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Yarrow

By Kenneth Eames

Botanical name: Achillea millefolium.

Common names: Sneezewort, Thousand leaf, Milfoil, Nosebleed.

Parts used: Herb and flowers.

Properties: Alterative, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Carminative, Cholagogue, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Haemostatic, Tonic, Vulnerary, Stimulant. The plants Latin name is derived from the Greek hero Achilles, and during the Trojan War, Yarrow was reputedly used to treat wounds. Yarrow is a valuable herb for headache, for which, it is taken internally and externally as a snuff. It is useful in cases of forgetfulness. Where there is vertigo, even with slow movement, Yarrow will often put the patient back to rights. Convulsions and epilepsy caused by suppressed menstruation will often respond to this remedy. For cases calling for Yarrow, there is often the feeling as though “the head is full of blood”.

One of the common names for Yarrow is ‘nosebleed’ and this name is given to it because of its use in the past, for staunching nosebleed. The powdered Yarrow is used as a snuff while the herb is taken as a tea, internally. It is of great value where there is ‘piercing pain’ in the nose.

For toothache and pyorrhoea, a strong decoction makes a good mouthwash. The wash is also useful for stopping the haemorrhage following tooth extraction. A mild decoction is useful as an astringent mouth wash or gargle and can be used daily for oral hygiene.

For stomach troubles, it is to be recommended for flatulence and cramps. It will improve the appetite and is good for Gastritis, reducing the inflammation.

It is an excellent remedy for diarrhoea and for bleeding from the intestines and bowels. It can also be used with good effect, for inflammation of these organs. For these purposes, a strong decoction should be used or large doses of the fluid extract. For bleeding piles (haemorrhoids) it is valuable, both internally and in strong decoction as an enema.

Yarrow may be used for liver and gall bladder problems along with other remedies as it promotes the flow of bile.

It may be used for both Kidney and Urtnary problems. Where there is blood in the urine, or after operations for the removal of stones, it will be a most valuable herb for healing. It is useful in cases of suppressed urine, when it should be used internaly and as a hot compress upon the abdoman. Where there are mucous discharges from the bladder, it again is a most efficacious remedy.

Where there is cough with bloody expectoration, Yarrow will prove itself to be an exceptional remedy. It is valuable in Bronchitis and bleeding of the lungs. Again, for palpitations and is useful for women with sore nipples. In the case of sore nipples, a strong decoction should be used to bathe the area frequently throughout the day.

For women’s complaints it is very useful. Where there is excessive menstruation, or the menses are early and profuse; where there is bleeding from the uterus and the blood is bright red, then this fine remedy will be of use. When there are painful uterine contraction again, it is a very useful remedy. A strong decoction should be regularly injected into the vagina for Leucorrhoea.

Yarrow can be used in fever, feverish colds with coughs, and in influenza. It should be taken internally and the decoction used regularly for washing the body. Yarrow is more effective than Quinine in fevers and should be drunk hot.

It is considered a specific for disorders of the circulation and mucosae. It is often used effectively in Measles and Chicken pox, and other eruptive diseases of childhood. Its use has proven of great value in Smallpox, Diabetes and Bright’s disease and when combined with other well indicated herbs, there has been a successful result.

It is well known for its vulnerary action upon sores, wounds, cuts, injuries and varicose ulcers, both cleansing and promoting healing. It is taken internally in the treatment of varicose veins.

To tone the system after a debilitating illness, it should be consumed for several months. It is classified by many of the older herbalists as a very efficient blood cleanser.

It contains iron, calcium, potassium, sulphur and sodium, and lesser quantities of other valuable trace elements. An alkaloid ‘acillein’ has been extracted and used effectively as a haemostatic, quickly reducing the clotting time of blood. There have been claims that it is an anti-cancer agent.

Preparations:
Infusion: One tablespoon of the herb in one cup of water. Parboil and steep for five minutes. One cup to be drunk during the course of the day.

Decoction: One tablespoon of the herb in one cup of water. Boil down to one third of a cup

Strong decoction: As for the decoction, except for there beingtwo tablespoons of the herb.

Fluid Extract: Half to one drachm per dose, four times a day. (Half to one teaspoonful).

20th September 2013 | Category: Medical |

Blindspots

By Skean Dhude

The biggest issue facing us today is not lack of funds, lack of time or lack of will it is that we just don’t know what is going to happen. So we look at lists and decide that we will prep by putting aside food, water and medical supplies and then we will hide them and keep our heads down.

