Medicinal Plant Identificaton And Use Guide

At a glance..

This guide is designed to be a starting point that aids you in determining basic traditional plant uses and in aiding you in the identification of each of the presented species. It is important to understand that there are plants that can and do kill people, some are similar in appearance to plants that are commonly used medicinally or as food.

The details..

"The Survival Podcast - Medicinal Plant Identification and Use Guide" is an informative resource for those interested in learning about traditional plant-based medicine. The author, Jack Spirko, compiled this guide to help readers identify common medicinal plants found throughout North America. While it is not meant to be a comprehensive resource on all medicinal plants, it serves as an excellent starting point for beginners.

The book highlights the importance of proper identification before using any plant medicinally or otherwise. It also stresses caution when trying new plants by testing them in small amounts first due to the potential danger some may pose if consumed incorrectly or if someone has allergies. Spirko explains how our ancestors used these natural remedies as their primary form of healthcare long before modern medicine existed. He encourages readers to embrace this knowledge rather than relying solely on synthetic chemicals that are often patented pharmaceuticals.

The guide features eight easy-to-identify native species with detailed descriptions including physical characteristics such as leaves, flowers, fruits etc., along with their various uses ranging from treating colds and flu symptoms to acting as insecticides/repellents. One example is Elderberry which can be made into tea with peppermint for colds while concentrated syrup can serve as a remedy against colds and flu symptoms; its flower tea helps reduce fever and acts like respiratory expectorant too.

Other examples include American Mountain Ash which natives use fruit tea for scurvy treatment while inner bark & buds were used by natives to treat diarrhea among other ailments; Black Walnut whose leaf extracts have strong anti-viral activity besides being useful both internally (as laxative) & externally (poulticed); Black-Eyed Susan known immune system booster similar to Echinacea; Dandelion root considered hypoglycemic plus weak antibiotic against yeast infections besides helping digestion issues.