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| scribed here and is often one of several herbs used in effective tea or tincture blends. |
| Mustard (Brassica alba or B. nigra). |
| The familiar yellow spice does more than flavor hot dogs. As well as clearing the sinuses, it has stimulating external applications. Mustard poultices or plasters are a traditional treatment for chest cold congestion. To make one, spread a paste of powdered mustard seed and water on a cloth and cover the mustard with gauze, then apply the gauze side of this mustard sandwich to the area that needs warming. Remove after a minute and check to see if the skin is reddened. If not, repeat; if so, remove the plaster and apply a thin coat of olive oil. |
| Few baths are as soothing to cold, aching bones and stuffy sinuses as mustard baths. For a hydrotherapy treat, combine Epsom salts, sea salt, borax (the laundry product) and/or baking soda in any proportions to make a basic bath salt. |
| In a gallon size Zip-Lock plastic bag, combine 4 cups of the salt mixture with 1 cup powdered mustard. Knead the closed bag to distribute the mustard evenly and break up any lumps in the salt. Add several drops of eucalyptus essential oil or tea tree oil, or add 4 tablespoons of powdered ginger, and mix well. Empty the bag under hot running water and fill the tub to a comfortably warm temperature. Soak for at least 15 to 20 minutes. For best results, pat yourself dry, wrap yourself in blankets (perspiration is desired) and stay warm for half an hour. |
| Nettle (Urtica dioica). |
| An irritating weed that leaves tiny itching blisters wherever it touches, stinging nettle can be the bane of gardeners. But don't let its annoying habits fool you. Nettle can be a hay fever sufferer's best friend. Freeze-dried nettle in capsules taken daily helps prevent allergy symptoms, and the same claim is made for nettle tea and tincture, although they haven't been tested in doubleblind clinical trials the way freeze-dried nettle has. In Europe, nettles are a popular spring tonic. Throughout the world, they are respected as a plant that strengthens and |
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