The Benefits of Herbal MedicineOne of the greatest benefits of herbal

medicine is that it gives us the ability

to become more self-reliant. Feeling

that we have choices in how we care

for ourselves and our families, and that

we ourselves can play a central role in

treatment and preventive medicine,

can help us build a positive attitude of

empowerment. With very little effort,

time, or money, we can grow our own

herbs, make our own medicines, and

care for our families and ourselves,

much as people have been doing for

millennia. Herbalism is truly an acces-

sible, inexpensive, natural, gentle, and,

most importantly, effective system of

healing.

Herbs are among the safest medicines

available. This does not mean that there

are no herbs with harmful side effects.

There are, but they are an isolated

group, and most of them are unavailable

commercially. Occasionally an herb will

stimulate an idiosyncratic, or individual,

reaction in a person. This doesnt mean

the herb is toxic; its just a poor choice

for that particular individual. Straw-

berries, a perfectly delicious fruit, are

a sweet treat for some and a noxious

poison for others.

Herbs are also an inexpensive way to

boost your health. Herbal supplements

for sale in a natural foods store are,

capsule by capsule, much less expensive

than pharmaceuticals. And herbal medi-

cine becomes really cost effective and

inexpensive when you plant some herbs,

don an apron, and brew up your own

remedies. Youll be surprised to discover

how easy, inexpensive, and fun it is to

make your own salves, tinctures, syrups,

capsules, and teas, especially if youre

making them from herbs youve grown

yourself! Begin by making simple medi-

cines for coughs, colds, cuts, infections,

and sprains, and youll find they not only

work wonderfully but can also cut the

cost of family health care, in the same

way that growing your own vegetables

helps reduce your grocery bills.

A MANTRA FOR HOME HEALTH CARE

I am my own healer. I have a radiant voice within that guides me. I can make decisions

for myself. I can rely on others as needed, but at my discretion. It is my body, my

health, my balance, and my responsibility to make right choices for myself. Right

choices include working with competent health-care professionals when necessary,

allowing friends and family to help as needed, and, above all, being true to my beliefs,

with the wisdom and willingness to change as part of the path of healing.

| welcome to the wonderful world of medicinal herbs

Cayenne / Capsicum annuum (and related species)Because of its legendary curative properties, its exciting flavor, and its magical ability to sustain a sense of well-being, cayenne is one of my favorite herbs for both medicinal and culinary purposes. An herb supreme for warming the system, cayenne gets blood circulating through cold fingers, toes, and other extremities and gives an overall sense of warmth. Its an excellent analgesic, often used topically to relieve pain. And no herb works better to relieve congestion. I couldnt imagine getting through a winter without it.

cA

ye

nn

e

GROWING CAYENNE cayenne is fairly easy to grow. An annual, it does best with a long growing season, warm weather, fertile soil, and full sun. But its tolerant. It thrives even in my own northern Vermont, which is perhaps less well suited for growing cayenne than other places, and after a good summer (more sunshine than rain) were able to harvest ahost of little bright red chiles.

MEDICINAL USEScayenne is a warming circulatory stimu-lant, a safe and effective tonic for the heart, and an excellent digestive aid. One of its active ingredients, capsaicin, stimulates circulation throughout the body and assists in digestion by stimulating the release of both saliva and stomach enzymes. capsa-icin also signals the brain to release endor-phins, the bodys feel-good hormones. And capsaicin has proved so effective as a topical pain reliever for arthritis, bursitis, and muscle and joint aches that its the active ingredient in several over-the-coun-ter pain-relief creams. Rich in vitamins A and c, cayenne can aid and support the immune system, which is one of the reasons its so useful in formulas for colds and flus. cayenne also has a long history of use as a heart herb. Dr. John christopher, a well-known and much-beloved herbalist of the mid-twentieth century, recommended it both as first aid for a heart attack and as a tonic to strengthen the heart. Recent scien-tific studies done in the United States and India show that cayenne lowers cholesterol and may help reduce the severity of heart disease.

Part used

Only the fruit is edible and medicinal. As is the case for other members of the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, to which cayenne belongs, the leaves, stems, and flowers can be toxic.

Key constituents

Capsaicin, carotenoids, vitamin C, flavonoids, steroidal saponins, volatile oils

Safety factors

Cayenne, though perfectly safe, needs a warning sign: This herb is hot! If for no other reason, you should use it cautiously. When handled directly, compounds in the chile can burn the skin, especially for those who have fair or sensitive skin; if thats the case for you, wear gloves when working with cayenne. Dont touch your eyes after handling cayenne, as it will sting. Cayenne is a strong stimulant and can cause stomach convulsions if taken in large amounts. The most important thing is to use appropriate dosages. Small amounts go a long way with this herb.

cayenne |

cA

ye

nn

e

Cold Care Capsules

One of my favorite recipes for keeping a cold at bay or getting over one more quickly, these Cold Care Capsules are easy to make but pack a big punch. Take the half hour or so thats required to make a batch, and keep it on hand for the cold season. You can find gelatin or vegetable capsules at most herb shops and natural foods stores, and some pharmacies.

1 part echinacea root powder

1 part goldenseal root powder (organically cultivated)

part marsh mallow root powder

part cayenne powder (depending on your heat-tolerance level)

00 gelatin or vegetable capsules

To make the capsules: Mix the powders together in a small bowl. Scoop the powder into each end of a capsule, packing tight, and recap. It takes only a few minutes to cap

50 to 75 capsules, a winters worth for most families. Store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

To use: At the first sign of a cold or flu coming on, take 2 capsules every 2 to 3 hours until the symptoms subside, or up to 9 capsules a day. This is a high dose and should not be continued for longer than 2 to 3 days, at which time you should decrease the dose to 2 capsules three times a day (the normal adult dose for most herbal capsules; see pages 4647 for further information on appropriate dosages).

THE CAPSULE MACHINE

I f you plan to make a lot of capsules, a handy little device called the Capsule Machine will shorten the job and might be a worthy investment (it runs about $15). Its made by a company called Capsule Connection and is available from many herb shops and online.

| cayenne