[Guide] Old Herb Class

[Ru Aear]

NOTE: This class/discussion is no longer taught/led by a teacher. However, please feel free to read through it and ask any questions that you may have or express any thoughts/opinions you have. Just please don't ask, "Can I join the class?" Because the answer is 'no'. Thank you.

Hello, and welcome to Ru'Aear's herb class. In this class, I will go over a few new herbs each week, starting tomorrow. First, Id like to know if there are any herbs that you would like to learn about first.
For each Herb, we will go over:
History
Medicinal Uses
Cooking Uses
Correspondances (sp?)
Growing
Anything else that is remotely interesting and relates to certain herbs.
Another thing, there will be homework. No worries, its easy. for instance, I might ask you to look up two or three uses for an herb or an interesting fact about its history. no problom!

I do plan on going over Fungi and trees, too, as well as poisionous plants.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post or pm me. Thanks! Oh. Any one is welcome. and you get free hugs. razz

Last week's lessons were:
Thyme
Parsley
Rosemary
Mint
Aloe Vera

This weeks lessons may include:
1. Ginkgo Tree
2. Dandelion
3. Apple
4. Slippery Elm
5. White Willow
All of these plants are trees! Whats with the trees, man?! But wait... Dandelion isn't a tree. ... its a pesky weed! so ... why dandelion. In fact, I wanted to get started on the trees, but i also couldnt wait to get people to see the weed as something much more. It can be SO useful! In fact, I almost hate it when my dad mows the lawn because there goes the dandelion thats good for antispasmodic teas, and something thats good to put on cuts.

WARNING: There may be sligtly graphical information on here. Don't look if you dont want to read about it. This information will most likely be about differant issues that certain herbs are used to treat, or perhaps the reactions that you may recieve. Please be mature about this.

Works Cited: I use mostly one book in all of this.
The Healing Herbs; the Ultimate Guide to the Curative Power of Nature's Medicines by Michael Castleman

And, I would like to apologize to the mods because... Just look at this topic, I have double posted, triple posted, and... I'll probobly do it about a million more times. Sorry...

 

[Ru Aear]

Great! I have students! Ok. Down to Buiseness. I thought it would be best to learn about a handful af herbs each time, rather than to stuff everything into your brain in a general sence all at once. The first herb we will learn about is ... Thyme. This is the first lesson. No homework. Tomorrow, we will start another plant.

Family: Labiatae, other members of this family include mints.

Genus and species: Thymus Vulgaris, T. Serpyllum

AKA: Common or Garden Thyme (T. Vulgaris) Wild or Creeping Thyme (T. Serpyllum)

Parts Used: Leaves and flower tops.

Heres an Image of Thyme: Thyme Shruby thingy.

History: Thyme has a long history of of use as an antiseptic, cough remedy, and a digestive aid. It was also used as a meat preservative. Charlemagne once called for thyme to be grown in all of his Imperial Gardens for its culinary and medicinal values.
Medieval German abbess/ herbalist promoted it as the best healer for skin probloms, anticipating its later use as an antiseptic.
During the Middle Ages, noblewomen would embroider or stitch images of thyme sprigs onto scarves and give them to their favorite knights heading out to the Crusades.
It was used as an antiseptic during plagues and for those troubled with depression. During WWI countries at war with Germany were scrambling to get supplies of the needed antiseptic; most of it was distilled in Germany.

Medicinal: Thyme's oil contains two powerful chemicals, Thymol and Carvacol. Both chemicals have preservative, antibacterial, antifungal, and digestive aid qualities.
Antiseptic: Thyme fights several disease causing bacteria. It can be used as an infusion of the but is stronger as an oil or a distilled thymol. You can also crush some thyme leaves into fresh cuts while on the way to washing and bandaging, since it will help keep away infection.
Womens Health: Studies show that while Thyme relaxes the stomach and intestinal muscles (hence the digestive aid) it also relaxes the muscles surrounding the Uterus and when taken in small amounts can help relieve menstual cramps, but as I said, this is to be taken in SMALL amounts, as large doses can be considered uterine stimulants, which would increase the cramping. Pregnant women should not use medicinal doses of Thyme, but may use it in a culinary sence.
Cough Remedy: In Germany, Thyme preperations are usually advised to relax the respritory tract treat cough, wooping cough, and emphysema.

Making the Meds: For an infusion to settle the stomach, sooth a cough or relieve cramps, use 2 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 mintes, and you can drink up to 3 cups aday. In a tincture, take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon a day. Medicinal preperations should not be given to children under 2 and for older children and people over 65, start with low strength preperations.

Safety: Use the herb, not the oil, in preperations to be taken internally. Just a few teaspoons of the oil can be very toxic.

Cooking: Thyme is a basic ingrediant to a lot of meat, egg, and fish dishes. There are a lot of recipies online you can find that include it.

Correspondances: Thyme removes giddiness and nightmares. Element: Water Planet: Venus No dieties that I can find, Magickal Properties: Health, courage, purification, attracting faeries.

