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More Helpful Healing Herbs: Sarsaparilla to Yarrow - Page 2

© Kathern Welsh

SLIPPERY ELM: (Joints and muscles.) This account of the amazing properties of slippery elm is best illustrated by the following true story, copied directly from Dr. Heinerman's book:

On Tuesday, October 30, 1838, the small Mormon settlement of Haun's Mill in Caldwell County, Missouri, was brutally attacked by a heavily armed band of religious hooligans. Close to two dozen young boys and teenage-to-adult men were murdered in cold blood and their bodies later dumped down a deep well for concealment. Amanda Smith's youngest son had one hip joint completely blasted away when one cruel attacker put the muzzle of his gun against the lad's waist and deliberately fired. The mother recovered from her initial shock and prayed to God for inspiration. She was told by an unseen voice to make a lye out of the ashes of shagbark hickory, and carefully wash out all dirt and debris from the ugly, gaping wound.

Next, she proceeded to get some roots and inner bark from nearby slippery elm trees and pounded them with rocks until they were quite pulpy. This mucilage poultice was packed directly into the wound, which was then dressed with clean linen. The boy's mother changed the poultice every few days.

In about five weeks, her son had completely recovered - a flexible gristle having grown in place of the missing joint and socket (which amazed physicians for years to come). The family later emigrated to Utah, where the boy enjoyed a full, active adult life without any physical hindrance whatsoever from his terrible childhood ordeal.

In a later story, a World War II veteran had sustained a sever hip wound when a Japanese sniper's bullet passed through his left hip near the socket. After suffering from arthritis for years afterward, he read the above story and decided to try skullcap for himself. After taking six capsules per day for 45 days, he reported that he was once again able to dance with his wife and was steadily improving. Two cups of tea each day is an alternative method of dose.

ST. JOHN'S WORT: (Emotional well being.) The active ingredient in St. John's Wort is called hypericin. In very small doses, it produces a tonic and tranquilizing action in people, apparently by increasing capillary blood flow. Two capsules morning and mid-day seem to be the preferred dosage. Ten drops of the fluid extract twice daily under the tongue works well, also. Tea, in the case of this calming herb, doesn't seem to work as well as capsules or extract.

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