Allium sativum – Garlic
To wear a bulb of garlic around your neck is to be safe from vampires, plague, storms and evil sorcery. It is a sure protection against curses and evil spirits and shipwreck. It can even keep you from being turned into a pig! What a Pandora's box of bogies and ghouls were held at bay by this most powerful herb! It is abundantly clear from folklore that for thousands of years, whether the science of the medicinal constituents was understood or not, Allium sativum has been held in high regard as a protector.
We know it is abundant in antibiotic properties, healing infection so efficiently that it was regularly used during World War I, and many other wars, when penicillin was hard to come by. Its anti fungal properties make it essential in the treatment of candida, athletes foot, and other fungal issues. It is also wonderful in balancing blood sugars for diabetics, lowering cholesterol, and generally improving the health of the heart, and also in treating bronchial and digestive infections, whether it be flu or colds or more acute infections.
Before I was an herbalist, Allium was my choice for pretty much any infection or fungus. As it is a bit too stinky to eat all the time (that is if you want to retain any of your friends), I would buy the Kyolic garlic with the stink removed. There appears to be a difference of opinion out there about this. Apparently it is the medicinal constituent allicin that has most of the medicinal properties, and yet it is allicin that makes us smell like a roomful of old Italian men after a dinner of garlic sauce. I'm not sure, then, why the allicin-free garlic is as effective as I've found it to be, but effective it IS. And ingesting large amounts of garlic in your diet can give you a healthy dose of protection against cancer. Studies show that a high percentage of the compounds found in Allium are effective in preventing and even reversing cancer. It is said, however, that it is important to eat FRESH garlic in this case.
If you want to take the fresh garlic, then chop it fine, put it on the end of a tsp and place it far back on your tongue. Without chewing, wash it down with lemon water. Apparently this is supposed to negate any odour. I don't know. I shall try!
Garlic is a blood thinner, and as such should be treated with caution if you are already on blood thinning drugs, or are heading in for surgery of any kind, but otherwise it is a safe and super-effective weapon against any bacteria, virus or fungus. What more do we need?
Resources: Herb Wise – Bruce Burnett
We know it is abundant in antibiotic properties, healing infection so efficiently that it was regularly used during World War I, and many other wars, when penicillin was hard to come by. Its anti fungal properties make it essential in the treatment of candida, athletes foot, and other fungal issues. It is also wonderful in balancing blood sugars for diabetics, lowering cholesterol, and generally improving the health of the heart, and also in treating bronchial and digestive infections, whether it be flu or colds or more acute infections.
Before I was an herbalist, Allium was my choice for pretty much any infection or fungus. As it is a bit too stinky to eat all the time (that is if you want to retain any of your friends), I would buy the Kyolic garlic with the stink removed. There appears to be a difference of opinion out there about this. Apparently it is the medicinal constituent allicin that has most of the medicinal properties, and yet it is allicin that makes us smell like a roomful of old Italian men after a dinner of garlic sauce. I'm not sure, then, why the allicin-free garlic is as effective as I've found it to be, but effective it IS. And ingesting large amounts of garlic in your diet can give you a healthy dose of protection against cancer. Studies show that a high percentage of the compounds found in Allium are effective in preventing and even reversing cancer. It is said, however, that it is important to eat FRESH garlic in this case.
If you want to take the fresh garlic, then chop it fine, put it on the end of a tsp and place it far back on your tongue. Without chewing, wash it down with lemon water. Apparently this is supposed to negate any odour. I don't know. I shall try!
Garlic is a blood thinner, and as such should be treated with caution if you are already on blood thinning drugs, or are heading in for surgery of any kind, but otherwise it is a safe and super-effective weapon against any bacteria, virus or fungus. What more do we need?
Resources: Herb Wise – Bruce Burnett
Thorns and Thistles
Whether you believe this story is history or fable, there is an interesting reference to thorns and thistles at the end of it that has recently come to my attention. This reference has always been negative in my mind, but just yesterday I read something which made me realize its beauty...read on...
Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where [art] thou?
Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I [was] naked; and I hid myself.
Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou [wast] naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest [to be] with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Gen 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What [is] this [that] thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou [art] cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. (OK, all you women can calm down...heh heh)
Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life;
Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.
Gen 3:20 ¶ And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
OK...breathe...as difficult as this story is to understand in 2012, there is a beautiful undertone to it that was pointed out to me by my teacher, Jessie Hawkins. Thorns and thistles; how we hate them, right? And yet some of our most protective herbs involve thorns and thistles. Milk Thistle is possibly the strongest liver protector we have, briars and roses are loaded with Vitamin C and flavonoids, Holy Thistle encourages breast milk production, Artichoke leaf is also a bitter, that aids digestion and encourages optimum liver performance, and there are many others...Hawthorne for the heart, Teasel root for Lyme disease.
I wrote a song a few years back...."There's a rainbow inside every raindrop..." What I have viewed as negative in my life has invariably become a force of healing to me...like the thorns and thistles in this story. What was considered punishment was actually blessing, and pain was healing and death was life.
Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where [art] thou?
Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I [was] naked; and I hid myself.
Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou [wast] naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest [to be] with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Gen 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What [is] this [that] thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou [art] cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. (OK, all you women can calm down...heh heh)
Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life;
Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.
Gen 3:20 ¶ And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
OK...breathe...as difficult as this story is to understand in 2012, there is a beautiful undertone to it that was pointed out to me by my teacher, Jessie Hawkins. Thorns and thistles; how we hate them, right? And yet some of our most protective herbs involve thorns and thistles. Milk Thistle is possibly the strongest liver protector we have, briars and roses are loaded with Vitamin C and flavonoids, Holy Thistle encourages breast milk production, Artichoke leaf is also a bitter, that aids digestion and encourages optimum liver performance, and there are many others...Hawthorne for the heart, Teasel root for Lyme disease.
I wrote a song a few years back...."There's a rainbow inside every raindrop..." What I have viewed as negative in my life has invariably become a force of healing to me...like the thorns and thistles in this story. What was considered punishment was actually blessing, and pain was healing and death was life.
Ethical Wild Crafting
The idea of flitting through the woods muttering and chuckling to oneself whilst intuitively plucking leaves and flowers is a lovely one, and I'm sure there are moments when this fantasy has been some lucky soul's reality. By and large, however, wild crafting should be approached with a seriousness that takes into account our dwindling natural medicine supplies and a willingness to share with others now, those who will come after us, and of course the wildlife that also depends on these same plants for food.
One wild crafter may not make much of a dent in our native herb population, but imagine 100 happy herbalists gathering their way through the forests and fields of Gabriola...enough said.
When harvesting, consider the size of the stand of herbs you're eying. Is it plenteous, or is it the only plant in the area? If it's the only plant, leave it alone, it's not going to give you enough for medicine anyway. You may consider taking a few seeds to try to grow this herb in your own garden. If it is a large stand of plants, take no more than one-tenth of the plant, and of course much less if that's all you need. There are some plants such as nettle that are only strengthened by cutting, so you can have a hey day with this one, and really, no matter how many dandelion roots you pull, it's unlikely you'll deplete this source either. Our native Grindelia, however, which grows close to the ocean, may very well be reduced quickly if an army of greedy herbalists descend upon its habitat.
When harvesting roots, where possible leave most of the plant in the ground, digging down and cutting roots off. When you are taking aerial parts such as yarrow, don't pull it up entirely, but snip the tops and leaves off so that the plant can re-grow.
Herbs have an amazing resilience as we can see from their abundance in ditches, along the roadway and in our gardens, and the extra care given by wild crafters will ensure their continuation for generations to come.
One wild crafter may not make much of a dent in our native herb population, but imagine 100 happy herbalists gathering their way through the forests and fields of Gabriola...enough said.