The issue we have with that is that there are many threats out there that will impact on our preps such as unemployment or illness which are just two that can drastically change our plans.

This leaves us in the uncomfortable position of prepping for something we are not sure of in an environment we don’t know and planning when we have no idea what is ahead of us. Nobody in the real world plans like this and for good reason.

We have to though. Just for peace of mind we make assumptions and prep. Revising those plans and preps as we gather new information.

The big issue with that is there are many things that you just simply don’t know. You just have no idea about nor do you have any idea that there is this issue. We are oblivious to this. You don’t know what you don’t know. It is our blindspots that tend to screw us.

That is why I discuss my plans with people and get their opinions on what I’m planning. Others see flaws in plans and can identify shortages of key material where you think you have all the bases covered. Even better than that they will suggest ideas that you have never considered or have considered and rejected because they have had a different experience or knowledge of that area. You don’t have to listen to them all, many will be contradictory, but each person will give you what is best in their opinion. That may not be best for you. Consider and adapt.

Sharing can only benefit us by making us aware of other situations. We can then fit this in with our own requirements and adapt them for our specific areas. This shines light on our blindspots and enables us to see a way forward.

The only downside though is that if you are given viewpoints, negative or positive, that are opinion rather than facts then you can easily be misled. After all facts and opinions sound very similar and need to be clarified.

A fact is an indisputable bit of information. An opinion shoukld be a comment based on fact but is often a viewpoint based on personal bias that has no reference point to anchor it.

So what we want are facts or opinions based on facts.

We can then use these facts from various people and make an informed decision on how we want to proceed, should we consider this a risk, do we need a knife to do that, I hadn’t thought of that and how would I handle that.

Discussions about relevant subjects allow us to identify our blindspots. Once identified we can work out how we will handle them and then plan to cover the issues. Discussions also allow us to refine our plans, identify the best way forward as well as the best tools to use to help us on our way.

Don’t assume you have no blindspots, we all do. Ask questions and get some light on yours. Positive or negative every fact or opinion backed by facts is useful to us in adjusting our preps and make it more likely we can handle whatever comes our way.

18th September 2013 | Category: Information, Organisation |

Community Team Building

By Skean Dhude

Just finished a course designed to help you understand your team members. I love this phyco babble stuff. It is spookily accurate. First of all you fill in a series of questions. Simple stuff, nothing controversial. Then they feed it into a computer and it calculates your personality type and comes up with a model where it shows your personal style, how you make decisions, strengths and weaknesses, how well you fit into a team, how best to manage and communicate with you and the types you find difficult to manage, your opposite type usually. Your entire personality is split into four colours with some more dominant than others. I’m always impressed how accurate they are.

Of course it goes without saying I had few weaknesses, (avert eyes and whistle tunelessly). Oh, OK I had a couple but none I am not painfully aware of.

We then spent a few days exploring the differences between the colours and finding out ways to improve our interaction with others, especially those with the opposite colour.

Now I’ve built dozens of teams for projects and I like to think I’m a fairly good judge of character and so far there have been few issues. My style seems to work fine in my working environment.

So, what has this to do with us you ask. Well, now I’m looking at building groups for a Survival bent I suddenly see issues that don’t exist at work. First of all I don’t have much knowledge about people’s likes and dislikes so I can understand them and put them in colours. Secondly, as we all tend to be secretive to keep OPSEC so we are not open and we keep our cards close to our chest. At work I can simply replace people that are distruptive or don’t do what I want but it rarely gets to that as they are there to work and must follow defined boundaries. Our fellow prepers don’t have to do anything they don’t want and can in fact actively work against you.

Even while keeping our cards close to our chests we divulge enough information in our communications that you can work out if someone is someone you could be friendly with. This is the start in building a community. These casual friendships can build up until you are friends.

The issue we all have is that it is OK having friends but considering a new member of your community is a big deal. One we don’t really have the time to evaluate properly. I’m met a few preppers now and have made some friends. Some I trust and some I don’t. Even so when an event occurs we can expect people to change. We must ensure that we understand these people well before then.

In particular looking back at the course it was proven time and time again that teams with a mixture of colours work well but there is friction. In our prepping we don’t care about friction as it brings forward ideas and we want that so we can prepare properly. However, if an event occurs we want people to perform certain roles and so we don’t actually want a rounded team as there will be dissent. The team we need to prepare is not actually the team we need to build up our community. Why does that not surprise me? Nothing is ever easy.

