Grow Your Own Drugs: Easy Recipes for Natural Remedies and Beauty Fixes Hardcover - 2010

by James Wong

With easy recipes using ingredients grown in your window box or the local market, Ethnobotanist James Wong shows you how easy--and cheap--it is to make simple creams, salves, teas, lozenges, and much more. James uses his top-class academic knowledge to reveal how many plants contain the same active ingredients as over-the counter drugs, and offers recipes to relieve a whole range of common conditions, including:
-Digestive disorders: bad breath, heartburn and indigestion, digestion, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, flatulence, diarrhea
-Skin complaints: athlete's foot, eczema, insect bites and stings, acne, sunburn, age spots, fungal conditions, burn scars, poor foot circulation, chapped hands and sores, insect deterrent
-Kids' remedies: vitamin booster, head lice, eczema, ear wax build-up, colic
-Aches and pains: water retention, varicose veins, aching muscles, arthritis
-Female-specific problems: hot flashes and night sweats, morning and travel sickness, PMS, cystitis
-Under the weather: colds and flu, coughs and sore throats, cholesterol reducer, hangover, cold sores, immune system booster, mouth ulcers, restorative
-Mind: memory enhancer, insomnia, migraine prevention, anxiety, memory booster
-Face and body: hair strengthener, body scrub, bath and massage oil, deodorant, face mask, hand care, bath bomb, exfoliator, face toner/hair rinse, sore eyes, tired/red eyes, glycerine soap, plague remover and gum soother, chapped lips

With over 150 full-color photos, this book outlines all of the tools, oils, waxes, and powders necessary to get started, and also directs you to suppliers for easy shopping. You'll also find a 60 page reference of the top 100 plants you should consider growing in order to make herbal remedies out of your own garden. So unleash the power of plants and soothe the symptoms of everyday ailments the natural way.

BLEMISHES
Witch Hazel Gel
200 g witch hazel twigs and (preferably young) leaves (see Resources on page 218)
2 cups (500 ml) hot water
6 packets vegetable gelatin
2 tbsp vodka
1. Place the witch hazel in a pan with the hot water. Over a gentle heat, slowly reduce mixture to a third of its volume until it reaches about 2/3 cup of liquid (this will take about 1 hour).
2. Line a sieve with cheesecloth, then strain the liquid into a mixing bowl. Add the gelatin, stirring to dissolve. Set aside to cool.
3. Once cool, add the vodka and stir well. Pour the gel into a wide-mouthed jar.

COLIC
Chamomile Syrup
4 handfuls (approx 40 g) German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) flowerheads
4 cups (900 ml) water
2 1/4 cups (450g) sugar or 1 cup (340g) honey
1. In a pan, put the chamomile in the water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low, then cover with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for about 20 minutes.
2. Reduce the mixture to 3/4 cup (approx 200 ml) by simmering very slowly with the lid off for an additional 20 minutes.
3. Add the sugar and simmer for a few more minutes, stirring until the mixture looks like syrup. Be careful not to boil rapidly; allow it to bubble just a little.
4. Strain through a mesh sieve and then pour it into a sterilized bottle. Seal with a cork; if the syrup ferments, the bottle might explode.
USE
For a child, 1 tsp, 3 to 6 times a day.
For adults, 2 to 4 tsp, 3 to 6 times a day.
Caution: If you are diabetic, do not use.
STORAGE Keeps unopened for up to 1 year. Once opened, keeps for 1 week in the refrigerator.

SORE THROAT
Echinacea Throat Spray
3 cloves
5 peppermint leaves, finely chopped
5 sage leaves, finely chopped
2 tbsp (30 ml) Echinacea purpurea tincture (from natural food stores)
1. Place the cloves, peppermint, and sage leaves in a small glass bowl, then add the echinacea tincture. Cover and let stand for 2 weeks in a cool, dark place. You will see the color change gradually.
2. Strain the liquid through cheesecloth placed in a strainer, squeezing all of the liquid from the herbs by hand. Filter the liquid into a sterilized spray bottle.
USE Spray as often as needed.
STORAGE Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 1 year.

MIGRAINE PREVENTION
Feverfew Sandwiches
2 fresh feverfew leaves
sandwich, containing filling of your choice
To aid digestion, add two fresh leaves (1 g) to a lunchtime sandwich.