NASTURTIUM / Indian Cress / Tropaeolum majus - major. Anti - Microbial and Heart Tonic herb.

Actions: Anti - Biotic, Powerful Anti - Microbial, Anti - Scorbutic, Diuretic, Depurative, Emmenagogue, Expectorant and Warming. Seed: Laxative.  Constituents: Herb: Bitter Principle, Essential Oil - rich in Sulphur and Nitrogen) Glotropacolin, Iodine, Myrosin, Phosphate, Potassium and Vitamin C.

Flowers: contain large amounts of Vitamin C. Cultivation: Easy to grow - Use the whole herb above the ground, Leaves, Flowers and Seed Pods, which are all edible with a subtle peppery taste and best used fresh. Sow the Seed in Spring in a sandy loam in the Sun or semi - shade or will self - sow readily, dying off when the Frosts hit it. Collect the Leaves & Flowers in Summer to Autumn for drying. Expressed Juice: Dosage: Take 1 x Tablespoon 3 times a day or half for Children and add to a cup of water to dilute if unpalatable. Fresh: eat in Sandwiches or add to Salads. Seed: Use in Pickles as a substitute for Capers. Tea: Pour 1 x cup of boiling water on to 1 - 2 teaspoons of the Fresh Leaves and Infuse for 10 - 15 minutes and drink 3 x times a day. Tincture: 1 - 4ml 3x times a day. Nasturtium Salad: combine Salad Leaves and a handful of Nasturtium Leaves and Flowers and then add Olive Oil & Fresh Lemon Juice, add finely chopped Nasturtium Leaves and a small sprig of Sweet Cicely chopped. Season to taste and pour over the Salad and toss. 

 Used to Treat: Acne: as an Anti - Biotic due to the high concentration of Sulphur. Chop and steep 12 Leaves for 10 minutes in boiling water and drink the liquid 3 x times a day or use it as a Wash or Facial Steam for badly troubled Skin. Bacterial Infections: Internally Specific - Powerful Anti - Microbial especially for the Respiratory System. Bronchial - Catarrh: as it is warming carrying off Fluids and Mucus and stimulating. Bronchitis: Internally Specific - Powerful Anti - Microbial especially when the Phlegm contains hard yellow blobs. Colds - Coughs - Flu - Mucus: as an Anti - Biotic due to their high concentration of Sulphur and powerful Anti - Microbial. Female Reproductive Organ - Infections: as an Anti - Biotic due to their high concentration of Sulphur and powerful Anti - Microbial. Infections: Internally and Externally due to the Flowers containing large amounts of Vitamin C. Fluid Retention: carries off Fluids and Mucus. Hair - Dandruff: mix a few drops of the Essence with Rosemary Oil and rub in to the Scalp. Menstrual Conditions: as it is warming carrying off Fluids and Mucus and stimulating Menstruation. Respiratory - Infections: powerful Anti - Microbial. Skin: as an Anti - Biotic and cleaner due to the high concentration of Sulphur.  

NEAPOLITAN PARSLEY / Italian - Plain - Leaf Parsley / see Parsley.  

NEEM  / Azadiracta indica. Used to Treat: Lice: Scabies:

