancient ritual involving barley is reported by James Frazer in "The Golden Bough." "The seed is sown in moist, sandy soil, mixed with turmeric, and the blades sprout and unfold of a pale yellow or primrose color. On the day of the festival the girls take up these blades and carry them in baskets to the dancing ground, where, prostrating themselves reverentially, they place some of the plants before the Karma tree. Finally, the Karma tree is taken away and thrown into a stream or tank. The meaning of planting these barley blades and presenting them to the Karma tree is hardly open to question. We have seen that trees are supposed to exercise a quickening influence upon the growth of crops."

Spider mites

For most people, the first sign of Spider Mites is when the plant is irretrievably damaged. Spider Mites are tiny, oval shaped mites about the size of a pinhead or smaller. They actually spin a fine web on the plant which can be readily seen when it is too late. First signs are best and are difficult to spot. Tiny yellow speckle marks seen on the leaf surface are an early warning sign. Check under the leaf (with a magnifying glass if needed) to look for the pinhead-sized mites. Bring a flashlight and shine the light to pick up the tiny web the mites are beginning to spin. Later, you'll know the Spider Mites are there because the plant will be brown or yellow with a fine web all over it. You won't need a magnifying glass then, the plant will be swarming with adults in the web.

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Green lacewings

Green lacewings (Chrysopa rufilabris). The larval stage will feed on any insect or egg that fits in their mouth. Thus green lacewings are helpful in control of many pests, both outdoors and in the greenhouse, and are especially good for aphids. Lacewing larva hatch looking like miniature alligators, and acting like insect alligators, feed right away on any insect or egg they find (including other lacewing larva and eggs).They grow to almost 1/2" long in 3 or 4 weeks, feeding on more than 400 aphids or other pests as they mature.

White willow; salix alba; nature's aspirin.

Introduced from Europe into eastern United States, this tree does not have

the characteristics of the Weeping Willow (salix babalonica) and its limbs

do not "weep" but are more upright, somewhat akin to an elm. The tree

grows to 80 feet tall and to 3 feet in diameter. The leaves are typical

willow shape, long and thin (described as finely toothed, lance-like),

Wow! Gnome! My cholesterol is way beyond that and I'm nowhere near that age. Not bad. Maybe you're right about attitude, exercise, and genetic code. I'll start on my attitude at least.

But it doesn't actually help. TV news this morning is talking about a study done on soy products that shows no benefit to cholesterol, heart, or health in general. No particular benefits at all. Well, I never did like tofu but soy burgers will remain one of my favorites. So will falafel burgers.

Since I don't much like meat and keep it a very small part of my diet, and since my cholesterol is around 170 at nearly 70, I don't plan to change my diet. The ice cream and jelly doughnut diet seems to have worked well. Actually not so far from the truth. Except that I really am not a big meat fan, and that I'm also not a big salad fan, I've eaten much as I please. Lots of cheese for one. Eggs as I want for another, sometimes as many as 24 eggs a week for months. From what I can say and understand, it looks like a good genetic code, a good attitude, along with lots and lots of exercise is your best bet for low cholesterol and general health. I get lots and lots of exercise, I laugh at myself (and many others and other things) a lot each day, and seem to have inherited a good genetic code. Good thing too, I don't think it can be transplanted. Anyone know about this? A "genetic code" transplant?

Skunk Cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus

Sometimes called: Meadow Cabbage, Polecatweed

Skunk cabbage belongs go the aroid family. Other common aroids are callas, elephant ears, jack-in-the pulpit and caladium.

Range: From about North Carolina north in the eastern United States.

Poisonous Parts: all

Primary Poisons: oxalate

PINEAPPLE SAGE Salvia rutilans

A lovely half hardy perennial growing to 4 feet high.

Puts on a prolific red flower display from summer to autumn.

FLOWERS ARE EDIBLE

Red flowers with sweet nectar and pineapple flavour. Add to sorbets, fruit salads, fruit compotes, salads, desserts, flans.

Brew fresh leaves of Pineapple Sage, Lime Geranium and Lemon Balm together, makes a very refreshing tea.

MUSTARD Brassica alban; Brassica juncea; Brassica nigra

HERBAL TREATMENT:

(Used extensively as a spice). Mustard

plasters are made up of a few spoonfuls of mustard powder made

into a paste and coated on absorbent cloth. When applied to sore

muscles or bruises, the mustard plaster has a soothing effect.

The plaster may also be applied to back and chest to aid in

relieving congestion .

A mix of mustard powder and water makes a mouthwash

used to relieve sore throat and bronchial distress. A paste of

mustard powder has been used to deaden toothache by pressing

the paste into the affected tooth.

Used as a foot-bath it is said to ease the aches and pains

of daily abuse to the human foot. Soaking hands helps relieve

arthritis and rheumatism distress.

Mustard also acts to stimulate the kidneys and, if given as

a drink in quantity will tend to induce vomiting (emetic). If

retained and not regurgitated, mustard acts as a laxative.

If you know of other uses of mustard in healing, please post them.