Author: Dara Dietz

Dara D Dietz is co-founder with her Husband of H.E.A.L. Marketplace, a private Natural Healing Association. As a teacher and counselor she has been supporting the members of H.E.A.L. with Natural Healing information and herbal supports since 1998. She continues to maintain strong ties to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Since healing her own kidney ailments she has assisted thousands of people in discovering and using natural herbal remedies. Dara has written and compiled numerous articles on a wide variety of natural healing topics. Drawing from her own healing experiences and borrowing from the vast wisdom of natural healers long departed, she continues to provide H.E.A.L.’s international membership with down to earth natural healing wisdom in H.E.A.L.’s bi-weekly newsletters. Dara and her husband currently reside in Rutherfordton, North Carolina.

Why Use Extracts

May 30, 2016September 29, 2026 Dara Dietz

Why HEAL prefers Herbal Extracts over capsules or press pills. When using herb filled capsules or pressed pills the nutritional value diminishes from the bottles as they sit on the shelf. Herbal extracts retain their potency; they do not have a shelf life. The alcohol used to extract the herbal properties also preserves those nutrients indefinitely. When stored in amber bottles herbal extracts have retained their value for a hundred or more years.

Extracts are quickly and easily assimilated into the system. Even the most debilitated individual will have no problem absorbing the nutrition from the alcohol extracts. Where the herb filled capsules or pressed pills must pass through the hydrochloric bath in the stomach to be broken down before they can be absorbed, this process is bypassed by the herbal extracts. Someone with a diseased or debilitated system will not have the vitality needed to produce a strong hydrochloric bath in the stomach. The result is fewer of the nutrients needed to rebuild the broken down systems in the body are absorbed from the food eaten. The value of the extracts is absorbed directly into the system.

Herbal Extracts are easy to use. The liquid herbal formulas can be added directly to any drink. The preferred way to consume the extracts is as a cup of tea. Add the amount of the extract you desire to your favorite mug, top with hot water and your tea is ready to drink. Sweeten with honey, or maple syrup if desired.

Herbal Extracts are Life Saving & Fast Acting.

Here are several examples of how quickly the extracts work. An older woman with heart palpitations discovered relief in less than a minute when consuming a hot tea containing hawthorn and cayenne tinctures. Dizzy spells often end as soon as Cayenne extract enters the mouth. Muscle Spasms; Charlie horses are stopped in seconds by a dropper full or two of Lobelia taken directly in the mouth. Adding the Digestive tonic to a glass of water for Acid reflux issues will provide relief all but instantly. It’s like a fire hose putting out the flames as it washes from the mouth flowing down the throat and into the stomach. These are only a few examples, for more information any of our great formulas check out the Members Area at: ladyofherbs.com.

Cayenne-pepper-emergency-uses Download

Lobelia-emergency-uses Download

Herbal Healing, Herbs & How to Use Them, My Opinion

Mullein & Lobelia

May 30, 2016October 2, 2026 Dara Dietz

Mullein & Lobelia; An Amazing Herbal Combination

I began using this herbal combination several years ago when we began making salves. Dr. Christopher called the Mullein & Lobelia Combination his glandular formula. Originally we developed the salve for support of the glandular system and clearing of goiters on the thyroid gland.

Having this salve on hand enabled us to stumble onto some pretty amazing things this powerful combination is capable of doing. Our first batch of salve had just cooled in the jars when I discovered its powerful anti-spasmodic properties.

M&L Salve a topical Anti-spasmodic rub.

For the Mullein and Lobelia combination, with the proportions and how to make the salve at home, see Mullein and Lobelia: Letting Locked Muscles Go.

Quick Relief for a Frozen Knee Joint

Every time I tell this story my husband rolls his eyes, will that is until this past summer. Oh, I’m getting ahead of myself; I’ll start at the beginning.

It all began when I slid off our bed one morning to find my knee joint locked. My right knee was frozen, and I was in a lot of pain. I could not get back up on the bed nor could I move. I have no idea how a jar of our new M& L Salve happened to be on my night table but there it was. I was strongly impressed to apply a bit to my knee. I knew Lobelia was an anti-spasmodic, so the idea was not completely out of left field.

What happened next can only be described as miraculous. I reached around, opened the jar and smeared a small amount over my knee. Instantly the knee released and I was able to walk away without pain. It just let go.

When Michael returned I shared my fantastic story with him. I was thrilled to find an herbal combination that could be so useful. What a find, what a gift from God. I was excited. He was his normal skeptical self that is until this past summer when his knee locked up. I handed him a jar of the M&L Salve which he applied to his knee. He is now a believer, his knee instantly released. Nowadays Michael is also singing the praises of the M&L Salve.

