Today was to be the family Christmas gathering on daddy's side of the family. House is cleaned, food is made, and vomiting began...
We have been so blessed thus far this winter season, and in keeping with past history, we save our sickness for Christmas.
So today is shaping up differently. The floor is littered with aching bodies and stiff necks (not the rebellious kind), and heads that ache. I am still feeling okay, though fighting a sore throat. I hope to get a couple of batches of Sour Dough bread made and more sewing.
We momma's need to press on, don't we? Doubtful that I'm the only mother out there who dreads illness in the home...it has happened in the past, that by the time it goes full circle through all the members, it starts again! And, I always regret not being better prepared. I have a stash of vitamins, but I can't quite get myself to the next level of herbs and homeopathy, tonics, infusions, tinctures...you get the picture.
So here's one of my latest ideas: incorporating herbs and gardening into Jenna's science for the rest of this year (and into next?). 
We'd both like to enlarge the garden, incorporate more variety, learn about and harvest medicinal herbs, and grow a cutting flower garden. Who has time for ameoba's and protozoa??? Yes, they have an important role, but I think I'll save that detail for Josh, who behaves like a sponge when it comes to science.
Can you help me? If any you could recommend books of value related to growing and using herbs, gardening or growing a cutting flower garden, I'd be grateful. If you're a lurker, please come out of hiding on this one...I love first-hand thoughts and opinions.
And please don't mention to Jenna that she's actually doing science!
18 comments:
Hello! I'm not sure how I found your blog, but I have a book that belonged to my Mamma and oddly enough, it is titled Amish Folk Medicine by Don Yoder, Ph.D and Barbara Duncan, Ph.D. She tried many herbs for some of her aches and pains. Judi
I would like to recommend the book that I just purchased called "The Illustrated book of Herbs" by Reader's Digest. It is a wonderful book full of pictures but also how to use the books for medicinal and cooking purposes.
I have started little by little to use the herbs in the garden for medicinal purposes, but have not integrated them completely.
I receive a newsletter from www.herballegacy.com every other week. It is full of information on how to use herbs for medicine and cooking.
I pray that you begin to feel better. I am also nursing a cold and a bit concern that the rest of the brood does not catch it.
But yes, we momma's have to press on and do what needs to be done, eventhough we feel lousy :(
May you heal quickly and are able to enjoy the festivities.
God bless Mrs. Regan,
maria
Being sick is no fun! Being sick at the holidays is even worse!! I hope you are all feeling better soon!
So sorry to hear about the sickness. You and your family will be in my prayers. Have a great night Rebekah.
I am not real savvy on stuff like that, but one quick note. We have found in stomach viruses do NOT serve the hot herbal tea with honey. TO strong for a week stomach. Sugar is milder and better to use!
Jess
Oh bless yall's hearts!!
As for the books on herbs, etc. let me list a few that I like.
Prescription for Herbal Healing by Phyllis A. Balch
The Reader's Digest: The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs was one that I found on sale at the book store, and it is actually a pretty good resource. Not the best, but pretty good.
Herbal Home Health Care by Dr. John Christopher (or any book by him for that matter.) Very good resource for treating Childhood illnesses. What's great, too, is that he teaches from a vitalist approach. In fact, I just finished a course through his School of Natural Healing. Very good stuff!
Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss is a good one.
Herb Quarterly is a nice magazine you could subscribe to.
In the meantime and for yall's current problem: if you have any sweet basil, thyme, lemon balm, or hyssop, you could make an infusion (tea) of one of those.
Hope ya'll get to feelin' better soon! Many Blessings!
Thank you all for the prayers and suggestions. Sooooo, I guess I should start harvesting the ARMLOADS of Lemon Balm???
Kelsey's mom here:
I am so sorry you are going through this, now of all times too!I am going to have to get back to you on the subject of books. I will think about what has helped us the most.That's a great idea to use science to learn together! Kelsey is going to take Shonda Parker's herb course online after she graduates from homeschool highschool. It looks really good and she'll get a lot of information. You might look that up. You can get a certificate, or better, if my memory serves me correctly, going through that course. She has some other courses as well.
