It is so HOT, It must be SUMMERTIME!

Hibiscus
Roselle or Hibiscus sadariffa
The flowers only last a couple hours
but they sure are gorgeous!

Good afternoon, All!  Summer has arrived!  And is it hot!

I know what we need on a hot day like today!  A glass of iced Hibiscus Ginger tea!  Oops, we don't seem to have any fresh ginger....but Hibiscus tea is delicious all by itself.

"Hibiscus tea is popular as a natural diuretic; it contains vitamin C and minerals, and is used traditionally as a mild medicine. (Diuretic....diuretic herbs help the body shed excess fluids.) 

Dieters or people with kidney problems often take it without adding sugar (be prepared to pucker up, talk about tart!) for its beneficial properties and as a natural diuretic.

Dried Hibiscus Flowers
begging to become a delicious tea!

A 2008 USDA study shows consuming hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure in a group of prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults.  Three cups of tea daily resulted in an average drop of 8.1 mmHg in their systolic blood pressure, compared to a 1.3 mmHg drop in the volunteers who drank the placebo beverage.  Study participants with higher blood pressure readings (129 or above) had a greater response to hibiscus tea: their systolic blood pressure went down by 13.2 mmHg.  These data support the idea that drinking hibiscus tea in an amount readily incorporated into the diet may play a role in controlling blood pressure."wikipedia

Refreshing and healthy, plus this Iced Hibiscus
Tea gets the Garden Fairy's Seal
of Approval!

         Iced Ginger Hibiscus Tea

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

one3" piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated

1/2 cup dried red hibiscus petals

8 cups water, room temperature

ice

Make the ginger simple syrup:  Combine the sugar and 1/2  cup of water in a 2-quart saucepan.  Bring to a boil and let syrup cook for 3 minutes, stirring until all the sugar is dissolved.  Remove the pot from heat and add the grated ginger.  Let syrup cool completely and strain.  Set the syrup aside.

Make the hibiscus tea:  In a 4-quart saucepan, pour 4 cups of water over the dried hibiscus petals and place the pot over low heat.  Bring the water to a slow simmer and let cook for 5 minutes.  Turn off the heat and let the tea steep for another 5 minutes.  Strain into a pitcher (When I don't use the ginger syrup, I add 1/4 cup honey and 2 packets of Stevia) and add in the remaining 4 cups of water.  Fill the pitcher with ice (I do not add the ice).

To serve, pour tea into glasses and stir in ginger syrup, sweetening to taste.

Oil painting of a White Hibiscus
elaineruettinger.co

"In the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda, hibiscus, especially white hibiscus and red hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), is considered to have medicinal properties.  The roots are used to make various concoctions believed to cure ailments such as cough, hair loss or hair graying.  As a hair treatment, the flowers are boiled in oil along with other spices to make a medicated hair oil.  The leaves and flowers are ground into a fine paste with a little water, the resulting lathery paste is used as a shampoo plus conditioner." wikipedia

The Hibiscus family is very large and not all the members are edible.   The Hibiscus sadariffa is edible and medicinal.  Quite a versatile and beautiful plant.  Roselle or hibiscus is an aromatic, astringent, cooling herb that is much used in the Tropics.  I believe it, because it is the "tea" of choice here on the farm during our long, hot and humid summers!

StarDragonfly Herb Company

"The Little Herb Shop on Elm Street"

Winnsboro, Texas

903-588-4313

We have dried Hibiscus flowers in stock and can sell all our dried herbs and herbal teas by the ounce.  Besides dried herbs, we now have hand-spun yarn from local animals and will soon have relishes, jams, jellies, herbal soaps, therapeutic bath salts and aromatherapy candles.  Products will always be changing, so stop by often to see what is new.

Until later....stay cool, love your heart by drinking lots of Hibiscus tea and have a lovely week!  Herbally, Susan

"it's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine....it's summertime!

Kenny Chesney

Rose of Sharon
Althea
Chinese Hibiscus

A What Doctor?

