The Problem with Zebras

"When you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras."

That was one of the gems that Dr. Steve shared in his off-grid medicine course.  It's something taught to all students in medical school.  And what is means is this:  Common things happen commonly.  The child in the waiting room is more likely to have an ear infection than appendicitis.  The young adult is more likely to have type-2 diabetes than a gunshot. 

We naturally gravitate toward the sensationalized rather the common.  If we decide to learn something new, it has to be something cool, different, unique.  Quick and easy would be really good, too.  Macho survivalists want to learn how to DIY an appendectomy on themselves, sans anesthesia.  But learning to satisfy the essentials of good nutrition to stay healthy in the first place?  Leave that to the grannies. They want to be able to stitch up that GSW or finish off an amputation or place a tourniquet (and argue about which tourniquet is best).  They want to be able to treat the rare injuries, the zebras, that likely aren't even once in a lifetime or once in a family's lifetime, but can't manage the common problems (the horses).  They don't know which OTC meds are best for which conditions or when to suture and which wounds must be left open.

Spending money on stuff is easier than learning a new skill. The acquisition of that box of ammo, bottle of fish antibiotics, or solar rechargeable penlight provides an immediate reward of having accomplished something.  And with online shopping, you receive that reward twice--once when you purchase, and again when it arrives.

Learning a new skill takes time. It's not glamorous or sensational.  On top of that, the macho guys are even ridiculing your choices, which makes it harder.  They're sure the hoof beats coming are zebras, and it's silly to waste time preparing for horses, mules, or donkeys.  So you just have to put your head down and plow on.

Which brings us back to the problem with zebras.  For a very long time the US, figuratively, has been a nation of horses treated by horse doctors, horse doctors that have been trained to treat only horses.  Not zebras.  Even though zebras bear some physical resemblance, there are significant differences.  Because the zebras carry some vastly different diseases.  And those diseases have symptoms and presentations that are quite similar to those for horses, but the treatments may be totally different.  The horse doctors might have read about these zebra diseases, but they have never seen them.  Most American doctors have never seen even one case of the following:

• diphtheria
• tetanus
• rabies
• scabies
• mumps
• German measles
• cholera
• yellow fever
• typhus
• tularemia
• plague
• anthrax
• botulism
• measles (though this is changing with increasing numbers of people who are not immunized)

When American doctors hear hoof beats, they think horses. Scabies gets diagnosed as psoriasis.  Improperly diagnosed rabies patients are given steroids for pain and sent home.  Is it influenza, or anthrax?  The symptoms are very similar. What about plague or tularemia?  Even with experience, these can be hard to differentiate.  Without experience? You probably don't want to go there.

Unfortunately, many of those hoof beats in the distance are in fact coming from zebras.  Most physicians in US have never seen the actual zebras making a comeback and crossing our borders.  Measles is only the beginning.  Lots of other communicable diseases are on their way.   We currently have the problem of physicians unable to identify more exotic diseases now, while the technology is available to help them.  What happens when our society collapses?  They will not have their technology to help them diagnose anything.

Now, there are a few horse doctors who hear the hoof beats of zebras in the distance.  Some of them teach off-grid medicine to preppers.  Some write books or blogs.  No one physician covers everything, so it's best to acquire at least two or three different sources--hard copies.  Make sure you're prepared to deal with the ailments common to horses.  That's what you'll see the most of.  But it would also be wise to have the means of dealing with communicable diseases, parasites, and infectious diseases of third world countries, as well as bioweapons.  Zebras can be heard in the distance.

Links to related posts:
Cholera
Rabies
Scabies
Tularemia 
Typhus
Armageddon Medicine  
Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition  
The Survival Medicine Handbook 

For further reading:
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900041016/utahn-dies-from-rabies-a-first-since-1944.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/psoriasis/psoriasis-vs-scabies

 © 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com  04.23.24

The Complete Guide to Home Canning

Canning references are like medical references; no single book covers everything, so it's nice to have a few sources to check.  The Ball Blue Book has been the canning bible for years, and for good reason.  It is chock-full of really good information.  Another great reference is The Complete Guide to Home Canning issued by the USDA and National Center for Home Preservation.  The most recent edition was issued in December 2015.

The Complete Guide to Home Canning contains everything one would expect to find in a canning resource--chapters on fruits, tomatoes, vegetables, jams and jellies, meats, and pickles, and loads of recipes for each.  There is a very nice explanation of various canners and usage instructions and safety issues.  Also discussed are the importance of cleanliness and sterilization of jars and equipment--what is necessary and what is over-kill.  And there is even a bit on the safe disposal of foods suspected to be toxic, including the safety protocol for dealing with botulism.

The instructions are simple, clear, and concise without any fluff to confuse.  Where there are options in how a certain food is canned, the Guide provides a clear explanation of why one method is preferred over another.  With 197 pages, there are numerous illustrations and charts for easy reference. 

The greatest drawback of this book is that it lacks any discussion of why cured ham and bacon, butter, or cheese should not be canned.  In an era of returning to a simpler life, homesteads, preparedness, and DIY everything, with the internet where people can post their personal experiences and make unsafe recommendations based on anecdotes, I feel this is a serious shortcoming.  However, the information it does contain is excellent and valuable.  And best of all, it's free!  Well, it's your tax dollars at work, so I guess in that respect it was pretty expensive.

Sadly, it's a little bit of a hassle to print because it is in eight sections.  It would be really nice if they combined it all into one.  However, if money's not an object, you can go directly to the Purdue Cooperative Extension site and order a copy for $19 plus $5.85 shipping. 


The Complete Guide to Home Canning (free download)
The Complete Guide to Home Canning (purchase from Purdue Cooperative Extension Office)

Links to related posts:
Canning Butter and Cheese
Canning Bacon
Canning Ham

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com

Medicinal Uses of Plantain

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.

This article is on the medicinal uses of the weed plantain (Plantago spp,), rather than the fruit that looks like a banana.

