Hyssop
Hyssop has blue flowers and aroma leaves. Is used as essential oils and teas. Used for anxiety, asthma, bronchitis, common colds & sire throats, indigestion & gas, and topically for wounds. Interestingly the French use this plant in liquors.

Lovage
The essential oils can also be used in soaps, lotions and cosmetics along with teas and capsules. Commonly used for or as – sedative, fluid retention, stomach pain / gas, upper respiratory and urinary issues.

Calendula
The young leaves and seeds can be used as a pot herb [like spinach, kale turnips tops ECT] and the seeds can be ground into flour. It is high in vitamins and minerals.

Dandelion AKA Taraxacum Officinale
It is too bad that so many people consider this a weed to wage war upon and be eradicated. Anytime that you see Officinale in the name of a plant you know that it is or was used medicinally at one time. Dandelion is not native to North America; however you will find it pretty much world wide as any where the Europeans explored it was taken along with as a natural remedy for many ailments. Virtually all of the plant can be used as medicine or food. Common uses – constipation, digestive complaints, and fluid retention generally and for high blood pressure and congestive heart failure, weight reduction. It can be used in salads and as a pot herb in soups and fried like spinach. Soothing teas can be made from roots or leaves. The seeds can be used in breads and as flour or as sprouts. It is often the first plant to appear in spring and the leaves are ideal as the first fresh food of the season, it is high in vitamin C and historically used to prevent or treat scurvy. Dandelion is one of the things I cultivate in my garden.

Fenugreek
Typically only the seeds are used as teas or in food. Extracts are used to mask the flavor of medications. Seems to work great for indigestion and low appetite. Commonly used for constipation and topically on wounds. There are indications that it lowers blood sugar levels and acts as a blood thinner. Be especially careful in use if you are a diabetic or on a blood thinner such as Coumadin – consult your health care provider before use.

Lemon balm
Melisa officnalis – can be used topically generally [smells good in soaps] sometimes sold commercially as an antiviral agent. Often used as a tea for respiratory ailments and as a sedative. Topically for wounds and skin disorders.

Yarrow
Yarrow is commonly used as a tea for digestive, upper respiratory and urinary complaints. A poultice can be used topically to slow or stop bleeding. Use caution if you are on a blood thinner.

General warning – do not use any thing on this list if you are pregnant or breastfeeding without FIRST discussing with your healthcare provider. This information is provided to spark discussion and for possible use after SHTF when normal services are not available. If you plan on using any plant for health reasons start off slowly with small doses until you know how you will react.

AND ALWAYS consult your healthcare provider using or doing anything.

Specially prepared for The Farmer’s Daughter by the folks at www.PrepareSurviveThrive.US