NZ Manuka Tea Bush Remedy Diuretic For Dropsy And Arthritis

Natural Herbal Remedies

Here is another great New Zealand remedy which is made from the well-known New Zealand Manuka Bush.

I quote again that piece of wisdom coined by the famous NZ herbalist healer who published a book on herbal medicine in 1889:

‘It is no use denying the existence of the form of folly which despises things because they are cheap and easily got’.  Doctor Neil believes that this is the reason the Manuka remedy has not been more widely used.

Most people have heard of the therapeutic qualities of Manuka Honey, which is very expensive and exported the world over now.  It has a reputation as being a relief to arthritis sufferers.

But how many people know that Manuka tea, which is very cheap because it is readily available in our gardens and parks, is also very therapeutic?

Manuka  is also known as ‘Tea Tree’, and this is because it was used as a tea by the early settlers to New Zealand.  When their stocks of ceylon tea were running dry, or non-existent, then they would resort to using tea made from the Manuka bush – Tea Tree.

Dr James F. Neil recommends the following dosage in his 1889 herbal ‘The New Zealand Family Herb Doctor: A Book on the Botanic Eclectic System of Medicine’.

How To Use Manuka Tea As A Diuretic Medicine For Dropsy:

Take a handful of blossoms and twigs.  Put them into a jar and pour over one pint of boiling water.  Leave to infuse. Dr Neil does not give instructions as to how long you should leave the herb in, but I would estimate 30 minutes to be a good time.  Then strain off the tea.

He says to take half a cupful two to six times a day.

On the previous page he describes a treatment for another dropsical patient whom he told to use a quart of water on a handful of herbs.  He does not tell us whether he used cold or hot water for this infusion – I imagine it would be boiling water as in making tea. The patient was told to drink freely of the Manuka tea, and the dropsy was cured.

Dr Neil does not specify the Manuka tea for arthritis or rheumatism, but I am sure it could be a helpful medicine for both these conditions.

Many people swear by Manuka honey for helping arthritis.

If I was treating myself, I would use only half a cupful of the tea taken twice a day for just three days at a time.  Then I would take a break  to assess whether there was any improvement, or any side effects, before using again.

To Make A Tincture of Manuka

Dr Neil says to use 2 ounces of Manuka flowers and twigs to a pint of alcohol.  Full strength vodka is the cheapest way to make a tincture these days.

Infuse the Manuka in the alcohol for a week, then strain and bottle.

Adult Dose:  For treating dropsical conditions, or as a diuretic medicine to help arthritis or rheumatism, take from one teaspoon to a tablespoonful of the Manuka tincture.

Natural Remedies

Culpeper says of Sage that it ’causes the hair to become black’.

Garden sage has many therapeutic uses.

In the garden, its flowers provide medicine and nectar for the bees, as well as a herbal tonic to the neighbouring plants.

It is well-known as an aid to oral hygiene.  It has strong antiseptic qualities and is supposed to whiten tooth enamel.

Sage is still used today in some tooth-pastes.  It is reputedly one effective remedy for bleeding gums,  and improving gum health:  The crushed fresh leaves are massaged several times a day onto the gums and teeth.

The tea is gargled to relieve sore throats, colds and flu,  and ulcers in the mouth.

It can be effective to reduce fevers, and has been used in the past for thyphoid fever. (see ‘Herbal Remedies  and Homeopathy’ published by Geddes and Grosset.)

It is a valuable nerve medicine, and is a useful stomach remedy for improving a weak appetite.

Natural Herbal Hair Dye and Tonic:  Sage can help restore healthy hair and improve the colour.

Strong sage tea encourages hair growth and darkens the hair, if it is used on a regular basis. Many herbalists describe it in their writings:  see John Heinerman’s ‘Encyclopedia of Fruits Vegetables and Herbs’.

Rosemary is another wonderful herb which can help hair growth, but it does not have such a darkening effect on the hair, as sage does.