Harvest:  For fresh use, pick when you need it.  To dry for later use, gather plantain leaves after the flower spike has formed. Plantain leaves are eaten fresh in salads or cooked and eaten like spinach.  The seeds from the flower stalks can be sprinkled on food to add fiber to the diet.  However, plantain's greatest value comes from its medicinal properties.

Medicinal Use:  Plantain in its various forms has been used historically to treat:

• asthma, bronchitis, emphysema
• fever
• bladder problems 
• hypertension
• rheumatism
• venomous bites or stings (snake bites, bee stings)
• contact dermatitis (poison oak, ivy, sumac)
• sores and wounds
• burns

SPIT POULTICE:  

• Insect bites and stings.  Everyone in the family should know where plantain is growing in the yard and how to make a spit poultice with it in an emergency.  Pick the leaves, chew them a bit, and slap them on to relieve the pain and itching from bug bites and stings and poison ivy, oak, and sumac.  Secure in place with gauze and tape.  If you're using this on another person who is going to be squeamish about having your saliva on his body, crush the leaves in your hands or with a rock and then apply directly to the skin.  It takes a little longer, but squeamishness has its price.  While you're treating the patient, especially if the patient is young, distract him from the pain by telling him how the poultice works.  Something along of the lines of, "Crushing the leaves releases the mucilage, which soothes the pain.  The anti-inflammatory effect reduces swelling.  Because the spit poultice also draws out toxins, the venom that makes you itch, the sooner it is applied, the faster and better it works."  Replace as needed to relieve pain.
• Contact dermatitis (poison oak, poison ivy, poison sumac).  Apply a poultice immediately and leave on for 30-60 minutes.  Then wash the area with plantain tea (see below).  Finally, apply a plantain sludge.  Replace as necessary.  
• Burns.  After cooling in running water for 10-15 minutes, apply a poultice and secure with gauze and tape.  Two hours later, follow up with a plantain salve (see below).   

INFUSION
In most of the country, plantain is a weed that grows in abundance, and as such can be used for chronic conditions.  We have so little of it that we're saving it for insect bites and stings.  However, if you've got a lot of it, here's how it can be used.

Internally:  Steep 1/2 cup of fresh or 1/2 teaspoon of dried plantain leaves in 1 cup of boiling water, covered, for 10-15 minutes.  Strain to remove leaves.  Add honey or sugar if desired.  Drink three times per day to relieve:

• diarrhea, stomach ulcers, IBS, gastritis
• colds, hay fever, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, influenza, fever, sinusitis, coughs
• hypertension
• rheumatism, goiter
• PMS, irregular menstrual flow
• bladder problems, cystitis, kidney stones,
• irregular liver and kidney function (only 1-2 times per day)
• blood sugar swings in diabetics

Externally:  Prepare the infusion as above, without adding sweetener.  Use the plantain tea in the following ways:

• wash wounds, rashes, eczema;
• gargle to reduce mouth ulcers and throat pain and infection (2 tablespoons 4 times per day);
• wash eyes to relieve irritation.

SALVE
Using the fresh leaves is generally the easiest way to go.  After all, you get just the right amount and you don't have to store it inside anywhere.  And then have to try finding it quickly.  But, we're preppers.  And sometimes you can't find plantain outside when you need it.  Like when winter lasts nine months. This salve combines the healing effects of plantain with the soothing properties of coconut or olive oil.  Use the salve for:

• rashes, eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis;
• burns and blisters;
• insect bites and stings;
• acne and boils;
• cuts;
• sprains;
• hemorrhoids;
• drawing out thorns or splinters;
• reducing scarring on more serious cuts and scrapes;
• dandruff (rub into scalp, leave on for an hour, wash hair).

Here's how to make your own plantain salve:

• Fill a glass jar to the top with washed, dried, and crushed fresh leaves, or half full with dried leaves.  
• Add in melted coconut oil or olive oil to cover the leaves.  
• Replace lid and let sit in the sun for two weeks.  
• Warm oil if necessary and strain out the leaves.  
• In a double boiler, melt one ounce of beeswax per seven ounces of infused oil to make a firmer salve.  
• Store in a cool, dark place. 

TINCTURE:
Use a plantain tincture for the following conditions:

• For internal use, 10 drops in 1 cup water, 3 times per day:
• upper respiratory infections (best if tincture is added to hot water with a spoonful of honey;
• gastrointestinal complaints;
• sore throat, 10 drops in 2 tablespoons water and gargle or swish for 30 seconds.
• For external use:
• dilute 10 drops in 1 tablespoon water and apply to boils, acne, and sores to prevent infection and promote healing.

Here's how to make a plantain tincture:

• Wash and dry fresh leaves, crush them, and put them in a glass jar.  Pour 100-proof alcohol into the jar, completely covering the leaves and filling the jar.  Replace the lid and shake the jar well.  Place the jar in a cool, dark place, and shake it every day for 6-8 weeks.  Strain out plantain leaves and pour tincture into a clean jar.  Label and date.  Your tincture should last for at least 2-3 years.  

DECOCTION:
 A decoction of plantain roots is used in treating everything listed above, so I'm not going to repeat the list here.  However, the roots are a little stronger in treating two important conditions.  Prepare a decoction by putting one tablespoon of washed plantain root in a small pan.  Add one cup of cool water and bring it to a boil.  Boil for 30 minutes.  Cool to drinking temperature and strain off the plantain roots.  Drink the decoction.  Use this decoction for the following:

• Smoking cessation as needed.  Apparently it causes a natural aversion to tobacco.  
• Venomous snake bites.  In addition to applying plantain spit poultices to the bite, also make this decoction for the patient to take internally.  
• Ringworm.

DRIED SEEDS:
The seeds can be dried and infused in water for a soothing eye wash (after the seeds are removed), as a laxative, and for intestinal worms in children.   Plantain seeds also help reduce nicotine cravings for those trying to quit smoking. 

Contraindications:  Plantain is considered a very safe her to use; however, it may cause minor dermatitis in some individuals.  Because there is no research indicating its safety, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid using it.

