All gardeners who grow vegetables need to plan out what they're going to grow each season, and where they're going to grow it. To some extent, this is easier for container growers (at least until you've filled up all the available floor space), because you can always add another container or two. If you haven't grown vegetables and fruit in containers before, your plan needs to be a bit more comprehensive, because you have to decide not just what you're going to grow, but which containers to
Monday, 26 December 2011
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Best vegetable crops for containers
In general, the fastest growing vegetable crops are best for containers, avoiding those with very long roots. Both annual and perennial herbs also do well, in most cases, and you can also grow soft fruit if you choose the right size pot. Most people start out growing salads in containers. These are not very fussy (though some types of lettuce require a fair bit of water), and although some have a tap root, there are cut and come again varieties of most types which are harvested small,
Monday, 19 December 2011
Apples really do keep the doctor at bay
As I've started to run out of truly useful herbs (there are plenty, I know, but some are so obscure you probably won't be growing them), I've decided to start a series of fruits that are useful medicinally. Today's fruit is the apple, Malus domestica (syn. M. malus, M. pumila, M. pumila domestica, M. sylvestris, M. sylvestris domestica, Pyrus malus), which is a cultivated hybrid. If you find a true apple growing wild, it's almost certainly an escape. There are many other Malus species,
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Liquorice for peptic, duodenal and mouth ulcers
Liquorice or licorice in the USA, Glycyrrhiza glabra (a subspecies, Glycyrrhiza glandulifera or Glycyrrhiza glabra var. glandulifera is grown in Russia), is well known to everybody as a common sweet or candy, though you can't guarantee that all liquorice candies actually have very much liquorice in them. Liquorice is not related to anise hyssop (sometimes called liquorice mint). When I was a kid, we used to buy sticks of liquorice root in the local sweet shop, and chew them, discarding the
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Holiday Gift Ideas: Essential Oil Diffuser
The festive season is coming - yes, I know there are nearly six weeks to go, but it never hurts to start getting your head round gift ideas in good time, just to be sure that you can find what you've decided to buy before it sells out. So for the next few posts, I'll be making some suggestions for presents for friends and family who are into aromatherapy, or would like to be. Today's post is about essential oil diffusers. There are several types available. See this post for more
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Lemon Verbena for gas, acid reflux and depression [updated]
Lemon Verbena, Aloysia citrodora, is also known as lemon beebrush. Unfortunately, it seems to have been a favorite target for taxonomists, because over the years it has been renamed several times, so it's possible that you may find it labeled with any of the following latin names (as well as the correct one): Aloysia triphylla, Lippia citrodora, Lippia triphylla, Verbena triphylla and Zappania citrodora. Also confusing is the fact that, although the common name is "lemon verbena" it is not a
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Lemon Thyme, great for herb pillows [updated]
Lemon thyme is another member of the Thyme family, sometimes known as Citrus Thyme. It's often found in gardens, but frequently overlooked as a medicinal herb. If you are looking for it in a catalogue or garden centre, the label should say Thymus x citriodorus, though it might have the older names Thymus serpyllum citratus or Thymus serpyllum citriodorum. It is not related to Basil Thyme. Like garden thyme, it prefers a sunny position. Lemon thyme is a low growing bush, like common thyme,
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Clary Sage - once called Cleareye [updated]
Cleareye is a less common name for the herb usually known as Clary or Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea). It's a close relative of the Common Sage, as you might expect, and is not generally used for cooking, although in the past the leaves were sometimes dipped in batter and used to make fritters, and you can use it in soups and stews like sage. The flowers can also be used in salad or for making tea. Another close relative is Spanish sage. Clary grows to about 1 metre (3 feet) in height, and is
Friday, 21 October 2011
Ginger fights colon cancer
Just came across this post about a new study showing that ginger root isn't just for morning sickness, coughs and colds (as I've reported in my post about ginger's health benefits on HMYG) but also works to help prevent colon cancer. This is great news, especially in the light of the huge rise in rates of colon cancer over the past decade. But it begs a question: has there been a huge reduction in the amount of ginger eaten by the average person over this period? Are manufacturers
Ginger fights colon cancer
Just came across this post about a new study showing that ginger root isn't just for morning sickness, coughs and colds (as I've reported in my post about ginger's health benefits on HMYG) but also works to help prevent colon cancer. This is great news, especially in the light of the huge rise in rates of colon cancer over the past decade. But it begs a question: has there been a huge reduction in the amount of ginger eaten by the average person over this period? Are manufacturers