NETTLE / Urtica diocia / Urtica urens / Lamiaceae / Wild. N.B: Do not use in greater then Culinary amounts if Pregnant or Breast Feeding. Main Use: Blood builder and strengthens and supports the Whole Body. Actions: Anti - Asthmatic, Anti - Bronchial, Astringent, Blood Building, Depurative, Diuretic, Haemostatic, Stimulant and Tonic. Root: Astringent.  - Anti Rheumatic, Diuretic and Emmenagogue. Constituents: Leaves: Ammonia, Calcium, Carbonic Acid, Chlorophyll, Enzyme, Formic Acid, Iron, Lecithin, Mineral Salts, Mucilage, Phosphates, Phytosterin, Potassium, Silicic Acid, Vitamin C and Wax. Yellow Root: Tannin. Seed: Albumen, Fatty Oil, Secretin and Tannin. Cultivation: A hardy Perennial herb to 1.2 metres with coarsely - toothed oval Leaves with stinging hairs that requires rich soil and has tiny green Female and Male flowers born on separate plants. Products: the Leaves, Flowers & Seeds / the whole herb above the ground. Harvest in Spring, Mid - Summer & Autumn and dig up the Roots in Autumn and dry out of direct Sunlight. If Nettles are not present on a farm then the soil is poor and hungry. Easily grown in a secluded spot and use fresh when available and harvest and dry the Leaf & Root when the Flower is full in bloom and keep in an airtight jar. Grow from the seed in Spring or divide the plants. If stung the Juice of the Nettle or Dock will relieve the pain. Add the young Tops to Salads or cook with Spinach, in Soups, Meat Loaves etc. Beer: a wholesome type of Ginger Beer for Gout and Rheumatic Pains. Take 1 x bucketful of cold water and a bucket of young Nettle Tops. 3 - 4 handfuls of Dandelion and the same of Cleavers and 2 oz of Bruised Whole Ginger / Or use 2 Lemons for the Dandelion & Cleavers. Boil gently for 40 minutes and strain and stir in two teacupfuls of Brown Sugar. When luke warm place a slice of toasted Bread on top with 1 oz of compressed Yeast and stir the Liquid with a teaspoon of Sugar and keep warm for 6 - 7 hours. Remove the scum and stir in 1 x Tablespoon of Cream of Tartar and bottle and tie the corks securely. Other herbs can be added such as Burdock, Horehound and Meadowsweet. Pot Herb: dry the Leaves to get rid of the sting as they add a strong wholesome flavour to Soups and Stews and an excellent source of Iron and Vitamins. Soup: pick 100gr of Young Nettles, remove the Leaves from the stem and wash and cook gently and rely on the water still on the Leaves until they are soft like Spinach. Saute 1 x Red Onion, finely chopped in Olive Oil and clean and grate 1 x Potato and add the Onion and Saute briefly then add the washed Nettle Leaves and a big bunch of Fennel Leaves chopped. Then add a Litre of Stock and simmer for 15 minutes or until well cooked, Season and serve. Tea: 1 x heaped teaspoon per cup of boiling water and Infuse for 10 minutes. Tincture: Take 1 - 4ml 3 times a day. Leaves under 10 cm high have not as yet developed the Stinging compounds. 

Horses: Can be used in a dried form as a feed additive especially where green feed is needed - such as a horse being intolerant of Lucerne as it is high in Chlorophyll. Or use as a Spring Tonic to bring the new coat through more quickly and to encourage shine and dappling. Feed a handful of the dried herb once daily for an average sized Horse (450kg.) N.B: Some Horses may react with Nettle Rash - if so stop using.  

 Used to Treat: Allergies: treats Nasal and Respiratory Conditions, Asthma, Coughs, Chest Congestion, Runny Noses, Tuberculosis and Whooping Cough. Alzheimer's Disease: contains an amount of Boron that doubles the levels of Oestrogen that improves short - term Memory and elevates the Mood. Anaemia: Specific as it is very high in Iron as well as Vitamin C. It raises the Red Cell count, improves Oxygenation of the Blood and Stimulates the Arterial Flow. The cause must be established and treated first otherwise the symptoms will continue and Nettles should be combined with other herbs to treat the cause. Appetite: effective Tonic and promotes. Arthritis: used to sting painful Joints by applying the plant's fuzzy needles directly to the area by flagellation, also steam the Fresh Leaves as a Vegetable to obtain the Boron required to assist the Bones to retain Calcium and benefit the Endocrine / Hormonal System to maintain healthy Bones and Joints. Asthma: acts as a potent anti - histamine with the Juice of the Leaves and Roots mixed with Honey or Sugar as a drink to relieve Bronchial Conditions. Baldness: helps prevent thinning Hair, take one or two teaspoons of Tincture a day or one or two cups of Nettle Tea.

