Herbal Medicine for Preppers: Speedwell

Hey, y'all, welcome this week's show. You know, every now and then you run across a really common and useful herb that for really unknown reasons has fallen out of use, and one of those it's definitely that's the case with is speed Well. Its Latin name is Veronica aficionalyis. Now. This herb is minsioned in a lot of the old urbals, and it's one of the ingredients in the Great Swedish Bidders. And as I've mentioned before, a ficient analyis means it was included in the pharmacopeia of medieval medicine, the officina, that's where the medicinal herbs were prepared and stored in monasteries for the doctors' offices and hospitals at the time. So when Linnaeus formalized the Latin name of plants, he used the term of ficientalys to indicate it or commonly used medicinally and listed in the Pharma Pharmacopeia of European traditions in herbal medicine. However, I really hadn't had much contact with speed Well. It's like I said, it's just an herb. It seems to have fallen out of use. So I turned to my herbal library and I was really not even able to find a mention of speed Well in any of a dozen or so modern herb books. The most recent listening I can find for it was written in nineteen seventies. It's just a brief mention in the Rodale Herb book that says speed Well is a tonic alternative and diuretic. It's used in coughs, catterin skin diseases, so you know, basically skin and long herb, and that was it. That's it from like nineteen seventy on. Nothing. So check out some of the old herbals and started with Discorides, and you know, well over two thousand years ago he wrote of at least a couple of herbs that could have been Speedwell, but it wasn't really clear. His old Greek names for the RB, you know, can be a little confusing. More than likely, the one he called Germander speed Well was a different plant than Veronica fiicientalyis. That would be Veronica Chimadrius. However, they're in the same family, and there are several members of the Veronica family, some of them are used as ornamental plants. Brother Aloisious listed both of those herbs in his book, stating that speedwell proper veronica aficionalyis was used in monastic and German folk medicine for indigestion, migraine, congestion of blood in the head, asthma, spitting blood, dry cough, cancer, chronic chest complaints, chronic catac consumption, lung ultars, exzema, itching, mucous dizziness, foul stomach, stomach ache, stomach cramps, bladder complaints, hematuria, gravel, kidney pain, blockages of the liver and spleen, scabies, difficult urination, mucus in the respiratory organs, soars, alters, congestions, and chronic skin complaints. Obviously a very useful urban. I just can't understand why it kind of fell out of favor. But Maria Trevin gives an interesting story about how valuable this herb was believed to be in ancient times. She said that when the Romans conquered the Germanic lands, they learned from the old Tutons. I guess that's what you pronounced. That about the great value of this much esteemed herb the Romans, as I read an old herbal must have been convinced of this herb's great value. If they wanted to compliment an acquaintance or a friend. They said he had as many good qualities as speed Well. This saying I remember. I remember one day when a gentleman told me of the high cholesterol leveled his blood. He had been to a hospital several times. I recommended speed Well two cups per day. My pleasure was great when six months later he told me the doctors were surprised that there was no high cholesterol when shortly ago they gave him a checkup. Well, I'm reading from Maria Trevin's book Help from God's Pharmacy. I want to mention that, as of yet to date, there has never been a proven, scientifically proven cause a link between high cholesterol and heart disease. No scientist to the best of my knowledge, and my research was accurate as of at least a year or so ago. And I talked just a couple of months ago with a real expert in the field, and she said, no, high cholesterol has never been proven to show any negative health benefit, negative health effects. Now, low cholesterol will kill you, so you may want to look into that, you know, kind of question the science a little bit there. If your doctor's recommending a statin or something, they can have horrible side effects. Now, of course, if your doctor says, you know, I'm not going to argue or disagree with your doctor, I'm I gon't give them medical advice, but I would strongly suggest doing some research. I mean, your brain is a essentially comprised entirely of cholesterol mostly I mean cholesterol, some water, and you know, some proteins and the nerves that go through there and all that, but cholesterol. When people take cholesterol reducing drugs, sometimes it does show to cause brain shrinkage and dementia and frozen shoulder syndrome, personality and mood changes. I would really seriously do my own research if I had an issue with cholesterol. I do not, and I hope I never do. So. She says. This traditional herb is a favorite addition to teas that cleans the blood and together with fresh stinging nettle tops, it helps heals chronic exema. It is especially recommended for senile what's that word purities p U R I T I E S. I don't know what that means, but anyway, he says, weak people tolerate it as a stematic of gentle action, which also stimulates digestion, fluids and mucus, and the stomach and intestinal disorders are eliminated. Speedwell is efficacious for old dry bronchitis, for chess complaints, a team made from equal portions of lungwort that's pulmonary officionalis Colt's foot plantain and Speedwell sweetened with honey or raw sugar. I would like to point out that Speedwell has a great medicinal value for nervousness caused by mental over exertion. One cup drunk before going to bed. Through its soothing effects is highly beneficial. The Abbe Cunzl that's father Cunzel, you know I did the translation of his book Herbs and Weeds, recommends his soothing tea for people who have to work a lot with their head. It brings good memory and disperses dizziness. Mixed with celery roots that rectifies weak nerves as well as depression, even for jaundice and gravel in the bladder, ramatic and gallup pains of the limbs. Speedwell is very effective. Relates My memory lapses disappeared surprisingly after drinking a tea prepared of equal amounts of speed Well and horsetail two cups a day. I had become uncertain and worried when during sermons I forgot important words. The herbs have helped very quickly for jaundice, liver and spleen disaars, I recommend the following mixture dandelion, wild chickory, woodrough and speed Well. Two cups of this unsweetened tea or sip throughout the day. The fresh juice prepared from the flowering plant is recommended for chronic skin disorders, especially for x men. One tea spin of the juice, taken three times a day. I recommend Speedwell in old herbals that is praised as a wound herb for all inflame non