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Spanish Sage - a great aid to memory [updated]
The recent news about Gingko biloba is disappointing. In case you missed it, the BBC publicized a recent test by Imperial College, London, testing the effects of Gingko on memory in those suffering from Alzheimer's Disease (AD), in comparison with a placebo. These results confirmed a previous study published in New Scientist of August 2002, which concluded "Gingko biloba has no beneficial effect on memory in healthy older people". This new test shows that it has no measurable effect in those
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Essential oils from Scarborough Fair: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
The essential oils I'm covering today, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, are often associated with the folk song "Scarborough Fair" popularized in the sixties by Simon and Garfunkel. Other people may think of them as kitchen herbs, but they have come down to us as common herbs because they were grown for use not just in cooking, but also medicinally. Unfortunately, although all four of these herbs are safe enough when used as herbal remedies or in cooking, it is a different matter when we
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Stevia no-calorie sweetener and cravings suppressant
The herb known as Stevia, Stevia rebaudiana (syn. Eupatorium rebaudianum), is actually only one species in the genus Stevia, many of which also have similar sweetening capabilities. However, S. rebaudiana is the plant commonly referred to as stevia, and the one that I'm covering in this post. Other names by which it is known include candy leaf, sweetleaf, sweet leaf and sugarleaf. Stevia is a native of Brazil and Paraguay, and is cultivated elsewhere. It is a half hardy annual (cannot
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Ylang ylang essential oil benefits
Ylang ylang oil is extracted from the freshly picked flowers of Cananga odorata, a tropical tree which is native to Indo-China, Malaysia and Queensland, Australia. The oil is extracted by water or steam distillation, and like olive oil pressings there are different grades depending on when the distillates are collected. These grades are: extra, grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3. You may also find grades 1 and 2 mixed together and sold as "ylang ylang complete". A concrete and absolute are also
Paliasa for scabies, cooties and liver problems
Paliasa, Kleinhovia hospita, is also known as the guest tree. It is a very attractive tropical tree native across much of Asia and grown there as an ornamental and shade tree. It is also found in Fiji, French Polynesia and Queensland, Australia. Paliasa can reach a height of up to 20m (65') and has large heart shaped leaves which can reach a size of 20cm (8 inches) in length. The flowers are a soft pink, and are followed by fruit in the form of a capsule (inset). As a tropical tree, it
Monday, 22 August 2011
Disclaimer
(Sorry, I have to have this page here, my lawyer told me so. Anyway, so long as it’s here, please read it, as it applies to you and all visitors to this site) GuideToAromatherapy.org and Frann Leach (“G2A”) make no claims regarding the effects of anything mentioned in these pages whether in specific cases or otherwise. Nothing on these pages may be taken to guarantee the efficacy or otherwise of anything discussed or referred to. Reference herein to any specific commercial product,
Monday, 8 August 2011
What are Hydrosols and How Do You Use Them?
Hydrosols are also called flower waters or floral waters. Genuine hydrosols are not made by just mixing a few drops of essential oil with water (though you may find sites that tell you this is so).
For full information on how hydrosols are made, read this article by West Coast Aromatherapy/
Hydrosols do not keep anywhere near as long as essential oils. Once opened, they are ideal places for bacteria and other nasties to grow. Keep them in the fridge, and discard immediately if they go cloudy, discolored, or the smell changes. Personally I wouldn't keep them any longer than a month, so use them up as fast as you can.
This article from Aromatherapy at Home will help with that: 15 ways to use Hodrosols
Sunday, 7 August 2011
Bearberry for UTIs and E.coli
Bearberry, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (syn. Arctostaphylos officinalis, Arbutus uva-ursi, Uva-ursi procumbens and Uva-ursi uva-ursi), is also known as arberry, bear grape, hogberry, hog cranberry, kinnikinnick, manzanita, mealberry, mountain box, mountain cranberry, pinemat manzanita, red bearberry, rockberry, sagackhomi, sandberry, upland cranberry and uva ursi. Bees are attracted to the flowers, and bears to the fruit in those countries where bears roam free. It is often used as an ornamental,
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Cooling Summer Epsom Salt Bath
Cooling Summer Epsom Salt Bath
posted by Melissa Breyer Jul 20, 2011 9:01 amfiled under: Bath & Shower, Depression, General Health, Health & Wellness, True Beauty, bath, depression, epsom salt, essential oils, headache, peppermint, summerEpsom salt baths are the best. They make your skin soft as silk, and have an amazing array of health benefits. My favorite perks from soaking in Epsom salt include detoxification, stress reduction, and muscle pain relief–and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Seriously, if there ever was truly a miracle cure, I do believe Epsom salt might be involved.
