2. USING YOUR HERBS By Elizabeth Bautista

3. HERBS Ointments & Salves

4. WHAT IS AN OINTMENT? Semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation

5. HERBAL OINTMENT 1 ½ c. fresh herb leaves, chopped and pressed down ¾ c. olive oil 4 tsp. beeswax

6. HERBAL OINTMENT Pick fresh leaves; wash and dry.

7. HERBAL OINTMENT Chop coarsely.

8. HERBAL OINTMENT Place cut leaves in a stainless steel or glass baking dish. Pour olive oil over leaves and toss to coat. Place in oven and bake at 220 degrees until leaves are crispy and no moisture is left in them (may need several hours). Stir during baking to make sure no moisture is trapped in leaves on bottom.

9. HERBAL OINTMENT An alternate method is to place leaves and oil in stainless steel saucepan and simmer on stovetop on low for several hours until crispy. Dried plant leaves may be used if fresh are not available. If leaves are dried, oil level should be above leaves. May make as you would a tincture, with dried leaves covered with oil for several weeks without heat.

10. HERBAL OINTMENT Remove from oven and strain off olive oil into a small saucepan. Add beeswax and heat on low until melted. Heat only as much as needed to melt wax— may remove from heat before totally melted as the oil will be hot enough to finish melting the wax without additional heat.

11. HERBAL OINTMENT Pour into containers and cool. Cap and store in a cool place or in refrigerator.

12. COMFREY OINTMENT Suggested uses: Dry or cracked skin (feet, hands, face, etc.) Cuts, scrapes, burns Chapped lips

13. Comfrey Symphytum officinale

14. COMFREY Knitbone Woundwort Healherb Gum Plant All Heal

15. Used Since Ancient Times for Healing Wounds and broken bones Bruising Sciatica Boils Rheumatism Neuralgia Varicose veins Bed sores Ulcers Insect bites Tumours Muscular pain Pulled tendons Gangrene Shingles Dermatological conditions

16. CONSTITUENTS OF COMFREY Allantoin Pyrrolizidine alkaloids Symptocynoglossine alkaloids Mucilage Choline Tannins Saponins Asparagine Inulin Resins Rosmarinic (Phenolic acid) Caffeic (Phenolic acid) Protein

17. COMFREY Alantoin (a protein with hormonal like qualities that stimulate cell proliferation). Allantoin gives comfrey its reputation for healing wounds, broken bones, burns, sprains, sore joints, dry skin and for reducing the swelling associated with fractures.

18. COMFREY The name comfrey is believed to come from Latin ‘confera,’ meaning knitting together. The genus name symphytum means to heal together. It can assist the body to heal any part that is torn or broken (hence the common name, knitbone). Leaves or roots may be applied as a wash, compress, poultice, or ointment.

19. Comfrey Symphytum officinale Indications Bruises Sprains Arthritis Bug bites Eczema Fractures Psoriasis Rashes Wounds Sunburn Itching

20. COMFREY PRECAUTIONS Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Considered not safe for internal use.

21. PLANTAIN Plantago major Plantago lanceolata

22. PLANTAIN Common Names Broad-leaved plantain Ripple grass Waybread Slan-lus Waybroad Snakeweed Cuckoo’s bread Englishman’s foot Dog’s ribs Hock cockle Lance-leaved plantain Rub grass Dooryard plantain White man’s foot Buckhorn plantain Round-leaved plantain

23. Plantain – Plantago Actions Leaf: alterative, antibacterial, anti- inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, anthelmintic, antivenomous, astringent, expectorant, decongesstant, demulcent, deobstruent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, hemostatic, ophthalmic, mucilaginous, refrigerant, restorative, vulnerary Seed: demulcent, fiber laxative

24. Plantain – Plantago Constituents Leaf: vitamin C, vitamin K, tannins, flavonoid (apigenin), mucilage, allantoin, glycoside (aucubin), silicic acid, oxalic acid Seed: B vitamins, proteins, starch, oils, mucilage

25. PLANTAIN Beta carotene Calcium Vitamin C Vitamin K Allantoin Apigenin Aucubin Baicalein Linoleic Acid Oleanolic Acid Sorbitol Tannin

26. PLANTAIN Properties Mild anti-inflammatory Antimicrobial Antihemorrhagic Expectorant Acubin in plantain is an anti-toxin

27. PLANTAIN Wound healing Treatment for lung conditions such as bronchitis or asthma Internally to ease coughs and mucous membrane irritation Skin inflammations Sunburn Insect stings or bites Rashes, etc.

28. Plantain – Plantago Indications Arthritis Bronchitis Cough Cystitis Dandruff Eczema Hemorrhoids

29. PLANTAIN Parts Used Roots Leaves Flower-spikes