A few days ago I got into my car, which I’d parked under the tree next to my house, and noticed a lot of Madrone bark had fallen onto the window. It reminded me that Pacific Madrone is a tree that Native Americans here in the Klamath River Valley used for medicine, years ago.

The berries of the Pacific Madrone mature around November. In centuries past, they were gathered to use as food, though eating many at one time is not recommended. I have tasted them, and find them either bitter or tasteless with a dark red outer peel and a white interior. I imagine that they could have been a great treat for Native Americans, prior to the proliferation of sugary treats we’re now accustomed to. But since our taste buds have been spoiled by ice cream, candy, and cookies, Madrone berries don’t hold quite the same attraction they might have two hundred years ago.

My son used to always gather Madrone berries to string together before the winter holidays - they make attractive country-style garlands on a Christmas tree, or hung above windows.

Madrone bark curls and peels naturally from the trees, so you don’t have to worry about hurting a tree for the bark. It is easy to gather. Native Americans brewed the tea to use topically on wounds and sores. It was also used to settle upset stomachs, but I’ve never used it internally and don’t know how safe that is.

The Pacific Madrone grows all along the USA West Coast from Santa Barbara to Washington. There’s another variety of Madrone that grows in Texas. For you who are amateur herbalists - if you don’t live in one of these locations, and would like a sample of Madrone bark for your collection, feel free to email your address to me. I’m willing to mail out an envelope full of bark so long as I’m living in the Klamath River Valley. I’m surrounded by madrone trees, and the bark here is plenteous.

It is product day here at Country Kitchen Pantry, and today I’m going to tell you what I’ve been eating for breakfast every day lately.

Clif Bars are perfect for taking on a long hike, and eating in the woods. Alternatively, they’re great for a quick, nutritious breakfast when you’re in a hurry to blog then get ready for work. They are clean and neat to eat right at the computer keyboard. No crumbs! And they taste wonderful. At least I like them, especially my current favorite flavor, “Peanut Toffee Buzz”.

The buzz comes from a bit of green tea content. Not a lot, but it is a bit of a pick-me-up which I appreciate due to the fact I quit drinking coffee over a year ago. Green tea is much better for us than coffee. We all know that!

Here are the ingredients for the Clif Bar I ate this morning:

Organic Brown Rice Syrup, ClifPro™ (Soy Rice Crisps [Soy Protein Isolate, Rice Flour, Malt Extract], Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soy Flour), Organic Rolled Oats, Dry Roasted Peanuts, ClifCrunch™ (Apple Fiber, Organic Oat Fiber, Organic Milled Flaxseed, Inulin [Chicory Extract], Psyllium), Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Peanut Toffee (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Peanuts, Cocoa Butter, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Dry Roasted Peanuts, Natural Flavors, Salt, Soy Lecithin), Organic Peanut Butter (Organic Dry Roasted Peanuts, Salt), Icing (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Cocoa Butter, Soy Milk, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavors), Peanut Flour, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Green Tea Extract (50mg caffeine equivalent).

There’s a warning for allergic people: Contains soy and peanuts. May contain traces of dairy and tree nuts. We source ingredients which do not contain wheat, dairy, and are not genetically engineered.

As you can see, Clif Bars use lots of organic ingredients. The label says, “70% Organic Ingredients”. I think that’s pretty good. Sure tastes good, anyhow.

There’s also a cute story on the label about how the founder of Clif Bars had an epiphany in 1990 when he was eating an energy bar, and realized he could make better energy bars at home. He experimented for two years in his mother’s kitchen. His business is an incredible success because his products are outstandingly good. If you haven’t tried a Clif Bar yet, maybe you will now that you’ve read about how much I’m enjoying them.

[Note: I’m not being paid for my recommendation. I don’t do pay-per-post blogging.]

Eczema hit me during my first pregnancy. I went from having wonderful, clear skin to having dry scaly itchy patches all over my arms and legs. My obstetrician told me, “Pregnancy brings on all sorts of unexpected changes.” Fortunately this dreadful skin condition went away and didn’t return again until my next pregnancy, six years later. After that, it never quite went away completely until recently.

I believe my recovery is mainly due to taking high quality multi-vitamins and a hair and skin supplement. This is a great start toward better skin health, but in the meantime an essential oil blend may help ease the discomfort of itchy, dry skin.

To make an essential oil blend for eczema skin care start with a nourishing carrier oil such as:

Avocado Oil

Evening Primrose Oil

Hazelnut Oil

Jojoba Oil

Wheatgerm Oil

If these aren’t available, you could try Almond Oil, or even Olive Oil.

The carrier oil should be 97% of the solution, at least.

Add a few drops of one of the oils listed below. You may have to experiment to see what works well for you.