Caleb
A plague doctor!
Nancy taking photos!
Italian:  medico della peste
Dutch:  pestmeester
German:  Pestarzt

Good morning, All!  Well, StarDragonfly Herb Company opened Friday, June 15, 2012 and now, maybe, just maybe, I can relax a little and life will get back to some semblance of "normal!"   Naaaay, welcome to my crazy life!

We had an awesome store party Friday evening!  The new store was packed with family, friends and potential customers!  We were entertained by Caleb, who came dressed as a "plague" doctor and Karl, as a bee keeper.  I think all present learned a lot about the plague and bees.

Nancy and Karl of Falster Farms provided homemade ice cream....Strawberry Basil and Chocolate Chip Mint and fresh brewed Chicory coffee.

For snacks we had Chocolate Chip Mint cookies and Herb filled Cheese Roll-ups...the herbs all came for the StarDragonfly gardens.

Plague Doctors

"In medieval times the large loss of people due to the bubonic plague in a town created an economic disaster.  Community plague doctors were quite valuable and were given special privileges.  For example, a normally well guarded procedure of autopsies was freely allowed by plague doctors to allow research for a cure of the plague during the Middle Ages.

"A plague doctor was a special medical physician who saw those who had the plague.  They were specifically hired by towns that had many plague victims in times of plague epidemics.  Since the city was playing their salary they treated everyone, the rich

Plague Doctor
theloveforhistory.wordpress.com

and the poor.  They were not normally professionally trained experienced physicians or surgeons, and often were second-rate doctors not able to otherwise run a successful medical business or young physicians trying to establish themselves.

Some plague doctors wore a special costume, although graphic sources show that plague doctors wore a variety of garments.  The protective suit consisted of a heavy fabric overcoat that was waxed, a mask of glassed eye openings and a cone shaped like beak to hold scented substances.

Some of the scented materials were amber, balm-mint leaves, camphor, cloves, laudanum, myrrh, rose petals, and storax.  This was thought to protect the doctor from miasmatic bad air.  A wooden cane pointer was used to help examine the patient without touching.

Laudanum
Tincture of Opium

                                                                                                                                                                         

Laudanum

"Paracelsus (1493-1541) born in Salzburg, Austria, a 16th-century Swiss-German alchemist, discovered that the alkaloids in opium are far more soluble in alcohol that water.  Having experimented with various opium concoctions, Paracelsus came across a specific tincture of opium that was of considerable use in reducing pain.


Paracelsus' laudanum was strikingly different from the standard laudanum of the 17th century and beyond.  His preparation contained opium, crushed pearls, musk, amber and other substances.  One researcher has documented that "Laudanum, as listed in the London Pharmacoepoeia (1618), was a pill made from opium, saffron, ambergris, musk and nutmeg."


A potent narcotic by virtue of its high morphine concentration, laudanum was historically used to treat a variety of ailments, but its principal use was as an analgesic and cough suppressant.  Until the early 20th century, laudanum was sold without a prescription and was a constituent of many patent medicines.  Today, laudanum is strictly regulated and controlled throughout most of the world."  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laudanum

Storax

Sweetgum Tree pod
Liquidambar
American Sweetgum
www.flickr.com

"Storax is the resinous exudate of the tree Liquidambar orientalis (commonly called oriental sweetgum or Turkish sweetgum), occasionally used in incense or as an aromatic fixative in perfumery."  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storax

Well, Paracelsus would have definitely used the oriental or Turkish sweetgum in his laudanum, I though you just might be interested in knowing that our good ole southern sweetgum tree is in the same family!  And is a East Texas native.


"Sweetgum is chewed in the treatment of sore throats, coughs, asthma, cystitis, dysentery, etc.  Externally it is applied to sores, wounds, piles, ringworm, scabies etc.  The resin is an ingredient of "Friar's Balsam" a commericial preparation based on Styrax benzoin that is used to treat colds and skin problems.  The mildly astringent inner bark is used in the treatment of diarrhea and childhood cholera."  http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net.

                                                                                     

StarDragonfly Herb Company
Winnsboro, Texas
Ready to Party!