Bites - Scorpion Stings: as a Poultice. Bladder - Infections - Stones: used to prevent by increasing the Urine flow. Blood Conditions - Deficiences: N.B: Special Prescribing is essential for these conditions. in Humans this herb can also raise Blood Pressure, with obvious contradictions, so it is often combined with Rue, which balances the Venous Pressure with the Arterial Pressure. These two herbs must be used together with great care in differing proportions to stimulate Circulation in conditions such as Cellulitis, Laminitis and Lymphangitis together with other herbs for Detoxification.  Bowel: Bursitis: Cellulitis: N.B: Special Prescribing is essential for this Condition. In Humans it can also raise the Blood Pressure, with obvious contradictions, so it is often combined with Rue, which balances the Venous Pressure with the Arterial Pressure. These two herbs must be used together with great care in differing proportions to stimulate Circulation for this Condition. 

Chest - Bronchitis - Congestion: acts as a potent Anti - Histamine with the Juice of the Leaves and Roots mixed with Honey or Sugar as a drink to relieve. Circulatory System: to stimulate if it is poor. Compost: as a strong Nitrogen food. Coughs and Colds: acts as a potent Anti - Histamine with the Juice of the Leaves and Roots mixed with Honey or Sugar as a drink to relieve. Cosmetic: due to its Astringent & Toning ability either as dried or Essence.

Debility - Recuperation: as the Dried Tea is rich in Iron, Minerals and Vitamins and is used as a Tonic with or without Lemon and Honey. Detox: In Humans this herb can also raise the Blood Pressure, with obvious contradictions, so it is often combined with Rue, which balances the Venous Pressure with the Arterial Pressure. These two herbs must be used together with great care in differing proportions to stimulate Circulation and used together with other herbs for Detoxification. Digestion:      Disease: drink cups of Fresh Nettle Tea in Autumn and Spring to free the Body Systems.

Eczema - Allergic - Infantile: with a cooling and healing Poultice made from the Crushed Leaves of an Infusion. Eye Conditions:

Gingivitis: Gout: either as a Tea or as a dose of up to 3gm of the dried powdered herb as it has a Diuretic effect - see Beer below. Foot Bath: 1 x heaped well - washed Roots and 1 x heaped double handful of Nettle Stems & Leaves soaked in 5 Litres of cold water over night and the next day bring to the boil and use 2 to 3 times (200gm of Nettles for a full bath.)

Haemorrhoids:      Hair Conditions - Dandruff: due to their Astringent and Toning ability either as dried or Essence and rejuvenates as a Wash and Tonic or rub a Tincture in to the Scalp daily and especially if thinning, making it thick, soft & shiny. Hair - Wash: 4 to 5 heaped double handfuls freshly picked or Dried Nettles in a 5 Litre pot and slowly bring to the boil and Infuse for 5 minutes.   

Garden Spray: Put the Nettles in a container and cover with water for a while and spray onto garden to keep it healthy and free from pests.

Hay Fever: Hives: with 28ml of this herb, combined with 28ml Yarrow, 56ml Dandelion and 7ml Golden Seal and cover and simmer for 20 minutes in 12 litre of water. Dosage: 1 Tablespoon every 4 hours.

Infectious Diseases:    Internal Haemorrhage:

Kidney Conditions - Stones: Diuretic and re - invigorates the Kidneys andd Liver.

Laminitis: In Humans it can also raise the Blood Pressure, with obvious contradictions, so it is often combined with Rue, which balances the Venous Pressure with the Arterial Pressure. These two herbs must be used together with great care in differing proportions to stimulate Circulation for this Condition. N.B: Special Prescribing is essential for this Condition. Laryngitis:    Liver Conditions: Diuretic and re - invigorates the Kidneys and Liver. Lumbago: brush parts with freshly picked Nettles. Lymphangitis: In Humans it can also raise the Blood Pressure, with obvious contradictions, so it is often combined with Rue, which balances the Venous Pressure with the Arterial Pressure. These two herbs must be used together with great care in differing proportions to stimulate Circulation for this Condition. N.B: Special Prescribing is essential for this Condition.