So I like Epsom salt baths and since I’ve been taking them regularly I feel great. But do I like taking a bath in 95F degree weather? Eh. So I’ve concocted a cooling Epsom salt bath that is the perfect antidote to a steamy, stressy summer day. It’s a bath that incorporates cucumber, fresh mint, and a hint of floral essential oil. Mmmmm.
Cucumbers are a great treat for the skin. They have the same pH as the skin so they help restore the protective acid mantle–they also possess hydrating, nourishing and astringent properties.
I like to throw in a handful of fresh peppermint because it’s growing like bonkers in the garden and I know it’s cooling. What I didn’t know was that, according to University of Maryland Medical Center, peppermint has has a soothing and cooling effect on skin irritations caused by hives, poison ivy, or poison oak; it reduces headache symptoms; and it can be used in the treatment of depression. (So if you’re hot, itchy, depressed and have a headache …)
For some extra summery flower flavor, try a few drops of ylang ylang pure essential oil in the mix.
Here’s the how-to:
To a tub of tepid water add 2 cups Epsom salt, stir in 1 sliced cucumber, a handful of torn peppermint leaves, and 3 drops ylang ylang pure essential oil. Step in, relax, and await small miracles.related stories
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- Past Member says
- Jul 25, 2011 5:07 AM
I think I will soak in Epsom salt tomorrow. I don't know about sloshing around with cucumbers though . . .
- Santanita G. says
- Jul 22, 2011 8:13 AM
I love epsom salt baths, I have read the science behind the salts, but can not remember enough to share. The fact that the epsom salt bath is calming and relaxing was enough for me to try. Sometimes you just gotta try it. What have you got to lose? A few dollars for the purchase of the salts and the time to soak in a tub of relaxation. The salts have helped me get through many a migraines, and other aches and pains. Dont need no science geek to tell me how the salts work, just need to enjoy the benefits.
- Nola g. says
- Jul 22, 2011 6:40 AM
Epsom salts is really good in the garden also. Potatoes & raspberries & roses love it.
- Catherine B. says
- Jul 21, 2011 7:15 PM
Kristi Cook says it is magnesium in Epsom salts - so maybe I should try taking it when I get 'restless legs' instead of the expensive Magnesium Powder I reach for in the throws of kicking! That helps calm the legs very quickly - I'll let you know how I go!
- Catherine B. says
- Jul 21, 2011 7:12 PM
I just loved Epsom salt baths however I cant use the bath any more. so I make a delicious foot bath for tired aching feet and just lap it up.
I also take Epsom salts with lemon in a drink to keep me regular. My grandfather, who I never met, was an alcoholic and died at 63 of gangrene having injured himself in a drunken fall. He took Epsom salts twice a day for most of his life and when an autopsy was done, they couldnt believe that his liver was so healthy. So it must have a lot of benefits if it looks after the liver.
who's talking about this story?
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Warning: Ubertan hidden health costs
Ubertan, if you haven't heard of it, is a fake tan which you use by inhaling it! Sounds strange, but the product claims to contain herbal components which darken the skin naturally. The product is banned in the UK, and for good reason - it might give you a heart attack. This article from the Mail Online tells how several users had nasty and in some cases extremely serious side effects from using it: Ubertan fake tan nasal spray
Herbal remedy beats brain cancer - Times Of India
Who would have thought that Indigo - that's right, it's the plant that used to be used for dying clothes blue back before they discovered coal tar dyes - would turn out to be a remedy for brain cancer? Well that's what they're saying. Read more here...
