Hallelujah Herbs! Indoor Herb Gardening

Indoor Herb Gardening

2010-05-26T09:48:00.000-04:00

Growing Herbs - Your Indoor Herb Garden Ideas

We believe that gardening is good for our souls, well being and certainly our stress level!

A perfect way to get the taste of summer is by growing herbs indoors during the cold months. Most people don’t realize just how easy it is to have your own kitchen herb garden. It doesn’t matter if you decide to start your garden from scratch or from a handy herb garden kit, you’ll find everything you need to know here.

You also can save money on your grocery bill without compromising on flavor by growing your own herbs indoors during the winter. Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, thyme, parsley, oregano and marjoram have a reputation for being hard to grow indoors—but it's easy to keep these delicious culinary herbs alive all winter long if you give them the right amount of light, water and humidity.

Now, more than ever before, people are beginning to realize that good health does not refer to an absence of disease. Rather, it is a balance of physical, mental, emotional and social wellness. Herbal health care is becoming increasingly popular because herbs provide natural stimulants that activate the body's own defence mechanisms.

Due to our sedentary lifestyle, processed foods and industrial advances, we have managed to discover a large number of chronic illnesses that were virtually unknown in the past. Medicines used to treat these diseases have side effects. In time, these medicines also become ineffective as the human body develops a resistance to the medicine. After battling it out for many years, practitioners of conventional medicine are finally willing to admit that herbs (medicinal, tea and even cooking) are an effective source of healing.

Today, consumers are turning to herbs for increased health and vitality, as well as for more domesticated duties such as decorating and cooking. Growing herbs can be an easy process and the results can be used to add flavor to meals, make soothing and relaxing herbal teas or for making fragrant sachets, potpourri, scented candles and oils.

Herbs from the home garden provide the path to a slower pace of life. What could be more relaxing than a sweetly scented cup of herbal tea. A warm cup of lemon balm tea can make life's troubles vanish, a tall tumbler of an iced peppermint infusion will take the heat out of the fieriest summer day. A sprig of lemon verbena thrown into the teapot with your favorite tea will bring a smile to the faces. Herbal teas can be simple, consisting of one type of herb, or a more complex blend of flavors with many different combinations of tea herbs.

Within this blog, you will find information about growing herbs in the garden and indoor herb gardening, as well as information about growing medicinal herbs. Find out how easy it is to garden when you have the Moon working for you! Gardening by the Moon will help you plan when to sow, plant, water and harvest. There are also sources for getting supplies and equipment for your own home herb garden.

Organic Gardening Magazine, Articles

2010-05-26T08:57:00.000-04:00

Advantages of Herb Garden Kits

If you would like to grow your own herbs but lack the knowledge of how to get started, then a herb garden kit can be the answer. There are a lot of questions that come along with starting an herb garden. By purchasing an herb garden kit you will have the answers to these questions... and much more.

Full Story

Go Organic to Shrink Your Gardening Budget

Saving the Earth and protecting children and pets from dangerous chemicals are the reasons most gardeners cite for giving up pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, but guess what? Making the switch to organic gardening methods will save you money too! Here are six examples....

Full Story

Treat cold & flu without drugs

You are an ardent opponent of all kinds of pharmacological innovations and tablets? But colds and viruses attack you from all sides? Do not despair, we will tell you how without "chemistry" help the body to cope with the first symptoms of infection.

Full Story

Natural Protection from H1N1

There has been a lot of hype in recent years about the potential for a global viral pandemic. SARS, avian flu and West Nile virus are examples from the recent past that could have far worse consequences than what actually occurred. Now it`s H1N1, the latest version of swine flu, that is the big concern.

Full Story

Oolong Tea Facts and Health Benefits

When it comes to traditional tea, we have three main types, black, green, and white. But if you are ready for something different, try oolong tea. With a different flavor than black, green or white teas, oolongs are a rare treat.

Oolong tea is also sometimes known as Wu long tea or Wulong tea, after it's originator.

Full Story

Indoor Herbs and Fungus Gnats

Surprisingly but herbs do get pests! While it is true that aromatic oils in many herbs keep the pest away, the tender herbs can become pest ridden. Herbs grown indoors can be easily plagued by pests. If you have purchased herb plants, you may have been surprised to find Fungus Gnat larvae in the soil.

Full Story

Best Hangover Cures For The Festive Season

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Growing Herbs In Your Garden

Why would you want to grow herbs in your garden? Fresh herbs are awesome. I love just putting basil leaves on a tuna sandwich and in salads. For the culinary lovers herbs are something they need fresh. Herbs serve as a major source for seasoning in preparation of foods. Herbs have a wider range of use.

Full Story

Oolong Tea Facts and Health Benefits

2010-05-25T09:01:00.000-04:00

When it comes to traditional tea, we have three main types, black, green, and white. But if you are ready for something different, try oolong tea. With a different flavor than black, green or white teas, oolong tea is a rare treat.

Oolong tea is also sometimes known as Wu long tea or Wulong tea, after it's originator. Other names for oolong are brown tea and rock tea. The popular varieties are Wu-yi tea, Formosa oolong, Ti Kuan Yin, and Pouchong.

Wulong tea is very popular in Asia. It was first created in China and is still considered China's national tea. Most wu long tea is grown in the Fujian region of China, but some is grown in Taiwan, and a small amount is grown in the Darjeeling region of India and in Vietnam. Chinese varieties give us a more darker and "woody" tasting tea, where as the Taiwanese varieties produce a lighter, more floral tasting brew. In the West, however, wu long tea is one of the least familiar tea varieties.

Recently oolong tea has been marketed as an "Ancient Chinese Secret to Weight Loss". Although this is not completely true, wulong is an important and healthy part of the Chinese diet. In fact, greasy foods in China are often served with wu long tea, because it is known as an obesity fighter.

There are some interesting facts about the increasingly popular Wulong tea:

1. Oolong tea originates from the Camellia sinensis tea plant. It is the processing and fermentation that leaves go through which will determine what type they will become. Wu long tea is the only one that goes through a broad range of fermentation. Wulong tea is a mix between black and green tea.

2. Like green tea, oolong tea contains plant polyphenols that can aid in weight loss. Lately the green tea diet has captured the attention of thousand people trying to naturally lose weight. However, several studies have shown wulong tea to be a better calorie-burner than green tea. Wu long has a higher level of polyphenol concentration than green and black tea. Polyphenols are also known as tannin in the scientific world.

3. Wulong tea has a lesser caffeine content. Experts say that the caffeine content in oolong tea is half as much as in the black and green tea.

4. And finally, the most important oolong tea fact of all is that it is best enjoyed when carefully prepared using the whole loose leaves. People can expect superior aroma, flavor, and health benefits using this method. Tea bags will not offer much flavor or benefits since they contain old pieces of dried up "tea dust" called fannings. Because of this many people may get a wrong impression on what could have been a wonderful cup of tea!

The benefits of wulong tea are various. From its unique flavor and aroma to its endless list of health benefits, oolong tea is definitely a must-add drink in your health regimen. Wulong teas have a very fruity flavor, often with smoky or toasted undertones, often with a floral aroma. Because of the natural fruitiness of wu long teas, they are often blended with other flavors. The combination of wu long with tea herbs only enhances the oolong's natural flavour and increases its health benefits.

To know more about wu long tea, here is some of its proven health advantages.

Wu Long Promotes a Weight Loss

Oolong tea give a nice boost to your metabolism, it also helps dissolve excess triglyceride (a substance that is used as fuel for the body, but stored as fat when there is too much of it).This fat burning process is called "thermogenesis" and it provides an extra energy, sheds excess of water, and helps to burn body fat. Believe it or not, this slimming quality of Wu Long tea is just the start of its fantastic health benefits.

Wu Long Fights Diseases and Even Cancer
Free radicals are responsible for causing damage to the cells in the body. This cellular damage is responsible for diseases, the aging process, and even cancer. Oolong tea contains high amounts of potent antioxidants that help to remove free radicals and keep the body in good shape. The wulong tea is considered the powerful weapon in the fight against stomach cancer. A study in Shanghai, China, where wu long is consumed by more than 80% of tea drinkers, showed that oolong tea drinkers had a lower risk of a stomach cancer. Wulong tea contains high concentrations of polyphenols and antioxidants that can prevent growth of a variety of tumors, including stomach cancer.

Wu Long Delay Skin Ageing Process
The same antioxidants also protect the skin from spots and wrinkles. The scientific studies have proven that drinking Oolong tea can improve some skin conditions by over 50%. According to the experts, wulong tea can significantly protect your skin from excessive appearance of dark pigments brought about by free radicals. The free radicals are blamed for facilitating skin ageing. With wu long tea, you can increase polyphenols in the body, which in turn, delay the ageing process.

Wu Long Detoxifies the Body
Oolong tea works as an anti-bacterial agent and helps to produce a clean alkaline environment in the body. This makes it hard for bacteria, fungus, and other microbes to multiply there.

Wu Long Stops Bad Breath
By killing bacteria in the stomach, Oolong tea prevents the bad breath. A Japanese University study also found that regular drinking of wulong tea actually strengthened teeth and helped to prevent tooth decay.

Wu Long Boosts the Immune System
A recent study found that Oolong tea can improve the immune system response when fighting infection. The study indicated that the production of anti-bacterial proteins was up to five times higher in the wu long tea drinkers, which is an indicator of a stronger immune response.

Wu Long Cut Down Triglyceride Level
Too-high triglyceride levels are the factor associated with a greater risk of heart disease. With the help of oolong tea, you can easily gain control in losing triglyceride because of its polyphenol content. This substance activates the enzyme that is in charge of melting fatty deposits known as triglycerides. Plus, wulong tea can facilitate fat metabolism within the body.

Wu Long Enhances Mental Function
Oolong contains several compounds that have stimulating effects on the nervous system. This means that it enhances alertness, focus, and improves brain function and it is one of the few stimulants that is completely safe.

Wu Long Fights Insomnia
The main reason why oolong tea can help to reduce insomnia symptoms is because of the l-theanine content. L-theanine has been well researched and shown to help reduce stress and anxiety and promote a restful sleep. Though wulong tea does contain caffeine, the l-theanine content of the tea helps balance the caffeine out. By day, wulong tea helps keep you alert and by night, it helps promote sleep and even helps to fall asleep.

Wu Long Combats Depression
Many of the tannins and antioxidants found in oolong tea have been shown to reduce stress related to depression symptoms, wu long tea can also help neutralize anxiety, which often accompanies many depression types.

For hundreds of years, wulong tea has been respected for its healing qualities and slimming ability. Wonderful and unique, Oolong tea combines the flavor and delicious taste of black tea, with some of the best health benefits of green tea.

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Growing Medicinal Herbs Indoors

2010-05-23T20:26:00.000-04:00

Source of healing and general well-being

Many hundreds of herbs are known to have medicinal qualities. Even in light of modern synthetic medicines many people are looking to herbs as a source of healing, disease prevention, and general well-being. Used correctly and wisely, herbs can provide desirable medicinal results without adverse side effects.

Therapeutical properties of medical herbs are very useful in healing various diseases and the advantage of these medicinal plants is being 100% natural.

Nowadays people are being bombarded with thousand of unhealthy products, the level of sensibility in front of diseases is very high and that's why the use of medicinal plants can represent the best solution.

Healing with herbs is an old tradition that most of us are aware of but not all of us use. Here you will find some gentle herbs that can take the sting out of simple bug bites or soothe a aching stomach. Easy to grow, these herbs will be well worth the effort.

The most common medicinal herbs:

Astragalus

Burdock

Cayenne

Echinacea

Feverfew

German Chamomile

Lemon Balm

Milk Thistle

Peppermint

St. John's Wort

Valerian

Yarrow

Growing Chamomile Indoors

2010-05-21T10:47:00.005-04:00

It is so much more than just a fragrant tea

Everyone has heard of Chamomile. The German Chamomile, Matricaria recutita, is a native of Europe, and was brought by early settlers to North America.

For centuries, its flowers and leaves have been brewed and drunk as a fragrant tea, and the health benefits of the tea have been significantly acknowledged. Ancient Egyptians used Chamomile herb as a universal remedy. Modern science is now proving that the ancient cultures knew what they were talking about.

Researchers in England have found new evidence that the chamomile tea may actually help relieve a wide range of health ailments. Chamomile plant has been used as a remedy for calming the nerves and the stomach, and easing sleep. In addition to that it has a scent that can easily sooth your senses. Along with that, chamomile is also associated with style and elegance. Chamomile is pretty flower, has sweet smelling, daisy like flowers sit atop thin stalks and leaves.

It is sometimes known as "the plant doctor", because it is thought to help the growth and health of many other plants, especially ones that produce essential oils. It is thought to increase production of those oils, making certain herbs, like mints (peppermint, sage, oregano) and basil stronger in scent and flavor.

Chamomile is one of those herbs that even beginners can grow and it is hardy through much of the globe. Growing Chamomile is really easy.

For best results adjust your gardening plans to Moon calendar

Culture
The wonderful thing about this herb is that it's also very easy to grow.

Seed Spacing Push the seeds just below the surface at 1/4" depth, need light to germinate.

Seed Germination 10 to 14 days.

Plant Spacing Plants should be spaced 6" (15 cm) apart.

Soil Requirements Generally tolerate a wide range of soil types, the ideal is a sandy soil.

Sun & Lighting Chamomile likes a sunny spot, but will tolerate some shade.

Water Requirements It tolerates dry conditions but will bloom more freely if watered regularly. It will not grow if wet.

Learn new seeding tricks

Uses

Chamomile relaxes muscle. Drinking chamomile herbal tea help to soothe muscle aches, spasms, stomach and back aches and also reduces menstrual cramps.

Chamomile tea is an anti-inflammatory remedy that is used to treat skin problems such as acne, burns, stings, allergies, bruises, bites, etc.

Chamomile tea calms nerves. Drinking chamomile tea helps to calm and soothe down feelings of anxiety, nervousness and depression. This herb is a nervine/sedative which can reduce nervous tension, nourish the nervous system and encourage sleep.

Chamomile tea is often used against problems such as bloating, nausea, gas, irritable bowel syndrome or stomach pain. It is often known as a plant that strengthens the stomach.

Chamomile tea boosts the immune system and fight infections related with colds.

There is nothing more refreshing and soothing to the senses than to enjoy chamomile tea made right out of your own herb garden. Growing chamomile and drinking its tea not only benefits your overall health, but the scent of fresh chamomile can also enhance your senses.

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Natural Flu Medicine

2010-05-18T09:33:00.000-04:00

Treat flu & cold without drugs

"Plant" grain on a thumb or make a gluhwein and flu will abate. You are an ardent opponent of all kinds of pharmacological innovations and flu drugs? But colds and flu viruses attack you from all sides? Do not despair, we will tell you how help the body to cope with the first flu symptoms without "chemistry".

Honey massage

When the first symptoms of cold or flu appear, ask someone to do the honey massage for you (if you are not allergic to honey or have bleeding disorders, and your body temperature is normal). There are no needs of great skills for this, and therapeutic effect will be very impressive.

For remedial massage use the best flower or buckwheat honey: it has the richest variety of elements and vitamins your body needs to fight the flu virus. To enhance the therapeutic effect of the honey add some pine oil (5 drops of oil in a tea spoon of honey). Oil will provide a tonic, bracing and bactericidal effect.

Before starting massage take a hot shower and get your body warm to fully open the pores. Pour honey on the palm and apply on the back with a light, pressing motion (there are many projection points, which are responsible for the normal functioning of ENT organs and the respiratory system). Then masseur takes hands off sharply from the body to pull out all the dirt. After a couple minutes of massage a gray film is formed on the skin - this is the slag. Masseur has to regularly wipe his hands and apply a fresh honey on them. Session length - from 10 to 30 minutes. Then wash off the honey with warm water and spread skin moisturizer, put on warm pajamas and run to the bed.

