Apocalyptic Apothecary

by Ron Foster

  “You all quit crowding in on me so much, I am not sure you will like the answer, but it is my most educated guess. I say the colloidal silver preserves at least as good, or better than alcohol. That goes along with my philosophy of dealing with my medicine dispensing, when in doubt I err on the basis of common sense. It’s not like I didn’t spend countless hours researching on the internet when the grid was up, trying to find more answers and ask the right questions to give you a clear concise answer, but the information on that subject is just not out there readily available. It’s not like I can point you to further research on the subject except my first hand observations so far. You are going to just have to depend on my expertise and past memories of my studious attempts to find that very answer for myself. By the way, I have seen several supplement companies add a preservative of some sort to an alcohol tincture. I still got a gallon mason jar of my ‘get rid of the funk’ juice I made up for flu using green sweet gum balls that would also be good for cuts, bug bites, etc. That tincture is a combination of vodka and 10 PPM colloidal silver water plus the pounded green sweet gum balls. I know you all hate the off the cuff names I dream up for what potions I make up, but put that out of your mind for a moment because what goes in those formulas is always based on hard science, years of experience and a “feel” for what I am doing with some historic or modern medical twist to it.” Zack said before carrying on.

  “This is end of the world herbalism I am trying to accomplish here, what I have to offer is only what I can find in forests and fields, identify correctly and manage to gather. Failure to adapt to medicinal shortages is just as deadly and miserable as this long-term food shortage we have going on. As our bodies starve, our immunity goes down, basic sanitation and general hygiene is a pain to perform as we all know and under these conditions. All the people these days find out real quick while trying to do some garden and gun living finds out that even a small scratch or infected mosquito bite can turn into something serious. You all got no choice now and got to put a little trust in me, or others, with some knowledge of these basic herbal remedies to fix what ails you when you’re sick these days. However, I got some herbs that I bought post collapse with me now that can help with some serious illness. My problem is we got folks coming in from other survivor communities wanting me to come up with some magical cure. Now, I ain’t trying to become the beloved town country doctor of old and I damn sure don’t know anything about midwifery. I tell folks all the time I don’t have most of the answers, yet I got people coming down seeking me out on a river bank somewhere while I am trying to catch me a fish to eat, or accosting me at the trading post and wanting to show me their feet to see if I got anything for athletes foot or want to talk about a variety of other ailments. I would just as soon not have to deal with most of these people, particularly while I am trying to tend to my own matters of everyday living and eating. Now it wouldn’t be so bad if I had put my shingle out and said I wanted that kind of business, but I never called myself a professional anything. Besides, it’s taking every bit of my knowledge about gardening, trapping, fishing and foraging, etc. to scrape by. I can’t seem to find enough hours in the day to feed me and Ann, let alone spend extra time trying to teach or supply someone with herbs!” Zack complained hotly that his pastime gig had turned fulltime.

  “Well, it’s not like we are not appreciative and folks do in their own way try to repay you a bit here and there for your trying to help them with their health problems.” Donna interjected.

  “Most of them ain’t got shit to trade and if they do have some food to give me in exchange, they got to tell me how hard it is for them to give up that little bit. I am tired of the guilt trip! I feel like reminding them when that happens, they should take into account the time that I spend playing root and herb doc and how that takes away from my ability to fend for myself.” Zack fired back.

  “When did you start getting so bitter, Zack?” Parker asked, speaking up out of character like he was trying to chastise Zack about something.

  Zack eyed him for a moment and started to give him a quick retort about Parker wanting to bug home with gallons of precious free medicine he had basically gifted to him as a friend but he calmed down and softened his response, as he became more aware that he was getting hard and callous about a lot of things these days.

  “I think what it is that I am getting at, Parker, is that folks don’t say I will go try to catch a fish for you in exchange, or maybe say, the next possum they catch I can have for dinner after I see about their ills. No, they start the conversation with, “I really need your help and I ain’t got shit to trade,” then they start with ‘is your stuff really any good’ and ask a bazillion other dumb questions. Whatever I recommend is always the best I got and that’s it. Taking time to do that, generally speaking is taking food off my table and they don’t consider that. They only center on themselves or loved ones needs. Why do people think just because I give them a wildcrafted remedy that I shouldn’t be compensated for it, or that I am having as hard of a time just living as they are? All I get is “Hey that’s feels a whole lot better”, “Thanks, have a good day!” mostly and that has got my drawers cinched up and my war bonnet on.” Zack said dismissively.

  “Now we try to go out of our way to keep the pressure off you, Zack!” Ann said warningly and not feeling too appreciated herself with a grumpy Zack always snapping at everyone these days.

  “Ah darlin, you know that even if I don’t say it enough, you are appreciated. I know all of you got my back and you particularly try extra hard to make it easier on me. But I am failing in my own health, baby, and tired. I don’t have a fountain of youth to drink from and get the world off my old ass shoulders, it seems.” Zack said lovingly and tried to give her a hug.

