Botanical Name : Galium aparine Energetics :  Cooling, moistening Major Properties : Lymphatic, relaxing, detoxifier Examples of Uses: easing issues with urination, kidney and prostate issues, lymph mover, dryness Parts Used : Aerial parts early in season while still vibrant Preparations: Tincture (I've only used it as a tincture) Can also be used as a cold infusion - pour cold water over freshly gathered aerial parts, cap tightly, let sit overnight and sip through next day. Personal Observations : Gentle lymphatic cleanser, fantastic spring tonic, helping clean up our system after winter. Promotes lymphatic flow and helps rid the lymphatic system of of metabolic waste. Great for issues with adenoids and tonsils Often useful for leaky bladder, excessive nighttime peeing Issues with urination, prostate, kidneys Kidney stones – breaks stone, dissolves deposits, clears tubules Folk remedy for mouth sores, canker sores, wash for canker sores - wash of tea. Hair tonic - high in silica I've had some success with using cleavers for seasonal allergies, also. Great article by local herbalist, Erin Piorier: https://minnesotaherbalist.com/2015/06/15/cleavers-a-moistening-spring-lymph-remedy-that-transforms-stuckness-into-flow/?fbclid=IwAR3WUMwO64vTLTCiI5QDmivKXNd3_M4J6rNW_BAZLxlvic0jjeki3bPgWL4 This brief overview merely highlights my observations.  There is, of course, a great deal of information that you can find on the Internet or in books.  Or better yet - get together with other herbalists and share your experiences! Please add your own experiences so that together we can create a more comprehensive overview. As always, if you have a chronic ailment that is not resolving itself or an acute issue, seek the attention of your physician.

Botanical Name : Tilia cordata Energetics :  Cooling, drying Major Properties : Nervine, hypotensive Examples of Uses: Headache caused by tension, hypertension, fever reducer Parts Used : Flowers and bracts Preparations: Tincture Dry - for tea throughout the year - lovely taste. However, tea made with fresh blossoms tastes far better than tea made with dry. Makes a lovely iced tea for the summer, too. Cooling both by the temp of the beverage and the cooling effects of linden flower itself. Honey - loosely fill a jar about 3/4 full of fresh (but dry to avoid mold)) flowers and then add honey to the top. Cap tightly. Fresh flowers are definitely best for maximum sweet flavor and scent. So very lovely. I use it just on toast, in tea, medicinally as a throat coat if needed for soothing. I usually make a quart of this every year. Personal Observations : I've used it for reducing fever if it is making person miserable and they need some relief. Otherwise, I think a fewer is good for burning off a virus. Have had good results for high blood pressure and headaches caused by HBP or tension. Studies show it helps by slowing down the overactive molecules. Erin Piorier wrote an article on Linden Flower. Here's a link: https://minnesotaherbalist.com/2016/06/17/linden-the-sweet-cooling-harbinger-of-midsummer/?fbclid=IwAR1Eya7brqIU6uJZS3YBRi5z_hu-R3fXb3WvZ3Tiy0QfO1Cm8ljXjVJFAQo This brief overview merely highlights my observations.  There is, of course, a great deal of information that you can find on the Internet or in books.  Or better yet - get together with other herbalists and share your experiences! Please add your own experiences so that together we can create a more comprehensive overview. As always, if you have a chronic ailment that is not resolving itself or an acute issue, seek the attention of your physician.

Botanical Name : Pinus spp. Energetics :  warming, drying Major Properties :  antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, stimulant Parts Used :  I use the needles, sap, and pollen. Bark can also be used in a variety of ways. Very useful tree for many reasons! Preparations: Infused oil of sap/resin, collected from wound area on tree or small branch trimmings. Looking for downed branches after a storm is a great (and kind) idea.   Air cleaner and freshener : Simmer cut up branches and needles in water, uncovered. Although it's lovely to do all winter, it's especially useful during cold and flu season to help eliminate air borne pathogens. Warning - keep an eye on it - don't let it boil dry - personal experience. Decoction - simmer needles for 20 minutes or so, covered. Let cool with lid on. Sweeten or flavor to taste. It is even better to let it sit for several hours or overnight, too, so make plenty for immediate drinking and for later on. Pine needles are very high in vitamin C, with older needles being higher than younger ones at the tips of the branches. The older needles are a bit stronger in taste, too. May need some honey or lemon added... Pollen - considered be a nutrient rich food, often added to the "superfoods" list. Easiest way to gather is to place a paper bag over the cones at the tip of the branches and then shake the pollen into the bag. Tincture - to make a tincture of the sap/resin requires a high proof alcohol, such as ever clear, as water does not efficiently extract the constituents from resins. My Observations : I often "make a simmer" of pine branches and needles in the house to "clean" it up since the house is closed up so much more in winter. The salve has worked well on minor cuts. It has also helped greatly with the dry knuckles and finger tips of winter. I think I will try to make a lip balm with it next. I enjoy the tea (actually a decoction) with some honey added. Other than these two examples, I haven't used pine much in my "apothecary". I plan to change that now that I live among beautiful pines, with several downed branches! This brief overview merely highlights my observations.  There is, of course, a great deal of information that you can find on the Internet.   Please add your own experiences so that together we can create a more comprehensive overview.   As always, if you have a chronic ailment that is not resolving itself or an acute issue, seek the attention of your physician.