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Sandalwood Oil Benefits and Uses
Sandalwood essential oil, also sometimes called sandalwood Mysore, is extracted from the heartwood of East Indian sandalwood trees (Santalum album). The oil is present in trees of 10 years and older, but the trees are only regarded as mature between the ages of 40 and 80 years. The tree is a native of India and Indonesia, but unfortunately has been harvested at unsustainable levels in its natural habitat and is a protected species. However, as sandalwood oil is so popular, not just for
Cumin for digestive problems and griping pains [updated]
Cumin, Cuminum cyminum syn. Cuminum odorum, is also known as cummin and jeera. It is not closely related to anise (sometimes called sweet cumin) and not related to Roman coriander (sometimes called black cumin) at all. Another plant also sometimes called black cumin is the black caraway, which is not closely related. Cumin is another member of the huge family which includes the carrot and hemlock, and should always be grown from seed bought from a reputable seed merchant. It is a half-hardy
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Roman Coriander for abscesses and hemorrhoids [updated]
Roman Coriander, Nigella sativa, is also called Fennel Flower, although it is no relation to either Fennel or Coriander and does not look like them. It's used as a spice in many countries, where it is known by various names, including Onion seed, Kolonji and Black Cumin (not related to cumin, either, lol). It's closely related to the cottage garden flower, Love in a Mist (Nigella damascena), and is a member of the buttercup family. Note that the name black cumin is used for this plant in
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Coriander tastes great and aids digestion [updated]
Coriander, Coriandrum sativum, is also known as Cilantro and Chinese Parsley - though the only thing it has in common with Parsley, another Umbellifer, is a superficial resemblance of the leaves. It's not related to Roman Coriander either. It is a hardy annual, and prefers a warm sheltered position with not too much sun in the middle of the day, or the plants will quickly run to seed. Coriander is one of the five bitter herbs which should be eaten at Passover in the Jewish religion (the
Coriander tastes great and aids digestion [updated]
Coriander, Coriandrum sativum, is also known as Cilantro and Chinese Parsley - though the only thing it has in common with Parsley, another Umbellifer, is a superficial resemblance of the leaves. It's not related to Roman Coriander either. It is a hardy annual, and prefers a warm sheltered position with not too much sun in the middle of the day, or the plants will quickly run to seed. Coriander is one of the five bitter herbs which should be eaten at Passover in the Jewish religion (the
Friday, 22 July 2011
Caraway is a great general digestive remedy [updated]
Caraway, Carum carvi, is a hardy biennial which reaches a height of about 2' (60cm). It's a member of the Umbellifer family, and should not be collected from the wild because of its superficial resemblance to Hemlock. It's sometimes called Persian cumin or meridian fennel, but is not closely related to either cumin or fennel. If grown for medicinal use, it will be necessary to sow seeds 2 years in a row, after which the plant will most likely self-seed. DO NOT use seeds bought for the garden
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Star Anise for digestive problems and cold-related conditions [updated]
Star anise, Illicium verum, is sometimes called Chinese star anise. It's important to distinguish it from Japanese star anise, Illicium anisatum, which is highly toxic. However, it is so difficult to achieve this that it is best not to rely on a seed merchant or nursery (who may be selling it is an ornamental, where toxicity is fairly irrelevant), but instead to source supplies from a Chinese herbalist (where it may be known as ba jiao hui xiang), who presumably can be relied on to know the
Monday, 18 July 2011
Anise is great for coughs, colds and gas [updated]
Anise, also known as aniseed or sweet cumin, Pimpinella anisum (sometimes labelled Anisum vulgare), is the herb from which aniseed is collected. It's a member of the same family as cumin, but that's about as far as it goes. It is not related to anise hyssop or anise root (another name for the American Sweet Cicely) or to star anise. Back in the days when herbalists used to make sweets from local herbs (possibly to deliver medicine in a tasty form), aniseed would be boiled in sugar to make
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Angelica - always grow seed from a reputable source [updated]
Angelica, Angelica archangelica (but may be labeled Archangelica officinalis), is also known as European Angelica, Garden Angelica, Angelique and Archangel. There is another herb also sometimes called Archangel, the white deadnettle. It's important to grow Angelica using seed from a reputable source, and never collect from the wild, as it is easily mixed up with Hemlock, which is deadly. When I was a child, angelica stems were often candied and used to decorate cakes and confectionery.