When harvesting, consider the size of the stand of herbs you're eying. Is it plenteous, or is it the only plant in the area? If it's the only plant, leave it alone, it's not going to give you enough for medicine anyway. You may consider taking a few seeds to try to grow this herb in your own garden. If it is a large stand of plants, take no more than one-tenth of the plant, and of course much less if that's all you need. There are some plants such as nettle that are only strengthened by cutting, so you can have a hey day with this one, and really, no matter how many dandelion roots you pull, it's unlikely you'll deplete this source either. Our native Grindelia, however, which grows close to the ocean, may very well be reduced quickly if an army of greedy herbalists descend upon its habitat.
When harvesting roots, where possible leave most of the plant in the ground, digging down and cutting roots off. When you are taking aerial parts such as yarrow, don't pull it up entirely, but snip the tops and leaves off so that the plant can re-grow.
Herbs have an amazing resilience as we can see from their abundance in ditches, along the roadway and in our gardens, and the extra care given by wild crafters will ensure their continuation for generations to come.
Herbalism 101
It is probable that a myriad of different thoughts come to mind when we hear the word "herbalism". From a cozy cup of peppermint tea, picked fresh from the garden, to a sad tale of a misinformed couple who drank foxglove leaf tea, thinking it was comfrey leaf and died.
Gabriola boasts a broad array of benign herbs ready for the picking by any herbal addict, but it is also home to some of the most poisonous plants that exist. I've seen the "death camas' white flower growing next to the friendlier blue camas, and water hemlock happily reside along our ponds and streams. One tiny piece of these can shut down your nervous system quite effectively, and death can occur fairly quickly.
Although fatality from herbal poisoning doesn't even begin to compare to the escalation of pharmaceutical related deaths, it's still incredibly important to know your plants before glibly biting into anything "herby". I always say, "Be 150% sure of your identification!"
Happily we can start with plants we know well and can even grow many in our own gardens, thus assuring ourselves of a safe and effective alternative to many of the ineffective remedies our society is throwing our way. Keep in mind, however, that treating with herbs is not as simple as replacing a drug with a herb. This works on the occasion and specifically where infection is involved, but herbs are not always about the "quick fix", and a wholistic approach to herbalism is necessary as we work on building immunity, strengthening our overall health, and only using the more powerful herbs when absolutely necessary and with good knowledge about the herb and its proper dosage amount.
There is a tendency to want to trust others with our health, but true healthy independence comes with self responsibility, whether growing and making your own herbal remedies, trying alternative treatments, or working together with a supportive medical doctor of your choice. As we take responsibility and gain awareness of our own bodies, we will better remain healthy and also encourage others to maintain a strong and healthy body and lifestyle.
Gabriola boasts a broad array of benign herbs ready for the picking by any herbal addict, but it is also home to some of the most poisonous plants that exist. I've seen the "death camas' white flower growing next to the friendlier blue camas, and water hemlock happily reside along our ponds and streams. One tiny piece of these can shut down your nervous system quite effectively, and death can occur fairly quickly.
Although fatality from herbal poisoning doesn't even begin to compare to the escalation of pharmaceutical related deaths, it's still incredibly important to know your plants before glibly biting into anything "herby". I always say, "Be 150% sure of your identification!"
Happily we can start with plants we know well and can even grow many in our own gardens, thus assuring ourselves of a safe and effective alternative to many of the ineffective remedies our society is throwing our way. Keep in mind, however, that treating with herbs is not as simple as replacing a drug with a herb. This works on the occasion and specifically where infection is involved, but herbs are not always about the "quick fix", and a wholistic approach to herbalism is necessary as we work on building immunity, strengthening our overall health, and only using the more powerful herbs when absolutely necessary and with good knowledge about the herb and its proper dosage amount.
There is a tendency to want to trust others with our health, but true healthy independence comes with self responsibility, whether growing and making your own herbal remedies, trying alternative treatments, or working together with a supportive medical doctor of your choice. As we take responsibility and gain awareness of our own bodies, we will better remain healthy and also encourage others to maintain a strong and healthy body and lifestyle.
