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| Actions: Antiseptic, expectorant, soothing demulcent. |
| Uses: Honey has a long-standing reputation as a cough and catarrh remedy, and mixtures of honey and lemon are still widely available over the counter. It is ideal to use in cough syrups (see p. 52), and adding a teaspoon of honey to a cup of hot lemon juice is an ideal remedy for sore throats, coughs, and colds. It can also be helpful for hay fever and allergic rhinitis; try an eyebright infusion (2 teaspoons of herb to 1 cup of water) mixed with 2 teaspoons of honey. |
| Honey makes a useful base for taking herb powders; simply mix a level teaspoon of the herb powder with 3 teaspoons of honey and take in teaspoon doses during the day. This can often prove an efficient way of persuading small children (and their fathers) to swallow their medicine. Honey is a potent antiseptic and can be applied externally to wounds, sores, and abscesses. It is useful for bringing boils to a head and can be soothing for minor burns and inflammations. Apply a little directly to the affected area and cover with gauze. |
| Caution: Unpasteurized honey should not be given internally to children under the age of eighteen months. |
| Juniper (Juniperis Communis) |
| Traditionally juniper berries have been associated with sacred cleansing rituals, and sprigs of the plant are still regularly burned each day in Tibetan temples as part of the morning purification rite. The Egyptians used the berries in mummification, and several medicinal recipes survive in Egyptian papyri dating back to 1550 B.C. |
| Parts used: Berries, essential oil. |
| Actions: Anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, antiseptic, carminative, digestive tonic, diuretic, urinary antiseptic, uterine stimulant. |
| Uses: Juniper berries are widely used for urinary tract problems, such as cystitis, and as a cleansing remedy for rheumatism. For home use the essential oil, collected by steam-distilling the berries, |
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