| Many herb gardens are started with the old | | | | an individual is taking other medications. |
| stand-bys that are used in cooking to make your | | | | The tall herb Lovage is used in salads at fancy |
| foods taste better such as basil, oregano, mint, dill or | | | | restaurants because of the delightful taste is a 'must |
| rosemary. There is another aspect to herbs that can | | | | add' to the herb guide. Lovage tastes like sweet |
| enhance your life as you will find in this herb guide, | | | | celery and enhances a salad greatly. This plant is a |
| the medicinal properties of herbs. Rare herbs are | | | | perennial and survives the winter to return in the |
| beautiful and useful and it is worth getting to know | | | | spring. Lovage grows to a height of six feet and is |
| what herbs can be used medicinally. This herb guide | | | | very hardy. Lovage is often found in aphrodisiacs, or |
| offers a few of the many herbs that are beneficial | | | | love potions, hence the name. The herb guide would |
| medicinally. | | | | not be complete without Lovage. |
| A great herb for the sugar conscious is called Stevia. | | | | As a medicinal plant, it is hard to beat St.John's Wort |
| This plant is a substitute for sugar that tastes | | | | as a treatment for depression. This hardy plant |
| somewhat like Equal, without the aftertaste of | | | | comes back every year. Though this plant is invasive |
| chemicals. The human body cannot metabolize the | | | | to other plants, it is easily contained by potting it. St. |
| glucose in Stevia. Stevia becomes a sweetener that | | | | John's Wort is often dried to be used as a tea. The |
| is beneficial to those who must be glucose conscious. | | | | traditional harvest day for St. John's Wort is June 24, |
| Stevia extracts are said to have 300 times the | | | | St. John's Day. In large doses St. John's Wort has |
| sweetness of sugar. What a great way to | | | | been known to cause adverse reactions in farm |
| incorporate sweetness into your diet and not gain | | | | animals. The herb guide cautions against using this |
| weight from it or raise your blood sugar levels! Stevia | | | | medicinal plant without the advice of a doctor or a |
| can be grown in a pot indoors because it thrives in | | | | holistic practitioner. |
| hot, humid environments. We add this to the herb | | | | Next to come in the herb guide, Comfrey. Comfrey is |
| guide in order to help you find a healthy alternative | | | | propagated by root cuttings due to the sterility of |
| to sugar. | | | | the plant. Strong growing plants have offsets that |
| Lavender, a member of the mint family, is not usually | | | | can be separated from the parent plant and planted |
| thought of as an herb. Many dishes such as salad | | | | individually. It should be cautioned that comfrey can |
| dressing, coffee, teas, and chocolate use lavender. | | | | cause liver ailments if over used or used improperly. |
| The oil of lavender can be used to lessen stings and | | | | Known as knit bone, comfrey speeds up the natural |
| burns due to its anti-inflammatory properties. | | | | production of body cells. The organic gardener values |
| Lavender can also be used in relaxation therapy. The | | | | comfrey as a fertilizer. |
| scent soothes frazzled nerves and is quite good for | | | | The Japanese root, Gobo is also known as Burdock |
| the skin due to the antiseptic properties of the oils. | | | | and not often mentioned in herbal guides. The root |
| Lavender can be used as a bug repellent by rubbing | | | | and leaves are edible and is somewhat like spinach in |
| the flowers on the skin. It smells heavenly to | | | | the leaves. The older roots are cooked while the |
| humans, but bugs hate it. Lavender grows well in | | | | younger roots can be eaten uncooked. Gobo is best |
| northern climates and is quite hearty. Lavender has | | | | known to provide herbal healing in the assistance with |
| long been known for the soothing properties in the | | | | indigestion, arthritis, rheumatism, some skin and |
| oils of the lavender. This herb guide includes lavender | | | | nervous disorders. Gobo is also said to remove toxins |
| to enhance your relaxation and your mood. | | | | that have built up in the system. The herb guide |
| Garlic chives are delightful in that the herb combines | | | | recommends that Gobo be used in recommended |
| two well known flavors, garlic and chives. The garlic is | | | | dosages that can be found in most herbal healing |
| complemented by the oniony chive flavor that is | | | | guides. |
| present. This herb can be used as a super substitute | | | | Leopard's Bane is found wild in several areas of |
| for garlic, especially in a salad. Garlic chives have an | | | | Europe. This protected species in the wild can be |
| added feature as well; it is a deterrent to garden | | | | grown at home in your herbal garden. The topical |
| pests. The herb guide highly recommends this for an | | | | application of this herb to areas on the skin has been |
| organic alternative to pesticides! | | | | said to be quite beneficial. Individuals that have acne |
| Valerian, a hardy perennial has sweetly scented pink | | | | skin disorders, burns, or discomfort in joints find |
| flowers. This flowering herb blooms in the northern | | | | Leopard's Bane to be helpful. The herb guide cautions |
| hemisphere from June to September. Valerian | | | | the user to be sparing with the tincture until it is |
| stimulates phosphorus around growing plants. Tea | | | | determined if the user has an allergy or other |
| made of Valerian leaves can be used as a spray to | | | | adverse reaction to this tincture. |
| help promote disease resistant plants and attract | | | | The selections of herbs that one can grow are many |
| earthworms to aerate the soil. Valerian is used as a | | | | and the uncommon herb guide lists just a few that |
| mild sedative to promote calming effects. The herb | | | | can add beauty, practical medicinal application and |
| guide recommends that a doctor be sought to | | | | culinary treasures to your life. |
| evaluate the effect Valerian might have interacting if | | | | |