Self-Sufficiency: Natural Home Remedies
()
About this ebook
Melissa Corkhill
MELISSA CORKHILL is passionate about self-sufficiency and natural remedies and has been writing about green issues for several years. She is the author of Green Parenting: The Best For You, Your Children And The Environment. She is also the founder of a natural parenting magazine, The Green Parent.
Read more from Melissa Corkhill
Natural Home Remedies Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Self-Sufficiency: Natural Home Remedies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to Self-Sufficiency
Titles in the series (2)
Self-Sufficiency: Natural Home Remedies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSelf-Sufficiency: Home Brewing Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Related ebooks
Natural Remedies: Homemade Organic Remedies for Your Health and Appearance to Prevent and Heal Sickness: Herbal & Natural Cures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTreat Yourself Natural Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Garden Apothecary Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHerbal Medicine Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGuide to Using Kitchen Herbs for Health: Quick, Easy Ways to Grow, Eat & Use Herbs Daily Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHerbal Adventures: Backyard Excursions and Kitchen Creations for Kids and Their Families Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGrandma’s Natural Remedies and Ancient Herbal Beauty Recipes Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Herbal Medicine Chest for Your Home Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGrow Your Own Medicine: A guide to growing health-giving plants in your own backyard Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings90+ herbal teas to be in good health: A small digital guide to learn the natural and healing properties of plants Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHerbology At Home: Making Herbal Remedies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tea of Tranquility: Making Herbal Teas That Support Tranquility and Nervous System Function: BeWell Bohemia Herbs and Things, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNatural Cures: Herbal Medicine for Natural Remedies at Home: Sustainable Living & Homestead Survival Series Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Herb Gardener's Essential Guide: Creating Herbal Remedies and Oils for Health & Healing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies: An easy-to-use reference for natural health care Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Herbal Medecine: Powerful Ways to use Dried Herbs for Natural Healing, Beauty and Health Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHealing Herbs: How to Grow, Store, and Maximize Their Medicinal Power Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Classic Herb Garden Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Crafting with Herbs: Do-It-Yourself Botanical Decor, Beauty Products, Kitchen Essentials, and More Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Some Useful Wild Plants: A Foraging Guide to Food and Medicine From Nature Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSabrina's Juicy Little Book of Citrus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNatural Remedies: Amazing Natural Remedies That Can Help You Reduce Your Stress Level Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSelf-Sufficiency: Home Brewing Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Good Living Guide to Natural and Herbal Remedies: Simple Salves, Teas, Tinctures, and More Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGrow Your Own Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Beginner’s Guide to Herb Gardening: How to Grow Herb Gardens Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEdible Wild and Survival Vegetables: Foraging for a Healthy Meal Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings75 Exceptional Herbs for Your Garden Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Healing Garden: Herbal Plants for Health and Wellness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Heal Local: 20 Essential Herbs for Do-it-Yourself Home Healthcare Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Wellness For You
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Illustrated Easy Way to Stop Drinking: Free At Last! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sex Hacks: Over 100 Tricks, Shortcuts, and Secrets to Set Your Sex Life on Fire Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Woman's Guide to Oral Sex: Your guide to incredible, exhilarating, sensational sex Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Big Book of 30-Day Challenges: 60 Habit-Forming Programs to Live an Infinitely Better Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How Am I Doing?: 40 Conversations to Have with Yourself Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Brain Hacks: 200+ Ways to Boost Your Brain Power Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Diabetes Code: Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5When the Body Says No Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary of Anna Lembke's Dopamine Nation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How Not to Diet: The Groundbreaking Science of Healthy, Permanent Weight Loss Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Glucose Revolution: The Life-Changing Power of Balancing Your Blood Sugar Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary of Lindsay C. Gibson's Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Blue Zones, Second Edition: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Thinner Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Female Body Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Alchemy of Herbs - A Beginner's Guide: Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Secret Language of Your Body: The Essential Guide to Health and Wellness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wim Hof Method: Activate Your Full Human Potential Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bigger Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Male Body Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for Self-Sufficiency
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Self-Sufficiency - Melissa Corkhill
Self-Sufficiency
Natural
Home Remedies
illustrationillustrationSelf-Sufficiency
Natural
Home Remedies
illustrationMelissa Corkhill
illustrationPublished 2016—IMM Lifestyle Books
www.IMMLifestyleBooks.com
IMM Lifestyle Books are distributed in the UK by Grantham Book Service.
In North America, IMM Lifestyle Books are distributed by
Fox Chapel Publishing
1970 Broad Street
East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
Copyright © 2011, 2016 text: Melissa Corkhill
Copyright © 2011, 2016 artworks: IMM Lifestyle Books
Copyright © 2011, 2016 IMM Lifestyle Books
Melissa Corkhill has asserted her moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and copyright holders.
ISBN 978 1 5048 0041 9
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in Singapore
Publisher’s Note
The natural remedies included in this book are not intended as a substitute for professional medical treatment. A physician should be consulted in all cases of medical concern and if symptoms arise that require medical diagnosis. Neither the author nor the publisher accept any responsibility or liability for any effects that may arise from following the advice given here.
CONTENTS
Getting started
Treating ailments
Mind and emotions
Nervous system
Digestive system
Urinary system
Respiratory system
The skin
Heart and blood health
Bones, muscles and joints
Eyes and ears
Women’s health
Babies and children
Suppliers and useful websites
Index
illustrationillustrationGetting started
Nature provides us with a wealth of natural remedies that can help to ease and soothe illnesses, ailments and common health complaints. The following pages contain all you need to know to begin treating yourself and your family by increasing your plant knowledge, putting together a herbal first aid kit and even growing your own medicine.
