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Page 82
| so speeds healing. Do not use either ointment if the skin is broken. |
| Twisted or strained muscles will also respond well to herbal massage rubs. Combine 5 drops each of thyme, rosemary, and lavender essential oils with 1 teaspoon of almond oil and massage gently into affected areas. |
| For rheumatic pains, combine the external massage oils with 2 to 3 cups of meadowsweet tea (1 teaspoon of herb per cup). Oatstraw baths are also worth trying (p. 30). |
| Nausea and Vomiting |
| Nausea and vomiting can be associated with a wide range of illnesses: from life-threatening fevers and stomach problems to motion sickness, migraines, and indigestion. It is important to seek professional help for severe and persistent problems, but minor disorders, with a clear cause, can be helped by herbal remedies at home. Caution is needed, however, as many herbs are quite unpleasant to taste, and for sufferers who dislike the flavor they can increase rather than ease symptoms. |
| For nausea associated with stomach upsets, lemon balm or chamomile can be helpful. Drink 1 cup of tea (containing 1 teaspoon of herb) every two to three hours until symptoms ease. |
| Ginger is one of the most effective anti-emetics in the repertoire and can be taken in the form of ginger wine, ginger ale, or ginger snaps if the actual herb is not available. Otherwise make a decoction of ginger (simmer one or two slices of fresh root in 1 1/2 cups of water) and sip that. You can boil the decoction down to 1 to 2 tablespoons and take in drop doses if that is easier to swallow. |
| Ginger is quite safe to take for morning sickness during pregnancy and has been prescribed in doses of up to 1 g at a time in clinical trials with no ill effects (Fulder and Tenne 1996). A useful way to take remedies at this time is to fill a thermos bottle with an infusion of fennel, lemon balm, chamomile, or peppermint (using 1 tablespoon of herb to a quart of water) and leave by the bedside table so that the tea can be sipped before arising. For those who dislike herbal teas, use 5 to 10 drops of commercially made |
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