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Gall Bladder Ghee Gout Garlic Glands Graves Disease

DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. One final note: many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past, but be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.


menuGALL BLADDER
A person could get themselves into a serious situation trying to self-diagnose and treat a gall bladder problem. This needs to be diagnosed by a medical professional and treated accordingly. There are numerous herbal recipes to treat this condition, but the pain of passing a gall stone is such that only someone out of touch with modern medicine would even attempt it. There is also the chance of developing gangrene if it becomes infected and festers. The following are offered for their historical value.

Sipping chamomile tea during the day can be soothing.

INFLAMMATION

  1. Combine the following in tincture form to create a compounded tincture: 2 parts wild yam, 2 parts fringe tree bark, 2 parts valerian, 1 part dandelion root, 1 part black root; take 1 tsp 3 times a day.
  2. Combine equal parts centaury tops, peppermint leaves, yarrow and chamomile; use 1 tsp per cup of boiling hot water; steep 8 minutes.
GALL STONES
  1. Combine the following in tincture form to create a compounded tincture: 2 parts wild yam, 2 parts boldo, 2 parts valerian, 1 part balmony, 1 part black root, 1 part fringe tree bark; take 1 tsp 3 times daily.
  2. Combine in equal parts: St. Benedict thistle, mallow flowers, calendula, pansy, alder buckthorn bark, yarrow; steep 1 tsp in ½ cup boiling hot water; take ½ to 1½ cups daily.
  3. Combine ½ oz dandelion root, ½ oz parsley root, ¼ oz ginger root, ¼ licorice in 2 quarts water; simmer for an hour to reduce the volume by half; then add ½ oz lemon balm, remove from heat and let steep for 20 minutes; strain and take ½ cup every 2 hours (aids in reducing symptoms of gallstone irritation and aids in dissolving and removing stones).


menuGARLIC

GARLIC HONEY

Slice 6 cloves of garlic and add to 4 oz of honey. Let stand for 7 to 10 days. Use in medicinal teas for colds, flu, sore throats, cough or sinusitis. The cloves themselves may be eaten on toast or crackers, etc.

GARLIC OIL
Slice 6 to 8 cloves of fresh garlic and cover in a jar with 4 oz of olive oil. Steep for 7 days; strain and bottle. Combined with mullein oil for earache. Also used for colds and flu.

GARLIC SYRUP
10 to 12 cloves of garlic (sliced) and 1 cup of raw sugar. Layer the sugar and the garlic in a glass jar. Let sit in a cool place for 1 to 2 days. Strain out the garlic and bottle in an amber jar. Use ½ to 1 tsp 3 times a day. Can be added to warm tea.


menuGHEE
Heat 1 lb of raw, unsalted butter over medium heat until the white saturated fats condense and separate out from the pure unsaturated oil (ghee). Useful in treating chronic inflammatory conditions.


menuGLANDS
For glandular balance add a pinch of ginger to all herbal teas.


menuGOUT
If herbal remedies worked all that well, our ancestors would have gotten more relief from this condition, but unfortunately, they suffered greatly. Diet is key to preventing attacks and consultation with a nutrionist is important to controlling this condition (which is often hereditary). It is essential to prevent the buildup of uric acid in the system. Certain herbs were certainly useful in this regard. The prescription drug Colchicine is derived from the autumn crocus and is often helpful where other drugs fail. The autumn crocus is extremely toxic and can only be used via the pharmaceutical version under strict guidance of a doctor. The following is provided for its historical value.

2 parts gravel root
2 parts couch grass
2 parts celery seed
1 part guaiac

Combine and infuse 2 tsp in 1 cup of boiling hot water for 10 minutes and drink 3 times a day.


menuGRAVES DISEASE
A serious medical condition requiring the care of a medical profession. Graves disease in an overactivity of the thyroid often resulting in a bulging eyed appearance. The following recipe is meant to be calming and supporting. Consult with your doctor before trying alternatives. They may conflict with your medications.

½ oz lemon balm
¼ oz bugleweed
1 tsp mint
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp self-heal

Use 1 tsp per cup of boiling hot water, steep 7 minutes and drink regularly.



©1998 by Ernestina Parziale, CH

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