Thursday, October 30, 2008

In the Kitchen- I am Making Vanilla Extract

Now I've done it! I have taken my herbal knowledge into the kitchen! What fun and how yummy smelling the vanilla extract I am concocting is! I bought vanilla beans from The Organic Vanilla Bean Company. They are super yummy smelling, reasonable cost, and nice beans. I then put 16 beans, scored lengthwise and then chopped into 6-8 pieces per bean in my 16 ounce amber bottle and added vodka. Label it! Shake several times a day and store in the cupboard. I will let it sit for at least 6 weeks before I begin to pour it out into smaller batches. For this batch, I used 6 Tahitian and 10 Bourbon vanilla beans. I was reading that if you use less than 6 beans per cup of alcohol then it isn't technically vanilla extract, I am making it not quite double fold, but boy does it smell heavenly!

On the new moon, I also began some catnip and fennel glycerite with equal parts catnip and fennel seeds to equal just under 4 ounces, 11 ounces of distilled water, and 1 pint of glycerin. I like to mix my glycerin and water before I pour it into the jar so it is thoroughly mixed. I also like to mix my dry herbs together before I pour the liquids over them. I put it in a quart mason jar and shake several times per day. I am also making some Complete Bone and Tissue glycerin extract and some Complete Bone and Tissue oil. Some of it I will turn into ointment and the rest I will use for oil for things like sore backs and burns etc.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Asthma

Asthma is nasty. I know, I used to have it! I haven't had any problems in years except for if I consume too much dairy. Then again, no asthmatic should EVER consume dairy!

About two years ago, I had gotten really sick and it went into my lungs. I began to have an attack. I quickly grabbed for Dr. Christopher's Lung and Bronchial formula and took 2 dropperfuls under the tongue. The attack ended and that was that. I continued to take 1 dropperful a couple times per day until that congestion had passed.

So, what does all this have to do with today? I am getting there.

When I was studying at the School of Natural Healing, I had an assignment to formulate a remedy. I had to test that remedy as well. The remedy had to contain two or more herbs. At the time, my daughter had had a cold and it had settled in her lungs. Nothing I tried worked for her. I had done comfrey glycerite, the usual standby Lung and Bronchial formula, Complete Tissue Formula on the chest, and I tried Dr. Christopher's asthma treatment with lobelia and peppermint tea. None of it worked. I eventually made a special tea for her with mullein, comfrey, lobelia, red raspberry leaf, lavendar and thyme and that helped. (The approximate measurements of the herbs as well as more information on comfrey are found in this post). But, while I was standing at the counter pondering, the Lord blessed me with a formula. I made it up into a glycerite. By the time it was done, she had healed and I had no one to test it on. Fast forward to 6 months later. A friend's son was on daily nebulizer treatments. She gave him 1/2 the dose I suggested and saw immediate improvement. Her son was not having attacks despite being outside, playing in the dirt, cleaning a very dusty area, etc. After he finished the small bottle I had given her, he didn't need any more for about 4 or 5 months.

Just the other day, I gave some to one of my Senseis. He had gone from breathing 800mL/min to 200 and was blacking out. He was so frustrated. The doctor had put him on prednisone, more inhalers and upped the dose and he still was seeing no improvement. He started to take 1 T of equal parts apple cider vinegar and black strap molasses 3xs per dayand began to see improvement. Then he started taking the lung support formula. At first it gave him a mild headache (probably because it was bringing some extra oxygen to his body and was cleaning his lungs) but he kept taking it anyway. He began to cough up lots of thick mucus from his lungs and now he is breathing 850 mL/min!

So, what herbs were in there? Comfrey, Elecampane, Marsh mallow, Elder, Spearmint, Red Raspberry, and Lobelia.

Here is an excerpt from my assignment as to why each one is beneficial in Lung Support:
Comfrey is an excellent herb for the lungs. It is healing, demulcent and and expectorant. I knew the condition was viral, so I used Elder berries. Elder has been shown to be effective against flu strains. It also has an affect on the immune system and helps decrease inflammation causing white blood cells while increasing infection-fighting white blood. It is also a remedy for asthma. Spearmint is a stimulant as well as tasty. It is also milder than peppermint so it is better suited for children. Spearmint is also antispasmodic, so it is good for asthmatic like conditions. I chose Marsh mallow to soothe the inflammation in the lungs. It is especially good for pulmonary complaints as well as spasmodic asthma. Elecampane is an expectorant to help relieve the congestion. Historically it has been used for all manner of lung complaints and congestions including chronic problems. Red raspberry to cleanses mucous membranes. In this case it cleanses the lungs and thin the mucus. It is nutritive and provides iron, calcium, B vitamins, vitamin C, as well as many other vitamins and minerals. Red raspberry leaves are specific to colds and flu. Dr. Christopher called Lobelia the thinking herb. It is used in this formula to accentuate the other herbs as well as for its specific properties. Lobelia is excellent for asthmatic conditions and helps to open the bronchials and expel the putrid mucus.