Ida Mae's Herbals

What is Thieves? Thieves is an oil blend that is reputed to have been used during the bubonic plague to assist some merchants or thieves who were taking items from those who had died of the Black Plague, and sold those items for a profit.  The legend varies, but usually the story goes that four of the thieves were captured and told that if they were to share the secret as to how they were able to remain well in the face of the plague, then their punishment would be less horrible.   The formula differs from story to story, and usually is considered to be a vinegar formula, that contains wormwood or rue (both known to repel pests), and usually containing cloves, sometimes garlic, camphor, rosemary, lavender and various other herbs.  There are different claims and recipes.   The essential oil blend is quite simple and very effective.  It usually contains a mixture of clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils.  These oils can be applied with a carrier

Cayenne is useful for a good many things.  It is an analgesic, antiseptic, anodyne, astringent, antispasmodic, stimulant, tonic, vasodilator, rubefacient, and has many other therapeutic uses.  I use it to help treat pain, topically.  I put it in my Kick A$$ Tea as a stimulant, along with ginger, and a few other herbs to help fight off a cold as it is coming on.  Cayenne can be applied topically for the relief of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, osteoarthritis, diabetic neuropathy and shingles due to the content of capsaicin.  Capsaicin in topical preparations has been approved by the FDA for these uses.  It has been shown to reduce pain for those who suffer from fibromyalgia.  I make a Cayenne Aches & Pains Salve. When cayenne is first applied to the skin, it can cause itching, burning or a tingling sensation.  It is a rubefacient, which means it causes the area to redden due to an increase of blood circulation and dilation of capillaries at the skin’s surface.  This c

Some of you may have heard of smudging, which is the burning of herbs to clear the air for spiritual or medicinal purposes.  This practice has been adopted by many people and has become increasingly popular across diverse cultural backgrounds.  It is believed to wash away bad spirits, or to bring needed balance, or to simply purify the air.  Here is the truth: medicinally, this is for real.  Studies have been done to indicate that it actually can purify the air and eliminate pathogens.  There are many combinations of herbs that have been burned traditionally, and there are a few that have been studied.  Some that have been shown to have antiseptic, antimicrobial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal or anti-viral properties include African wormwood ( Artemisia afra ), lavender tree ( Heteropyxis natalensis ), resurrection plant ( Myrothamnus flabellifolius ), hard fern ( Pellaea calomelanos), camphor bush ( Tarchonanthus camphorates ) and white sage ( Salvia apiana ).  1,2   The

I love garlic.  I remember driving through California, through vast artichoke fields and smelling the garlic wafting from the roadside stands where they were roasting the artichoke in garlic.  The smell made my mouth water, and it makes my mouth water writing this!  Garlic is really, truly a cure-all to me.  I eat it every day, no joke.  Garlic is one of a few items that I try to include in my daily diet.  This one is vital to me, and here’s why: Garlic has been shown to lower blood pressure. Yes, it is true:  studies have shown that eating garlic can reduce hypertension. Eating garlic can reduce cholesterol levels: eating ½ to one clove daily can reduce levels to 9%. Garlic can protect your heart and kidneys, and the sulfur containing amino acids can help protect the digestive tract. Garlic is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, antifungal and anthelmintic (meaning it will fight against worms).  It can help support you when you have cold symptoms, sinusitis, vagini