Most of us here are Alpha males with a large streak of Red through us. We have built up our preps, planned how we will handle any eventuality we can think of and how we will stride out in this Brave New World. What then we some people start to want more control, to be involved in decision making. I for one don’t want newcomers involved in decision making that may impact on my or my families security and I certainly don’t want anyone trying to control me under threat of death, there being no other way to enforce their will. It is bad enough they irritate me now, what will it be like then when the stakes are much higher?

I still think we need communities to survive long term, just communities that are in local family sized groups and not in the same house. We live with neighbours that annoy us now mainly without major issues. Even the ones we don’t like much we just tend to be polite with and the ones we don’t like at all we tend to ignore.

I’m wondering if there is are certain personality attributes that would be best for smaller communities. A mixture of colours, personality types, that would be suitable for communes, local communities and what dynamics are best for small groups. Each must have differing requirements. What traits would be best for roles? Not something explored on the course but there must be studies somewhere on this. There are defined ranges for certain roles in businesses. Some job searches include a profile requirement either for the role or to fit in with the team. our requirements are no different although I suspect nobody has bothered to fund the definition of the personality requirements for a butcher, farmer or gardener never mind a prepper. I’ll be interested in finding out if any work has been performed on this and if not if there is something we can use to help us build up profiles. Watch this space.

In the meantime it is up to our gut feel if someone is going to fit in, with you of course.

15th September 2013 | Category: Organisation, Wellbeing |

Assumptions

By Skean Dhude

Assumptions, despite the Phrase Don’t ASSUME. It only makes an ASS out of U and ME we all make assumptions. We have to. We just don’t have enough information to do anything else.

First of all our biggest assumption is that something is going to happen. If we didn’t make that assumption we wouldn’t bother prepping. The next assumption is that it is survivable, again, if we didn’t make that assumption it wouldn’t be worth doing anything. So assumptions despite being best avoided in most situations are actually the guiding light for preppers.

The problem for us though is that although they may be the reason we do things it doesn’t make our assumptions any more accurate than anyone elses. Our assumptions are very likely to make an ass out of us and as the situation is likely to be dire when that happens the making an ass could work out to be fatal rather than humorous.

Almost every decision we make is based on a factual component coupled with a shed load of assumption. Bugging in, we assume that there won’t be many others around us to compromise our OPSEC, bugging out we assume we can make it to out BOL and that our caches will remain undisturbed. Many of us just don’t know how to weight the risk involved in prepping mainly because there is so little data associated with it. Nobody has experienced the kind of scenarios we are predicting and those that have experienced them have done so in wildly differing environments. Thus we are forced, yet again, to make assumptions.

When we consider what we think will happen, again we make assumptions on how things will pan out. Some people will over estimate how well they will do under a stressful situation while others will find strength and courage that they didn’t know they had. Yet, we all make roughly the same plans. Mainly because we are realists. There isn’t that much we can do. We can store food and material, we can read up and prepare ourselves mentally but as we just don’t know what actually will happen we just make the assumption that what we are doing is right. After all, everyone needs to eat, that is why we store food, but we could lose the food or find we don’t need it. Nobody knows.

So when we discuss issues on the sites we should always remember that many peoples opinions are no more valid than yours. Some people just talk like they know exactly what is going to happen, their experiences can be such that they are making less assumptions and their views may be correct. On the other hand they may be armchair warriors and are just repeating information they heard elsewhere. Just because something is repeated regularly and passed on as fact doesn’t make it right. That is the curse of the internet.

For example I go on a lot about groups. For building a community and a future, even one I may not be around to see, is important to me. I want my family to go on. I have spent a significant sum on material and time to aid this. My assumption being that we can restart, not to replicate what we have now but to make something better. I may not be right or I may be right for me but not for you. It is just opinion always remember, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.

Not everyone talks sense, not everyone is realistic and not everyone is right about what is best for you. Ask questions and consider the source, consider the answer they have given. Temper that with your own experiences, does it make sense. However, in the end you have to decide for yourself if it makes sense and then, if necessary, adjust your preps. Revisit the decision if you find out something new that makes you question the original decision. Don’t get stuck because you have moved on.

Regardless of what your choices are you are preparing for something. Make sure you do your best in preparing for that by listening to every point of view you can, positive or negative, and choose your course, you can even mix and match if your circumstances don’t fit in with any of the options you have been given.

You owe it to yourself and your family.

8th September 2013 | Category: Information |
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