Posts Tagged ‘herb’
Herbs make wonderful houseplants; not only are they beautiful and decorative, herbs also add fragrance and flavor to your home. Running your hands through a rosemary plant or slightly brushing by a lemon-scented thyme can invigorate you, as well as bring a room to life.
There is an herb for every taste and décor. Some are small and cute, and others are statelier, such as the bay leaf. Select the herb plants you find attractive, but that are not too demanding. Plant them in attractive containers to enhance their natural beauty. Use your imagination and creativity.
Most potted herbs do very well indoors, and what’s more, they can easily be moved outside onto the patio, or you can sink them into your flower bed during the warmer months, bringing them back inside when it gets colder.
The Best Herbs To Grow Indoors
Most herbs need sunlight to grow and produce well, so choose an east or south-facing window. Temperature, air circulation, soil, fertilizer, and water are also important to consider, and it helps to review those needs before you head out to the nursery or garden center to pick out your herbal companion. Below are some growing tips for some of our favorites.
Basil
Basil needs full sun and well-drained soil. Water whenever the surface begins to feel dry. Harvest by snipping the growing tips frequently to keep the plants bushy and prevent flowering. Don’t let the temperature drop below 50 ° F. Basil plants are productive for 3 – 6 months.
Bay
Keep bay plants in full or partial sun. Bay is slow growing and will take years to reach 2 feet in a pot. Allow the soil to dry out between watering. Bay prefers daytime temperatures around 60° F and nighttime temperatures around 50 ° F, but can take temperatures in the 40s. Allow your bay plant plenty of room for good air circulation. Harvest by cutting off individual older leaves as needed, or to dry.
Chives
Chives thrive in full sun. Chive plants prefer daytime temperatures in the 70s and night temperatures in the 60s, but can tolerate temperatures as low as the 40s. Chives will live several years in pots. Harvest by cutting off individual leaf blades to within 1 inch above the soil surface.
Dill
Dill needs full sunlight and can be productive indoors for two to four months. The dill plant may need staking, as it can reach 3 feet in height. Water whenever the soil surface begins to dry. Dill prefers temperatures in the 50s and 60s.
Ginger
Get ginger root from your grocery store and plant a fragment of rhizome in a roomy, shallow pot. Ginger enjoys high temperatures, high humidity and moist soil. Harvest whenever the rhizome begins to outgrow its pot.
Marjoram
Marjoram is a perennial and will grow one foot tall in full sunlight, and be productive for one to two years. After that the plant becomes woody. The heavenly fragrance is pervasive – use sparingly in cooking. Marjoram prefers temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Marjoram plants need good drainage and can even be kept on the dry side.
Mints
Mints are productive for six months or more in pots. Trim individual stems often and use in cooking or to make an uplifting tea. A great variety of mints can be grouped together for a showy display. If you would like to preserve each mint’s original flavor do not let them bloom because they’ll cross-pollinate, and then all your mints will taste the same!
Oregano
Keep oregano on the dry side and temperatures in the 70s during the daytime and the 60s during nighttime. Cut it back often to contain its tendency to spread. When oregano becomes woody, replace it.
Parsley
Give parsley cool temperatures and full sun. The fine flavor of flat-leaf (Italian) parsley is stronger than that of curly parsley, but both make beautiful house plants. Harvest parsley by cutting the outer leaves, leaving the central rosette to produce new growth.
Rosemary
Never let your rosemary plant dry out completely, or it will die. Rosemary needs good drainage, and if the needle-like evergreen leaves turn brown, it means you’re over watering. Prune or pinch back rosemary regularly to keep it bushy.
Sage
Sage needs full sun and must have good drainage; it does not like “wet feet”. Choose from a great variety of sage plants. No matter what kind you get, they all make beautiful and fragrant pot plants. Pick fresh leaves for cooking, or let the leaves dry out and use them as incense.
When you think about medicinal herbs, teas, capsules, and tinctures may be the first thing that comes to mind; all nicely formulated and conveniently packaged to ingest for various ailments. If this is the case, it may surprise you to learn that many herbs can be used topically as well.
Not only is this a great way to treat the surface of your skin for conditions like rashes, diaper rash, burns, scrapes, wounds, injuries, and bug bites, but it is also a fantastic alternative way to enjoy the internal benefits of herbal medicine.
Herbs can be made into vapor balms and applied to your chest to help with congestion when you have a cold or cough. They can also be applied to different areas of your skin to penetrate slowly and deeply into your body and organs, similar to a “patch”. This type of delivery is convenient when herbs have a bitter taste or if swallowing them might be difficult, as in the case of children, the elderly, or pets. Herbs may be applied to the underarms for quick action, or to the back of your hands for slower action.
Next time something ails you, give one of these popular topical herbal remedies a try:
Aloe Vera
Whether it’s straight from your garden or the gel from the store, aloe vera is the best relief for many skin problems. Aloe vera promotes the removal of dead skin and stimulates the normal growth of living cells. It softens, moisturizes and balances the pH of your skin. When used for burns like radiation burns, thermal burns, or sunburns, it is known to reduce the chance of infection and scarring, helps to stop the pain and speeds up the healing process.
Arnica
Arnica oil or gel reduces bruising and swelling from injuries. Many plastic surgeons are now prescribing arnica gel to apply after surgery to prevent bruising and to promote healing. Arnica also works well for muscle pain including arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain and whiplash. Caution: Do not use on broken skin!
