Folk Remedies from Ratna Ling - 2012 Calendar

Ratna Ling Retreat Center is home to a very diverse plant life. Many plants that grow here are purported to have therapeutic properties by practitioners of alternative medicine. Among them, the sage, also known as Virgin Mary’s flower, can be grown in a garden and used every day to purify the spirit. One sage leaf placed in a water bottle is enough to lift the mood. Other herbs, such as fennel, basil, mint, dill, parsley, garlic and lavender, are internationally renowned and used as folk remedies.

Ratna Ling is also a tomato paradise. Enjoyed in international cuisines, the tomato is a fruit full of vitamins and hidden remedies. While tomatoes color the summer and fall, the cabbage grows in winter. It is a veritable panacea, as it can cure about any condition of the body.

Ratna Ling is located in the heart of the redwood forest, the land of the sequoia - a real folk remedy for strength and longevity. Many other trees grow on this land, among which the fir tree is an old remedy used for a variety of diseases. The hawthorn blooms in May, a spectacular vision in pink and an invaluable remedy for the heart.

Herbal medicine, based on traditional folk remedies, is as old as humankind and as widespread as the occurrence of communities. Herbal medicine is based on an intimate and practical knowledge of plants, handed down for hundreds of generations, while acknowledging the unique needs of individuals. While diet, exercise, and increased self-awareness form the foundation of good health, fresh herbal therapy provides one of the key elements in the process of self-care.

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Dill Remedies

Dill, an aromatic plant used as a spice in international cuisine, is a remedy for the problems faced by women at any age. It is recommended to eat at least three to four tablespoons of fresh dill daily. For nursing mothers, fresh dill stimulates lactation. A dill diet during lactation positively affects breast milk, protecting your baby from colic. As fresh dill leaves contain flavonoids with antioxidant properties, they soothe menstrual pain. Dill seed tincture stimulates the production of estrogen, delaying the aging process and maintaining the vigor of the breasts. A diet of fresh dill, with 20 g per day, followed in spring and autumn for 20 days, prevents osteoporosis after the age of 40. An infusion of one teaspoon of chopped fresh dill in a cup of boiling water is very good for relieving headaches. Infuse for about five minutes, and then strain. Drink two cups per day, preferably in the morning and in the evening after meals. You can also try to chew a few stalks of dill, which have beneficial effects on the nervous system.

Dill is a natural digestive, relieves insomnia and respiratory and menstrual disorders, and is even recommended to treat cancer. Dill has been used in the kitchen since ancient times. The flavonoids, minerals and amino acids in dill make it a true panacea. Its essential oil stimulates the gallbladder, and is therefore recommended in treating digestive problems. For the stomach, dill is antimicrobial, so it is a good internal disinfectant, used successfully in treating dysentery.  Furthermore, studies have shown that dill essential oil can act as a slight sedative through the activation of hormones and enzymes with calming effect.

Dill is recommended to women having irregular periods because it normalizes the secretion of certain hormones. Its first effects will be seen within a month. In oral hygiene, dill is good to refresh the breath and remove infections of the mouth. It can be used after every meal as an effective breath freshener. Dill is good for nursing mothers because it stimulates lactation and is a perfect source of calcium for children. It is the perfect condiment for any cooked food, but also an ideal natural treatment for the whole family. Eat it fresh or use it every time you cook, and you will soon see its effects.

Dill tea stops hiccups
A good tea to stop hiccups is dill seed tea. Boil a teaspoon of seeds with 250 ml water for three minutes, and then drink this tea unsweetened.

Please consult with your doctor or a professional herbalist before using any herbal remedy.

Prevention with Basil

Basil has been known since ancient times. Native to Sri Lanka and India, basil was brought to Europe during the expeditions of Alexander the Great. It is a holy plant in India, and was very much appreciated by the ancient Egyptians: bouquets of basil were found in their pyramids. An aromatic plant, basil is used in the culinary art as a seasoning for various dishes. Traditional medicine uses basil as a remedy for chronic gastritis and stomach aches. Its pharmacological actions are sedative, diuretic, and antiseptic. Starting from the essential oil content, as related to the other active elements, basil is recommended in the treatment of gastrointestinal and renal afflictions, bronchitis and fever. The use of basil leaf tea is recommended for nervous system fatigue, insomnia, and painful menstruation. To avoid the unpleasant effects of insect stings, rub the wounded spot with fresh basil leaves or juice from fresh basil plants.

Heart attack
Experimental medicine studies show that eating basil on a daily basis prevents heart attacks. Basil protects the coronary arteries from cholesterol deposits, keeps blood pressure under control, and has complex action on the central nervous system, protecting the cardiovascular system from the adverse effects of stress.

Food poisoning
A recent study shows that putting a single drop of essential basil oil in one liter of drinking water that is consumed throughout the day helps avoid many infections from bacteria consumed in food. Especially during the summer, these bacteria can produce food poisoning, with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Seasoning food with basil is recommended, especially during summer, because the volatile substances in basil keep the food unchanged for longer, protecting us from infections of the digestive tract.

