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• For centuries, nature has supplied the human race with medicines. The knowledge our ancestors gained has been passed down for centuries, and it has served humankind well.
• But as human civilization developed, the focus shifted. It turned to laboratories and chemicals. With the development of antibiotics in the 1930’s it became more and more apparent that humans can create all the medicines needed to fight all infections and diseases. That proved to be true for a long time, since diseases that used to kill millions and been eradicated or brought under control.
• But now, we are starting to learn about and see some downsides of modern medicine. Antibiotics have been so overused that some strains of bacteria have become resistant to them. And many pills that we have been taking for aches and pains are turning out to have some dangerous side effects.
• As a result, there has been a rapidly growing interest in re-discovering the remedies that nature readily offers. And it is becoming widely accepted that that these remedies greatly assist the human body to heal itself, rather than merely stifling the symptoms.

• You have to ask: “can natural remedies cure all things that ail us?” the answer is :”no – not likely” And another question that needs to be brought up is” Are herbs and other natural substances safe and effective in every case and can you just blindly take herbs?” The answer is: “Definitely not” The fortunate fact is that most natural remedies tend to be milder and are less likely to cause harm – unlike most pharmaceuticals.

• Don’t get this wrong – the healing powers of nature’s remedies are not a reason to totally abandon modern medicine. It is without a doubt that advances in modern medicine have helped to prevent many diseases and treat a vast number of conditions as well. So the approach that makes sense is to complement modern medicine’s benefits with those that nature provides.
• Here is some information about the healing power of well known herbs – the most logical advice I can give you is that you get as much information as possible about the herb that is likely to help you and discuss it with your family practitioner. Hopefully he or she will also see the benefit of combining the best of both worlds

Check out individual herbs and their benefits:

Growing a Healing Garden

Hope you have enjoyed this information – please send in your comments, suggestions and experiences – your input is very much wecomed and even more appreciated!

Spring Gardening Checklist:

• Start annuals, tomatoes and peppers from seeds indoors
• Start your summer flowering bulbs like dahlias, cannas, etc. indoors by potting them and setting them up under lights until after the last frost date
• In your garden, clean up your flower beds, picking up fallen branches, twigs, dead plants and other winter debris
• Prune deciduous trees and shrubs – but not the  ones that flower of run sap in the spring
• As soon as you can work the ground, you can plant hardy cool-weather plants like onions, cabbage, radishes, sweet peas and leeks.
• You can also spray scale-infested trees and shrubs with dormant oil before their leaves show up.
• Put slow-release fertilizer to flowering shrubs and vines – that includes clematis, roses and rhododendrons
• And start pulling out weeds as soon as they appear in your garden
• If you have hydrangea in your flower beds, cut it back all the way to the ground
• Spread compost on beds and start adding kitchen scraps and yard waste to your compost bin to start a new batch of compost
• Divide mature perennials and replants them into other places
• Install a rain barrel to collect run offs from eavestroughs and to have water to use watering your plants
• Don’t plant your tomato and pepper plants until soil temperature reaches 17C
• To clean up spring-flowering perennials, cut them back once they finish flowering
• It is a good idea to pinch back seed heads on plants like rhododendron and azaleas – it will leave the plants energy to grow better.
• Fertilize daffodils, crocuses and tulips after they finish flowering – your bulbs will be stronger and will flower beautifully next spring.

Please add your comments, suggestions and tips – your input is as always very much appreciated!

Fresh Herb Bread:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of flour
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 package of regular or fast-acting dry yeast (about 2-1/2 teaspoons)
• 1-1/4 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons of shortening (or room temperature butter or margarine)
• 2 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley
• 1-1/2 teaspoon of chopped fresh or ½ teaspoon of dried rosemary leaves
• ½ teaspoon of chopped fresh or ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme leaves
• 1 tablespoon of butter or margarine at room temperature, if desired

Directions:

1. Spray the bottom and sides of 8×4 or 9×5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray
2. In a large bowl, stir 2 cups of flour, sugar, salt and yeast with wooden spoon until well mixed. In a 1-quart saucepan, heat the water on medium heat until very warm. Add the water, shortening, parsley, rosemary and thyme to the flour mixture.
3. Beat with electric mixer on low speed for 1  minute, stopping frequently to scrape batter from sides and bottom of bowl with rubber spatula, until mixture is moistened.
4. Beat on medium speed for about 1 more minute, continuing to scrape the bowl.
5. With a wooden spoon, stir in the remaining flour until smooth.
6. Spread the batter evenly in the pan, using rubber spatula to scrape batter form the bowl. Round the top of loaf by patting it with floured hands. Lightly spray a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray; cover the pan loosely with the plastic wrap, sprayed side down.
7. Let rise in a warm place for about 40 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.
8. Remove plastic wrap.
9. Move oven rack to the middle oven position and heat oven to 375F.
10. Bake for 40-45 minutes until top of the loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped with finger.
11. Immediately remove the loaf from baking pan to a cooling rack, placing the loaf top side up.
12. For a softer crust, brush top of loaf with 1 tablespoon of butter.
13. Serve warm or cooled.