Links to related posts:
Echinacea
Snake Bites
Spider Bites 
Kidney Stones
Cream of Tartar and Smoking Cessation  

For further information:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/plantain-benefits-4579819
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/plantain-herb/
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-677/great-plantain
http://herballegacy.com/Ahlborn_Medicinal.html
https://wellnessmama.com/4638/plantain-herb-profile/
Sam Coffman, The Herbal Medic.
Dr. Patrick Jones, The HomeGrown Herbalist, pp 159-164.
Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs, pp 190-191.

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com

9 october 2023

Introduction to More Exciting Pressure Canning

When people decide to acquire a pressure canner, it is usually so that they can preserve excess garden produce.  But there is so much more that can be done--so much that is quite tasty and will be very desirable in the dark days ahead.  Pressure-canned foods add variety to the diet, especially in a world lacking fresh and frozen foods.

Now, I'm not going to reproduce the Ball Blue Book of Canning (hereafter the BBB) here.  Everyone should have a copy of that for reference for basic guidelines, correct preparation, and accurate processing times.  What I do want to do is explore some ideas for using a canner to prepare some less conventional foods that will save you time and definitely boost morale.

Vegetables

Most vegetables are canned per instructions in the BBB.  There's just not a lot that is exciting or different to add.  And actually, I usually prefer to dehydrate vegetables when possible.  But there are some situations where the dehydrated version just doesn't work as well in recipes.  One of those is dehydrated shredded zucchini.  Don't get me wrong; I do actually dehydrate quite a bit some years.  But when I rehydrate the zucchini for making cakes and breads, it doesn't reconstitute perfectly.  And some baked goods I want to have absolutely perfect.  And of course, I do just put several bags of shredded zucchini in the freezer, but I'm preparing for a time without easy electricity, so every year or so I can a few pints of shredded zucchini.  It gets packed in jars and processed per instructions for squash in the BBB.  And then when we want zucchini bread or cupcakes, we don't have to wait for the dehydrated stuff to rehydrate, nor are we dealing with cupcakes that are a little on the chewy side because the zucchini didn't fully reconstitute.

The other exception around here is potatoes. Yeah, lots of people can potatoes, but we never really cared for the texture, and unless they were being used in a stew, we never seemed to get around to eating them.  However, there is that other more popular way of eating potatoes in this country, the French fry.  Even if the pressure canner was not used for anything else, it would be worthwhile (in this family, at least) to acquire just to be able to have French fries when the grid goes down. These fries are so incredibly divine. Unfortunately, I can’t give you a taste. You’ll just have to trust me. Canning French fries is one of the first articles I posted on this blog; as such, not a lot of people have read it yet. All the work is done in the canning; when you wish to eat some fries (which will be often!), open the jar and put the fries into a strainer. Thoroughly rinse and drain to remove excess starch. Deep fry in peanut oil until they reach a golden brown. If your family is just not into the food storage thing because it's too horrible to contemplate eating that stuff, give these French fries a try.  You'll see a complete one-eighty as they realize food storage can be really good.

Dry Beans
Dry beans aren’t a particularly exciting item to can, unless you get excited about saving money, time, and energy. Dry beans normally take hours to prepare for each meal. By utilizing a pressure canner, you prepare beans for several meals at once, saving money now and time down the road. So how is it done?  Dry beans are truly one of the easiest items to can and a great way to get started with pressure canning.  Basically, you soak the beans for several hours or overnight; rinse, drain, and cook; fill jars about 2/3 full; add boiling water and salt; and process.  It might sound like a lot of work, but it is really quick and easy, and not at all messy.  Complete instructions are here. 

Meats

Canning in the meat world is just like canning in the fruit and vegetable world--follow directions and be careful.  There's nothing scary about it, and preparing meats is a lot faster and easier than preparing produce.  All meats are canned exactly as outlined in the BBB.  However, here are a few ideas for preparing and packaging meats for other uses.  Food fatigue is a real thing, and having a variety of tasty and familiar foods in our menu will be essential to maintaining morale in the coming crisis.

• Beef. I can a good quantity of stew meat to be used as is in stews, but also to be shredded for use as taco filling, French dips, etc. Ground beef also gets browned and canned so that I can make soups and casseroles very quickly. Most people who are preppers and canners are already familiar with this. However, I know it will be very nice in the future to also be able to have a hamburger now and then. Obviously stew meat won’t work for this purpose, and neither will ground beef that hasn’t had a little extra preparation.  See here for complete directions for canning hamburger patties.
• Pork. Some pork is canned in chunks for later use in chili or to be shredded for taquito filling or super quick pulled pork sandwiches. Leftover ham from Christmas and Easter (we always get a large one for just this purpose) gets canned for adding to soups or fried rice.  This is only for hams that are were not smoked or cured (which, I realize, most are).  The Cooperative Extension has never tested the safety of canning smoked or cured meats, including bacon.  It may be perfectly safe; it may not be. 
• Bacon.  The Cooperative Extension does not recommend canning bacon for a variety of reasons, all of which are sound. That being said, there are still a lot of people doing it.  I admit to it myself, but now only for bacon ends and pieces, and not the strips that are "dry-canned."  I have posted on bacon in the past, including how people do it and exactly why the Cooperative Extension opposes the practice.  
• Chicken. Home-canned chicken makes for quick chicken salad sandwiches or adding to a summer salad for a main dish meal. And with a can of chicken on hand, it takes no time to get homemade chicken noodle soup ready when someone comes down with a cold.
• Chicken bones. This isn't being recommended as food for people, though apparently in some cultures chicken bones do get thoroughly cooked and mashed or blended in some dishes.  I'm not entirely sold on the safety of this in general, but it does work for making chicken bouillon.  However, chicken bones can be pressure canned, just like chicken meat is, for feeding cats.  After being pressure canned, the hollow bones are easily mashed with a fork and fed to cats. Unfortunately, the chicken bones are too high in protein to be fed to dogs (may cause kidney damage).

Convenience foods

Pressure canning is great for preserving the harvest, but it’s also ideal for making life easier with convenience foods for days when we're just too busy or sick to cook.  A ready supply of stew, chili, and soup provides peace of mind for those situations when they arise.  Each family will have its own favorite recipes, so I'll refrain from posting any here.  Most any recipe can be adapted for canning, one just needs to always remember to process for the time stated for the ingredient that needs the most time and highest pressure.  Read your BBB for specific guidelines here.