Nettle Root (starting to sprout again)
Those brown leaves are cedar leaves which have fallen on the nettle root (just so no-one's confused)
Nettle Root (Urtica)
October Wild-crafting
Nettle Root or Urtica rad, is a humble root...a wrinkly fellow, burrowing his way just under the surface of the earth, reaching, stretching and sprouting up again to enlarge the area of the nettle kingdom. Tan in colour, nettle root is easy to find and easy to harvest; simply following its root systems and pulling will yield an abundance. Watch out for the few stinging shoots that may still be around at this time of the year.
My experience of gathering this root was delightful! My friends had a great deal of nettle in their yard, which they had been systematically trying to eradicate, so any extra attempts were heartily welcomed. The soil was soft and the roots came up in long portions. How happy I was to see the size of these ones, as prior to this I had only managed to harvest small, rasty roots. I got greedy and pulled and pulled and pulled, much to the delight of my friends, but of course, ending up with way more than I could use. I planted the extra on my bit of land, playing a part in the continued propagation of this very necessary medicinal plant.
Primarily a male herb, Nettle is indicated in enlarged prostate. Usually Saw Palmetto is used for benign prostatic hyperplasia, but it seems our local boy, Nettle Root, is a handsome addition. Hartmann et al did a study in which they found a 44% urinary output improvement over 9 weeks when Nettle Root was included. A decoction of the root drunk daily, or taken in tincture (alcohol based) form will show a difference in symptoms within a few weeks. Along with this, it is important to decrease caffeine intake, or it is likely the prostate sufferer will have to remain on herbal remedies for the duration of his days. A painful choice, I know. This drink can be made tasty with the addition of ginger and cinnamon root, also both medicinal in their own right.
It has been said that Nettle Root is also an effective hindrance to hair loss. I'm not sure about this, but it could be worthy of at least an experiment or two. This would be applied by boiling the roots for aproximately 20 minutes in water, cooling the water and using it as a final rinse. Certainly a month or two of this application 3 X weekly couldn't do any harm!
When preparing the roots, rinse and scrub gently. Then chop with a sharp knife, or with garden snips. The other option is to use a food processor to chop, but having done this myself, I can truly say “it ain't the easiest on the machinery”. Place on dehydrator screens and dry around 95 degrees F, or spread on old window screens and place in a warm, dry place, out of direct sunlight.
A decoction of dry herbs is usually 1 T per 3 cups of water. Boil gently for 20 minutes and drink, or allow to set until cool, even for a few hours, for a stronger, more medicinal blend. Drink within 12 hours.
Nettle Root or Urtica rad, is a humble root...a wrinkly fellow, burrowing his way just under the surface of the earth, reaching, stretching and sprouting up again to enlarge the area of the nettle kingdom. Tan in colour, nettle root is easy to find and easy to harvest; simply following its root systems and pulling will yield an abundance. Watch out for the few stinging shoots that may still be around at this time of the year.
My experience of gathering this root was delightful! My friends had a great deal of nettle in their yard, which they had been systematically trying to eradicate, so any extra attempts were heartily welcomed. The soil was soft and the roots came up in long portions. How happy I was to see the size of these ones, as prior to this I had only managed to harvest small, rasty roots. I got greedy and pulled and pulled and pulled, much to the delight of my friends, but of course, ending up with way more than I could use. I planted the extra on my bit of land, playing a part in the continued propagation of this very necessary medicinal plant.
Primarily a male herb, Nettle is indicated in enlarged prostate. Usually Saw Palmetto is used for benign prostatic hyperplasia, but it seems our local boy, Nettle Root, is a handsome addition. Hartmann et al did a study in which they found a 44% urinary output improvement over 9 weeks when Nettle Root was included. A decoction of the root drunk daily, or taken in tincture (alcohol based) form will show a difference in symptoms within a few weeks. Along with this, it is important to decrease caffeine intake, or it is likely the prostate sufferer will have to remain on herbal remedies for the duration of his days. A painful choice, I know. This drink can be made tasty with the addition of ginger and cinnamon root, also both medicinal in their own right.