Balsam Oil

*Bergamot Oil

Cade Oil

Carrot Seed Oil

Cedarwood Oil

*Chamomile Oil (German Chamomile or Roman Chamomile)

Geranium Oil

*Helichrysum Oil

Hyssop Oil

Juniper Oil

*Lavender Oil

Lavandin Oil

Marigold Oil

Myrrh Oil

*Patchouli Oil

*Rose Oil (Damask Rose or Cabbage Rose)

Rosemary Oil

Spanish Sage Oil

Thyme Oil

Violet Oil

White Birch Oil

Yarrow Oil

*considered most effective

…

Sources:

Personal experience with this problem.

Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to The Use of Aromatic Oils In Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Health and Well Being by Julia Lawless

Aromatherapy For Women by Maggie Tisserand

[Note: There are creams that doctors can prescribe to alleviate eczema symptoms. Nothing in this article is meant to discourage treatment by a qualified medical doctor. I am not a doctor - I’m a self-trained herbal practitioner.]

Herbs have been an important part of my life for a long time. When I lived in California’s Central Valley, in Tulare, I had my first herb garden in my backyard. Everything grew abundantly and easily, and the variety of plants thrilled me. Perhaps I was spoiled because I had the best soil possible, and everywhere I’ve lived since then has been progressively worse for my herb growing hobby.

Now I live in a remote mountain river valley where my home is built on a hill made from the tailings of an old gold mine. The ground is very inhospitable to many types of plants and it seems I can’t grow anything without imported dirt. Still I’ve had a bit of success with a few herbs, especially sage.

Fortunately there are herbs that grow abundantly in the wild near here such as Klamath Weed - a pretty plant with yellow flowers, better known as St. John’s Wort. The scientific name is Hypericum Perforatum. Other names it is known by are Tipton Weed, Johnswort, St. Johnswort, Amber, and Goatweed.

“Wort” is an Anglo Saxon word meaning “plant” or “herb”.

St. John’ s Wort is said to be:

Analgesic: Used to reduce pain. (3)

Antispasmodic: Used to relieve spasms and cramps. (1)

Astringent: Used to contract tissues, reducing discharges and secretions. (1)

Diuretic: Causing increased secretion of urine. (1)

Expectorant: Used to expel mucus from the respiratory system. (1)

Nervine: Used to soothe the nerves. (1)

Vermifuge: Used to expel and destroy intestinal worms. (1)

Vulnerary: Used topically to heal wounds. (1)

To make an oil extract, put fresh St. John’ s Wort leaves and flowers in a jar and cover with olive oil. Close the jar and leave it in a sunny place for six weeks, shaking it often. The oil will turn red. Strain the oil with a cloth. If the oil develops a watery layer, siphon it off. The oil should keep for two years in a dark container. This oil can be applied to bruises, swellings, and wounds. (1, 2)

To make an infusion: Steep 1/2 teaspoon St. John’ s Wort leaf in 1/2 cup water for five minutes, covered. Take warm, 1/2 cup before breakfast, and 1/2 cup before bedtime. (1)

For anemia: Mix St. John’ s Wort and European Centaury in equal parts. Steep 1 teaspoonful in 1/2 cup boiled water, and sweeten with 1/2 teaspoon honey. Drink 1 cup to 1 +1/2 cups daily, by mouthfuls. (1)

To improve general energy and vitality, mix Balm with St. John’ s Wort in equal amounts. Steep 1 teaspoonful in 1/2 cup boiled water, and sweeten with 1/2 teaspoon honey. Drink 1 cup to 1 +1/2 cups daily, by mouthfuls. Continue to use daily for an extended period of time. (1)

For insomnia: Mix 1 part Fragrant Valerian, 2 parts St. John’ s Wort, 3 parts Hops, 5 parts Lavender flowers, 10 parts Primrose flowers. Steep 1+1/2 teaspoon in 1/2 cup of boiled water for ten minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon honey and drink before going to bed. (1)

For insomnia: Mix Fragrant Valerian root, St. John’ s Wort, Primrose flowers and Lavender flowers in equal parts. Steep 1 heaping tablespoonful in 1/2 cup of boiled water and drink before bedtime, a mouthful at a time. (1)

For menstrual cramps: Mix St. John’ s Wort with European mistletoe (NOT American mistletoe!) in equal parts. Parboil 1 teaspoon in 1/2 cup water, then steep, covered, for five minutes. Take by teaspoonfuls. (1)

You can use the yellow flowers of St. John’ s Wort to dye wool; set with alum as a mordant. (1)

During the middle ages, St. John’ s Wort was one of several herbs traditionally added to fires on St. John’s Eve (June 23) to eliminate evil spirits. This tradition may have originated with the ancient Gauls. These fires were lit on hills and other high places to protect people living in the area, their animals, and their crops. Other herbs used include Mugwort, Ivy, Milfoil, Vervain, Elder, Figwort, Fennel, Melilot, Camomile, Plantain, Hawthorne, Lavender, and Male Fern. (1)

