Medicinal and other useful plants.

[Woods Walker]

Medicinal and other useful plants.

This thread is for posting medicinal and other useful properties of plants beyond simply being edible. By medicinal I am not referring to edible even if there are crossovers. Some helpful plants aren’t edible so make certain this distinction is FULLY understood. Claims made within this thread should never be taken in place of proper medical care and are likely not supported by the FDA. Any posted plant should be accompanied with photos and or video plus a description for identification along with a clear statement as to the medicinal or useful properties. A link to document the beneficial claim would also be helpful. Do NOT attempt to use any plant without first doing your own due diligence. ZS is not responsible if you go belly up or get sick or fail to get healthy or if the useful property doesn’t work out. Read this topic at your own risk.

[Woods Walker]

Jewel weed.

This medicinal plant is a folk remedy for poison ivy, poison oak, bug bites, stings, heat rash, ring worm and many other skin issues. In my AO it has yellow flowers and often grows no higher than 3-feet.



Jewel weed has green seed pods. When disturbed the pods will explode hence the name touch-me-nots.



The Jewel weed in my AO has orange, yellow and redish flowers.





Jewel weed leaves growing in shade. The plant can grow in direct sun but seems to like shady areas. It often grows near water in rich soil.



Here it is growing in direct sunlight however the patch used to be partially shaded from a tree that is now fallen.



The plant can be pulled out of the ground intact.



I use this plant to treat skin irritations like bug bits and poison ivy however for me often the irritant from ivy is mild. I can’t speak of studies or scientific proof but based on actual experience this folk remedy does appear to be of value. I crush the juicy plant in my hands and rub on the irritation. Often the sooner the application the better.



Actual field use to treat irritation from mosquito bites. It seemed to work.



A few links.

http://customers.hbci.com/~wenonah/hydro/jewelwed.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impatiens

Jewel weed is listed as a mildly toxic plant so don't consume it.

[Woods Walker]

Sweet fern.

This medicinal plant is used to treat diarrhea, poison ivy, berry preservative, bug repellent and many other uses.I find sweet fern growing in poor rocky soil along roads, trails on the tops of hills but it can be found in a wide range of habitats. Sweet fern seems to prefer direct sunlight. The plant isn’t really a fern however has fern like leaves.





I use Sweet fern as a natural bug repellent by crushing the leaves and applying about my head, neck and sometimes other areas. I found it effective against gnats and mosquitoes but can’t prove this scientifically.



Sweet fern grows as a shrub and is often less than 4 feet in height. The crushed leaves have a sweet agreeable smell. I never tried other uses like making tea, treating diarrhea etc etc etc.

Links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comptonia

http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/SweetFern.html

http://www.sharonfoc.org/interest/sweetfern.html

[tookieblueeyes]

[tookieblueeyes]

[tookieblueeyes]

[TheFishinMagician]

I highly suggest picking up a copy of this book...

Herbal Antibiotics


It contains incredibly useful info on common kitchen herbs that are also powerful natural antibiotics. IMO, everyone needs a copy of this book in their "survival library".

[Woods Walker]

Chaga aka true tinder fungus.

Chaga is one of my favorite medicinal and useful plants/fungus. Chaga is a parasitic fungus that grows on trees by entering a damaged area. Over decades it will eventually kill the host tree. Chaga prefers both White and Yellow birch.

Chaga growing on a Yellow Birch.



Chaga harvested from a White Birch.



Chaga can be knocked off using a hatchet or even a stick. The stick method is good for harvesting Chaga higher up.



Chaga uses.

1. Many people believe that chaga tea is healthy. Here are a few links on how to make it.





http://mushroom-collecting.com/mushroomchaga.html

http://www.keystoneherbs.com/how-to-use

2. Chaga incense. The smoke from a smoldering chunk of chaga is said to clear the mind and repel mosquitoes. Is this true? Not sure but I do like the way it smells.





3. Chaga used in Firecraft. This is my biggest use for the fungus. Chaga will catch a slight spark from carbon steel and flint/quartz/chert, hotter spark from a fire steel, concentrated sunlight and even a fire piston. It will also work as a coal extender to hold a coal or transport a fire.

This chaga was sliced off and hit with a firesteel.





Chaga used in Flint and Steel or in my case quartz and carbon steel file or striker.



For flint and steel I prefer to turn lower firecraft grade chaga into dust. Spongy chaga will catch a spark easier than the woodier growth





Chaga is very useful and I encourage people to experiment with it. But never consume anything unless 100% certain of the ID. By consumption making tea and breathing in smoke (from the incense) counts.