Small Starts -- A Basic Healing Tea

I'm really excited to have ordered the dry herbs for my first herbal healing blend.  I've based it on some of my family's and friends' general health needs so it can be used to nourish, support, and heal a broad array of imbalances while other herbs can be added separately to further individualize things.

I based it on my readings of Maria Treben's writings.  I began noticing that a high percentage of her herbal recommendations repeated use of infusions that included three herbs:  stinging nettle, yarrow, and calendula.

One of my goals in selecting specific herbs for formulas is to stay with those whose actions are safe and also time-proven.  I also prefer a blend that supports balance and is not harsh, but is effective.

The only caution I can find for the use of a couple of these herbs is to not use them during pregnancy or while trying to conceive.  I suspect that applies as a precaution against using them in large quantities if pregnant, but I prefer the better-safe-than-sorry approach at all times.

So far, my herbal blend will use Maria Treben's basic three, but will also add a few others in time.

To date, the one I'll start with will include:

Yarrow
Calendula
Stinging Nettle
Plantain

(at later date, perhaps, will also include)
Burdock
Dandelion

I like the idea of a blend to use daily for improvement in a broad range of areas and body systems, more as a tonic.  I have yet to figure out how the energetics rate in terms of TCM and ayurveda, since I'm so new to them.  But I like a base "tea" that can be tweaked with the addition of other specific herbs as needed, and I love the proven track record the Basic Three has, and plantain seemed a cohesive partner.

I'll follow up with the properties of each herb in another post.  Just wanted to note my Starter Healing Tea, and that my family and some friends will be trying them and keeping notes on any effects, positive or negative...and reporting back :)

Do you have a blend of herbs you use as your base for other blends, and what led you to choose each of them?  I'd love to know!

Pipewort, Gu Jing Cao?

This is a repost from my main BackForty blog. I'm still investigating any medicinal uses for Pipeworts. TCM utilizes one type of pipewort, known also as Gu-Jing-Cao.  Below is the original post.  I still have yet to specifically identify this particular pipewort  shown in the picture, growing on our Someday Farm.
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Whitehead Bog Button variety of Pipewort, maybe??  Lachnocaulon anceps??

If anyone can help me identify this wildflower, I'd love it!  It is very small and seems to grow in clusters here in wetland edges in southwest Florida.  The stem is long and thin and the blossom is a small globe shape, bright white.

Syngonanathus flavidulus?  If so, this is the Yellow Hatpins variety of Pipewort

I believe this is the same kind of flower, a little closer look.

Thanks for any help you might give me in identification.  These are new to me :-D

~ Robbyn

Update!   I believe the second picture is for sure some variety of pipewort in the Eriocaulon species , such as Syngonanthus flavidulus (Yellow Hatpins), and the first is maybe Lachnocaulon anceps (Whitehead Bog Button)?  I think they are all in the Eriocaulacae family.  Still not sure if they're one and the same...so shall keep on looking.  And next time I'll get a better closeup of the foliage.  Even this helpful page isn't much help unless I have a foliage comparison...

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August 21, 2012 update....Here is a link for the king of Pipewort used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and its actions:  http://www.yinyanghouse.com/theory/herbalmedicine/gu_jing_cao_tcm_herbal_database

This might be the one closest in ID to what I saw:   Tenangle Pipewort - Eriocaulon decangulare, http://www.floridasnature.com/florida_herbs_8.htm

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