Today someone reading my post about cinnamon and honey weight loss tea asked whether it would be safe to use during pregnancy. I looked through my herbals and found a recipe for easing pregnancy, which uses cinnamon, so that indicates to me that cinnamon could be safe for pregnant women (and their unborn dear ones.)

From John Lust’s herbal, The Herb Book: The Complete and Authoritative Guide to More Than 500 Herbs:
This is said to prevent nausea and miscarriage. It is also for reducing labor pains and increasing milk production.
1 part cinnamon
5 parts blackberry leaves
5 parts milfoil
10 parts raspberry leaves
Steep 1 teaspoon in 1/2 cup boiling water. Take 1/2 to 1 cup daily in mouthful doses.

Note that there’s to be NO OVERDOSING… which is what I need to address concerning the cinnamon and honey diet. Though the cinnamon may be safe in normal amounts, drinking large amounts might not be safe during pregnancy. Plus, I wonder about the wisdom of trying to diet during pregnancy. This is something a pregnant woman should definitely discuss with her physician.

In addition, you should be aware that there are certain herbs intentionally used (by some) to terminate pregnancies. Here’s the list of common herbs a pregnant woman should avoid:

Angelica
Birthroot
Blue Cohosh
Brooklime
Bugloss
Cotton Root Bark
Ergot
Golden Seal
Ground Pine
Juniper
Male Fern
Motherwort
Mayapple
Pennyroyal
Potassium Permanganate
Rue
St. Johns Wort
Savin
Tansy
Thyme
Valerian
Yarrow
This information is derived from two sources, Herbs & Things - Jeanne Rose’s herbal, and Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs.

All these are likely to cause abortion to occur. DON’T try this at home! I’m against abortion in general so I’m hoping this won’t be taken by anyone as a way to terminate a life. I put the list here for the benefit of herb-using women who want to preserve their pregnancies.

This list of herbs said to ease childbirth comes from John Lust’s The Herb Book:
Althea
American Spikenard
Bennet
Birthwort
Black Cohosh
Blind Nettle
Blue Cohosh
Cannabis
Columbine
Comfrey
Common Groundsel
Cotton
European Ragwort
Flax
Garden Raspberry
Garden Violet
Goat’s Rue
Horehound
Iceland Moss
Lady’s Mantle
Pansy
Primrose
Ragwort
Shepherd’s Purse
Silverweed
Spikenard
Squaw Vine
Wild Red Raspberry
Wormwood

NOTE - some of these are mentioned on the ‘do not use’ list… I’d especially avoid Blue Cohosh! Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs says it isn’t safe to use.

And about the Wormwood - I wouldn’t use that either. I know that too much of that is a danger.

Personally, I’d stick to something simple like Raspberry Leaf Tea which is well-known to be good for pregnancies.

Jeanne Rose wrote: “Raspberry leaf tea has been used for hundreds of years by women throughout their pregnancy to ease the pains of labor, to prevent miscarriage, and to increase the milk supply. It was mentioned by Pliny in his medical botany books. For the tea: one ounce of the leaves is steeped in twenty ounces of water for fifteen minutes, strained, and drunk - at least two cups per day. The leaves are also used as an astringent for diarrhea, as a gargle for sore mouths, and as an infusion to wash external ulcers and wounds. The berries are excellent eaten during a bout of diarrhea.” - Herbs & Things, page 100.

Also, note on the list of herbs that ease pregnancy, Cannabis is listed. This is Marijuana.. which is, in my opinion, a miracle healing herb… but I recommend that mothers do NOT use it during pregnancy or at any other time. The reason is that use of Marijuana is cause for child welfare agents (CPS or DHS social workers) to take children from their mothers. Especially during pregnancy, this is a real danger. I have met a young woman who used Marijuana to ease birth pains, who never got to take her child home from the hospital because THC was found in her baby’s urine. You will notice, if you give birth in a hospital, one of the first things they do is slap a urine sack on the infant to collect urine for drug testing. YES, this is true! And babies with any kind of drugs in their system are taken away from their parents. So DON’T use Cannabis/Marijuana while you’re pregnant. It just isn’t safe. If you use it you might need my other site: Fighting Child Protective Services CPS False Accusations, and I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone.

One more very important thing! Use moderation, no matter what herb you choose, whether you’re pregnant or not. Too much of any herb can be dangerous. If you’re not certain a herb is safe, ask your obstetrician or (if you’re breastfeeding) your pediatrician.

Here are the links to the herbals I used for this post:

One of my favorite vegetarian dishes is pasta. My boyfriend likes his with canned Alfredo sauce and mushrooms on it. I like that too, but when I make it I usually use herbs, sometimes with chunks of fresh tomato tossed in for flavor, color, and health.

While cooking the pasta I heat a frying pan containing a small amount of oil and sliced fresh garlic. My choices for oil are olive oil, coconut oil, or sunflower oil… all organic. For this, I usually choose olive oil because I love the flavor. To my garlic I add salt, thyme, parsley, kelp flakes, oregano and basil. When the pasta is cooked and drained, I put some in the frying pan with my oil and herbs, and mix it together. The fresh tomatoes go in last, when the heat is turned off. Then I put it all on a plate with Parmesan cheese on top, and sometimes a little grated sharp cheddar right under the Parmesan. Mmmmm… I am such a pasta lover.

You notice I share my recipes but usually don’t mention amounts. I expect that we all have have an inner instinct for knowing how much to use. Learning to rely on that is part of becoming a confident cook. My grandmother never used measuring cups or spoons, and I rarely do.

Pasta choices… my boyfriend likes fettuccine. Honestly, I like it all but usually use fettuccine, spaghetti, or macaroni.

A few nights ago I went to the regular Friday evening fund-raising dinner at our local art center. This is a vegan/vegetarian dinner. They served big pasta shells with some kind of sauce (I should have asked) along with a green salad, cooked beets, and a slice of homemade bread. The dinner was satisfying and delicious, and for five dollars, I enjoyed the meal and the company of artistically minded people. The money is to be used to build a new art center in our remote mountain town.

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.]

Here’s a recipe for herbal sunburn relief:

Simmer a handful of comfrey root with a handful of crushed marshmallow root in 1 cup of oil and 1 cup of white wine - for twenty minutes. Strain, and apply to burns or sunburns when cool.

Keep an eye on it and keep the heat very low.

I got this recipe from Jeanne Rose’s original herbal, Herbs and Things. I bought my copy in 1972 right after it was published, at a health food store in San Francisco’s Sunset District. A few months later I registered in a class about herbs at Heliotrope University in San Francisco, and Jeanne Rose was the teacher! The classes took place in her kitchen, so I got to see her room full of herbs and her herb garden, and drank herb tea with her. I was twenty at the time, and pregnant with my first child, Joshua, who is now a musician living in San Francisco.

I’m amazed I have a first edition of this book, and now the 19th edition is being sold!

Anyhow, I recommend Jeanne Rose’s book and will probably share recipes and information from it again in the future, though I also use other herbals and the internet for reference material these days.