Repeat the massage every other day for two weeks - that is how much time you need to withdraw all the deep slag and viral toxins. Breaks are needed not to traumatize the skin, but after the first treatment you will feel the palpable relief.

EFFECT: Remedial massage improves blood circulation in the deeper layers of skin and muscles. It increases the power of the internal organs and tissues. Honey "detaches" toxins from the skin and gives instead its biologically active substances. This allows not only get rid of colds and flu viruses, but also recover after busy working day and cure many diseases (headaches, arthritis, sciatica, low back pain, myositis).

Herbal bath

Once you feel the first signs of cold or flu symptoms (sore throat, weakness, light chill) arrange a bath day and take a healing herbsl bath (be sure you do not have a fever). To do this take Yarrow, Calamus root, Oregano, Tarragon and Pine buds. Boil 500 g of these herbs in equal proportions in 5 litters of water for 10 minutes. Then strain the broth and pour into the tub. Water temperature should be 39 degrees, and the duration of the procedure - 15 minutes. After the bath - in bed!

EFFECT: This kind of bath relieves nervous tension, provides sound sleep and fights incipient cold and flu. Pine buds have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, sudorific, anesthetic effect, and the remaining herbs have a tonic effect and stimulate the immune system.

Garlic Inhalation

If at work or at home someone is sick with cold or have a flu symptoms, protect your mucous membrane with phytoncides. To do this mince 5 cloves of garlic and quickly, to not evaporate contained in garlic "flu killers", apply gruel to a bandage. Put it on the bottom of an empty preheated teapot and close the lid. Take the spout in your mouth, hold your nose with your fingers and breathe in the healing aroma, holding breath for a few seconds. For exhales release nostrils. Repeat for 10 minutes. Remember to conduct inhalation no earlier than 30 minutes after meal to prevent a devastating effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus.

EFFECT: Five such inhalations per day (with intervals not less than 4 hours) abate not only a runny nose, cough and angina, but even bronchitis.

Magic Su Jok

Ancient South Korean medicine said that by affecting fingers and toes you can quickly say goodbye to colds, coughs and flues. In Su Jok is considered that the first phalanx of the thumb corresponds to the head, the second – to the neck, and the rise of the palm of your hand meets the chest. These are points which we need to press and warm up. Imagine that the first phalanx of the thumb is the man's face and press during the day on the desired points (nose, throat, forehead etc.). For clarity, draw an upper body on the finger.

Arriving home at night, make an alcohol compress to the second phalanx, which is responsible for the neck and throat. To do this wrap the part of the finger with gauze soaked in alcohol and cover it with cellophane. Keep the compress all night. And if the cold is already actively attacking, you will need long-term stimulation with seeds of plants.

For a cold, pain in the throat or hoarse voice seeds of radish, black pepper, lentils, buckwheat, peas and lemon are recommended. Just watch for the fact that the seed was "alive". Attach a grain with a plaster to appropriate point for the day, than replace with new. Continue the procedure for a week.

EFFECT: Such stimulation affects directly sick organs of the body, forcing them to "work" at full strength and has a harmonizing effect. Vodka compress reduces pain in the throat and facilitate swallowing, and glued grains will put you on the feet within a few days.

Tasty Gluhwein

In the absence of contraindications (heart disease, diabetes) indulge yourself at night with a glass of warm medicinal drink. To do this pour into an enamel pot 100-150 g of dry red wine and sprinkle spices to taste (cloves, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice). Heat the mixture thoroughly, without boiling. Then pour in a thermos, add a couple slices of sour apple or lemon and leave for 10 minutes. Pour directly into the glass, add honey or rosehips syrup to taste.

EFFECT: Wine is a good antiseptic, which is rich in vitamins and amino acids. Spices are warming and increase blood circulation. And there is a lot of vitamin C in the sour apple and lemon, which helps fight colds and flu viruses. But do not overdo it with alcohol - one glass at night is enough to give the body strength to fight the common cold.

Related Article:

Why to Choose Indoor Herb Garden Kits?

2010-05-17T12:57:00.000-04:00

Advantages of Herb Garden Kits

If you would like to grow your own herbs but lack the knowledge of how to get started, then a herb garden kit can be the answer. There are a lot of questions that come along with starting an herb garden. Which herbs do better if they are grown from seeds? What is the right kind of soil to grow herbs in? How much water do they need? What kinds of herbs will I grow? By purchasing an herb garden kit you will have the answers to these questions... and much more.

Herb garden kits are specialized for a certain type of herb, and there are a large variety of kits available. Some examples are: Italian herbs, culinary herbs, international herbs, French herbs, herbal tea herbs, salsa herbs and many more. All herb kits contain similar items to get you up and running successfully.

All herb kits will contain the necessary seeds for the type of kit you have bought. They may contain a clear plastic dome or cover, giving consistent temperature and humidity to your plants to thrive and grow a healthy root system. There will be a base or planter to hold soil or growth pellets, where you will sow the seeds.
Again, all kits are different but, most kits will also provide either soil or pellets for growing the seeds. An essential part of each kit is the instructional guide, with easy to follow directions. Some kits even offer recipes for using the herbs that you are growing!

Growing herbs indoors from a herb kit has many benefits. The consistent growing conditions that are provided lessen your worries about winterizing herb plants or herbs that are not able to survive the winter weather conditions. The herbs have a constant temperature in which to thrive.

Most herb garden kits are small and compact, so are great for small spaces or apartments. You can easily control how much light and water your herbs get. By growing herbs indoors and following the instructional guide, you will take out the guess work. Success guaranteed!

Also, with the herbs right there in the kitchen, it will be easier to enjoy and use them. No treks out to the garden to collect a bit of one herb or another to add a little zing to the pot on the stove or to make an original herbal tea. It is also very easy to harvest the mature herbs and freeze or dry them for the future.

Although you will certainly want to become an expert herb gardener with an outdoor herb garden, by starting with a herb kit you can experience different herbs and decide which you would like to grow permanently. You will have a good idea also about the growing conditions your herbs require. Now, just take your herbs and transplant them from the kit out into your garden and you are on your way to becoming an herb expert.

About the Author:
Gardening expert Nicki Goff offers a free e-mail starter course all about her main passion... herb gardening. For access, visit her website, http://www.HomeHerbGardener.com. You'll find more great tips, and her new comprehensive e-book on creating, maintaining and enjoying your own home herb garden right here.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Advantages of Herb Garden Kits

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Indoor Gardening Tips

2010-05-13T13:18:00.000-04:00

How to Start Your Own Herb Garden

There are tons of different home gardening tips, indoor gardening tips, organic gardening tips, vegetable gardening tips - no wonder you can find it so overwhelming to figure out just which specific tips are going to be most useful. If this is your situation, you should know that out of all of these, there are a few home gardening tips in particular that are going to be useful for you to learn.

Why would you go for an indoor garden?

It will make your house look nice, and you feel good. You'll almost never need to brave the harsher weather elements that nature will throw at you for trying to compete with her. And ultimately in the grand scheme of things, it's good for you.

It's difficult to imagine how indoor gardening could be good for you, but really it has nothing to do with the gardening itself, more with the plants instead. If you hark back to the good old days of high school and peer pressure, you might just remember vaguely hearing something in science class about plants and photo-something-or-other.

Just to remind, it's a procedure called photosynthesis, where plants remove carbon dioxide from the air, and release oxygen into it instead, thereby removing pollutants from our environment. If you're living in a jungle there's not too much of a problem with that, but living as we are in our singular little houses, indoor plants are the next best thing.

A simple and easy place to start with would be try your hand at herb gardening. Simple to grow, useful in the kitchen, and best of all not the prima donna type.

Gardening, of any kind, just doesn't get any better than indoor gardening.

Best of the Primary Home Gardening Tips

Easy maintenance and low costs are the main advantages of herb gardening. If you opt for indoor gardening, make sure you choose appropriate pots or containers.
First you’ll want to choose the herbs that you’ll plant. You might have a hard time doing this because of the huge scope of herbs available. When I got ready to start my herb garden, I took a look at the spices in my kitchen cabinet and decide which ones I enjoy the most. I made a list of all the herbs my family and I enjoy and those are the ones I planted in my herb garden. By planting your own collection of these herbs, you can save money on buying them from the grocery store while having the added benefit of freshness. Some of the herbs you might start with are listed in cooking herbs, medical herbs and tea herbs posts.
When getting started your herb garden, you should remember that the soil should have extremely good drainage. If the dirt gets watered and stays completely saturated, you have no chance of ever growing a healthy plant. One of the best ways to fix the drainage problem is put a layer of crushed rocks at the bottom of the pot or a container you are going to use. This will allow an extra water to escape, thus saving your plants.
Ensure that the soil is of very good quality. In fact, if the purchased soil has organic matter added to it, so much the better; the herbs will grow faster. If you feel that soil quality does not matter, then you should not worry about the quality of your herbs either!

Indoors or outdoors, no plant can live without sunlight. Most of the herbs need to be under direct sunlight; so placing them near windows is best. But it would be wise to keep the plants a few inches away from the window and not in direct contact with the window glass or window sill. During winter months, the temperature near the window is much cooler than the temperature a little inside the room.
The plants in your indoor herb garden need trimming from time to time. Otherwise, they may become too big for the containers or pots. Trimming should be done with a pair of sharp scissors, never with a knife. A knife can damage the plants because a pulling motion is used.
When you are ready to begin planting your herbs, you might be tempted to buy the more expensive plants from the store. However, with herbs it is much easier to grow them from seed than it is with other plants. Therefore you can save a bundle of money by sticking with seed packets.
One of the often overlooked gardening tips by the new gardener is not paying attention to the proper time to begin seed starting. One of our tips is gardening by the phases of the moon. Gardening by the Moon is another option to introduce into your gardening to give you a bit of an edge when failure is NOT an option.

There is nothing like fresh herbs and especially, if you are the one that grew the herbs. So if you enjoy herbs or gardening, or both, then you should probably consider setting up an herb garden. It might require a little bit of work at first to set it up for optimal drainage, and pick what herbs you want to grow. But after the initial hassle, it’s just a matter of harvesting all your favourite herbs

Related Article:

Growing Basil Indoors

2010-05-12T13:05:00.000-04:00

Fresh and Tasty Digestion Helper

Basil is truly an incredible herb. It is enjoyed for its rich and spicy, mildly peppery flavour with a trace of mint and clove. Basil is an annual herb belonging to the mint family. Ocimum basilicum or Sweet Basil is the most commonly known and grown. Ocimum is from a Greek verb that means "to be fragrant." Flowers on the ends of branches are either white or lavender. Basil is native to India and Asia and having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years.

With so many attributes it isn't any wonder that basil has become increasingly popular over the years. Being a member of the mint family, it is not surprising to see it recommended for digestive complaints. So instead of an after dinner mint, try sipping an after dinner cup of basil herbal tea to aid digestion and dispel flatulence. Herbalists have recommended basil for years for stomach cramps, vomiting and constipation. Basil has been described as having a slight sedative action, which would explain why it is sometimes recommended for headaches and anxiety.

For best results adjust your gardening plans to our Moon calendar

Culture

Basil is surprisingly easy to grow. Sow seeds in a flat, and cover them with a moistened, sterile mix to a depth not more than twice the size of the seed.

Seed Germination 5 to 7 days.

Seed Spacing No pre-treatment needed. Sow seeds on soil surface at 70F.

Plant Spacing 3/8 to 1/2 inch apart in the flat.

Soil Requirements Tolerates most soils, but best is rich, well-drained, moist, with pH between 6 and 7.
Sun & Lighting Grow best in a sunny location.

Water Requirements Average water needs but moisture is important to a good basil crop.

To encourage a bushy, healthy plant and to maximize production, don't be afraid to prune basil. Pinch off the flower buds as soon as they begin to emerge. Basil will usually have to be pruned every 2 to 3 weeks.

Learn new seeding tricks

Uses

The best flavour is found in fresh leaves, but frozen and dried leaves are worth the effort also. The leaves can be used cooked or raw. Crush, chip or mince the leaves and add to recipes, or add whole leaves to salads. Sprigs of basil make a wonderfully aromatic garnish. The flowers are beautiful, edible, and also make a unique garnish.

Basil is traditional in Italian, Mediterranean and Thai cookery. It is superb with veal, lamb, fish, poultry, white beans, pasta, rice, tomatoes, cheese and eggs. It blends well with garlic, thyme and lemon. Basil adds zip to mild vegetables like zucchini, summer squash, eggplant, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, spinach and to the soups, stews and sauces in which these vegetables appear, and to add to its versatility, basil is also one of the ingredients in the liqueur chartreuse.

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Healthy Coffee?

2010-05-08T14:08:00.001-04:00

Coffee Herbs

Coffee mixes well with herbs to moderate its effects or to create synergistic blends. Coffee lowers levels of type 2 diabetes due to flavanoids, magnesium and increasing the metabolic rate. Alcoholics at risk for cirrhosis of the liver have lower rates. Asthmatics have fewer attacks and can head them off with coffee or a coffee foot bath. Alzheimer’s can be slightly reversed and progression reduced. Coffee is associated with 24%lower levels of colon cancer, 21% lower incidence of gallstones and an 60% reduction in Parkinson’s Disease and in a dose-dependent manner will reduce inflammation as marked by C-reactive protein.

We have all heard that coffee is bad for us, and it does have alkaloids and essential oils that can be overly stimulating. Caffeine can stress our adrenal glands and it is energetically warming which is not always desirable. Most commercially available coffee is highly sprayed with pesticides, which is why shade-grown organic is best. Coffee can potentiate medications or medicinal herbs which means that we may need to adjust dosages. More than three cups daily during pregnancy increases the miscarriage rate (but decaf correlates with even more.) It makes fibrocystic breasts and fibroids worse and eliminating coffee can increase good health in many other areas.

Coffee can displace green or black tea which have numerous health benefits. It may keep us up at night (although there are certain individuals who sleep better with it.) In fact many of us who drink coffee are addicted and will get headaches if it is withdrawn, which is not desirable.

Copyright by Karen S. Vaughan, L.Ac., MSTOM

To read the full article: Acupuncture and Herbs, Coffee Herbs

Growing St. John's Wort Indoors

2010-05-05T11:31:00.003-04:00

Herbal Prozac

St. John's Wort, Hypericum Calycinum or Aaron's Beard, is an easy to grow herb, with over three hundred of varieties. It is used primarily for medicinal purposes. St. John's Wort is believed to have been named after St. John the Baptist. It originated in Europe and Asia where it grew wild in woods, fields and along roadsides. Sometimes called "herbal Prozac," St. John's Wort is mostly used to relieve depression and anxiety.

The history of using St. John's Wort also goes back thousands of years, and it has been used as a safe and effective herbal medication for at least 2400 years. The founder of medicine, Hippocrates, was known to prescribe St. John's Wort herb for relief of such common ailments as dysentery, tuberculosis, haemorrhage, jaundice, colds, and insomnia.

St. John's Wort is a hardy, partially woody perennial, an upright growing, unpleasant smelling, clumping plant. Its small, smooth, oval leaves have numerous tiny oil glands, borne in opposite pairs along the stems. The small golden yellow flowers are borne in large dense cymes in midsummer. The small, ovoid seed capsule contains round black seed. The crushed flowers ooze a red, blood-like pigment containing hypericin.

For best results adjust your gardening plans to Moon calendar

Culture

The wonderful thing about this herb is that it's also very easy to grow.

Seed Spasing Push the seeds just below the surface at a depth not over two millimetres.

Seed Germination 8 to 14 days. Speed germination by soaking the seeds in warm water for 20 minutes.

Plant Spacing About 18 inches apart.

Soil Requirements This plant prefers well-drained sandy or clay soils.
Sun & Lighting Likes a sunny spot, but will tolerate some shade.