Hang the plant in your window on St. John’s Day (June 24) to keep away ghosts, spirits, and familiars all year long. (2)

To dream of your future husband, pick the plant on St. John’s Day Eve and hang it on your bedroom wall. (2)

A bit more about St. John’s Wort and St. John the Baptist: St. John’s Wort was believed to be most potent if harvested on St. John’s Day, that it is the day it first blooms, and it was said that the flowers bleed red on the day St. John the Baptist was beheaded in August. (3) I can tell you, around here St. John’s Wort blooms in June, but not necessarily starting on St. John’s Day. I do agree, however, that June 23-24 is an ideal time to harvest St. John’s Wort.

To control vomiting and spitting of blood, combine St. John’s Wort with Knot Grass. (2)

St. John’ s Wort has been smoked (burned, to create smoke, not inhaled) inside a home, and in copying this ancient tradition we could add it to smudge sticks. (1)

St. John’ s Wort was also carried or hung around the neck as an amulet to ward off evil spirits. (1)

St. John’ s Wort has been added to brandy and wine, and drunk to alleviate insanity or melancholy. (2)

Of course, these days it is common for people to use St. John’s Wort for depression. The main known side effect is an increased sensitivity to light.

For coughs, clearing lungs: A decoction can be made of the entire plant. To make a decoction boil 1 part plant to 20 parts water for twenty minutes in a closed, enamel container. Add roots first as they take the longest to extract medicinal value from. (2)

Welsh health test: At one time sprigs of St. John’s Wort were hung overnight by Welsh families from the rafters, after naming a sprig for each family member. The degree to which each sprig shriveled by morning was believed to be indicative of the health of that family member. (3)

The scientific name, “Hypericaceae” means “above an icon” - and in the past, St. John’s Wort was placed above icons and pictures to ward off evil. (3)

When pinched the yellow flower petals bleed red. (3)

According to John Cole, a 17th century herbalist who believed in the Doctrine of Signatures, the fact that the plant has pores means that it is good for all types of skin problems. The Doctrine of Signatures says that a plant’s appearance indicates its uses. (3)

One herbal states that St. John’s Wort has been used for bedwetting and urinary complaints. (3) It makes no sense that a plant that is a diuretic would be used for bedwetting, since that would increase it, not decrease the problem. The only way that I could see this as a possible solution is if the tea were given in the morning to induce elimination of fluids before night comes.

Diuretics are prescribed for control of high blood pressure, or for alleviating swelling of the feet and lower legs.

Other maladies cited as helped by St. John’s Wort: digestive upsets, ulcers, gastritis, diarrhea, nausea, bruises, hemorrhoids, nerve damage, trauma. (3)

If you’re at all interested in using St. John’s Wort, please read this St. John’s Wort Information which discusses contraindications and types of prescribed drugs it should not be used with.

Sources:

(1) The Herb Book by John Lust

(2) Herbs and Things by Jeanne Rose

(3) Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs

…

Submitted to the Carnival of Healing.

My kids have been drinking SoBe beverages for years, but I rarely did - until lately. Since I started working again, I’ve gotten into the habit of drinking SoBe Green Tea.

This comes after a year when I pretty much abstained from all caffeine containing products, and all herb teas. I drank mainly water - either spring water or distilled.

Being at work, I needed an occasional pick-me-up kind of drink, and I shy away from the soda machine and am not much of a fan of the iced tea, which we make with Lipton tea bags. The SoBe Green Tea is practically the only drink in the place that I really like.

I usually take a bottle of water with me to work, then I see the green tea, and put my water bottle in the fridge. The herbs in the tea are exactly what I need. It contains ginseng, guarana, ginko biloba, and echinacea.

Let’s take a look at what each of these herbs do:

Ginseng is known for stimulating brain activity and energizing the entire body.

Guarana grows in Brazil and Venezuela. The seeds are crushed and dried, then used to make a stimulating drink containing three times as much caffeine as coffee. Besides all the usual and well-known effects of caffeine, the herb reduces the appetite. It has been used for hangovers and for menstrual headaches.

Ginko Biloba promotes a healthy memory and mental functioning.

Echinacea is a blood purifier and aids digestion. It is also good for skin conditions and for chasing away the common cold.

Even the green tea itself is beneficial for its disease preventing antioxidants.

I believe this drink is just about perfect for staying awake, alert, and useful at work. Lately I’ve noticed my supervisor is also drinking it, and getting as much from it as I am.

One problem: our supply is running low and there are no more deliveries scheduled in the near future!

[Note: As always, I am not being paid for this recommendation. I don’t do pay-per-post postings.]