Hope you enjoyed this bread recipe – I will welcome your comments, suggestions and experience – thanks for sharing!

1. PMS Soothers:

Try Chaste Tree: This herb is cure for just about every gynecological complaint as reported by director of Education at the Herb Research Foundation in Boulder, Colorado. One large study found that chaste tree improved or eliminated everything from bleeding to depression in nearly 90 percent of patients. For the best results, it is recommended to take 650 mg capsule two to three time a day ( you should start feeling better after two months) One crucial warning: Chaste tree may interfere with the Pill – so use back up!

Also worth a try:

Chiropractic: The evidence isn’t concrete, but a few smaller studies from Australia indicate that spinal adjustments may put PMS pain to rest. One study found that women who had two to three treatments the week before their period had significantly less pain and cramping after two cycles.

Meditation: When you are stressed, your body is flooded with hormones that can exacerbate PMS symptoms. Concentrating and repeating short phrase or prayer while breathing deeply will help reduce stress – and keep PMS in check.

Acupuncture: Many women say acupuncture eases cramping. Researches think that the practice, which uses needles to stimulate certain body points may prompt the brain to release feel-good neurochemicals that elevate mood and wash away pain.

2. Back Pain Easers:

Lower back pain is tricky to treat, but there are a lots of things you can try besides drugs or surgery.

Your best bets:

Chiropractic: There have been numerous controlled studies on spinal manipulation for back pain. and about two-thirds have shown that it works.

Acupuncture: The National Institutes of Health have found that acupuncture is useful in treating lower back pin and several studies have confirmed that. In one study in Sweden, pregnant women who were treated with acupuncture were more than twice as likely to experience a decrease in pain as those receiving physical therapy.

Biofeedback: Putting electronic sensors on your body can teach you to be more aware of certain physical conditions (such as muscle tension) so you can learn to control them. The sensors pick up electronic signals and translate them into a sound or a line on a computer screen. Your job is to learn to focus on manipulating those signals. There are excellent controlled studies that show that many lower back pain sufferers can control their muscle tension and thus their pain, with biofeedback.

Massage Therapy: There isn’t a lot of evidence to recommend massage therapy for back pain, but there’s some – and, hey – who doesn’t like a massage? One study from University of Toronto found that about 60 percent of people who received six back massages over the course of four weeks reported no pain month after the treatments.

Alexander Technique: This mind/body practice, which teaches students to improve their posture and breathing habits may help some lower back-pain sufferers. To find a certified instructor, visit www.alexandertech.org

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) : This 25 years old technique delivers tiny bursts of electrical current to parts of the back via electrodes, blocking pain impulses along a nerve. A recent study involving about 300 participants found that TENS was twice as likely as no treatment to relieve back pain.

3. Insomnia Relief:

Can’t sleep? Join the other estimated 56 percent of North Americans who have the same trouble. Though the standard treatments usually combine behaviour therapy with medication, there are several non-drug alternatives that may also help:

Clean Sleeping: This is the sleep equivalent of a good diet. It means making all the simple changes you can before doing anything more drastic. The guidelines: Eliminate caffeine (as much as possible), limit bedroom activities to sleep and sex, avoid naps, go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, don;t exercise or eat heavy meals less than three hours before bedtime. Adjust the bedroom temperature and noise level in your room and control your light exposure – expose yourself to bright light for 30 minutes after waking, but keep the lights low in the evening.

Valerian: A few German studies suggest that this herb can help insomniacs sleep. However, scientists say that more studies are needed. If you like to try Valerian, take 300 to 500 mg an hour before bed. Warning: avoid Valerian if you have been drinking alcohol.

Melatonin: This hormone, usually secreted by brain’s pineal gland, helps regulate your sleep cycles. Though the research has been mixed, one of the most recent studies found that taking 0.3 mg a few hours before bed does the trick.

Relaxation: No surprise there. Another tip: writing a worry list a few hours before bed can help you deal with troublesome issues while you are awake – not when you are trying to sleep.

