Bit-O'-Herbs: Chamomile

Singing its Praises: Egyptians use to worship Chamomile for its healing properties. Greek physicians used it to cure fevers and female disorders. Many beauty salons offer their customers chamomile tea to relax the facial muscles before their treatments.

Parts of the Plant: The leaves, when dried, are especially useful in potpourri as their apple-like scent is long lasting. The active ingredients for teas, compresses and baths of Chamomile are found in the yellow center of the flower. To active, boil for 20 min.

Uses and Remedies: Yellow chamomile flowers(Anthemis tinctoria) may be boiled for a strong yellow-brown dye. You may infuse the flowers to make your tonics, teas, etc. Also, as a cosmetic remedy, try infusing it as a facial steam. It is said to soften and reduce the redness of irritated skin. Herbal eye pillows with chamomile will inflammation and reduce dark circles.

Bit-O-Herbs: Comfrey

Just about everything I have read about Comfrey says that it's a "miracle" plant. The lists of benefits and uses is outstanding. From it's ability to carry essential vitamins and minerals, act as an anti-inflammatory, and aid in the growth of other plants, Comfrey lives up to its claims.

Comfrey contains calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamins A, C, and B12. It may serve as a nice addition to your diet. Chop the young leaves for your green salads, or cook like a spinach with garlic and olive oil.

It may be added to cosmetic products to ease inflammation of the skin; eczema, arthritis, burns, sprains and fractures can be aided with a fresh compress (poultice).

The extremely long taproot draws vital nutrients to the top of the soil, and permaculturists will use it to enrich poor soils when gardening. Be careful when placing it in your garden, however, as you will have a difficult time removing it. Not only does Comfrey benefit the garden when it is alive, but using withering leaves in compost will make a great fertilizer.

Other uses include teas, ground cover, dying cloth (gives and olive green color) and fodder. Miracle plant to the rescue!

Bit-O Herbs : Parsley

I took pictures of these caterpillars in my garden in the spring. They were the largest and most colorful I had ever seen. I encourage and love seeing bugs and lizards, spiders and worms in the garden...a nice balance tells me that my mini-ecosystem is working well. Though much to my dismay, these caterpillars ravaged the entire parsley plant. Usually they just munch on a few leaves and move on to the next plant, and so on until they develop. I call this picture, "Parsley Killer."

Parsley is one of those herbs you should always have in the garden. Planted next to roses, they will improve the scent and health of the rose bush. The Greeks planted parsley around the edges of the herb beds for protection. It has been used for decoration, to crown winners of games, as potpourri and of course, for food.

It is a popular ingredient in natural remedies such as tonics for hair and the eyes, and steam for dry skin. When crushed, the juice can be used on sprains to reduce swelling, or as an antiseptic for insect stings and bites.

Bit-O-Herbs - Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus

One of my friends asked me last week...how do you help sinus congestion and a cough? Neti-Pots are good to flush the sinus sytem, but I have found that their affects are temporary and needed every day. Also, they cannot be used for other respiratory symptoms.

Instead, try eucalyptus oil...

It is used as a natural antiseptic, and if used properly, can have similar effects to vicks vapor rub (without the gook!).

You can place a few drops of the oil on a wet, cold washcloth. Cover your face, mouth, or nose with the washcloth. Breathe in through the cloth and the eucalyptus oil. The healing properties of the plant will carry through your respiratory system and you will get clearer breathing very soon.