The Medicinal Gardening Handbook

A Complete Guide to Growing, Harvesting, and Using Healing Herbs

Dede Cummings, Alyssa Holmes

• Publisher: Skyhorse
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781629141954
• eBook ISBN: 9781629142586
• Topic: Scienze biologiche
• Subtopic: Medicina alternativa e complementare

Dig into the world of herbal medicine with this complete guide to cultivating and harvesting plants with healing properties. For thousands of years people have been utilizing herbs and cultivating weeds found to speed the healing of wounds, soothe skin irritations, calm uneasy stomachs, and ward off illnesses. Now you can plan and grow your own garden first aid kit.In these pages, you'll learn the basics of gardening in your backyard—or on your windowsill or porch—including instructions for preparing soil, composting, and weeding. You'll then find detailed descriptions of the twelve most common, easy-to-grow, most useful healing herbs, with instructions for growing, harvesting, and utilizing them. These powerful plants include: • Garlic, which boosts immunity, reduces blood pressure, and combats cancer
• Echinacea, which reduces inflammation, boosts immunity, and has antiviral properties
• Yarrow, which accelerates the healing of wounds, is an anti-inflammatory, and can relieve PMS symptoms
• Elderflower, which is an astringent and can relieve arthritis and soothe sore throats
• Mint, which soothes digestive problems, sweetens breath, and can reduce fevers
• Elecampane, a respiratory tonic with antibacterial and antifungal properties
• And more!

APPENDIX 1

Properties and Actions of Herbs

Included here are descriptions of some of the many properties and actions of herbs, with examples of specific herbs to follow.

Abortifacient: Can cause expulsion of the fetus, and if not, can cause other damage to fetus.

Blue cohosh, mugwort, pennyroyal.

Adaptogen: Helps our body adapt to and deal with stress in all areas—body, mind, spirit. Helps keep balance and conserve energy.

Astragalus, ashwaganda, ginseng, eleuthero.

Alterative: Blood purifiers, cleansers, builders, tonics. Helps the body deal with toxic substances, and to assimilate nutrients.

Burdock, comfrey, nettle, plantain.

Analgesic: Relieves pain.

Chamomile, skullcap, valerian.

Anodyne: Relieves pain (see Analgesic).

Antiarthritic: Relieves inflammation and joint pain. Protects joints from degeneration.

Turmeric, juniper, black cohosh.

Antibacterial: Inhibits the growth of, or destroys bacteria and viruses.

Echinacea, elecampane, garlic, goldenseal.

Anticatarrhal: Decreases mucous production.

Elder, mullein, sage.

Antipyretic: Cooling to reduce or prevent fever.

Boneset, basil, chickweed.

Antidepressant: Relieves depression, supports the nervous system.

Lemon balm, oat tops, St. John’s wort.

Antiemetic: Prevents vomiting.

Chamomile, ginger, peppermint.

Antifungal: Inhibits or destroys growth of fungi.

Garlic, tea tree, yarrow.

Anti-inflammatory: Reduces inflammation.

Cayenne, chamomile, turmeric, yarrow.

Antilithic: Prevents kidney stones.

Corn silk, gravel root, hydrangea.

Antimicrobial: Reduces microbial growth, same as antibacterial.

Antioxidant: Prevents damage from free radicals.

Astragalus, ginger, sage, turmeric.

Antiparasitic: kills parasites. Not to be used in excess.

Clove, elecampane, wormwood, garlic.

Antiseptic: Cleansing to the skin topically to prevent microbes and infection.

Calendula, sage, plantain, yarrow.

Antispasmodic: reduces muscle spasm, relaxes muscles.

Chamomile, cramp bark, kava, valerian.

Antitussive: Relieves coughing.

Elecampane, coltsfoot, poppy, thyme.

Antitumor: Suppresses growth of tumors.

Astragalus, burdock, echinacea, garlic, red clover.

Antiviral: Supports the immune system and suppresses the growth of viruses.

Elder, lemon balm, garlic, echinacea, osha.

Aphrodisiac: Tones reproductive organs, and/or stimulates sexual desire.

Astragalus, ginseng, damiana, burdock.

Astringent: Constricting of tissues, used to bind swellings, bleeding, and mucous membranes.

Mullein, red raspberry, sage, yarrow.

Bitter: Stimulates digestion, by increasing production of bile.

Burdock, dandelion, motherwort, yarrow.

Bronchodilator: Relaxes bronchial muscles, to create easier breathing.

Chamomile, elecampane, peppermint, thyme.

Calmative: Calming to the nervous system.

Chamomile, hops, lavender, valerian.

Carminative: Relieves gas and griping.

Fennel, ginger, peppermint.

Cholagogue: Promotes bile flow from the gall bladder. These herbs also have laxative properties.

Burdock, dandelion, goldenseal.

Choleretic: Stimulates bile production in the liver. (See Bitter and Cholagogue herbs).

Demulcent: Soothes and heals mucous membranes.

Marshmallow, comfrey, slippery elm, burdock, fenugreek.

Diaphoretic: Induces sweating.

Elder, peppermint, yarrow.

Diuretic: increases and stimulates urination.

Burdock, dandelion, elder, nettle, parsley.

Emmenagogue: Stimulates suppressed menstruation.

Blue cohosh, pennyroyal, yarrow.

Emetic: Induces vomiting.

Bloodroot, ipecac, lobelia.

Emollient: Protects, soothes and softens the skin.

Oils of almond, apricot, sesame, and olive.

Comfrey root, slippery elm, chickweed.

Expectorant: Expels mucous.

Comfrey, elecampane, coltsfoot, mullein, horehound.

Galactagogue: Increases milk flow.

Blessed thistle, fennel, dandelion, alfalfa, oat tops.

Heart tonic: Supports and strengthens natural functions of the heart.

Hawthorne, motherwort.

Hemostatic: Stops bleeding.

Cayenne, mullein, goldenseal, yellow dock.

Hepatoprotective: Supports normal liver function.

Burdock, dandelion, turmeric.

Hypotensive: Lowers blood pressure.

Garlic, ginger, hawthorne, motherwort.

Immunomodulator: Assists the body’s defense system, by strengthening the immune system.

Astragalus, echinacea, garlic, St. John’s wort.

Laxative: Promotes bowel movements.

Dandelion, yellow dock.

Lymphagogue: Helps lymph system to cleanse and strengthen.

Burdock, calendula, mullein, red clover.

Nervine: Calms the nerves.

Chamomile, motherwort, valeri...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword by By Barbara Fahs
• Introduction
• History of Herbal Medicine
• Meet The Plants
• Cultivating the Medicinal Garden
• Urban Medicinal Gardening
• From Harvest to Storage
• Simple Herbal Medicines & Home Remedies
• Conclusion
• Appendix 1
• Appendix 2
• Appendix 3
• Appendix 4
• Appendix 5
• Appendix 6
• Appendix 7
• Resources
• About the Authors
• Photo Credits
• Index