Recipe For Sage Hair Dye:  Here is a simple, natural hair dye and tonic which you can try.  It is perfectly safe to use, as it does not contain any harmful additives such as you might find in commercial dyes for darkening the hair.

Take two cups of fresh sage leaves and put into a stainless steel saucepan.

Add one cup of dry black tea leaves

Add half a cup of cider vinegar and eight cups of water.

Simmer very gently, with no lid, for one hour on a very low heat.  You should have around half the original quantity of liquid left at the end of an hour.  If you need to add a little more water, make sure you do so well before you finish simmering the brew.  If you add more water at the end of the simmering, then your mixture will not keep so well.

Take off the heat after an hour of simmering.  Set aside to cool.

Once your sage mixture has cooled properly, strain it off.

To the liquid remaining add the same amount of vodka.

Put into a bottle with a screw-top lid and store in a cool place.

Massage around a tablespoonful of the sage infusion into the hair each day.  Use more or less, depending on how much hair you need to cover.

Massage the sage tonic well into the roots of the hair as well, so that it feeds the scalp and hair follicles.  Massaging the scalp with the sage tonic will help the hair to grow again.

The oils in the sage leaves will put a natural shine to the hair.

Once the hair is sufficiently darkened, which may take several weeks, you can reduce the amount of applications each week.  Once or twice a week may be enough to maintain the darker colour.

Sage is really very good for the hair in so many ways.

Alternative Sage Tonic Without Alcohol:  You could make up your sage tea without the alcohol if you wish.  Only, remember that your mixture will not keep for longer than a week, and it must be kept in the fridge.  You could make up a lesser amount, enough to last a week, and then make up a fresh brew of tea for the following week.

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Stop 1080 Poisoning Or We Will Add It To NZ Infant Formula

Environment And Health Concern

Today’s NZ Herald on Wednesday, 11th March, 2015, published a front-page article on the potential threat made by 1080 protestors to New Zealand-made infant formula.

The threat has been made by someone, or a group of people, who objects/object to the national government’s stance on 1080 poison.

If the government does not stop its distribution of 1080 by the end of the month, then the protestors say they will poison infant formula with 1080.

This national government currently condones the nation-wide poisoning of New Zealand by the pesticide 1080, and they refuse to back down on their plan to keep using it despite all the evidence which proves it to be devastating to the environment.  It gets into the water-ways and, eventually, into our food.

Although the amounts in water and in our food might be very small, or considered ‘safe’ by the authorities, it has been shown that even small amounts of toxic substances such as neonicotinoids have a devastating effect on bees, for a start.  It is very likely that small amounts of 1080 and other poisonous chemicals in our environment could cause the outbreaks of cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disese, and asthma in sensitive people:  Just as the whole of a hive can be affected by miniscule amounts of insecticide, whole groups of people could be affected similarly.

Read my posts about scientific evidence which shows how minute doses of neonicotinoids can cause bee colony collapse disorder.

Bee Colony Collapse Disorder

Bayer Says Stop Campaign To Save Bees Or We Will Sue

Nicotinoid Insecticides Kill Bees And Harm Humans

Homeopathically, 1080 will have an effect of some sort, no matter what dilution it finds itself in:  there is always a cause and effect, just as the neonicotinoid insecticide predisposed bees to a virus, resulting in bee colony collapse disorder on a massive scale throughout Europe.

The Labour government similarly ignored the effects of the ‘apple moth’ spraying over Auckland in the early 2000’s. This poisoning lasted several years, with regular, expensive full-page advertising in the New Zealand Herald newspaper which told us the spray was safe, until Victoria University of Wellington finally proved conclusively that the stuff was indeed making Aucklanders very sick.

After the initial three weeks of the programme, when letters were received objecting to the spray being used, the NZ Herald published a statement saying that no more discussion would be entered into on the issue.  From that point, no adverse comments or any articles were published about the apple moth spray’s toxic effects.  We who objected to the spray being used, and there were thousands of us, were effectively silenced by the media who were obviously obeying orders from above.

