BEANS - BIRCH SILVER
BEANS / Pulses / French / Garden String / Phaseolus vulgaris. Product: Sliced Pods, without the Seeds are used. Diet - Natural: All dried Beans or Legumes represent a natural remedy as they are lower in Calories, Fat and Salt, and Legumes are the best substitute for Meat and Fat - laden food. Actions: also has a Diuretic action.
Constituents: Fresh Beans or Bean Pods are higher in Vitamin A and C then the dried varieties and are good sources of Folic Acid, the B Vitamins and Iron.
Used to Treat: Acne: finely ground dried Bean Meal can be used instead of Cornflour as a soothing dressing. Bladder Conditions: Best remedy used as Bean Pod Tea. Cholesterol - High:
Diabetes: high in Soluble Fibre that reduces the rise in Blood Sugar after meals and delays the drop in Blood Sugar later on assisting to maintain Blood Sugar at close to the desired levels. Dropsy: Specific.
Endometriosis: Heart Conditions / Valve Disease: Sliced Pods, without the Seeds are used. Kidney Conditions: Best remedy as Bean Pod Tea. Phytoestrogens: contains natural.
Skin / Inflamed / Itching / Red: finely ground dried Bean Meal can be used instead of Cornflour. Rheumatism: Homoeopathic Bean Tincture.
BEAN / Adzuki - Cultivation: A small, sweet used in Asian puddings and savoury foods.
BEAN - Broad / Vicia faba - Product: use the ripe Seed.
BEAN - Butter / Phaseolus lunatus. Product: the Seed is used.
BEAN - Haricot / Red Kidney / Phaseolus vulgaris. Product: the ripe Seed is used to make Baked Beans that causes windy side effects. Include Apple Cider Vinegar in the preparation. BEAN - Locust / Ceratonia silqua.
BEAN - Mung / Green Gram / Product: use the Sprouts.
BEAN - Runner / Phaseolus multiflorus. Product: eaten unripe in the green Pod.
BEAN - Scarlet Runner / Phaseolus coccineus. Product: eaten sliced in the green Pod.
BEANS - Dried. Product: Lentils eaten with Wheat & Peas, Garbanzos or Chickpeas, Pinto and Black Beans.
BEARBERRY / Uva Ursi / Arctostaphylos uva ursi. N.B: Has a mild Oxytocic effect, best not to use during Pregnancy, but O.K. after Labour has started.
Main Use: To act on the Mucous Membranes in the Urinary Tract. Cultivation: Collect the Leaves in Spring & Summer. Actions: Anti - Septic, Astringent, Demulcent and Diuretic. Infusion: 1 to 2 x teaspoons in a cup of boiling Water. Tincture: 2 to 4mls 3 x times a day.
Used to Treat: Bladder Infections: contains Arbutin, a natural anti - Biotic and Diuretic. Take 10gm a day / 1/2 ounce 400 - 700mg of Arbutin and anti - Bacterial activity occurs 3 - 4 hours after taking. Bed - Wetting: to tighten the Tissues.
Cystitis: as an anti - Septic combined with Corn Silk, Couch Grass and Yarrow. Kidney - Infections: Kidney - Gravel: Kidney - Stones: Mucous Membranes: to heal as a Demulcent.
Thrush: Externally as a Douche, and as a Demulcent. Urinary Tract Conditions: Vaginitis: Externally as a Douche. Vagina - Infection: as a Douche. Vagina - Ulceration: Externally as a Douche.
BEARSFOOT / American / Yellow Leaf Cup / Polymnia uvedalia - Wild / North America. Actions: A gentle Laxative, especially for the Aged and a Stimulant. Cultivation: A tall branching plant found in rich loamy soil. Product: the Root is used.
Used to Treat: Pain: for quick relief.
BEDROOT / Ceanothus americanus. Used to Treat: Tonsilitis:
BEE BALM / See also under Bergamot / Oswego Tea.
BEE PLANT / See also under Borage / Tale Wort.
BEETROOT - Red / Powder To be eaten raw and grated on a Salad or Juiced.
Cultivation: When separating, wet the container, and turn upside down with plants between the fingers and remove and separate while keeping as much soil on the roots as possible and the crown above the soil and firm down and water immediately, and for the first week. Plant 15cm apart in Full Sun and use Lime and complete fertiliser in preparation. The Root contains pure Sugar - Glucose - Fruit Sugars, which does not crystallize as well as Cane Sugar, but is more easily assimilated. Actions: Hepatoprotective. Constituents: Calcium 2.6%, Fibre 18%, Folate, Iron 5.7%, Manganese, Potassium, Protein 3.2%, Vitamin A 0%, Vitamin B 2.2%, Vitamin C 6.6% and Radio - Active Rubidium.
Used to Treat: Anaemia: Cancer: contains anti - Cancer agents. Constipation: Coughs: Cystitis: Infections: Liver: to stop Fat depositing in the Liver as it contains Betaine. Skin Diseases:
BEGGAR LICE / Desmoduim styracifolium. Used to Treat: Gall and Kidney - Stones:
BELLADONNA / Deadly Nightshade / Atropa belladonna.Europe. N.B: (Highly Poisonous) Actions: Diuretic, Mydriatic and Narcotic. Cultivation: A small bushy plant bearing shining black fruits. Product: the Leaves and Roots are used.
BELL PEPPER / Used to Treat: Asthma:
BENZOIN / Gum Benjamin / Gum Benzoin / Benzoin Simplex / Styrax benzoin. Wild. Far East. Actions: It is a powerful Astringent and Emulsifying wool fat - Lanolin and is one of the best Expectorants. It also has Stimulant properties. Cultivation: A sturdy tree of moderate size with plum coloured leaves. Product: the Gum is obtained from incisions in the bark of the tree, which is derived from the reddish - brown Aromatic Balsam of a Javanese tree used as an ingredient in natural remedies for its preservative properties. Purchased from pharmacies in Powder or Tincture form. Also used as an ingredient in Friar's Balsam.