A pressure canner is going to cost $100-$300. But the peace of mind that comes from preparing your own food? Priceless.

Links to related posts:
A Few Thoughts on Pressure Canners
Canning French Fries  
Canning Refried Beans  
Canning Hamburger Patties
Canning Bacon 
Canning Chicken
Canning Ham
Canning Pork 

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com  

Coconut Oil for Butter in Magic Mix

A couple of months ago as I was substituting coconut oil for butter in baking some cookies, I got to wondering whether it would work to substitute coconut oil for butter in Magic Mix.  It's one thing to make cookies and cornbread with coconut oil, but how would it work in cream soups?  Gravy?  Pudding?

The idea of it kind of even grossed me out.  It just seems like eating that much oil could not possibly taste good, even though butter is pretty close to oil.  It's a huge mental block for me.  But in the interest of trying this out before TEOTWAWKI, I finally made myself do it.  I mean, I've had the idea for this post in the line-up of articles for at least six weeks, maybe longer, and I kept pushing it out.

So here are the results:

• Magic Mix chocolate pudding--could not detect a difference, even though we knew it was coconut oil instead of butter.
• Magic Mix Banana Cream Pie--I wish I didn't have to share.
• Magic Mix cream of chicken soup--nobody noticed.
• Magic Mix cream of tomato soup--pretty tasty and the crackers don't get soggy immediately like with SOS cream of tomato soup.
• Cheeseburger Mac 'n' Cheese--nobody noticed.  

There is a con to this substitution.  When it is stored in the refrigerator, the coconut oil hardens up a bit much and cannot easily be scooped into a measuring cup, whereas Magic Mix made with butter goes right into the measuring cup without any problem.  However, the coconut oil Magic Mix combines perfectly well with water on the stove.  Of course, the solution is not to store Coconut Oil Magic Mix in the refrigerator.  There's no water in the oil, so nothing to get the milk wet and initiate conditions conducive to spoiling.  Thus, no refrigeration required.

Overall, I am now convinced that I need to store even more coconut oil.  It works beautifully in everything I've tried it in.  It's far cheaper than dehydrated butter, canned butter, ghee, and as of the end of May 2020 for me, cheaper than regularly priced butter at the grocery store.  And it has a good shelf-life--at least five years, in my experience.  With as crazy as things are getting out these and shortages of items that have historically been very inexpensive and easy to purchase for us, I really believe you just can't have too much oil right now, especially coconut oil.

Links to related posts:
Magic Mix  
Coconut Oil--Alternative Medicine
Coconut Oil--Health Uses  
Emergency Baby Formula
Basic Food Storage--Coconut Oil
Great Granola Recipes with Coconut Oil
Food Storage Items I Wish I Hadn't Bought (And What to Use Instead)
23 august 2024

Cast Iron Pans To Boost Iron Intake

Every once in a while someone says something along the lines of the importance of using cast iron pans to boost your supplemental iron intake, or one of the advantages of using cast iron over other kinds of pans is that you can get your iron instead of having to take a supplement.
What very few people seem to understand, however, is that those statements are only partially true.

An awful lot depends on how well-seasoned your pan is, what you're cooking, and for what amount of time.

Here's what you need to know:

• Older, well-seasoned pans leach less iron than newer, less seasoned pans.
• Along the same lines, pans that food does not stick in release less iron than pans that food does stick in.

Those points should make sense.  If there's no real contact or exchange occurring because the food isn't sticking, there isn't going to be any additional iron in the food.

• Iron comes in different forms.  The iron in a cast iron pan is in the non-heme form, which is not assimilated, or taken up by the body, as easily as the heme form of iron.  This latter form is what is found in red meat.  And that is why red meat is a good source of iron.  
• Vitamin C and acidity help release iron from the pan and get it into your food.  So when using cast iron, cooking foods with tomato sauce or lemon juice or vinegar is going to get more iron into your food.
• Cooking with liquids, cooking longer, and stirring more often will all also get more iron into your food.  The more contact, the more opportunities for contact with the iron pan, the more iron will get into your food.  

There isn't an exact science to this, and unfortunately, one of the key reasons for using cast iron--the ability to season a pan well and develop a natural, yet virtually non-stick surface, actually prevents you from getting iron into your diet.  If you've got a really well-seasoned pan, the amount of iron you're getting is virtually zero.  You'll have to boost your intake in other ways.  Unless you want to scrub the pan every night, which is totally an option, and may be what you need to do in a collapse situation if you're anemic.

Links to related posts:
Cleaning Cast Iron Pans
15-Cent Baking Rack for Dutch Ovens
Dutch Oven Temperature Chart and Guidelines 

For further information:
http://thescienceofeating.com/2016/11/29/the-truth-about-cast-iron-pans-the-facts-that-you-need-to-know-2/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03670240701285079?scroll=top&needAccess=true
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(98)04450-X/fulltext
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12859709

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com   03.14.21 06.19.24

Book Review: The Survival Medicine Handbook

As noted on the cover, The Survival Medicine Handbook, by Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Amy Alton, is "a guide for when medical help is NOT on the way."  The second edition is significantly expanded and revised; don't cheat yourself by purchasing a first edition copy. 
Like other off-grid medicine authors and teachers, the Altons firmly believe that an educated lay person with good training can successfully address 80-90 % of the medical issues they will encounter when society collapses and there is no advanced medical care available.  Some of these cases may even be life-threatening.  Like administering the right antibiotic for an infection.  But they aren't necessarily complicated, and that's why the Altons have written this book.

The book has a few shortcomings.  There are approximately twenty pages at the beginning that are basically preaching to the choir.  Those who are preparing for TEOTWAWKI don't really need any more encouragement to do so.   And the same goes for the chapter devoted to natural disasters; preppers living in earthquake country or tornado alley are likely to have already prepared for these scenarios.  However, the information on treating smoke inhalation due to wildfire is valuable.  There also isn't a lot of information on lice-, tick-, flea-, and mosquito-borne diseases, which is probably the greatest weakness of this book.  And there's nothing about quarantine and isolation for preventing the spread of disease.  But that's also why having a few off-grid medicine resources is critical.  If one book doesn't address your concern, another most likely will.