  “Well, I hate to say it but what’s the plan now that the garden’s gone, Zack? Do you need me and Knobby to stick around a bit longer to help you out?” Nick asked looking serious.

  “No, I am just bitching about the constant distractions going on. I appreciate you and Knobby, but if we are all going to have to paddle our own canoes and go separate ways, we need to settle a few things about this land and remaining supplies.” Zack said looking around the now silent room.

  “Hey, I thought just they were leaving! You never said you and Ann had thoughts of moving on!” Said a shocked Ezra wondering where that left him.

  “Relax, buddy! Nobody is leaving you alone to spin in the wind. I start everyday wondering how everyone’s going to get by tomorrow and that never changes, I got plans for everyone if you want them and I ain’t going off with my lady to live in our own hermit kingdom just yet but it did cross my mind.” Zack said with a smile, before Donna grabbed his shirt tail to confront him on his promise to see them all through come hell or high water if they threw their lot in with him and moved to this place from the river camp.

  “So, you just going to run off soon and leave us with a weedy garden that can’t be fixed and no extra guns for security if needed?” Donna said feeling vulnerable that everyone was deserting this old mansion outpost that didn’t look so good to be stuck at anymore.

  “Donna, if you tear my favorite shirt, I am not going to be nice and give you the special keys to the kingdom like I was just about to do.” Zack said without much emotion at her outburst while she apologized and released her inappropriate grasp on his so-called dress up Florida shirt, that he loved so much and had put on in honor for this occasion. If Zack got dressed up for an occasion, it usually had something to do with his views on the importance of an occasion. Since he had not worn his normal survival vest and was all cleaned up, it was apparent he was trying to make a statement and thought they should have already realized that, in his opinion.

  “Folks gather around, this situation that we find ourselves in has already been far from easy. But so far, we have always managed to get by in spite of ourselves or others. You all might have some complaints in the past that I ain’t one to leave the liquor alone and this is particu
larly true when it comes to this bottle of medicinal brandy that I got in trade and been sitting on. This is our early good bye celebration of hard times and lessons we have learned ad shared together. I am going to enjoy the moment, I need this last hurrah whether you agree or not we should save it for tincture, it’s been awhile since I had me a good tipple. Ann, give them their bottles.” Zack said pouring himself a very stiff drink and putting one, very hard to find two-liter Coke on the table he had hid under his chair with a caution for them all to mix light with his coke if they wanted to drink with him

  A small box of filled assorted cobalt glass bottles and a larger box of empty amber dropper bottles was ceremoniously given to each one by Ann who looked like she was quite pleased by being able to give such rare and costly presents to their friends.

  “Empty bottles, boys and girls, are a luxury these days as you well know. It’s your turn now to fill them with knowledge and love of your fellow humans and that carries a burden all it’s own, as I have been telling you. It is your turn to play apothecary if you want or give you a better way to trade. Me and Ann are going strictly wholesale when it comes to the herb business but I will get into that later. I used Bobby’s electric generator to print you off a stack of info sheets. I will let you read over what all Chamberbitter does before I tell you more of the plan, but with those empty bottles, our backyard, your labor and that sheet you won’t have any problems finding patients, I bet.” Zack said, all smiles.

  Infusion of the plant is effective for kidney problems.

  Plant is used for liver problems in general such as acute and chronic Hepatitis B. Diabetes, dysentery, flu, tumors, headache, fever, Jaundice, Vaginitis, Conjunctivitis, Menstrual disorders and dyspepsia uncomfortable feeling in the upper middle part of the stomach.

  It is used against colic, and as an effective remedy to eliminate gall and kidney stones, urinary tract infection (UTI) and bladder inflammation.

  It is also used for blennorrhagia (gonorrhea).

  Paste prepared from Chamber Bitter, rock salt and water in copper utensils when applied around the eye is beneficial for eye disorders.

  Decoction obtained from boiling whole plant when taken about 1 tsp every day is beneficial for cough.

  Paste obtained from 10 g root with water when taken with 1 tsp rock sugar or honey is effective for Respiratory diseases.

  Mixture of 100 g leaves and 250 ml milk is beneficial for Ascites as well as urinary diseases.

  Consuming 10 ml Decoction obtained from heating 50 g whole plant along with 400 ml water is beneficial for Ascites.

  Decoction obtained from boiling 20 g leaves of Chamber Bitter along with 200 ml water is beneficial for bloating as well as Dysentery.

  Decoction obtained from boiling 50 g whole plant with 400 ml water when taken with fenugreek powder is effective in diarrhea.

  Paste prepared from 5 g root when taken with 250 ml milk in empty stomach is beneficial for jaundice.

  Powder prepared from whole plant along with black pepper when taken 2-3 times a day is beneficial for diabetes.

