Using Plants for Medicinal and Cosmetic Use

Long before the chemicals industry existed, our ancestors understood that almost every plant, poisonous or non-poisonous, had some cosmetic or medicinal use. The skin was freshened and cleaned with herbal cosmetics and herbal teas and syrups were used for general tonics or as remedies for specific complaints like catarrh or insomnia.

Should you wish to pursue an interest in collecting plants for health and beauty be sure to collect them whilst they are in the best possible condition. Blossoms and herbs should be collected in the spring and early summer, fruit and berries should be gathered in late summer and early autumn and only collect roots in the autumn.

For the most part plants can be used fresh or dried. If you want to dry your plants hang them in small bunches or lay them loosely on racks of gauze or sheets of white paper in a warm dry place. Turn the plants frequently and leave them until they are brittle. Once dried the plants can be stored in airtight containers or brown paper bags.

Traditionally the way to use the leaves or flowers is to infuse them much the same way you would make tea. Take the flowers or leaves and crush them so that they can release their juices. Put them in a jug or teapot and pour boiling water over them.

If you are using fresh plants use three handfuls to one pint of water and if using dried plants use one handful to a pint of water. Steep the infusion for at least half an hour and then strain. Drink a wineglass full of the herbal tea three times a day but only keep the infusion for three days as it will begin to ferment.

To use roots you will need to make a decoction by slicing and boiling them for about 20 minutes. Use 1oz of dried root or 3oz fresh root to a pint of water and then strain.

To make a tasty herbal syrup add ½ lb of honey to 1 pint of a herbal infusion and boil the mixture over a low heat until it becomes thick.

Some popular herbs

Blackberries - These can be eaten raw or drunk as an infusion of fresh berries or leaves as a general tonic. Blackberries are high on vitamin C.

Blackthorn - This can be made into a soothing syrup that is good for coughs. An infusion of the fruit can be used as a gentle laxative and as a digestive and liver tonic.

Chestnut (sweet) - A decoction of the bark or nuts can ease an irritating cough.

Cowslip - Eat a few of these flowers raw to help with sleeplessness.

Dandelion - It is thought that an infusion of these is good for the kidneys. Dandelions can also be used as a laxative and its general cleansing effect can help with rheumatics.

Elder - The flowers, leaves and berries can all be used to make infusions for catarrh problems.

Fennel - infusions of fennel leaves are good for digestive troubles and act as a mild laxative.

Garlic - Garlic whether raw or cooked is considered to be a cure all herb.

Mint - This is great as an aid for digestion and eases nausea.

Primrose - Infusions of primrose have been favored as a pain killer for rheumatic joints.

Watercress - Watercress can be eaten raw or infused and due to the iron and vitamins it possesses is good for rheumatics.

Nettles - Infusion of nettles can be used as a general tonic. Nettles can also be eaten as a vegetable. Cook like spinach with a knob of butter and a little water.

Herbs for skin and hair

Wild herb face packs - Take your fresh herbs ( a good combination is dandelion leaves, nettle leaves and elder flowers) chop them into small pieces. Simmer them in enough water to just prevent them from burning for ten minutes until they make a thick mash.

Spread the mixture on some thin muslin and slap it straight on the face. Lay back and relax for 15 minutes and them remove and wash your face with water containing a few drops of lemon juice.

Wild herb bath mix - Take equal parts of dried dandelion, nettle leaves and small quantities of the dried roots and flowers of cowslip to make a total of 6oz. Put the herbs into 6 pints of hot water and infuse for half an hour. Then simply add the liquid to a hot bath.

Face creams - Take ordinary cold cream to use as a base. Water based infusions and decoctions do not blend with cold cream so the juices and perfumes of the plants used in a face cream must first be blended into an essential oil.

Step 1 - Take a handful of elderberries or flowers and pound to make 2 tablespoons and place in a mixture of 1 tablespoon of wine vinegar and ½ pint of corn oil. Steep this mixture for three weeks making sure to shake the mixture vigorously once a day.

Step 2 - Strain the mixture and keep the oil. Repeat the process with the same oil and a fresh batch of herbs. Keep repeating this process until the oil smells quite strongly of the herbs.

Step 3 - Put the cold cream into a big pot that will stand in the top of a double saucepan. Put water in the bottom half and heat just a little. Gradually stir in the essential oil. Drop by drop until the cold cream smells strongly of the herbs.

Hair tonics - To stop dandruff an infusion of nettle leaves can be used. Rub it into the scalp or rinse your hair in a pint of the mixture.If your hair is dry take a little essential oil of nettle leaves or fennel seeds, singly or together. Rub the oil into the scalp and rinse in clean warm water.

Source:
The Handbook of Country Crafts, by Barbara Hargreaves, published by The Automobile Association