It’s March… a time when many of us think about spring gardening and what would grow up here in the mountains. I’d like to share some helpful information on the subject from an article I read. In addition, I will tell you some of the health properties of these herbs.
Lavender grows quite well here, and bees love it. It’s claimed that it relieves anxiety, helps calm nervousness and alleviates depression. It seems to be a tonic for the nervous system. Lavender is akin to mint plants and has a dominating fragrance. There is an abundance of nice things being made with it these days. Things that lavender aids all have to do with calming. Some people say it helps with sleep. Lavender is being added to Epsom salts for use in soaking to relax muscles. Lotions can be applied directly to the skin. There are even laundry soaps with lavender. I guess to help with the stress of doing laundry. There are many varieties of lavender. Here are a couple of suggestions for how to use the plant.
Ë A tea can be made using one teaspoon of dried flowers steeped in one of cup boiling water for ten minutes. This tea can be consumed even up to three times a day.
Ë Lavender oil can be combined with a carrier oil like jojoba, avocado, coconut, almond, grapeseed, argan, or rosehips. This mixture can be applied to the temples, wrists or inside the elbows and bottoms of feet. It has been used as a liniment for aches and pains. Gather the flowers just before they bloom and dry them in the oven at ninety-five degrees.
Marigold (also called calendula officinalis) is a very hardy plant that thrives in our mountain environment. Last year, I noticed these flowers displayed in the planters at the main post office in town. Marigold blooms are yellows, oranges and tinges of brownish orange. I’m told deer do not prefer them. In the same way calendula helps skin inflammation, marigold helps with skin rashes, fungal infections, wounds, bruising, muscle strain, minor burns, and scalding of the skin. It can be used in a lotion, balm, poultice or compress. Less known about this plant is its effects on the gallbladder, indigestion, and gastric and duodenal ulcers. It is what is referred to as a “cholagogue”, which means it causes a contraction of the gallbladder to secrete bile. Quick explanation about the gallbladder. The liver regularly produces bile and stores it in the gallbladder. Bile is needed to digest fats, oils, and more complex proteins. When you eat something fatty, the mouth has sensors that releases a cholagogue to the gallbladder to get it to contract. As the stomach releases those fatty foods into the small intestine, the bile combines with the normal digestive juices to continue dissolving and liquefying the food you ate. Lesser-known attributes of marigolds are that they are an antifungal when used internally or externally. They can be a remedy for painful periods or delayed menstruation. If you raise chickens, marigold is an excellent supplement to improve their health and egg quality. These eggs contain considerably less cholesterol. This was found in a study published in Internal Journal of Poultry Science (use the yellow petals).
Ë To make a tea; pour one cup boiling water over one to two teaspoonfuls of the dried flowers. Steep ten to fifteen minutes.
Ë For an ointment; add two ounces of freshly picked marigold flowers to seven ounces of melted petroleum jelly. Boil or simmer gently for ten minutes and sift through a gauze. Squeeze out the liquid pour it into a jar and then seal it.
Echinacea (augustifolia purpurea) is a daisy-like purple flower that grows in the wild up here and is commonly called purple coneflower. The root of echinacea is used to make the herbal medicinal that I have recommended for years. It is a powerful fighter of infections, especially flus, colds, and upper respiratory infections. Prophylactically. it can be used as an immune system booster. It is also effective for sores and cuts when applied in a lotion. These days, it can be purchased in pill form, as tea, lozenges, tinctures, mouthwash, etc. All these to fortify your external defenses. In an article in Holistic Nursing Practice 2016, I read about a study on the effectiveness of echinacea. The research showed that for the four-month time period of the study, it reduced the total number of cold episodes, it decreased the number of days for a cold and decreased the number of cold infections that would require allopathic medicines. If you make a strong echinacea tea, it can be used as a mouth wash to treat oral conditions, gingivitis and periodontitis. The tea uses the flowers and roots. My experience growing it in the mountains is that it takes a year to get established and grows slowly. Deer “love it to death”, so you will have to enclose it well.