Water Requirements Water the herbs twice a week

Learn new seeding tricks

Uses

St. John's Wort is one of the most popular herbs in North America and Europe. Although it's known primarily as a herbal antidepressant for mild to moderate depression, it has a long history of use as an antiviral, an anti-inflammatory, for nerve injury and pain, and as a topical treatment to promote wound healing. Recent preliminary studies have found that St. John's Wort may also decrease alcohol intake.

St. John's Wort has been used to treat a variety of conditions. Taken internally, St. Johns Wort has a sedative and pain reducing effect, which gives it a place in the treatment of neuralgia, anxiety, tension and similar problems. It is especially regarded as an herb to use where there are menopausal changes triggering irritability and anxiety. In addition to neuralgic pain, it will ease fibrositis, sciatica and rheumatic pain.

Externally it is a valuable healing and anti-inflammatory remedy. As a lotion it will speed the healing of wounds and bruises, varicose veins and mild burns. The oil is especially useful for the healing of sunburn.

The calming properties of St. John's Wort herb have been useful in treating bedwetting, insomnia, and other nervous conditions, as well as some form of melancholy. An oil extract of the herb can be taken for stomach ache, colic, intestinal problems, and as an expectorant for the congestion in the lungs.

A herbal tea made from the flowers is good for anaemia, headache, insomnia, jaundice, chest congestion, and catarrh. A tea made from the herb has been used for uterine cramping and menstrual difficulties. The oil extract also make a good external application for burns, wounds, sores, bruises, and other skin problems.

It is believed that burning the plant in bonfires would drive away evil spirits, purify the air and promote healthy crop growth.

Related Article

Growing Thyme Indoors

2010-05-05T11:16:00.000-04:00

Genus of Aromatic Herbs

Thyme is a widely used culinary herb. There are several varieties, but the most popular is common thyme. The common name is Thymus, a genus of aromatic herbs or shrubby plants of the Mint Family, long cultivated and valued as both ornamentals and sweet herbs. It is a small, perennial shrub, native to the Mediterranean. They have small lavender or pink flowers.

We find this fragrant herb in all sorts of recipes from meats and vegetables to sauces and breads. Thyme is considered “necessary” in clam chowder, bouquet garni, and herbs de Provence. In the European Middle Ages, the herb was placed beneath pillows to aid sleep and ward off nightmares.

Thyme herb is an easy plant to grow in a pot. It is very hardy and will grow under most conditions. A sunny location is best and good drainage is vital as thyme is somewhat susceptible to root rot. Regular pruning promotes growth so as you take cuttings for the kitchen consider shaping the plant as you go.

For best results adjust your gardening plans to Moon calendar

Culture

Seed Spacing 4 to 5 seeds per inch at 1/8" depth

Seed Germination 8 to 20 days.

Plant Spacing Thyme plants should be spaced 18 to 24 inches (45 - 60cm) apart.

Soil Requirements Light, well-draining, poor to fertile.

Sun & Lighting Thyme grown outdoors prefers full sun.

Water Requirements Average water needs. Water on a regular schedule, do not overwater.

Learn new seeding tricks

Uses

Thyme herb in its fresh form adds flavour to a recipe as well as making a lovely garnish. Thyme is slow to release its flavors so it is usually added early in the cooking process. Before adding fresh thyme to a dish, the greyish-green leaves should be stripped from the woody stem. These stems smoke pleasantly when tossed onto the coals while barbecuing.

It's difficult to think of a food that is not complemented by thyme. Even sweets like sugar cookies or lemon squares can be improved with a hint of thyme. Meats are a natural for thyme, as are onions. Cheese dishes and all sorts of beans cry out for the addition of thyme. Vegetables, especially corn, carrots and potatoes, are terrific when seasoned with the herb, fresh or dried.

Thyme combines well with other herbs, too. Garlic Chives is a perfect companion. Thyme is nearly always included in Cajun spice mixes and, as stated above, in bouquet garni (along with parsley and a bay leaf) and herbs de Provence, the classic blend with basil, lavender, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram and fennel.

A herbal tea made by infusing the herb in water can be used for cough and bronchitis. Because it is antiseptic, thyme boiled in water and cooled is very effective against inflammation of the throat when gargled 3 times a day.

Related Articles:

Growing Tea Herbs Indoors

2010-05-05T11:06:00.000-04:00

A Quick Guide to Herbs and Growing Tea Ingredients

The inside herb garden is a wonderful project that will give months, if not years, of flavorful, aromatic, healthy, and delicious plant products to the table. Herbs are used for hundreds of separate chores, and have been for thousands of years.

Until about twenty years ago, most people felt that herbs were simply for spicing and pickling food, but we have begun to circle back around to the health benefits that herbs, roots, and leaves offer to the mind and the body. Many people are growing tea herbs in their gardens and in mini indoor gardens, adding more flavor and nutrition to one of our favorite beverages.

There are twelve tea seeds which are most commonly grown by herbal tea makers, though there are literally hundreds of teas that can be infused using these with additional spices, roots, berries, and leaves. What's more, your inside herb garden kit will come with an infusion tool for steeping, as well as bags to get you started once your plants have matured to the necessary size and color. You will also be given information on the many uses for each of the plants that you have grown, including recipes and instructions for making fresh tea at home.

While learning about herbs and growing your garden, you might transplant them from the starter dome to large, clay pots so that they have plenty of room to take root and become full. Also, keep them tagged properly with the recommended system, because using the wrong plants for your specialized remedies can cause an unpleasant end result. Because herbs are so powerful, you will want to understand and gain their full benefits. One little mix up could have you sound asleep when you were meant to revive.

The most common tea herbs grown indoors and by amateur tea makers include Marigold, Catnip, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Lemon Grass, Lemon Bergamot, Anise, Peppermint, Fever Few, Lavender, and Angelica. You may also learn about rose pedals, dandelion, sage, ginger root, and quite a few other plants which are commonly infused as healing, fortifying, and soothing teas. Many learn through trial and error how to sweeten their teas naturally with nutritious berries and fruits, and this can add a very relaxing finishing touch to your overall efforts. This type of inside herb garden should prove to be as rewarding as it is beneficial.

http://www.GrowingHerbsYourself.com for more about herbs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Glenna_Branham

The most common tea herbs:

Angelica

Anise

Calendula

Catnip

German Chamomile

FeverFew

Lavender

Lemon Balm

Lemon Bergamot

Lemon Grass

Peppermint

Rosemary

SlideShows

2010-05-03T15:04:00.004-04:00

Spring Awakening

It`s time for PINK - Magnolia

Organic Gardening

2010-04-27T11:28:00.000-04:00

Go Organic to Shrink Your Gardening Budget

Saving the Earth and protecting children and pets from dangerous chemicals are the reasons most gardeners cite for giving up pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, but guess what? Making the switch to organic gardening methods will save you money too! Here are six examples of how going organic will put money back in your pocket.

**Plant veggies, spend less on doctor bills. A recent article by a Texas research biochemist summarizes some bad news: many scientific studies show that the vitamin content of fresh fruits and vegetables is on the decline. That’s alarming, because fresh produce should be an important source of vitamins and minerals in our diets -- without them, we’re more vulnerable to getting sick. Fortunately, there's a simple way to protect your health and reduce what you spend on costly doctor visits, cold and flu medications, and vitamin pills: plant some vegetables. Fresh-picked home garden produce is brimming with nutrition, and recent studies confirm that organically grown produce can be even richer in nutrients than conventionally grown fruits and veggies.

**Fire your lawn care service. How much do you pay for a lawn care company to treat your lawn? Chances are it's way too much. So ditch the lawn service and hire a local teen to mow for you instead. To encourage a healthy lawn the organic way, have your hired help set the mower high -- at least 3 inches high. That way, your lawn grass naturally shades out weeds (no more herbicides needed). Be sure your helper uses a mulching mower that returns grass clippings -- which contain valuable nitrogen -- to the lawn (no more bagged fertilizer needed). Once a year, have your helper spread good-quality compost too, about 1/4 inch thick. The compost will melt into the lawn almost immediately, adding a wide range of nutrients as well as beneficial microbes that help prevent lawn diseases.

**Fight pests with flowers instead of pesticides. More than 90 percent of the insects in your yard and garden are your friends, not your foes. Ladybugs, lacewings, and even many kinds of flies and tiny wasps are an important natural pest control force. Their larvae (the immature stages of the insects) gobble up aphids and other pests, or parasitize the caterpillars that would like to turn the foliage of your flowers and veggies into a holey mess. One easy way to attract these good-guy insects to your yard organically is to plant a garden of perennials and herbs with tiny flowers, because the adult beneficial insects eat pollen, not bugs. Yarrow, purple coneflowers, daisies, tansy, cosmos, marigolds, and zinnias are great plants to start with, and you'll love how they look growing in sunny spots all around your yard. Buying a few packets of annual seeds and several potted perennials is much cheaper -- and much more fun -- than buying pesticides and a sprayer!

**Forget the bagged fertilizer -- buy seeds instead. It's true! A packet of cover crop seeds such as buckwheat or oats will add as much fertility to your garden beds as any bag of synthetic fertilizer can. And that's just the start of the story. Using synthetic fertilizer is a vicious cycle, because the chemicals in the fertilizer kill or repel beneficial earthworms and other organisms that help build a healthy soil. Plus, chemical fertilizer easily washes down through the soil when it rains, ending up in the groundwater we drink! You'll save big in the long term by planting cover crops instead—they prevent soil erosion, they encourage earthworms and other good guys, and they enrich your soil naturally. Simply sow the cover crop seed on lightly loosened soil, rake it in lightly, and water it to speed germination. Within 4 to 8 weeks, you can cut down the crop with shears or your lawn mower, and all that rich green material will naturally break down, leaving you a nutrient-primed planting bed that will produce bumper crops of veggies, fruit, or flowers.

**Reduce your water bill by capturing rainwater. Depending on where you live, as much as 50 percent of the water you use goes to keeping your garden green and growing. That's a big expense that will only get bigger as water supply problems increase around the country. But for less than $100, you can buy and install a rain barrel that will capture the rain that falls on your roof, providing you a free supply of water for your gardens virtually indefinitely. Rain barrels are available from home centers and mail-order suppliers, and it takes no special skills to install one.

**Grow gourmet salad toppings on the cheap. Microgreens are all the rage at fancy restaurants and farm markets, but boy are they expensive! Here's a secret: you can grow your own microgreens at any time of year on a sunny windowsill for a fraction of the price. Simply save leftover clamshell containers from the deli and buy some organic transplanting mix that's enriched with compost. Clean the containers well, use a barbecue skewer to poke several drainage holes in each one, and fill them with moist mix. Then sprinkle veggie seeds (be sure the seeds haven't been treated with pesticides) generously over the soil surface, cover lightly with more mix, and set the containers in a catch tray on the windowsill. Mist daily until sprouts appear, then water as needed to keep them growing. Within three weeks, the sprouts will reach the two-leaf stage, and you can snip them with scissors to garnish salads, sandwiches, and entrees. Use lettuce, arugula and other salad greens, as well as broccoli, kale, dill, cilantro, basil, even peas.

©2009 Fern Marshall Bradley, co-editor of The All-New Illustrated Guide to Gardening: Planning - Selection - Propagation - Organic Solutions
About the Author:
Fern Marshall Bradley, co-editor with Trevor Cole of The All-New Illustrated Guide to Gardening, is a writer and editor whose favorite topics are gardening and sustainable living. A co-author of Reader's Digest's Vegetable Gardening, she also conceived and edited The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Insect and Disease Control, The Expert's Book of Garden Hints, among others. Bradley is a former gardening books editor for Rodale.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Go Organic to Shrink Your Gardening Budget

Indoor Herbs and Fungus Gnats

2010-04-27T11:27:00.001-04:00

Oh, dear! Why Are There Fruit Flies on My Herbs?

Surprisingly but culinary herbs and even medical herbs do get pests! While it is true that aromatic oils in many herbs keep the pest away, the tender herbs can become pest ridden.

Herbs grown indoors can be easily plagued by pests. If you have purchased herb plants, you may have been surprised to find Fungus Gnat larvae in the soil.

Who are they?
Fungus Gnats are the most frequent houseplant annoyance. To the naked eye, they look like those annoying little bugs flying around old bananas in the fruit bowl. It is likely that these buzzers actually are not Fruit Flies, but a relative insect known as the Fungus Gnat (Sciaridae).

While Fruit Flies hang out primarily in rotten foods, exposed fruit and in leaky fridges, you will find Fungus Gnats in wet plant soil and in household drains. They are attracted to CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) which explains why they are always right up in your face. They are also attracted to the light so you can often see FG around windows. The good news - Fungus gnats are harmless to humans and animals.

Adult Fungus Gnats live about a week and a half, and in that span can lay up to 200 eggs in moist soil. FG larvae lives in the soil of your plants and feed off decaying material... and occasionally your plant roots. They love moist, loaded with humus, compost-rich potting soils.

To see if you have larvae in your container herbs cut a small potato in a half and set on top of the soil. FG larvae are attracted to the row potato and will move to the surface to feed on it. In a couple days, check the slices. Advice: skip this step unless you have a really strong stomach.

How do I get rid of them!?
To make FG larvae go away pour a generous layer of sand on top of the soil and cover with cedar mulch. FGs are attracted to the top layer of wet soil. Because sand drains quickly, adults are confused by the new dry top layer of soil, even though your plant is good watered. The cedar mulch is ornamental and most insects hate the smell.

Transplant the offending plants can help, make sure you remove as much soil as possible. Potting mixes containing cocoa fibre, charcoal, and vermiculite blends are all helpful since they do not decay as quickly as peat blends do.

You can also purchase a Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) product for flies and mosquitoes which works good for Fungus Gnat control. Make sure you get the correct type of Bt. Several are available in the market and each is working on a particular type. It is not effective for adult FG though.

How do I kill the adults now?
One way to keep ahead of these little critters is to put up sticky yellow traps to catch the adults. These traps are hung over plants and cause insects to stick to the card like a glue. This does not control larvae in the soil, but will prevent flying adults from laying more eggs. Another solution is electrocution-light. The FG will be attracted to the light and killed upon contact.

I trust you are well armed with information now and next time you see FG hovering around your plants you will know exactly what to do.

Growing Lemon Balm Indoors

2010-04-27T11:27:00.000-04:00

Hearts Delight

Common name for Melissa officinalis, an aromatic, sweet herb of the Mint Family grown in the herb garden, and also used in liqueurs and historically, as a medicine. It has a mild lemon aroma that many will associate with furniture polish and some brands of dishwashing liquid. Melissa had been used for centuries. References are found in Roman writings. The Arabs relied on it to treat depression and anxiety, while the English included it in the furniture polish.

There are references to balm as an aid to longevity.

Lemon balm herb is a modest in appearance. With smallish oval leaves and discreet white flowers, it will grow two or three feet high.

On a romantic note, it is fun to ponder the fact that it was symbolically used to transmit messages to lovers. Maybe next time you want to send a love note you should tuck it into a little pot of lemon balm.

For best results adjust your gardening plans to Moon calendar

Culture

The wonderful thing about this herb is that it's also very easy to grow.

Seed Spacing              Push the seeds just below the surface at a depth not over two millimetres.

Seed Germination      12 to 21 days.

Plant Spacing             Plants should be spaced between 12 and 15 inches (30 and 38 cm) apart.

Preferred pH Range    Will grow in a relatively wide pH range, with a preferred range of 6.0 to 7.5.

Soil Requirements      Fertile, well-drained clay or sandy loam.

Sun & Lighting           Lemon balm prefers full sun, but is mildly shade-tolerant.

Water Requirements    Requires consistently moist soil, do not let soil dry out in between watering.

Learn new seeding tricks

Uses

Lemon balm is used for digestive problems, including upset stomach, bloating, intestinal gas (flatulence), vomiting, and colic; for pain, including menstrual cramps, headache and toothache; and for mental disorders, including hysteria and melancholia.

