When you open your cupboard, did you know those herbs in there actaully have medicinal properties too.  Here are some of the properties of the herbs, and how you can use them.

ANISE – Use to treat gastric problems. Chew a few anise seeds and spit out.
BASIL – Treats digestive complaints. Rub on bee stings to prevent pain & swelling.
BAY LEAF – Good for indigestion. Use in soups and stews.
CARDAMON – Relives flatulence & eases digestion. Natural breath sweetener.
CHERVIL – Diuretic, expectorant, stimulant. Can lower high blood pressure.
CHIVES – Lowers blood pressure
CORIANDER – Aids digestion. Used in flavoring cough syrups and other mixtures.
CUMIN – Relieves flatulence and bloating. Stimulates entire digestive process. Widely used in the Middle Ages. Still favored in Egyptian Herbal Medicine.
DILL – Increases milk production for nursing mothers. Good for flatulence, colic. Relieves gas and calms digestion. Relieves intestinal spasms. Chewing seeds improves bad breath.
FENNEL – Treatment for gastritis. Increases milk production for humans & animals.
GARLIC – All around use medicinally. Good for colds, heart health, cholesterol.
GINGER – Treatment for vertigo, nausea, cholesterol. Treatment for arthritis.
HORSERADISH – Stimulates nasal flow. Good for head colds.
MARJORAM – Used to treat asthma, rheumatism and many other uses.
ONION –Eaten regularly-helps control blood pressure and heart troubles. Good for cholesterol.
OREGANO – Good rub for arthritis (mix with oil). Good disinfectant.
PARSELY – Great diuretic to use during weight loss. Best herb to treat kidney complaints. Clears up dandruff if used as hair rinse. Great natural breath freshener.
ROSEMARY – Stimulant. Makes a great muscle rub for arthritis. Can be fatal in excess.
TARRAGON – Relieves many gastric disorders
THYME – Great astringent. Relieves bites and stings. Used in cough syrups for its expectorant action. Over ingestion can stimulate the thyroid gland and lead to poisoning
TUMERIC – Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial. Improves action of liver and is a traditional remedy for jaundice in Ayurvedic and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Good for psoriasis & eczema as a poultice. More strongly antioxidant than vitamin E due to its curcumin. When exposed to sunlight, curcumin is strongly antibacterial. It is a strong anti-inflammatory- stronger than hydrocortisone. Lowers cholesterol.

The next time you open your spice cabinet, you’ll think of it a whole new way!

Cloverleaf Farm - Living life in the 1800s in Effingham New Hampshire

Many of our customers suffer from pain and soreness of shingles. Shingles is caused by the herpes simplex 1 virus. The same virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles is actually the reimergence of the chicken pox. The virus itself lays dormant in our bodies, even after the sores have healed. A good majority of people who had chicken pox as a child will develop shingles later in life.
Melissa Cream is a combination of  Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) herb, and other healing herbs to help heal shingles quickly. It can also be used to heal cold sores and herpes sores.
Lemon Balm Ointment can also be used for the healing of shingles, herpes, and cold sores.

Cloverleaf Farm - Living life in the 1800s in Effingham New Hampshire

Everyone knows what an apricot is. Don’t they?

The apricot (Prunus armeniaca), is a small delicious soft fruit that is yellowish to orange. They contain a pit inside of them. At the core of this pit is the kernel. This kernel is what is pressed to produce apricot kernel oil.

Apricot Kernel Oil is used in many skincare products and is also used as a carrier oil. Carrier oils are used as a base for aromatherapy massage oils.

Apricot oil is easily absorbed into the skin and is a good choice for people with dry skin. It does not leave any oily residue on the skin. It is an excellent choice of oil for all skin types. Apricot oil is gentle, and is mild enough for babies and the elderly.