Yarrow (achillea millefolium) is one of the best diaphoretic herbs (reduces sweating). It treats fevers, urinary tract infections (UTIs). eliminates toxins through the skin and urine and helps wound healing. It is purported to reduce colds, flu, headaches and varicose veins. It helps regulate blood flow to all parts of the body in that it enhances fluid flow, which releases heat and toxins. This can have a powerful effect on blood pressure as it dilates peripheral blood vessels (that’s how it reduces fever). It tones and strengthens blood vessels, and is used to treat bruises, bleeding and clotting problems. Externally, yarrow is used to aid in healing wounds. Similarly, it strengthens and tones the bladder. It is an antibacterial for bladder infections and improves incontinence. It is claimed that it helps with cystitis and bladder inflammation. For a tincture, the entire plant that grows above ground is collected for use when it flowers. Tea is made with one cup boiling water and one to two teaspoons of dried herb. Let it steep for ten to fifteen minutes. Drink three times a day for fever. It is said it decreases pain for UTIs too. European, Native American and Chinese medicine all use yarrow. It is said that it moves qi and blood, yet it stops bleeding and heals wounds. It decreases hemorrhoids, urinary stones, heavy or delayed menstruation. It is seen to unite all aspects of a person’s physical, emotional and spiritual being. Locally, it is a weed. It grows about twelve inches high and has a pretty white bloom in the wild.
Lamb’s Ear (stachys byzantine) also grows locally like a weed in the forests and along the sides of our roads. Some call this a natural bandage. It speeds healing of cuts, burns and wounds. This also has been called the toilet paper used by the American Indians. It has a fuzzy leaf. It is from the mint family and is easy to grow in full sun with soil that drains well. As an antiseptic or astringent, it can be used on skin scrapes. Place the leaf directly on the skin. Use the flowers and the leaves in a tea. The leaves help colds and infections, especially of the gums and throat. Cooled, the tea can help eye styes. Soak a soft cloth in the tea and place it on the eyes.
Lavender grows quite well here, and bees love it. It’s claimed that it relieves anxiety, helps calm nervousness and alleviates depression. It seems to be a tonic for the nervous system. Lavender is akin to mint plants and has a dominating fragrance. There is an abundance of nice things being made with it these days. Things that lavender aids all have to do with calming. Some people say it helps with sleep. Lavender is being added to Epsom salts for use in soaking to relax muscles. Lotions can be applied directly to the skin. There are even laundry soaps with lavender. I guess to help with the stress of doing laundry. There are many varieties of lavender. Here are a couple of suggestions for how to use the plant.
Ë A tea can be made using one teaspoon of dried flowers steeped in one of cup boiling water for ten minutes. This tea can be consumed even up to three times a day.
Ë Lavender oil can be combined with a carrier oil like jojoba, avocado, coconut, almond, grapeseed, argan, or rosehips. This mixture can be applied to the temples, wrists or inside the elbows and bottoms of feet. It has been used as a liniment for aches and pains. Gather the flowers just before they bloom and dry them in the oven at ninety-five degrees.
Marigold (also called calendula officinalis) is a very hardy plant that thrives in our mountain environment. Last year, I noticed these flowers displayed in the planters at the main post office in town. Marigold blooms are yellows, oranges and tinges of brownish orange. I’m told deer do not prefer them. In the same way calendula helps skin inflammation, marigold helps with skin rashes, fungal infections, wounds, bruising, muscle strain, minor burns, and scalding of the skin. It can be used in a lotion, balm, poultice or compress. Less known about this plant is its effects on the gallbladder, indigestion, and gastric and duodenal ulcers. It is what is referred to as a “cholagogue”, which means it causes a contraction of the gallbladder to secrete bile. Quick explanation about the gallbladder. The liver regularly produces bile and stores it in the gallbladder. Bile is needed to digest fats, oils, and more complex proteins. When you eat something fatty, the mouth has sensors that releases a cholagogue to the gallbladder to get it to contract. As the stomach releases those fatty foods into the small intestine, the bile combines with the normal digestive juices to continue dissolving and liquefying the food you ate. Lesser-known attributes of marigolds are that they are an antifungal when used internally or externally. They can be a remedy for painful periods or delayed menstruation. If you raise chickens, marigold is an excellent supplement to improve their health and egg quality. These eggs contain considerably less cholesterol. This was found in a study published in Internal Journal of Poultry Science (use the yellow petals).