4. Headache Stoppers:

Whether you have chronic headaches (often cause by muscle tension) of debilitating migraines (a neurological disease), be assured that while drugs have helped millions, there are lots of non-traditional treatments that will help too:

Biofeedback: The evidence that biofeedback helps to prevent both migraine and tension headaches is strong  – in fact – if the results are averaged, most patients experience 80 to 100 percent reduction in pain. The technique that is practiced during sessions is different with each condition. If you have tension headache, you will learn how to relax muscles in your shoulders, neck or jaw. People with migraines learn how to keep their hands warm. Migraine sufferers tend to have too much blood flow in certain arteries in their brains. If each artery is normalized by increasing flow to the arms and legs, migraines rarely come in.

Diet changes: Certain food additives can trigger migraines. Try eliminating the most common culprits: monosodium glutamate (MSG), red wine, beer, chocolate, citrus fruits, aged cheeses and cured, aged or marinated meats, such as hot dogs, bologna and salami.

Mind/Body Technique: Meditation, relaxation exercises and guided imagery help keep stress-triggered headaches under control.

Also worth a try:

Chiropractic: few studies have been done and some show that having the spine manipulated can prevent tension headaches. You will probably need a few adjustments a week for two to four weeks before you get results.

Acupuncture: There is a strong evidence that tension and migraine headache patients no longer have problems after six months of treatments.

5. Depression Lifters:

Natural remedies get particularly strong marks for minor depression. But – it is extremely important to discuss anything you may plan to do with your doctor. Also – if your symptoms begin to interfere with your everyday life, or if you begin to have recurrent thoughts about death, you have to call your doctor immediately.

Your best bets:

St. John’s Wort: This herb may truly be nature’s antidepressant. Numerous studies with thousands of patients have found it to be effective. One report in the British Medical Journal found that St. John’s Wort worked as well as imipramine (a common anti-depressant) and caused less than half the number of adverse effects. However – that doesn’t mean that it is risk free. It may interfere with birth-control pills, HIV medications and immuno-suppressants. The usual dose: 300 mg three times a day – and it will take two to three weeks to start working.

Fish Oil Supplements: Researches are stepping up investigations into the role of Omega-3 Fatty acids (the good for you fats found in oily fish like salmon) play in depression. Harvard researchers discovered that taking Omega-3s kept maniac depression under control onger than olive-oil pills. The aim is for 1 g a day.

Acupuncture: There is some evidence that acupuncture can alter brain chemistry and lift mild depression.

I have found putting this article together very interesting and I hope you will as well. Even though these points are quite persuasive, remember that it is always a good idea to tell you doctor what you are planning to do to make sure it doesn’t interfere with your medical condition.

Some herbs grow too easily – like lemon balm or mint – they will spread very quickly and can take over most of your herb garden before you know it. To prevent this, it is a good idea to plant them in containers.

During the summer, harvest your herbs on regular basis – pinching back the leaves will result in a bushier plant.

Here are a few perennial herbs for you to try and direction on making your own organic tea:

Bergamot:

Bergamot

Bergamot is a bushy plant that thrives in sun to part-shade. It is usually grown for its bright red or pink flowers, but the leaves have an orange-like flavour that produces a great cold drink as well as a tasty cup of tea.

Lemon Verbena:

Lemon Verbena

Lemon verbena is a semi-tropical upright shrub that requires full sun. It will also need overwintering indoors, but all the work with it is worth it.l It makes a great lemony tea. Lemon Balm is harder alternative, but it is not quite as flavourful.

Marjoram:

Marjoram

Marjoram is a clump forming culinary herb that also produces citrusy tea with a hint of mint. Milder in flavour than its close relative oregano, marjoram thrives in full sun.

Peppermint:

Peppermint

Peppermint is a plant that will do well in a full sun as well as part shade and produces tons of toothed leaves.

Rose Hip:

Rose Hip

The “hips” are actually seed cases . To maintain your rose hip bush flowering, keep deadheading until late summer , then let the flowers go to seed. Harvest once hips are fully formed and deep orange-red  – but before the birds get them. Rugosa roses are hardy and most are excellent producers.

How to make your Organic Tea:

Pick leaves mid-morning - after the dew has dried – preferably on a dry day

To use fresh leaves: Place them on a damp paper or tea towel and keep them out of the sun.