Many people believe lemon balm has calming effects so they take it for anxiety, sleep problems, and restlessness. Lemon balm is also used for Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an autoimmune disease involving the thyroid (Graves' disease), swollen airways, rapid heartbeat due to nervousness, high blood pressure, sores, tumors, and insect bites. The crushed leaves, when rubbed on the skin, are used as a repellant for mosquitoes, some people apply lemon balm to their skin to treat cold sores (herpes labialis).

This common garden herb, lemon balm, can improve the memory and increase feelings of calmness.

Lemon balm is often used as a flavouring in ice cream and herbal teas, both hot and iced, often in combination with other herbs such as peppermint. It is also frequently paired with fruit dishes or candies.

Lemon balm also makes a fragrant and distinctive potpourri.

Growing Pot Marigold Indoors

2010-04-27T11:26:00.001-04:00

Golden Inspiration - Herb for Garden and Kitchen

Everyone has heard of “Pot Marigold” but just few people have grown them and even less have tasted them. If you enjoy the novelty of using edible flowers in your meals, you should consider growing Calendula because it is such a reliable bloomer. Calendula plants are easy to grow and are fairly simple to start from the seeds, making them perfect for beginner gardeners, and especially kids.

Calendula is known by the common names of Pot Marigold or English Marigold. Calendula officinalis is an aromatic annual plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. Typically, it grows to about half a meter in height. The stems are straight and ramified; the leaves are oblong-lanceolate, hairy on both sides and 5 to 15 cm long with toothed margins. Calendula flowers range in colour from creamy lemon yellow to apricot and bright orange. The flower-heads appear all year around. Calendula petals have a lightly bitter flavour but they have almost no fragrance. They’re used in all kinds of recipes, from butter to wine, but they are mostly favored for their intense color.

Although Calendula officinalis is commonly called "Pot Marigold", they are not in the same genus as the common marigold, Tagetes. Calendula is in the same family as daisies and chrysanthemums and the similarity can be seen in their daisy-like flowers. Pot Marigolds are considered companion plants that keep insects away. Many gardeners grow them among their vegetable crops.

In India Calendula officinalis flowers are used to decorate altars of Temples; the Greeks and Persians used it in cooking as a garnish for stews and soups, and in Europe it was used to colour butter and cheese. Calendula is an excellent skin healer and can be made and added to creams and used to treat anything from acne to open wounds.

For best results adjust your gardening plans to Moon calendar

Culture

Type Annuals.

Height 1 ft. to 3 ft.

Maintenance Moderate.

Pot Size 6" wide and 10" deep container.

Seed Germination 8 to 12 days.

Seed Spacing Sow in shallow drills 1/8” (0,6cm) deep or scatter on the surface and cover with a thin layer of soil.
Plant Spacing Spaced 10 to 15 inches (about 20cm) apart.

Soil Requirements Marigold plants like rich, well drained soil.

Growing Mix Mix 1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand or perlite, 1 part moist peat or humus (leaf mold) and a light dusting of lime.

Fertilize Feed every two weeks with a water soluble fertilizer diluted by half.

Sun & Lighting Full sunlight coming from the South/West but will tolerate light shade. Calendula needs 5 hours or more of direct sunlight.

Water Requirements Keep the soil evenly moist and use warm water.

Learn new seeding tricks

Uses

As a culinary herb Calendula is used in preparation of many dishes. The addition of fresh and tender calendula flowers and leaves to salads and raw vegetable mixtures is an excellent idea. The chopped or whole petals of freshly plucked calendula flowers can also be added to tossed salads. The whole flower was used as a garnish in medieval times.

Calendula petals can also be used in fresh, dried, or powdered form to add color and to bring a bittersweet flavor to different foods, including some kinds of sea foods, to chowders and soups, to flavor stews and rice, to add flavor to roast meats and vegetable dishes, or to spice up chicken dishes.

Calendula officinalis can act as a substitute in any recipe requiring the use of saffron flowers. Calendula is cheaper than saffron, the color imparted to the food is of a similar vibrant hue, and however, the flavor is different and equally delicious.
The antiseptic and astringent effects of the calendula come in handy in the treatment of many conditions affecting the human body. A variety of ailments were traditionally treated using the calendula, which has one of the longest history as a herbal medical plant.

Calendula officinalis heals wounds as well as internal and external ulcers. It improves blood flow to the affected area. As an antifungal agent, it can be used to treat athlete's foot, ringworm, and Candida. The tincture applied to cold sores encourages healing. Calendula cream is good for acne and diaper rash. An infusion is good for digestion and relieves colitis and symptoms of menopause. An infusion of the petals can be used as a rinse to lighten and brighten hair.

The primary use of the Calendula plant, however, has always been in the role of a local topical application to boost healing of a wound and to prevent the infection. The calendula is prescribed by most modern herbalists in the form of an herbal tea, as an herbal infusion, or in ointment form - the remedies are used in healing a variety of conditions.

How to make Calendula Cream
For a natural remedy for mild skin complaints such as acne, dry skin and even open wounds, add 2 handfuls of calendula flowers to 1tbsp lanolin, 5tbsp olive oil and 1tbsp beeswax and heat gently. Mix together; take off the heat and leave to set. The following morning re-heat the mixture, strain into a sterile jar and leave to harden.

Related Articles:

Sowing a Seed
Indoor Herbs and Fungus Gnats
Advantages of Herb Garden Kits
How to Start Your Own Herb Garden
Healthy Recipes from Folk Medicine
Oolong Tea Facts and Health Benefits

Growing Lemon Bergamot Indoors

2010-04-27T11:26:00.000-04:00

Vigorous plant with wonderful taste and lemony aroma

There is common confusion about Bergamot. Bergamot fruit is a small sour kind of orange from Asia. The Chinese used Bergamot oil to flavour teas, which the English now call Earl Grey. When the English went to America they discovered a herb Monarda Bergamot which had an aroma similar to the Bergamot fruit and it became popular as a Bergamot tea.

Lemon Bergamot (Monarda citriodora) is an American herb that was widely used by native Americans. It was introduced to the early colonists by the Oswego Indians, and Oswego tea was made by colonists during the time of the Boston Tea Party. Lemon Bergamot herb is a member of the mint family which has a citrus smell when crushed.
Lemon Bergamot plant is also known as Lemon Bee Balm, Lemon Mint, Prairie Bergamot, Wild Bergamot, Lemon Horsemint, Lemon Horse Mint, Plains Horsemint, Lemon Bergamot, and Purple Horse Mint.

The strongly lemon-scented leaves are excellent in teas and as culinary herb, the flowers are edible. Its leaves are used fresh in salads and drinks and dried in herbal teas and potpourri blends. Lemon Bergamot has showy, scarlet flowers in large heads or whorls at the top of the stem.

Lemon Bergamot herb is growing erect with leaves 3-8cm long. The bergamot flowers are very pretty in white or pink with purple dots. Young leaves can be used in herbal teas or for any gourmet dish, especially fish, where a strong lemon flavour would add interest. Lemon Bergamot is an attractive plant which will attract the attention of bees, as well as people, in any herb garden.

Like all mints, Lemon Bergamot, can be confined to a pot. Mints grow better in pots with lots of surface area rather than lots of depth.

For best results adjust your gardening plans to Moon calendar

Culture

Type Perennial.

Height 36 inches (40-60 cm).

Maintenance Easy.

Pot Size 1-2 gallon container per 2-3 plants.

Seed Germination 10 to 21 days.

Seed Spacing Sow Bergamot seeds at 1/8” to1/4” deep and cover lightly with soil.

Soil Requirements Bergamot herb likes light, dry alkaline, fertile soil.

Growing Mix One-third sand and two-thirds commercial plug mix.

Plant Spacing Place at least 12”-18” apart.

Fertilize Add a general purpose fertilizer once a month in the growing season.

Sun & Lighting Full sun or partial shade. At least 6 hours of continuous, direct sun per day.

Water Requirements Dry to Normal. Average water is needed during the growing season, but take care not to overwater.

Propagation by cuttings: Take Bergamot stem tip cuttings about 3-4 inches long. Remove the lower leaves, all flower or seed heads and insert the stems into a growing mix. Bury each cutting up to the first node. Place the cuttings in an enclosed area and mist them several times a day. In 4 to 5 weeks the cuttings should be well rooted and can be transplanted to pots.

Learn new seeding tricks

Uses
Lemon Bergamot is a lovely citrus scented mint plant that can be used fresh or dried.

Lemon Bergamot (Monarda citriodora) tastes like a combination of lemon, pepper and thyme. It goes well in stuffing and sauces for various meats. Especially improves the flavor of pork dishes.

Five or six large fresh Bergamot leaves or 1 teaspoon dried leaves in 8 ounces boiling water make a refreshing and relaxing herbal tea.

Medicinal Uses: Infuse leaves in oil as a hair conditioner. Apply to pimples, inhale for colds, or drink a little for nausea, flatulence and insomnia. Monarda Bergamot is said to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression, and contribute to a calm sleep. It is used in Europe to treat infections of the skin, respiratory tract, and urinary tract.

Lemon Bergamot leaves contain citronellol, which is an effective insect repellent when rubbed on the skin.

Lemon Bergamot flowers and leaves are used for wreaths, posies, aromatic bath water, cut flowers, perennial border and beds, potpourri, perfumes, scented oil and candles.

Lemon Bergamot works synergistically with angelica, cedar, chamomile, geranium, lavender, lemon, neroli, rose, and ylang-ylang.

Precautions: Avoid sunlight if applying directly to the skin or using in bath water.

Like most Lemon-scented plants, Lemon Bergamot is a cleansing herb and has a reputation for clearing away bad luck in love and drawing in a new lover.

Related Articles:

Growing Anise Indoors

2010-04-27T11:25:00.001-04:00

Aromatic Festive Looking Mediterranean Herb

Did you know that what catnip is to cats, anise is to dogs? For humans, Anise seed has a sweet, licorice flavor and is used to intensify sweetness in cakes, pastries, and cookies.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) also known as anís and aniseed is native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean, where it is grown as a cash crop. You can also find Anise growing wild in the fields. It is related to caraway, parsley and dill. Although Anise name does not have a particular meaning, this plant is associated with health and is said to aid digestion. Anise is one of the oldest known herbs, having been mentioned in ancient Egyptian records. It has been cultivated for much of recorded history. Hippocrates recommended anise for coughs, and the Roman scholar Pliny used it as a breath freshener.

Anise herb grows about 18 inches tall and is branchy, erect, slender and cylindrical. Its stem leaves are more and more finely cut toward the upper part of the stem, near the top of which they resemble fennel leaves in their finely divided segments. The Anise plant has lacy leaves; the upper leaves are feathery, delicate, and pinnately divided. Leaflets may be toothed or toothless. When in bloom, Anise provides a profusion of flowers. The small flowers are white to yellowish white with petals that are held in compound umbels that give way to seeds containing tasty anise oil. The roots of anise are white, spindle-shaped and rather fibrous. The brown fruit (aniseed) is ovate, downy, flattened, and 1/8 inch long.

Most Anise is produced in Spain but additional sources include Turkey and Egypt. Spanish Anise is considered premium due to its better flavor, bolder appearance and higher volatile oil content.

Anise is an ideal herb to grow in a pot. This member of the parsley family should be sown where it is intended to grow as its long taproot does not take well to transplanting. Anise seeds will germinate more rapidly if sown near coriander.

For best results adjust your gardening plans to Moon calendar

Culture

Type Annual.

Height 18 to 24 inches.

Maintenance Easy.

Pot Size 10" diameter, 10" depth pots, or larger.

Seed Germination 7 to 14 days.

Seed Spacing               Sow at 1/4 inch deep and cover lightly with soil.

Plant Spacing                 Place anise plants at least 6 inches apart.

Soil Requirements         The soil should be deep, light, fairly rich and slightly acid.

Growing Mix                     Mix 1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand or perlite, 1 part moist peat or humus (leaf mold) and a light dusting of lime.

Fertilize                            Add a general purpose fertilizer once or twice a season.

Sun & Lighting                 Full sun.

Water Requirements        Dry to Moist. Water the anise only a couple of times during the week; do not overwater.

Learn new seeding tricks

Uses

Anise today is widely used for its aromatic, culinary and medicinal qualities. Anise seeds are used as a flavoring in breads and cakes, sweets and creams, in a marinade for fish and to flavour liquers and cordials. Leaves and flowers can also be used as a garnish. Use the leaves throughout the growing season to add to green salads.

Anise may be used for its aromatic qualities in oil and potpourris. Crushed seeds are added to sachets. The leaves and seeds taste good with shellfish. The liquorice flavor complements eggs, fruit, cheese, pastries, cakes, and cookies. The leaves are dried for herbal teas. The seed is used whole or ground.

Try adding some anise seeds to cream cheese or cottage cheese. You can make your own anise seed oil that can be used much like an extract in baked goods. Simply combine about a tablespoon of anise seeds in a glass bottle with about a half of a cup of olive oil, and let it rest for a week or so before using.

Anise has been used for many years to disguise the unpleasant taste of medicine. A refreshing herbal tea can be made from the dried leaves and this is supposed to be an aid to digestion as chewing the seeds can cure hiccoughs. For treating indigestion pour one cup of boiling water onto ½ teaspoon of seeds and leave to stand for five minutes before drinking.

Cosmetically a good face pack can be made from ground anise seeds. This will fade freckles.
Anise herb is thought to ward off evil and sleeping on a pillow containing anis seeds will prevent nightmares. A sprig of anise hung on the bedpost will reputedly revive departed youth.

What is Aniseed?
Aniseed, sometimes spelled as anise, anis or anise seed, is considered a spice with a sweet licorice-like taste. It is known for its flavor, which resembles liquorice, fennel and tarragon. Both seed and leaves from the plant pimpinella anisum carry the licorice taste.

Growing Lavender Indoors

2010-04-27T11:25:00.000-04:00

The Queen of Herbs

The word "Lavender" comes from the Latin "lavare" which means "to wash". According to folklore lavender is a favourite scent of the elves, which is why it is sometimes referred to as Elf Leaf.

Lavender herb originally comes from Western Europe. A member of the Mint family, Lavender is the most popular of aromatic herbs. Since ancient Roman times and before, people have loved Lavender for its beautiful, fresh scent, attractive flowering habit, and its 'lucky' reputation.

Most lavender herbs have small, narrow leaves of a gray-green color. Some have wider, toothed leaves and some have feathery, fernlike leaves. The flowers of lavender arise on long stems and consist of whorls of tiny flowers. Flower colors range from deep purple to paler blues and shades of violet, pink and white. The flowers are very attractive to bees and butterflies.

Lavender herb is a hardy perennial that has many uses in crafts, aromatherapy, cooking and decorating. Lavender planted in the garden is a natural pest deterrent, discouraging fleas and flies.

For best results adjust your gardening plans to Moon calendar.

Planting

Lavender is an easy herb to grow and is very rewarding too.

Pot size                        at least 7.5" container.

Seed Spacing              Sow Lavender seeds quite shallowly, barely covering with the soil.

Seed Germination       10 to 28 days.

Plant Spacing               Lavender plants should be spaced 18 to 24 inches (45 - 60cm) apart.

Water Requirements    Water on a regular schedule, do not overwater.

Soil Requirements        Light, well-drained, deep, not overly rich soil.

Growing Mix                 Mix the potting compost with peat or coarse sand.

Fertilizer                        Lavender is very sensitive to over fertilization. Use a small amount of complete fertilizer or dynamic lifter once a year

Sun Requirements        Lavender prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade. It needs 8 to 12 hours of sun a day.

Learn new seeding tricks

Uses

Lavender is a very special herbal tisane which has calming effects that helps relieve stress, fatigue, headache and insomnia. Drinking a cup of Lavender tea before going to bed is known to promote restful sleep. Suffering from a hangover – drink lavender tea. Make an infusion with three lavender sprigs in a tea pot for the morning after. Lavender tea blends well with peppermint leaves.