Gosh, who would have thought that the Sweetgum tree was such a medicinal plant!


Well, enough for today.  Stop by the new store and I will put on a pot of herbal tea!  Hope you have a great week!  Herbally, Susan

Every day is a new beginning.  Treat it that way.  Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.

Marsha Petrie Sue

.

The Little Herb Shop on Elm Street!

American Basketflower
Plectocephalus americanus

Good morning, All!  Well, this is my final week of preparations before "The Little Herb Shop on Elm Street" opens.  So, this weeks' post is going to be short and sweet!  Cousin Sandra and I are making a quick trip to Tyler tomorrow (Monday) for supplies, bottles and jars.  Then all week will be devoted to baking granola, making more herbal products, packaging, arranging and re-arranging products then getting ready for our big day!  What a fun and busy week we have ahead of us!

StarDragonfly Herb Company

American Basketflower
I have not been able to find any information
on whether this plant is edible or medicinal.  This flower is easy to
grow....find a patch of basketflowers, wait until seed heads
form, then in the Fall, scatter them in your garden.  You should
have this beautiful flower by June of next season!

Officially, opens.....

Friday, June 15, 2012

10:00 am until 8:00 pm

From 6 until 8, StarDragonfly Herb Company will be celebrating 3rd Friday Art Walk with the rest of Winnsboro, Texas.

Stop on by for a glass of good old Texas ice tea with herbs and fruit, a couple herbal snacks, some home-made ice cream (made by our very own Nancy of Falster Farms) and be prepared for a surprise visit from the "Prince" of thieves.

Kevin Costner as
Robin Hood in the movie
Robin Hood: The Prince of Thieves.
Photo courtesy of
www.reelist.com

Naaaaay! Unfortunately, Kevin Costner is not on the guest list, but Caleb with Thieves Essential Oils http://www.secretofthieves.com/, will be paying us a visit.

"Black Plague & Thieves Oil

Century after century, bubonic plague outbreaks decimate the population of Asian and Europe for the better part of a thousand years.  Out of this period emerged a legend of four thieves who were captured and charged with robbing the dead and dying victims.  When the thieves were tried, the magistrate offered leniency if they would reveal how they resisted contracting the infection as they performed their gruesome acts.  They told of a special concoction of aromatic herbs, including garlic, cloves and rosemary, that they rubbed on themselves before committing their crimes." This info is from the website www.secretof thieves.com.

Passionflower

StarDragonfly Herb Shop is a small shop featuring handmade folk remedies.  These remedies are made with care in small batches with quality ingredients.  A lot of the herbs used in these remedies are grown in this area.  


We will have the following products available:

• Herbal Extracts (tinctures), single herb and blends.
• Herbal tisanes (teas)...caffeine free, wholesome and delicious.
• "Infused" oils                                                                                              



Calendula
I harvested this flower to use in
my Calendula salve.  Great for
chapped skin.

•                                                                                        

Day Lily

• Herbal salves....tried and true blends...can be used for dry, cracked and chapped skin.  Gentle enough for children and animals.

Spice blends...hand blended with love....spice blends that I use in my own kitchen!

• 
  
• Sugar blends...love Chai tea?  Try our Spice Sugar blend for a easy but awesome cup of Chai tea

• Dried herbs from StarDragonfly herb garden, or wildcrafted in the woods around the farm.  Or ordered from responsible companies that believe in quality organic free-trade products.  Fresh herbs on request.
• Candied Ginger!  Hard to find, yes, yummy natural candy, yes, works great for stomachaches and motion sickness, yes!
• Herbal pet products.  I have developed a "hot spot" treatment for dogs!  Worked on my pups and has no harsh chemicals!  We will eventually carry a home made doggie shampoo.
• Fresh Granola, chocked full of wholesome ingredients.  Our specialty is a granola that is nut and seed free.  Wonderful cereal for those suffering from diverticulitis.
• Falster Farms local honey
• We will special order....I love to hunt for those hard to find herbs and spices.  Need fresh Vanilla beans?  Whole star anise?  Or an unusual type of curry powder?  Let me know and I will try to find it for you and/or carry it in the store.