Asthma
Consumed in salads, sauces or soups, basil protects the respiratory system from allergic reactions, preventing in good measure the relapse of pulmonary infection, and protecting the airways from inflammatory processes that lead to asthma.

Atherosclerosis
One of the secret benefits of Mediterranean cuisine on the cardiovascular system lies in the basil. Along with oregano, basil is the main spice used in flavoring sauces for pasta, but also in salads, and many types of pizza. Antioxidant substances contained in basil prevent plaque formation in arteries and keep blood vessels elastic.

Please consult with your doctor or a professional herbalist before using any herbal remedy.

Remedies with Mint

Gallstones - mint helps with gallstones, thus the need for surgery is eliminated.
Nausea - mint has a slightly anesthetic effect on the gastric mucosa, reducing nausea.
Flatulence – by helping digestion, it reduces flatulence.
Gastric ulcer - mint helps relieve pain, and also heal stomach ulcers, but do not to use it if you have frequent heartburn.
Decongestant - whether you choose to drink or to inhale the fragrant steam of infused mint, this herb is a decongestant that streamlines nasal mucus and reduces inflammation.
Headache - mint oil can be an effective analgesic. Apply spearmint oil (in diluted solution) on the forehead and temples.
Muscle pain - whether you are frequently playing sports or only on weekends, make sure to keep some mint oil or a menthol-based cream in your medical kit. Use it for massage.
Toothache - due to its analgesic effect, mint is also used to relieve toothaches. Put a drop of peppermint oil on a pad and apply to the aching tooth.
Oral hygiene - mint oil kills viruses and bacteria. Add a few drops of mint oil in one cup of water to make a disinfecting mouthwash. For fresh breath put one or two mint oil drops on the tongue. Warning: Do not exceed this amount, or the mint oil will cause heartburn. A quantity of two teaspoons of mint oil ingested can be fatal.
Stimulates peripheral circulation - massage with mint essential oil stimulates peripheral circulation and reduces the feeling of tired legs. In summer, it is great to freshen up your swollen, tired, irritated feet. The sensation of coolness is wonderful. In the winter, if you take warm baths with salt and mint you will immediately get rid of fatigue.

Please consult with your doctor or a professional herbalist before using any herbal remedy.

The Benefits of Fir

The green eternity of the fir tree is an unsolved mystery showing that, through the fir’s core must travel particularly strong saps that might be useful to man. The fir tree is an old remedy used in a variety of diseases. In ancient times, baths with fir tree were used to strengthen the weak and those recovering from illness, and for healing the bones and chest pain. Fir resin was used in greases for musculoskeletal infections or for healing wounds and burns. The fir tree’s fragrance was considered a true elixir for lung diseases. Chest problem patients were advised to go at night in a fir tree forest, where the conifers’ ethereal emanations immediately had a healing effect. In winter, it used to be customary to place freshly crushed fir needles and branches at the head of a patient with chest problems. The fir buds and honey syrup with healing virtues were used in treating asthma, asthmatiform bronchitis, and tuberculosis. Fir resin was used for fumigation. The smoke of fir resin was said to ward off disease, sorrow, and all evil spirits.

Fir buds are picked in the spring. The fir bud’s syrup is the best treatment for bronchitis, cough, and various diseases of the respiratory system. Fir buds mixed with honey are covered for six weeks, after which it is strained to obtain the syrup. The syrup can be taken one teaspoon at a time or diluted in a warm cup of tea. Drink it especially when coughing or having a chronic lung disease.

Baths with fir branches or buds

Pick a handful of buds and twigs (mainly tips) and put them in three liters of water. Boil for three hours, then strain. Pour this liquid into the bathtub. Baths with fir branches or buds are recommended in various conditions for the restoration of poor circulation, or against various infections, and even in cases of paralysis and stroke. The liquid obtained can be used against hemorrhoids, cystitis, and urinary tract or genital infections. Take a few 20 minutes baths every day for a few days.

Treatment with fir syrup

Fir trees secrete a large amount of aromatic oils with excellent healing effects. The fir needles’ syrup is made of fir needles loosened up from branches with a knife, washed and then crushed with a rolling pin. Fill a quarter jar with these fir needles, then fill with honey. Close tightly. Keep on stove or near a heat source for three weeks, then filter the obtained syrup. It has a strong fir smell (much stronger than the buds’ syrup). Use for the following conditions:

• Persistent cough, decreased immunity of the respiratory system: Take half a teaspoon of fir needle syrup six times a day. The treatment lasts at least seven days and has anti-infectious, regenerative, and immunostimulating effects.
• Excessive appetite: administered five minutes before and after the meal, one tablespoon of fir needles syrup, no water. This preparation is good also as dessert, because it inhibits the appetite for sweets for quite a long time.
• Intellectual fatigue: take one or two teaspoons of fir needles syrup when you have to make an extended mental effort. The honey in the syrup nourishes the brain and balances blood glucose levels, while the volatile oil from fir needles is a good mental and psychic tonic.
• Sterility in women: take a one or two months cure with fir needle syrup. Fir needles have a strong stimulation and regulation effect over the activity of women’s reproductive glands.

