Medicinal Herbs

Subject: Medicinal Herbs Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:03 pm

Here, medical ninja may gather what herbs may be needed to heal the sick.

Bay, California (Umbellularia californicum) leaf
Wild bay leaves are stronger than European bay for seasoning. The tea is used for intestinal cramps accompanying diarrhea or gastroenteritis, and headaches. Paradoxically, bay leaf tea cures even the headaches caused by smelling too much of the very aromatic leaf. The nuts of this tree are edible if roasted; they are very bitter raw.
Folk Magick: Bay is for protection and blessing and makes a good offering incense.

Bayberry (Myrica californica) root bark
Bayberry root tea helps heal sinus, stomach or intestinal infections caused by flu, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, etc., and can prevent or treat colds. The berries are good for coughs.
Folk Magick: Candles made of bayberry wax are considered to be especially auspicious.

Blackberry (Rubus fructosus et al.) leaf & fruit
Blackberry tea is good for diarrhea, heartburn, stomachache and respiratory congestion. As a skin wash it treats burns, sunburn and insect bites.
Folk Magick: Blackberry is used for protection, health and prosperity.

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) leaf & flower
A tea to break fevers, for colds, flu, pneumonia & malaria. It also treats rheumatism, muscle pain & spasms, increases appetite for sick people and enhances immune functions. A poultice treats tumors.
Folk Magick: Tranquility and protection.

Brake fern (Polypodium vulgare) root
An ancient laxative and remedy for dry coughs and feverish colds. The tea should be well boiled. It is also a skin wash.
Folk Magick: Tranquility and protection.

Bracken (Pteris aquilina) frond & root
An ancient remedy for coughs and stomach parasites, the tea well boiled. In a lotion, used for skin ailments.
Folk Magick: Tranquility and protection. British peasants once believed that burning the fronds would induce rain.

Chaparral, Greasewood (Larrea tridentata) leaf
Some chaparral bushes are among the most ancient plants in North America; a powerful antiseptic for skin, immune builder and controversial cancer treatment, best taken internally in capsules to avoid the overwhelming taste. It has been important in indigenous folk medicine for millenia.

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) root & herb
Strengthens the digestive system. Used in a poultice for swellings and sores.

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) flower & leaf
Red clover tea suppresses cough and bronchial asthma, enhances liver & digestive functions, and combats fever. Substances in red clover show clinical value in suppressing the effects (hot flashes, bone loss) of diminished estrogen at menopause, as well as promoting prostate health in men. The plant is used to make a salve for burns.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root & leaf
Stimulates urination, and used for kidney, urinary and liver ailments. It improves appetite and digestion, and has nutritive value, containing vitamins A, B and C as well as iron, phosphorous, sodium, calcium and potassium. Taken internally it improves skin eruptions such as eczema.
Folk Magick: For health spells.

Desert tea (Ephedra spp.) stem
Ephedra tea has been used by Natives, Mexicans, Mormons and other white settlers; it tastes good but lacks the high ephedrine content of Asian Ephedras like ma huang. This tea is quite safe to drink, and is a decongestant and urinary treatment.

Dock root (Rumex crispus) root
Dock, often in combination with plantain, is an ancient external skin and arthritis remedy. It is taken internally for jaundice or skin conditions and as a digestive, urinary aid, laxative, cough suppressant and blood purifier.
Folk Magick: Dock is associated with success.

Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) bark, leaves, flowers, fruit
A tea of the leaves sprinkled onto garden plants will repel insect pests, or rubbed on the skin will repel mosquitoes, gnats and the like. Traditionally the flowers and fruit were considered a remedy for many ailments, and even attributed with the property of prolonging life. The bark is purgative and emetic, but in North America it is too strong to be advised for lay use. The leaves have these effects as well, in addition to being expectorant, headache remedy and useful as a skin and eye wash. Elder flowers make a good lotion for chapped and dry skin, and are a treatment for fevers, colds and respiratory congestion, as well as eruptive diseases such as measles. Elder flower water is used to soften the skin and lighten freckles. Dried berries make a tea for diarhhea and colic. They are also taken for coughs and colds, fever, headache, earache and arthritis. The flowers or fruit are used to promote sweating in fevers, and in relieving arthritic pain. Blue berries are preferable, as the red ones can be toxic. Historically diverse other remedies and even food and drink have been concocted from the various parts of the elder. Those berries most exposed to the sun are the sweetest. The seeds should be strained out when making jellies or wine.
Folk Magick: Caution: burning elder wood offends the faeries! Elder leaves or wood repel evil spirits.

Epazote (Chenopodium ambrosioides) herb
Epazote has been used for thousands of years in America as a medicinal and culinary herb. It purges gastro-intestinal parasites, but without the disagreeable taste of wormwood, and treats diarrhea and asthma. It makes a good tea, with a taste of butter, though some think it smells of chlorine bleach. As a wash, it treats insect bites and skin fungus. It is used in cooking especially with beans.

Estafiate (Artemisia mexicana) herb
This Mexican species of wormwood has the same uses as its European cousin, to remove gastro-intestinal parasites. It?s taste is perhaps slightly less disagreeable.
Folk Magick: Mexican wormwood is useful in divination.

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) herb
Don?t expect horehound to taste like the horehound cough drops you may have tasted as a child. It?s taste is bad, and requires honey to make the tea palatable. It is, however, very useful as an expectorant and treatment for coughs.
Folk Magick: Horehound is used magickally in spells for health.

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) herb
This primitive plant, which dates from Carboniferous days, is used to promote urination and to alleviate excessive menstruation or intestinal bleeding. It must not be taken over a prolonged period.

Juniper (Juniperus spp.) berry & leaf
Juniper berry tea treats urinary tract infections and poor digestion.
Folk Magick: The leaves are a traditional aromatic & incense herb worldwide, associated in many cultures with well-being, tranquility & auspicious spiritual influences.

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita et al.) berry & leaf
Used the same way as uva ursi.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) herb
Mugwort tea stimulates digestion. It is laxative and a calming agent. In the bathwater it alleviates arthritic pain and bad circulation in the legs. As a skin wash it treats bites, rashes and especially poison ivy/oak.

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) leaf & flower
A poultice of the leaves alleviates joint pain and washes inflammations and wounds. The tea is an expectorant and treats diarrhea, headache and insomnia, being a weak narcotic which can calm nervousness. The flowers are smoked for asthma and as an expectorant.

Nettle, stinging (Urtica dioica) herb
Nettle stimulates digestion and lactation, and treats diarrhea, urinary and menstrual problems. It is nutritious and tonic. As a poultice it relieves arthritic joint pain. Its smoke alleviates asthma symptoms.

Pine (Pinus spp.) leaf & bark
Pine leaves are an ancient spring tea, imparting resistance to winter colds. The inner bark is used for respiratory problems or in the bath water.

Pinyon (Pinus monophylla, et al.) pitch & bark
The pitch, chewed or taken in tea, is an effective but gentle expectorant.

Plantain (Plantago major & minor) leaf
The tea treats respiratory problems. As a skin wash (often combined with dock) it heals insect bites, fungus, rashes, etc.

Rose, wild (Rosa spp.) petal & fruit
For the stomach, liver, blood, urination, diarrhea, headaches & nerves. An eyewash to alleviate the effects of allergies. In the bath water, for skin irritations. Wild rose is generally stronger than cultivated varieties.

Rush (Typha spp.) stem
The tea is a skin wash, or drunk for diarrhea & gastrointestinal ailments.

Sage, black (Salvia mellifera) herb
A tea for gargle, fevers, digestion. A disinfectant skin wash.

Sage, white (Salvia apiana) herb
Having the same properties of other wild sages.
Folk Magick: An indigenous incense, burned for purification, protection and to attract positive spiritual influences. This plant has been depleted in the wild due to over-harvesting!

Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) herb
An antiseptic skin wash.
Folk Magick: An indigenous incense & aromatic herb, used much like white sage. Common throughout the West and therefore a preferable choice to the nearly endangered white sage.

Thistle, milk (Silybum marianum) seed
Taken internally, strengthens the liver, increases milk flow.

Uva ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) leaf
The tea is used for kidney, urinary & menstrual complaints. A good skin wash, including for poison oak/ivy. A smoking herb. DO NOT TAKE WHEN PREGNANT!

Willow (Salix spp.) leaf & bark
A headache tea used worldwide, also for fever & hay fever. A strong skin antiseptic & gargle, and poultice for arthritis.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) herb & flower
A common treatment for flu, fever, digestion or heavy menstruation. Also an astringent skin wash.

Subject: Re: Medicinal Herbs Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:26 pm

Laria entered the greenhouse and closed the door behind her gently. Her orange eyes gazed over the beautiful amounts of the herbs. "Sigh.. Its almost like heaven. Hehe." She made her way over to the sage bush, where she knelt and picked a few of its leaves. Laria turned her form to dig into the bag on her back and pulled out a smaller bag. She stored the sage and stood. Laria traveled to a few more bushes and trees, collecting various leaves and fruit.

Subject: Re: Medicinal Herbs Fri Oct 30, 2009 4:04 pm

Serene walked in and finally felt a bit of warmth. It was a greenhouse with medicinal herbs in it. She could take some that would help her soon if no one would mind. Then, she saw someone picking herbs and she approached her.

"Hi! Could I take some of the herbs? I'm off to a long journey."

Subject: Re: Medicinal Herbs Fri Oct 30, 2009 4:22 pm

Laria looked up from her picking the herbs to the voice over her shoulder. "Oh hello. And yes. You may take any herbs you need." She smiled warmly at the girl.

Subject: Re: Medicinal Herbs Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:21 pm

"Oh, I never knew that shinobi in Aurora are so nice and sweet, ny- I.. uh, mean.. ehehe..."

She scratched her head and laughed nervously. Looking around, she tried to recognize some of the herbs. Serene recognized some, but she did not know what the others are.

Subject: Re: Medicinal Herbs Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:40 pm

Laria tilted her head to the side, not fully hearing the girls words, she decided it didn't matter. She saw the girl look at the vast amount of herbs and stood, brushing stray leaves from her robes. "Are you looking for something specific?" Laria looked around, sure she could help in some way.

Subject: Re: Medicinal Herbs Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:23 pm

"Nah, I'm just looking for things that might help me once I take off to travel to all the villages, then back to the academy... Oh, please don't tell them that I'm still I student, nya..."

She did not notice that she just slipped. Instead, she began looking at the familiar herbs and thinking about what might help her. Serene also hoped that she won't be exposed as a student that's away from the academy.

Subject: Re: Medicinal Herbs Sat Oct 31, 2009 2:01 pm

A student travelin on her own? Thats unsafe... Laria pressed her thumb to her lip and thought. She went away and came back to the girl, holding a tiny bag with Chicory and Red Clover. "Here. This'll help you with any digestive problem if you were to eat something bad." ^^

Subject: Re: Medicinal Herbs Sat Oct 31, 2009 2:41 pm

A tiny scratching noise was heard from the greenhouse door. Laria exused herself and waled to the door a cracked it open. There a tiny black kitten was pawing at the frame. She knelt and pick up the kitten. The Kitten started mewing and Laria's eyes widened. She turned to the girl. "Get whatever you need and hurry out of the Village.." Laria ran out of the greenhouse and toward the gates.

Subject: Re: Medicinal Herbs Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:32 pm

Serene took all the herbs that Laria gave her. She also took one of each in a small pouch in small quantities. It should help her for the remainder of her trip until she reaches a village.

"People here are so nice, nya..."

She ran out of the greenhouse and searched for another place to go and stock up.