Brigitte Mars - The Country Almanac of Home Remedies: Time-Tested & Almost Forgotten Wisdom for Treating Hundreds of Common Ailments, Aches & Pains Quickly and Naturally

For Tom, Sunflower, Rainbeau, Jade, Solwyn,
Luna, and Mitch. Mom and Dad, I am so grateful for all
the wonderful blessings you created in my life.
Brigitte Mars

For my mother, Marion Fiedler, who first taught me
the value of natural cures, and to the Universal Life Force
that supports me in all I do.
Chrystle Fiedler

Growing up part time in a small village north of Quebec, folk remedies were a part of my everyday life. My cousins and I all wore little medicine bags filled with garlic and camphor during the cold and flu season to ward off illness. Grandmre had a remedy for every thing, it seemed. A cabbage poultice could be applied to a swollen wound, cucumber slices applied to sore, weary eyes to refresh them, and if we did get a chest cold, a mustard footbath would be administered. Though I also spent part of my childhood in upstate new York and my parents quite sensibly took me to the doctors office for my childhood ailments, I realized that the folk remedies I had been exposed to were often more pleasant and just as effective. (Lets see, would you rather have the honey lemon syrup or the latest drug?)

As an herbalist who has practiced for over 40 years, I know that remedies from nature are safe, time-tested, and often worth trying before resorting to modern drugs. The world Health organization estimates that between 65 to 80 percent of the worlds population use traditional (alternative) medicine as their primary form of health care. Remember, it is the folk remedies that really are the traditional medicine. After all, which has been around longer, Prozac or lemon balm?

Today, in many cases, we also now have the ability to better understand scientifically what millions of people have known all along. For example, garlic really is antimicrobial, cabbage and cauliflower are truly anti-inflammatory, and a mustard footbath does move congestion out of the chest by increasing circulation to the lower part of the body.

With so many people lacking health insurance, it often makes sense to see what nature has to offer. The information youll find in this book will enable you to cure many common conditions with items you can find in your pantry, kitchen, and garden, without a trip to the doctor. Of course, preventing illness is always best, so good nutrition and a healthy exercise program should be on everyones agenda.

Often, these treatments cost just pennies, so youll be saving money, too. By using natural remedies, we also contribute to greening our planet. Of course, if natures remedies do not give you the assistance you need, its smart to see your health-care practitioner.

May this book bless you with health, practical knowledge, and consciousness.

Blossom with healthy radiance!

Blessings,

Brigitte Mars, AHG

(American Herbalist Guild)

In the following pages, youll find common ailments and conditions that can be treated effectively with natural remedies you can find in your kitchen, pantry, garden, and health food store. For each one, youll find a brief description of the condition, along with its symptoms and causes. Youll learn first about which herbs are best, then any supplements, essential oils, homeopathics, and aromatherapies that are available, before moving on to food dos and donts and helpful practices to find relief. Sidebars titled Cures from Grandmas Kitchen, Good to Grow! (for what you can grow yourself), Thrifty Cures, Skip This! (for what to avoid), Good to Know! (important info), and When to See Your M.D. Will guide you as you read.

In this chapter, youll learn about a few caveats to keep in mind before you begin treating yourself. Please refer to this section often for any safety guidelines and dosage questions. Youll also find helpful information in the appendices. If you have any questions, please consult a qualified health professional for guidance.

Before using any of the herbs listed in this book, be sure to consult Appendix A for any contraindications, such as what to avoid during pregnancy or when nursing or taking prescription drugs.

If youre taking prescription medication, dont take any herbs that are not regarded as safe for all persons without first checking with your health-care practitioner. If youre taking medication for a particular ailment, you shouldnt also take herbs for that ailment without first checking with your health-care practitioner. Mixing herbs with prescription drugs can cause exacerbated or unpredictable effects. This is especially the case when you are using an herb for the same purpose as a drug. You may end up with a double dose!

It may be wise to gradually decrease the amount of drugs you are taking while gradually increasing the amount of herbs taken internally over a period of time rather than making any abrupt changes. Separating drugs from herbs for at least three hours can also be wise as many combinations have not been tried or tested.

Dosages will depend in part on the herbs you are using. If youre using a commercial product, of course you should follow the dosage guidelines on the product packaging. If youve made your own tea or tincture, in general, 1 cup (235 ml) of tea, 1 dropperful of tincture, or 1 or 2 tablets or capsules qualifies as a single dose. For an acute, serious, right-there-in-your-face type of illness, one dose every hour or two would be appropriate. Except while sleeping, of courserest is good medicine in its own right.

For a chronic health concern, one dose three or four times daily is appropriate. Some herbalists recommend pulsing remedies to treat chronic conditions, which means ten days on, then three days off, in a continuing cycle. Pulsing helps the body acclimate and learn to respond even without the herbs. Another pulsing regimen is six days on, one day off, with a three-day break every two or three weeks.

When you are using herbs for therapeutic purposes, continue with the appropriate dosage for at least a week, and then evaluate your progress. If your health concern has been remedied, then you can stop taking the herb formula on a regular basis. However, you might wish to include some of it in your diet from time to time as a tonic tune-up.

SPECIAL SITUATIONS
The general dosage guidelines discussed above are generally true for adults of average weight. However, dosages may need to be adjusted for different people or different categories of people. For example, large people need more than small people. Women may need less than men. Reduce the dose by one-fourth for those over 65 and by one-half for those over 70.

To figure out a dosage for children, follow one of two rules:

1. COWLINGS RULE: Take the childs age at his or her next birthday and divide by 24. The resulting fraction is the amount of the adult dosage the child can have. For example, a five-year-old will be six at his next birthday. The number 6 divided by 24 equals 1/4; this child should have 1/4 of the adult dosage.

2. CLARKS RULE: Divide the childs weight by 150. The resulting fraction is the amount of the adult dosage the child can have. For example, for a 50-pound (23 kg) child, 50 divided by 150 equals 1/3; this child can have 1/3 of the adult dosage.

Check with your health-care practitioner if you have any questions or concerns.

FOR HERBS
In general, one cup of tea equals one dropperful of tincture equals two capsules or tablets. If dealing with an acute condition, such as if you are fighting an infection, it may be necessary to use either one cup of tea, a dropperful of tincture, or two capsules or tablets every two waking hours, at least for a couple of days. Then as the condition improves, make those dosages further apart, to a couple of times a day, until no longer needed.