Frozen Finger joints

Not long ago I got a call from a member in California, she had over used her hands and said she could not open them; her fingers were frozen in a claw. I suggested the M&L Salve and quickly got a jar out to her. She called five minutes after she received her package and said her fingers had instantly released. Praise the Lord, his blessing continues to fill each day.

Massage support

Massage is an important part of any natural healing program. Toxins need to be encouraged out of the tissues; a good Massage therapist can be invaluable. I try to get two massages a month. The M&L Salve is an excellent aid in softening and relaxing spastic muscles. Apply the Salve over the difficult areas; allow the muscles a few minutes rest before beginning work on them. When used muscles quickly relax in response to the massage.

Stiff Neck & Muscle Tension Headaches

The M&L Salve relaxes the muscular spasm in my neck & shoulders. The Lobelia is the best anti-spasmodic we have and the Mullein supports the movement out of the excess lymph fluid from the injured area. The G-Nervine Salve works to very quickly to calm the nerves, ending the pain. Together these two salves worked like a charm.

Foot Pain

One of our members reports using the M&L salve on her sore feet. She suffers from foot pain and has found continual daily use will eliminate her foot pain.

Understanding Mullein

Mullein has a special affinity (attraction) for the respiratory organs and is a valuable remedy for all pulmonary complaints. It is the only herb known to man that has remarkable narcotic properties without being poisonous and harmful. It is a great herbal pain killer and nervous soporific, calming and quieting all inflamed and irritated nerves. With its use in wasting disorders (such as phthisis), the weight is steadily increased, expectoration is easy, cough is palliated, and the general condition improved. Mullein soothes and strengthens the bowels and renal system, is one of the most important agents for influencing the glandular system (the serious and mucous membranes). It promotes absorption of effusion (escape of fluids from their vessels, as by rupture)and morbid accumulations.

Emotional Healing, My Opinion

The Real Secret to Success

May 30, 2016 Dara Dietz

friends This life all goes so quickly. I feel old today. The smart phone we have has outsmarted me. I have barely figured out how to dial an outgoing call. As for answering the crazy thing when it rings, I have no idea how to pick up an incoming call. Since we have no cell phone reception at the house this is not a real problem, just a slight annoyance.

Praise the Lord something’s do not change. These beautiful bodies we have still require the same care today as they did 100 or 1000 years ago. Nutrition, Emotional Upkeep, and Spirituals Peace, are still the only way to thrive. The real secret of success and happiness in life is to be “other focused” as opposed to “self-focused”. I have learned the best way to get out of an emotional “funk” is to begin caring for the needs of someone else. Get my mind off me and focus on someone else.

Yes, I still have to deal with me and all my personal baggage, a task made easy when I begin counting my blessings instead of nursing my emotional boo-boo’s. No one gets a free pass in this life; we all have our emotional bumps and burses. The question is do you learn from the pain, have you squeezed every ounce of learning from life’s lessons.

The alternative is not pretty. We have all known someone who has chosen to plant themselves on their personal pity pot where they plan to remain waiting for life to apologize or worse that angry soul looking for their pound of flesh. There is no redo button on life. Don’t waste one more moment regretting the past.

Herbal Healing, Skin, Wounds & First Aid

Burn first Aid Testimony

May 30, 2016September 29, 2026 Dara Dietz

Burn Degree One of our Members shared a great piece of Information with us this week. I’m sure many of you will find this helpful. The following is an email from one of our wonderful members.

“I don’t know if you know it, but the M&L salve has to be one of the best treatments for burns that there is!

“I’m always burning my hands cooking or ironing. I’ve found that putting the burn in temperate water for a few minutes till it stops hurting, drying it off and adding some fresh aloe helps. However, the big, big get well quick is adding some M&L salve to the gauze on a waterproof bandage, leaving it on overnight and removing the Band-Aid in the AM. The burn is entirely gone with smooth flat skin underneath. It is amazing.

“I did it one other time when I stupidly grabbed a hot frying pan handle when we were in a rush to go on a trip. I applied the salve on 4 of my fingers and fingertips of my right hand overnight (no dressings!), thinking, “boy, this is going to be the pits lifting suitcases tomorrow!” Woke up the next morning and my hand was healed. No soreness, no blisters, just smooth flat skin. Definitely a wonder!

It may not work for everyone, but it is a godsend for me!”

Nilima

Herbal Healing, Herbs & How to Use Them

The Garlic Paste Story

May 30, 2016September 29, 2026 Dara Dietz

This is one of my favorite testimonies from the works of the late Dr. John Christopher.