Lavender has a sweet, exotic flavor and often used as a cooking herb. Fresh lavender flowers can be used to flavor fruit salads as well as flavoring syrup for jellies. Lavender flowers can also be used to flavor milk and cream for deserts. Use lavender instead of rosemary when cooking chicken.

Lavender is a natural antiseptic cleanser. Lavender soaps are a natural way to clean and heal the skin. Dried flowers and seeds are used in herbal sleep pillows and baths for soothing and calming frayed nerves.

Lavender essential oil is used for a number of medical conditions: to soothe the skin, for digestion, for headaches and insomnia, for nervousness and anxiety, for depressive feelings, and for stress relief.

As a Magical herb lavender is used for peace and love.

Related Articles:

Sowing a Seed
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How to Start Your Own Herb Garden
Oolong Tea Facts and Health Benefits

Growing Lemon Grass Indoors

2010-04-27T11:24:00.001-04:00

Fresh Lemon Grass Tea - Cancer Cells Killer

Native of Sri Lanka and India, Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), a tall tropical plant with a powerful lemon fragrance, is widely used as a cooking herb of Thailand, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries. Its bright lemony scent is used in drinks, curries and soups. It is delicious in tea with cloves. Lemon gass rich in vitamin A and is good for "those who wish to have bright eyes and a clear skin."

There are over 50 species in the genus. Lemon grass species are fast growing perennials that grow in dense clumps to 3 to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. They have long, light green leaves and inconspicuous flowers. The strap-like leaves are 1/2 to 1 inch wide, about 3 feet long, and have gracefully drooping tips. The leaves are bright yellow-green and release a lemon aroma when crushed.

Lemon grass is fast becoming a fashionable herb best known for putting the lemony zip in cuisine. But finding lemon grass can sometimes be challenging. If you are having a difficult time locating it at your local nursery or gardening center, then you can always check with Asian grocery stores. Thankfully, despite its exotic reputation, lemon grass is easy to grow and can be started from stalks purchased cheaply in the produce section of most large supermarkets or Asian food stores.

For best results adjust your gardening plans to Moon calendar

Planting

Pot Size                         10 to 16 inches wide.

Seed Spacing                 Sprinkle lemon grass seeds on top of the soil, barely covering with compost.

Seed Germination           21 to 40 days. Need a warm area to germinate.

Plant Spacing                 Lemon Grass plants should be spaced about 3 feet apart.

Water Requirements        Water regularly, keeping the soil moist like a damp sponge, but not soggy.

Soil Requirements           Well-drained soil that is slightly acidic.

Growing Mix                    Mix of 1/3 compost, 1/3 topsoil, 1/6 vermiculite and 1/6 peat moss.

Fertilizing                        Use all-purpose fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season. Fertilizing is not necessary during the winter.

Sun Requirements          Lemon grass likes full sun or light shade. Grown indoors needs at least 6 hours of sun daily.

Learn new seeding tricks

You can also propagate lemongrass from stalks purchased at a store. Choose a healthy fresh plant with plump stalks. Cut off several inches from the top of the stalks. Peel off any outside layers that are dry or withered, especially near the base of the stalks. Fill a glass jar with water and place the stalks. Keep them with the bottoms in the water for several weeks. Roots should begin emerging from the base in 1 to 2 weeks.

Once the roots are between 1 and 2 inches long, transplant them into a container. The roots and crown (the base of the stalk) should to be covered by soil. Make sure your container has plenty of drainage holes to allow the water to drain from the plant.

Uses

Just as its name implies, lemon grass easily brews up into a delightful, lemony-flavored tea. To make tea, just trim the plant, rather than cutting it to the base as it done in cooking. Lemon grass is surprisingly strong so it doesn't take a large amount to make a pot of tea. Lemon grass herb is believed to be a mild sedative. Drink a big cup of strong lemon grass tea and you will be ready for a nap.

Cooks in China, Indonesia and Malaya use the lemongrass leaves in the preparation of marinades for grilled meat and fish. On the other hand, French chefs use fresh lemongrass in some of their culinary. Lemongrass gets well with coconut, garlic chives, peppermint, ginger, shallots and chilli pepper.

Slices of fresh stalks are added to soups, salads and seafood dishes. You can also use the tender, inner leaves and sauté stir fry, or use in sauces. The tough top part of the stalk can be bundled and added to soups or stocks, removing before serving.

Lemon grass is also widely used as medicinal herb. Apart from the herb’s aromatic, ornamental and culinary uses, lemongrass also provides a number of therapeutic benefits. Lemongrass leaves and the essential oils extracted from them are used to cure grouchy conditions, nervous disorders such as insomnia and depression, colds and weariness.

Last year researchers made a discovery that the lemon aroma in herbs like lemon grass kills cancer cells in vitro, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. A drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough citral to signal the cancer cells to commit suicide.

It is also an effective and non-toxic insect repellent.

But be careful, cats go wacky for lemongrass so keep its out of kitty's reach or grow a pot just for her.

Related Articles:

Sowing a Seed
Indoor Herbs and Fungus Gnats
Advantages of Herb Garden Kits
How to Start Your Own Herb Garden
Oolong Tea Facts and Health Benefits

Growing Mustard Indoors

2010-04-27T11:24:00.000-04:00

A mighty plant that’s highly prolific

Mustard sprouts are a classic, quick to grow for a tasty salad with a spicy, peppery flavour. The name, "mustard", derives from the Latin word "mustum" which means "must".

Wild Mustard (B. juncea) is thought to be native to Western Asia and Europe, but is now grown in many parts of the world. Recorded evidence of the use of mustard can be found dating back 7000 years in India and it is also believed to have been widely used in Africa and China perhaps even earlier. Mustard is an ordinary-looking little seed with an impressive ability to grow into a mighty plant that’s highly prolific. Its reputation as both a seed with great promise and great piquancy is supported by numerous passages found everywhere from the Bible to Shakespeare.

Mustard green are a tradition dish in the southern US. Their popularity is starting to spread, however. The mustard plant's leaves are good sources of calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C, and they are great added to a salad or used in cooking.

For best results adjust your gardening plans to Moon calendar

Culture

Pot Size                      6" wide and 10"deep container.

Seed Spacing               Broadcast seeds over the soil surface and cover lightly with soil.

Seed Germination         8 to 14 days.

Plant Spacing               15” to 18”

Preferred pH Range       Will grow in soil with pH of no less than 6.0.

Soil Requirements         Well drained and rich fertile.

Growing Mix                   Use a mix of about two parts potting soil to one part coarse sand or perlite.

Fertilizer                        Feed with fish/seaweed liquid fertilizer every month. Less fertilizing is needed in the winter.

Sun & Lighting              Grows best in full sun, but tolerate light shade.

Water Requirements       Water on a regular schedule but keep soil moist

Learn new seeding tricks

Uses

Pick mustard leaves to use for sautéing or stewing. Add leaves to stir-fries and salads. Mustard Greens add a nice, sharp flavor contrast to mild, buttery lettuces and therefore are often one of the plants found in mesclun mixes.

As heat destroys much of the flavour of mustard, it's always best to add it late on in the cooking. Stew leaves with bacon or a ham hock, southern-style, or shred and sauté them with other greens to make a bed for grilled fish and meats. You can also add mustard greens to long-cooking soups and stews. Flowers can be used as an edible garnish.

Over the years, mustard been called an appetite stimulant, a digestive aid, and a decongestant in folk medicine. Because mustard increases blood circulation, it’s often used in plaster form to treat inflammation. Due to the presence of mucilages, mustard has laxative effects.

Related Articles:

Sowing a Seed
Indoor Herbs and Fungus Gnats
Advantages of Herb Garden Kits
How to Start Your Own Herb Garden
Healthy Recipes from Folk Medicine

The Family Garden

2010-04-21T13:29:00.003-04:00

By Jonathan McCormick

The need for the family garden is greater today than ever before. It seems that in the modern day rush of life that many have begun to feel that something is missing. The more we run, the deeper the aching grows. To spite the incredible benefits of all our time saving devices and programs, we find that we are busier than ever, and to spite long hours of focused work, we feel that we are contributing little that is of intrinsic value.

In many instances, our children are discontent and feel that something is owed them. They seek for pleasure through video games and for a sense of self-esteem through sports, academic pursuits or other interests. Still, it seems that there is an overall feeling that it isn't quite enough. Those who are motivated, seek for higher and higher levels of achievement until they finally arrive where we hoped they would all along, a good job with good benefits making a descent salary. And yet, when all is said and done, they find themselves in the same boat -- feeling that something is missing -- feeling that they are contributing little that is of intrinsic value.

Over the years, I have pondered over this dilemma as I have watched it play out in myself and those that I love. The question arises: With all of our time saving, value enhancing, pleasure providing, self-esteem building programs and technology, what could we be missing that would leave us so devoid of the feeling of intrinsic worth?

I do not pretend to have a blanket solution to this modern enigma but I will draw a comparison that I think will shed light on one aspect of it.

One hundred and fifty years ago, our great, great grandparents arose early in the morning to go out and put their hands in the earth. Their hard days work was in direct contact with the soil and the fruit of their labors was the basic building blocks of life. As children sat around the table and gazed on a home cooked meal, they saw the potatoes, carrots, yams and tomatoes that they had planted, carefully nourished and harvested. The wheat in the bread was from last years harvest and the meat was from the cow they had raised from the time it was a calf. Children felt needed because they were needed.

Today, most of us run through our busy days with little to no contact with the soil that gives us life. In fact, we make sure to wash our hands with anti-bacterial soap just in case we might have come in contact with mother earth. We sit at our tables, assuming that we take the time to sit, and gaze on processed food that was grown by people we do not know. Once finished with our hurried meals, we rush off to slay our dragons -- to make and sell more things that people do not really need (at least in the intrinsic sense of the word) so that we can pay for our over-sized homes and all of the technology that keeps the whole thing going. But, not before we send our children off to school with words of encouragement that if they work hard and learn all they can, some day they will be able to be just like us.

Put in this way, it seems a little cynical but I am not a cynic. I believe that we can change our direction in a way that will begin to fill in the gaps that our modern society leaves out. We need to put our hands in the soil and our children need to feel the joy of contributing something of intrinsic worth to their families. I know of no better way to do this than the family garden. If you speak to people who garden, they will tell you that it is healing. By participating in the process of growing our own food, we may find that we feed more than our bodies but our whole souls too.

If you are considering planting your own family garden and need to purchase the seed to get started, please visit our website at http://preparednessseeds.com/. All of our seed is packaged for long term storage and therefore is ideal whether you intend to plant this year or store up for hard times.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_McCormick

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Ayurvedic Herbs

2010-04-19T13:54:00.000-04:00

Discover The Secret Healing Properties Of Ayurvedic Herbs

Although today there has been a boom in herbs and especially using Ayurvedic Herbs in Ayurvedic Medicine for treating illnesses is not new you will probably know that the tradition of using holistic methods has been used for centuries.

Many of the herbs and spices that are used in Ayurvedic Medicine are ones that we normally have in our kitchen cabinets. Although these herbs do not originate here they have in fact traveled to us from India. Some of the more popular Ayurvedic Herbs which are used today include Cinnamon, ginger, Gotu Kola, Boswellia, Gymnema and East Indian Globe Thistle all of which can be easily found at your local grocery store or herbal medicine store today.

Although Ginger is a common ingredient in many dishes that we eat it also has many medicinal uses as well. It is great as a digestive aid as well being great at helping treat colic, gas and to ease heartburn. However in India where it is known as Sunthi or Adrak is has been used as a tonic to enhance a person’s vigor as well as an antidepressant.

Gotu Kola is one of the most common herbs found in India and is great for healing wounds and dealing with skin disorders. Plus it is great for dealing with insomnia as well as being an aid to helping lower blood pressure.

Gymnema Sylvestre (Gumar) is a herb which you will probably be hearing a lot more about as it can help to block sugar. Some people think that this may be able to help people to lose weight as it reduces their cravings for sweets and when used by diabetics it has shown that their blood sugar levels are decreased.

Many people use Cinnamon in baking but are also used for a hundreds of years in Ayurvedic Herbs as a stimulant. It can also help to relieve the pain caused by toothache as well as being a great astringent and may help people who have rheumatism. The cinnamon essential oil who as great anti fungal and antibacterial properties.

Boswellia (Frankincense) can be used as an anti-inflammatory and is said to be a great expectorant which helps to boost the immune system.

Whilst East India Globe Thistle may not be a herb you have heard a lot about but have been used for centuries as an energizer and it is also said to help reduce blood sugar levels.

As you can see there are many Ayurvedic Herbs which have been used for medicinal purposes for many centuries and unfortunately in the society we live in today these herbs are only regarded simply as spices. It is sad that over the centuries we have lost our knowledge with regard to the effects that such herbs can have on our body and how they can be used to treat ailments.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.herbs-home-remedies.com where you can learn more about herbal remedies and Ayurvedic herbs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins

Top Easiest Herbs to Grow

2010-04-16T15:06:00.001-04:00

Best Herbs to Grow in a Container Garden

Why paying high prices for packages of fresh herbs at the grocery store when you can easily grow them at home. If you have ever thought to grow an herb garden, you should know that herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow. Even if you don't think of yourself as having a green thumb, you can be a successful herb gardener if you grow the easiest herbs that can be used fresh or dried for your daily needs.

Growing herbs indoors will give you more control over the environment. With regular watering and sufficient sunlight, you can have a wonderful herb garden in your own kitchen. Growing herbs indoors is very simple. The only things you need to start an indoor herb garden are small containers, right soil, and good seeds or seedlings. Just fill the containers with organic potting mix, and plant the seeds (or seedlings) of your choice.

While some herbs are used for cooking, medicine or tea, others have wonderful flowers and fragrance. Your herbs can be solely for decoration if you wish, or flavor your dishes all season long. Most herbs are very easy to grow and there is a wide variety to choose from.

Herbs can be grown in a separate herb garden or mixed in with your existing flowers and vegetables. If you choose to combine your herb garden with other plants, remember that herbs can be annual, biennial, or perennial.

Herbs are popular and fun to grow. Here are some hardy herbs that are easy to grow and don't require much special attention. These herbs will also add a magical touch to your favorite recipes!

Here's a list of the best herbs that are easiest to grow indoors (click at the link to read the instructions):

Basil
Cayenne
Chives
Cilantro
Dill
Lemon Grass
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Thyme

Sowing a Seed - Garden of Life

2010-04-16T15:06:00.000-04:00

This is probably the most important post in the history of this blog.

Doctor seed
Almost everybody can grow the plants from a seed, but do you know how to make plants to become your own doctor? Below you will find unique information on how to make your plants to know you and help to improve significantly your physical and mental health.

The various plants are meant for man's life-support. These plants can fight and resist any disease of a human body very effectively and even more powerfully than the best manmade medications existing now and those which will be in the nearest future.

In order to fulfill this job a seed has to know precisely for a certain person concerning his specific sicknesses or pre-disposition towards sickness.

To load this information into any kind of seed it is necessary to do next:

Before planting or sowing a dry seed (don't soak it in the water) take it into the mouth and keep not less than nine minutes.
Then take seeds in your hands (in-between your palms), hold it for thirty seconds. If planting outside you should stand barefoot on the very spot where seeds are going to be planted.
After that open your palms, bring your hands close to your mouth, then blow on seeds lightly, warming it with your breath, and the wee little seed will know everything that is within you.
Next, keep it in the open air in the sun for thirty seconds. Now the seeds are ready to be put into the ground. Before you plant it is necessary to crumple the soil with your fingers and the toes of your bare feet and after that spit into it. "Why with toes?" Because toxicants are coming out of a human body through the feet sweating. These are containing the information about an organism which had been sick. The young plant would get this information and would be able to fight the sickness.
Never water it right away after planting! So as not to wash away the saliva which is now covering it, along with other information about you that the seed will take in. You can water it only three days after planting.