To dry leaves: If you want to use your herbs for alter use, make sure they are dried completely – residual moisture could cause mould – by leaving them in a darkened, warm and dry place for a few days. when dry, store in an airtight container

Before steeping fresh leaves, bruise them to release the oil

Use two to three teaspoons of fresh leaves or one teaspoon of dried leaves for each cup of tea.

Slice rose hips in half before adding boiling water to release their flavour.

Hope you enjoyed reading this information – if you want to add comments, suggestions or experiences, please do so – it will be greatly appreciated!

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]]> http://www.mama-knows.com/gardening-tips/how-to-grow-an-organic-tea-garden.html/feed 1 http://www.mama-knows.com/recipes/preserving-your-herbs.html http://www.mama-knows.com/recipes/preserving-your-herbs.html#comments Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:01:23 +0000 Hanna Trafford http://www.mama-knows.com/?p=1806

You can enjoy home-grown herbs all the time if you know how to preserve them. Additional great idea is to package them into custom made baggies (ones you make yourself of course) and give them as gift, either individually or as a herb gift basket. People really appreciate receiving gifts that took your efforts and imagination!

Here is a simple guide to Preserving Your Herbs:

Basil:

The one thing to remember about preserving basil is to make sure that you pick it at its peak – before if flowers and definitely before chilly weather comes in. Don’t rinse it unless absolutely necessary. Good way to preserve basil is to put it into a food processor or blender with a generous pinch of salt, process on pulse, adding just enough olive oil to make a thick puree. Freeze in ice cube trays, wrap each cube in plastic wrap and store in your freezer in airtight container. Add to sauces or make delicious pesto!

Dill and Parsley:

Dried dill is useful, but dried parsley is pretty much tasteless. Both however retain maximum flavour when frozen. Rinse and dry your fresh herbs in a salad spinner, then chop and pack into airtight jars of ziplock bags. Freeze for use in soups, sauces and cooked foods all year long.

Mint:

Dried mint often loses most of its taste, so choose only strongly-flavoured mint grown in full sun for drying.

Oregano, Marjoram and Thyme:

These perennial herbs retain strong flavour when dried. Harvest most of the leafy part of your plants, leaving at least 3 inches of growth. Hang stems in bundles to dry – it’s easy then to remove the leaves. Greek Oregano is always harvested and dried with its flower heads, which have especially intense flavour.

Rosemary:

Fresh Rosemary is always nicer than dried, so the best way is really just to transfer plants into pots and bring them indoors to a cool, bright windowsill, keep moist, but do not overwater. When snipping off, always leave at least 3 inches of soft stems with green leaf growth.

Sage:

Prune off long stems and dry. Pick off dried leaves and store whole in an airtight container. Crumble or grind just before use.

Savory:

Savory is good dried, but great when preserved in salt in a jar. Layer leaves with non-iodized salt, coarse pickling or kosher salt. the ratio to use for this preserving method is 1 cup of leaves with 1/4 cup of salt.

Tarragon:

Tarragon can be dried, but it is the best as a seasoning in vinegar. Simply fill bottle with Tarragon springs, add a pinch of salt and top with white wine vinegar.

Hope you will find this helpful and I will appreciate any additions you may have.

]]> http://www.mama-knows.com/recipes/preserving-your-herbs.html/feed 1 http://www.mama-knows.com/gardening-tips/growing-a-healing-garden.html http://www.mama-knows.com/gardening-tips/growing-a-healing-garden.html#comments Tue, 26 May 2009 14:34:27 +0000 Hanna Trafford http://www.mama-knows.com/?p=1680 What better way to enjoy spring then to get out and get active in your garden? One of the great ideas for gardening is to grow a healing garden. Translation – starting and cultivating herbs. For centuries, herb plants were the curative of choice across cultures.

Here are a few ideas for your own herb garden – easy to grow plants with medicinal properties. Most of these pants like full sunshine so make sure you place the taller plants to the north or east to prevent them from shading the shorter growing ones. A moderate to rich soil will be helpful for all of them.

Here are 12 the most popular herbs that are easy to grow:

Peppermint:

Peppermint

Peppermint tea is a traditional remedy for an upset stomach or gas,because it supposedly relaxes gut muscles. Growing tips: Peppermint is hardy but invasive, so always plant in a pot sunk into the soil to keep roots contained.

Echinacea or Coneflower:

Echinacea or Coneflower

Herbalists use an extract of this common cold preventive to boost the immune system and the production of white blood cells. For the home garden, plant them to enjoy the gorgeous flowers and the butterflies they attract. Echinacea is hardy and it is a good idea to regularly deadhead to encourage more flowers.