Dr. Christopher tells the story: I remember one time we were called out to a house in the wee hours of the morning. This call was to see a little boy, under the age of two years, with double pneumonia. The physician on the case had informed the parents that nothing more could be done and he would come back in the morning to sign the child’s death certificate. Seeing as it was well under forty degrees below zero and nearly fifty miles from ambulance service, the parents were told that the boy, if taken by car to a hospital, would surely die. These parents tried to get other doctors, but at that time of night, and in such a remote area, no one would offer help. A friend told them about us, then living in Evanston, Wyoming, and to try to call us. Having been told of the boy’s condition we went expecting to give him the cold-sheet treatment. Upon arriving there we found that the plumbing was frozen and there was no running water in the house.

We found enough in the toilet tank above the bowl to give the little chap an enema. We were not able to give the cold sheet treatment (no water) so only the garlic paste was made up and applied. This was done after a complete massage of the body and the feet. After oiling the feet up to the ankles, thoroughly, and massaging the olive oil in well, a half-inch thickness of the garlic paste was applied to the soles of his feet. (This is put on only the soles and not up onto the sides). Then gauze was placed over to cover the paste, bandages to hold it into place, and a loose white cotton sock was pulled over the bandages to hold them securely.

Garlic paste is made by taking freshly peeled buttons of garlic and garlic about half and half with Vaseline. This amount can vary, according to the toughness of the feet, more Vaseline for tender feet, less for thicker skin.

Many of the health minded readers will be shocked by our using a low-vibration ointment like Vaseline instead of using anhydrous lanolin or some lighter more organic type. The reasoning for this is that the lighter type ointments will penetrate more quickly into the skin, but the Vaseline will hold the garlic on the ointment form. This will also keep the garlic from blistering as easily. (A garlic blister looks bad, but does not hurt and heals back quickly.)

Garlic Paste To the Feet–Updated

The little boy was running an extremely high fever and was delirious when he was covered and put back into bed. (This was well after 2:00 a.m.). We assured the parents the child would be all right and would get well. A few days later we were called again by these parents. They told us that the doctor came back to sign the death certificate that next morning, but the little boy was sitting in his high chair, drinking some juice and breathing normally as if nothing had happened the night before. The doctor became so angry and demanded to know the name of the other doctor who had taken over the case before it had been released by him. He wanted a hearing by “the board” to have the other doctor thrown out of practice for going “against procedure” by taking over a case without written release. The parents asked if his “release” was the death of their child. He probably changed his mind because we were not brought before a hearing.

I had forgotten this case until nearly twenty years had passed. One evening, after a lecture in another state, a fine-looking young fellow in his early twenties came up to the podium and shook my hand vigorously, saying he had always wanted to meet me. His mother had told him of our long trip in sub-zero weather at night to their house, of using the natural methods on, and saving his life. He stated that he enjoyed living so much he had been looking forward to meeting me. That paid off for a cold night out on a house call by far more than the small fee that was charged.

Emotional Healing, My Opinion

Stepping out of our Comfort Zones

May 30, 2016 Dara Dietz

Lady of Herbs entry 300x392 As one of the most acutely painful conditions, UTI’s refuse to go unnoticed. After decades of recurring infections with no medical hope insight, a caring woman showed me a most simple and effective remedy. Since discovering the power of herbs to clear my habitual bladder and kidney infections I have continued on to learn there is power in Nature to clear every ailment known to man. The question is not do they really work but are we willing to cooperate with nature for a complete clearing of our conditions.

Everyone wants health; the problem is many do not want the lifestyle necessary for regaining and maintaining health. Just as we have the law of gravity, “what goes up must come down” so there are natural laws of health. These are not arbitrary rules written and enforced by man. Breaking the laws of health produces stress and toxins in our bodies. Living within the natural laws our creator established produces health and happiness. Sounds simple, if only it were this easy.

My comfort zone has not always included the best and most healthful choices. I have had to re-train my tastes, learning to like things new and strange to me. It’s all about being willing to move on and become more. Letting go of what is not working and embrace new and better things. Old comfortable habits need to be examined. Just because something was always done one way does not make it right.

The old saying, “Knowledge is power” is true. Empowering ourselves with the information we need is where our healing journey begins. Finding the truth for your life is a very personal endeavor that only you can accomplish. In my life the Heavenly Father has brought His teachers into my world perfectly scheduled to meet my needs. His teachers have not always been easy to hear but if I accepted the truths they freely offered I moved easily into the next phase of my life. If I failed to hear my teachers I was not equipped or ready to move forward.