Of course don't forget about the proper time for planting or sowing. The day should be chosen in accordance with the well known Moon calendar. Every gardener knows that there are especially preferable days for each kind of crop. It is advisable to plant early without watering when the ground has enough moisture in it. A late planting could be fatal for the seed. Don't destroy around this plant all the weeds when it is developing and growing.

It is necessary to leave at least one kind of each weed. You can cut the weeds without pulling them out so you will not disturb the roots of your plant. You can't remove all the weeds around the plant because they are playing their special role as well. Some of them are protecting the plants from sicknesses. Others are supplying them with additional information. While the plant is growing it is necessary to communicate with it and at least once, approach it when the moon is full and touch it.

It is very important the way they were planted and direct communication with plants is needed. Talk to them, touch their tiny leafs and fill gratitude – they love you and, doing their best, growing just for you! Only in that case the healing effect and the life support of your physical body would be much higher than just from plant growing. There are many plants which are able to heal all kinds of existing diseases. They exist only for this purpose!

This kind of plants will give the most beneficial effect if consumed within three days after harvesting, not later.

If you make connections with the plants in your garden-plot, they will take care of you and cure you. They will diagnose your condition very precisely on their own and produce the most effective remedy specially destined for you.

This information was taken from the book of Russian writer V.Megre, “Anastasia, The ringing cedars of Russia”.

Lunar Planting Guide

2010-04-16T15:05:00.006-04:00

Gardening by the Moon

Lunar planting, or gardening by the Moon Calendar, does not involve gardening at night by the light of the Moon! It is all about timing your gardening activities to coincide with certain phases of the moon using Lunar Calendar.

Planting a garden based on the lunar calendar has been practiced as long as humans have been planting food. Just as the gravitational pull of the moon affects the tides, it also has an effect on moisture in the soil. If you prefer to garden organically, gardening be the Moon Calendar is the perfect companion because it works better in soil not treated with chemicals.

There are two primary factors influencing gardening by the moon - the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac. The first of these factors, the phases of the moon, has an effect on soil moisture, causing it to rise to the surface. This helps seeds to germinate more readily and stimulates the growth of roots and leaves. Each phase of the moon lasts approximately 6-8 days.

The second factor influencing moon gardening are the signs of the zodiac. Each sign of the zodiac is assigned to the elements of earth, fire, water or air. As the moon moves through the different signs of the zodiac every few days, the astrological signs come into play because plants exhibit individual preferences relative to the elemental sign their planted in.

Moon Calendar, December 2010 (location NY,NY)

Sow by the moon - gather twice soon

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

The duration of the lunar month is about 29 and half days.

During this time, Moon, making full turn around the Earth, sequentially goes through four phases: new moon, first quarter (waxing moon), full moon and last quarter (waning moon).

In Young (Growing) Moon (from new moon to full moon) the most intensive growth of plants takes place: juices rushing up the stem and branches to fruit. As we approach the full moon the most active phase of the plant`s life comes.

On Waxing (Increasing) Moon is recommended: sow and plant the plants that provide fruits and other edible parts above the soil, the so-called "Tops": eggplant, beans, peas, greens, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, peppers, cabbage, tomatoes, strawberries, pumpkins, maize, sunflower, etc., flowers and grasses, herbs.

During the Full Moon, any interference in the life of plants requires caution: do not perform pruning and transplanting. However, the nutritional value of fruits and berries, collected at this time, will be the highest.

Closer towards the Full Moon it is a good time to do weeding beds and exterminate pests.

In the Waning (Decreasing) Moon (second half of the lunar cycle: from full moon to new moon), the plants are resting. Life is slowing; juices rush down to the roots. At this time, is recommended to carry out pruning and transplanting, grafting, picking fruit.

In the Waning (Decreasing) Moon is recommended: sow and plant the plants that provide fruits and other edible parts below the soil surface, so-called "roots": potatoes, carrots, rhubarb, turnip, radish, radishes, beets, Jerusalem artichokes, onions and garlic to the "onion" as well as most fruit trees and bushes.

In the days of the New Moon is not recommended to carry out any of the planting work. Furthermore, should take increased caution when working with cutting and traumatic gardening tools.

During the Moon Eclipses is better to abstain of any manipulation with the plants.

Days of Aries - are days of Fruits with a rising force.

Very good in the days of Aries:

• sowing and planting all that should grow rapidly and is intended for quick use;

• curl a little fruit trees (with a young moon);

• harvest grain and pile the grain in storage.

Well in the days of Aries:

• plant fruit plants;

• plant crops (with the young moon);

• fertilize crops, fruits and vegetables (Required if waning moon or the full moon, from April to September);

• Cut fruit trees and shrubs (in the waning moon).

Days of Taurus - days of Roots with a rising force.

Well in the days of Taurus:

• plant trees, shrubs, hedges, as well as roots (If you do not have time to do so in the days of Fruits - Aries, Leo or Sagittarius), everything is growing slowly, but the crop can be stored for a very long;

• heap manure or compost (at decreasing moon from May to October);

• combat pests living in the land;

• fertilize the flowers of humus from the roots;

• make home-made jar foods from the roots.

Bad in the days of Taurus:

Strictly speaking, these works simply do not exist; however, everything is growing slower than usual.

Days of Gemini - days of Flowers, a turning point between the ascending and descending force.

Very useful in the days of Gemini:

• sow, plant and plant out all climbers (with a young moon).

Useful in the days of Gemini:

• sowing and planting flowers;

• combat pests.

Days of Cancer – days of Leaves with descending force.

Very good in the days of Cancer:

• sow or plant leafy vegetables (from lettuce planted by the waning moon, very good cabbage!)

• combat pests that live in the soil (during the waning moon);

• pruning plants and hedges, if you want that they were growing in breadth.

Well in the days of Cancer:

• mow, clean lawns (even better with the young moon);

• watering house and balcony plants.

Bad in the days of Cancer:

• planting or sowing the plant, which should be high;

• Cut fruit trees and shrubs (with a young moon, especially in the spring!)

• make home-made pickles.

Days of Leo - days of Fruits of the descending force.

Leo is the most fiery, dried sign of the Zodiac.

Very good in the days of Leo:

• collect herbs strengthens the heart;

• trim fruit trees and shrubs (in the waning moon, for the winter cropping find suitable days!)

• sow seeds on the wet fields (when young Moon)

Well in the days of Leo:

• sow grass on lawns (with a young moon);

• sowing and planting vegetables and fruits but not water-loving ones(tomatoes, potatoes);

• plant perishable vegetables;

• curl a little fruit trees(with a young moon in the spring).

Bad in the days of Leo:

• use artificial fertilizers, as well as natural in a dry soil;

• weed control;

• pickle cabbage (it dries).

Days of Virgo - days of Roots with descending force.

This sign has a special role in horticulture and agriculture. If in such day you plant or transplant plants in the garden, indoors and even in the woods, then your success is assured.

Very good in the days of the Virgo:

• conduct planting - soil at this time becomes such that everything is perfectly rises;

• planting single trees, if you want them to be high;

• planting shrubs and hedges, if you want them to grow rapidly;

• replant old trees (spring or fall);

• transplant and plant balcony and indoor plants;

• sow grass on lawns (with a young moon);

• plant cuttings.

Well in the days of the Virgo:

• heap manure or compost (with the waning moon);

• fertilize the soil (in the waning moon);

• combat pests living in the soil (in the autumn, waning moon).

Bad in the days of Virgo:

• planting lettuce (it all goes into the arrow);

• make home-made pickles - they immediately will be covered with mould.

Days of Libra - days of Flowers with descending force.

This is a neutral sign; probably, it does not affect either positively or negatively any work in the garden.

Perhaps in these days is good to plant flowers and herbs.

Days of Scorpio – days of Leaves with descending force.

Very good in the days of the Scorpion:

• sow, plant, gather and dry herbs;

• fight snails (with a young moon).

Well in the days of the Scorpion:

• plant and sow leafy vegetables;

• mow, clean lawns;

• watering indoors and balcony flowers;

• fertilize the flowers (not very well to fertilize vegetables).

Bad in the days of Scorpio:

• trim fruit trees and shrubs (especially in spring when young Moon);

• cut down trees.

Days of Sagittarius - days of Fruit, a turning point between ascending and descending force.

Very useful in the days of Sagittarius:

• sowing and planting vegetables and high growing vegetables (barley, beans), as well as single trees, that should grow rapidly.

Well in the days of Sagittarius:

• trim fruit trees and shrubs (in the waning moon in the spring);

• plant crops;

• fertilize crops, vegetables and fruit (in the waning moon or full moon in the spring);

• combat pests living in the soil.

Bad in the days of Sagittarius:

• loosen the soil and weed (weeds will appear again);

• planting lettuce (arrows will appear).

Days of Capricorn - days of Roots with a rising force.

Very good in the days of Capricorn:

• weed weeds (with the waning moon);

• pave garden walks and put fences (in the waning moon).

Well in the days of Capricorn:

• plant or sow roots and winter vegetables, if you could not do it in the days of Fruits (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius);

• stump area and clear the edge and hedgerows (in the waning moon);

• heap manure or compost (with the waning moon);

• combat pests living in the soil;

• fertilize the flowers with humus from the roots;

• preserve roots (in the waning moon can pickle cabbage; in the young moon fermentation process takes place very quickly).

Days of Aquarius - days of Flowers with a rising force.

They are not very suitable for work in the garden, so try this time to do only the most necessary. Aquarius - a sign of heart and is not fertile for the forests and fields, and for the garden.

It is useful in these days only loosen the soil for weed control (weeds should be left to rot through). Planting in the days of Aquarius is not recommended, because the transplanted plants do not take roots.

Days of Pisces – days of Leaves with the rising force.

Harvest, which have been collected in the days of Pisces should be immediately used.

Well in the days of Pisces:

• sowing and planting leafy vegetables;

• watering indoors and balcony flowers;

• mow, clean lawns;

• fertilize the flowers;

• plant potatoes in the waning moon.

Bad in the days of Pisces:

• trim fruit trees and shrubs (with a young moon, especially in spring);

• make home-made pickles.

If you start to use Moon Calendar for your plants, keep a diary, and add as much detail as you can. Let us know how you do with your herb garden by leaving comments.

Natural Antivirus Protection

2010-04-16T14:49:00.000-04:00

Prepare Yourself for the Coming Plagues Without Uses of the Drugs

There has been a lot of hype in recent years about the potential for a global viral pandemic. SARS, avian flu, bird flu and West Nile virus are examples from the recent past that could have far worse consequences than what actually occurred. Now it`s H1N1, the latest version of swine flu, that is the big concern.

The normal approach to fight flu viruses has been through the use of drugs and flu vaccines. None of these approaches are very effective. There are few effective flu medications and those that are available tend to be very expensive and associated with significant toxicity and side-effects. The more they are used, the more rapidly flu viruses develop a resistance to them.

But there are many herbs that attack flu viruses directly, which can be used together with immune stimulants by anyone who contracts the flu or some other viral infection.

If you think you might have influenza, combine two to three herbs from among the immune stimulants and antiviral. It is important to begin taking the herbs as soon as you are getting flu symptoms. Take your formulation four to six times per day until you are better.

Echinacea - Very effective antiviral, may be the best general herbal remedy against flu viruses. Echinacea works by destroying viruses and boosting the immune system so that your own body can then eliminate the virus. Echinacea herb is especially good for flu viruses.

St JohnsWort - Very effective antiviral. It has been shown in test tubes studies to inhibit influenza A flu viruses and parainfluenza virus but not rhinovirus (a cold virus). There have been some very successful field trials in commercial flocks infected with H5N1 in Vietnam.

Astragalus is also one of the valuable antiviral herbs due to its ability to boost the immune system.

Lemon balm also makes a good antiviral herbal tea and is especially valued as anti-herpes.

Yarrow fights inflammation and muscle spasm and promotes sweating. Yarrow herb has long been used against colds and flu viruses.

Peppermint contains compounds that can relax the airways and open congested sinuses and nasal passages.

Thyme is an expectorant and appears to fight microbes. Its flavonoids may help decrease smooth muscle spasm which may assists in opening tight airways.

Aloe Vera is commonly available at most of your homes, take a teaspoon gel with water daily to boost your immunity and keep yourself free of any joint pain.

Green Tea is a highly effective antiviral. It decreases the production of the cytokine TNF-a, and inhibits the reproduction of neuraminidase as well. Best of all, it is natural, and therefore it doesn't have any of the harsh side effects that synthetic drugs have. If you want to use Green Tea for this purpose, remember that what you find on the shelves of a grocery store will probably be relatively ineffective. Organic green tea varieties, particularly those grown for health or medicinal purposes, are the best.

Rosehips. A little lesser known herb, rosehips strengthens your immune system with antioxidant properties. It is extremely easy to prepare. All you have to do is add boiling water to 2 tablespoons of rosehips and allow it to soak for 10 minutes. During flu season you can repeat this process several times a day.

How to Compost at Home with a Composting Bin

2010-04-16T11:36:00.005-04:00

Myceliating the Compost

A month or so ago, I built myself a compost tumbler out of a 55 gallon plastic barrel. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you how in an upcoming post. The new composter gave me a place to put the bags of fall leaves that had not yet found a home. It took some doing, but I managed to get them all in there and there was just enough room to keep putting in kitchen scraps.

However, spring has just barely sprung here and we are still in the grip of cold nights. So after a month of being full and being turned every few days, I have thoroughly moistened leaves that are a little more crumbled. No noticeable decomposition has occurred. Even the kitchen scraps are still green and mostly undecomposed. They actually look like they would if they were slowly going bad in the refrigerator.

I decided I didn’t want to wait that long for finished compost, so I decided something needed to be done. But how do you get it moving?

To read the full article go to http://madbioneer.blogspot.com/ Myceliating the Compost

Grow Herbs or Buy Herbs?

2010-04-15T09:14:00.003-04:00

Simple Guidelines for Purchasing Herbs

By Kiva Rose

Let me begin by saying that I recommend gathering your own herbs if at all possible, in part because this is the only way to really ensure the quality and treatment of the plants is truly optimal. And do realize, that pretty much wherever you are, you have the ability to collect some of your own food and medicine. Any child can learn to recognize a few basic (but very important) herbs, and so can you! Perhaps most important, is that this is one of the best ways to form a lasting and powerful relationship with the plants.

However, I know that many of you have neither the time, expertise, land, energy or even desire to realistically harvest the bulk of your herbs. So here’s some of my experience-based understandings to help you knowledgeably purchase your medicinal herbs. Over the years, I’ve seen that many herbs will behave in their expected way even if not of the premium organic, small farm variety. I’ve also noticed that some plants simply MUST be harvested very carefully from a healthy environment in order for them to work well (if at all). With a few of these herbs it’s totally clear that they just don’t work, as in the Skullcap is completely inert. In other cases, they seem to work, kind of, of they work well in some ways but the breadth and depth of their effect has been lost somewhere in the industrial process, (Ashwagandha is especially prone to this).

First of all, just completely avoid all plant matter that is some indeterminate shade of yellow-brown and has that distinct musty smell. Reject any herb that does not still look very much like it did while alive, it should still be vibrant and inspirited. If you’re buying from an herb store, it’s really preferable that the proprietor of the shop know where the herbs came from, when they were harvested and purchased and something about the nature of the herb itself (something besides the newest drivel from alt. health glossies).

To read the full article: Wellsphere, Simple Guidelines for Purchasing Herbs

Miracle of Nature

2010-04-06T18:04:00.003-04:00

Garden Your Stress Away

By Michael Russell

There are so many things that can cause stress in life that people are looking for ways to help them relax. Involving yourself in gardening is wonderful therapy to reduce your stress levels. Gardening is an enjoyable activity that can excite your senses. You're in control of designing your garden to fit your personal style. You don't need a large amount of space to create a serene haven. It's so nice to take some quiet time and think about our dreams while creating something beautiful.

