-=> Jim Weller said to Greg Mayman
 -=> about "RHEUMATISM" on 03-30-03  22:01.....

 JW> Allspice For chills, diarrhea and rheumatism. Also use as a digestive
 JW> aid and natural antioxidant.

Aha! We have that, AKA pimento. I must look to using more of it.

 JW> Basil For headaches, rheumatism, colds, aids digestion and has calming
 JW> properties.

I didn't know about that! I love basil with tomatoes or as pesto
with pasta. Now I find it is actually good for me - that's
wonderful ;-)

 JW> Oregano Diuretic. For headaches, nausea, asthma, colic, rheumatism.

I have a little oregano plant. Hey, I'm doing well so far 

 JW> Star anise Diuretic, breath freshener. Aids cramps and nausea.
 JW> Benefits rheumatism.

I bought some star anise at one time, but I haven't used it yet.
I can't remember why I bought it, maybe it was for a recipe that
I never made, maybe it was just on special.

 JW> NETTLE, Urtica dioca allergies, rheumatism, arthritis, gout, builds
 JW> blood, useful for anemia, excessive bleeding, eczema, adrenal tonic.

There are nettles growing at a friends home. I've always thought
of getting some and putting them in my garden. That book I
thought I'd lost reccomends nettle tea, IIRC three or four cups a
day, and a nettle poultice on aching muscles.

Did you know that nettle tea is an antidote for nettle stings?
Though they didn't say whether it should be taken internally or
externally.

And did you know that nettle soup was an excellent source of
nourishment during the Great Depression when a lot of people
couldn't afford anything else?

The poor despised nettle is a lot more useful than most people
give it credit for.

 JW> Steep 1/2 lb juniper berries or 1 lb fresh shoots in boiling hot
 JW> water. add the infusion to a full bath for rheumatic and skin problems.

The berries are available but so far I've only seen them in tiny
packets, IIRC about 20g for a couple of bucks. 1/2 lb would be
expensive. OTOH the bulk caterer's supplier that I occasionally
shop at may have them in larger quantities.

 JW> Put 1 lb oat straw in 3 qt cold water; bring to a boil and boil for 30
 JW> minutes. Add the decoction to bath water for rheumatic problems.

I wonder what they'd say at the fodder store if I asked for a
couple of pounds of oat straw... 

 JW> Steep 4 oz thyme in 1 pint boiling hot water for 10 minutes. Add the
 JW> infusion to bath water for rheumatic problems.

That sounds nice!

 JW> I have no idea how effective any of these remedies are.

Naturally. Life is just too short to try everything. We just
share the info FWIW :-)

Thanks a lot for all that.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    I rejoice in the multifariousness of nature and leave the 
    chimera of certainty to politicians and preachers.
                        Stephen Jay Gould
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From Greg Mayman, in beautiful Adelaide, South Australia

... Logic is a little bird, sitting in a tree; that smells AWFUL.
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30

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