Multiple Sclerosis:

Nasal Conditions - Bleeds - Runny: Nervous - Depleted:    Neuritis: brush parts with freshly picked Nettles.

Premenstrual Syndrome: Preservative: pack Tomatoes, Root Vegetables or soft Fruit in Dried Nettle Leaves. Prostrate Enlargement: Respiratory System: for Asthma, Coughs, Chest Congestion, Runny Noses, Tuberculosis and Whooping Cough.

Rheumatism: as a Rub in preparations - see Beer below. Scalp: as an Infusion and apply to dilate the Blood Vessels and encourage healthy growth.

Sciatica: brush parts with freshly picked Nettles or use Internally and as a Bath. Skin: rejuvenates as a Wash. Skin Conditions:  Snakebite: as a Poultice. Tendinitis:  Tuberculosis:   Whooping Cough:  

NIGHT - BLOOMING CEREUS / Cereus grandiflorus / Jamaica. Actions: Diuretic. Cultivation: A small branded Cactus with large creamy flowers. Product: the whole plant. Used to Treat: Heart - Angina Pectoris - Palpitations: A very effective Stimulant that is Specific for these Conditions for relief. Prostate Conditions:  

NIKKAR NUTS / Guilandia bondue / South America. Cultivation: A tall slender tree. Product: the Seeds. Used to Treat: Diabetes: Malaria: to ward off bouts.  

NOBLE LAUREL / Bay Laurel / Grecian Laurel / Roman Laurel / Royal Laurel / Sweet Bay.

 NUTMEG / Myristica fragrans / East Indies. Main Use: as a Spice.  N.B: If taken in abundance it can weaken the System.  N.B: Only to be used in small amounts to avoid Hallucinogenic effects. Actions: Aromatic, a valuable Carminative and Stomachic, Hallucinogenic & Stimulant. Cultivation: A tree of magnificent growth and habit.

Product: the large brown Seeds are used, either grated or as a powder. Spiced Pumpkin Soup: cook Pumpkin Soup and add a pinch of Nutmeg to give a better flavour and aid Digestion.

Used to Treat: Body - Odour: Colic: by using 2:1 boiled water to Spiced Tea - see Flatulence below. Diarrhoea: to assist. Digestion: as an Anti - Spasmodic and Digestive Tonic due to its high concentration of Volatile Oils including Eugenol and Pinene (also found in Cloves) Add a tiny amount of grated fresh Nutmeg to a cup of Ginger Tea. Dyspepsia - Nervous: to assist. Flatulence: reduces by adding a tiny amount of grated fresh Nutmeg to a cup of Ginger Tea. Gut - Inflammatory Conditions: to assist. Intestinal - Spasm: assists. Mouth - Wash: soak 1 teaspoon each of Nutmeg, Peppercorns and Rosemary in 150ml of Apple Cider Vinegar or Red Wine for 2 weeks and strain or chopped Ginger Root can also be included. Throat - Sore: soak 1 teaspoon each of Nutmeg, Peppercorns and Rosemary in 150ml of Apple Cider Vinegar or Red Wine for 2 weeks and strain or chopped Ginger Root can also be included to soothe. Tonsils - Swollen: soak 1 teaspoon each of Nutmeg, Peppercorns and Rosemary in 150ml of Apple Cider Vinegar or Red Wine for 2 weeks and strain or chopped Ginger Root can also be included to soothe. Vomiting: to assist. Wind: reduces.

NUTSEDGE - Used to Treat: Amenorrhoea:  

NUX VOMICA (Poisonous) Poison Nut / Strychnos nux vomica / Far East & India. N.B: Contains Strychnine a dangerous poison. Actions: Excellent Stimulant and General Tonic in the right quantity and is used in Medicinal preparations.

Cultivation: A small tree.    Product: the Seeds.