Surroundings filled with sights and smells of the garden produce a calming effect. Studies show that just looking at a garden can be good for your psychological health. Bright colored flowers make people feel happy. Being outside and smelling the fragrance of the flowers and fresh-cut grass can be deeply relaxing. Your troubles seem to melt away. Scent is a potent sense. Integrate scents in your garden that appeal to you. Most plants smell stronger in the morning and evening. Daffodil, Daylilies and Gardenias are a few plants that have a pleasurable fragrance.

The sun shining down on you can make your experience in the garden even more enjoyable. Besides the feeling of warmth, you are getting vitamin D which helps raise your mood. Dress appropriately so you don't get overheated. Listening to your favorite music can also enhance your experience while you garden. Music is another therapy that reduces stress. Combining them can give you all kinds of good emotions that benefit your health and well-being.

A particular garden you may want to plant is the butterfly garden. This type of garden attracts beautiful and colorful butterflies to your yard. A few flowers that attract butterflies are Achillea, Chrysanthemum and Echinaceas. You should plant many bright specific flowers. Butterfly gardens are a source of enjoyment as you see all kinds of exquisite looking butterflies staying in your garden.

Try to make the height of your plants consistent. Having tall plants growing next to small ones is not as peaceful when you look at them. Depending on your personality you may want to arrange your plants irregularly instead of straight or evenly spaced with mulch between them. You should do whatever feels tranquil to you. A water garden is another way to get away from a hectic lifestyle. The sound of gentle water is soothing to the ears. Waterfalls produce white noise. This blocks out unwanted sounds from outside your garden. Don't have a gushing waterfall in your garden if you want to relax.

Exercise is known for raising endorphins and lowering stress. Gardening is a good way to get exercise. When you are raking, digging and planting you're using all the major muscles in your body. Don't forget to warm up and stretch.
You'll feel such satisfaction when you plant flowers or vegetables and see the fruits of your labor. You can use fresh-cut flowers for bouquets to put in vases all over your house. Planting vegetables will enable to make delicious healthy salads to add to your meals. Gardening is a healthy and gratifying pastime.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Stress
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
http://EzineArticles.com/?Garden-Your-Stress-Away&id=291059

Adaptogenic Herbs

2010-03-10T09:34:00.002-05:00

Lost Health Secrets - Herbal Adaptogens

Stress is a reality of life. According to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Family Physicians, about two-third of the patient problems are stress related. However stress itself is not a disease, it is simply a fact of life and always has been.

Wouldn’t it be great to know an herb that could help you handle stress and stimulate your body’s ability to bring itself back into health and balance? Well, there is an entire group of herbs that do just that - Adaptogens!

Adaptogens are herbs whose gentle effects on the body are tricky to measure scientifically. But adaptogenic herbs are infinitely useful, because they perform in a way that no pharmaceutical drug does. They are nontoxic, have no side effects, and help your body counter physical, chemical, and biological stress. These are not the latest invention but are associated with the Indian Ayurveda. The word ‘Adaptogen’ was introduced by a Russian scientist named Lazarev in 1947.

Adaptogenic herbs have been known in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. But it was not until the second half of the 20th Century that adaptogenic herbs underwent major scientific study and become better-known in the Western World.

Adaptogenic herbs have been shown to reduce the release of stress-related cortisol. An excess of cortisol has been associated with weight gain, hypertension, depression, many other diseases, as well as accelerated aging.

The stress provokes imbalance of hormonal activities which can be prevented by Adaptogenic herbs. Adaptogenic herbs improve the successful handling of stress by recharging the adrenal glands. These glands are responsible for the mechanism for responding to stress. Adaptogens regulate the body functions at the time of stress and enable the body energy to be used more effectively.

Adaptogens boost the power of resistance against stressors, prevent sickness and keep you healthy. Adaptogenic herbs are so powerful that they can change the course of disease.

Adaptogens help people:

• “adapt” to the stress
• decrease anxiety
• sleep deeply and more soundly
• balance all body systems
• improve immune resistance
• improve recovery time
• improve athletic performance
• improve muscle tone
• increase strength
• increase energy and stamina
• improve feeling of overall well-being

In general adaptogens work by:

Increasing the concentration of enzymes that help produce energy of the whole body;
Another important function is helping cells to eliminate waste by-products;
Supporting adrenal function and thus neutralizing the exhausting effects of day stress;
Increasing protein biosynthesis provide an anabolic effect that helps to build, nourish and maintain muscles and other tissues;
Removing free radicals to slow down and prevent oxidizing processes;
Stimulating the defence system and endocrine glands.
Help the body use oxygen more efficiently and enhance the regulation of biorhythms.
Providing a benefit to higher awareness of surroundings and ultimately, spiritual concepts.
Providing a steadiness to heat, cold, barometric pressure, ultraviolet, ionizing, cosmic & other types of radiation, motor activity, hyper-hypo functions, etc.
Saving from mutation by preservation of the genetic code.

List of best adaptogenic herbs:

Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is considered a chi tonic. Numerous studies support Asian ginseng's effectiveness at improving a person's ability to withstand stress, improve work performance and quality, and enhance mental function. This plant seems to be the number one on a list of Adaptogens.

Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), as can be seen by its Latin name, is not actually a ginseng, but it has been called one because of its similar properties. It is found in Russia, Asia, northern China, Japan and Korea and, in fact, Russian researchers consider it to be even more effective than Asian ginseng.

ASTRAGALUS (Astragalus membranaceus) is one of the more famous tonic herbs. Numerous studies show the herb enhances immune function by increasing natural killer cell activity, increasing T cell activity and enhancing macrophage activity in immune-compromised patients.

LICORICE root (Glycyrrhiza glabra and G. uralensis) is another popular herb in China. Licorice is perhaps the only herb claimed to benefit all 12 meridians in Chinese medicine. Rich in both saponins and flavonoids, it is anti-inflammatory. Licorice root also promotes and enhances immune system functioning.

RHODIOLA, Golden Root (Rhodiola rosea) is found in northern latitudes and mountainous regions and has long been used in Siberia and Scandinavia to combat the effects of the cold climate on the human body and mind. It regulates the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin and has been shown to decrease fatigue, depression and time spent in recovery from exertion. It increases endurance, mental and physical strength, regulate immune function, mild nervous system tonic balances stress-related cortisol hormone levels.

SCHISANDRA (Schisandra chinensis), Chinese Magnolia vine – balances the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems; relieves anxiety, stress-induced asthma; promotes the production of glutathione, an essential liver antioxident and healthy liver function.

BURDOCK seeds are good source of nutrients such as iron. It is also good for skin sores and is antibacterial and antifungal. Hormonal balancing, a strong liver purifier with particular value for skin, arthritic, and glandular problems. It is a specific in all blood cleansing and detoxification problems as an aid in neutralizing and eliminating toxins from the body; in the support treatment of liver problems, gallstones, flu, and to support the kidneys in filtering acids from the blood stream; to purify the blood, to treat gout and ulcers, arthritis, rheumatism, and help with skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis. The root is said to be an effective aphrodisiac, useful in treating impotence and sterility. Burdock is also considered a diuretic, mild laxative and aids in the elimination of uric acid.

ECHINACEA helps strengthen the body's first line of defense against infection and lowers its permeability to pathogens. Since the body is undergoing massive connective tissue changes during metamorphosis taking Echinacea at this time would reduce infection potential when the body is in a vulnerable condition, and will help the emerging spiritualized body to have greater strength and integrity.

FEVERFEW might be a useful herb to reduce the hyperactivity. Long term users often report beneficial side effects such as relief from depression, nausea and arthritic pain due to inflammation. The migraine-relieving activity of feverfew is believed to be due to parthenolide, an active compound that helps relieve smooth muscle spasms, thus it helps prevent the constriction of blood vessels in the brain (one of the leading causes of migraine headaches). It has been shown to inhibit serotonin release from platelets. Platelets release the hormone serotonin during a migraine attack and serotonin constricts blood vessels.

GARLIC probably is the best antioxidant. Garlic is rich in selenium is cofactor of glutathione peroxidase and also in another trace mineral, manganese, which also functions as a cofactor in superoxide dismutase. Studies have found that in adults deficient in manganese, the level of HDL (the "good form" of cholesterol) is decreased. Garlic also increases antioxidant enzyme, glutathione-S-transferase in the stomach and small intestine.

ROSEMARY is an antioxidant, boosts glutathione levels, nervine, memory, anti-inflammatory. Pure rosemary oil is good to rub into areas of congestion and nerve pain. In the morning rub rosemary essential oil into neck and spine to help protect tissue from free radicals.

ST. JOHNS WORT is pain relieving, reduces anxiety, improves memory, relieves depression and is inflammatory, strengthens the neurology of the spine. St. JohnsWort is a mild MAO inhibitor which preserves serotonin levels and inhibits cortisol release. Make massage oil for pains with St. Johns Wort and Rosemary in olive oil.

VALERIAN is one of the best nerve tonics. It reduces stress, muscle tension and hypertension while improving coordination, concentration and quality of sleep. Cardiovascular tonic herbs such as ginseng, valerian root, hawthorn berry and motherwort are advised to stabilize and strengthen heart action and improve circulation.

Aphrodisiac Herbs

2010-03-09T16:08:00.001-05:00

Sex Herbs - How can natural herbs improve sex.

There are a lot of factors that influence your sexual health. These include stress, depression, low energy, insomnia, hormone imbalances and alcoholism, among other things. Natural sex herbs can be helpful in treating a variety of sex issues for both men and women, offering a safe way to increase sex drive and overall well-being.

Herbs for sexual enhancement and fighting impotence have become increasingly popular as natural alternatives to the pharmaceutical drugs. Sex herbs are used to improve sexual response and treat impotence in men as well as to improve sexual desire and libido in women. Herbs for better sex have been found to be quite effective for both men and women, raising testosterone levels and stamina.

The herbs have long been used as aphrodisiacs and sexual enhancers in many cultures and are suggested by reputable herbal experts. Herbal aphrodisiacs are less expensive and more powerful in a pure form than in the formulas and don't have the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs.

The drug enables many men to achieve an erection and regain lost sexual function, but it can also exact a stiff penalty from users. The Food and Drug Administration has reported dozens of deaths among Viagra users, that seems an unnecessarily severe side effect. Concerns about the drug have spurred interest in effective, natural aphrodisiacs without deleterious side effects.

Sex drive in both men and women can be enhanced with herbs. The herbs and spices below can help you achieve longer lasting erections, female lubrication and more intense orgasms, resulting in better sex. Even modern science has begun to discover the benefits of many of these aphrodisiacs on the human libido. However, careful research and great care should be taken before any sort of self-experimentation, some of these herbs and spices are very potent.

Herbs for Better Sex:

Anise is high in anethol, a compound with effects similar to those of estrogens. It has a reputation for increasing milk production in nursing mothers, promoting menstruation, and facilitating childbirth. It is also said to increase libido in women and men.

Black cohosh is also called squawroot, black cohosh has compounds that mimic the effects of estrogen, balancing the body's hormone levels.Black cohosh balances hormone levels in both men and women. Black cohosh contains at least three classes of compounds that act to regulate hormone use, first binding to receptor sites to reduce estrogen when levels are high, then formation of luteinizing hormone (LH), which stimulates a surge of estrogen production in the first fourteen days of the menstrual cycle. This stimulates estrogen production when estrogen levels are low. The dual action of the herb allows it to stabilize the body's estrogen usage.

Cayenne is also known as capsicum, it plays a big role in blood circulation. When cayenne is ingested, it dilates blood vessels. This allows increased blood flow throughout the body, especially in the major organs. The male penis benefits greatly from the ingestion of cayenne. It is a widely held belief that cayenne aids in longer lasting erections, with stronger ejaculations and more intense orgasms.

Comfrey has been shown to affect the sex hormones which stimulate the ovaries and testes. Such a hormonal effect is also indicated by traditional belief.

Ginseng increases blood flow through a man's lower extremities, but it has also shown promise in helping women boost their desire, performance, energy, and orgasm. This is most likely due to affecting the dopamine system, which is the complex system of the brain that researchers believe triggers sex drive. More than half of all men and women in studies with Ginseng report an improvement of "being in the mood" more often. In general, ginseng has been found to be perfectly safe for use, except in pregnant or breastfeeding women, because of its estrogen-like effects.

Licorice acts to balance hormone ratios as well as alleviate stress. Liquorice is famous for creating balance and synergy in herbal formulas. It also acts on the glands, especially the adrenals to optimize hormone levels. The adrenals produce sex hormones and are directly involved with a healthy sex drive. Lowered adrenal function can lead to loss of libido, less energy and poorer sexual response.

Motherwort is especially valuable in female a wide range of female disorders, allaying nervous irritability and inducing quiet and passivity of the whole nervous system.

Mustard is a stimulant, irritant, ground seeds and plant promote virility, therefore monks were forbidden to eat mustard.

Nettles use as a tonic for the women goes back to the Native American women who used it throughout pregnancy and as a remedy to stop haemorrhaging during childbirth. Nettles are a good general tonic of the female reproductive system, excellent for young women just starting their monthly cycle, as well as women entering menopause. Several studies have shown that stinging nettles can keep your testosterone circulating freely and keep you feeling sexually vital.

Parsley is a strong irritant in high doses, ingested as spice, decoction made from its roots. The irritation can cause an abortion, but can be also sexually stimulating. Stalk used for love magic, root is mixed into witch flying ointments intended to induce erotic energy.

Rhodiola Roseahas shown great promise in boosting a couples charm. Studied extensively at Columbia University, researchers have found evidence that the herb can enhance sexual desire, energy, performance, and orgasm in both men and women. Other studies suggest that the herb can also help some men prolong stamina. And for women, Rhodiala Rosea may counteract some of the unpleasant side effects of menopause.

Rosemary has a strong erotic effect upon the skin. Mostly ingested as spice, rosemary can be added to a bath or wine. Rosemary contains essential oils with psychotropic effects.

Sage has a reputation for creating a sense of euphoria, and was used in beer and wine to exaggerate the effects of the alcohol. The essential oil is used to treat depressive states and is used as a sedative in nervous, panicky states of mind.

Yarrow is a stimulant, love tonic and an additive for wine or tea. Used in geomancy and to support a spiritual vision quest. As aphrodisiac yarrow is chewed raw or drunk as a tea few hours before intercourse.

Herb Garden

2010-03-03T16:39:00.002-05:00

Growing Herbs In Your Garden

Why would you want to grow herbs in your garden? Fresh herbs are awesome. I love just putting basil leaves on a tuna sandwich and in salads. For the culinary lovers herbs are something they need fresh. Herbs serve as a major source for seasoning in preparation of foods. Herbs have a wider range of use. Some are used for scents and cosmetics while others for medicinal purposes. Effective Ayurvedic herbs and Chinese healing herbs are indications of the ancient remedies.

Some herbs are believed to have possessed Magical charms and many a story has been written about magical potions. Herbs and spices have been major sources of trade between kingdoms and countries.

Herbs of yore are being rediscovered by modern science for fragrances and curing illness. Our ancestors knew the uses for almost every wild non-poisonous plant. Some of these plants were needed in the garden more as they never had refrigerator or the modern preservatives. These herbs served in many purposes like dyeing homespun fabrics, storing with linen to prevent insects and adding fragrance, preserving or enhancing the tastes of food.

Herb Gardens were almost an essential feature of pioneer homes. Sunny corners of the house that were readily accessible to home makers were planted with seasoning herbs. Wild crafted herbs that grew wild in the country side were also grown in the garden. Gardeners are not rediscovering the value of these herbs and are taking pleasure in producing their own herbs.

Herbs can be classified according to their use: culinary, aromatic, ornamental and medical.

Culinary Herbs
These are the most useful to herb gardeners. Garnishes and flavoring is where they are used more. A common list is Parsley, Sage, Chives, Thyme, Savory, Marjoram, Mint and Basil.

Aromatic Herbs
This sweet smelling foliage has been used for producing perfumes. Flowers are mostly used but even plant parts are used. Dried herbs retain their aroma for longer periods. Some aromatic herbs are Mint, Marjoram, Lovage, Lavender, Rosemary and Basil.

