Due to popular demand we are reaching into our archives! Today we publish Buckston Harrison’s contribution to the January 18, 2007 edition of Buckston and Huber’s Alternative. Huber’s contribution is current.

Blue vervain is one of my favourite herbs. Also known traditionally as “Bastard vervain” and “vervena”, it is used to eradicate worm infestation in the body and has been known for generations to heal stubborn wounds.

However, this wonder herb has a myriad of other uses. It can be used to improve the quality of the skin and as an eye wash. The tea is good for fevers and colds and it is a good sedative. Also, when it is combined with other herbs it increases the potency of the medicine.

As a sedative, vervain is good for calming the nerves and, in some cases of insanity, it can be used to restore calm to the afflicted individual. It is even more potent when mixed with rosemary. A concoction of these two herbs is also guaranteed to put anyone to sleep.

The plant is equally good for animals and traditionally has been administered by farmers to pigs and other animals when they suffer discomfort in the intestinal tract. It is also used to remove afterbirth in cattle.

Vervain, in some quarters, is also reputed to help make wishes come true and will return a wandering spouse when applied over the heart.

For all its purported uses, however, vervain is predominantly a healing plant.

Directions:

Use 3-5 leaves of the plant per cup of tea/hot water. (Use similarly for the skin and eye as wash.)

Buckston Harrison was well known for his work as a herbalist, especially in western Jamaica. He resided in Sheffield, Westmoreland until his untimely passing on Monday March 22, 2010.

Huber’s Grumichama/pine mix

Ingredients

* 1 pineapple

* 2 dozen grumichama berries

Method

* Mash pineapple in a bowl with a mortar stick

* Add berries

* Combine and squeeze out juice

* Chill and serve immediately

Thomas ‘Bongo Tommy’ Huber is a Swiss national who migrated to Westmoreland’s Retrieve District over 10 years ago. He is a naturalist who lives off the land and is deeply involved in an ongoing effort to create Jamaica’s next generation of exotic fruit trees.