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2010 |
September
Infection Fighting Herbs
Echinacea- Immune Support for Back-To-School Season
Lessons in a Lunch Box
August
Herbal Summer Skin Care
Herbs for Sleep
Hibiscus Flower Profile
More Americans Using Botanicals to Stay Healthy
Medicinal Uses of Cinnamon
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July
Four mouth watering Indian Recipes:
Mushroom Pulao Recipe (VIDEO)
Chicken Kofta Curry Recipe (VIDEO)
Vegetable Jalfrezi Recipe (VIDEO)
Saffron Mango Mousse Recipe (VIDEO)
Feature article on Lemon Balm:
Lemon balm may be known as the “calming herb” because of its mild sedative action in people, but it sure gets bees in the garden buzzing while keeping mosquitoes at bay. Country cooks use the herb to flavor beverages, baked goods and meat dishes. Read more about Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm Iced Tea Recipe
Marigold (Calendula) Profile
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June
Turmeric –Golden Spice for a Healthier
Life
Turmeric
boasts a rich history as culinary spice, textile dye, and medicine.
Practitioners of the traditional Indian medical system known as
Ayurveda, as well as traditional Chinese medicine, used turmeric to
“purify the blood” and treat disorders of the skin, heart, liver, and
lungs. The herb has earned the well-deserved nickname “Indian solid
gold,” even in medical journals—periodicals not known for flowery
praise. Authors of these prestigious peer-reviewed publications have
gone so far as to refer to turmeric’s key active ingredient, curcumin,
as “cure-cumin” and “an ideal Spice for Life.”
How to Dye with Turmeric Root
Learn how to make a turmeric root dye
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May
The Incredible Edible Burdock Root
You’ve probably brushed against burdock
at one time or other and are familiar with the clinging seed heads. But,
did you know the root is a delicious vegetable that detoxifies the
body? Burdock tea
is an effective remedy for acne, eczema, and psoriasis. What’s more,
the herb that inspired Velcro is also reputed to be a remedy for hair
loss.
Chickweed Herb Profile
As the name implies, chickweed is
considered an invasive weed by many homeowners desiring a luscious,
green lawn. It is also a favorite food of chickens. The plant tastes
just like corn silk when
eaten raw and is comparable to spinach when cooked as vegetable.
Burdock Recipes
Kinpira gobo
Oven Baked Brown Rice with Burdock & Shiitake
Burdock Sauce
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April
Spring Cleaning with Herbs
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the average home harbors more than 150 chemicals that are suspected of contributing to the incidence of respiratory disorders, cancer, birth defects, psychological disorders, and impaired fertility. Disguised as “ordinary” household cleaning products, these chemicals collectively make the air inside the average home up to 70 times more toxic than outdoor air. Learn what hazards lurk in your home and how herbs can help clean them up.
Valerian Root Profile
Herbal Cleaning Formulas
Dishwashing Blues Blend
Lavender Lift Automatic Dishwasher Soap
Lemon Fresh Linen Wash
Orange Glow Fabric Softener
Lavender Soft Scrubber
All-Purpose Cleaning Wipes
Easy Breezy Glass Cleaner
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March
Healing Herbs of the Isle of Green
Paddy the Dash of Ulster, Moll Anthony of Kildare, Old Deruane of Inis Maan, and Biddy Early of County Clare. Although these names may sound like fictional characters, they are the real-life wise men and women that practiced traditional herbalism of their native land more than a century ago. As legend tells it, they were successful due to being granted special powers of insight by the Sidhe ("Shee") of the fairy kingdom. While we may find this grand reference charming today, there’s no question that their knowledge of herbal medicine had little to do with pixie dust or luck.
Watercress Profile
Traditional Irish Recipes
Slow Roasted Pork Loin with Lemon, Garlic and Basil
Nettle Soup
Colcannon
Creamed Kale
Irish Soda Bread
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February
Darling Dill: The 2010 Herb of the Year
The herb crowned by the International Herb Association as this year’s Herb of the Year is a real dilly—dill, that is. This prestigious designation is traditionally celebrated during National Herb Week in May. But, why wait? You can start commemorating the occasion right now and keep the party going through the end of the year!
Dill Weed Recipes
Thyme Leaf Profile
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January
Drink to Your Health with Tea
Mistletoe: an Interesting Legend
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2009
December
Rosemary, That’s for Remembrance
“Pray you love, remember.” Ophelia may have pleaded with her brother to remember their father’s death while she teetered on the brink of madness, but rosemary was anything but forgotten in Hamlet’s day. In fact, the herb has long held a reputation for enhancing memory, honoring the dead, and scattering negative vibrations to the four winds. Rosemary is no less important in our culture today, where it is useful in helping us to forget the discomfort of arthritis, muscle aches, and many skin conditions. One day, rosemary may even provide the key to restoring memory loss from Alzheimer's disease.
Red Onion - Rosemary Jam
Morning Biscuits with Rosemary
Holiday Recipes
Country Roads
Mulberry Madness
Winter Blues Chaser
Chamomile & Elderflower Hand Gel
Sandalwood & Rose Skin Salve
Tinted Lip Balm
Peppermint Foot Scrub
Brown Sugar & Vanilla Body Polish
Honey-Tarragon Mustard
Orange-Plum Jam with Ginger
Saffron-Currant Refrigerator Cookies
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November
The Wisdom of Sage
Did you know that the sage in your garden and spice cupboard can be used to treat gum disease, sore throat, dandruff, and many kinds of skin irritations? How would you like to prevent gastrointestinal distress and heart disease while improving your memory and keeping your locks from turning gray? Yeah, sage can do all that. And it’s handy in the kitchen too!