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Globe Artichoke leaves for liver disease [updated]
Globe artichokes (so called to distinguish them from the unrelated Jerusalem artichoke), Cynara scolymus, is also known as the garden artichoke or just artichoke. It's a hardy perennial and will reach a height of 6' (2m) by about 4' (130cm). Most people who have it in their garden grow it for the flower buds, which are eaten petal by petal with melted butter or other dipping sauces. Globe artichoke is a big strong, sturdy perennial plant which is reputed to be invasive, though I think you
Monday, 11 July 2011
French Tarragon for insomnia [updated]
French tarragon (so-called to distinguish it from the inferior subspecies Russian Tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus dracunculoides) is also sometimes called estragon, little dragon or dragonwort (a name which is also used by 2 other plants, the dragon drum, Dracunculus vulgaris and bistort, yet another illustration of the importance of using latin names for correct identification). The latin name is Artemisia dracunculus. There is a similar herb, for which seeds are often sold with the name
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Thyme is a truly multi-purpose herb [updated]
(A video containing the main points outlined here is available here) The thyme I am talking about here is Thymus vulgaris, the common or garden thyme. It's a low growing, fairly tough plant that likes a sunny situation. It comes in the standard green leafed and also in variegated forms, which some people consider to be more attractive, but the important thyme oil (which is the source of all thyme's goodness) is found in both. Thyme is closely related to lemon thyme, but not to basil
Friday, 8 July 2011
Geranium essential oil benefits and uses
Geranium essential oil is offered in two types. Rose geranium oil (which you will often find called just geranium essential oil), Pelargonium graveolens, is the one most easily sourced, and also the most expensive. You may also find a product called geranium essential oil which is actually the essential oil of the apple geranium, Pelargonium odoratissimum. This is cheaper, but also does not have all the same properties. Both types are extracted from the leaves and stalks of the appropriate
Winter Savory for nausea and diarrhea [updated]
Winter Savory, Satureja montana, is an evergreen shrub which reaches a height of around 40 cm (16"), and a close relative of Summer savory, which which it shares many properties. It is not related to Spring savory (another name for basil thyme). Winter savory needs well drained soil and will not grow in the shade, but otherwise is not a fussy plant, tolerating poor soil, drought and even very alkaline soil. Winter savory is usually seen as a culinary herb, and is used in the kitchen in
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Summer Savory for nausea and lack of appetite [updated]
Summer Savory, Satureja hortensis, is also called bean herb and sometimes just savory. It is closely related to Winter savory, with which it shares many of the same properties. It is not related to Spring savory (another name for basil thyme). Summer savory is a hardy annual which reaches a height of around a foot (30 cm). It may turn purple when it reaches maturity, depending on the conditions it is grown under. It prefers light to medium soil in full sun, and will tolerate very alkaline
Monday, 4 July 2011
Parsley as a medicinal herb [updated]
Most people have parsley (Petroselinum crispum) growing in their gardens somewhere - it can be quite invasive if allowed to set seed, so if you're starting from scratch with this herb, it's best in a large pot, rather than sown directly in the ground. This will also help to prevent attacks from the carrot root fly (carrots are a close relative), if you plant it about halfway down, leaving the rest of the pot empty, and put it on a wall or pot holder. It's said that carrot flies travel about a
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Sage in the herbal medicine cabinet [updated]
Sage (Garden or Kitchen Sage), Salvia officinalis, is the last member of the big four immortalized by Simon and Garfunkel (based on a folk song of unknown age). Leaf colors vary from green to greenish gray, which are most likely to be seen, and purplish-red (var. purpurascens). The red variety is traditionally preferred for use in herbal medicine, but you can use green sage if that is all you have. There's also a Chinese red sage (Salvia miltiorrhiza) and a Spanish sage (Salvia
Friday, 1 July 2011
Special Offers and Deals from HerbsPro
This isn't something I usually do, but I just had to let you know about these great offers from HerbsPro, for those of you who can't or don't want to grow your own, and for items you just have to buy in anyway, like minerals. HerbsPro's prices are pretty good, anyway, but every little helps, especially nowadays. All these offers are valid for the whole of July 2011, but I generally find I forget stuff like this if I don't act straight away - so that's what I recommend, if you don't want to
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Rosemary, a potent herbal remedy [updated]
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a pretty little bush from the Mediterranean. There's also a prostrate form (Rosmarinus lavandulaceus). Both types can be used in the same ways. Rosemary is quite tender, and has a tendency to keel over without warning, so it's best to have a couple of plants, although you can go the gardener's route of taking cuttings regularly - I guess it depends on how many friends you are likely to be able to pass any extras on to! Because it is from the Med, it
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Garlic - Sovereign remedy and general tonic [updated]
Garlic, Allium sativum, is extensively used all around the world as an ingredient in cooking, although when I was a child in the UK, many people wouldn't touch the stuff. I don't know if this had anything to do with Britain's love-hate relationship with France, where it sometimes seems to non-garlic fans that the locals bathe in it, but it certainly seems to be more accepted now that Britain is part of the EC. Talking of France, health experts have long been baffled by the health of the