See those yellow green buds?
Those are day lily buds and they are edible!
Delicious, rare or stir fried!

• We have lots of great products coming in the near future!  Soaps, bath salts, vitamins and minerals, jams, jellies and relishes, whole foods, packaged and in bulk, hand-made house hold products and crafts, sustainable farming products, books and magazines.  The sky is the limit on what this little herb shop will eventually carry.  Let us know what you would like to see in this store!

Okay, enough for now!  Cousin Sandra and I have been down with a summer cold or allergies, yuck!  Woke up last night with an unbelievable sore throat.  Took about 2 dropperful of StarDragonfly Herbals Sore throat/cough tincture with 1 tsp. honey and a dropper of SDH Elderberry tincture.  Amazing!  I love herbal medicine!  Hope to see you Friday evening!  Herbally, Susan

I'm a big fan of dreams.  Unfortunately, dreams are our first casualty in life - people seem to give them up, quicker than anything, for a 'reality.'

Kevin Costner

Border Collie and Sheep
Art Print
by
CharlottesWebArt

Mullein Flowers and a Folk Remedy

Welcome to the wild, and wonderful
world that is my "herb" garden!
Zinnias and Black-eyed Susan line the
garden path.
Sister Belle watches over farm
life from the shade of the Oak tree.

Morn'in, All!  Well, thank you to all that inquired about Ann and her dealings with the Copperhead.  Believe it or not, she went to work Monday morning! Ann owns Groomingdale's Pet Salon in Sulphur Springs.  She drank lots of water to flush the venom out of her system, took her prescription meds, used the Echinacea tincture for several days and has been putting Comfrey salve on her foot and wrapping it with a towel.  We are all so happy that her recovery has gone so well.  I feel this is a very good example of Modern and Folk medicine working together for the good of the patient.


This week we are actually going to spend some time foraging in the garden.  The mullein plants have been in full bloom for about 2 weeks.  So, let's learn a little about Mullein and make some Mullein infused oil.

Mullein
Genus Verbascum
also known as Velvet plant

Mullein

"The flowers and leaves are anodyne (relieves or soothes pain by lessening the sensitivity of the nervous system), antiseptic (agent used to remove pathogenic microorganisms and to remove pus, blood, etc.), astringent (agent that constricts and binds by coagulation of proteins a cell surface), demulcent (soothing action on inflammation, especially mucous membranes), emollient (softens and soothes the skin), expectorant (facilitates removal of secretions) and vulenary (used to heal wounds).  An infusion is used internally in the treatment of various respiratory complaints including coughs, bronchitis, asthma and throat irritations.  An infusion of the fresh or dried flowers in olive oil is used to treat earaches, sores, wounds, boils, etc.  The plant is harvested when in flower and should be dried quickly and with care or it will lose its medicinal qualities." http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net

If you make yourself a tea from the fresh mullein leaves, I would suggest straining it through a coffee filter (organic, of course) because the hairs on the leaves can be irritating.

Mullein Flowers

Historical uses.....Mullein has had an important and varied role throughout history.  The Greeks, Romans, British and Native Americans have all used mullein to treat a number of conditions, from a mild cough to bronchitis and asthma.  The dried stalks of mullein have also been used as torches.  The flowers can be used to create bright yellow or green dyes, which were used by the ancient Romans to color hair, according to "Healing Teas" by Marie Nadine Antol."  Livestrong.com article by Jonathon Thompson.  And if you are into Greek mythology...Ulysses was supposed to have carried mullein to protect himself from the evil Circe (Circe transformed her enemies, or those who offended her, into animals through the use of magical potions.  She was known for her vast knowledge of drugs and herbs.)  Hmmm.....  Okay, now......what could have happened was that Ulysses feet hurt because of those long marches, so he padded his sandals with mullein leaves for some cushioning.  And being a Hero and All, he was probably embarrassed to tell his buds so he made up the story about the evil Circe. (My apologies to all those experts in Greek Mythology!) If you would like to read more about Ulysses and Circe here is a link... http://www.pantheon.org/articles/u/ulysses.html.