Introduction
I started this journey as a child, always fascinated by plants and intrigued at the natural remedies that my mother used to treat us when my brother, sister and I were ill. She had a huge collection of homeopathic remedies and through her treating us, I learnt about many of them, what they were made from and what symptoms they could be used to treat. I came to understand that a heavy cold could benefit from a dose of Pulsatilla, that a case of nerves before an exam was effectively treated using Gelsemium, and that a hot honey and lemon drink was the best remedy for a sore throat.
illustrationWhen my own children were born I started to use natural remedies to treat their illnesses and found that as they got older they were able to decide what remedy would work best for them. They instinctively know what plant will be most effective to help their bodies to heal. I have learned to trust their innate knowledge and at the time of writing none of us has seen a doctor for six years! We are our own doctors, which is a liberating feeling.
No one can know and understand your body better than you can. I like to do a body scan meditation every once in a while to give my body a chance to really let me know how it is feeling and any problem areas that need looking at. Simply lie down in a comfortable place where you can be sure that you won’t be disturbed for at least 20 minutes. Bring your attention to your feet.Think about how they feel. Give your body time to respond, as you may not be used to focussing on individual parts in this way. If you can’t decide how your feet are feeling first time, don’t worry, simply move to your ankles and focus on them.
Slowly move up your body, thinking about how it is feeling, until you get to the head. You may have thoughts such as ‘I’m tired; I feel confused; I feel stuck’. After you have worked through the whole body, sit up and jot down each of the messages from your body parts so that you have a reference to work with over the coming weeks. You can then refer to the advice given in this book to treat and heal any problem areas.
When parts of my body feel stiff or blocked, I use yoga and herbs to help me release the tension. Yoga is an incredible therapy for moving and releasing blockages that might go on to cause illness if allowed to build up. For example, I developed a benign lump in my breast two years ago and through the practice of yoga and use of natural remedies I managed to shift the blockage and now feel healthier than ever. (Remember you should always consult a doctor if you discover a lump in your breast or any other part of your body.)
In this book I will share remedies and techniques that I have used myself for decades and on my children for over ten years. Many of the recipes for healing lotions, infusions and tinctures are ones that we use regularly in our home. I hope that they will be useful for you to help you create optimum health for you and your family.
How to use this book
I have divided this book up into bodily systems, so you will find remedies for the respiratory system in one chapter and how to heal disorders of the digestive system in another (see list). I prefer to work with the body as a whole rather than just the symptoms but for ease of use and understanding I have chosen to organise the book in this way. You may find that you need to look in more than one section to find a selection of treatments that work for you. For example if your child has chickenpox you’ll find some useful remedies in the Babies and children section on pages 118–125. However, you may also want to check out the Skin chapter on pages 68–79 to find ways to help soothe the inflamed rash that accompanies the chickenpox virus. Alongside the remedies are plenty of recipes that you can create at home.
illustrationThis book is designed to empower you to be able to take control of your own health using your kitchen and garden. You will also find instructions on how to create a healing herb garden and in each chapter a spotlight on one of my favourite herbal healers. I have chosen plants that are well known, easy to find and that I use regularly at home, such as nettles, rose, lavender and comfrey. In addition I have put together my suggestions for a herbal first aid kit (see page 17) that you can have on hand for emergencies, including my top recommendations for treatments to carry when out and about.
Mind and emotions
Nerve system
Digestive system
Urinary system
Respiratory system
The skin
Heart and blood health
Bones, muscles and joints
Eyes and ears
Women’s health
Babies and children
Plant knowledge
It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with what plants grow in your area. Spend time in the garden with a notebook to record what you find. Make drawings, press leaves and flowers between the pages and take notes. It doesn’t have to be scientific. Make notes about what you see and how you interpret the plants around you. Ask questions – does it have large or small leaves? What are they shaped like? Is it flowering now? Where is the plant growing – in shade or full sun? Soon you will start to build up a good knowledge of the plants growing in your backyard, then you can start to learn about their healing properties. Don’t expect this knowledge to come all at once. I have been working with and learning about plants for over 15 years and there is still so much more to learn, but each season I gather a bit more knowledge about what I can use to help heal my family.
illustrationOnce you have studied the plants in your area, take your notebook further afield and observe the hedgerows around your home, local wasteland or park. Make notes on what is growing or flowering now, what is coming up and where you found it. Highlight plants to visit again in a couple of weeks time. For example, if you spot an elder covered with tiny white buds in mid-Spring, make a note to come back in a week and you’ll be rewarded with plumes of frothy white flowers that can be harvested to make an excellent remedy for hayfever. Soon you will have built up knowledge of your local plants; you will possess an invaluable resource for when it comes to treating your body holistically. You can use your knowledge to create a map of natural healing remedies that are easily accessible in your area.
It will soon start to become second nature to brew up a batch of nettle tonic in early spring or to harvest a couple of handfuls of hawthorn berries in the autumn to make a hearty concoction of hawthorn brandy that can be used to treat heart conditions in the months ahead. For these and many more recipes, take a look inside.
Caution: herbs to avoid in pregnancy
Many herbs and herbal remedies can be used safely throughout pregnancy to offer natural relief from the various discomforts and ailments that may occur. However some herbs should be avoided. It is a good idea to consult a herbalist or get hold of a book that specifically deals with using herbs during pregnancy to help you identify those plants that are not safe for use at this special time.
Essential home remedy kit
To learn about natural remedies it is a good idea to build up a toolkit of home medicines that you can try out on yourself, your family