• 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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 Goat’s rue – Galega officinalis

Goat’s rue is a bushy, hardy perennial, upto 1.5m tall with lax stems, pinnately divided leaves and racemes of mauve, white or bicoloured flowers borne throughout the summer- it makes an attractive plant for the border or herb garden.

Goat’s rue will grow in most soils, but prefers moist conditions , thrives and spreads rapidly in rich, fertile soil. Plant in full sun or partial shade. Propagated from seed sown in spring.

Infusion of the herb is supposed to improve lacatations for humans, just as eating the plant does for animals . It is also has digestive properties and is said to lower blood sugar levels, making it helpful for late-onset diabetes.

Goat’s rue is also known as French lilac.

Meadowsweet – Filipendula ulmaria

Meadowsweet is a herbaceous perennial on a stout rootstock, 1-1.2m tall with irregularly pinnate, inversely lance shaped leaves and corymbs of fluffy,creamy flowers in the summer. The leaves have a pleasant , aromatic scent.

Meadowsweet grows in moist to boggy soil, or by a pond margin, in sun or partial shade. It dislikes acid soil, propagated by seed sown in spring or in autmn and overwintered in a cold frame or by division in autumn or spring.

Meadowsweet is taken as an infusion for heartburn , excess acidity, gastric ulcers, rheumatism, arthritis and urinary infections.

Meadowsweet leaves may be used to flavour soups and stews.

Fig – Ficus carica

Fig is a decidious tree, growing to 10m with deeply lobed,palmate leaves. The flowers are completely concealed within fleshy receptacles and are followed by small green, pear shaped fruits, which ripen to dark purple, when the flesh surrounding the seeds becomes sweet and juicy.

Fig trees can withstand temperatures of -5 degrees centigrade, they need some protection from the prolonged frost and cold. Warm sunny summers are necessary to produce good fruit. Grow in well drained, rich soil in a sunny position, and provide a sheltered place in cool areas. It is propagated from semi-ripe cuttings in summer.

Fig are well known for their laxative properties, the syrup of figs is used for constipation and they are highly nutritious containing vitamin A,C and minerals , including calcium , phosphorus and iron and are considered restorative and strngthening to the system. The milky juice or sap from green figs helps to soften corns and calluses on the skin.

Figs are delicious raw or as a cooked ingredient of sweet pies, pastries, desserts and conserves.Dried figs are stewed or eaten as they are.

Asafoetida – Ferula assa-foetida

Asafoetida is a herbaceous perennial,growing to 2.3m , it has a thick fleshy taproot , finely divided, feathery leaves and yellow flower umbels in summer and looks like giant fennel.

Asafoetida is frost-hardy withstanding temperatures to -5 degrees centigrade and should be grown in well drained reasonably rich soil. It is propagated by seed sown in autumn as soon as it is ripe.

Asafoetida has a long tradition of use in Ayurvedic medicine for digestive,disorders,respiratory diseases,impotence,painful menstruation and problems following childbirth and is said to counteract the effects of opium.

Asafoetida enhances the flavour of curries and spicy food.

 Eyebright – Euphrasia officinalis

Eyebright is annual semi-parasitic herb , 5-30cm in height .It attaches itself to the roots and stem of grasses, absorbing mineral substances fom them. Leaves are rounded, toothed and small and the tiny white flowers are double-llipped with  yellow throats and dark-purple veins.

Eyebright is a wild plant that is difis a heficult to cultivat because of its semi-parasitic habit.If propagation is to be attempted, seeds should be sown near to potential host grasses.

Eyebright is a herb which reduces inflamation and helpful when taken as an infusion for hayfever,allergic rhinitis,catarrh and sinusitis. For external use it is made into washes for sore, itchy eyes and conjunctivitis or for skin irritations and eczema.

Joe Pye weed – Eupatorium purpureum

Joe Pye weed is a handsome hardy perennial which grows to at least 2.1m with purplish stems, whorls of slender, finely toothed, ovate leaves and dense, domed corymbs of purple pink flowers in late summer to autumn.

Joe Pye weed grows best in moist, well drained soil in partial shade or sun. Propagated by seeds sown in containers in spring or by division when dormant.

Joe Pye weed has a restorative,cleansing action mainly used in for kidney and urinary disorders,including stone, cystitis and prostate problems . Also used for painful menstruation,rheumatism and gout.

Joe Pye weed is also known as Gravel root.

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