Herbalist Blog

Cooking With Lavender

Karen — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:13:29 +0000

Lavender is an amazingly versatile herb that is also used for cooking — not only at home, but also in many upscale restaurants. A member of the mint family, lavender flowers are wonderful flavor enhancers that can also add to the appearance of the food. Lavender flowers and leaves can be used freshly cut; their buds and stems can be dried before use.

It is best to use lavender with other herbs, such as fennel, oregano and savory, and it can also be used with its other mint cousins (rosemary, sage and thyme). Lavender has an extremely powerful aroma, so it must be used sparingly or the recipe will have a bitter taste, and you’ll feel like you are eating perfume. The next time you’re cooking up a storm, add a sprig of lavender to the pot and enjoy!

Tags: herbal remedies, health, diet

Cajuput - Melaleuca leucadenron

Karen — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:40:35 +0000

Cajuput is a versatile antiseptic and clearing essential oil that can also be used effectively as an inhalant during the cold season. Cajuput essential oil has a fresh, camphoraceous-medicinal aroma with a fruity body note and is very similar to eucalyptus, but softer with a hint of herb.

Cajuput originates from Vietnam and is extracted by steam distillation of the fresh leaves and twigs. Cajuput essential oil is a member of the Myrtacaea family. It is also known as m. minor, cajeput, white tea tree, white wood, swamp tea tree, punk tree and paperbark tree. It blends well with bergamot, cypress, juniperberry, lemon, pine and rosemary.

Safety: Cajuput essential oil may cause skin irritation in some individuals.

Tags: herbal remedies, health, diet

Cypress essential oil

Karen — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 13:49:26 +0000

Cypress essential oil is a wonderful essential oil for overheated skin and maintaining a healthy circulation. The astringent and toning properties of Cypress essential oil support areas under constant pressure such as the legs. It is refreshing and a natural deodorant.

It is useful for visible veins and cellulite and in optimising a healthy immune system. Cypress essential oil is an excellent womens oil, especially during menstruation and the menopause. It has a sweet, warm and woody aroma.

Tags: aromatherapy, health, wellbeing,

Acacia

Karen — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 17:41:03 +0000

Acacia popularly known as Babul in India is a very effective cure for Eczema. The bark of the tree should be boiled in water - about 50 gm of bark is heated in approx one litre of water and the vapours are to be directed at the effected place.

Tags: acacia, web, internet, herbal remedies

Patchouli and Ylang-ylang

Karen — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 12:01:29 +0000

Patchouli and Ylang-ylang oils in an oil burner can perfume a room and add a great sense of ambience. Patchouli can be used to treat eczema and dandruff, while Ylang-ylang is reputed to relieve stress, palpitations, and high blood pressure.

Tags: herbs, patchouli

Dandelion

Karen — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 06:21:50 +0000

While the dandelion is considered a weed by many gardeners, the plant does have several culinary and medicinal uses. Dandelion is grown commercially at a small scale as a leaf vegetable. The plant can be eaten cooked or raw in various forms, such as in soup or salad. They are probably closest in character to mustard greens. Usually the young leaves and unopened buds are eaten raw in salads, while older leaves are cooked. Raw leaves have a slightly bitter taste. Dandelion salad is often accompanied with hard boiled eggs.

Dandelion flowers can be used to make dandelion wine. The leaves are high in vitamin A, vitamin C and iron, containing more iron than spinach. Ground roasted dandelion root can be used as a coffee substitute. Drunk before meals, it is believed to stimulate digestive functions. Sold in most health food stores, often in a mixture, it is considered an excellent cleansing tonic for the liver.

Dandelion root is a registered drug in Canada, sold as a diuretic. A leaf decoction can be drunk to “purify the blood”, for the treatment of anemia, jaundice, and also for nervousness. The milky latex has been used as a mosquito repellent; the milk is also applied to warts, helping get rid of them without damaging the surrounding skin. A dye can also be obtained from the roots of the plant. A new mixture of roasted roots is sold as a product called DandyBlend which tastes like coffee after the inulin in the dandelion is roasted.

Tags: diet, food, health

Valerian

Karen — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 15:43:37 +0000

Valerian has uses in herbal medicine as a sedative. It has in the past been recommended for epilepsy but that has not been supported by modern research. The main current use of valerian is as a remedy for insomnia. Large doses are known to cause withdrawal symptoms when stopped, as it is mildly addictive. Those with liver disease are advised not to use valerian. Valerian is the source of valeric acid.

The volatile oils that form the active ingredient are extremely pungent, somewhat reminiscent of well-matured cheese or well-matured milk. Valerian tea should not be prepared with boiling water, as this may drive off the lighter oils.

An unusual feature of valerian is that the dried root affects the domestic cat in a similar way as that of catnip. If valerian root is left in a place to which cats have access, they will roll in it, drool on it, and chew it. Burmese cats are attracted to the dried herb and will deliberately destroy containers to obtain it. However, some cats won’t go near valerian root.

Tags: diet, health

Artemisia absinthium, Wormwood

Karen — Thu, 18 May 2006 18:17:46 +0000

The aromatic leaves of many species of Artemisia are medicinal, and some are used for flavouring. Most species have an extremely bitter taste. A. dracunculus (Tarragon) is widely used as a herb, particularly important in French cuisine.

Artemisia absinthium (Absinth Wormwood) was used to repel fleas and moths, and in brewing (wormwood beer, wormwood wine). The aperitif vermouth (derived from the German word Wermut, “wormwood”) is a wine flavored with aromatic herbs, but originally with wormwood. The highly potent spirit absinthe, also contains wormwood. Wormwood has been used medicinally as a tonic, stomachic, febrifuge and anthelmintic.

Artemisia arborescens (Tree Wormwood, or Sheeba in Arabic) is a very bitter herb indigenous to the Middle East that is used in tea, usually with mint. It may have some hallucinogenic properties.

A few species are grown as ornamental plants, the fine-textured ones used for clipped bordering. All grow best in free-draining sandy soil, unfertilized, and in full sun.

Tags: health, web, internet

Lime Blossom

Karen — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 14:58:16 +0000

Lime Blossom (Tiliae flos), the dried flowers of lime tree, is a medicinal herb. Other names include lime flower, linden and tilia blossom.

Preparation and dosage

Put 1.5-2g of herbs into a pot and pour 1/4 liter of boiled water. Do not boil any more. Remove the herbs after 5-10 minutes. Drink warm. Best prepared shortly before drinking. Recommended dosage 1-1.5 liters/day. Do not exceed the recommended dosage. This herb should not be taken regularly.

Purported benefits

* Relieves symptoms of the common cold
* Assists in treating of ear infections
* Soothes indigestion
* Reduces high blood pressure
* Eases anxiety
* Stimulates sweating, hence may lower increased body temperature.
* Acts as mild decongestant/expectorant, it helps clear your throat, nose, sinuses etc., obstructed with mucus/phlegm.

Tags: diet, food, health

Liquorice

Karen — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 07:30:52 +0000

Powdered liquorice root is an effective cough remedy (expectorant), and has been used for this purpose since ancient times, especially in ayurvedic medicine where it is also used in tooth powders. Modern cough syrups often include liquorice extract as an ingredient. Additionally, licorice may be useful for both mouth and peptic ulcers.

Though scientifically unproven, liquorice has an ancient reputation as an aphrodisiac.

Tags: herbal remedies, health, diet