We just went through a full round of sickness (respiratory kind) and so I understand how you feel.I am still coughing as I write..(we use colloidial silver alot)
I will keep you all in my prayers. I hope you will still have a wonderful Christmas even so!!
God Bless you and your sweet family!
In Christ,
Lydia Hoppman
Lydia~
We used to use collodial silver (I forgot about that). How would I use it for headache-ish, slight nausea, body ache-ish symptoms?
Thanks!
Hi my friend,
You know we love to grow herbs and enjoy harvesting as much as we can but alas, we look out the window in the winter and think I should have done more......!
Can you do any charcoal for the nausea? I am so sorry you all are so sick!
Sandy
Have you ever used plain ol' garlic? We use garlic for everything. We make something called GOOT. If you go to my blog and type in GOOT in the blog search you will find the recipe. It's easy to make, simple to keep on hand and works on everything!
Ginger tea is good for tummy problems. That's another thing we keep on hand a lot during the winter, ginger root~
Lemon balm is our absolute favorite!! One year we mixed it with our spearmint that we grew, dried it, froze it and used it as a tea leaf in the winter. Oh was it ever delicious! Did you know that lemon is a natural relaxant so much that you're not to use it with any med's that already relax you. Our family loves lemons balm~
Let's see, bulk herb store is a great resource, for free information, how to's and herbs.
Praying for your sweet family~
Cinnamon
Oh I am so sorry! Prayers to you all for a quick healing. You may enjoy this link
http://www.learningherbs.com/
I don't really have any suggestions of books to read, but I do know for a fact that eating a good dosing of garlic at the first symptoms of sickness, and twice a day after that for a few days will often prevent head colds and sore throats from developing into full-blown sickness.
I have recently read about the medicinal properties of bi-carb soda (baking soda); you might be able to find out more about its uses through google or something. Sorry for not having resources to direct you straight to - only experience and what I have read about from forgotten sources!
Hope you are all feeling better soon, and Momma maintains her health during this time! I like the 'herb course' for science.I will check into that for my girls!
Hello Mrs Regan!
This is Lydia:
We used it for this type of sickness you mentioned and it seems to cut sick-time in half!I took about 2-4 oz every two hours at first and then as sypmtoms begin to subside I would slow down with it a bit. It is really great to use at the start of illness, as soon as you feel yourself getting sick. It takes a little longer when in the thick of things, if you know what I mean. Do you make your own? It can be very expensive to buy! We have a silver maker and so I just kept it going every day when there were several who were sick. It woeks really well. I know some who even use it as a preventative during sick season. Just take a couple of servings a day for prevention. I hope this helps and that I didn't give you more information than you wanted...:)
God Bless you all and will continue to pray!
In Christ,
Lydia
Oh, Kath ~ so sorry to hear about the sickness just before Christmas AGAIN. We have had lots of upper respiratory stuff around here, but no vomiting thank goodness. My heart goes out to you!
Love,
Sher
So sorry you & yours are sick at this time of year. I agree w/so much of the advice...
Cinnamon's suggestion of ginger tea would work well both for stomach & cold/flu symptoms.
The Reader's Digest herb book & the websites mentioned would help you alot.
I do hope you have a good CHRISTmas in spite of the ailments.
Blessings from Ohio, Kim W
Agreeing with the ginger tea for tummies...we usually take some crystalized ginger and pour hot water over it and then strain and drink. (I keep it in my cabinet for morning sickness and cooking, so it's around even in the winter.)
As far as books go, a very simple introduction book (with some evolutionary junk to point out) is A Kid's Herb Book by Lesley Tierra. My daughter (now 15) found it at the library and used it as a resource for a story she was writing. I can't remember what the story was about, but I can remember that book. :-)
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