The respiratory system has two interconnected parts: the upper and lower respiratory tract. Its purpose is to exchange oxygen — needed by the body for all its processes — for carbon dioxide, the waste product our cells produce. This system also allows us to speak, sing, make sounds, and smell. Air travels down through branching airways that narrow again and again, much like the branches of a tree, until it reaches the alveoli, where the actual exchange of oxygen and carbon di

The nervous system is the control and messaging system for the entire body. It is here we experience the environments of our lives; physical, mental, and emotional with three basic functions: to receive, to interpret, and to respond. It includes the brain which sends messages to the body through the spinal cord, and then out to different areas of the body through a complex network of trillions of nerve cells. These messages move as electrical impulses through the nerve fiber

St. John's Wort oil has been used for centuries to massage into sore, aching bones, joints, and muscles. It can be used as a massage oil, or made into a liniment, salve, ointment or balm. In addition to external use it can also be used internally to calm the nerves, aid in sleep, and work internally on inflammation and pain relief. Use in the kitchen as you prepare your food and meals. Ingredients Quart jar Fresh St. John's Wort plant Olive oil Optional: 1 Tbsp Vodka Directio

This recipe comes from Medicinal Herbs by Rosemary Gladstar. Ingredients ¼ cup strong comfrey infusion ¼ cup aloe vera gel 5-10 drops essential oil from the essential oil pain list Mix together and keep refrigerated. Apply topically to joints of concern, massaging it in gently. This will last for up to a week.

One year I had the worst sore throat I had ever had and even my beloved Sore Throat Spray wasn't doing much for it. I decided I needed to whip out the big guns in the form of cayenne pepper, and for me this is huge since I did not like hot stuff. Since then I have learned to love a dash of cayenne hear and there. I mixed the cayenne with some raw honey and because I had been exposed to strep throat I took extra precautions by adding some garlic. After forcing this down every

When I was doing herbal studies with my then 10-year, she was fascinated with usnea and after learning all about the infection fighting power of this intriguing "herb" (actually a lichen) she wanted to make a salve for massaging in to the chest for lung infections since that is her area of weakness when she gets a cold. Together we created this formula for treating all types of infections including external cuts and wounds, sores, bug bites, and fungal infections to internal

Honey is mentioned many times in the scriptures, including John the Baptist living off honey while living in the wilderness and Christ partaking of it after his Resurrection. For those familiar with the Book of Mormon, God guided two different civilizations across the ocean to the promised land (North America), bringing with them honey bees to provide nourishment and healing. All of this leads me to believe raw honey is a pretty important nutrient, healer and gift from God

Plasters work like a poultice in drawing out toxins, relieving inflammation, cooling, moistening, pain relief, stimulate circulation and to promote proper cleansing and healing of an area. The difference between a plaster and a poultice is that herb material is placed between a thin cloth or dense material such as flour or cornmeal is added to the base. Plasters are a wonderful healing tool for lung congestion as they break up mucus, draw out toxins and bring pain relief. Al

This blend contains a combination of herbs that will help fight infection, tend to be more drying for the wet condition in the lungs, aids the elimination of mucus, reduces inflammation, and relives pain and swelling. This formula can be made into an extract, tea, capsules or any other herb preparations. Take in small frequent doses throughout the day. Herbs 1 part yarrow 1 part elder flowers ½ part birch bark ½ part oak bark ½ part Oregon grape root

This has been a family favorite that comes from Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs. At the onset of a dry or sore throat start spraying every hour or sometimes more frequently depending on how you may feel. During the night it works great on those dry hacking coughs that keep you up all night. Also use for strained throat, tonsillitis, strep throat or any kind of throat condition. ¼ cup echinacea glycerite ⅛ cup distilled water 6-8 drops peppermint essential oil or Thieves o

Coughing is an important function of the body to expel mucus, toxins, and foreign objects from the lungs and trachea. Traditional cough syrups suppress the body's action of coughing, which can put a halt to the immune system trying to expel mucus and toxins from the lungs. ​Wild cherry bark is both antispasmodic as well as expectorant so it can work with the body to calm the cough reflex and relax the body, while still expelling mucus and toxins. Combined with other lung an

This salve is formulated to support, strengthen, cleanse and heal the lungs, making it useful for treating mucus coughs, chest congestion, croup, bronchitis, pneumonia, whooping cough, and other lung related conditions, including asthma. Herbs 3 parts yarrow 2 parts oregano 2 parts comfrey 1 part sage 1 part lobelia Directions Make an herbal oil with the herbs. For each cup of herbal infused oil, melt with 1 oz of beeswax in a pan over very low heat. Remove from heat and a

This is one of Dr. Christopher's most widely used formulas for relieving irritation in the respiratory tract, lungs and bronchial. It also aids in emphysema as well as other bronchial and lung congestion such as bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, etc. Not only does this formula help the body when dealing with respiratory conditions but it also strengthens the entire respiratory tract. I modified this Dr. Christopher formula to make it more palatable as a tea by adding a bit of

This salve brings relief from sinus pressure and congestion when applied directly to the sinus cavities. I also rub this on the chest and back for respiratory congestion and even on the bottoms of the feet. For added potency I use this salve as a carrier, by placing a dime size amount in the palm of my hand then add 3 drops of essential oil (choose from the list below), rub palms together and apply to chest, back and feet. I make a sample size salve in chap stick containers

This tea blend starts calming and relaxing the moment you inhale it, before even making a cup of tea. The herbs in this blend all have an affinity for the heart and work on a physical and emotional level. It can be used for insomnia and sleeplessness, to calm the nerves, relieve anxiety and stress, uplift the mood and help when suffering with grief. On a physical level it can reduce blood pressure and protect the heart. Ingredients 2 parts hawthorn berry powder 1 part cinna

I made this formula for my husband to take daily since he has a family history of heart disease. I also prepared it for my grandfather who was told his arteries were clogged with plaque and because of his health and age there was nothing that could be done. He was sent home to die. He took these faithfully for a couple more years before he finally did pass away. A note about grandpa, he was not willing to give up his goodies and fast food and was also dealing with diabetes on

Lack of iron in the body equals less oxygen going throughout the systems which can cause fatigue and weakness and can lead to more serious conditions. Synthetic iron is hard for the body to assimilate and can even cause constipation and heavy metal build up. This blend is an easily absorbable form of iron the body can use to build blood and increase oxygen. Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, parsley and cilantro also have absorbable iron and the addition of vitamin C rich f

A few years ago my husband came home from a scout camp at 3:30 a.m. with his fourth bout of kidney stones. He was in enough pain that he let me do whatever I wanted to him and after checking several of my resource books this is what I felt would work best for his body. Sure enough the pain subsided and he was left feeling very sore, which means the stones dissolved and were able to be passed or they went back to the kidneys to be dissolved there. I want to share with you what

I had a friend that had been suffering with multiple urinary tract infections and the antibiotics she kept being given were making matters worse for her. She asked in desperation what she could do to get rid of this very uncomfortable infection. I found a great formula from Rosemary Gladstar in her Medicinal Herbs for Beginners and made a few of my own adjustments to it. I also suggested she drink plenty of fluids, including plain cranberry juice which must be pure - many gro

Most of the liquid in the body must be filtered and pumped through the urinary tract. With the standard American diet and all the toxins around us, this can be quite the challenge for the liver and kidneys. In addition to diet and removing as many toxins from your environment as possible, this formula can be used for sluggish kidneys, to increase urine flow and decrease water retention and to strengthen and support the urinary tract. Mix the herbs together and use as a tea, t