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Oregano - beneficial and popular multi-purpose herb [updated]
Oregano, Origanum vulgare, is also known as Greek oregano (as opposed to Cretan oregano, which is another name for pot marjoram), wild marjoram, winter marjoram, wintersweet and mountain mint. It is not closely related to mint. The oreganos and marjorams are quite closely related, which explains the almost interchangeable names. You can also use any of them as a substitute for any of the others in cooking (and for thyme) - though not necessarily as a remedy. Sow indoors Feb-April ½cm (¼")
Oregano - beneficial and popular multi-purpose herb [updated]
Oregano, Origanum vulgare, is also known as Greek oregano (as opposed to Cretan oregano, which is another name for pot marjoram), wild marjoram, winter marjoram, wintersweet and mountain mint. It is not closely related to mint. The oreganos and marjorams are quite closely related, which explains the almost interchangeable names. You can also use any of them as a substitute for any of the others in cooking (and for thyme) - though not necessarily as a remedy. Sow indoors Feb-April ½cm (¼")
Friday, 24 June 2011
Sweet Marjoram for gastritis and stiffness [updated]
Sweet marjoram (often called just marjoram) is also known as knotted marjoram. The correct latin name is Origanum majorana, but it is sometimes labeled Majorana hortensis or Origanum majoranoides. It is a half-hardy perennial. It's closely related to oregano and pot marjoram. Marjoram will grow in any well-drained alkaline to neutral soil in full sun or semi-shade, and can reach a height of 60cm (2') and a spread of 45cm (18"). It's generally grown from seed sown under cover in early Spring
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Pot marjoram is great for coughs and indigestion [updated]
Pot marjoram, Origanum onites, is also known as rhigani and Cretan oregano. It is closely related to the true oregano and sweet marjoram. Pot marjoram is a hardy perennial which will grow almost anywhere except in full shade or where it can be blasted by winds from the sea. It reaches a height and spread of about 60cm (2'). Sow under cover in early Spring, prick out into individual pots and grow on. Plant out in early Summer into well drained soil. Can also be propagated by division. Cut
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
If you take vitamin B12, you NEED to read this
Wow! 2 posts in one day!But I had to pass this on ASAP, it's that important. Vitamin B12 Warning
Why we should all be drinking green tea every day
I'm about to update my post about the health benefits of tea, Camellia sinensis. The reason is this article I just read which shows that it is effective in the treatment and prevention of many auto-immune and chronic conditions. But I thought I would let you know about it right away, as it affects many of us in one way or another. Green tea is made from leaves of the tea plant which haven't been fermented, just dried, so you can grow your own tea and use that. Of course, if you're making the recommended 2-4 cups a day, you'll probably not have space to grow enough, but green tea is readily available in most bigger food stores, health shops and similar outlets.
Monday, 20 June 2011
Bay leaves for indigestion, gas and colic [updated]
Bay leaves are a well known herb in the kitchen, and bay trees are often grown in pots as ornamentals. The bay tree, Laurus nobilis, is an evergreen tree which reaches a height of 35 feet (12m) plus, if not restricted in this way. Grow in a 40-45cm (15-18") tub to restrict height. Trim to shape 2 or 3 times during Summer. However, growing it in a pot does mean that it will need frequent watering during the warmer months, even up to twice a day! You can pick leaves as you need them, and take
Conventional Medicine kills people
Herbal Medicine and Aromatherapy may have a bad rep with some conventional doctors, but it's a fact that they kill way less people than conventional medicine. Here's a video (not mine) that explains why you should avoid conventional medicine as much as possible - use it when you have to and not before. New Leading Cause of Death
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Sweet Basil - Delicious tonic, cold remedy, and more [updated]
Giving some indication as to why Italian food is supposed to be so good for you (though garlic also deserves some credit, I'm sure), basil - also known as sweet basil and St Joseph's wort - Ocimum basilicum, is a great tonic herb, raising the spirits and helping to alleviate exhaustion. So now you have an excuse, if one were needed, for piling on the pesto sauce (which also contains olive oil and pine nuts, both useful additions to a healthy diet). It is related to holy basil but not to wild
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
What I've been doing the last few weeks
While I've been away from the site, I've been working hard on getting the new paper magazine looking its best, and as accurate as I can make it. Each issue is priced at $4.95, or there's a downloadable version for $2. You might not have spotted the ad for one of the issues in the sidebar already. Or you might have wondered what the magazine was like. So I thought I'd just give you a few tasters here, and then you can decide whether or not it's for you. There are 6 issues so far (issues 5
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Selling your home with aromatherapy
Scent diffusers are great for ambience. The type pictured here, the reed diffuser is one of the easiest to use. See my article about aromatherapy diffusers for more information about them. An article about how to sell your home suggests using aromatherapy as one of your tools. This sounds like a great idea, as smell often evokes emotions of one sort or another, but the selection of scent has to be careful, and it's important not to overdo it. Remember that just because the scent of lavender makes you feel at home, doesn't mean this works for someone, who may be reminded of an old people's home or something just as unappealing.Perhaps the best scents to sell your home are not available in bottles. The smell of fresh baked bread or freshly brewed coffee has been found by research to be quite successful for home sellers. Coffee is easy enough. Invest in a supply of half baked bread if you prefer that option.
