Happy Gardening

published originally in The Country Register

Herbs to Grow in Your Garden
By Gayle Eversole, AHG, Granite Falls Natural Healing Centre.

(Part 1 of 2)

If you are familiar with my book, My Medicine Garden, you know that I encourage people to grow their own herbs, and make their own medicines. Herbs grow easily in pots or a backyard garden.

As herbs grow make sure you pinch them back when they reach a height of 4 to 5 inches. This encourages growth and full plants. Leaflady's Naturally Nutritional Fertilizer provides nutrients safely. (More information is found in our book, My Happy Garden)

Mints are probably my favorite herbs to grow. The roots aerate soil, and the flowers attract bees for pollination.

Mints offer help for many discomforts.

Peppermint is helpful for poor digestion, circulation, headaches, migraine, nausea/vomiting, colon disorders, colds/flu, fever, colic, nervousness, and respiratory problems.

Bergamot, a mint better known as Bee Balm, helps support the nervous and digestive systems, with a sweet, uplifting, citrus like aroma.

Jasper, my flame point Siamese cat’s favorite mint is catnip - In folk medicine, catnip leaves and flowers are steeped to make a pleasant tasting tea. Taken before bedtime, catnip tea is widely believed to hasten slumber and aid in achieving a restful nights sleep. It is also employed as a remedy in the treatment of tension and anxiety, and is mentioned as being a useful calmative for hyperactive children. Catnip is listed as a mild diaphoretic, helpful in eliminating toxins from the body, as well as acting as a carminative to support digestion, relieve upset stomach, and control the symptoms of diarrhea. The claimed effects of this mild herb are generally acknowledged to have a volatile oil similar in structure to the sedative ingredient found in valerian root.

Lemon mint is another in the widely dispersed mint family. Like all mints it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

Spearmint is chiefly used for culinary purposes, but it is also used in the aroma and flavor industry. Spearmint is also used to relieve hiccough, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, and colic pain. It is also used to treat painful hemorrhoids and for rheumatism. Spearmint has antifungal, antiviral, antimicrobial, insecticide, antioxidant, antiamoebic, antihemolytic, allergenic, CNS depressant, antihelminthic, and antiancylostomiasis activities.

Continued from the April-May issue of The Country Register

Herbs to Grow in Your Garden
By Gayle Eversole

(Part 2 of 2)

Basil – Holy Basil is an herb used commonly in Europe and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Its use dates back to the days of the Bible, and it is good as a food and a healer. It contains vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A-D-B2, and calcium, phosphorus, iron, and magnesium. It is found in the delicious Persian herb stew, Gorma Sabzi. Its good for indigestion, headaches, whooping cough, and insect or snake bites.

Chives - Flowers of this onion cousin are great in salads.

Parsley – A vitamin pill in the garden, a preventive health herb, great source of potassium, good diuretic, lowers blood pressure, helps PMS, prevents cancer cells from multiplying, and aids weight loss. Contains vitamins A, B, C, iron, chlorophyll, other nutrients. Avoid use in pregnancy. Parsley dries up mother’s milk.

Summer Savory – Add to beans when you are cooking them to avoid the gaseous after effects. Summer Savory helps reduce cholesterol.

Oregano – An ancient herb used because of its digestive, antifungal, antibacterial, antiyeast, anthelmintic and anti-allergenic properties. Essential oils can be distilled from the plant or extracted by making tea or alcohol tincture. Flowering tops can be put into beer and ale for flavoring and preservation. It is good for pain and toothache.

Thyme & Lemon Thyme – antiseptic and general tonic, treats anemia, bronchial and intestinal complaints. Protects against tooth decay, is anti fungal (for athletes foot) and kills internal and external parasites, good for warts, sciatica, gout, and many other conditions. It is high in B complex, vitamin C and D, iodine, some sodium, silicon, and sulfur.

Dill - A carminative herb (relief for gas and bloating). Dill vinegar forms a popular household condiment. Make it by soaking the seeds in vinegar for a few days before using. Dill fruit and oil of Dill possess stimulant, aromatic, carminative and stomachic properties, making them of considerable medicinal value. Oil of Dill is used in mixtures, or administered in doses of 5 drops on sugar.. The most common use from old times is the preparation of Dill Water, remedy for the flatulence of infants, and is a useful vehicle for children's medicine.

Sage – Known as the longevity herb since ancient times. It is useful for respiratory congestion with colds and flu, balancing estrogen, night sweats, memory, and sores of all kinds. Sage and rosemary give you a natural plant cortisone. Its main nutrients are vitamin A, B complex, and C, calcium and potassium. Persons with epilepsy should avoid sage.

Rosemary – For circulatory, nervous, muscular systems, and skin and hair. It is good for memory, migraine headaches, and is antiviral. Combines well with peppermint.

Wishing you continued Happy Gardening.