Like most, if not all, survival medicine books, there are lists of suggested items to include in your various medical kits and the recommended quantities.  The Survival Medicine Handbook is written at a higher level than Armageddon Medicine (reviewed here), but it shouldn't be over the head of anyone with at least some college education, and at half the cost of Armageddon Medicine.  However, it's probably not as thorough as Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition (reviewed here), which is free. 

Now for the topics that The Survival Medicine Handbook covers well.

• Moreso than any other off-grid medicine book, this one includes alternative medicine and natural treatments, including essential oils, right in with conventional therapies; the alternative treatments aren't an afterthought relegated to the back of the book.
• There is also an entire chapter dedicated to growing a medicinal herb garden for making your own medicine, because pharmaceuticals will eventually run out.
• This book contains a glossary of medical terms; most do not. 
• Dr. Alton is an OB-GYN, so there is a very solid chapter on birth control, pregnancy, and delivery.  
• There is pretty solid information on treating dental problems.
• This is the only book I've seen that addresses altitude sickness and treatment.  
• There's a good section on radiation.
• This book includes more information on using an epi-pen than I've seen elsewhere.
• And there is a respectable section on administering local anesthesia and nerve blocks. 

The Survival Medicine Handbook is nearly 600 pages of text on 6x9" pages, in what looks like a 10- or 11-point font.  There's little room for note-taking, but there are helpful illustrations and photographs.  I'd say it's worth investing in.

Links to related posts:
Book review--Armageddon Medicine  
Book review--Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition   

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com   

Managing Snake Bites in a Post-Apocalyptic World

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.

About fifteen years ago, my father-in-law was marking out an orienteering course in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains for about sixty eleven-year-old Boy Scouts when he came across an old rattlesnake (how he knew that he was old, I'm not sure).  He didn't think much of it.  Rattlesnakes being rattlesnakes, he assumed the old snake would move on, especially with all the foot traffic of a bunch of scouts.

Except for the fact that that old snake didn't read the manual, or he was too old to care.

My son, Luke, was in the first group of scouts to use the course that day.  In the lead.  With the compass, and much more focused on the compass than on the ground in front of him.  (Which is not what the scouts are taught to do, but they were eleven years old, after all.)  And through the compass Luke sees that he is about to step on a rattlesnake.  The same old rattlesnake that Grandpa left there an hour or so earlier.  Apparently, it is entirely possible for a skinny boy to execute a standing long jump of about ten feet backwards and sideways.  I don't recall whether they moved the snake or altered the course.  I do recall that I was not pleased with my father-in-law that day.

There are two kinds of venomous snakes found in the continental US.  All snakes are most active in warmer temperature and seasons, so that is when most bites occur.   Unlike what is shown on TV, especially the old westerns, many snakes are active at night and they hide in logs, under rocks, and in old structures.  Also, especially in contrast to what's on TV, snakes don't always leave the scene of the crime.  (I guess the old geezer rattler got one thing right.)  It may still have venom to inject.  If it didn't flee the scene, the victim and everyone else should.  Of course, if possible, killing the snake for positive identification is an idea.  Just be aware that a dead snake is not necessarily harmless; it can still bite for awhile even after the head has been severed from the body. Oh, and a lot of people are actually bitten while trying to kill snakes.

Rattlesnakes are the most common venomous snake bite in the US, and generally the most dangerous.  But there is a wide range of toxicity among the species of rattlesnakes.  The pygmy rattlesnake is at the low end of the spectrum; the Mojave Green is more often deadly. Recent research has shown that as far as rattlesnakes are concerned, the larger the snake, the more toxic the venom.

Venomous snakes have hollow fangs through which they deliver their venom; however, not every bite is envenomating.  That is, about 20-30% of bites are actually dry.  No venom, no ill effects.  (Kinda like no harm, no foul.)  Another 30-40% of bites are considered lightly envenomating because the snake either didn't inject much or some was lost in the air before or after the bite.  Also, again with rattlesnakes only, denim for some reason reduces the amount of venom injected by 60%.  Even full envenomation does not necessarily equal death.  Beyond that, a lot will depend on the age and size of the patient.  Younger children are more at risk than older children and adults.

So how do you know whether the snake bite was envenomating?  The first clue is that there is a burning pain at the site almost immediately.  And then within a few minutes swelling begins and starts traveling up the affected limb.  Pit viper bites (rattlesnake, water moccasin/cottonmouth, copperhead) may cause bruising and blisters at the bite site.  And the afflicted area may become numb.  The lips or face may also become numb, and some bite victims will say they have a metallic or odd taste in their mouths.  A serious bite may cause spontaneous bleeding from the nose or gums.  The extremities may become numb or start tingling 30-90 minutes later, followed shortly thereafter by nausea, vomiting, and/or fainting.  And during this time the swelling and discoloration of the limb bitten continues to spread. 

Coral snakes have a different type of toxin, a neurotoxin, and thus affect the body in a totally different manner.  Symptom onset is much later, from 4-6 hours up to 12 hours after the bite.  Coral snake venom causes mental and nerve changes such as muscle twitching, mental confusion, and slurred speech.  As the venom spreads, the central nervous system is affected, and there may be problems with swallowing and breathing, and even complete paralysis.  Coral snakes are distinguished from non-venomous king snakes by the following ditty:  "red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow; red touches black, you're ok jack" or something along those lines.  As long as you're in North America.  It's not necessarily true elsewhere.

