Contents:
Taking Care of Ourselves - Definitions of Medicinal Benefits of Herbs
A Practical Tip/Solution - Purslane
I Recommend - Purslane Recipes
Contact & Policies

Taking Care of Ourselves - Definitions of Medicinal Benefits of Herbs
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When reading up on herbs, we need to know the definitions of medicinal benefits of herbs. We may have no clue what those big words mean. I have found a handy reference section in Jethro Kloss' book, Back to Eden. It seems wise to share it here with you. I'm taking the liberty to add other definitions as I come across them.

This is just the beginning of a long page on my website, definitions of medicinal benefits of herbs Bookmark it in your Favourites, so you can check back to this reference page.

Medicinal Benefits of Herbs:

Alterative: Producing a healthful change without perceptible evacuation.

Anodyne: Relievers pain.

Anthelmintic: An agent which expels worms.

Aperient: Gently laxative, without purging.

Aromatic: Stimulant, spicy.

Astringent: Causes contration and arrests discharges

[Note, these "Anti-" words represent an action that undoes a bad condition. You might want to look up more details on them].

Antibilious: Acts on the bile, relieving biliousness.
(And biliousness is that yucky taste that comes up when you have heartburn).

Antimetic: Stops vomiting.

Antiepeptic: Relieves fits.

Antiperiodic: Arrests morbid periodical movements

Anthilitic: Prevents the formation of calculi in the urinary organs.
(Calculi are kidney stones made of calcium mostly).

Antirheumatic: Relieves or cures rheumatism.

Antiscorbutic: Cures or prevents scurvy.
(That will mainly be fruit, right?)

Antispetic: Opposed to putrefaction.
(So these herbs help to clean wounds, naturally).

Antispasmodic: Relieves or prevents spasms.

Antisyphititic: Having effect on or curing venereal diseases.

More Definitions of Medicinal Benefits Herbs:

Carminative: Expells wind from the bowels.
(A substitute for Tums!)

Cathartic: Evacuating to the bowels.

Cephalic: Used in diseases of the head.
(That doesn't say what they really do, does it?)

[You'll find the rest of the definitions on my site at; definitions of medicinal benefits of herbs

A Practical Tip/Solution - Purslane
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There was a certain weed in our familiy garden that my Dad hated more than any other. He pulled them up roots and all, and disposed of them in the garbage rather than dropping it on the ground. He called this flat, spreading weed "fatta hahn" (Plaut Dietsch for 'fat hen'). At some point I read of a woman in our province who was harvesting these plants, drying them, and putting them into capsules and selling them at a high price as a remedy to help with diabetes. So I teased Dad, suggesting that he should be eating those weeds that he hated so much.

Well, this summer that plant is thriving in my garden. Not having time to weed for a week or two means they got big and luscious-looking. The other Saturday, while weeding I decided to go inside, and check online what this plant was good for. I thought the English name might be portulaca.

Soon I found out that portulaca and purslane are closely related and sometimes mistaken for each other. Seeing photos, I saw that I was dealing with purslane. Sure enough, it turns out to have lots of vitamin A, and is one of the highest omega 3 fatty acid sources of all plants; is good for many things, and even very tasty in stir-fry meals or in salads. A woman showed in a video just how to go about it.

I went back to my garden, pulled up several purslane plants and tried them in a stir-fry for supper. I also set some aside in the fridge for my next salad. I can't say this plant adds an usual flavour or scent to the food, but I found it tasty

However, this plant thrives so heartily in my garden I cannot keep up with eating it, so I'm starting to harvest and both freeze and dry some of the leaves to try in other ways during the winter. Perhaps a tea, etc.

My point is that if you have a weed that is getting in your way, it may well be something God is providing for your benefit. Take time to look it up and see what it is good for. Try eating it - if safe to do so - and you may have something to add to your diet that will improve your health!

I Can Recommend - Purslane Recipes
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Doing further research I discover that many are buying purslane in the farmers' markets, and trying it out in many new recipes. Whoa, I had no idea it had grown so popular in just the last two or three years!

You can do your own online searches, but just to get you started, here's a few links;

45 things to do with purslane

purslane recipes at Pinterest!

purslane at nutrition-and-you.com

Contact & Policies - Constant
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CONTACT INFO: Ruth Marlene Friesen (306)856-7785
903 23rd Street West, Saskatoon, SK. S7L 0A5 Canada.
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