Earthy Spirits Herbs

Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca)

2006-07-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

Coming Soon
Kingdom: Plantae ~ Div: Magnoliophyta ~ Class: Magnoliopsida ~ Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae ~ Genus: Vicia ~ Species: V. cracca
(names)

Contains:

Medicinal Cautions:

Ingestion Uses:

External Uses:

Mugwort (Artemisia Vulgaris)

2005-12-01T07:58:00.000-08:00

Kingdom: Plantae ~ Div: Magnoliophyta ~ Class: Magnoliopsida ~ Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae ~ Genus: Artemisia ~ Species: A. vulgaris
(Common Wormwood, Felon Herb, St. John's Plant, Wild Wormwood, Moxa, Cingulum Sancti Johannis, Artemisia vulgaris Linne, Artemisia vulgaris var. vulgaris, Artemisia latifolia Ledeb. / Artemisia officinalis Gatteran, Wegwood, Malurt, Traveler’s Herb, Artemis Herb, Muggons, Old Man, Sailor’s Tobacco. Cingulum Sancti Johannis,

Contains:
ethereal oils (cineole, or wormwood oil, and thujone), flavonoids, triterpenes, coumarin derivatives, thujone, volatile oil, acrid resin & tannin

Medicinal Cautions:
This is not "Wormwood" (Artemisia absinthium). Use mugwort sparingly if pregnant. Main effected internal organs are said to be the spleen, kidney & liver.

Ingestion Uses:
condiment, seasoning, hops alternative(in beer), nervine, anthelminthic, moxibustion(pregnancy breech correction), lucid dream inducer(tea/smoke), astral projection aid(tea/smoke), rhuematism(downy leaves), stimulant, emmenagogue, nervine, colds, fevers & agues, diaphoretic infusion/tonic(3 times daily), palsy, fits, epilepsy remedy, chologogue, vermifuge, hemostatic, antispasmodic, mild bitter narcotic, anti-insomniac, stress reducer, anti-parasitic, mild hallucinogen

External Uses:
tobacco/marijuana substitute, emmenagogue(leaves), timber substitute, bath invigoration, moth deterrant, ornamental, homeopathic, walking relief(leaves in shoes)

Cow Parsnip (Heracleum Maximum)

2005-11-25T19:15:00.000-08:00

Kingdom: Plantae ~ Div: Magnoliophyta ~ Class: Magnoliopsida ~ Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae ~ Genus: Heracleum ~ Species: H. maximum
(Cow Parsnip, Heracleum maximum, H. linatum, subspecies, H. sphondylium subsp. montanum, or a variety, H. sphondylium var. linatum, Heracleum lanatum, Heracleum cordatum)

Medicinal Cautions
Many members of this genus, including this species, contain furanocoumarins, carcinogenic, mutagenic and phototoxic properties. Fresh foliage can cause dermatitis. If the juice/hairs of the outer skin are left on face/mouth, they can cause blisters. prevalent in fair complexions. We'll see else we can learn about this one later.. for now it's a start.. plus I just worked on all the other posts to confom them to a standard structure.. One that may change as it grows.

Ingestion Uses:
Condiment; Flowers; Leaves; Root; Salt; Stem, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Febrifuge, Stimulant, Tonic..

External Uses:
Poultice, Whistles, flutes, straws, yellow dye(from roots), mosquito repellant(flower infusion) Antidandruff, Odontalgic..

Damiana (Turnera Diffusa)

2005-11-23T16:44:00.000-08:00

Kingdom: Plantae ~ Div: Magnoliophyta ~ Class: Magnoliopsida ~ Order: Malpighiales
Family: Turneraceae ~ Genus: Turnera ~ Species: Turnera diffusa
(Damiana, Turnera diffusa, Turnera Aphrodisiaca, Herba de la Pastora, damiane, oreganillo, the bourrique, Mexican damiana, Mexican holly, damiana de Guerrero, Turnera microphylla)
Relieves anxiety, depression, headaches during menstruation, and exhaustion. Damiana also helps to balance female hormone levels and control hot flashes. A 1998 in vitro clinical study reported that components in damiana bound to progesterone receptors in cultured human breast cancer cells, leading researchers to surmise that it had a neutral or anti-estrogenic activity.

Contains:
1,8-cineole, p-cymene, alpha- and beta-pinene, thymol, alpha-copaene, and calamenene). Damiana leaves also contain tannins, flavonoids, beta-sitosterol, damianin (a brown, bitter substance), and the glycosides gonzalitosin, arbutin, tetraphyllin B, Albuminoids, barterin, caoutchouc, chlorophyll, cymol, essential oil, gamma-cadinene, hexacosanol-1, luteolin, quinovopyranosides, tetraphyllin b, triacontane, and trimethoxyflavones.

Medicinal Cautions:
Damiana has been reported to be non-toxic in humans and animals. May reduce the absorption of iron. Do not use if pregnant.