healing wounds, especially wounds near the shin bun. The wound is washed with a decoction of speed Well and then a compress made from freshly prepared infusions are applied, wrapped up warmly, and left on overnight. People who suffer from rheumatism and gout should try the easily prepared Speedwell tincture. This tinctures used externally as a friction. Internally, fifteen drops of water of the tea are taken three times a day. Be sure to drink of tea prepared from freshly piced herb over a period of over of the freshly picked herb for a period every year speed well not only prevents arteriosclerosis, it gives the new elasticity through its purifying action. Therefore, take my advice. Okay. So I went to my go to website for quick verbal reference. It's Plants for a Future Natural Medicinal Herbs dot net and it states the leaves and roots are alternative alternative means gradually brings you back to health. Essentially, so alterative, mildly diuretic, mildly expectrance to matic and tonic. They have been employed in the treatment of pectoral and nephritic complaints that's so, chests and kidty disorders, hemorrhages, skin diseases, and treatment of wounds. Though the plant is considered obsolete in modern herbalism. Now why is that? I don't know. I went to the physician's desk reference for medicine. That's the one your doctors should be used using. If he most doctors will totally dismiss herbs totally, but if there is one that actually has the sense to check the Physician's desk reference. He'll find that herbs do have medicinal uses and can be contraindicated with certain medications. And he should certainly have this book on his desk and be looking at it, but most won't. And it is a huge probably a seven pound book at least. I mean it's just massive. So anyway, they said. Physicians tsk Reference for herbal medicine lists Speedwell as effective in the treatment of ulcers and wounds under unproven uses. It states Speedwell preparations are used for diseases and discomforts of the and discomfort of the respiratery respiratory. Got that out, respiratory. I don't know why it's giving me the trouble gas true intestinal and lower urinary tracks. It is also used for the liver and kidneys and a street gout and rheumatic complaints. In addition, Speedwell is usually is used internally to improve metabolism, as for blood purifying and for nervous agitation. Externally, the herb is used as a gargle for inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa, promoted promotion of wound healing, chronic skin complaints, itching and sweating at the feet, sipple water here no hazardous, no health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages. And there's tons of medical research in the book, I mean papers and studies and all that, so pretty interesting, But you know, I was left to ponder a way such as useful and apparently safe. According to the modern physicians desk reference, herb has fallen out of use, especially since Maria Trevin said it was very popular and came to us through the Roman and Germanic traditions, which is, you know, usually our go to herbs, you know. So Gerard in England said that there were four types of speed well, and he doesn't really differentiate, but he said the decoction of Veronica drunk soldereth and healeth all fresh and old wounds, cleanseth the blood from all corruptions. It is good to be drunk for the kidneys, and is against scurviness and foul spreading tears and consuming and fretting sores, the smallpox and measles. The water of Veronica distilled with wine and red distilled so often until the liquor, wax of a reddish color, prevaileth against the old cough, the dryness of the lungs, and all altars and inflammation are the same. So, like I said, he just doesn't tell us which one. Coulpepper, with his usual nod to astrology and folk tradition, says, venus governs this plant, and it is also reckoned among the vulnary plants used both inwardly and outwardly. Venus means it herb. It's good for women, and vulnerari means wound healing. It is likewise pectoral and good for coughs and consumptions, and is helpful against the stone and strangery, and as also against pestilential fevers. An infusion of the leaves rank constantly in the manner of a tea is greatly recommended as provocative to veanery and a strengthener. It has been cured a called a cure for barrenness, taken for a long time in this manner, and I guess it's why he cause it's considered it a women's herb. So lastly, Maud Greeve, writing nineteen thirties, says, the common speed well is native of the Old World, but is abundantly naturalized in the eastern United States, where it grows in open grassy places. And that is true. It's an herb you should be able to find in the wild, and if not, you can certainly grow it in your garden, she says. In this country that would be England, it is generally found on heaths, moors, dryads, hedge banks and encompasses, where it is very commonly and generally distributed, she describes it. Of course, it's easier just to look up the picture on the internet. Al gore is amazing. Internet constituents. Well, we won't get into all that. Yeah, various alkaloids and such. We don't really need to know that for our purposes. But under medicinal actions and uses, she says, this species of Veronica retained a place among our recognized remedies until a comparatively late period, and is still employed in herbal medicine. It's leaves possess the stringency and bitterness among the Welsh peasantry. Great virtues are attributed to the speed well the plant has diaphoretic I mean it helps with fevers, alternative diuretic expectorant and tonic properties, and was formally employed in pectorial and nephritic complaints, hemorrhages, diseases the skin, and the treatment of wounds. Modern herbalists still consider that an infusion the dried plant is used when coughs catterat that's congestion, et cetera. And it is a simple and effective remedy and skin diseases. So I can find absolutely no reason why such a helpful and beneficial herb fell out of use, Such a common herb, but you know it's one I'm adding to my herb garden with all those benefits associated with it. Yes, we just need to bring it back in spread the word about speed well so that we'll do it for this week. I'll have a great week. Remember, my new book is available through Lets see what's what's the name of the books. First of all, it's available through Sophia Institute Press, and it's herbs that heel Catholic home remedies and be useful for everybody. You don't have to be Catholic to get us out of it. It's a great book. But Sophia is a Catholic publishing company, so that's the title. We went with You'll have a great week, try to stay out of this heat as much as you possibly can, and I'll talking next time. The information of this podcast is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing I say or write has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. 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