  Mixture of 10 ml Chamber Bitter juice along with cumin and Jaggery is beneficial for urinary diseases.

  Paste prepared from immature leaves when applied over wounds is beneficial for wound healing.

  Paste prepared from leaves along with salt when applied over itch is beneficial for itchiness.

  Decoction obtained from leaves is beneficial for skin disorders.

  Paste prepared from leaves is beneficial for itch in your legs.

  Paste prepared from equal amounts of Chamber Bitter leaves along with black pepper and nutmeg is made into small medicinal pills. Such pills when taken 2 times a day is beneficial for malarial fever as well as other recurring fevers.

  Plant decoction is drunk and plant ash in water is applied as ear drops to treat earache in Nigeria.

  Bitter leaves are eaten to treat hiccup and cough.

  Decoction of young shoots or roots is taken to treat dysentery, malaria and typhoid fever.

  Decoction of the whole plant is taken to fight jaundice and gonorrhea and is topically applied as a poultice to treat skin problems such as ulcers, sores, swelling and itch.

  Plant decoction is drunk as a diuretic and purgative to treat diarrhea, painful urination, syphilis and liver problems, and also to treat fever in Madagascar, Reunion and Mauritius.

  Stem or leaf infusion is taken to treat bronchitis and asthma and is externally applied to treat parasitic skin diseases in Madagascar.

  Leaf infusion is taken to treat cough in Rodrigues.

  It is used as a diuretic and purgative to treat a wide variety of uro-genital disorders, diarrhea and diabetes, as a bitter tonic and to treat fever, including malaria throughout the world.

  Extracts are widely used against hepatitis B infections in Asia.

  Crushed plant parts or an infusion are applied to treat ulcers, sores and tumors.

  Leaf or stem decoction is taken as a diuretic to treat venereal diseases and pain caused by kidney stones.

  Sap of leafy twigs, or a twig decoction, is consumed to treat pain in the side.

  “Wow, that’s a lot of good uses just for one plant.” Rachel said after reading the page and then happily looked at the labels on the filled bottles gushing about what herbal tinctures Zack and Ann had given them to make up their own apothecary chest or go with their new mainstay herb.

  “Look out here you all! We even got that danged weed growing up between the walkway stones!” Zack declared looking out the window.

  “That had nothing but moss growing on it yesterday.” Ezra declared.

  “Chamberbitter can dang sure appear seemingly overnight in flower and garden beds as we have already seen so that doesn’t surprise me a bit. You may not ever totally get rid of it, but you can manage this weed. That's something Ann and I as gardeners will just have to accept. However, you can control it by hand weeding. Unlike some garden weeds, chamberbitter is surprisingly easy to pull and hand weeding works well because there are no below-ground bulbs or rhizomes to resprout.” Zack said.

  “I guess you are trying to get us to weed the garden some to fill up those bottles you gave us.” Donna said thinking she had caught on to Zacks bit of subterfuge.

  “Not really, it wouldn’t take that much plant material to fill those bottles. However, yea I want some garden help but not why you think and it won’t be anything like hand weeding. I got a tool that can make short work of that task, if we all take a turn with it. I want to get the garden beds ready for next spring. Since the land won’t support everyone staying here this year, I found jobs for everyone over in Rod’s community to be closer to trade goods. Come on down to the garden and I will explain what I think we ought to do.” Zack said.

  http://ezdigger.net/

  Zack thanked his Lucky stars that he had his indispensable EZ Digger broad fork to make lite the work and ease the chore of the wearisome task of trying to get the garden going again. Without it, he would have been having to use a hoe from sun up to sundown to get that dang chamberbitter weed out of his garden. With the broad fork he could get big swaths cleared in no time, definitely a big labor saver. He knew that noxious weed would be back next year with a vengeance but he sort of had a plan for that too. He had plans to put down cardboard or landscape cloth if he could find more of it to kill off the grass and weeds and make spring planting with the broad fork a breeze come spring seed setting time. He also had some sheet plastic he was going to try solar sterilizing maybe his raised beds in his garden.

  Soil solarization is a highly effective, nonchemical method for controlling soilborne diseases. While it’s commonly used on commercial farms, it’s not as prevalent in home gardens because it does require part or all of the soil to lay fallow during peak summer. In a home garden where space is often limited, it’s hard to give up a raised bed for the four to six weeks it takes to treat the soil. Zack and Ann’s garden was in ruins so that didn’t matter much to them. For them, except for a smal
l strip garden close to the house Zack had turned up, there would be no garden until next year.

  Soil solarization is an ideal solution for killing weed seeds, controlling nematodes and pests, eliminating soilborne plant pathogens, and improving tilth and soil biology. Think of it as a solar oven in the garden, baking everything underneath it — and what comes out is sterile soil, free of the problems that used to plague your plants.