Thanks to Victoria University, the spraying was stopped, eventually.

Too late for some:I was forced to leave Auckland, as were many other people, because of the ‘apple moth’ spraying which occurred on a regular basis over the summer months.

More recently, in 2012, Brodifacoum was laid on the Whangaparaoa Shakespear Park.  Within a week, around 20,000 of dead seagulls were found washed up on the shores of Maraetai Beach, which is only a short drive away from Orewa Beach near Whangaparaoa.  The dead birds were blamed on a storm at sea.

To add 1080 poison to infant formula would certainly be a horrendous and murderous act, but I must say that the ploy has attracted the attention of the media in no uncertain way, which is probably the intention of the threat, in my opinion.

Media attention on the matter of toxic herbicides and pesticides is what we need.  They are usually very reluctant to bring agrichemicals to the fore of their attention:  Big business conveniently dictates the topics of our media to their advantage.

1080 is a dreadful poison which kills all animal and bird life which comes into contact with it.

Last year sometime, around June, 2014, I went with a friend to climb Mount Te Aroha, the mountain of love, only about 30 kilometres away from where I live.

There were signs at the bottom of the walkway up the mountain which warned against taking dogs up, and which advised sticking to the path, because 1080 had been laid there recently.

We climbed a good way up – about a third the length of the pathway to the top – but we did not see ONE bird, nor did we hear any bird calls during our half-hour walk up.  And no sign of bird-life at all on our walk back down.

1080 is a devastating poison, and we are only using it in New Zealand because of manipulations by the chemical company who makes it, and our environmentally blind government.

There is big money tied up in using such chemicals on a grand scale, where literally thousands of hectares of land all over the country is being poisoned.

You simply cannot ‘go bush’ to ‘get away from it all’ any more:  Chances are, the secluded spot you dreamt about will be more toxic than the city you left behind.

Wake up, New Zealand.  Already, we seem powerless to prevent mass poisoning of our lands and bush, but if TPPA is passed, we will not even be allowed to talk about our fears, lest we get sued by the megagiant makers of toxic agricultural chemicals.

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NZ Flax Herbal Recipe For Constipation And Cleansing

Natural Remedies

New Zealand Flax:  Phormium Tenax

Note:  NZ Flax is totally different and not related to the type of flax which linseed comes from.

I have just begun studying an old herbal from 1889, ‘The New Zealand Herb Doctor – A Book On The Botanic Eclectic System Of Medicine’, by James F. Neil, MD, USA.

‘It is no use denying the existence of the form of folly which despises things because they are cheap and easily got.’  Thus spake James F. Neil, MD., USA., on page 71 of his book, ‘The New Zealand Herb Doctor’.

James Neil was a graduate of the Eclectic College of Medicine and Surgery, Chicago, and also the Polyclinic Post Graduate College of New York.

James Neil’s powerfully informative book on herbal remedies was first published in Dunedin, NZ,  by Mills, Dick & Co., Printers And Lithographers, The Octagon.

The copy I have is one of 1000, reprinted in 1980 in Christchurch, NZ, by Capper Press.

New Zealand Flax: Phormium Tenax

James Neil writes in 1889 that flax ‘is becoming a valuable article of commerce, and is not now likely to be cut down and destroyed, as it was at one time.’

Over 120 years later, we can safely say that his prediction was true.  There has been a renaissance in Maori weaving, which makes predominant use of flax.  This renaissance of Maori weaving is mostly due to Rangimarie Puketapu-Hetet, who devoted much of her life to teaching and promoting the art of Maori weaving.

And so today, flax is nurtured in many groves of natural plantings around the country.

I have three flax plants in my own garden, which I keep to feed the birds, and for medicinal use.

