How To Grow Catnip

This herb that belongs to the mint family delivers a pungent fragrance which actually attracts cats - thus the name. Expect this plant to grow to at least three to four feet in height and may feature downy and light green foliage and may also have small lavender flowers.

Catnip grows and thrives on almost any soil type, but the plant is friendly to moderately rich loam soil that is well-draining. If you want better aroma, sandy soil is the best type of soil where catnip can grow. Catnip is versatile, growing in the shade or in the sunny parts of your property.

Growing catnip in the backyard is easy since this plant can easily be propagated thru the use of its seed, the stem cuttings or even the root-ball division. It is suggested to start the planting of the catnip seeds late in fall or early spring and have the seeds lightly covered. When catnip seeds are planted in fall, you can expect a denser crop in the end.

When planting and maintaining catnip, make sure that the plants are spaced between 15 to 18 inches apart. The pH level of the soil is not a problem since this herb can grow in a range between mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. If space is limited then remember that the seeds can be grown using different media as well.

You can aslo grow catnip in soil-less potting mixes, perlite, vermiculite, rockwool, coco peat and even on oasis foam. This plant doesn’t require steady sunlight as it can also thrive in shady areas.

Lemon Balm Uses

Lemon balm is a hardy perennial plant that can mature into a bush of about 24 inches in diameter. It belongs to the mint family, and as such carries much of the properties of the mint herb. There are many medicinal and culinary lemon balm uses so it is a good herb to consider growing in your garden.

Growing lemon balm is easy as it thrives in both sun and shade.  It grows in loose and fertile soil and can grow in dry soil esily. You can grow it alon with your other herbs and flowers or in a special herb garden outside your kitchen door . At times  lemon balm can be used as an ornament inside your property but most of the time the lemon balm best served its role in the kitchen.

Lemon balm is best used fresh and when paired with mint, lemon balm makes an interesting hot or iced tea. Lemon balm can be used as well in recipes when lemon peel is not available. This herb is often used in many recipes that involve tea, chicken and vinaigrette for salads.

Aside from its culinary benefits, the lemon balm has some medicinal uses as well. The crushed leaves of the herb when rubbed on the skin can act as a mosquito repellant. The leaves of the herb are also believed to contain anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties and can be used against herpes simplex and can be used as well as a mild sedative and as a calming agent. The essential oil that can be sourced from lemon balm is popularly used in aromatherapy.

With all these practical lemon balm uses, this is one herb you should put on your list for next years herb garden.

Chamomile Herb – A Versatile Medicinal Alternative

You often see the chamomile flower as one of the many ingredients included in sweet-smelling shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, lotion, and other beauty products. This is because chamomile has that soothing, refreshing quality that makes it perfect for hair and skin care. The chamomile herb, on the other hand, may be used for many other purposes, particularly as alternative medicine for a number of illnesses and can be seen in the list of ingredients of several supplements and teas available in the market these days.
Chamomile is a word of Greek origin and literally translates to “apple of the earth,” a fitting tribute to the plant’s apple-like scent. The chamomile flower belongs to the Asteraceae, a sunflower family, made up of a variety of distinct species, including the German Chamomile, Roman Chamomile, Moroccan Chamomile, Cape Chamomile, and the Wild Chamomile, also known as Pineapple Weed. The German and Roman Chamomile are the two most popular species; the first one appears blue due to the high content of azulene it possesses and is the kind of chamomile most often used in chamomile tea, and the second one is referred to as lawn chamomile because of its relation to other members of the species, including the Corn Chamomile, Dog-fennel, and the Golden Marguerite, also known as the Yellow Chamomile. Although the name comes from the Greeks, it has been reported that the Egyptians have long discovered the healing properties of chamomile and valued it over the rest of the herbs they had, even going as far as dedicating the chamomile herb to their sun god. As history progressed, chamomile became a widely known ingredient used in brewing love potions back in the Middle Ages.

The chamomile plant is usually consumed or taken in the form of an herb tea infusion that is characterized by a hint of bitterness. This tea infusion serves as the medium for the great medicinal value of the chamomile herb, and works to relieve different medical symptoms. Some of the herbal tea’s most popular uses are for treating spasms that are symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, menstrual abdominal pains, and nocturnal cramps; calming and easing the digestive tract for proper digestion and fast metabolism; and curing insomnia and anxiety attacks. Chamomile tea is a favorite form of alternative medicine taken in as a sedative or a relaxant; it is known to be both effective and safe, making it a trusted alternative recommended even by doctors and health professionals. Fever and symptoms of cough and colds can also be treated using chamomile tea, but it must be given in large doses and at close intervals for sure relief. Meanwhile, dried chamomile flowers are taken in as emetics.

Another use of the chamomile herb, in the form of tea, is one that is not related to medicinal purposes – it is an efficient and cheap plant tonic, which means that it protects plants from a variety of diseases. Dried chamomile flowers, on the other hand, often find use as repellant for insects and pests.

