The Gifts Of Our Mother

My disclaimer: It is important to note that I am not a doctor or a licensed herbalist. I am merely interested in alternative medicines and the magic inherent in the wondrous creations of Mother Nature. What I offer on the following pages is the information I have accumulated from the sources I have listed along with some personal observation and experience of my own.

Herbalism and natural medicines are steadily growing in popularity in this day and age of viruses that adapt to and ignore the best the pharmaceutical companies can produce. As the list of side effects grow with each new generation of synthesized medicines, the allure of simple herbs and the remedies of our not so technologically advanced forefathers shines even brighter. Herbs give the layman and the medical doctor both a more gentle alternative to the increasingly exotic (and potentially toxic) drugs on our pharmacy shelves.

Herbal medicine should be tested and used with the same caution as you would any other drug. Though natural, used in large doses even herbs can poison you.

IMPORTANT!! Never, ever take an herb or herbal remedy on the say so of one source. Check once, check twice and check three times the information on any herb and its use. If you can not find at least three independent sources which agree on a particular application of an herb, DO NOT use it in that manner. The more sources that agree with an herb's medicinal action, the better. If there is ever a question or doubt, do not use the herb.

Even once you have checked out your herbal dictionaries and alternative medicine guides, be cautious in your testing. For topical applications, follow recipes closely and test a small patch of skin before applying any remedy as a medicinal treatment. For internal applications, try a small dose of less than the full strength recipe. Though herbs are natural, allergies are a possible side effect and reactions can be severe.

Remember that only a licensed physician may accurately diagnose health problems and you should consult a professional regarding serious health concerns.

If you grow your own herbs or harvest them through wildcrafting, here are some additional pointers:

• Always ask permission of and thank the plant's spirit for the gifts it gives to you.
  
• Never use a steel or iron tool to harvest: gently break the stems or pick the leaves with your hands or use a copper or silver blade/shears. This is especially important if you are using them for magickal purposes.
  
• Never harvest herbs closer than 30 yards from a roadside, or farther for industrial areas. (Lead and other contaminants are absorbed by the plant and passed on to you if you use it.
  

Below you will find links for information on the types of herbal preparations, a glossary of terminology, a bibliography which I have used to accumulate my information and a listing of herbs and what information I have gleaned about them myself.

	Herbal		How To Preparations
	Herbal Terminology		Herbal Recipes
	Bibliography		Home