Learn to look for and accept truth where you find it. When trials appear in your life gratefully embrace them, for the teacher has come. Learn to squeeze every ounce of truth from life’s trials, if you do this chances are you will not see that trial again. Learn to be teachable; the truth is you DON’T know it all. Relax the Father has your back, front, and both sides and He’s not going anywhere.

Cleansing & Flushing, Herbal Healing, My Opinion

Hydro-therapy / Castor Oil Packs

May 30, 2016September 29, 2026 Dara Dietz

The Water Therapy Programs

High Enemas:

You must use a high enema every other day with an implant afterwards. Use only distilled water for the high enema.

A soothing Implant can be eight ounces of Aloe Vera gel and 8 oz of distilled water.

A good detoxifying Implant can be two ounces of wheat grass juice with 16 ounces of water.

An Implant that is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal is: 1-2 cloves of garlic blended into eight ounces of raw apple cider vinegar and eight ounces of distilled water. The garlic implant is an excellent healing aid but it can be very intense.

Any of the healing herbs and foods available can be used as implants, use your imagination: An excellent blood-cleansing tea implant is red clover, or use Echinacea root tea for its immune-enhancing abilities

Hot and Cold Showers:

This is the most effective way to move the blood and create circulation. This should be done at least twice daily, and for some people, up to four times a day. Do the complete hot and cold shower. Start with hot water for one minute, then cold for one minute. Repeat this seven times, so the shower should last about fifteen minutes.

Apply the hot and cold changes directly to the affected area, such as the breast, or the head, or the genitals. Massage the area vigorously while you do the hot and cold showers.

Castor oil packs nightly are critical. There’s no excuse for skipping them.

castroil-items Every evening, do a castor oil pack over the affected area and leave on all night long. You can do multiple castor oil packs over different parts of the body. They can be kept warm with a hot water bottle. Soak a minimum one-foot square piece of flannel. Heat the castor oil pack before you put it on.

Don’t be stingy with the size of the castor oil pack, or with the amount of oil you put on it. It is better to cover more of the area of your body than less. If you use more, you’re cleansing the nearby areas which are probably infected or congested also.

Go to your local fabric store and get some cotton muslin that’s used for making baby diapers. Buy a good amount and cut it up as needed.”

Here are a few suggestions for making thicker pads.

If you want a thicker pad buy heavier weight cotton and put it on, and kind of sandwich it Castor OIl pack in-between two pieces of the cotton muslin. This makes a really nice, thick pack. If you have the time you can sew multiple layers of Cotton Muslin together with cotton batting inside. Buy some good cotton batting or cotton felt, and put it inside, one layer of cotton batting and one of muslin on each side and stitch together around the edges. This will hold a lot of castor oil. Using more castor oil available over the affected area will allow the effect to go deeper and be more effective.

Cover the pack with plastic to keep it from soaking into your blankets and sheets–which may get stained anyway. Cover the castor oil pack with plastic wrap, and then put on a thick, terry cloth robe. To protect your sheets and mattress use the blue bed liners.

Baking soda, in addition to soap, is helpful in getting the oil off the skin in the morning. The baking soda seems to soak up the oil.

When the pack becomes stained with colors from drawing out toxins it is time to throw it away and replace it with a fresh pack. It is not necessary to refrigerate the castor oil pack during the day.

A full body pack can be done by soaking a sleeping bag in castor oil and sleeping in it. If you plan to do this you will need to purchase a large amount of plastic sheeting to lay the bag on.

Be careful with castor oil, because it can spoil all your bedding and furniture. Use huge plastic garbage bags laid out flat underneath the the sheets. When I do a castor oil compress on my head, I cover the whole pillow, and the headboard of the bed, with plastic. When doing castor oil packs, use underwear and T-shirts that you keep separate from your regular underwear. Castor oil can leak into your undergarments, and you will never really get all of it out.

The Cold Sheet Routine Must Be Done if you want to get well.

The cold sheet treatment, also known as the artificial fever routine must be a part of any healing program. Do the cold sheet treatment once or twice a week. You will become more comfortable with this procedure by the second or third time around. Complete detailed instructions are available on-line in our Hydrotherapy E-book.

Do NOT skip the cold sheet routine and do everything else.

There is NO herb or physical exercise that substitutes for this treatment. If you wimp out, your body loses.