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Herbal Products
Here's a list of herbal products I've found which relate to the herbs I've covered so
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Vanilla - anti-cancer and antioxidant
Vanilla is extracted from the beans produced by the orchid Vanilla planifolia (syn. Myrobroma fragrans, Vanilla fragrans). This is an unusual plant, because as well as being an orchid, it's also a vine! The vanilla orchid also has other names, including Bourbon vanilla, flat-leaved vanilla, Tahitian vanilla and West Indian vanilla (the latter name is shared with Vanilla pompona). It requires a minimum temperature of 10ºC (50ºF) day and night to survive, so in temperate regions must be
Vanilla - anti-cancer and antioxidant
Vanilla is extracted from the beans produced by the orchid Vanilla planifolia (syn. Myrobroma fragrans, Vanilla fragrans). This is an unusual plant, because as well as being an orchid, it's also a vine! The vanilla orchid also has other names, including Bourbon vanilla, flat-leaved vanilla, Tahitian vanilla and West Indian vanilla (the latter name is shared with Vanilla pompona). It requires a minimum temperature of 10ºC (50ºF) day and night to survive, so in temperate regions must be
Monday, 18 April 2011
Thyme video
This is the first, but hopefully not the last, of my videos about herbs: Hope you like it. Please let me know what you
Thyme is a truly multi-purpose herb
(A video containing the main points outlined here is available here) The thyme I am talking about here is Thymus vulgaris, the Common or Garden Thyme. It's a low growing, fairly tough plant that likes a sunny situation. It comes in the standard green leafed and also in variegated forms, which some people consider to be more attractive, but the important thyme oil (which is the source of all thyme's goodness) is found in both. Thyme is closely related to Lemon Thyme, but not to Basil
Guide to Aromatherapy: An Overview
This site is a guide to aromatherapy for beginners. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oil and plant resins to treat conditions, which can range from emotional problems like depression to skin and hair treatments and physical difficulties like exhaustion. If you're interested in aromatherapy you've probably already come across spammy "spun" articles that talk about "important oils", but this is a misunderstanding of the meaning of the word essential when used with oil. So what does
Monday, 4 April 2011
Cannabis recommended by US National Cancer Institute - after self-censoring
(Photo by Ganjabro depicts cannabis growing in the International School, Bangalore from wikimedia: 
)
(Facebook Fans: Click at the end for full story)
Natural healers have known the benefits of cannabis for thousands of years. Now the US National Cancer Institute seems to have caught up. But they removed reference to anti-tumor properties shortly after first publication - well, well. I bet we can guess why. Full story here:
Current bowdlerized recommendations here:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/AllPagesAs stated in the NCI article, the highest concentration of active constituents is found in the female flowers. It's likely that the most fragrant plants contain the highest concentrations of all - which in street terms includes skunk and super-skunk. Cannabis oil is very concentrated, and is banned in the same countries that ban the plant.
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Thyme video
Thyme video: If you grow thyme in your garden or you have some in your kitchen cupboard for cooking with, you might be interested in this video I made and posted on YouTube the other day.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
New European Regulations banning herbal supplement sales
The regulations come into force at the end of April. Read more here:
http://www.herbalmedicinefromyourgarden.com/new-european-regulations-banning-herbal-supplement-sales/Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Looks like Popeye was right all along
Nothing to do with aromatherapy, but everything to do with health...
It's been years since scientists "debunked" Popeye's claims about spinach - only a new study seems to show that he was right all along. http://www.healthypages.co.uk/newsitem.php?news=6484
Good news to me, as I've always loved the stuff (though not pureed the way he consumed it - that's just vile). If you want to keep all the nutrients intact, just cook it for as long as it takes for the leaves to wilt, using only the amount of water that sticks to the leaves after you wash it.