Growing: Thyme does best when started indoors. Thyme requires little care once it is estabolished, It can withstand frost, but in really cold areas, it is best to put a layer of mulch over the ground to help it survive the winter. Harvest leaves and flower tops just before the flowers bloom Dry and store them in air tight containers.

NOTE: PLEASE SEEK A DOCTORS ADVICE BEFORE ADMISTERING YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. SOME PLANTS CAN CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTIONS WHICH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

End Note: If you like, you can leave your email adress (hotmail) in my pm and then classes can also commence in a chat, although summeries of what was talked about and gone over will be posted here. If you have any questions or would like to study other aspects, please feel free to say so. I'm considering putting up example spells for each herb, so you can see how one might use them. Thank you! *this concludes lesson one*

 

[Ru Aear]

Today’s Plant is Parsley. Yes, Homework this time. One section of the lesson below will be missing, and I want you to fill it out for me. Just post below, giving the needed information. Anything related to the missing topic will be accepted. (For instance, if the history section is blank, just give me one or two facts about its history.)

Family: Umbelliferae; other members include carrots, celery, fennel, dill, and angelica.

Genus and species: Petroselinum crispum, P. hortense, P. sativum

AKA: Rock Selinon

Parts Used: Leaves, fruits (seeds) and roots.

Heres an Image of Parsley: Parsley

History: Because Parsley is one of the first plants to appear in spring, it has been used in a lot of early celebrations, such as the Seder, the ritual Jewish Passover meal as a symbol of new beginnings.
The ancient Greeks saw it much differently and believed that Parsley sprang from the blood of Opheltes, the infant son of King Lycurgus of Nemea, who was killed by a snake while his nanny (dumb nanny) showed thirsty soldiers to a spring to drink. Therefore, Greek soldiers believed that any contact had with Parsley before battle meant their death. Because of this, soon, Greeks would plant parsley on the graves of the dead, which, ironically, brought it too fame. To honor the memory of the most important figures, the Grecians held athletic contests and crowned winners with parsley wreaths, so its not surprising that soon after that, parsley was known as a symbol of strength.
The Medieval German abbess/ herbalist mentioned in the article about thyme, whos name was Hildegard of Bingen (which i appearently forgot earlier), prescribed parsley for arthritis and chest and heart pains. Nicolas Culpeper, a seventeenth century herbalist, stated it was good as a diuretic, or something to relieve bloating and menstrual cramps by relieving the bladder, and for the aid in passing kidney stones and for “expelling wind” as he called it.

Medicinal: The oil (again with two major chemicals, apiol and myristicin) is found mostly in the seeds but can be found in the roots and leaves. They are good for use as a laxative and diuretic.
High blood pressure: Diuretics are often prescribed to help aid in this problem. Parsley seed tea is used often in Germany for high blood pressure, however, further study is needed to know if it does indeed aid in it. However if you use parsley for its diuretic attributes, be sure to eat lots of nutritious foods, as it can deplete them. Pregnant women should avoid diuretics.
Breath freshener: Have you ever wondered why fancy restaurants put little tufts of parsley leaves on their plates? Well, their actually hinting at something. When you chew on a parsley leaf, it really helps to freshen your breath because of all the chlorophyll.
Women’s Health: Be very careful with this. Parsley is only to be used by pregnant women with the supervision of a doctor in the aid of child birth. Other women might drink parsley tea to help bring on their periods.
Allergies: Parsley is an antihistamine, which means it blocks the release of histamine, which is what causes allergic reactions.

Making the Meds: Infusion: 2 tea spoons of dried leaves or root, or 1 teaspoon of bruised seeds per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes. You can have up to 3 cups a day. Tincture: ½ to 1 teaspoon up to 3 times a day.

Safety: Parsley’s diureticness should not be used to promote weight loss, as it almost always returns after the diuretic is stopped being taken, and it deprives you from much needed nutrients.

Cooking: Parsley is another very basic ingredient, and rather tasty, it I must say so.

Correspondences: Now this one is up to you. YOU HAVE HOMEWORK.

Growing: Seeds are slow to germinate, requiring up to six weeks. Sow anytime from early spring to autumn. Does best in moist, sandy soils. They can survive one to two frosts. Can be harvested once the plants have reached about 8 inches in height. Fruits (seeds) are harvested when they appear full grown and gray-brown in color.

WARNING: DO NOT PICK WILD PARSLEY. IT CLOSLEY RESEMBLES WATER HEMLOCK, POISON PARSLEY, AND FOOL’S PARSLEY, ALL OF WHICH ARE VERY POISONOUS.
NOTE: PLEASE SEEK A DOCTORS ADVICE BEFORE ADMISTERING YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. SOME PLANTS CAN CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTIONS WHICH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

End Note: If you like, you can leave your email adress (hotmail) in my pm and then classes can also commence in a chat, although summeries of what was talked about and gone over will be posted here. If you have any questions or would like to study other aspects, please feel free to say so. Thank you! *this concludes lesson two*