It has been said that Nettle Root is also an effective hindrance to hair loss. I'm not sure about this, but it could be worthy of at least an experiment or two. This would be applied by boiling the roots for aproximately 20 minutes in water, cooling the water and using it as a final rinse. Certainly a month or two of this application 3 X weekly couldn't do any harm!
When preparing the roots, rinse and scrub gently. Then chop with a sharp knife, or with garden snips. The other option is to use a food processor to chop, but having done this myself, I can truly say “it ain't the easiest on the machinery”. Place on dehydrator screens and dry around 95 degrees F, or spread on old window screens and place in a warm, dry place, out of direct sunlight.
A decoction of dry herbs is usually 1 T per 3 cups of water. Boil gently for 20 minutes and drink, or allow to set until cool, even for a few hours, for a stronger, more medicinal blend. Drink within 12 hours.
Rose Bud Lip Balm
We picked these rose buds, wild from the spray-kissed water's edge. Me and my sweetheart. My sweetheart and me. How patient he was with the rosebuds. It was a dew-smacked spring morning, and now, in the middle of summer's heat, I have the remnant of wet spring; purple and sweet smelling, in a canning jar - rose babies - ready to transform into rosebud lip balm. Wonder if the sea spray and the dew were dried into their essence as well?
One part (in grams) dried rosebuds ground up fine. Add to this 1/2 part (in mls) of 95% grain alcohol. Shake together in a jar and let sit for 12 - 24 hours. Pour out the rosebuds and alcohol into a glass or stainless steel blender, and add 7 parts (in mls) of almond, apricot kernel or grape seed oil. Blend on high for about ten minutes until the blender gets hot and the alcohol evaporates. Squeeze the oil from the rose buds, (you can mix the left over rosebuds with sea salt for a lovely salt scrub) and place in double boiler. Add shaved beeswax to the oil, 14 g for every 250 mls (or 1 cup) of oil. Melt in the double boiler. Pour into small salve containers and let set. Smell the honey, the sunshine, the roses...magical!
One part (in grams) dried rosebuds ground up fine. Add to this 1/2 part (in mls) of 95% grain alcohol. Shake together in a jar and let sit for 12 - 24 hours. Pour out the rosebuds and alcohol into a glass or stainless steel blender, and add 7 parts (in mls) of almond, apricot kernel or grape seed oil. Blend on high for about ten minutes until the blender gets hot and the alcohol evaporates. Squeeze the oil from the rose buds, (you can mix the left over rosebuds with sea salt for a lovely salt scrub) and place in double boiler. Add shaved beeswax to the oil, 14 g for every 250 mls (or 1 cup) of oil. Melt in the double boiler. Pour into small salve containers and let set. Smell the honey, the sunshine, the roses...magical!
Melissa
Lemon Balm
Lemon...balm...how apt a name for this bossy weed. Finger rub the leaves and sweet lemon scent is released; and the uses are myriad, so thanks should be given for the tenacity of Melissa, allowing us to have plenty for our every need.
Melissa is a child's herb, a grown-up's herb...versatility its middle name. No contraindications with this sweet baby. Use the leaves for yummy tea that settles anxious tummies and lifts the spirits. A serious tincture, made from fresh, picked early in the morning, leaves, is hyper-effective against viruses, most notably the symptoms of the virulent herpes virus, whether on lips, genitals or other areas. A few shots of this tincture straight, and a couple drops to the area, will stop the blisters in their tracks. It's also calming, helps insomnia and brightens a grumpy child.
Perhaps an irritant to gardeners who find it invasive, Lemon balm is still worth having in the garden. Depressed? Have a cup. Coming down with the flu or a cold? It can't hurt to add this to more powerful flu herbs to flavour the tea and bring smiles to a child's face.
Part of a Kid's Blend, formulated with glycerine, Melissa is specific for upset tummy and anything else that makes us feel low.
Full of volatile oils, Melissa should be picked early, before the sun warms the leaves. Dry it quickly in a cool, shady spot, and store in an air tight container. Even with these precautions, Melissa still doesn't have much of a shelf life, so take advantage of it fresh throughout the summer.