Compresses with boiled fir branches are an excellent cure for wounds that do not close, sprains and fractures that are hard to heal, and infections. Apply compresses on the affected area several times a day until healed. Fir tree resin ointment is recommended for healing burns, light cuts, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, asthenia, convalescence, muscle pain, hyper- and hypothyroidism, and as an adjuvant in multiple sclerosis.

Please consult with your doctor or a professional herbalist before using any herbal remedy.

Elderflower remedies

Elderflowers have a refreshing and pleasant flavor, and are recognized as medicinal plant and magic herb. Elder can be used to treat conditions such as sinusitis, colds, fever, and prevent kidney and urinary tract infections. It has depurative and anti-inflammatory effects and helps combat degenerative processes. Fresh or dry elderflowers are used for therapeutic purposes as infusion, powder, tincture or oil. Elder has a blood cleanser and anti-inflammatory action, and therefore it is used to treat and prevent rheumatism and gout. Elder juice is a good general tonic with diuretic, antitoxic and depurative effects. A two week cure with one liter of elder juice a day has a remarkable effect in people with nervous exhaustion and fatigue.

Powder is obtained by fine grinding the dried flowers with electric coffee grinder. Store the obtained hermetically sealed in a glass jar, and place it somewhere dark and cold for a period of up to two weeks (because the volatile oils evaporate very quickly). Administer three times daily, one teaspoon on an empty stomach.

Tincture: place 15 tablespoons elderflower powder in a jar and add two glasses (400 ml) of 50° alcohol. Close the jar hermetically and allow to macerate for two weeks, after which the liquid is filtered and the resulting tincture is bottled is small, dark colored bottles. This remedy is administered four times a day, 50-100 drops, diluted in water.

Combined infusion: place three to four tablespoons of chopped elderflower to soak in half a liter of water for eight to ten hours, and then filter. The obtained preparation is set aside, and plant left after filtration is boiled in another half liter of water for five minutes, then allow to cool and filter. Finally, mix the two extracts to obtain about one liter of preparation, which is used internally (one to two cups a day) or externally in the form of compresses and wash.

Hot infusion is usually used only as an emergency remedy for its perspiration, febrifuge and antitussive effect, because during boiling the plant looses most of its therapeutic qualities. The hot infusion is prepared with a teaspoon of crushed dried herb and a cup (250 ml) of boiling water. Allow to infuse for ten to fifteen minutes, then filter and drink as hot as possible.

Elderflower oil: place 15 tablespoons of elderflower powder in a jar, and add half a liter of sunflower or olive oil. Close the jar tightly, let the flowers soak for two weeks, then filter the liquid. The resulted preparation is placed in a dark bottle and it is usually used as massage solution for people with dry skin.

Poultice with elderflower: chop a handful of flowers and leave for one to two hours to soak in warm water (40-50 C°).  Apply for an hour long directly on the affected area, covering it with gauze.

Prevention with Garlic

Cold and flu

The effects of garlic against flu are known for hundreds of years, and research studies have confirmed them. It was found that garlic contains more than 20 antiviral and antibacterial substances, so it is considered a true anti-flu medicine. Two cloves of garlic per day protect you from the cold, flu, respiratory problems, heart rate acceleration, or headaches. Also, if during a cold treatment you also eat garlic, the healing time is substantially reduced. In this case, garlic can be used in external poultices applied to the chest and back to remove hoarseness and cough.

Hypertension

A study done 12 years ago showed that people who ate garlic had significant reductions in blood pressure. A series of special treatments for hypertension have been released, with a high content of active substances similar to those of garlic.

Effeminacy

Testosterone in men can be enhanced with garlic. Garlic stimulates the testes and favors the increase of endocrine secretion of male hormones. These hormones help increase muscle mass in normal limits, increase sexual desire and develop traits such as courage or spirit of initiative.

Poor blood circulation

Blood circulation can be improved by regular consumption of garlic. This has been studied and demonstrated by German researchers in 1996. Those tested had peripheral artery disease. The experiment has proved that those who ate garlic had visibly improved their blood circulation.

Diabetes and gout

Garlic balances blood sugar levels, and prevents diabetic arterial disease and heart disease caused by diabetes. Meanwhile, garlic can treat gout, regulates metabolism, and because it is a natural diuretic, it helps to eliminate the excess urea in the blood.

Obesity

Garlic reduces fat storage in the body and hastens its elimination, and therefore it is recommended for people who want to lose weight. It can be easily "infiltrated" in diet recipes and slimming cures.

Otalgia

Garlic has analgesic effect and therefore can be used successfully in curing diseases of the teeth or ear. Wrap half a clove of garlic in gauze and insert one in each ear. It is important to take this natural treatment only after you have consulted a physician.

Cancer of the rectum and colon

A team of American doctors have made a scientific study on a group of people who consumed garlic and have consistently reached the following conclusion: if the food is introduced in the daily diet, the risk of colon cancer is reduced by 10% for meat consumers, and 50% for vegetarians.