Bay Leaf Profile
The bay laurel tree has long been known as a symbol of honor. This is why Greek and Roman scholars, otherwise referred to as baccalaureates, are always portrayed wearing the traditional head wreath made of laurel leaves. In fact, the very name of this herb implies a position of honor when bestowed upon an individual.
Recipes
Roast Turkey with Garlic, Chives, Fried Sage & Toasted Pecans
Roasted Autumn Vegetables with Sage, Rosemary & Thyme
Cheese Ravioli with Pumpkin-Sage Sauce
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October
Fight Hot Flashes, Osteoporosis, and More with Fennel
Fennel, a traditional symbol of bravery and courage, is a fearless contender in the war on inflammation, gastrointestinal disturbances, and respiratory ailments. Fennel is also an herb of significance for women since studies have found that it may help minimize symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and bone loss, but without increasing the risk of hormone-driven cancers associated with conventional hormone replacement therapy. It tastes pretty darn good too!
Ginger Profile
Ginger is one of the most widely used and well-documented medicinal herbs known. While it is prominently featured in Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginger has been used extensively throughout most of the world for centuries.
Ginger Recipes
Fruit Chutney
Ginger and Vanilla Custard
Ginger-Pumpkin Soup
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September
Profile on Cinnamon
While most people are familiar with this kitchen spice, the cinnamon purchased in western supermarkets is actually cassia and not true cinnamon, which is why this species is sometimes called “False Cinnamon”. In fact, some confirmed purists go as far as calling cassia “Bastard Cinnamon.” In contrast, true cinnamon (C. vernum) is native to Sri Lanka and cultivated in China, Vietnam, Brazil, Egypt and India, while the cassia cinnamon available in the U.S. is obtained from Indonesia.
Cinnamon Recipes
Cinnamon Muffins
Sweet Potato Gnocci with Cinnamon Brown Sugar Sauce
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August
Lavender: Much More Than a Cure for the Blues
Of all the simples in the botanical kingdom, few hold such a place of reverence in the gardens and hearts of herbal enthusiasts as lavender. It’s graceful beauty, peppery fragrance, and potent therapeutic properties have made this herb a staple in the kitchen, bath, and medicine cabinet. In fact, lavender has been used for centuries to lift mood, induce sleep, and to relieve anxiety and mild depression. But, did you also know that lavender helps to clear stubborn acne, reduce arthritis pain, heal burns, and repel insects?
Profile on Bilberry
Since bilberry is difficult to cultivate, the berries are largely collected from the wild. However, in some parts of the world, namely in Sweden, Switzerland, and Austria, it is considered an “everyman’s right” (right of public access) to pick bilberries from public or privately owned lands, as long as the plant isn’t part of an individual’s private garden.
Lavender Flower Formulas
Old Fashioned Lavender Water
Lavender-Honey Mask for Dry Skin
Lavender Rose Geranium Body Powder
Lavender Bath Salts
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July
Chia Seed: From Ancient Mayan Staple to Modern Super Food
Remember the Chia Pet™ clay gardening planters that were once wildly popular? You guessed it – the grain used to sprout rams and sheep were chia seeds. Although these novelty items are still around today, that’s not what offers testimony to the enduring value of this herb. Nor is it the fact that the ancient Aztecs once regarded this food staple so highly that they used it as a form of currency. So…what’s the staying power of chia seed in today’s modern world? Chia seeds are loaded with nutrition from A to Z, literally. And, if you’re watching your weight and blood sugar, then you really need to become acquainted with this herbal ally.
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Profile on Neem Leaf
Neem has played an important role in Indian culture and Ayurdevic medicine for centuries, where it is still commonly referred to as the “village pharmacy” and “healer of all ailments.” East Africans know this evergreen tree as Mwarobaini, which translates from Swahili to mean, “the tree of the 40,” in reference to earning a reputation for curing 40 different disorders.
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Make your own herbal tincture.
Tinctures are herbal extracts made without the necessity of a heat source, in contrast to teas or decoctions. Typically, tinctures are alcohol-based, using the highest proof vodka you can find. However, white vinegar or pharmaceutical grade glycerin can be used instead, if desired.
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May
Hibiscus Tea: Food of the Goddess & Defender of Your Health
Nothing soothes the soul and tickles the taste buds better than fresh hibiscus tea, whether served steaming hot or frosty cold. Now it seems there’s yet another good reason to hail hibiscus: Just a few cups of brew a day is an excellent way to maintain good health. In fact, researchers have discovered that hibiscus that may help to prevent heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes-related complications.
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Profile on Dandelion
Dandelion has long been considered a culinary herb. The ground roots are roasted as a coffee substitute, while the flowers are an excellent addition to salads, served sautéed as a vegetable, or brewed into wine. The English partake of “Dandelion and Burdock,” a fermented soft drink that’s been in circulation since the 13th century. The young leaves can be sautéed or steamed, or eaten raw in sandwiches. In addition, the leaves are abundant in several nutrients, including more iron and calcium than spinach.
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Chamomile Facial Toner Recipe
Use this refreshing herbal toner to naturally cleanse, tone, and restore the proper pH balance to your skin.
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