Some of the distinguishing characteristics of each of the families of venomous snakes:

• Copperheads have the least potent venom and thus the lowest mortality rate.  Supposedly they are not aggressive, but they account for the highest number of bites.  Their bites result in localized tissue destruction.
• Cottonmouth venom is next in potency.  They become aggressive when provoked.  Unlike other, non-venomous, water snakes, they swim on top of the water.
• Rattlesnakes are next in potency, but it varies widely among the species.  Pygmy rattlers are much less toxic than Mojave rattlers, which are more often deadly.  Most snake bite deaths in the US are attributed to Eastern and Western diamondback rattlesnakes.  Rattlesnakes are found throughout the continental US, and the bite causes toxicity throughout the body in addition to an ugly wound.  
• Coral snakes possess the most potent venom but are the least aggressive, and death from their bites is rare.

Bites from non-venomous snakes and non-envenomating bites are still cause for concern.  They are puncture wounds and there is still the potential for infection as with any other puncture wound.  However, they are less likely to cause infection than cat, dog, or human bites, so antibiotics are not routinely prescribed in this situation.  (Still, I have to admit, I'd prefer a cat or dog bite.) 

The treatment, always, is to get to a hospital for anti-venin (yes, that is how it is spelled).  Nobody carries it in a medical kit or an ambulance.  About 10% of the people treated with anti-venin will have an allergic reaction to it and need to be at a hospital to be treated for the reaction to the anti-venin.  Of course, post-collapse, anti-venin isn't going to be an option.

So, lacking hospitals and anti-venin, how does one go about treating a venomous snake bite post-collapse?  Before getting into that, let's address the "DO NOT"s:

DO NOT:

• Cut the bite and attempt to suck out the venom.
• Numb with ice.
• Give the patient alcohol or caffeine.
• Apply a tourniquet.
• Use a stun gun.

What about using a Sawyer extractor?  They're very popular among outdoor enthusiasts and survivalists.  Dr. Joe Alton, the docs teaching my off-grid medicine classes, the authors of Survival and Austere Medicine all pretty much agree:  the Sawyer extractor does nothing.  So what about claims from people who have used them and didn't suffer the ill effects of a snake bite?  Remember that 20-30% of bites are non-envenomating.  Another 30% are only lightly envenomating.  That's what worked.  However, if you've already got one, and if someone is bitten, they can still be used.  While you are working to do other things to manage the patient and the bite, give the extractor to someone else.  The patient will calm down because he feels something is being done.  And that's the first thing that needs to happen for treatment.

The steps then for treating a snake bite are as follows:

• Keep the patient calm.
• Remove all jewelry and any potentially constricting clothing immediately.
• Immobilize the limb below the heart.  The venom moves in the lymph.  Any movement at all moves the venom into the body faster.
• Clean the wound thoroughly, irrigating copiously to remove venom that is not deep in the bite.
• Use a Sharpie to outline the edge of the swelling and do this frequently to track progression.
• Complete bed rest for 24-48 hours.  

And that's it in the conventional world of medicine, other than offering OTC pain meds, and antibiotics if infection sets in.  Recovery may take weeks to months.

However, in the alternative medicine world, there is a lot more that can be done.  At least it has been done with animals, and with good results.  Again, for emphasis, the below treatments have only been done with animals for snake bites, and some with humans and poisonous spider bites.  No one has used these with snake bites in people (well, no one has gone on record as far as I can tell).  In a functioning society with advanced medical care, snake bite victims are always sent to a hospital.  The potential consequences of doing otherwise in a litigious society such as ours are too great.

• Activated charcoal.  If the wound is open enough and fresh enough (less than 30 minutes have passed), make a poultice or plaster with water.  If possible, make a little bath in a basin or small tub to soak the limb in.  Bear in mind, that the activated charcoal has to get to the afflicted tissue to be effective.  It will not work through intact skin.  Do this for 30-60 minutes.  Also, and this should not be done immediately, but just once a day for the next 5-7 days, give the patient 1 capsule (00 size) of activated charcoal per day, two hours before or after any herbs that are taken internally.
• Echinacea angustifolia, pallida and/or purpurea.  The herbalists disagree on which is more potent.  I suspect it could have something to do with their climate and region.  Dr. Patrick Jones in Idaho favors purpurea.  Sam Coffman of Texas favors angustifolia.  Both recommend applying a plaster or poultice immediately and changing it every 2-4 hours.  Both recommend giving an Echinacea tincture internally.   Sam recommends 1 tablespoon 3 times per day for an adult; Dr. Jones advises 1 tablespoon every 2-4 hours for the first day, then twice per day for a week.  
• Milk thistle seed, plantain, Joe Pye weed, nettles are all recommended by Sam Coffman for additional support to the body.
• Dr. Jones also uses dandelion root, echinacea root, plantain, and mallow in equal parts topically and internally every four hours.  If the herbs are fresh, grind them up and apply.  If they are dried, mix them up with a little water for a poultice.  Change the poultice every four hours.  Take the tea (or a tincture of these herbs) internally every 2-4 hours the first day, then twice per day for a week.  This formula may not work for coral snake bites.

Links to related posts:
Dandelion 
Echinacea 
Plantain 
Activated Charcoal
Spider Bites
Book Reviews--The Herbal Medic and The HomeGrown Herbalist
Book Review--Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition
Book Review--The Survival Medicine Handbook 

For more information:
Dr. Patrick Jones, The HomeGrown Herbalist, pp 123-26.
Dr. Joseph Alton, The Survival Medicine Handbook, pp 327-30.
Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition, pp 194-97.
Sam Coffman, The Herbal Medic, pp 80-91.
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/a-rattle-with-death-in-yosemite?utm_source=pocket-newtab

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com  04.05.23

Brigham Tea/Squaw Tea/Mormon Tea

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.


Mormon tea, the most common name for several species of North American plants related to the Chinese ma huang species, is found only in the western United States.  Ephedra nevadensis and Ephedra viridis are the most common species.  Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers drank a lot of this, which accounts for one reason for the name.  Perhaps it's because the other names have connotations currently unacceptable in our society.  Squaw tea is one--the local Indians taught the Mormon pioneers about the uses of this plant.  And before that (and before the advent of penicillin), it was commonly referred to by frontiersmen, miners, explorers, and others as whorehouse tea, due to its use in curing syphilis and gonorrhea and reported efficacy in inducing miscarriage.  I'm happy with the term Mormon tea.

