HERB RECIPES FOR PAIN Pain Killer - Soak 1/2 teaspoon of dried willow bark in 2 cups cold water overnight. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain, cool, and bottle. Dosage is 1/4 cup, to be sipped slowly as needed for pain. It can be added to juices or teas if you wish. Migraine Headaches - This is a natural painkiller and is good for migraine headaches. Chop 1 tablespoon of Stinking Iris (Iris Foetidissima) and add to 1 pint of water. Boil gently for 15 minutes. Strain and take up to 3 tablespoons per day. Has a slight laxative effect so you may want to weaken it further. Good Sedative - Mix together 1 tablespoon each of bee balm, hops, peppermint, chamomile, and crushed fennel seed. Add 1 tablespoon of the mixture to 1 cup boiling water. Steep 10 minutes and strain. Sweeten with honey. Drink 1/2 hour before bed. Nervous Tension - Vivid blue flowers are typical of many of the best nerve herbs and skullcap is one of them. Chop 1/2 cup of the leaves and flowers and add to 2cups boiling water. Steep 15 minutes and strain. Sweeten with honey and drink several cups a day. Can be used to treat epilepsy, convulsions, and any involuntary trembling of the limbs. Skullcap is also used during drug or alcohol withdrawal to lessen symptoms of withdrawal. Skullcap blend - This is very good for nervous headaches. Mix 1 cup each of dried skullcap, sage, and peppermint. To use, pour 1 cup boiling water of 1 teaspoon of herb mixture. Cover and let steep 10 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Drink warm as needed. Skullcap is especially effective in dispelling headaches. It relaxes the whole system and is non- addictive. Soothing bath for Tension Headaches - Put 1 ounce each of mugwort, valerian, chamomile, and agrimony to 1 pint of boiling water. Allow to simmer for 30 minutes. Strain and add t bath water. Very good for aching muscles. Mild Sedative - Pour 1 pint of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried catnip. Cover and steep until cool. Flavor if desired. Strain and sweeten. For children, give 1 tablespoon; adults get 2 tablespoons. For trouble getting to sleep - Pour 1 pint of boiling water over 1 ounce of feverfew flowers. Cover a steep until cool. Strain and sweeten with honey. Drink cool. Sleep Mixture - Mix 1 tablespoon each of dried hop, chamomile, and lavender flowers, skullcap, and powdered valerian root. Put in size #00 capsules. Take 2 capsules every couple of hours (not to exceed 6 capsules), shortly before you retire for the night. This should not be taken longer then 2 days. If the problem persists after two days, please consult your physician, to find out the reason for your inability to sleep. This is to be used only as a temporary measure. To induce sleep - Mix 2 tablespoons dried peppermint with 1 tablespoon each of rosemary and sage. This really soothes the nerves and allows you to relax enough to go to sleep. Valerian Tea - Caution -- Take this only once a day (at bedtime to induce sleep) Pour 1 pint boiling water over 1 teaspoon powdered valerian root. Cover and steep 10 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Add a pinch of mace as flavoring if desired. Drink warm. Valerian is not a very pleasant smelling herb, but it is very effective. The valerian maybe added to other, better tasting herbs and will be just as effective. Simply add the herb of your choice to the water along with the valerian. To induce sleep - Mix together 2 tablespoons chamomile, 2 tablespoons skullcap, 1 teaspoon goldenseal, 2 teaspoons elder flower, 1/2 teaspoon peppermint powder, and 1 tablespoon pennyroyal. Add mixture to 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer until liquid is reduced by half. Bottle and label. Dosage is 1-2 tablespoons to one cup of hot water. Sweeten to taste. Take at bedtime to induce sleep. Painful Menstruation - During your menstrual cycle, drink sever glasses of red raspberry juice daily to prevent cramps and pain. Menstrual Cramps - Mix 1 ounce each of cramp bark, skullcap, and blue cohosh. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Place in a quart of warm wine. Steep several days. Strain and take 1 tablespoon doses several times a day for cramps. Cramping During Menstruation - Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of dried raspberry leaves. Cover and allow to steep 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Drink warm several times during the day. Sprains - Apply a poultice made from comfrey to relieve sprains and swellings. The Indians called this herb knitbone and use it extensively. Sprain and Aching Muscles Treatment - Mix together 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup of linseed oil, and 4 tablespoons witch hazel. Use as a massage. Menthol Cream - Mix together 6 ounces of witch hazel, 4 tablespoons lanolin, and 6 tablespoons of menthol in a double boiler until creamy. Remove from fire and cool in the refrigerator. Use as a massage. Pain - Add several drops of lavender oil to your bath to relieve neuralgia (spasms of pain). Arthritis Treatment - Mix 1 cup each of buckthorn bark, cayenne pepper, alfalfa, comfrey, white yarrow, yucca root, parsley, and black cohosh root. Grind up thoroughly and fill some #00 capsules with the herbal mixture. The first week take 1 capsule daily; the second week take 2 capsules daily; and during the third week take 3 capsules daily. Pain Reliever Salve - Mix together 1 once of chickweed (reduces inflammation and aids in healing), 1 ounce of wormwood (a great pain reliever), and 1 ounce of yarrow (an antibacterial agent that also helps relieve pain). The yarrow plant contains achillein and achilleic acid. These substances reduce the clotting time of blood, so they help stop any bleeding. Yarrow also has pain-killing and anit-inflammatory properties that are similar to aspirin. Add the mixture of herbs to 2 pints of olive oil and simmer 3 hours. Strain and add 3 ounces of beeswax and 1 teaspoon of tincture of benzoin. Test for consistency before pouring into wide mouth containers. Balm of Gilead Salve - Place 1 ounce of the buds in 1 pint of hot olive oil and allow to simmer, covered, 3 hours. Strain and add 1-1/2 ounces of beeswax and 1/2 teaspoon tincture of benzoin to the strained mixture. Test for consistency and place in sterile jar. This is a good salve to use on burns, scratches, swelling injuries. Also good for any skin eruptions. The signature of balm of Gilead is the resinour exudation covering the buds. It contains salicin, which is also found in aspirin. It has some of the same pain-killing and anti-inflammatory properties as aspirin. Sedative Tincture - Place 1-1/2 ounces of chamomile and 1-1/2 teaspoons of powdered peppermint into 1/2 quart of vodka. Allow to steep for 2 weeks, shaking daily. Strain and bottle. Use as a sedative for adults. Dosage is 1/2 dropperful under the tongue, as needed. Liniment for Sore Muscles - Mix together 1/4 cup each of olive oil and spirits of camphor. Use to massage sore muscles. Rheumatic Pain Ointment - Place 1/2 cup of rosemary leaves and 1/2 teaspoon oil of cloves in 1 cup vegetable oil. Simmer gently for 20 minutes. Strain well and bottle.