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Ear/Earache Epilepsy Echinacea Extract Essiac Formula
Emetic Eyes Enderlein Treatment ♦

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.


menuEAR/EARACHE
Simple earaches that are the result of congestion can be treated at home. It is important, however, to first eliminate any underlying cause by consulting a medical professional. An infection will not respond to home treatment and if there is even the smallest perforation in the ear drum, then it is vital that a professional be consulted. Never use anything in an ear that you suspect may be perforated. Mullein and St. Johnswort are two herbs which are primary for simple earaches. When using Mullein oil, it works quite well if combined 50/50 with garlic oil. A cup of Plantain tea can also be taken to help soothe congestion.

MULLEIN OIL
Method 1
Gently macerate mullein flowers in olive oil; heat gently, covered, at 95°F for 6 hours; strain and bottle (do not press the flowers as it will cloud the oil); use 1 or 2 drops per ear for earache. (You can increase the strength by removing the old flowers and adding a fresh batch to the same oil and repeating the process).

Method 2
Steep the fresh yellow flowers in olive oil. Place the bottle in the sun for 3 weeks; strain out the oil and repeat once more at least.

COMBINATION OIL
Use equal parts of Mullein oil and St. Johnswort oil. For severe pain caused by narrowing of the eusatchian tube, a few drops Oil of Lobelia can be used.


menuECHINACEA EXTRACT
A simple extract can be made by combining ½ oz of fresh root with 4 oz of 100 proof vodka in a blender or food processor and blending the root into as small a particle as possible. Allow to sit out of direct light for 2 weeks, shaking daily. Strain and bottle. A more precisely controlled product is obtained by following directions for making a Fresh Extract.


menuEMETIC
A substance which produces vomiting. This is, on occasion, a necessary thing. Even more effective than herbs, if you're in a hurry, is to simply drink salt water and place your finger down your throat to trigger the gag reflex. It should be noted that many herbs historically used for this were quite poisonous. It was a case of using one poisonous herb to hopefully rid the body of another poisonous substance which had been ingested. One of them would surely kill you and they were betting that the first would certainly do it if the second didn't work quickly to expel it from your system. Fortunately, we have far safer options today, not to mention a Poison Control Center in each state which can be accessed by calling the local hospital Emergency Room if you do not have the number handy. Some do have a direct hot line open to the public.

Herbs traditionally employed for this were
Adders tongue
American hellebore
Asarum
Alder
Black root
Bloodroot
Blue vervain		 Boneset
Carline thistle
Dogbane
Dog poison
Dogs mercury
Black elder
Eur. centaury		 Garden violet
Black hellebore
Hemp agrimony
Holly (I. vomitoria)
Lobelia
Mezereon
Milkweed		 Mistletoe
Bittersweet nightshade
Peyote
Pilewort
Pride of China
Rock rose
St. Benedict thistle		 Scotch broom
Senega snakeroot
Skunk cabbage
Solomons seal
Cypress spurge
Flowering spurge
Garden spurge		 Milk purslane
Petty spurge
Stillingia
Twin leaf
Water eryngo
Wild indigo
Wild yam


menuENDERLEIN TREATMENT
Established by Dr. Gunther Enderlein and used in Europe for more than 40 years. It was based on pleomorphism (ie. bacteria can take on multiple forms during a single life cycle). Preparations are devised from plants and molds which alter dangerous microbes and are said to restore balance. The preps are said to be a "tame" version of the disease producing microbe and are said to reduce it to a harmless form. The preps are believed to work with the immune system to eliminate any toxins during the process. In essence the good forms of a microbe are used to fight the bad forms.


menuEPILEPSY
A condition far too serious to be treating at home. At one time there simply wasn't any option and lobelia tincture was often employed to shorten the length of the convulsions. Another recipe calls for soaking 1 tbsp of mistletoe leaves and 1 tsp of the berries in ½ cup of cold water for 6 to 8 hours. Then 1 tsp each of peony root and orange flowers were steeped in 1 cup of boiling water and then the two teas were combined. This was administered in mouthful doses.


menuESSIAC FORMULA
There is no proof this works. All stories are anecdotal. At one time any questions regarding this formula could be directed to: Dr. Gary L. Glum, c/o Silent Walker Publishing, PO Box 92856, Los Angeles CA 90009. I do not know if that information is still valid, but an internet search should pull up any current data.

Due to the nature of the herbs involved, all pots and utensils (including funnels) should be made of stainless steel.