Ornamental Herbs
These herbs have bright flower and foliage. Variegated Thyme, Chives, Lavender as well as Valerian with crimson blossoms and borage and chicory with blue flowers are some ornamental herbs.

Medicinal Herbs
Some plants are thought to have healing powers. Modern science has researched and recognized some herbs as true healers while others have been said to be over rated in healing powers. Some of these herbs must be consumed carefully or it could result in dangerous consequences.

Gardeners Classification

Annuals, Biennials, and perennials are so called because of the nature of blooming and life span of the herb.

• Annuals bloom one season and then die. These herbs include Anise, Basil, Chervil, Coriander, Dill, Summer Savory, etc.

• Biennials live for two seasons. They bloom only in the second season. These include Caraway, Parsley, etc.

• Perennials bloom each season. These include Chives, Fennel, Lovage, Marjoram, Mint, Tarragon, Thyme, Winter Savory, etc.

Gardeners Tips for You
• If you intend to begin an herb garden then your guide to herbs for you to are Winter Savory, Rosemary, Sage, Sweet Basil, Dill, Mint, Marjory, Parsley, Chives and Summer Savory. You could choose any other herb to grow in your garden but know whether they are annuals, biennials or perennials.

• Herbs do not grow in wet soil. Good drainage is a must. Improve drainage by placing a 5 inch layer of crushed stones 15 to 18 inches below the top soil.

• Mix the soil with compost and sand to lighten the texture and increase fertility. Do not use fertilizers as highly fertile soils produce excess foliage with poor flavor.

• Almost all herbs can be grown from seeds. If possible sow seeds in shallow boxes in late winter and transplant these seedlings outdoors in spring. Anise, coriander, dill and fennel can be sown directly. Biennials should be sown in late spring directly into the ground. You could obtain an indoor herb garden kit and start of growing herbs indoors as well.

• Cutting and division is a useful method in propagating certain herbs.

• Harvesting in the form of picking the leaves is to be done when the plant has enough foliage to maintain growth. Harvest leaves before the flower buds open. This is when the flavor is at the peak . Pick seed heads when the color changes from green to brown or gray.

• Very few diseases or insects attack herbs. Rust infects mints and aphids may attack Caraway, Fennel, Dill and Anise.
• You could refrigerate or even dry herbs for later use.

http://www.herbportal.com is an attempt to make known some ancient rediscovered wisdom of herbs. The guide to herbs , indoor herb garden kit, etc. are articles that are aimed to provide comprehensive knowledge on herbs. What ever be the way you use herbs fresh or in perfumes it has a lot of benefits. Discover these and more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Norma_Maria

Hangover Medicine

2010-03-02T15:07:00.001-05:00

Best Hangover Cures For The Festive Season

During festive times, after a heavy night of drinking and merry making, people often wake up miserable and it is only then they start to think of a hangover cure. Today's hangover treatments contain ingredients like B vitamins, vitamin C, activated charcoal and many others. The vitamins help to give the body a boost and help the liver with filtering alcohol out of the body. Activated charcoal helps absorb and remove toxins.

One of the biggest causes of hangovers is congeners. Congeners are linked to the color, taste and aroma of dark alcohol drink. Drinks like red wines, dark bourbons and stout and dark ales seem to produce a worse hangover than by those drinks that include less congener like vodka and light beers. Dehydration is also a leading cause of hangovers.

Modern cultures have diverse beliefs about effective hangover cure. Russians simply sweat it out in the sauna. Germans eat a mixture of herring, pickles, and goulash. Many Americans used to create a stomach clenching drink made of tomato juice and a raw egg.

The modern methods for hangover treatment and its painful symptoms contain natural pain killers, like willow bark or feverfew. Do not take any headache drugs when you have a hangover. Many people think these tablets will help them with hangover relief. But taking over the counter pain killers is a terrible idea when dealing with a hangover headache. Aspirin and ibuprofen can upset the stomach and will increase the chances of a hangover, and the leading ingredient in analgesics, Acetaminophen (or Paracetamol) can cause your liver to explode when it mixes with alcohol that is still in your body.

How to prevent a hangover.

1. Make sure your body is well hydrated, try drinking a glass of water or other no caffeinated drinks for each alcoholic beverage you drink. As the body is 70% water and alcohol is a diuretic (it dehydrates you) you will need to continuously hydrate your body. Having fun through the night while you are dehydrated will definitely lead to a hangover the next day. Just drink lots of water. If you can remember one thing while intoxicated, remember this: drink lots of water before going to bed. It will help eliminate dehydration, and you'll feel much better in the morning.

2. Stick to 1 drink or less per hour, and try to drink it slowly. One hour is about the time it takes for the average adult to process an alcoholic beverage. One drink is a 5-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce beer, or 1.5 ounce of hard liquor.

3. No bubbles please! If you mix an alcohol with any kind of bubbly beverage next morning you will have a hangover for sure.

4. And definitely don't drink on an empty stomach. Food is very important to avoid hangovers because food helps slow the absorption of alcohol, giving your body time to metabolize it and get rid of the toxins found in alcohol, decreasing the chances of hangover.

But, for now, what do you do with that nasty throbbing headache and the groggy feeling that accompanies a hangover?

Hangover Recovery

- Eat a good breakfast in the morning. This will help your body return to normal sooner. Food is probably the last thing you want to look at while recovering from a hangover, but you do need some for energy. Stay with clear liquids until you can tolerate something solid. Then start off slowly with mild, easy-to-digest foods such as plain toast, rice, or clear soup.

- The morning of your hangover, stay off the caffeine. No matter how tempting that cup of coffee smells, it won't help to cure your hangover. Nor will a cola drink. Caffeine dehydrates your body, so it will only make the effects of the hangover even worse.

- Going back to sleep is also an effective hangover cure. By definition, sleep is the most restful state for your body. So, if it is an option for you, going back to sleep can be a good idea for the natural hangover cure.

Herbal Remedies for Hangover Cure

Milk Thistle is a good hangover helper. It is a spectacular little herb that has amazing rejuvenation powers for your toasted livers. This herb removes free radicals and protects the liver's cells from damage plus helping to remove those toxins already there. It can even assist in the regeneration of new cells in the liver. Take two 20 milligram capsules with a meal prior to or while drinking.

Feverfew. Use feverfew herb instead of aspirin. Aspirin is very hard on the stomach, while feverfew is not.

Rosemary is a natural stimulant and is great for relieving feelings of tiredness. For a hangover relief related to upset stomach, Rosemary can be used in the bath or as an inhalation agent, or it can easily be used in food or tea.

Peppermint is another anti hangover herb. The peppermint herb, either in tea form or chewing the leaves, will relax the intestines. Peppermint is a carminative, which is a substance that removes accumulated gas from the stomach and intestines. Make a tea by pouring one cup of boiling water over 1-2 teaspoons of the dried herb; cover; steep for fifteen minutes; strain. Drink 1-2 cups as soon as you can.

Chamomile tea is great for general soothing and relaxation, but as a hangover remedy, it works wonders on headaches and indigestion, especially when sweetened with honey.

Thyme. Make a tea by lightly crushing five fresh or dried leaves; place in a cup and fill with water cooled to just below boiling; cover and leave to infuse for five minutes; remove leaves and drink.

Folk Remedies for Hangover Cure

Bifidus powder. Also known as bifidum, is a helpful bacteria that inhabits the large intestines, and keeps nasty bacteria at bay. It produces B vitamins, helping the bowels stay regular. But it has another very helpful property, it detoxifies acetaldehyde, a digestive byproduct of alcohol consumption that is blamed to cause most of the symptoms of the hangover. Another hangover remedy is to take a probiotic supplement, such as acidophilus, to help restore the flora balance in your stomach.

Bananas are a great pick-me-up! While you were drinking your body was passing lots of potassium. Eating a banana loaded with potassium will give your body a great boost. All you have to do is peel and eat another natural hangover medicine.

Juices, especially freshly squeezed orange juice, will help raise your blood sugar levels and help ease some of your hangover symptoms. However, if your stomach is upset, skip acidic juices such as orange juice and try good old apple juice instead - it works just as good.

B Vitamins.Thiamine and vitamin B help the liver clear itself of acetaldehyde, reducing the symptoms of a hangover. If possible try taking one high potency B vitamin supplement before drinking.

Ginger has long been used to treat nausea and seasickness. It will help to cure hangover too. If you can remain vertical for ten minutes, brew some ginger tea. Cut 10 to 12 slices of fresh ginger root and combine with 4 cups water. Boil for ten minutes. Strain and add the juice of 1 orange, the juice of 1/2 lemon, and 1/2 cup honey.

Honey and Lemon. The classic drink of honey, lemon, and warm water is one of the best hangover medicines. Honey contains fructose, which competes for the metabolism of alcohol. This healthy competition is needed, since it prevents the rapid change in alcohol levels that results in headaches. To make the drink, take 1 cup of warm water and mix in honey and lemon juice to taste. Enjoy and drink several times a day.

Spirulina. Take 15-20g of spirulina with water. After too much alcohol, two glasses of water are essential for rehydration. Spirulina adds protein, vitamins and minerals to rebuild the body's depleted nutrients. It does not aid sobriety, but with water, helps avoid that dehydrated and depleted feeling the next morning.

Activated charcoal. Take one tablet of activated charcoal per drink while you are drinking. The charcoal absorbs the impurities in the alcohol which are the cause of the hangover. The charcoal also absorbs important nutrients, so if you are a heavy drinker, don't use this remedy daily as you will end up with nutritional deficiencies.

Vegetable Garden Ideas

2010-02-26T10:40:00.006-05:00

Planting a 30 Minute Vegetable Garden

Are you ready to plan you gardens and landscapes for the upcoming season?
If you have ever wonder how to grow a garden with no dirt watch Patti Moreno the Garden Girl plants a vegetable and herb garden in 30 minutes using Gardensoxx.

The Filtrexx GardenSoxx is an ideal planter for any home gardening need. The compost-based growing medium and mesh containment provide ideal growing conditions for flowers, vegetables, herbs, berries and much more.
Uses include no-till gardening, landscape edging, borders, raised beds, patio planters, window baskets, deck rails, and anywhere simple gardening is desired.

Many places around the country have already made GardenSoxx the hottest new home and garden product.

Growing Herbs

2010-02-25T17:09:00.002-05:00

Why Should You Grow Your Own Herbs?

Do you buy or use herbs? Do you know here do they come from? You might be very surprised! Learn to grow herbs yourself you will know the herbs you have grown are the freshest and healthiest available.

Herbs are the quintessential plant: they look good, smell good and do you good. They have been used ever since humans have been on the Earth, as medicines, perfumes, insect repellents and, of course, in food and flavouring.

Herbs, in most cases, are tough wild plants which will thrive and romp away. It's a myth that all herbs need full sun, even famous basil likes partial shade at midday. So when planning your garden, you can divide your plants into two groups, those like thyme, sage, rosemary, french tarragon and oregano that like full sun; and those that like partial shade, such as rocket, sorrel, mizuna, mustard, parsley and chervil.
You can learn to grow your own healthy herbs for cooking, for teas, for herbal medicines and more.

Herb Suppliers

2010-02-24T09:10:00.002-05:00

Best places to by organic herbs and spices:

HERBAL CRAFT

HerbalCraft is a home, British Columbia based business run by Dianne and Lee. We sell herbs for

Birthing & Motherhood

Culinary Herbs
Herbs for Dyeing & Colouring
Herbs for Salves
Poultice Herbs
Tea Herbs You can feel free to message us if you have any questions and we encourage you to do so. Sometimes we can suggest ways to make your purchase much easier or suggest a usage for a herb you might not have thought of, or even point you to local suppliers of equipment / ingredients. https://www.herbalcraft.ca

Organic Soil

2010-02-23T11:40:00.005-05:00

Teaming with Microbes:

The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web (Revised Edition)
By Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis

Smart gardeners know that soil is anything but an inert substance. Healthy soil is teeming with life — not just earthworms and insects, but a staggering multitude of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. When we use chemical fertilizers, we injure the microbial life that sustains healthy plants, and thus become increasingly dependent on an arsenal of artificial, often toxic, substances. But there is an alternative to this vicious cycle. We can garden in a way that strengthens the soil food web — the complex world of soil-dwelling organisms whose interactions create a nurturing environment for plants.

"Teaming with Microbes" extols the benefits of cultivating the soil food web. First, it clearly explains the activities and organisms that make up the web. Next, it explains how gardeners can cultivate the life of the soil through the use of compost, mulches, and compost tea. The revised edition updates the original text and includes two completely new chapters — on mycorrhizae (beneficial associations fungi form with green-leaved plants) and archaea (single-celled organisms once thought to be allied to bacteria).

With Jeff Lowenfels's help, everyone — from devotees of organic gardening techniques to weekend gardeners who simply want to grow healthy, vigorous plants without resorting to chemicals — can create rich, nurturing, living soil.

Source: Timber Press

Garden Photo Album

2010-02-17T16:46:00.000-05:00

My Garden Pictures

Greater Celandine on my backyard Silk Rose Petals, late fall beauty!

Georgina (Dahlia) is like a woman - strong but incredible fragile!

My Indoor Herb Garden

Catnip Mint

More coming!

Alphabetical List of Herbs

2010-02-09T11:21:00.001-05:00

Pick Your Herb Garden Plants - It's Easy!

On this page, you can find a list of all herbs represented at this site: culinary herbs, healing herbs and tea herbs. Click on the links to find out more detailed information about chosen herb.

• Angelica

• Anise

• Astragalus

• Basil

• Burdock

• Calendula

• Catnip

• Cayenne

• Chives

• Cilantro

• Dill

• Echinacea

• Feverfew

• Garlic Chives

• German Chamomile

• Lavender

• Lemon Balm

• Lemon Bergamot

• Lemon Grass

• Milk Thistle

• Mustard

• Oregano

• Parsley

• Peppermint

• Rosemary

• Savory

• St. John's Wort

• Sweet Marjoram

• Thyme

• Valerian

• Yarrow

Herbs and Spices

2010-02-08T12:45:00.002-05:00

The Difference Between Herbs and Spices

Some of you may not be aware of the actual difference between an herb and a spice. Quite often many people use the two terms interchangeably.

Over time the definitions for herbs and spices have changed a bit. In the past, spices have been categorized as fragrant, aromatic plant products like cinnamon, cloves, ginger and pepper, while herbs have always been recognized as green, leafy plants like mint, rosemary and thyme.

Today, according to the American Spice Trade Association, spices have become known as "any dried plant product used primarily for seasoning purposes." This all-inclusive definition seems to cover a wide range of plants like herbs, spice seeds and even dehydrated vegetables and spice blends.

Here, then, complete definition from Horticulture and Home Pest News:
Herbs and spices are obtained from plants. (Salt is neither a spice nor an herb. It is actually a mineral.) Herbs and spices are used primarily for adding flavor and aroma to food. And both are best used fresh but can be saved by drying. While there are similarities, there also are subtle differences between herbs and spices.

Herbs are obtained from the leaves of herbaceous (non-woody) plants. They are used for savory purposes in cooking and some have medicinal value. Herbs often are used in larger amounts than spices. Herbs originated from temperate climates such as Italy, France, and England. Herb also is a word used to define any herbaceous plant that dies down at the end of the growing season and may not refer to its culinary value at all.

Spices are obtained from roots, flowers, fruits, seeds or bark. Spices are native to warm tropical climates and can be woody or herbaceous plants. Spices often are more potent and stronger flavored than herbs; as a result they typically are used in smaller amounts. Some spices are used not only to add taste, but also as a preservative.

Some plants are both herbs and spices. The leaves of Coriandrum sativum are the source of cilantro (herb) while coriander (spice) is from the plant's seeds. Dill is another example. The seeds are a spice while dill weed is an herb derived from the plant's stems and leaves.