A tincture can be made by infusing the fresh lemon balm, chopped quickly and covered with 95 percent Everclear grain alcohol, and leaving it for 2 weeks to steep. Strain off the herb and take 30 to 100 drops of tincture when needed.
Lemon Balm
Lemon...balm...how apt a name for this bossy weed. Finger rub the leaves and sweet lemon scent is released; and the uses are myriad, so thanks should be given for the tenacity of Melissa, allowing us to have plenty for our every need.
Melissa is a child's herb, a grown-up's herb...versatility its middle name. No contraindications with this sweet baby. Use the leaves for yummy tea that settles anxious tummies and lifts the spirits. A serious tincture, made from fresh, picked early in the morning, leaves, is hyper-effective against viruses, most notably the symptoms of the virulent herpes virus, whether on lips, genitals or other areas. A few shots of this tincture straight, and a couple drops to the area, will stop the blisters in their tracks. It's also calming, helps insomnia and brightens a grumpy child.
Perhaps an irritant to gardeners who find it invasive, Lemon balm is still worth having in the garden. Depressed? Have a cup. Coming down with the flu or a cold? It can't hurt to add this to more powerful flu herbs to flavour the tea and bring smiles to a child's face.
Part of a Kid's Blend, formulated with glycerine, Melissa is specific for upset tummy and anything else that makes us feel low.
Full of volatile oils, Melissa should be picked early, before the sun warms the leaves. Dry it quickly in a cool, shady spot, and store in an air tight container. Even with these precautions, Melissa still doesn't have much of a shelf life, so take advantage of it fresh throughout the summer.
A tincture can be made by infusing the fresh lemon balm, chopped quickly and covered with 95 percent Everclear grain alcohol, and leaving it for 2 weeks to steep. Strain off the herb and take 30 to 100 drops of tincture when needed.
Mentha X piperita
Peppermint
Growing between rocks; diving under roots to re-emerge in inconvenient places...Mentha X piperita - the lowly peppermint plant...foundation of herbal teas ... cooling...calming...settling...uplifting.
Packed full of volatile oils, peppermint should be gathered in the cool of the day, early morning or later in the evening. The hot sun will cause the oils to dissipate, leaving you with a peppermint that doesn't really pack a punch.
Make some tea with fresh leaves, pouring almost boiling water over a fistful of crushed peppermint, and find somewhere comfy to process the rest of the stalks. I pick off the dead leaves and feel for square stems, a signature of all mint plants...don't want to get it confused with some other weed I may have picked at the same time. Smell, sniff, inhale...mint on fingers, in nostrils, floating in the air...hang to dry - away from direct sunlight...peppermint house...cool, sweet, calm.
Dry peppermint, and all herbs, till they're crunchy, crispy, crackling...dry! Pack away in jars or tins and use as you please. A gentle herb, peppermint helps with nausea, sore tummy, congestion and lethargy.
Peppermint
Growing between rocks; diving under roots to re-emerge in inconvenient places...Mentha X piperita - the lowly peppermint plant...foundation of herbal teas ... cooling...calming...settling...uplifting.
Packed full of volatile oils, peppermint should be gathered in the cool of the day, early morning or later in the evening. The hot sun will cause the oils to dissipate, leaving you with a peppermint that doesn't really pack a punch.
Make some tea with fresh leaves, pouring almost boiling water over a fistful of crushed peppermint, and find somewhere comfy to process the rest of the stalks. I pick off the dead leaves and feel for square stems, a signature of all mint plants...don't want to get it confused with some other weed I may have picked at the same time. Smell, sniff, inhale...mint on fingers, in nostrils, floating in the air...hang to dry - away from direct sunlight...peppermint house...cool, sweet, calm.
Dry peppermint, and all herbs, till they're crunchy, crispy, crackling...dry! Pack away in jars or tins and use as you please. A gentle herb, peppermint helps with nausea, sore tummy, congestion and lethargy.