Ë To make a tea; pour one cup boiling water over one to two teaspoonfuls of the dried flowers. Steep ten to fifteen minutes.
Ë For an ointment; add two ounces of freshly picked marigold flowers to seven ounces of melted petroleum jelly. Boil or simmer gently for ten minutes and sift through a gauze. Squeeze out the liquid pour it into a jar and then seal it.
Echinacea (augustifolia purpurea) is a daisy-like purple flower that grows in the wild up here and is commonly called purple coneflower. The root of echinacea is used to make the herbal medicinal that I have recommended for years. It is a powerful fighter of infections, especially flus, colds, and upper respiratory infections. Prophylactically. it can be used as an immune system booster. It is also effective for sores and cuts when applied in a lotion. These days, it can be purchased in pill form, as tea, lozenges, tinctures, mouthwash, etc. All these to fortify your external defenses. In an article in Holistic Nursing Practice 2016, I read about a study on the effectiveness of echinacea. The research showed that for the four-month time period of the study, it reduced the total number of cold episodes, it decreased the number of days for a cold and decreased the number of cold infections that would require allopathic medicines. If you make a strong echinacea tea, it can be used as a mouth wash to treat oral conditions, gingivitis and periodontitis. The tea uses the flowers and roots. My experience growing it in the mountains is that it takes a year to get established and grows slowly. Deer “love it to death”, so you will have to enclose it well.
Yarrow (achillea millefolium) is one of the best diaphoretic herbs (reduces sweating). It treats fevers, urinary tract infections (UTIs). eliminates toxins through the skin and urine and helps wound healing. It is purported to reduce colds, flu, headaches and varicose veins. It helps regulate blood flow to all parts of the body in that it enhances fluid flow, which releases heat and toxins. This can have a powerful effect on blood pressure as it dilates peripheral blood vessels (that’s how it reduces fever). It tones and strengthens blood vessels, and is used to treat bruises, bleeding and clotting problems. Externally, yarrow is used to aid in healing wounds. Similarly, it strengthens and tones the bladder. It is an antibacterial for bladder infections and improves incontinence. It is claimed that it helps with cystitis and bladder inflammation. For a tincture, the entire plant that grows above ground is collected for use when it flowers. Tea is made with one cup boiling water and one to two teaspoons of dried herb. Let it steep for ten to fifteen minutes. Drink three times a day for fever. It is said it decreases pain for UTIs too. European, Native American and Chinese medicine all use yarrow. It is said that it moves qi and blood, yet it stops bleeding and heals wounds. It decreases hemorrhoids, urinary stones, heavy or delayed menstruation. It is seen to unite all aspects of a person’s physical, emotional and spiritual being. Locally, it is a weed. It grows about twelve inches high and has a pretty white bloom in the wild.
Lamb’s Ear (stachys byzantine) also grows locally like a weed in the forests and along the sides of our roads. Some call this a natural bandage. It speeds healing of cuts, burns and wounds. This also has been called the toilet paper used by the American Indians. It has a fuzzy leaf. It is from the mint family and is easy to grow in full sun with soil that drains well. As an antiseptic or astringent, it can be used on skin scrapes. Place the leaf directly on the skin. Use the flowers and the leaves in a tea. The leaves help colds and infections, especially of the gums and throat. Cooled, the tea can help eye styes. Soak a soft cloth in the tea and place it on the eyes.