"Earths Greatest Gifts"
by Carla Hinsey
For thousands of years indigenous people around the world have known the secrets of the Earth. Look around at the trees and plants, what do you see? Beauty in it's most basic form? True, but what you might not see is some of the greatest gifts ever bestowed on human kind. A medicine cabinet at your finger tips. Plants have the power to cure. The ancients knew this and they passed down the secrets of these herbs to their apprentices so that future generations would continue to have this knowledge. The Druids and Celts of Europe, the Natives of South, Central and North America, the Aborigines of Australia, the Romanians, the Egyptians and the multitudes of island people of the Pacific and Caribbean held the plant kingdom in the highest regard. Although their heritage and basic belief systems differed in many ways, the one thing all these people had in common was the respect and honor they gave to our Mother Earth.
We are taught that medicine has advanced in leaps and bounds, but has it really? So many synthetic drugs manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, with a list of harmful side effects a mile long, are suppose to be the answer to healthy living. I understand that modern life is hectic and stressful and we as humans are very busy in our lives. We don't have time for this or that, we need instant everything. As a modern society living upon this planet we must find a way to return to the teachings of the Earth. Perhaps it's time to STOP! Take a breath and learn to be still, slow you mind and open your heart. Only then can we become healthy again. It is time to once again return to the past. Look to the ancients and re-learn how to honor our earth and respect each other.
One of the greatest gifts Mother Earth has to offer to us is the medicine in plants. All modern medicine is derived from some sort of plant genetics. Pharmaceutical chemists have learned how to dissect plant compounds and synthetically manufacturer them. Although there have been some wonderful life saving drugs developed over the last decade, the true essence of the plant has been lost, resulting in countless harmful side effects that can be worse then the disease itself. I'm not advocating that all pharmaceuticals are bad, just that the over-use of them is setting us up for a situation that could lead to dreadful results. The wide spread use of Antibiotics is going to bring big trouble for us all if it doesn't stop. We have to allow our immune systems to generate natural antibodies to fight off infections. We don't live in a sterile environment and we can't avoid everything.
The Celtic Crier is launching its articles section this month and the vision of it's founder, Billy Lee, inspires to bring to his readers exciting news and information to enrich their lives. We will be including a monthly section to introduce common herbs that will help you to become educated on using and incorporating herbs and herbal remedies into your lives. Once you have the knowledge you will find it easy to start using plants and their medicines to benefit your overall health and well being. Before we get started I do need to bring up some cautions first. Plants are very powerful and I strongly recommend that if you are experiencing poor health and are taking prescription drugs that you consult your physician before taking or using herbal remedies. Some pharmaceuticals have been known to have adverse reactions to herbal medicines. If you are under a physician's care make sure you inform them of any herbs you are using or intend to use. This advice is for your safety and well being. With that said, let's get started.
The plant I would like to highlight first is Plantago Major or commonly known as 'Common Plantain'. There are several varieties of this plant, the most popular are the broad leaf and narrow leaf types. The narrow leaf is also known as 'Buckhorn Plantain' and of the several other varieties these two are the ones usually referred to. Outside of the Dandelion, Plantain is the second most common 'weed' found in the United States. Plantain is a vigorous plant found growing along roadways, pastures, cracks in sidewalks and asphalt, or the most manicured of lawns. Plantain thrives in sunny moist soil but can adapt to semi-shade or hot dry soil as well. As an undesirable weed it can be quite troublesome to gardeners and those that seek to have a weed free lawn. Luckily for the rest of us that view this plant as beneficial, it is tenacious and has a strong will to survive.
Before I get into the medicinal aspects of this plant I would like to briefly talk about another benefit this plant has to offer. This is another one of those amazing plants that is also editable. Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too? The young leaves when picked small are very tasty and can be eaten like a salad. Mixed with your favorite lettuce and other greens such as spinach, it is a healthy way to add vitamins like A (beta carotene), C ( ascorbic acid), and calcium to your diet. You can eat the older, bigger leaves but they tend to become stringy and the taste is a bit over bearing. These are best suited for making tea or eaten as cooked greens.
Plantain has a wide variety of uses and is very beneficial in many ways. When used for treating lung or stomach problems a tea is infused and taken internally. The effect that it has on the body acts as an expectorant, antimicrobial, and antiviral when used for treating lung problems usually associated with colds, the flu or bronchitis. As an astringent it helps to aid in mouth sores and toothaches. Plantain also helps the body in lowering blood sugar.
Although Plantain has many uses when taken internally it is best known for its external benefits. The most popular of these are in treating skin problems. There are several chemical compounds such as allantion, apigenin, and aucubin that contain anti-inflammatory agents that aid the skin for treating bruises, rashes, sores, blisters and other skin irritations. As an antitoxin it helps to neutralize insect bites and bee or wasps stings. When treating skin problems Plantain can be used as a poultice applied directly to the skin. For a sting or insect bite, pick the leafs and chew them to crush and moisten them, then apply directly to the affected area, leaving it in place for several minutes. You should feel immediate relief and the healing time will be cut drastically. Last but not least in the long list of aid to the body, Plantain is now being researched as a ingredient for help in quitting smoking. Amazing!
So, just remember, the next time you see what you believe is an intrusive, ugly weed in your yard or garden, take another look at it. It might just be a special gift from Mother Earth.
To Learn more about Carla Hinsey and her amazing writings follow the link.
To Learn more about Carla Hinsey and her amazing writings follow the link.
