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           GeoHerbology III

      by Jane M. Voskamp -Jones

    A brief history of Herbs was
presented with the Introduction in
GeoHerbology I #101, and more Herbs
were covered in GeoHerbology II #199.
I don't blame you if you wonder
whether I use any herbal remedies, I
suppose this would all be pointless if
I didn't. As it happens, I actually
do. I use a Camomile infusion with
Spearmint in my pots of Tea - really
yummy. I use Comfrey in an aqueous
type base for aches and bruising.
(Camomile and Comfrey were presented
on GH I).

    I also use St. John's Wort (to be
on GH IV), and Evening Primrose Oil as
medicines. And then, I do use herbs
like Sage in my cooking (in GH III).
Sage is tasty in Poultry stuffing. And
of course I love to eat Corn (GH II)
as a vegetable. I wouldn't say that I
am a Herb nut, but after listing all
of these here, I may have to revise my
own opinion (smile). I'm sure that you
can come up with just as many, with a
little thought.

    Anyway, back to the business at
hand. Some more interesting Herbs,
along the same theme, is presented for
you here.


Common name : Mallow.
Latin name : Malva vulgaris

Characteristics - Mallow is of the
family Malvaceae. The root of this
plant is very long, straight and
truncated. Out of it rise several
straight stems. The leaves are downy,
almost round and segmented. The
flowers are large and grow on long
stems. They have pink or bluish-red
petals with darker bands and are
joined at the base. There are bracts
(leaf or scale) at the base of the
calyx (whorl - spiral - of leaves
forming the outer case of bud). The
fruit is wrinkled.

    The taste is sticky and slightly
salty. It has no smell. Mallow is
native to central Europe. There are
several species of Mallow. It grows
along fences, walls, around houses and
in ruins. It is grown from seed and
thrives on soils containing mulch.
Generally it is sown late in autumn.
The seeds are available. Collect the
flowers with the calyx and dry them in
the sun. The leaves are collected in
midsummer and dried in semi-shade.

Medicinal Uses - The active elements
of Mallow are a dye, tannin and
mucilage (viscous substance, like
gum). Externally, a tea made from the
flowers and leaves is used as a
compress to soothe inflammation of the
eyes. Internally the tea is used to
soothe inflammation of the throat,
hoarsness and inflammations of mucous
membranes. In ancient times it was
used for enemas and herbal baths.
Mallow is also used as a vegetable.
Farmers feed it to dairy cattle as
they thrive on it.


Common name : Mistletoe.
Latin name : Viscum album L.

Characteristics - Mistletoe is of the
family Loranthaceae. This parasitic
plant grows on branches and the bark
of trees, such as oaks, poplars,
birches and linden trees. Occasionally
it reaches 1m in circumference, in a
ball-like bush. It penetrates into the
pith by means of suckers. Its bark is
greenish-yellow and striated. It
produces many branches which are
smooth, leathery, juicy and without
veins. They are evergreen. The flowers
grow from the axils (joins) of
branches or at the ends. The male
flowers are green, the female pink.
The berry is round, white and sticky
and contains a triangular seed.

    The taste of the leaves, bark and
berries is slimy-sweet with a bitter
aftertaste. Only the berries are
poisonous if taken internally. The
smell is faint but unpleasant. Collect
Mistletoe flowers from the fourth
year. Collect branches and leaves, as
well as berries, in midwinter. Chop
them finely and dry in a slow oven.
There are about 20 species of
Mistletoe, and was first used in
Europe, and Britain by the ancient
Druids.

Medicinal Uses - The active elements
of Mistletoe are a fatty oil, volatile
oils, green soft resin, mucilage, gum
sugar and tannic acid. Externally a
tea made from the berries and leaves
is used for a sitz bath (warm water up
to the waist - not a full deep bath)
in cases of female genital disorders.
An ointment made from the berries and
lard is excellent for frostbite. It is
often fortified with a brew of
Equisetum, or Horsetail (see Herbs1B).
Internally the Mistletoe tea is used
to stop womb haemorrhage and to
relieve cramps. It is also used for
all ailments of the mucous membranes,
in sclerosis and nervous disorders.
The powdered plant is used for the
same purposes.


