Herb lore

In this chapter, we’ll explore a sampling of the Herb Lore at our disposal and find out what plants and animal products our ancestors relied on for health and well being.

Herb Lore, or Herbalism, is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy. The scope of herbal medicine is sometimes extended to include fungal and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain animal parts.

People on all continents have used hundreds to thousands of indigenous plants for treatment of ailments since prehistoric times. Medicinal herbs were found in the personal effects of an "ice man", whose body was frozen in the Swiss Alps for more than 5,300 years. These herbs appear to have been used to treat the parasites found in his intestines. Anthropology or anthropologists theorize that animals evolved a tendency to seek out bitter plant parts in response to illness.

Indigenous healers often claim to have learned by observing that sick animals change their food preferences to nibble at bitter herbs they would normally reject. Field biologists have provided corroborating evidence based on observation of diverse species, such as chimpanzees, chickens, sheep and butterflies. Lowland gorillas take 90% of their diet from the fruits of Aframomum melegueta, a relative of the ginger plant, that is a potent antimicrobial and apparently keeps shigellosis and similar infections at bay.

The use of herbs and spices in cuisine developed in part as a response to the threat of food-borne pathogens. Studies show that in tropical climates where pathogens are the most abundant, recipes are the most highly spiced. Further, the spices with the most potent antimicrobial activity tend to be selected.  In all cultures vegetables are spiced less than meat, presumably because they are more resistant to spoilage.

Stinging Nettle

Latin: Urtica dioica

Plant family: Urticaceae

Part used: Leaves, Stem and Root

Taste: Bitter

Historical Notes: As Old English Stiðe, nettle is one of the nine plants invoked in the pagan Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm, recorded in the 10th century. In medieval Europe, it was used as a diuretic (to rid the body of excess water) and to treat joint pain.

Actions: Astringent, diuretic and tonic

Modern findings

Nettle leaf has a long tradition in the treatment of arthritis in Germany. Nettle leaf extract contains active compounds that reduce TNF-a and other inflammatory cytokines. It has been demonstrated that nettle leaf lowers TNF-a levels by potently inhibiting the genetic transcription factor that activates TNF-a and IL-1B in the synovial tissue that lines the joint. Nettle root extracts have been extensively studied in human clinical trials as a treatment for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These extracts have been shown to help relieve symptoms compared to placebo both by themselves and when combined with other herbal medicines.

Preparations & Dosage

Tisane: prepare by pouring 2/3 cup of boiling water over 3 - 4 tsp of dried leaves or dried root and steeping for 3 - 5 minutes. Drink 3 - 4 cups per day. You can also make an infusion with fresh nettle leaves. Always drink additional water along with the tea.

• Dried leaf: 2 - 4 grams, 3 times a day.
• Fluid extract: (root,1:1): 1.5 mL, 3 - 4 times daily. 
• Fluid extract (leaf, 1:1): 2 - 5 mL 3 times daily.
• Tincture (root, 1:5): 1 - 4 mL 3 - 4 times daily.

Active constituents: The leaves contain minerals, amines, flavonol glycosides, phenolic acids, scopoletin, b-sitosterol, as well as tannins, while the roots contain polysaccharides, a lectin, phenolics, sterols and their glycosides.

Cautions: Occasional side effects include mild stomach upset, fluid retention, and hives or rash (mainly from topical use). It is important to be careful when handling the nettle plant because touching it can cause an allergic rash. Stinging nettle should never be applied to an open wound. Because nettle can alter the menstrual cycle and may contribute to miscarriage, pregnant women should not use nettle.

For more great Herbal cures and remedies used by our ancestors, please pick up a copy of Northern Lore!