Monday, December 12, 2011

Identifying Medicinal Plants

Teas and tinctures – these are the two main internal delivery methods for herbal medicines and we are about to learn how to make them both from common plants in the yard, garden, fields, and woods. But before any plant is taken internally, it's identity must be certain. 


Do you know the common yellow flowers in the picture to the right?



Now look at it's foliage in the picture below and you'll see that it isn't dandelion (Taracum officinale), a safe herbal diuretic and digestive tonic. It's really colt's foot (Tussilago farfara), an effective cough suppressant but with potential liver toxicity if incorrectly prepared.



Tussilago farfara


Precise plant identification is essential before using it to make a tea or a tincture. This is easy in the garden when you've planted from a seed or seedling identified by genus (i.e. Taraxacum) and species (officinale) (don't really plant this one in your garden, it will arrive of it's own free will). Many plants in your yard will be familiar too, though you should always look them up in a field guide to medicinal plants for potential poisonous look-alikes. For example, the young leaves of wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) look  like those of dandelion but can induce hallucinations in concentrated extracts. Any plant wildcrafted from fields or woods needs to be identified to genus and species using a reliable field guide before use in an internal remedy. My favorite is Newcombe's Wildflower Guide (Little-Brown 1989) because of it's simple key based on flower and leaf types. Peterson's field guides to the wildflowers, shrubs, or trees are also very reputable. Or you can buy dried medicinal herbs for tinctures or teas from your local natural foods store. To do anything other than specific identification is to risk poisoning those who you love and take care of.

Taraxacum officinale

7 comments:

  1. Thanks for the reminder to be precise with identification.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HERPES INFECTION CURE IS 100% AVAILABLE WITH THE HELP OF DR OGBERAESE HERBAL MEDICINE.Joy and happiness is all i can see around ever since i came in contact with this great man Called Dr Ogberaese. i complained bitterly to him about me having herpes only for him to tell me it’s a minor stuff. He told me he has cured thousands of people but i did not believe until he sent me the herbal medicine and i took it as instructed by this great man, only to go to the hospital after two weeks for another test and i was confirmed negative. For the first time in four years i was getting that result. i want to use this medium to thank this great man. His name is Dr Ogberaese , i came in with his email through a friend in USA called Edith Rose and ever since then my live has been full with laughter and great peace of mind. i urge you all with herpes or HSV1&2 to contact him if you are willing to give him a chance. you can contact him through his email drogberaese54@gmail.com or you can also WhatsApp him +2348073818653. visit his website https://dr-ogberaese-herbal-home.jimdosite.com

      Delete
    2. Hello viewers I am glad to have met with the powerful herbal healer called
      Dr voodoo who use his herbs to cure my HIV disease I suffered from 15years,
      but now I am a happy woman and i am free from this sickness that has been
      problem to my living, after using Dr voodoo herbal medicine within 1week i
      was diagnose negative, I will recommend Dr voodoo to everyone reading this
      article because this herbal healer is capable to heal anything, the
      scientist said has no cure, Email him : voodoospelltemple66@gmail.com or
      add Dr voodoo on whatsApp: +2348140120719

      Delete
  2. Herbal medicine work like magic very active give it a try please help me share am very happy today thank you so much Dr.omo herbal home for bringing my life back, i never thought i would ever be cured of UTIs again due to the medical report i had from the hospital not until When God used Dr omo herbs and root in curing me of UTIs his herbes are very active no side effect Dr omo herbs are the best try some of his herbs and testify Inbox him on {dromo596@gmail.com} whatsapp no; [+2349033505260
    If you have any problem like You need Love spell or you Need your ex lover back dr omo is a nice man trust me you will enjoy your time with him and he is very ready to help you he have cure for the following sickness like
    Herpes 1/2 / cold sores,HSV 1&2 any type of disease / INFECTION
    Hiv/aids
    fibroids, blocked fallopian tubes
    yeast infection
    Cancer
    Hepatitis B
    Pregnancy issue, pcos , Als, STD,Epilepsy LUPUS,THYROID
    Penis engagement/boobs.. whatsapp no; [+2349033505260
    his email: dromo596@gmail.com
    GOD BLESS YOU SIR

    ReplyDelete
  3. HERPES INFECTION CURE IS 100% AVAILABLE WITH THE HELP OF DR OGBERAESE HERBAL MEDICINE.Joy and happiness is all i can see around ever since i came in contact with this great man Called Dr Ogberaese. i complained bitterly to him about me having herpes only for him to tell me it’s a minor stuff. He told me he has cured thousands of people but i did not believe until he sent me the herbal medicine and i took it as instructed by this great man, only to go to the hospital after two weeks for another test and i was confirmed negative. For the first time in four years i was getting that result. i want to use this medium to thank this great man. His name is Dr Ogberaese , i came in with his email through a friend in USA called Edith Rose and ever since then my live has been full with laughter and great peace of mind. i urge you all with herpes or HSV1&2 to contact him if you are willing to give him a chance. you can contact him through his email drogberaese54@gmail.com or you can also WhatsApp him +2348073818653. visit his website https://dr-ogberaese-herbal-home.jimdosite.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was married at 32 and immediately tried to get pregnant. When I was unable to conceive I had blood tests for fertility and was told that I had an FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) of 54 and would not be able to have children. Even though the doctors knew that I had been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis since age 25, no one bothered to check my thyroid levels. my TSH was measured at .001. My Synthroid dosage was lowered. a friend advise me to contact a spiritualist who help with fertility with his medicine, i collected his contact and explain my situation to him he prepared for me a herbal medicine which i took as describe by him. became pregnant very quickly, I had a successful pregnancy. I have my baby august 2017. to get pregnant at age 35 with my 2nd child in september 2019, thank you sir , this is his email contact if you require his help babaka.wolf@gmail.com or Facebook at priest.babaka

    ReplyDelete
  5. The doctors said Herpes virus do not have medical cure because the virus is capable of hiding within the human cells, it remains protected from your immune system. Herpes isn’t a special virus – your immune system has the tools to fight it back. But because it is able to lay dormant in protected cells, your immune system is unable to remove it from your body,But with strong reactive herbal medication is capable of getting rid of the virus gradually and totally from your body without damaging any of your cells,natural herbs kills the virus totally not just reducing the out break. Get natural herbs cure Email DR. VOODOO at voodoospelltemple66@gmail.com Add Dr voodoo on whatsApp +2348140120719

    ReplyDelete