Circe and Ulysses
The hogs are Ulysses' men that
she "reportedly" turned into hogs.

Mullein Flower Ear Oil      

"Mullein flower ear oil, made with fresh live mullein flowers and unopened floral buds, is very effective for painful symptom relief from earaches caused by inspissated (thick or dense) earwax, especially in young children whose cerumen (ear wax)production and secretion is still being perfected.  Very warm (105 degree F) mullein oil is droppered into the outer ear canal. (ummm, I would not put "droppersful" in a child's ear....start with 5-10 drops every hour and for a child, I would prefer the oil to be a little cooler, say 98 degrees F)  Garlic oil is sometimes added to the mullein 

Jar filled with Mullein
flowers and buds.

earache oil.  A subsequent puddle of yellow to dark orange cerumen on the morning pillow is diagnostic for the mechanical problem of wax-impacted ear canals and a great teaching opportunity for the attending parents.  Occasionally little or no ear wax is out flooded indicating more serious ear problems, even though the warm mullein or mullein/garlic oil has reduced the pain." Ryan Drum, Herbmentor.com

Triple-oleated Mullein Flower Oil

Recipe from Kahlee Keane -  Root Woman


This is an excellent oil....if you are going to make it the old-fashion solar power way, well, it is going to take several weeks.  If you need it, like, yesterday....put oil and flowers in top of a double boiler and cook for 45 minutes (gently simmer the water in boiler). Make sure you COOL the oil. If you have the mullein

Mullein Flowers and buds read for
chopping.  I waited a few minutes to let all the
bugs escape.  I chop the herbs to a fine consistency
then put in a clean jar.  And yes, that is a cheese
knife!

flowers and the time, go ahead and do the process 2 more times....if not the first time should work.  Also, feel free to add some garlic cloves to the oil. Garlic is antiseptic and a whole lot of other herbal medicinal properties, but we will talk about that another time.

I realize the instructions say
put a lid on the jar.  Well, when I
make "infused oils"  from fresh herbs instead
of dried herbs, I always use a paper
towel over the jar.  You don't want
any water to form in your jars and
I was taught to do it this way.
Honestly, I have never had any
trouble making oils using fresh or dried
herbs, lid or paper towel, as long as I
was extra careful to make sure no water
got anywhere near my oils.

• Collect a cupful of the fresh flowers, after the morning dew has evaporated and before the heat of the day.  (If you live in the South, that will be after the steam has evaporated and just before you faint from the heat!)
• Put in a clean glass jar and cover with olive oil.
• Place jar in a sunny window or outside in the sun for 10-14 days, shaking often. (or use the heat method described above, please note that I only use the heat method if I need my oil NOW, otherwise I use the old-fashioned solar method.)
• After this time period, press and strain the oil.
• Repeat the procedure 2 more times using the same oil to cover more freshly picked flowers (add a little more oil if needed).
• After your final infusion, strain, cork and store the medicine in a cool dark place ready for use.  (LABEL!  Always LABEL!)

If you take care of children, pets or the elderly, I highly recommend you make yourself some of this oil or keep it handy.  It is not something you can run down to Walmart and buy.  Let me know and I will make you some Triple-oleate Mullein Oil.  

Her cheeks look a little irritated!

I think she used mullein leaf

to get that rosy glow!

graphicsfairy.blogspot.com

Okay, enough for today.  There is a lot more information on Mullein than I can cover in the post today!  The Mullein is from Europe and Asia and has naturalized itself to the United States.  It is considered a Texas Wildflower but not a native.  "It is said the Romans dipped its dried flower stalks in animal tallow to use as torches. Victorian women rubbed the leaves on their cheeks, slightly irritating their skin, to add a dash of blush.  Early settlers and American Indians placed the soft woolly leaves in footwear for warmth and comfort"  Wildflowers of Texas Field Guide by Bowers and Tekiela

Okay, okay, I will stop now!