Time to harvest:  Mormon tea can be harvested at any time and dried for later use.  Most people have to make a special trip to collect it--it's not something you normally plant, and even if you could find it at a nursery, it grows too slowly to be used for medicine.  I have acres of it and juniper, so I can just walk outside a hundred feet and pick whatever I need.

Alternative:  Mormon tea is often touted as an alternative to Chinese ephedra, ma huang.  However, the North American species do not contain any ephedra and there is no risk associated with its use like there is with ma huang. Its stimulant properties are due to tannins and alkaloids.

Medicinal uses:  Mormon tea is an antihistamine and mild diuretic and it is high in calcium.  It is especially effective in drying up mucus secretions to alleviate runny noses and scratchy throats.  Historically, it has been used to treat:

• rheumatism;
• high blood pressure;
• colds and coughs;
• mild asthma;
• gonorrhea and syphilis;
• mild bladder infections and kidney ailments;
• osteoporosis. 

However, it is important to note that while Native Americans and others used Mormon tea to treat venereal diseases, there is no research to support the efficacy of this use.  Better stick with abstinence before marriage and fidelity afterwards.


Tincture:  According to Stephen Buhner, the dried herb is tinctured in a 1:5 weight to volume ratio, in 50% alcohol.  The dosage is 15-30 drops.  It is best used in conjunction with other herbs.

Infusion:  Pour boiling water over leaves (actually, they look a lot more like pine needles).  Steep 10 minutes, covered.  Strain, add sugar or honey, and drink. 

Contraindication:  Not for use by pregnant women in the first trimester.

Cautions:  Use as tea is safe in moderation. 

For further reading:
Stephen Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics, p 370.
Patrick Jones, The HomeGrown Herbalist, pp 103-105.
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/mormon-tea.html
https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_other/wo_AgricHandbook727/wo_AgricHandbook727_492_494.pdf
https://medicinalherbals.net/mormon-tea-brigham/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4594322/

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com  

13 march 2023

DIY Chinese Noodles

Every once in a while, I get an idea about trying to DIY a grocery store junk food or convenience food.  One of my first forays, about ten years ago, was in trying to duplicate Oreos at home.
It wasn't what we dreamed it would be.  It wasn't even close.

A couple of months ago I got to thinking about Chinese noodles, the crunchy ones that some of us could happily snack on.  So I went looking for a recipe online and happily found one.  Just one.  I'm glad I saved the link for it because as I Google it now, it doesn't even come up in the results.

I adapted this recipe from the one provided at Ramshackle Pantry so that the measurements were in US standard, not metric, and to use white flour plus gluten flour, instead of straight bread flour, which a lot of preppers don't store.

Fried Chow Mein Noodles

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon gluten flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
water

Combine the flours and salt in a medium bowl.  Crack the egg into a measuring cup and add water to make 1/3 cup total.  Pour the egg and water into a medium bowl and beat.  Add egg mixture to flour and knead for five minutes.  Resist the temptation to add additional water.  Loosely cover with lid or plastic wrap and let sit for 30 minutes. Knead for one more minute.

Roll dough out onto flour-covered surface and into a very thin sheet. If you lack upper body strength, like I do, you may find it easier to roll out 1/4 of the dough at a time.   Cut noodles into thin strips 2-3" long.  Cook in boiling water for 2-3 minutes.  Drain.  Deep fry in peanut oil at 350 degrees for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.  Drain.


(For a TEOTWAWKI method of determining the oil temperature, drop a couple of popcorn kernels into the oil.  When the temperature hits 350 degrees, the popcorn will pop.)

So how do they rate at this house?  First off, they definitely have to have salt sprinkled on when they come out.  That helps a lot.  Second, the crispiness and texture are pretty spot on.  But only if they are cut super thin.  I was getting tired of cutting so many noodles and thought I'd try a few cut a bit wider.  No, that does not work at all.  The thinner they are cut, the better.  And they take kind of a long time--not much return on investment.  Finally, the flavor isn't quite there. So, for my family, I will have to vacuum seal a few quarts of the store-bought kind.  However, they weren't bad, and I'm sure that two or three years into the collapse of society, everyone will be pretty happy to have some homemade noodles to sprinkle on Asian salads or include with their Hawaiian haystacks.

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com 

Rabies--Can Anything Be Done?

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.

One of the things I love most about writing this blog is that I learn so much.

Predictably, there was quite a bit that I didn't know about rabies.  It's not like it's a common occurrence, or even uncommon.  Every responsible dog owner has their dogs vaccinated against rabies.  Bats carry rabies.  Don't approach a dog, or any other animal, acting strangely, and particularly one that is excessively salivating. I think that covers what the average person knows about rabies.

Human cases of rabies are rare in the US, with generally only two to three occurrences per year, most of which are contracted overseas.  However, more than 50,000 people worldwide die from rabies each year, and most of these cases are due to bites from unvaccinated dogs.  In developed countries, wildlife exposure is the most common cause of rabies deaths.  Of course, there are the idiots, like the couple in Utah who bought a home with bats.  And enjoyed handling the bats!!  The husband died in 2018 and his wife had to receive the rabies shots.  Both said they had never been bitten.

With modern medicine still available to us, any encounter with a bat warrants receiving the rabies vaccination.  The most insignificant of scratches can be fatal.  (Indeed, the Utah family of the man who died said they had not been bitten or scratched, only that the bats had licked their fingers.  And that they often found the bats in bed with them.)  And that's why over 50 students in two Utah schools were sent to receive the preventative rabies vaccinations just from having the bats in their classrooms.

Vaccination is required by law (and common sense) for veterinarians and veterinarian office workers.  It is recommended for cave explorers and those traveling to rabies-endemic regions.  Pre-exposure immunization is over $500 and is usually not covered by insurance.

That's a hefty price tag, but it may be worth considering.  I know I am, at least for my daughters who handle all the animals.

At the very least, make sure your pets are vaccinated for their protection and especially for yours.

