Herbs
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Again, no picture this week. I did actually grow this a few years ago (NE Colorado), but didn’t take photos. Ashwagandha is a relative of tomatoes and tomatillos and looks a lot like a tomatillo plant. If I remember correctly, the fruits even have the little paper-like coverings like them. The thing to take away Read more
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For the next few posts, I thought I would review herbs that manufacturers seem to want to add to everything. The first time I really noticed this was with St. John’s wort. ‘It’s treats depression’ would be the implied claim. Smart manufacturers don’t claim that any herb or supplement treats something, unless they have data Read more
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No photo today – I don’t grow my own! Let’s talk about turmeric. I’ve known what it is for a long time – a pungent yellow spice that my mom put in pickle relish and it wasn’t really summer until I smelled it. Turmeric is used in lots of foods – pickles, curry, eggs, lots Read more
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This one has kind of outgrown its bed and I need to harvest the root (when I have time – HA!) Licorice is an amazing plant, and one that most herbalists don’t want to do without. It also is one of those herbs that is poorly understood, and has developed a reputation for raising blood Read more
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Was checking the garden today and noticed that I had quite a few elderberries ripe. The berries are not ripe until they are fully black or dark purple. Unripe berries will make your stomach very unhappy. There are two parts of elder that we use as herbalists: The berries and the flowers. The leaves and Read more
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Everyone has a pint jar of cinnamon, right? I mean, I’m not weird or anything…. well, moving on… Many herbs and spices that we use in everyday cooking have medicinal uses as well. Supposedly, many were used to cover the smell or taste of foods that had gone ‘off’ in the days before refrigeration. Maybe Read more
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There are many medicinal ‘herbs’ that are traditionally thought of a ‘food’. Who says they can’t be both? One of my favorites, turmeric, is considered a spice and even a food in Indian cooking. I don’t know that I could live without it, but that’s another post. The photo above is from a few years Read more
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The word I think of when I think of yarrow is stop. It can be ‘stop’ or ‘STOP!!’ Yarrow is known as a warrior herb. If you think about the name, it makes sense: Achillea for Achilles (Greek legend that was unstoppable, except for his heel) and millefolium (thousand leaves). Yarrow is a member of Read more
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When I refer to an herb, I try to always add the Latin binomial (genus and species) in parentheses behind the name. Why is this important, other than it makes me feel a bit like Harry Potter? Several reasons. The major one is that it helps to identify the plant I’m talking about. This is Read more
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One of the certificates I have is for Flower Essence Therapy. So what is it? FE is a vibrational therapeutic – like homeopathy, sound bowls, or music. They are created from spring water that particular flowers have been infused in, then preserved with brandy. The essence (full strength is called the mother) is further diluted Read more