Uses Ingested:
tonic, purgative, aperient, diuretic, stimulant, hypochondriastic, aphrodisiac, antidepressant, cough-suppressant, anti-depressant, anxiety, sexual inadequacy, debilitation, bed-wetting, menstrual irregularities, gastric ulcers, asthma, bronchitis, neurosis, diabetes, dysentery, dyspepsia, headaches, paralysis, nephrosis, spermatorrhea, stomachache, syphilis, impotence, thermogenic, reduces blood glucose levels, hypoglycemic, bitter digestive stimulant, nervine, astringent, abortive, Testosteromimetic, Urinary antiseptic

Toadflax (Linaria Vulgaris)

2005-11-22T16:11:00.000-08:00

Kingdom: Plantae ~ Div: Magnoliophyta ~ Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales ~ Family: Plantaginaceae ~ Genus: Linaria
(Toadflax, Butter & Eggs, Greater Butter-and-eggs, Hosoba-Unran, Leinkraut, Linnete, Nevruzotu, Ramsted, Vlasbekje, Yellow Toadflax, Eggs-and-bacon, Brideweed, Dragon Bushes, Yellow Rod, Devil's Ribbon, Devil's Head, Peddler's Basket, and Toad)

Linaria means "resembling Linum" (flax). When pinched, it opens its "mouth", revealing four toothlike stamens and a double pistil/tongue. Toadflax smells sort of cheesy, like old, stale cheesies.

Medicinal Cautions:
Linaria species are toxic to livestock, regarded as noxious weeds. Its active constituents are 2 glycosides known as linarin and pectolinarian Dosage is critical, should not be given to pregnant women.

Ingestion Uses:
Laxative, Liver, Edema, Skin, & Gall Bladder, Jaundice Treatment, Antiphlogistic; Astringent, Cathartic, Detergent, Depurative, Diuretic, Hepatic, Homeopathic, Ophthalmic, Purgative, Scrofula, Tea Insecticide(Milk Boiled), Yellow Dye, Seasoning, Anti-Scorbutic

External Uses:
Hemmeroids, Piles, Skin Eruptions, Sores, Malignant Ulcers

Rosemary (Rosmarinus Coronarium)

2005-11-21T15:48:00.000-08:00

Kingdom: Plantae ~ Div: Magnoliophyta ~ Class: Magnoliopsida ~ Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae ~ Genus: Rosmarinus ~ Species: R. officinalis
(Rosemary, Polar Plant. Compass-weed. Compass Plant. Rosmarinus coronarium. (Old French)Incensier)
Its name translates from Latin as sea dew from the words "ros" for dew and "marinus" for the sea, probably in reference to its inhabiting sea-cliffs.

Medicinal Cautions:
(Pregnant women shouldn't use rosemary medicinally, it's okay to use it as a seasoning though.) IT's not been tested on children so most uses are untried and generally not suggestive of application for infancy and toddlers. (Total daily intake should not exceed 4 to 6 grams of the dried herb, large quantities of rosemary leaves, because of their volatile oil content, can cause serious side effects, including vomiting, spasms, coma and, in some cases, pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) The oil(should not be ingested. Small doses cause stomach, kidney and intestinal problems, large amounts may be poisonous.)

Ingestion Uses:
Stimulant, alangesic, diaphoretic, headache(colic, colds and nervous diseases)tonic, carminative, epilepsy treatment, nervine, poor circulation aid, disinfectant, fever reducer, rheumatism aid, seasoning, cancer fighter, antioxidant, muscle relaxant(smooth muscles of the digestive tract and uterus), stomachic, relieve menstrual cramps, food preservative. In wine it's a kidney stimulant relieving dropsy, it's a quieting cordial for a palpatating heart. The tea can be used to treat nervous depression. A spirit of Rosemary may be used, in doses of 30 drops in water or on sugar, as an antispasmodic. Rosemary and Coltsfoot leaves are considered good when rubbed together and smoked for asthma and other affections of the throat and lungs.

External Uses:
hair lotion, conditioner, toner, strengthener, astringent, premature baldness combatent(Alopecia), dandruff/scurf cure, gout remedy, perfume ingredient, mouth wash, moth repellant, event memory aid(wedding addition for scent memory), pot pourri..

Curry Plant (Helichrysum Italiacu

2005-11-21T15:47:00.000-08:00

Kingdom: Plantae ~ Div: Magnoliophyta ~ Class: Magnoliopsida ~ Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae ~ Sub: Asteroideae ~ Tribe: Gnaphalieae ~ Genus: Helichrysum
(Helichrysum italiacum, Italian everlasting, Currykraut, Currystrauch, italianolkikukka, curryplanta, curryeternell, hélichrysum, elicriso, Helichrysum angustifolium, Eternal Flower, Goldilocks, Shrubby Everlasting, Immortelle, yellow chaste weed) Asteraceae(ass-terAY-C-ee)~Helichrysum(hel-ihKRYsum)~angustifolium(angus-teeFOH-lee-um) Over 600 species of Helichrysum occurring worldwide, with 245 found in southern Africa. Reputed to have a strong psychological effect similar to Vetivert and Cypress. Blends well with Bergamot, Chamomile German, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Lavender, Geranium, Neroli, Orange, Labdanum (Rock Rose), Rose Otto, Rosewood and Yarrow.

Ingestion Uses:
Seasoning, gastric tea, anticoagulant, anticatarrhal, mucolytic, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, anti-toxic, diuretic, helps regulate cholesterol, stimulates liver cell function, antispasmodic.

External Uses:
Insect Repellant, Cosmetic Additive, respiratory ailment treatment, aromatherapy, skin regenerative/antimicrobial(closed wounds cicatrisant), antibacterial, antiallergic, reduce tissue pain, helps improve skin conditions, circulatory function, prevents phlebitis, reduces scarring and discoloration. It has been known to help in improving certain types of hearing loss, once burned to prevent evil eye