You will need

5-gallon stainless steel pot
3-gallon stainless steel pot with lid
Stainless steel fine-mesh double strainer
Stainless steel spatula
12 or more of 16-oz maber glass bottles with airtight caps
2 gallons of sodium-free distilled water
A glass or stainless steel measuring cup
A kitchen scale with ounce measurements

Ingredients
6-1/2 cups Burdock root (Arctium lappa), cut
16 oz Sheep sorrel herb (Rumex acetosella), powdered
1 oz Turkey rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum), powdered
4 oz Slippery Elm bark (Ulmus fulva), powdered

  1. Mix Essiac herbs thoroughly
  2. Bring water to a rolling boil in the 5-gallon pot with the lid on.
  3. Stir in 1 cup of the Essiac formula. Replace the lid and continue boiling for 10 minutes.
  4. Turn off stove; scrape down sides of pot with spatula and stir mixture thoroughly. Replace the lid and allow the pot to remain closed for 12 hours.
  5. Turn stove to full heat for 20 minutes.
  6. Turn off stove. Strain liquid into 3-gallon pot and clean the 5-gallon pot and the strainer.
  7. Strain the filtered liquid back into the 5-gallon pot.
  8. Use the funnel to pour hot liquid into bottles immediately, being careful to tighten the caps well.
  9. Allow the bottles to cool; then tighten the caps again.
  10. Refrigerate. There are no preservative agents, so if mold should develop in the bottle, discard it immediately.

NOTE: If you plan to use the same bottles to continue making more formula it is imperative that you sterilize the bottles and caps. Wash and rinse thoroughly and clean with a 3% solution of food grade hydrogen peroxide in water.

TO USE
Heat 4 tbsp (2 oz) of sodium-free distilled water in a stainless steel pot. Add 4 tbsp of Essiac (shake bottle first). Mix and drink. Take at bedtime on an empty stomach at least 2 hours after eating.


menuEYES
Except for some simple cosmetic things, eyes are too valuable to fool around with. They always require professional care to avoid losing eyesight or opening them up to infection which could very well end up with the same result. As we age, cataracts become a major concern. One thing we can do to help prevent them is to eat yellow and orange vegetables at least once a day. Anything made with pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc. and with the addition of vitamin C foods like oranges, lemons, grapefruit, etc., will go a long way towards cataract prevention.

EYE COMPRESSES
Make an infusion of any of the following using 2/3 cup of boiling water over 1 tbsp of the herb; leave until it cools, then use. This must be made fresh each time it is used. Soak sterile cotton pads in the infusion and apply to closed eyelids.

Eyebright: for all eye problems
Elderflower: to brighten eyes
Chamomile: to soothe and reduce inflammation
Fennel: to strengthen eyes and for watering eyes
Vervain: soothes tired eyes and heavy lids and is cleansing
Goldenseal: soothing and healing
Wormwood: to reduce redness and soothe sore eyelids.

TIRED, PUFFY, INFLAMED EYES
1. Soak 2 chamomile tea bags in hot water for a couple of minutes; gently squeeze out the excess water and when comfortably warm, place them over the eyelids. When cooled, rewarm and use again. Or the bags can be chilled and used cool for inflamed eyes.

2. Put 1½ tbsp each of ground dried lady's mantle and ground dried fennel in a bowl and pour in a generous ½ cup of boiling water; let infuse for 10 minutes, then strain and use while still warm by soaking two cotton pads in the infusion and placing on the eyes for 10 minutes. Gently dab with cold water.

FOREIGN OBJECTS
An old herbal trick is to take several seeds of clary sage and soak them for a bit until they become mucilaginous. Placing one seed on the end of a cotton swab, it is then gently inserted into the corner of the eye where any grit will adhere to it and then be taken away with the seed.

STYES
Either comfrey root or nasturtium seed were pounded and then used as a warm poultice.


Herbs historically used for eye problems
Many of these were employed as eye washes, but that practice is no longer recommended. Sterile commercial products have taken their place.
Chamomile
Eyebright
Mullein flowers
Hyssop leaves
Comfrey root
Nasturtium seeds
St. Johnswort
Althea		 Amer. angelica
Borage
Calendula
Carrot
Celandine
Cornflower
Dandelion
Dropwort		 Eur. sanicle
Fennel
French rose
Goldenseal
Herb robert
Jasmine
Marsh hibiscus
Meadowsweet		 Oat
Parsley
Plantain
Red eyebright
Rose of China
Rue
Sarsaparilla
Sassafras		 Savory
Slippery elm
Speedwell
Squaw vine
Sticklewort
Sycamore maple
White melilot
.		 White pond lily
White willow
Wintergreen
Witch hazel
Woodruff
Yellowdock
Yellow melilot
.



©1998 by Ernestina Parziale, CH

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