Apricot kernel oil contains oleic and linoleic acid which are essential fatty acids. These are important plant chemicals for good skin health. It is also high in vitamins A and E. All of these plant compounds help to sooth and moisturize irritated skin. With daily applications of a product containing apricot oil, it will keep skin smooth and flexible. Apricot kernel oil is also used in lotions, creams, and balms, as well as in soaps.

Apricot kernel oil is cold pressed, which retains all of the nutritional value of the oil. If it does not say cold pressed on the label, it is an inferior oil. Look for oil that is a rich yellowy color, that has a mild to strong scent for the best results.

Cloverleaf Farm - Living life in the 1800s in Effingham New Hampshire

While writing an article on back yard herbs, my mind turned to spring. Green grass between my toes, and the warmth of the earth traveling up through my body. Ahh, it is a nice feeling.
It is summer in mind, yet in truth it is still winter. We will have winter until at least April.
That does not deter me from thinking about all the herbs in the back yard, that I will be picking again this year.
Red Clover is a wonderful herb. We allow patches to grow all over our yard. When we mow, it is like mowing around a obstacle course. I am sure our neighbors think we are crazy, but we don’t mind. We know the wonderful healing powers of red clover oil, or that it makes a delicious iced tea!
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Some common Names: Red Clover, Purple Clover, Trefoil, Wild Clover
History
A a member of the bean family, red clover has a long history of being a nutritious cattle fodder, as well as a medicine.
Gerard knew it as meadow trefoil or “three-leaved grasse”. Its familiar three-lobed leaves were associated by medieval Christians with the trinity.
During the 1930s, it was a popular anticancer remedy. Red Clover contains phytoestrogens, and it should not be used on any estrogenic cancers.

The crescent markings across the clover leaflets were once viewed as a sign that the plant would help cataracts since, in accordance with the Doctrine of Signatures, a plant’s appearance indicates the ailments it treats.
From the hills of Tennessee, a cancer cure: “Place two or three teaspoons of red clover blossoms in a cup of boiling water, steep mixture until a tea is formed. Drink one cup a day”. In the 1917 herb book, Health From Field and Forest, it listed red clover as one of the best blood purifiers, especially in the case of cancer.
The Chinese revere red clover (Hsun Tsao) as a tonic, using the sap to treat colds and influenza. At one time in Chinese history, the dried plant was burned at altars as an incense.

Medicinal Parts
Flower heads of Red Clover contain volatile oils that are thought to have mild anti-inflammatory properties useful in treating eczema and other skin inflammations.
It also contains compounds that help calm coughs and reduce airway congestion.
Some contend that red clover is more effective than soy because it contains two extra isoflavones that soy does not have.
Chinese researchers have proven that the herb kills certain viral and fungal infections, has an estrogenlike function, and is an antispasmodic and expectorant.

Remedies
Apply freshly crushed red clover flowers are applied to insect bites and stings. A tincture can be used internally for eczema and psoriasis. Use a poultice or compress for arthritic pains. Oils, or Ointments are used on lymphatic swellings. An eyewash from diluted and well strained infusion can be used to treat conjunctivitis. Use Red Clover syrup for stubborn, dry coughs.
Its estrogenic effects may be of value in treating menopausal complaints. You can use Red Clover Oil externally, or drink red clover as a tea. Never ingest the oil!

Cautions
Red Clover should not be taken with Coumadin or other blood-thinning medication. Red clover contains coumarins, substances that reduce blood clotting.

When gathering the herb in the wild, it is advisable to check the blossoms carefully to make sure they are not moldy, or diseased. Be sure to pick where no pesticides have been used.

Cloverleaf Farm - Living life in the 1800s in Effingham New Hampshire

Alternative healing is becoming more popular every year as people look towards more natural approaches to health and living.

However, herbs were used many thousands of years before medicine, as we know it today came into existence. The properties they were used for 5000 years ago are as valid today as they were then.