Lavender
Lavender essential oil applied on stings or bites from mosquitoes, spiders, scorpions, poisonous fish, and all other known and unknown poisonous critters works very well because it neutralizes poisons while taking the itch and/or pain away. It is calming too. As soon as you notice you have been stung or bitten, apply lavender essential oil directly to the site of the sting. You can re-apply every minute or so, or you can simply place a few drops on a clean cotton ball and leave it on the affected area. For bee and wasp stings, make sure to remove the stinger first before applying lavender essential oil.
Clay
Although clay is not an herb, it is a good earth medicine. Made into clay packs and used topically, clay is very beneficial for sprains, strains, and swellings caused by injury. Clay packs may also be used for water retention in the feet and legs. If you can’t get a splinter out with tweezers try a clay poultice. Mix clay with enough water to make a thick paste. Spread onto the affected area and leave it on for several hours or overnight.
Clove Essential Oil
Dentists recommend clove oil for a toothache, as it numbs the pain for a while. Rub clove essential oil on your gums as needed until the dentist can see you. Since it has a numbing effect, clove oil can also be applied to other painful areas (except for open wounds), but must be diluted with vegetable oil or cream.
Onion Pack
Here is an old, time-tested remedy for sore throats, coughs, respiratory congestion, or even an earache: Cut an onion into small pieces. Place into a frying pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Fry for about 1 – 2 minutes, just enough to heat up the onion. Place onto a towel or paper towel and make a pouch, so that the onions cannot slip out. Apply to the affected area, securing with a towel or bandage, and leave it on for several hours or overnight. The onions will turn black as they work to absorb toxins. CAUTION: Before applying the onion pack to the affected area, make sure it is not too hot, or it will burn your skin. This is especially true for children, as they are more sensitive.
Anti-oxidants are very popular these days because of their health-enhancing and anti-aging benefits. But what exactly are anti-oxidants and why are they so important?
Anti-Oxidants: Your Body’s Free Radical ‘Bouncers”
Anti-oxidants are chemicals produced by the body to keep free radicals in check. Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms that have at least one unpaired electron, which makes them unstable and highly reactive. Anti-oxidants eliminate free radicals by circulating throughout your body and neutralizing any unpaired electrons they encounter, rendering them inactive.
Unfortunately, if your body is unable to produce enough anti-oxidants to meet the high demands caused by too much stress, pollution, poor dietary choices, and the electromagnetic fields that bombard us every day, free radicals continue to multiply, speeding up the aging process, and opening the door to many illnesses.
Where Do Free Radicals Come From and Why are They Dangerous?
Free radicals are formed as part of your body’s normal metabolic process and perform a number of important activities that promote health and well-being. They fight bacteria, help keep inflammation in check, and help regulate normal activity of the blood vessels and organs by maintaining smooth muscle tone. However, daily stress and other irritants can generate an overabundance of free radicals. Because of their unstable nature, too many free radicals damage tissue cells and may speed up the progression of cancer, heart disease and various age-related conditions.
Anti-Oxidant Herbs: Nature’s Medicine Cabinet
To keep free radicals in check you must eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. For added support, add one or more of the following herbs to your daily diet to enhance your body’s inherent ability to produce anti-oxidants, increase the uptake of tissue oxygen and scavenge free radicals:
Acai has become popular because of its high anti-oxidant content. In addition, many people have noticed significant weight loss by taking just a couple of acai berry capsules a day.
Acerola is high in vitamin C, which is a powerful free radical scavenger with anti-oxidant effects. Acerola is used in cosmetics to fight cellular aging, not just for its high vitamin content, but also for its mineral salts, which have shown to aid in the re-mineralization of tired and stressed skin. The mucilage and proteins in Acerola also have skin-hydrating properties and promote capillary conditioning.
Cayenne Pepper is known to improve both digestion and circulation. Rich in flavonoids, these hot fruits also possess anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity.
Hawthorn is the best heart tonic and provides a strong concentration of anti-oxidants to fight free radicals. Hawthorn leaf, flower and berries nourish, strengthen, and tone the heart muscle and its blood vessels.
Milk Thistle is another powerful anti-oxidant. It helps fight the damaging effects of free radicals, stimulates basic liver function, protects the liver against damaging chemicals, and rebuilds liver cells that have been damaged.
Mullein is a respiratory herb with anti-oxidant properties. This abundant and valuable herb is known to inc
rease the uptake of tissue oxygen while scavenging free radicals. Additionally, mullein increases the absorption and assimilation of dietary nutrients. This combination increases life force vitality, hence contributes to anti-aging.
Rhodiola is known to increase physical endurance, enhance immune function, and possess anti-oxidant properties.
Rosemary is a powerful anti-oxidant herb, with great memory-enhancing and heart-strengthening properties. This beautiful garden herb stimulates blood circulation, tones the blood vessels, is invigorating, and increases awareness.
Turmeric is very popular these days and prescribed by many doctors for its valuable anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This beautiful golden/orange herb is a traditional Indian cooking spice that stimulates and improves digestion and also purifies the blood. It is believed to act as a natural antibiotic, and at the same time improve intestinal flora. Good for all inflammatory conditions, turmeric is a metabolism regulator, assists in protein digestion, and has been known to work amazingly well for arthritis.
Honeybush is a delicious sweet tea with many health benefits. Honeybush is caffeine free and rich in anti-oxidants, helps to support immune function, maintains fat and cholesterol levels within normal ranges, as well as working as an anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic.
Rooibos contains more anti-oxidant properties than green tea. These anti-aging properties have been shown to slow down human aging processes, as well as boost the immune system.
