Recently by James Wesley, Rawles: Mass Inflation Ahead – Save Your Nickels!
Nature is amazing, I love plants. Not only does just looking at them produce a calming effect, they are beneficial to us in every way. From food, to medicine, glue and rope, plants give us everything we need. These are my top five favorite plants because they are amazing, easy to grow or find and have many uses which are especially valid in TEOTWAWKI. Here are my favorite plants found in the wild, and in the garden, and the reasons why.
1. Garlic
Garlic is great for two reasons, it is a food and a medicine. All parts are edible except for the skin and woody stalk among the cloves. It is the easiest thing to grow and cheap to do so as one clove produces one head. In the garden, it also is said to repel rabbits and moles.
The health benefits are numerous to using garlic as it is reputed to have antibacterial, antimicrobial, diuretic, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Not only is it flavorful, but beneficial in the prevention and treatment of many common ailments.
“There are many miracles in the world to be celebrated and, for me, garlic is the most deserving.” ~ Leo Buscaglia
Here are some uses for garlic:
- insect repellent when ingested in larger amounts or when rubbed on topically, treatment for bee and wasp stings
- cholesterol treatment when ingested in higher amounts
- high blood pressure treatment/ management
- remedy sore throats, cold hands and feet, earache, tight headaches
- treat fungal skin infections like thrush
- treat and prevent bacterial and viral infections, urinary tract infections, bronchial and lung infections
- treatment for pinworms, roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, warts
- reduce nasal congestion, coughs, respiratory problems
- boost resistance to candida infections
- flu, cold, stye, prevention
- effective against a wide range of pathogenic bacteria, influenza, meningitis
- boost immunity, circulation
- poultice for aches, pains, sprains
- help with poor digestion, help regulate blood sugar
- prevent scurvy, prevent gangrene
- boost testosterone with a high protein diet (suggested in a study with rats)
- enhance thiamine absorption
- garlic juice used as an adhesive when mending glass, porcelain
- natural antibiotic, 1 milligram of allicin is the estimated equivalent of 15 standard units of penicillin
- inhibit clotting
2. Cayenne Pepper
We love our food spicy. Cayenne is the easiest ‘go to’ to spice it up a little, or a lot. Again I’m a fan of multi purpose and cayenne is not only a staple in the kitchen but a great thing to have in a medical kit, and as personal protection. Cayenne contains capsaicin, vitamin A, B6, C, E, riboflavin, potassium, and manganese.
"If you master only one herb in your life, master cayenne pepper. It is more powerful than any other." ~ Dr. Schulze
"In 35 years of practice, and working with the people and teaching, I have never on house calls lost one heart attack patient and the reason is, whenever I go in – if they are still breathing – I pour down them a cup of cayenne tea (a teaspoon of cayenne in a cup of hot water, and within minutes they are up and around)." ~ Dr. Christopher
Uses:
- aphrodisiac in males
- ant repellent
- topical anti-inflammatory for joint pain, back pain, arthritis, and nerve pain (Do not use on broken skin)
- remedy cold hands and feet
- soothe chilblains with ointment containing cayenne
- prevent gas when used in meals
- stop a heart attack with cayenne tea, 1 tsp cayenne dissolved in 1 cup hot water
- ease dyspepsia symptoms
- rebuild tissue in the stomach and peristalic action in the intestines
- aids elimination and assimilation
- aids the body in creating hydrochloric acid
- boost circulation, increase heart action, arrest shock symptoms
- lower blood pressure
- overcome fatigue, restore stamina, vigor
- stop hemmoraging
- improve itching of psoriasis
- fight pancreatic cancer
- headache relief
- pepper spray main ingredient…cayenne
3. Dandelion
I used to hate seeing all those yellow flowers infiltrating my green lawn, now it almost pains me to mow them down. Dandelions are higher in beta carotene than carrots and higher in iron and calcium than spinach. They contain the vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, C, E, P, and D, biotin, bitter glycosides, inositol, terpenoids, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc.
"Suppose your doctor tells you, on your next visit, that he has just discovered a miracle drug which, when eaten as a part of your daily diet or taken as a beverage, could, depending on the peculiarities of your body chemistry: prevent or cure liver diseases, such as hepatitis or jaundice; act as a tonic and gentle diuretic to purify your blood, cleanse your system, dissolve kidney stones, and otherwise improve gastro-intestinal health; assist in weight reduction; cleanse your skin and eliminate acne; improve your bowel function, working equally well to relieve both constipation and diarrhea; prevent or lower high blood pressure; prevent or cure anemia; lower your serum cholesterol by as much as half; eliminate or drastically reduce acid indigestion and gas buildup by cutting the heaviness of fatty foods; prevent or cure various forms of cancer; prevent or control diabetes mellitus; and, at the same time, have no negative side effects and selectively act on only what ails you. If he gave you a prescription for this miracle medicine, would you use it religiously at first to solve whatever the problem is and then consistently for preventative body maintenance?" ~ Peter Gail
Uses:
- plentiful emergency food
- used to make dandelion wine
- coffee substitute, gotta love that
- strengthen the entire body, especially the liver and gallbladder
- promote the flow of bile, reduces inflammation in the bile duct, helps eliminate gallstones
- reduces liver swelling, and jaundice
- help indigestion caused by insufficient bile
- gentle diuretic
- good for pancreas, bladder, spleen, stomach and intestines
- helps with mature onset diabetes, hypoglycemia
- encourages production of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes
- milky sap removes warts, pimples, moles, callouses, sores
- sap soothes bee stings
- help with hypertension
- aids in night vision
- detoxification agent
- therapeutic benefits in the treatment of persistent constipation, acne, eczema, psoriasis
- aids in the treatment of gout, arthritic conditions and osteoarthritis
- recommended for weight loss
- prevent or cure anemia
- appetite stimulant
- use the white juice in the flower stems as glue.
James Wesley, Rawles is a former U.S. Army Intelligence officer and a noted author and lecturer on survival and preparedness topics. He is the author of Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse and is the editor of SurvivalBlog.com – the popular daily web journal for prepared individuals living in uncertain times.