StarDragonfly Herb Company

"The little herb shop on Elm street"

StarDragonfly Herb Company will be opening June 15, 2012.  That is the 3rd Friday in Winnsboro, which means the stores will be open late and there will be music!  SHC will open at10 am until 8 pm that evening.  We will have speakers, herbal products, local products and local crafts for sale.  Stop by and have a glass of good old Texas ice tea with herbs added and some herbal snacks.  The snacks will be served from 6-8 pm.


The Winnsboro Farmer's Market will be having an Ice Cream Social and Homemade Ice Cream Making Contest....June 16th....for details please call.....903-629-3332.  I will have more info about this COOL event next week!  Dust off your granny's ice cream recipe and get out that old ice cream maker!  And make some ice cream!  Oh, and if you need a taste tester....pick me! pick me!


So, until later...have a lovely day, stop by the store and visit, I will put on the kettle and we will have a cup of herbal tea and a chat!  Herbally yours, Susan

Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men and animals.  Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others again are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the holly hock.

Henry Ward Beecher

Copperhead! Oh, %@!+*

Copperhead Snake
photo by
www.fcps.edu

Good morning, All.  As I have told ya'll in the past.....we NEVER know what is going to happen around here from week to week.

If you are really squeamish about snakes today's blog post is not for you.  Hopefully, barring snake bites or any other unforeseeable circumstances, I will blog about that delicious summer vegetable soup and the plant Mullein in next week's post.

The snake that bit Ann was the same color as
the dirt and dried grasses.  It was almost
completely camouflaged!
photo by
snakesandfrogs.com

Last night, our "down the road" friend and neighbor, Ann was bitten by a Copperhead.  Personally, I thought she handled the whole situation very calmly.  Yours truly would probably would have to be sedated upon arrival at the Emergency Room.

She followed the right procedure for snake bite.  She did not panic.  She killed the snake to take with her to the Emergency Room (now that is another story for a little later in the post!)  She called someone to assist her...we live 19 + miles from the nearest hospital.  She applied ice (controversial, I know).  Fortunately, my fella, L, was visiting and he drove US to the Emergency Room.  Well, we drove Ann to the ER....did I mention she handled this situation better than I would have!

Trans-Pecos Copperhead
Agkistrodon controtrix pictigasterphoto from
Wikipedia.com
The only notable difference from the other
2 species is that this guy has an
elaborately patterned underbelly.
That's okay, I don't plan on asking him
to roll over so I can find out who his
people are.  Oh, that's a southern
thing.  We like to find out where you
belong in our world by asking you,
"Who'se your people?"
meaning relatives.

There are 3 species of Copperheads residing in Texas.  They are the Trans-Pecos Copperhead, the Broad-banded Copperhead, and the Southern Copperhead.  The Copperhead is a venomous pit-viper.

Back at the Emergency Room, Ann was treated quickly.  She was watched for about 2 hours, the areas above, below and on the bite were measured frequently.  Oh, so fortunately, the snake only got her with one fang and did not inject a full load of venom into her!

Let me tell you, if you get a full load of venom, then you will have to be injected with 4-5 viles of anti-venom.  At a whooping $8,000.00 a vile.  We swear this is what the doctor said.  And I googled cost of anti-venom, and some Arizona hospitals charge over $12,000 per vile.  Yikes!

Copperheads have the mildest venom of the poisonous snakes but in most years they bite more people.  (For some reason, I am not reassured!)  This is because the copperhead does not run (???  how about slither!) away when threatened.  It is thought that because of it's excellent camouflage, it lies still,

Broad-banded Copperhead
aka Texas Copperhead
Agkistrodon controtrix laticinctus

hoping to be undisturbed.  Most people and pets are bitten because they step on the snake.  That is what happened to Ann.  And the other day, the dogs and I were walking by the woods...and walked all over a Copperhead before one of the dogs smelled it.  Fortunately, it never offered to strike and we quickly left the area.