I also like the idea of keeping flax growing, in the event where natural fibre clothing cannot be bought, that I can spin my own fibre. I  keep a spinning wheel, just in case.

The New Zealand native Tui bird is particularly fond of the nectar contained in the attractive, drooping fronds of rich yellow blossoms, and then, when the blossoms have all gone to seed, there remains a wealth of protein-rich seed for birds of many types to feed on.

If you love birds, then plant some New Zealand flax.

On page 58 of my copy of ‘The New Zealand Family Herb Doctor’ is the section on how to use flax root as a Cathartic, Aperient, Laxative medicine.

How To Make A Mild Laxative Using NZ Flax Root

James Neil’s method of using NZ flax root to make a laxative is more or less as follows:

Select your roots and wash them well.  Chop them finely and cover with water. Simmer for half an hour.

Strain when cold and sweeten if necessary.

Put into a clean dry bottle and store in the refridgerator.

Dose:  One tablespoonful to be taken once or up to three times a day as needed.

Note:  As with all constipation remedies, this herbal remedy should not be used for long periods at a time.  I would not use the remedy for longer than three days, after which, if constipation was still a problem, three days of eating only raw, grated apples should be done.  The raw apple diet is one of the best cleansing, tonic remedies to use, and it is very effective for curing constipation.

James Neil also recommends this same decoction for relief of chilblains.  Use to bathe the unbroken chilblains while the mixture is still warm.

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Apple Tree Bark Remedy For Gall Stones Kidneys and Fever

Natural Remedies

Apples are a wonderful cleansing food.  Three days on the raw apple diet is an easy method to rid the body of toxins and freshen up the blood. Drinking apple juice at meal-times can remove acidity and be a help to digestion.  But what about Apple Tree Bark as a medicine?

Jethro Kloss, the famous Seventh Day Adventist herbalist who wrote ‘Back To Eden’ in 1939, apparently used the apple tree bark remedy to cure many people of different ailments.

This book was reprinted in 1981 by Loma Linda, CA: Back To Eden Publishing.

Tree barks have been commonly used in healing by native American Indians, in Australia by aboriginal people, and in New Zealand by the Maori.  In European herbal medicine, tree barks such as white willow bark, slippery elm, and silver birch  have been used as a remedies  for certain ailments.

see my older post on silver birch leaves as medicine http://merrilynhope.com/birch-tree-leaves-for-kidney-stones/

However, not much is written about using Apple Tree Bark as a remedy.  The apple is well known for its therapeutic qualities, as is its cider vinegar, but no mention is made of using apple tree bark in any of the herbals I have so far read.

I have just encountered it in John Heinerman’s ‘Miracle Healing Herbs’, which a friend has just lent to me.  This book gives an account of how Jethro Kloss used this medicine, and how it was one of the most commonly prescribed medicines of his repertoire.

The success which Jethro Kloss had with Apple Tree Bark, and the endorsement of its use by John Heinerman, make it well worthwhile to record it here.

This is how it is used:

Bring one litre of water to a boil with two or three tablespoons of grated Apple Tree fruit bark added to it.

Once it is boiling, reduce the heat and simmer gently for twelve minutes.  Take off the heat after twelve minutes and let stand for a further 38 minutes.

Strain the liquid off into a jar and keep in the fridge.

It is taken one cupful at a time, either warm or cold, depending on what condition you are treating – I presume, one cup per day – John Heinerman does not say how frequently it is to be taken.

It is taken warm for:

abdominal cramps (warm or cold), dysentery, delayed menstruation, fever, gall bladder attacks, indigestion, kidney problems (warm or cold), toothache.

It is taken cool for:

abdominal cramps, boils, insect bites and stings, kidney problems, liver and spleen problems, nausea and vomitting, rabies.

Poultices

For skin problems such as boils, eczema, and insect bites, a poultice of the apple liquid can be used on the skin as well as the drink taken internally.

To make a poultice, soak a piece of clean white linen or cotton in the apple liquid.  Wring out and place over the area to be treated.