Sage:

Sage

In medieval herbals, sage is a cure-all, supposed to heal grief,fever and the nerves. Modern herbalists agree that the plant contains antibacterial and antiseptic properties, and may even ease hot flashes. Do not use while pregnant. Sage is hardy and will grow well in full sun and well-drained soil.

Rosemary:

Rosemary

Ancient herbalists recommended rosemary for headaches and claimed that its fragrance could ward off infections. In the language of flowers, this herb symbolizes faithfulness. Rosemary is hardy plant but northern region gardeners can bring it indoors for the colder weather – just keep it in full sun.

Dog Rose:

Dog Rose

In ancient times. the wild dog rose was the most popular source of rose hips – tiny fruits related to apples. Rose hips are still a popular ingredients in herbal teas, and are powerhouse sources of vitamin C,iron and antioxidants. If you don’t spray your roses, you can harvest the naturally high in pectin rosehips after the frost and make jam. It is a good idea to grow Dog Rose tied to a trellis – it will make a very nice decor in your garden.

Lavender:

Lavender

Aromatherapists use lavender to heal headaches and tension – try floating a few fragrant flowers in your bathwater. Lavender grows the best in a well-drained soil and is quite hardy.

Lemon Balm:

Lemon Balm

In the language of flowers, Lemon Balm means love and its traditional herbal uses were equally dramatic to renew youth, cure scorpion stings and make bees swarm. The fresh leaves make a relaxing tea with antiviral properties. Lemon Balm will do well in a hardy zone a needs well-drained soil.

Borage:

Borage

The old name of Borage is Herb of Gladness and fresh Borage flowers and leaf tea or Borage infused with wine were traditional rememdies for anxiety, stress and depression. Borage will self-seed each year and will grow in sun or partial shade.

Sweet Woodruff:

Sweet Woodruff

A lasting and sweet scent (it does attract bees) makes Sweet Woodruff a popular potpourri ingredient. Add dried springs to your stored linens as well. This plant spreads very easily and prefers a little shade.

Thyme:

Thyme

Thyme is traditional desinfectant and the ancient Greeks used it the incense. Thyme tea, made with a tablespoon of the dried leaves is supposed to relax the throat and tame coughing. Just make sure you don’t overwater these plants.

Calendula or Pot Marigold:

Calendula or Pot Marigold

The the herb world, the Marigold is relied upon for reducing inflammation and old wives use it as an oitment for diaper rash and acne. In the language of flowers, it stands for joy. You can toss small amoutns of the pretty edible petals into salads. It is quite hardy and grows well in either flower beds or containers in full sun or partial shade. Deadhead to keep new flowers coming.

German Chamomile:

German Chamomile

Chemicals in this herb are supposed to reduce aggresion adn anxiety, which may be why chamomile tea has traditionally been used to encourage better sleep. However , it may worsen asthma and can be an allergen. Avoid while pregnant.Chamomile will tollerate almost any soil but does need a lot of sun.

Enjoying your Herbal Harvest:

Now that you have grown your herbs, you can harvest the leaves and/or flowers of those that are edible. Use them fresh, dried or frozen to cook, or to make herbal teas or whip up tasy homemade vinegars. Others can be thrown into a frarant pot pourri. Be sure that you keep a chemical-free garden if you plan to eat or brew your herbs, and always check with your medical practitioner, especially if you are pregnant or breast-feeding before ingesting herbs of any kind.

Delicious Brews:

Herbal tea can be made with fresh-picked herbs right from teh garden, or dry your harvest for comforting cups of teas all year round. You can experiment with the proportions but a good starting point is 1-2 teaspoons of fresh herbs or 1-2 teaspoons of dried herbs to 1 cup of boiling water. Steep for a few minutes, covered, so that essential oils released by the herbs don;t evaporate. Sip and savour!

Fragrant Flowers:

Commercial potpourri mixes often contain artificial fragrances, which can cause allergic reactions. Stay chemical free by making your own natural aromatherapy mixture.

Here is how:

• Pick both the leaves and flowers from lavender, sweet woodruff and Rosemary plants on a fine day after the dew has burned off.
• Scrub an orange and shave off the peel, cut peel into slivers.
• Dry leaves,flower buds and peel, spread out in a dark, dry,well-ventialted place for three to four days. Turn every day.
• Mix together 1 cup of each dried Lavender, Woodruff and Rosemary. Add the dried orange slivers and dozen whole cloves.
• Sew into a sachet or display in a pretty bowl.

Hope you get your Healing Herb Garden organized and send me your comments and experiences – good luck!

Mis together