Herbal Healing, Organs & Glands

Low Blood Sugar Issues

May 30, 2016September 29, 2026 Dara Dietz

Blood Sugar Issues seem to be on the rise. I’ve had several phone calls this week where members were asking if there were any herbal support for Low Blood Sugar. One member described what I have called “night terrors” wanting to wake up but not having the ability to move or speak. You are aware of the activity around you but unable to respond in any way. This condition is very frightening. The Pancreas Support Formula will support both the Low and High Blood Sugar issues. A teaspoon of formula in a cup of hot water morning and evening will usually put an end to those awful episodes. The Pancreas Support formula is food for the pancreas.

Eating a Balanced Food Program: It is important when changing to a new way of eating such as vegan or vegetarian that you buy several good cook books. The reason many people fail to make a successful transition is because their food program becomes too poor. They fail to provide a varied and complete food program. Many will fall into the habit of eating the same food day in and day out. Not only does this become boring but it creates a nutritional void in the system. It is important to change it up, try new foods. Learn how to sprout beans as well as cook with them.

Here are three of my favorite cookbooks.

The Happy Herbivore Cookbook: very tasty dishes. She knows how to use her seasoning well. Yummy food!!

Forks Over Knives – The Cookbook: Lots of great food ideas and very tasty.

Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People Don’t let the title put you off, there is some serious good eating in this book.

Digestion & Gut, Herbal Healing, Herbs & How to Use Them

All about Using LBF #2

May 30, 2016September 29, 2026 Dara Dietz

The solidifying effect the LBF #2 has on the bowel is the gift this formula brings to the medicine cabinet. One teaspoon shaken in a glass of water puts an end to any episode of lose uncomfortable bowels regardless of the reason. The effect is normally felt in two or three minutes. It is hard to believe the formula can reach the bowel that quickly, even so, it will clear that upset crampy feeling in minutes. When the bowels have turned to water a rounded tablespoon shaken in 12 ounces of water will normally solidify the bowel within one or two doses. The LBF #2 is to be taken episodically, as needed to solidify a crampy, lose bowel.

Anyone living with Crohn’s disease or any inflammatory bowel condition will find healing answers inside this jar of herbs & clay. The clay and charcoal provide gentle yet unsurpassed drawing power. The LBF #2 pulls inflammation and infection from the bowel allowing the body to quickly heal this most important organ. When beginning to heal these conditions most members discover their bowels are solid after only a day or two using the formula.

As part of the Bowel Cleansing program LBF #2 is considered a “bowel vacuum” as it draws the toxins from the bowel walls knocking out inflammation while solidifying the loose stool. Because of this LBF #2 is the best herbal remedy available for diarrhea & vomiting. It is also a healing gift for any of the inflamed bowel conditions. If your bowels are moving too much or too lose LBF #2 will provide quick relief.

What to do when you can’t decide whether to bend over or sit down.

Ok, so you got it really bad, you can’t decide whether to bend over (vomit) or sit down (diarrhea). Mix 1 rounded tablespoon of the LBF #2 in at least 12 ounces of water and drink all at once. Just gulp it down. Very likely it will come back up, that is ok. Keep it down as long as possible. When it does reappear it will be something like applesauce. While in your stomach it is absorbing the bacteria and acidity that is causing your stomach to vomit.

Once the poisons have been absorbed and are either passing out through normal channels or you vomit it back up the stomach can be settled easily with an ounce of ginger root juice or a strong cup of peppermint tea. A quick fix is a teaspoon of digestive Tonic in a warm cup of water. Don’t Sip, drink it all at once. This will allow the chemistry to settle your stomach.

Cleansing & Flushing, Herbal Healing, My Opinion

The Importance of Bowel Cleansing

May 30, 2016September 29, 2026 Dara Dietz

The Importance of bowel cleansing can never be over stated. Sadly we humans like to believe we are just about normal. Many have no idea how sluggish their bowels actually are. It is impossible to live the experience of another. We can observe from inches away. Support them with loads of heart felt compassion and physical care, but at the end of the day that is not our life. The pain or joy we have been privy to belongs to someone else.

Bowel-cleansing Information Sheet Download

Bowel Cleansing Program

One of the most personal functions in life is the elimination of waste from our bodies. This is something we seldom share with anyone. The isolation alone precludes the ability of judging how the body is functioning. The best information I’ve read on the subject of what normal bowel function looks like is: The Bowels are functioning normally when there is a large bowel movement shortly after rising in the morning, and an addition movement after each major meal. This would be an average of 3 to 5 movement a day depending on how many meals you eat. The texture of the movement should be slightly formed and the consistence of peanut butter.

Preventing hard fecal matter from forming in the bowel is the first step in preventing hemorrhoids. Pushing hard fecal matter through the soft tissue of the rectum is what causes hemorrhoids. The hard material breaks down the tissue until the veins begin floating to the surface causing much discomfort.