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Can I Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Weight Loss And Good Health?

Natural Remedy For Losing Weight:

Apples, and Apple Cider Vinegar, are age-old remedies which have been commonly used to help normalize weight, regulate the bowels, strenghten the heart and over-all, to improve the health.

The Apple Diet is a great cleansing techique to follow for a few days.  Eating only raw, grated  apples for three days can help to reduce the weight considerably.

Apples are a wonderful food. They are an extremely nourishing, healthful food which helps the health in a myriad of ways.

However, while eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away, using vinegar made with apples may not suit all people

It is not recommended that people suffering long-standing candida use apple cider vinegar.  They should stick to eating fresh apples, if fruit sugar is tolerated, and most certainly should avoid fermented foods of any kind, including apple cider vinegar.  See the section below for an explanation on how yeast allergies can occur.

What are the healthful effects of eating apples, or using apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar, which is made from the whole apple, skin, pips and all, contains all of the valuable nutrients inherent in the apple, but you have to remember that it is a fermented food which may not suit everybody.

Apples, or cider vinegar, have the ability to neutralize an acid body and restore the pH level to normal.  They are useful in preventing hypertension and they can help to lower high blood pressure.

Apples have the ability to lower blood cholesterol.

Apples, and Apple Cider Vinegar, are rich in potassium, phytochemicals and other agents which strengthen the immune system and help prevent cancer.

Apples are good for the heart.

The pips of the apple contain laetrile, also called amygdalin, or Vitamin B17, which is used in some natural programmes to treat cancer and other degenerative disease.  You can eat a few pips each day to help prevent such diseases.  Eating some apple pips each day could also be helpful in reducing weight.

For the average healthy person who does not suffer candida problems, cider vinegar does not have any harmful side effects, as do some other methods for reducing weight.  Normal people of a robust constitution can safely use a daily dose of apple cider vinegar for weight control without any fear of adverse reactions.

Cider Vinegar as a daily tonic and remedy to reduce fat: 

It is best to take your apple cider vinegar for weight loss first thing in the morning, before breakfast or coffee. Take two tablespoonsful in a glass of hot water.

Apple cider vinegar, taken each morning, will help to expel any parasites living in the intestines or elsewhere.

It is an acidity regulator which helps to balance the acid-alkaline ratio of the body, known as the pH level.

It helps to neutralize harmful toxins in the vital organs and blood.  The liver, gall bladder, pancreas, kidneys and intestines all benefit from the antiseptic and nourishing effects of apple cider vinegar, taken on a regular basis.

Cider Vinegar is beneficial for all parts of the body:  It helps strengthen the bones and nerves.  It helps eyesight.  It strengthens the brain and it can help prevent and improve alzheimer’s disease.

It is wonderful for the hair.  Taking apple cider vinegar daily, and rinsing the hair with it after each wash, helps encourage hair growth.

Applying it to the hair while wet after washing gives the hair a lovely sheen and helps to prevent head lice from settling in.

When Not To Use Apple Cider Vinegar or Vinegar Of Any Kind:

Having said that, some people are extremely sensitive to yeasts of all kinds, and their systems are not suited to take vinegars of any kind.

An extreme sensitivity and aversion to yeasts can arise if a person has suffered major damage due to toxic chemicals,  such as heavy metal poisoning, or asbestos poisoning, or poisoning from apoxy resin or agricultural chemicals.

This is not a common problem, but if you have been exposed to large amounts of these toxins, or perhaps herbicides and pesticides, then chronic candida can strike, in which case you need to avoid even apple cider vinegar for a while.

Candida feeds on yeasts of all kinds, including those which are used in the making of vinegar.  So, in the case of chemical poisoning, when candida overgrowth is chronic, it may be that you have to wait to detoxify somewhat before cider vinegar can be tolerated even as an external treatment.  Some people may never tolerate it.

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