"Copperheads often employ a "warning bite" when stepped on or agitated and inject a relatively small amount of venom, if at all.  "Dry bites" involving no venom are particularly common with the copperhead, though all pit vipers are capable of a dry bite."  wikipedia

Southern Copperhead
Agkistrodon controtrix
Photo by
houstonherp.com

We did take the snake with us to the Emergency Room.  Actually, the snake was put in a garbage bag, I did mention that Ann had killed it.  Because, I am not sure I trusted the deadness (????) of said snake and it was in the back seat with me (Ugh!), I tied a really tight knot in the bag.  A hospital orderly came and took the snake from me. The nurse on duty wanted nothing to do with said snake, and voiced her thoughts loudly, "No snakes, No snakes in my area!"  Anyway, the orderly looked tentatively at the bag and said "Is the snake in here?"  Well, yeah!  I am not going to carry it around in my purse! Geesh (I didn't say that, but I have one of those open book faces, so he knew what I was thinking!)  Anyway, he had to cut the bag open because the knot was so tight he couldn't get it untied.  I told him "They told me it was dead, but that snake cannot be dead enough for me!"  (My apologies to all the snake lovers out there.)

Comfrey
Symphytum officinale

Copperhead snake bite symptoms:
Pain
Inflammation and skin infection
Swelling of the bitten body part
Severe vomiting and nausea


If not treated in a timely manner the venom can severely affect the bone tissue and body muscles.  Especially, when the bite is on the hand or foot.  If you are bitten on the hand or foot, remove any rings immediately!  There will be swelling!


There is a lot of information and mis-information out there about snake bites.  The main one!  Don't be like John Wayne in True Grit, never cut or suck the bite site!  NO! NO! NO!


You will hear to apply ice or not to apply ice.  There is recent information that applying ice could possible cause more damage.


The best way to handle this situation.....just like Ann did....get to the hospital immediately!  Now, I know there are a lot of experienced snake handlers and herbalists out there that self treat.  Well, most of us do not fall into that category.  Don't panic, but do seek help!  Copperhead bites are rarely fatal.

Every country girl needs a good pair of
heavy duty work boots and a FEARLESS protector.
Look FEARLESS, Chi!

After doing some late night research, these are the herbal treatments that seemed most popular for the care of the snake bite after the trip to the Emergency room:
1 dropperful of Echinacea tincture in a 4 oz. cup of water every 15 minutes,
plantain poultices
and comfrey or plantain salve.

I have the Echinacea tincture and am making a Comfrey salve.  The fresh Comfrey is in the oil brewing on the stove as I work on this post.  And you had better believe I wore my big green boots and took my walking stick to poke around every plant!

Well, enough for today.  Sure hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day weekend.  Be careful where you step and don't stick your hand in places where you cannot see!  There just might be a creepy crawler in there, that is as scared of you as you are of it.  Until next time, stay safe!  Herbally, Susan

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with her and not only will she not scold you, but she will make a fool of herself, too!

Samuel Butler, Higgledy-Piggledy 

Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day)
is observed on the last Monday in May.
Remembrance is symbolized by the
Red Poppy, an American wildflower.
painting from
picasaweb.google.com

I'm Doin' the Happy Dog Dance!

Morning Glory growing on dried brush.

Good afternoon, All.  I do not like to keep secrets.  No, no, no!  Now all of ya'll that have told me secrets and said "Please, don't repeat this!", fear not!  I will not repeat what you have confided in me.   You know what I mean, something in the planning stage that you are so excited about that you tend to have a goofy smile on your face all the time and your friends and loved ones are beginning to wonder why you are so distracted.  You must be in love, well, yes, with an idea or dream, or I suppose, a person.  Anyway, I have been like that for the last couple weeks.  I have not been able to sleep at night (except with the help of herbs) because I plan my secret all day, then I plan my secret all night.  Or at least that is how it seems!  So, let me fill you in on my big secret and maybe, just maybe, I will be able to sleep tonight!

Mullein
We will talk about this herb
next week!

I will be opening an herb company in Winnsboro, Texas in the next couple weeks.  Yee Haw!  I finally got to tell the world! I feel so much better!