Medicinal Herb Gardening

Natural medicine is a big industry today, now that people distrust the prescription drug market. But, are herbs used for medicinal purposes really effective? Not all herbs work, but some do and have been used to treat many ailments for thousands of years which is why medicinal herb gardening is becoming so popular today. Here are some plants you might want to include in your homeopathic medicinal herb garden:

Chamomile

Most people have heard of chamomile, which is an herb derived from the dried chamomile flower. It’s well-known for the tasty tea that it makes. Chamomile tea is a soothing drink with gentle sedative powers. Some people claim that it reduces inflammation and fever, but that remains unsubstantiated. Other studies suggest that chamomile inhibits bacteria involved in stomach ulcers, but that remains unsubstantiated as well.

Some people are allergic to chamomile’s pollen, but it is safe for the majority of people - despite it not quite being a “miracle cure” as certain claims state.

Echinacea

Echinacea is one of the herbs used for medicinal purposes that is rather well studied.  It is a perennial plant with a whole host of ingredients that have been studied thoroughly. It is believed to aid the immune system in its natural functions, and is often employed in treating upper respiratory issues triggered by colds. However, more evidence is still needed before proving its immune system properties conclusively.

There have been some studies on Echinacea that suggest that it can ease the symptoms and length of the common cold. Other studies also showed that it can help reduce the chances of catching a cold.  Since there are so many factors that go into someone actually getting a cold these statements are very hard to prove. At the very least this herb is generally thought to be safe for people to take. If this herb amounts to nothing else it could be used as a decent placebo.

A trained physician is the only person who should be sought out to learn whether or not medicinal herbs are safe or not for individuals with certain ailments, such as diabetes.

Feverfew

Anyone familiar with medicinal herb gardening probably knows about Feverfew,  a lush perennial that has ingredients like parthenolide and glycosides, believed to aid in treating inflammation and migraine headaches. Though it isn’t conclusive, there is something to this idea. Feverfew is known to reduce the incidence of blood clots.

There are many uses for this homeopathic medicinal herb, but some of the potential side effects include, skin inflammation, mouth ulcers and high blood pressure. Another side effect may be the reduction of iron absorbed into your body.

Ginseng

This ancient herb was utilized by people in China and India for thousands of years. It comes from the ginseng plant and can take many forms. Research has shown that it may lower blood sugar and increase ‘good’ cholesterol.

It has never been proven that it will enhance sexual performance. It may have a placebo effect on the user, and that might be just as helpful in this particular situation. There are compounds that act like estrogen in ginseng, so woman who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take it. If a person takes a lot of ginseng, they might induce an asthma attack or lower their blood sugar to an unhealthy level.

It’s important to research any herbs used for medicinal purposes, because they can be a health risk in some cases. People have shown that some herbs have very helpful benefits, but it’s nearly impossible to be objective about anecdotes, so be careful.

Medicinal herb gardening can be done in any home garden, in pots or in the soil.  It’s not any harder than growing any other type of perennial and you will have fresh homeopathic medicinal herb plants that you can use for what ails you!

Medieval Herbs

During the Middle Ages the importance of growing and harvesting herbs was essential for Europe. Medical knowledge and technology was extremely limited and the knowledge of herbalism was a matter of life and death. Medieval Europe developed this knowledge through practice and experience with Medieval herbs. It was a time of superstition more than science so much of their perceived knowledge was nonsense. Yet, much of what they did know is valid for us even today because they put so much of their heart and time in learning specifics about herbal medicine.

Medieval herb gardens were beautiful things, growing plants for medicinal, seasonal, or just observational purposes. To get an idea today of what these gardens would have resembled, check out New York’s Cloisters. Built in the 1930s, it was created to resemble a historical herb garden as closely as possible, and the goal, through skilled designers, was well achieved.

There are many sections in the Cloisters. The Bonnefont cloister eminently holds the herb garden. Over 250 species are cultivated there. These species miraculously hold up through New York’s frigid winters, scorching and muggy summers, and the sporadic rainy seasons of Autumn and Spring.

The Medieval herbs garden at the Cloisters is unique though it is largely derived from various types. Besides the wattle fences, raised beds, and central wellhead that typifies any classic herb garden archtype, it is characterized by a surrounding orchards and a variety of plants with the herbs at the center. No other garden could be so really desirable by any home practitioner.

Many herbs are found in suitable pots that look like those possibly found during that period. The herbalists are permitted to bring the fragile pots inside during winter since it can snow and the temperatures in New York can go below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Herbs cultivated through the Middle Ages were administered in the futile attempts to keep evil spirits at bay. A common perception was that dill possessed magical powers. It was assumed that rosemary would prevent the plague. Sage was employed to treat epilepsy.

There are 9 groupings of herbs at the Cloisters. This corresponds to the ones that were common in that period. The first grouping holds Thistles and Absinthe, the second hold ones used medicinally, like Licorice and St. John’s Wort, and the third grouping holds aromatics such as Lemon Balm and Lavender.

There are different classifications that use herbs for art and some that would be questioned today, like motivating Love and Marriage with herbs like Meadow Rue and ‘magical’ plants such as Herb Robert. The final classification includes the herbs used for cooking like Parsley and Borage, Caraway and Fennel.

Medieval herbs were widely used, perhaps more so than today, however the same plants are available to herbalists in modern times.  More and more we are hearing about the medicinal properties of these herbs and these uses often coincide with what they were used for in ancient times.