Common name : Plantain, Ribwort.
Latin name : Plantago lanceolata L.

and Plantain, Common or Broad-leaved.
Latin name : Plantago major

Characteristics - Plantain is of the
family Plantaginaceae. The plant has
many short rhizomes (root-like shoot)
with numerous small roots. The
lanceolate (shaped like spearhead)
leaves have parallel veins, serrated
margins and a smooth surface. They
grow in a rose shape at ground level.
The flowers form a spike, brownish-
white in color. The spike has a long,
cylindrical stalk.

    Each seed pod contains two black
seeds. The taste initially is sweet
but later turns salty-bitter. Plantain
is native to the Middle East and
Europe. It grows everywhere but
prefers pastures (look in your lawn).
In Britain it is cultivated as a
fodder for sheep. It was imported into
North America where it is called
'Footprint of the White Man'. There
are five species of the plant. It is
propogated from seed. It is often sown
with clover to improve pastures. It
grows everywhere. Collect leaves early
in spring and dry them in semi-shade.

Medicinal Uses - The active elements
of Plantain are tannic acid, mucilage
and alkaline salts. Externally, fresh
juice or crushed leaves are used to
soothe insect bites and inflamed
abrasions or cuts. A water extract is
used as a mouthwash, and also as a
shampoo to clear dandruff. A weaker
solution is used as an eyewash in
conjunctivitis. Internally a tea made
from the leaves is used for all
inflammatory conditions of the mucous
membranes and is a good expectorant.
It is also used in cases of malaria.

    Young leaves are also used as a
vegetable or to make tea. It can also
be used in salads, and the seed is
eaten by a range of birds.


Common name : Ramsons, Wild Garlic.
Latin name : Allium ursinum

Characteristics - This perennial Herb
has green, shiny broad leaves. They
grow from an elongated bulb, which is
surrounded by layers of clear skin.
The smooth, light green stem, with its
head of white flowers grows to a
height of 30cm. The flower head is
enclosed in papery sheath and
develops tiny white flowers. The bulbs
consist of numerous bulblets.

    It has a pungent garlic odour and
it is smelled long before the plants
are sighted. It grows only in shady
and damp woods. They start to grow in
spring, and flower in summer. Young
leaves are gathered before flowering,
and used while fresh, the bulbs are
gathered in late summer and autumn.
These bulbs are used in the same way
as garlic.

    Medicinal Uses - Externally badly
healed wounds, brushed with fresh
juice will heal quickly. Internally. A
spirit prepared from finely chopped
leaves or bulbs with rye whisky or
other grain alcohol is let stand for
14 days. For intestinal disorders 10
drops is taken with water daily. Also
it is a useful blood-cleanser for skin
disorders.


Common name : Sage.
Latin name : Salvia officinalis L.

Characteristics - Sage is of the
family Labiatae. It is a perennial
semi-woody sub-shrub which grows to
about 1m. The root is woody and poorly
truncated. It also has a woody stem
and brown mossy, square branches. The
paired leaves are ovate (oblong-oval),
narrowing toward the stalk and are
grey-green. The calyx is bell-shaped,
petals are violet, sometimes white.
The crown is hairy. It has black,
pea-sized berries

    The berries taste sweetish-bitter.
The aftertaste is astringent (causes
contraction of body tissue) and
cooling. The flowers exude an aromatic
perfume. Sage leaves are very strongly
aromatic. This genus contains about
500 species spread all over the world.
Some are native to southern Europe.
About 15 species are native to North
America. It can be grown in pots and
gardens. It requires a warm and
sheltered position. It is propogated
from seed sown in boxes and
transplanted when the seedlings are
10cm high. Collect young leaves before
the flower buds appear and dry them i