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Aroma therapy
A video today, illustrating that aromatherapy is truly a therapy, not just a way of enjoying pretty smells! You'll probably notice that she's using oils from StarWest Botanicals, as recommended on my blog Guide to Aromatherapy and shown here :)
You'll find the video here:
http://www.ehow.com/video_8000402_aromatherapy-surgical-recovery.htmlTuesday, 8 March 2011
A citrus oil you may not have heard of
Sounds very interesting, though there may be problems getting it. Neither of the suppliers I usually recommend stocks it.
For information on orange oils in general and bergamot oil in particular, you can check out my post here: http://guidetoaromatherapy.org/essential-oils-guide-orange-oils/
Friday, 4 March 2011
Don't worry, Be happy!
Suite 101 has a piece about aromatherapy oils for happiness. In these financially stressful times, every little helps, so I thought I'd let you know about it.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Don't miss out on this Valentine's Day competition (ends Thursday 3pm)
Victorians pretty much invented the
Valentine's card. Valentine's Day - hearts and flowers and all that stuff. What better gift than something from the bath and body section of aromatherapy? Better still, what if you can win that something? No guarantees, but one thing's for sure - you gotta be in it to win it. So if you're interested, go to http://hollyjcurtis.wordpress.com/2011/02/09/competition-aromatherapy-for-valentines-day/ and enter right away. In case the site (which is not mine) is down, here are the instructions: Email an answer to the question “What would your perfect Valentine’s Day involve?” to: hollyjcurtis@gmail.com Entries must reach her by Thursday the 10th February at 3.00pm (not sure which time zone).
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Cinnamon helps prevent/treat diabetes
The inner bark of Cinnamomum
verum is sold as cinnamon. Not to
be confused with cassia bark. "8 studies carried out on human volunteers clearly showed that blood sugar levels were effectively reduced after meals and also in between meals by including cinnamon in the diet" Healthy PagesRecent studies are bringing to light properties for many spices which go a long way to explaining why they are so often used in remedies across the Asian world. Cinnamon, the inner bark of the tropical tree Cinnamomum verum, is no exception to this. Used in the Western cooking mainly for sweet dishes like spiced buns and rice pudding (though I've also seen it as an ingredient in hash browns), cinnamon is more often used in savory cooking for dishes like Indian curries, where it is just one of a medley of different natural seasonings. Make sure you buy good quality cinnamon, as some of the cheaper varieties may be adulterated or entirely substituted by cassia bark (from the related tree Cinnamomum cassia), which is both inferior so far as taste goes and does not have the same properties. On the other hand, cinnamon essential oil from the bark is not used for medicinal purposes. Cinnamon leaf oil is used in aromatherapy, but is really only suitable for professional use. More about cinnamon health benefits on HMYG
More about cinnamon essential oil on Guide to Aromatherapy.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Milk Thistle: researchers confirm just how great it is
If you grow herbal remedies, you may have come across my article about Milk Thistle's health benefits: http://www.herbalmedicinefromyourgarden.com/milk-thistle-health-benefits/ Now Natural News has published a new article about its benefits for the liver, and reported on new research showing it slows brain aging and prevents Alzheimer's disease. This is on top of its known value as an immune booster and confirms just how great this natural herb - little more than a weed, in fact - really is. To read the Natural News article, go here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/031029_silymarin_liver.html
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Got bruises? Try one of these remedies
Coincidentally, an aromatherapy supplier has published a recipe for an ointment for bruises, using arnica and wintergreen. I didn't notice this because I was working on a post about the amazing properties of helichrysum oil, sometimes called the boxer's essential oil. Helichrysum is well known among athletes for this purpose, but arnica has a similar reputation with other groups, so "you pays your money and you takes your choice" as the saying goes: My post about helichrysum: http://guidetoaromatherapy.org/helichrysum-oil-and-its-uses/
Recipe for arnica and wintergreen ointment: http://www.auroma.com/recipe.php?id=120
Monday, 3 January 2011
Diet to prevent Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis - blueberries!
I just came across a fascinating report about how "purple fruit and green tea" work to prevent neurological degeneration. These diseases, which include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, tend to run in families. But this new research seems to show that regular consumption of blueberries and green tea stops the damage which causes them from occurring. Most people like blueberries, I know, but someone is going to have to come up with a whole load of recipes to stop them becoming boring. Watch out for blueberry cookbooks on the shelves some time soon. If you'd like to read the report, you'll find it here: http://www.healthypages.co.uk/newsitem.php?news=6430
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