The Humble Dandelion

Even now, my unmown lawn is covered in these beautiful little Sunshines-on-a-Stem. Most people write off this plant as just another invasive weed, but we herbalists know better. It is considered a valuable herb with many medicinal properties.  I use it in a number of my combinations to great effect.

The dandelion is most often used for its detoxification properties. It is well known as a liver and digestive cleanser, containing bitter principles that produce a tonic effect on these systems. Ever taken Swedish Bitters?

Maligned Melissa

Grown in my garden last year. I hope I get a healthy crop at our new home.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) -- not to be confused with Bee balm (Monarda fistulosa) --  is in my opinion, one of the easiest plants a person can grow. Left unhindered it grows to about two feet tall with lemon scented leaves and flowers that are borne on auxiliary stems and are a light yellow, white or lavender color. This herb will thrive in full sun to partial shade, needs only moderate watering, and prefers well-drained soil. Bees love it. Growing lemon balm in the garden will attract these beneficial pollinators to your garden. Being a perennial herb that is part of the mint family, it will spread like crazy and unless you are a serious Lemon balm aficionado, you'll definitely have to reign it in or have it coming out of your ears.

Passionate for Passion Flower

Life has a way of sneaking up on you, upsetting your calm, and nudging you off-center; at least it does me. Like lots of folks these days, I have a lot going on: the process of building and running my own business, maintaining and running two websites and a blog, managing my partner's business, raising an active toddler, keeping up with a cat, a dog, and three kittens who alternately adore and hate each other, missing and wondering when my five estranged children will decide that enough is enough and finally get in touch with me, the on-going process of studying and learning my craft; it isn't surprising that I sometimes gaze towards the heavens and wonder, "How much else?" Though, most days, I'm more of a "Bring it on!" type of gal.

By far, my Passion flower gets more camera time than any other plant that I grow. Who can resist?!

Still, at those times when I need some extra support, I usually take a walk to my herb closet and stand quietly to see what will speak to me. There are several herbs that can help one regain their calm during a stormy day, settle a brain that's going off in every zany direction it can, or even when going through extended periods of difficulty, but my "go-to" best friend for these things is Passion flower.

Winter Herbs, You Say?

Yes, I know it is officially winter out there (has been for some time) and temperatures are dropping to below zero for many of us, but that does not mean that we need to be without our beautiful little lovelies.  I, for one, have grown accustomed to having fresh herbs in my meals, so today, I'm going to share with you how to grow your outdoor herbs indoors during the chilly season.

Be Mother Nature

Obviously, the first thing we need to do is provide ideal temperature and light for our lovelies. Healthy plants will thrive best when they are given lots of light, so make sure your herbs are exposed to 6 hours of natural light, if you are fortunate enough to have the windows, or 14 hours of artificial light. Also keep them somewhere where the temperature stays mildly cool to warm, like in the Southern US. 60 degrees at night to around 70 degrees during the day is ideal for your budding beauties. The kitchen is an ideal spot, if you have the room, as it's usually the warmest place in the house - with the added convenience of you having them right at hand when you're preparing a meal.

Dig the Dirt

Not really.  What I really mean here is to pay close attention to it, though.  Because your herbs will be in containers rather than the ground, it can be very easy to over-water, and that could easily cause your pretties to damp-off or get root-rot. And that would be very sad. You want the soil moist, but not dripping.  I recommend organic fertilizer so that you can be extra eco-friendly, if you don't already make your own compost. 

Give them a Shower

If necessary.  It's not uncommon for indoor plants to get infested with insects, and if that happens, you can remove them with a soapy plant bath. Fill a large pot or kitchen sink with diluted soapy water,

Raspberry Leaf - A Woman's Best Friend

This morning I am sharing another post that I wrote a few months back elsewhere. I've discovered one of the benefits of doing this is that I can read my articles with fresh eyes and revise them if needed.

Let me begin with the following admission: I am a coffee drinker. *head hanging* Yes, it's true. In fact, I love my coffee; A LOT.  But that said, I have decreased the amount that I consume on a daily basis to usually only one cup in the morning and some days none at all.  During my last pregnancy, I discovered that I actually really, really enjoy the comforting, earthy taste of red raspberry leaf tea (which tastes nothing like raspberries, by the way). It is also an excellent source of the alkaloid fragrine, which tones and strengthens the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself which really helps lessen or even eliminate cramps during the menstrual cycle besides making for an easier childbirth. I firmly believe that red raspberry leaf is an herb that that should be in the kitchen of every woman, pregnant or not. If you're not a big herbal tea drinker, you might find it easier to drink it iced and with a little squeeze of lemon or orange rather than hot, or even sweetened with a bit of stevia or honey. Some of my friends have mentioned these ways of enjoying it, so I thought I'd share with you. However you decide to drink it, please, please take the time to read about this fascinating herb and all that it can do for you.

Herbal Poultices

In the interest of keeping all of my online herbal information in a single place, I'm re-publishing, along with some revisions and edits, the article I wrote several months back on herbal poultices.

A very neatly wrapped example of a  poultice.

Herbal poultices are an old-fashioned remedy employed by wise-folk for centuries with good reason; they are fantastic at  helping to draw out infections and speeding up healing.  A poultice can help by increasing the flow of blood around a wound or injury, relaxing tense muscles, soothing inflamed tissues, or drawing toxins out of an infected area and have been used successfully through-out the ages.

Our skin is an amazing organ that protects us from a variety of invaders, but it also has the ability to allow healing to occur when something is applied topically. Applying an herbal poultice to the site of an injury or wound  means that the skin will absorb the healing benefits of the contents almost immediately. Just stop and think for a moment about all of the commercial products that are being sold because they capitalize on this fact.

Cardamom - The Spice That Heals

Having spent nearly 20 years in the Middle East, one of the most memorable culinary experiences that pops to mind is the first time I tasted cardamom. I remember being handed this hot, deliciously scented liquid out of a tiny cup without handles and thinking, "What in the world...?" And that was my introduction to Al-Qahwa,