Herbs

Garden Thyme

Botanical Name: Thymus Vulgaris

Thyme is a perennial shrub, and a member of the mint family. With over a hundred varieties, the most common being garden and lemon thyme. It’s an aromatic herb that enhances flavor, stimulates digestion and improves appetite. Other than it’s culinary value, it has many properties for medicinal use. The main ingredient helps inhibit the growth of fungus and bacteria. Thyme is useful for treating respiratory congestion, bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough and sore throats.

Garlic

Botanical Name: Allium Sativum

Folk Names: Ajo, Clove Garlic, Poor Man’s Treacle, Stinkweed

Native to Central Asia, garlic is a species in the onion family Alliaceae.

The ancient Greeks placed garlic at cross-roads as a supper for the goddess Hecate, or for protection to ward off demons. Greek midwives would hang garlic cloves in birthing rooms to keep evil spirits away. Athletes would take large amounts of garlic before competition, and soldiers would consume garlic before going into battle. Roman soldiers ate garlic to inspire and give them courage. Egyptian slaves were fed garlic to keep up strength. Tibetan monks were forbidden from entering monasteries if they had eaten garlic. Nicholas Culpeper, (botanist/herbalist/astrologer) linked garlic with the planet Mars. A fiery planet also connected with blood. Dreaming that there is “garlic in the house” is known to mean you will discover hidden secrets.

Spelt

Native to Asia, Spelt is a grain and distant cousin to wheat. It is high in just about any nutrient, Vitamins B1, B2, B3,B6, E, iron, potassium, calcium as well as amino acids. It’s also highly water soluble and  much easier to digest than wheat.

Spelt is is useful for feebleness, brittle hair and nails, connective tissue weakness, general weakness, sluggish bowels, rheumatic illness and vitamin-B deficiency. (Spelt can be purchased in whole food stores)

Bergamot Oil

The Bergamot Tree is native to the Canary Islands and grows to a height of 12 feet. It is an inedible bitter green fruit with a pale green color that gives off a lemon orange scent.

Bergamot oil plays an important role in aromatherapy. The aroma is excellent for stress, relaxes frayed nerves, depression, anxiety, fear and anger. Add the oil to a sitz bath to help with urinary-tract infections. It can be applied topically for irritated skin, such as acne, insect bites, cold sores and eczema.

FENNEL

Botanical Name: Foeniculum vulgare

Folk Names: Samar, Sheeh, Sweet Fennel

Fennel is a Perennial herb from the Apiaceae family. Native to the Mediterranean and Southern Europe, it grows to the height of 2-6 feet.

Fennel was hung above doorways and on rafters in order to ward off  evil in the Middle Ages. The seeds were placed inside keyholes to prevent ghosts from entering the house. In 470 b.c. the Greeks defeated the Persians at Marathon. They fought on a field of fennel and this led to the belief that fennel inspired courage and strength. Greek and Roman soldiers chewed fennel seeds before entering battle.

Cowslip Tea (Cowslip or Primula Veris)

Folk Names: Cuy lippe, Herb Peter, Paigle, Peggle, Key Flower, Key of Heaven, Fairy Cups, Petty Mulleins, Crewel, Buckles, Palsywort, Plumrocks, Mayflower, Password, Artetyke, Drelip, Our Lady’s Keys, Arthritica, Buckles, Cuy, Frauenchlussel, Lady’s Key, Lippe, Paralysio.

Cowslip or Primula veris is a flowering plant that grows 10-30 cm tall and can be found throughout most of Europe and Asia.

It can be used fresh as well as dry (only the flowers, stems and roots are used). The flowers and leaves are rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, calcium, potassium, salicylates and sodium which help strengthen the immune system. Also, the herb contains saponoids which bring about expectorant and emetic effects. The root and stem contain saccharum, amidine and tanoids and is also a natural diuretic, soothing sedative.

ECHINACEA

Botanical Name: Echinacea Augustifolia

Folk Names: Black Sampson, Coneflower, Rudbeckia

Echinacea is a Perennial plant from the the daisy family, Asteraceae. Native to North America, it grows to a height of 2-3 feet.

It was widely used by the Plains Indians for its medicinal qualities as a treatment for symptoms caused by the common cold. In the 1930s it became popular in both Europe and America as a herbal medicine.

DATURA

Botanical Name: Datura Stranmonium

Folk Names: Devil’s Apple, Devil’s cucumber, Devil’s Trumpet, Ghost Flower, Jimsonweed, Love-Will, Mad Apple, Madherb, Manicon, Moonflower, Stinkweed, Sorcerer’s Herb, Thornapple, Toloache, Witche’s Thimble, Yerba del Diablo (Spanish herb of the Devil)

Datura is an annual herb from the Solanaceae (nightshade) family. It is believed to be native to Asia or South America, origins are unknown. It grows to a height of 2-4 feet, reaching a diameter of 4-6 feet.

CALAMUS

Botanical Name: Acorus Calamus

Folk Names: Gladden, Myrtle Flag, Myrtle Grass, Myrtle Sedge, Lubigan, Sweet Cane, Sweet Flag, Sweet Grass, Sweet Root, Sweet Rush, Sweet Sedge

Calamus are perennial flowering plants from the Acorus family. Native to to North America and northern and eastern Asia. The leaves grow between 0.7 and 1.7 cm wide, with average of 1 cm, and the flower is between 3 and 4 mm.

The Penobscot people would cut the root and hang it throughout the house to cure illness. When traveling, they would take a piece of the root, and chew to ward off sickness. To cure a runny nose, The Potawatomi people would powder the dried root and put up their nose. The Teton-Dakota warriors believed it prevented excitement and fear when facing their enemy, they would chew it to a paste and rub it on their face.

BACHELOR’S BUTTONS

Botanical Name: Centaurea Cyanus

Folk Names: Bluet, Blue Bottle, Devil’s Flower, Hurtlesickle, Red Campion

Bachelor’s Buttons are annual flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Native to Europe, it grows to a height of 16-35 inches tall. It is sometimes called Common Cornflower and may also be referred to as a basketflower.

It was John F. Kennedy’s favorite flower and was worn by John F. Kennedy, Jr. at his wedding in tribute to his father. It was also used in the funeral wreath made for Pharaoh Tutankhamun.