• The Herb Handbook

  If you’ve ever entertained the thought of growing your own herbs for cooking and/or improved health.
  
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• Recent Posts

  • Clove tree – Syzygium aromaticum
  • Chickweed – Stellaria media
  • Milk thistle- Silybum marianum
  • Purslane – Portulaca oleracea
  • Evening Primose – Oenothera biennis
  • Lemon Balm – Melissa officinalis
  • Tea tree – Melaleuca alternifolia
  • Lavender- Lavandula
  • Elecampane – Inula helenium
  • Hops- Humulus lupulus
  • Ginkgo – Ginkgo biloba
  • Sweet woodruff – Galium odoratum syn Asperula odorata
  • Goat’s rue – Galega officinalis
  • Meadowsweet – Filipendula ulmaria
  • Fig – Ficus carica
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Chickweed - Stellaria media

Chickweed is a spreading , mat forming annual the branched stems grow upto 40cm long, but most are decumbent and creep along the ground. It has small ovae leaves and tiny white star shaped flowers. It propagates quickly reappearing throughout the year and is often seen in the winter months.

Chickweed grows in any reasonable moist soil in sun or partial shade,it is self seeding.

Chickweed is rich in mineral salts including calcium and potassium and has anti-rheumatic properties when taken internally as a juice or infusion. Applied as  a poultice or ointment for eczema,skin irritations and other skin complaints.

Chick weed is a pleasant neutral tasting herb for inclusion in salads or for cooking as a vegetable.It combines well with parsley to make a dip.

Milk thistle- Silybum marianum

Milk thistle is a tall annual or biennial which grows upto 1.2m in height , it has large deeply lobed spiny leaves with white veins and purple thistle flowers in summer.

Milk thistle grow in any well drained soil in a sunny position . It is propagated  by seed sown in spring or autumn and it self seeds prolifically.

Milk thistle is taken as infusion to stimulate appetite and for digestive disorders . Milk thistle contains compounds known as silymarin which are said to be effective as an antidote to toxic substances that cause liver damage.

Milk thistle is also known as Marian thistle.