This could be Chi and me
doing the Happy Dog Dance!

Okay, now for explantations.....if you have ever been to the Winnsboro Farmers Market  






and stopped by my table, you know that I always have fresh eggs, granola, dried herbs, tea blends, tinctures, salves and herbal skin care products.  Besides all the Texas native edible plants that I bring along each week.  So, StarDragonfly Herb Company will be an extension of my Farmers Market table.  It will be my workshop where I create my products, a retail store for StarDragonfly and Sister Susan's products, and other natural or healthy stuff.  Things such as soaps, candles, honey, pet stuff (well, for now, a doggie herbal shampoo and kitty catnip toys).  Eventually, we will add more health products, such as vitamins and minerals, essential oils, bulk foods, natural farming stuff........but, that part of the store is still in the dream phase.

Star Dragonfly Herb Company is located on Elm Street between the State Farm office and Hornbuckle's Flower shop.
The store hours will be...........

Moonflower
Datura wrightii
Scared thorn-apple, Jimsonweed, Thorn apple
Datura, Angel Trumpet, Sacred datura
Texas native wildflower
All parts of this plant are poisonous!

Wednesday-Friday................10:00 am- 6:00 pm
Saturday............................... 10:00 am - 2:00 pm        
Every 3rd Friday....................10:00 am - 8:00 pm

You can contact me at 903-588-4313.

And please, let us know what you would like to see in StarDragonfly Herb Company.   Especially, for my readers in the Winnsboro and surrounding areas.......are you interested in a certain essential oil, health food product, crystal deodorants (yes, there is such a thing), what do you have to travel clear to Dallas or Tyler to buy or have shipped mail order?  We will be happy to try and stock these items, so our customers can save gas money and travel time.

Just a little more about my "dream come true" herb shop!

I would like to start a Mystery Book Club that meets at StarDragonfly Herb Company one Thursday night of each month.  Either the 1st or the last Thursday.  I would like to see this book club have a great time with the cozy mystery book genre that deals with herbs or tea.  Examples:

Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayle's series.  China is an Herbalist in the fictional Central Texas town of Pecan Springs.  China owns an herb shop and gets herself into all kinds of interesting situations in her pursuit of bad guys and gals.  The books contain recipes and information on herbs.  She has a new series that is about southern women gardeners called the Darling Dahlias.  A fun series!

Laura Child's Tea Shop Mystery series.  Her main character is Theodosia Browning, a lovely tea shop owner in Charleston, South Carolina and her super dog, Earl Grey.  Theo is friends with an unusual cast of characters Drayton, the tea master and Haley, her in house chef extraordinaire.


I spent a delightful afternoon last Sunday researching other herb or plant "cozy" mysteries that would be fun to read........

Bois d'arc tree fruit
Osage Orange
Maclura pomifera

Ann Ripley......gardening
Joyce and Jim Laverne.......gardening
Mary Freeman..........landscaping company
Kate Collins..........flower shop
Kathy Lynn Emerson.........Lady Susanna Appleton, herbalist when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne
Vicky Lane..........Elizabeth Goodweather, owner of a flower/herb farm in North Carolina
Ann McMillan.....Civil War Mystery series with a Virginia herbalist
Suzanne Young...Edna Davies amateur herbalist in Rhode Island
Sheila Pim.....Irish Village gardening mysteries
Ellis Peters...The Cadfael Chronicles, 12th century Welsh Benedictine monk who is an herbalist.

Wow!  I have only read Laura Childs and Susan Wittig Albert.  I am so looking forward to finding these other authors!

Okay, enough for today!  Stop by and see me when you are in Winnsboro.  I will try to always have a pot of herbal tea brewed and ready for sippin'!  And hey, as much as I love cookies....well, you never know what yummy baked good may be hidden among the herbs. Next week, I have a really good summer vegetable soup recipe for you and we will talk about Mullein, a very versatile plant.  But, if you have been reading the posts this year, you know that we never know what is going to happen around here and I just love to share our life on the farm with you!  Herbally, Susan