Herbal Remedies - Cedarsong Nature School

Cedarsong Naturalists lovingly and sustainably harvest the plants, then prepare the extracts with either alcohol (tinctures), oil (massage oils and salves), or vinegar. Their process yields a superior product and you will notice the difference. Since we live in the northwest, it makes sense to use plant material that grows where we do. Additional tinctures available by request include Yellow Dock, Dandelion, Valerian, Devils Club and Oregon Grape. Special orders will be crafted; just ask!

Remedies marked with an asterisk are available at The Country Store and Gardens on Vashon, Washington, or through their website at www.vashoncountrystore.com. For more information and special ordering contact Erin Kenny.

All proceeds from sales of these remedies are donated to Cedarsong Nature School's Scholarship Fund for budding naturalists.

PRODUCTS

Tinctures: $11 per one ounce bottle
Balm of Gilead: $9 per ounce jar

**IMMUNE BOOSTER
Our Immune Booster tincture is formulated to work in your body in the same way as the popular Echinacea-Goldenseal combination except that we use all local, fresh herbs to prepare our tinctures and they are therefore more effective for those who live in the Pacific Northwest. The combination includes Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), which stimulates white blood cell activity and strengthens your immune system; Oregon Grape (Mahonia nervosa), a well-known blood purifier and liver supporter. This tincture should be taken at the first sign of illness or feeling run-down: 40-60 drops 3 times a day. Western Red Cedar is not appropriate if you are pregnant or have had a kidney disease.

**WESTERN RED CEDAR
Western Red Cedar is a strong immune booster and can be used instead of echinacea.Take 40-60 drops three times a day at the first sign that your immune system has been compromised. Also works great topically for athlete's foot, as it is anti-fungal. Additionally, it is a wonderful respiratory support herb. Tinctures are herbal preparations made with alcohol. They should be taken on the tongue,not under it, and for those wishing to avoid alcohol, or for use with children,simply put the tincture dosage in a cup of warm water or tea and the alcohol will evaporate within minutes.

**BALM OF GILEAD OIL OR SALVE
Balsam poplar has been used as an anti-inflammatory since the second century A.D. It is as effective as arnica but with a wider variety of uses. It works great on lower back or shoulder and neck pain; in fact on any type of sore muscle. It will help heal bruises and reduce swelling. It is also wonderful for any kind of rashes or abrasions. Since it is heating, it is great for warming cold feet. Simply rub some of the massage oil into the affected area, or use it the next time you give someone a healing massage.

SPECIAL ORDERS

COLTSFOOT
Coltsfoot is a strong anti-spasmodic for the bronchial, stomach and colon. Especially effective for hacking coughs due to muscle spasms; it stops a cough immediately. Coltsfoot was a traditional herb in cough syrups until the turn of the century. Take 40-60 drops as often as needed. Tinctures are herbal preparations made with alcohol. They should be taken on the tongue, not under it and for those wishing to avoid alcohol, or for use with children, simply put the tincture dosage in a cup of warm water or tea and the alcohol will evaporate within minutes.

ST. JOHNSWORT
St. Johnswort is useful for any type of nervous condition. It is most well know for its effectiveness with mild to moderate depression, but it can also be generally calming to the nerves. It also is useful for any nerve-based pain such as shingles or TMJ. Take 40-60 drops three times a day for four weeks. Tinctures are herbal preparations made with alcohol. They should be taken on the tongue, not under it, and for those wishing to avoid alcohol, or for use with children, simply put the tincture dosage in a cup of warm water or tea and the alcohol will evaporate within minutes.

WESTERN BLEEDING HEART
Western Bleeding Heart is a powerful narcotic analgesic. It is extremely helpful for nagging lower back pain but also works wonders for any type of frustration or smoldering anger. It can test false positive for opiates and is not suitable for pregnant or lactating women. Take 40-60 drops as needed for immediate relief. Tinctures are herbal preparations made with alcohol. They should be taken on the tongue, not under it and for those wishing to avoid alcohol, or for use with children, simply put the tincture dosage in a cup of warm water or tea and the alcohol will evaporate within minutes.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR HERBAL TINCTURES

Plants have been used as medicine for thousands of years. Every ancient culture was knowledgeable about their local plants' healing powers. Today, most herbalists make use of predominantly European, Chinese, and Ayurvedic herbs. However, the northwest is rich in medicinal plants that the northwest coast natives used extensively for healing.

What is a tincture?
A tincture is an extract made with alcohol. Herbal tinctures are made by soaking plant material in alcohol until all the constituents are extracted.

Why are tinctures made with alcohol?
Tinctures are made with alcohol because it is one of the most efficient solvents and extracts virtually all of the chemical constituents from the plant material. It then acts as a medium through which the plant medicine is ingested into the body. Because the alcohol is also a preservative, your herbal tinctures will last in potency for a couple of years.

What can I do if I don't want to ingest the alcohol?
Tincture dosages can be put into warm water, or tea, and the alcohol will completely evaporate within minutes, leaving only the extracted plant constituents. Alternatively, tincture dosages can be taken full strength with a water chaser. The amount of alcohol in a 40 drop tincture dose is negligible.

How do I use tinctures?
Use of herbal tinctures depends on the desired effect, the problem being treated, and the relative health of the individual. In general, there are some herbal tinctures that are used preventatively, like immune system strengtheners such as Western Red Cedar or Echinacea, while other herbs are used to treat specific problems like coughs (Coltsfoot) or insomnia (Valerian). Most herbalists recommend taking tinctures three times a day, in the usual dosage range of 20-60 drops. Most tinctures can also be used topically also, especially if the desired result is analgesic.

Why are most commercial tinctures only 45-60% alcohol, while yours are sometimes higher?
Read the labels of most commercial tinctures and you will find that water has been added to dilute the tincture. We leave the tincture full-strength, allowing you to dilute it as you wish.

Is there a difference in using fresh or dried plant material?
Yes, there is an amazing difference in the strength of the tincture (the potency of the desired chemicals) and in the color (fresh plant tinctures are much more vivid). Superior tinctures are always made with fresh plant material only. Our wildcrafted plants are placed in alcohol within 24 hours of being picked, ensuring the highest quality of raw material.

What does the term "wildcrafted" mean?
Wildcrafted plants are those which are gathered from their wild natural habitat and not cultivated. The more pristine the environment from where the plants are gathered, the more pure and free from pollutants the resulting herbal tincture. All of our herbal tinctures are wildcrafted from the ancient forests of the Cascade mountains in western Washington.

What is the difference between native and naturalized plants?
Native plants are those which have been growing in this region since before the white settlers. Naturalized plants are those that end up in this region, through human intervention or otherwise, and acclimatize to this environment. Over a few hundred years, these plants are considered to be naturalized.