Herbal medicine is of course natural to your body, and has far fewer side effects. They also have far fewer interactions with other herbs, medications and supplements then most doctors and others would have you believe.
When used properly, herbal medicine can cure and treat everything from anxiety to whooping cough.

It was once said that God gives us in nature exactly what we need to heal ourselves. It is up to us to use this knowledge wisely.

Herbs may be natural, but that does not mean they are not powerful medicine. They should be treated with care and respect the way you would any drug. Furthermore with herbs, more does not necessarily mean better. Herbs can take longer to act on an illness, but that does not mean they are not working. By taking more, it can endanger your health instead of repairing it.

Cloverleaf Farm - Living life in the 1800s in Effingham New Hampshire

Cloverleaf Farm - Living life in the 1800s in Effingham New Hampshire

 On the January 26 Dr. Oz show, he did a segment on natural cures for everyday problems.

One of the problems that Dr. Oz discussed was healing cold sores using lemon balm ointment. While he is correct, it is not a new treatment. He was stating what herbalists world wide have been using to treat herpes cold sores and other viral skin infections for centuries.  

Lemon Balm, also known by it’s Latin name Melissa Officinalis contains eugenol and other botanical chemical compounds that fight herpes cold sores. Lemon balm ointment heals most herpes cold sores in 2-4 days. It cuts healing time in half , and when used regularly, can even stop cold sore outbreaks.
There are 3 different forms of herpes:

Herpes Simplex Virus-1: The symptoms of HSV-1 herpes simplex infection are cold sores, fever with blisters occurring on the lips, the mouth and even, near the eyes.
Herpes Simplex Virus-2: The herpes simplex HSV-2 causes genital herpes. This type of herpes is characterized by fluid released from herpes blisters and sores near the genitals.
Herpes Varicella Zoster Virus: This type of herpes virus causes shingles and chickenpox. The infection in this case causes blisters on the abdomen,buttocks, face, arms and legs.

Lemon Balm can be used to treat each of the herpes virus family.

Lemon balm is also very useful on chicken pox and shingles. As both chicken pox and shingles are of the same virus family as herpes, it can be used for naturally healing the sores. Lemon Balm used topically, on the sores of chicken pox and shingles will help them heal much quicker than on their own.

Lemon balm is also used for anxiety and stress when taken as a tea, or tincture.  Never ingest the oil!

Visit www.lemonbalmointment.com  or  http://www.cloverleaffarmherbs.com/lemon-balm/ for more  information the healing  powers of lemon balm.

Cloverleaf Farm - Living life in the 1800s in Effingham New Hampshire

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Many will get roses as a gift. Did you know that rose has been used for centuries in aromatherapy as well as for beauty.

The medicinal part to the rose is the flowers, petals, rosehips, root, root bark, and the essential oil. Lotions and creams are made using rose because rose is great for sensitive and delicate skin.  Rosewater and witch hazel can be combined to make a wonderful tonic for your skin.

In aromatherapy, rose is used for depression and anxiety. Sniff just a couple of drop of the essential oil, and let the aroma’s do their job.

Rosehips are a great source of Vitamin C, and can be given to children. Rosehip tea flavored with just a touch of golden honey is a welcomed treat when a cold hits.

Rose by another other name would not be so sweet…..To read the entire article on rose http://www.cloverleaffarmherbs.com/rose/.
Be sure to talk with your health care provider before using herbs or herbal remedies.

Cloverleaf Farm - Living life in the 1800s in Effingham New Hampshire

Had a wonderful time at the Effingham Holiday Craft Festival yesterday. Thanks to all who stopped by our booth.

Source: www.facebook.com

Cloverleaf Farm - Living life in the 1800s in Effingham New Hampshire

We’ll be at the Effingham Holiday Craft Festival today from 9-3. Stop by and say hello.
There is a Chinese Auction and a 50/50 raffle to help raise money for the Effingham Public Library!
Support Local!

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Cloverleaf Farm - Living life in the 1800s in Effingham New Hampshire