Wild medicines
A wide range of medicinal plants is available in the Scottish woods,
capable of curing most common ailments. These are free, organic and natural.
Many such plants are traded on the international herbal medicine market,
and can be bought from herbalists. In general, however, these are gathered
in other parts of Europe where labour costs are lower.
Key points
- Be sure that you have identified the plant correctly.
- Gather medicinal plants away from areas where pesticides or other
toxic chemicals might have been sprayed.
- Find out about the correct dosage, method of preparation and administration,
and potential side effects.
- Plants are usually administered as infusions (soaked in boiling water
like tea), decoctions (boiled for some time), tinctures (extracted with
alcohol), poultices (macerated and applied externally) or ointments
(crushed and mixed with oil for external use). Some herbals give precise
instructions for how each plant should be prepared and used.
- If the plants are to be dried, do this slowly (excessive heat can
drive off essential oils that may be important for the plant's medicinal
effects). If the plant material is bulky, chop it up to speed the drying
process and prevent rotting. Keep the dried material away from sunlight
in a sealed jar.
- The time of day (and time of year) at which the plant is collected
can have a significant influence on its efficacy. It is generally best
to harvest in the early afternoon, when there is no dew or rain on the
plants.
- Gather plants sustainably; don't take too much from any one area.
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The wild medicine fallacy
Many people believe that plant-based medicines are safe simply
because they are 'natural'. This is not necessarily the case. Taken
incorrectly or in excess, these medicines can be dangerous. Certain
plant medicines, for example, should be avoided by pregnant women.
Others can have deleterious side-effects if taken in combination
with prescribed pharmaceuticals. Consult an authorised source.
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