Traditional Healing Herbs are gentle, nature‑centered ways of easing the symptoms of flus, colds, and digestive upsets, of working with chronic maladies, and of giving first aid for minor accidents such as cuts, bruises, and stings. For thousands of years, people have relied on plants for healing. Gathering summer plants for winter remedies is part of the year’s rhythm. There’s a pleasant satisfaction, too, in preparing herbal remedies for your family, your friends, and yourself. Among the joys of summer can be growing and gathering beneficent garden herbs, drying them in big fragrant bunches for winter teas, and preparing a collection of herbal tinctures, syrups, oils, ointments, and cosmetics. In winter, we can use summer’s bounty to keep ourselves healthy.
Turtlehead is a native American perennial that grows on the edges of swamps, rivers, and wet wood. Clusters of pink flowers bloom in late summer on the 2-4 foot tall plants. Best in sun to part shade, moist soil. Roots may spread.
Traditional Healing Uses: Turtlehead tea has been traditionally used as a remedy for jaundice, fever, liver diseases, dyspepsia, gallstones, worms, and as an appetite stimulant. Turtlehead ointment has been applied to inflamed breasts, piles, herpes, boils, and ulcers.
Harvest: Collect and dry leaves and flowering tops while plants are in bloom.
Preparation: Pour 1 cup of boiling water on 2 teaspoons of dried herb and infuse 10-15 minutes, 3 times a day.
Caution: Turtlehead is a laxative. Use in moderation.
Take a look at all our Traditional Healing Herbs in this amazing flip-book! Or click here for a poster.