However, post-collapse these vaccines are not going to be available and interactions with animals, especially wild animals, may increase.  The first thing that is going to have to happen is that loose or wild dogs, pets that were abandoned or dumped by their owners, are going to get rounded up and euthanized or shot.  It will be sad, but it will have to happen to protect the community.  Because those vaccines eventually wear off and domestic dogs will have rabies again.

So what can we do?

As mentioned above and like most people know, strange behavior and excessive salivation are signs of rabies.  In addition, nocturnal animals will appear during the day, and most will show aggressive behavior.  Rabies is most commonly spread by raccoons, skunks, bats, opossums, coyotes, foxes, and dogs.  According to Dr. Joseph Alton, author of The Survival Medicine Handbook, there has never been a documented case of rabies transmission to humans in the US from cows, squirrels, rabbits, rats, sheep or horses.

If there is any concern that an animal has rabies, that animal should be isolated and observed, if possible for at least a week.  A biting animal with rabies usually dies within 5 to 7 days.  Any unvaccinated pet or animal whose vaccination has lapsed that has been bitten or otherwise attacked by another animal should be isolated for at least seven to eight weeks, during which time signs usually appear, though sometimes rabies symptoms can take up to two years to manifest.

In people, signs of rabies usually appear one to three months after initial exposure, but again, may take up to two years to appear.  The first course of action whenever someone has been bitten or scratched by an animal suspected of having rabies (and any bat contact at all) is to seek medical attention and the life-saving prophylactic rabies vaccines, currently a course of five shots over a two-week period.

Unfortunately, that will likely not be an option post-collapse.

Is there anything that can be done?  Actually, yes.  (This is the cool stuff I learned by writing this post today.)

Studies suggest that vigorous scrubbing and irrigation of the wound may reduce the risk of transmission.  While washing and scrubbing with soap is good, benzalkonium chloride is best as it has demonstrated some efficacy against the rabies virus.  Antibacterials, including iodine, have zero efficacy against viruses.  The caregiver must don gloves to protect himself, and then the wound should be irrigated with a syringe and scrubbed vigorously for at least ten minutes to flush out the virus, saliva, debris, and bacteria.  Do not close the wound, but keep it bandaged to prevent infection.

And that's all that can be done.  Early symptoms of rabies include fever, headache, over-sensitivity to light and sound, difficulty swallowing, and (in animals) a fear of water.  Once the sickness has begun, here is no known treatment that can save a person's life.

Links to related posts:
Skin Preps and Washes (including benzalkonium chloride) 
Post Collapse Management of Domestic Animal Bites  
Suturing the Skin 

For further reading:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1058082/
https://www.reliasmedia.com/articles/141247-emergency-management-of-rabies-exposure
https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Antiseptic_efficacy_of_benzalkonium_chloride
http://beansbulletsbandagesandyou.com/bullets/2019/04/27/rabies-prepare-aware/
https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/medical_care/index.html
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2014/0815/p239.pdf
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900041016/utahn-dies-from-rabies-a-first-since-1944.html
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865689891/Students-treated-for-rabies-after-bat-exposure-at-Utah-high-schools.html

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com  

1 march 2023

Post Collapse Uses of Red Clover

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on an item you might wish to have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.


I had other plans for writing today, but as I was out working in the yard this morning, I saw a few patches of red clover and remembered that I had missed out on harvesting it last year.  I figured today was the day to do it.  And when Lydia came in as I was writing this article and asked which herb she should start working with next, I suggested red clover.  Her timing is impeccable.

Red clover, Trifolium pratense, is harvested just as the blossoms appear, and for medicinal purposes, you want only the blossoms.  You can feed the leaves to your livestock and they will be very happy, unless they are like Bambi's Thumper, who only wanted to eat the blossoms. 

There are numerous clinical studies on the uses of red clover, some of which I have posted links for below.  Red clover probably doesn't make anyone's top ten lists of essential medicinal herbs, but still, it has its uses, especially for menopausal women.

MEDICINAL USES

• Menopause, especially to alleviate hot flashes and prevent bone loss
• Lower blood pressure
• Lower cholesterol
• Whooping cough, to reduce spasmodic coughing
• Upper respiratory infections, including colds, sore throat, and bronchitis
• Asthma
• Psoriasis and eczema

Infusion.   Prepare an infusion using one to two teaspoons dried flowers steeped in boiling water for 15 minutes.  When there is no higher medical care, this infusion may help in managing the following conditions:

• Whooping cough
• Asthma
• Upper respiratory infections
• Gout and arthritis
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Menopausal issues such as hot flashes and bone loss
• Halting the progression of prostate cancer in men

Tincture.  Prepare a tincture in a 1:5 ratio of dried blossoms to 30-40% alcohol.  Put the blossoms in a canning jar and add the appropriate amount of alcohol, seal, and place in a dark cabinet.  Shake daily for six weeks, strain, and put in a dropper bottle.  The adult dosage is 2-6 ml, up to three times per day, for the same conditions as above.

Salve.  Fill a pint jar with dried blossoms and cover with olive oil or melted coconut oil.  Let infuse in a dark cabinet for four weeks.  Strain out the blossoms and discard.  Put the infused oil in a double boiler and add 1-2 tablespoons of beeswax.  Melt completely and stir until combined, and then pour into a jar.  Use for psoriasis and eczema.

Note that for many of these conditions, especially dealing with menopause or lowering cholesterol or blood pressure, it may take up to three months of daily usage to see results.

Contraindications:  Red clover is not for use by women who are pregnant, nursing, or wishing to conceive.  It is not for use by those taking blood thinners.  Do not use prior to surgery, as it may increase surgical bleeding.

Cautions:  Red clover should be avoided by those with a peanut allergy, as the two plants are closely related.

Possible side effects:  Nausea, muscle aches, heavy menstrual bleeding, headaches, constipation, diarrhea, acne.

For further reading:
https://draxe.com/red-clover/
http://www.medicinehunter.com/red-clover
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16645539
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/red-clover.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12496063
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25074017
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26471215
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2724018/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17350196
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3206499/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17078110
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-308/red-clover
https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-red-clover-89577

© 2019, PrepSchoolDaily.blogspot.com 

17 july 2023