Peppermint (menthe piperita)
Collect aerial (above-ground) parts just before flowers open.
Contains up to 2% volatile oil including menthol, menthone, and jasmone.
Carminative (stops formation of gas in lower GI, and induces expulsion of gas), anti-spasmodic, aromatic, diaphoretic (increases perspiration), anti-emetic (effective against vomiting and nausea), aromatic, nervine, antiseptic, analgesic (pain stopper).
Excellent carminative, relaxes visceral (smooth, involuntary) muscles, stimulates bile and digestive juices. Thus excellent in treating intestinal colic and flatulent dyspepsia. Nervine tonic, good for use in treating painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea). Use with boneset, elder flowers, and yarrow to treat colds and flu. (The New Holistic Herbal, David Hoffman)
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Lavender
Lavender (Lavanduala officinalis)
Native to the Mediterranean region. Pick just before the last flowers on each stalk are fully opened for optimum oil levels, between June and September. Dry and separate blossoms and leaves from stalk.
Carminative, anti-spasmodic, anti-depressant, rubefacient (topically increases blood circulation, leading to redness of the skin). Relaxing and calming effects, good sleeping aid. Leaves, as well as flowers, can have this sedative effect. Especially good for relaxing nerves and treating nerve pain. Anti-emetic (reduces nausea). Also known as aiding digestion. Long used as a remedy for giddiness, faintness, nervous palpitations, and flatulence. Combines well with lime blossom and balm to treat nerves. Lavender oil can also be rubbed into rheumatic joints to ease pain. Some claim that rubbing lavender oil on burns can aid in the healing process. Antiseptic when rubbed on the skin. Companions well with thyme, and attracts honeybees and butterflies while repelling moths. (Herbs: Their Cultivation and Usage, John and Rosemary Hemphill and The New Holistic Herbal, David Hoffman)
Native to the Mediterranean region. Pick just before the last flowers on each stalk are fully opened for optimum oil levels, between June and September. Dry and separate blossoms and leaves from stalk.
Carminative, anti-spasmodic, anti-depressant, rubefacient (topically increases blood circulation, leading to redness of the skin). Relaxing and calming effects, good sleeping aid. Leaves, as well as flowers, can have this sedative effect. Especially good for relaxing nerves and treating nerve pain. Anti-emetic (reduces nausea). Also known as aiding digestion. Long used as a remedy for giddiness, faintness, nervous palpitations, and flatulence. Combines well with lime blossom and balm to treat nerves. Lavender oil can also be rubbed into rheumatic joints to ease pain. Some claim that rubbing lavender oil on burns can aid in the healing process. Antiseptic when rubbed on the skin. Companions well with thyme, and attracts honeybees and butterflies while repelling moths. (Herbs: Their Cultivation and Usage, John and Rosemary Hemphill and The New Holistic Herbal, David Hoffman)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Pisces in my Life
I seem to have a disproportionate number of friends born in the month of February, all of whom I must come up with birthday presents for. My plan for this year is to create custom tea blends for each person that fits with her personality and lifeways. I put these blends of dried herbs into little mesh infusers, housed in hand-sewn pouches made from fabrics that I thought matched each individual. Each pouch had a little star button to fasten the tea infuser safely inside.
Clara: rosehips, burdock, red clover, sage, jasmine
Emily B: lemon balm, rosehips, dandelion greens, sage
Triana: nettle, red clover, lavender, jasmine
Clara: rosehips, burdock, red clover, sage, jasmine
Emily B: lemon balm, rosehips, dandelion greens, sage
Triana: nettle, red clover, lavender, jasmine
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