Used to Treat: Bronchial Tubes: as an Infusion it assists to clear matter.
BERBERIS / Berberis aristate - Wild / India. Cultivation: Small shrub that grows freely in dry places. Product: the Stem is used.
Used to Treat Fever: as a Tonic. Malaria: as a Tonic.
BERGAMOT / Bee Balm / Monarda / Oswego Tea / Monarda didyma / Labiatae Mint sp. Laminaceae. N.B: Do not use if Pregnant or Breast Feeding. N.B: Consult a heath care professional before using. Constituents: Thymol. Cultivation: A Perennial with bushy, branching stems bearing slightly hairy, oval leaves about 7cm long and clusters of lavender, pink, or scarlet flowers from early summer to autumn that attracts bees and honey - seeking birds with the roots spreading and matted. Height 100 - 120cm and Root divisions can be taken at any time but best in Spring as the new growth appears, also can be grown from the tiny seeds in punnets during Spring. Transfer and plant 3 - 4 / 15cm apart and cut back after flowering and lift and divide clumps every 3 - 4 years. Product: Leaves and Flowers are used. harvest the edible flowers as required and collect the Leaves in Late Spring and dry. Oswego Tea: Infuse fresh or dried Leaves and to dry harvest both in late Summer.
Used to Treat: Colic: Fevers: to reduce. Flatulence: Shingles:
BERGAMOT - Mint / Orange Mint /
BETH ROOT / Indian Shamrock / Woman's Root / Trillium pendulum / erectum. Wild / North America. Actions: A valuable Astringent and Tonic. Cultivation: A slender herb of low growth with abundant Rhizomes emerging from the soil. Product: the Rhizomes are used only. Used to Treat: Amenorrhoea: Menstruation / Excessive: Sores: as a Poultice. Ulcers: as a Poultice.
BETONY / Betonica officinalis - Labiate / Britain / Europe. N.B: Be wary of using the Root as it may cause Vomiting, and also of taking too much. Actions: Mild Sedative properties. Cultivation: A Perennial herb. Tea: 1- 3gm of the dried herb 3 x times a day.
Used to Treat: Amenorrhoea: Anxiety: Asthma: as a Tea. Catarrhal Congestion - Gastritis: as a Tea. Cerebral - Head: as a Stimulant and Tonic. Cuts / Sores: due to its Astringent and Stimulating action
Debility: especially for Children not growing, as they should. Diarrhoea: as a Tea. Digestive / Upsets: as a Stimulant Tea. Head - Aches: with the Tea or 15 - 30 drops of the Tincture.
Migraines: as a Tea. Rheumatism: Varicose Veins:
BILBERRY / Hurtleberry / Whortleberry / Blue Berry / Vaccinium myrtillus. Wild / British Isles. Actions: Used as an anti - Inflammatory, anti - Oxidant, Astringent and Diuretic. Cultivation: Grows in marshlands as a small plant with blue black spherical berries. Product: the dried Berries / Fruit used.
Used to Treat: Angina: contains Anthocyanins that lower Cholesterol and prevents the formation of Blood Clots and also acts as a Vasodilator to open Blood Vessels and lower Blood Pressure. Blood: to increase impaired peripheral flow. Burns: Diarrhoea: Cataracts: Catarrh: Circulatory Conditions: as a Tonic. Diabetes: Dysentery: Fluid Retention: to increase Capillary function.
Glaucoma: Gravel: Gums - Inflamed: Macula Degeneration: Menstrual Cramps: Night Vision: improves. Pain: to increase Capillary function. Stroke: Ulcers:
Urinary: as an anti - Septic. Varicose Veins:
BIRCH (European) Betula alba) Wild. Cultivation: A strikingly handsome tree common on gravel soils. Product: the distinctive Black and White Bark is used.
Used to Treat: Joint - Aches: Arthritis: in Rubs and Liniments. 4 x handfuls of Silver Birch Bark and steep in enough water to cover in a non - Aluminium saucepan over low to medium heat for 30 minutes or more. Strain through a non - metallic sieve and add to warm Bath water. Also can be used as a Foot - Bath.
Bladder - Stones: with the Bark as an Infusion or as a Tea from the Leaves. Diarrhoea: as a Tea from the Leaves. Gout: as a Tea from the Leaves. Kidney - Stones: with the Bark as an Infusion or as a Tea from the Leaves
Muscles - Aches: Rheumatism: in Rubs & Liniments. Skin Disorders - Eruptions: with Birch Tar Oil that makes up into a soothing Ointment.
BIRCH - Silver: Betula pendula - Betulaceae Family.
Cultivation: Silvery White Bark that likes wet and acid soils with the young Leaves collected in Spring and early Summer and the Bark from only one side of the tree - N.B: Do not don't ring bark.
Product: the Leaves and Bark are used. Actions: Excellent anti - Septic. Infusion: 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried Leaves and Infuse for 10 minutes.
Used to Treat: Arthritis: Specific. Back - Ache: Bladder Infections: contains Flavonoids, Hyperoside and Quercetin, take 2 - 3gm / a teaspoon - several times a day or put 2 x teaspoons of Bark in a cup of Vodka and steep for a couple of days or by adding a handful of Bark to a cup or two of boiling water.
Cystitis: can be combined with Bearberry for this. Fluid Retention: Muscles / Sprained / Strained: apply an interior strip of fresh damp Bark.
Rheumatism: Specific as a Tincture and combine with Black Willow. Urinary Tract Conditions: can be combined with Bearberry.
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