Name: Thyme
Latin:
Other Common Names:
Family: Mint
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: Thyme has been used to calm anxiety and panic, while increasing motivation.
Use in tandem with:
Directions & Warnings:
2 sliced lemons
2 2-finger chunks of ginger, peeled and sliced
Put lemon and ginger in a pint canning jar. Cover with honey. Let sit. Cover with honey again. Let sit. Repeat until the jar is actually full. Suggested to keep in fridge.
Name: Rosemary
Latin: Rosmarinus officinals
Other Common Names:
Family: Mint
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: Anti-bacterial. Circulatory system tonic. Can be used in preparations to improve memory, focus, and concentration. Also a known anti-inflammatory. Can be used as a gentler stimulant than most, without agitating the system or exacerbating stress. If you do not mind a more savory tea, and appreciate the flavour of rosemary, this can also be used to ameliorate some of the nastier medicinal herb flavours.
Use in tandem with:
Uses for Pets:
Directions & Warnings:
Edibility: Use as a spice for meats and garlic. Also makes a nifty tea on its own, or a nice addition to lemon/limeade.
Growing: Rosemary is a naturally drought tolerant plant. One of the easiest ways to kill it outdoors is over watering or overly rich soil. Rosemary actually prefers sandier, well drained soil. However, when in a pot it cannot sprawl its roots out as it prefers. You must keep the soil for a potted rosemary plant moist. If it dries out entirely, there is little chance of salvaging it. It is reported that it also really loves seaweed water.
I have found that using the leaf in teas gives them quite a bit of the actual blackberry flavour, and generally get momentarily distracted by the lovely smell when I open the container.
Name: Blackberry
Latin: Rubus villosus
Other Common Names: Bramble, Scaldhead, Fingerberry, Black Longberry
Family: Rosaceae
Parts Used: Roots, Leaves, Berries
Vitamins & Minerals: C, Folate, antioxidants, phytochemicals, potassium, manganese
Used for: Use the root for an astringent tincture. Consistent use of this tea can help with a variety of intestinal problems. Chewing the leaves has a long history of strengthening and healing the gums.
Use in tandem with:
Directions & Warnings: Blackberry is a mild blood thinner. Not dangerously so, on its own, but use caution if taking anti-coagulants.
Name: Marshmallow
Latin: Althea officinalis
Other Common Names:
Family:
Parts Used: Root
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: Marshmallow is one of the most effective mucilaginous herbs. It is good for acid problems of the digestive tract (ulcers, irritation, stones, and infections.) It is also useful for respiratory ailments, as it both calms the throat, and helps to expel mucous. It can be used as a poultice on sprains. It can also be used as a tea to increase the flow of milk when breastfeeding, and to enrich the milk. The mucilage also acts as a soothing and protective agent for inflamed and damaged nerves.
Use in tandem with:
Directions & Warnings:
Name: Arnica
Latin:
Other Common Names: Accident Plant
Family:
Parts Used:
Vitamins & Minerals:
Used for: A lotion containing arnica can be a fairly effective pain reliever, particularly in cases of soft tissue damage. Used to reduce swelling from breaks and sprains, and effective at relieving muscle strain and tension.
Use in tandem with:
Directions & Warnings: DO NOT use arnica if there is a break in the skin. There are some internal uses, but they should not be attempted unless under the direct care of a herbal practitioner.
Name: Aloe
Latin:
Other Common Names:
Family:
Parts Used:
Vitamins & Minerals:
Used for: This is another one of the “magic” plants that can be used for a number of things, and does them all quite well. It can be used both internally and externally. It is one of the best things to use as a salve on burns, including sunburns. If mixed into juice or drunk it promotes internal healing and eases digestive issues.
Use in tandem with:
Directions and Warnings: When using aloe preparations, make sure that there is neither alcohol nor lanolin in the mixture. They inactivate many of its useful compounds. Do not use aloe on a staph infection, aloe can seal the infection in and give it a better environment to multiply.
Name: Cinquefoil
Latin: Potentilla canadensis (and others)
Other Common Names:
Family: Rosaceae
Parts Used: Roots, Leaves, Flowers, Seeds
Vitamins & Minerals:
Used for: This plant can be made into a tincture or brewed as a tea. It has a mild astringent effect, and can be used to assist with diarrhea. nosebleeds, and bleeding gums.
Use in tandem with:
Growing: Cinquefoil does not mind nasty dry soils with few nutrients. It will still grow quite happily under those conditions.
Name: Red Clover
Latin:
Other Common Names:
Family:
Parts Used:
Vitamins & Minerals: Most, in good quantity
Used for: This is a lovely tonic and nutritive herb, containing a long list of vitamins and minerals in good quantity. Due to the flavour it adds to teas, it also helps to mitigate or cover that of some of the more bitter medicinals. Mixed with mint, it makes a good cold remedy. It ranks neat the top of herbal fertility promoters. It is a liver and blood strengthener. Because of the intense nutritive quality, it is also anti-cancer. It can assist with calming nerves, and alleviating nervous disorders. As with the products of the bees who love it so much, it can be used for a variety of skin issues.
Use in tandem with:
Name: Garlic
Latin: Allium sativum
Other Common Names:
Parts Used: Bulb
Vitamins & Minerals:
Used for: Garlic is one of the “magic” plants as far as its health effects and uses. It mitigates the physical effects of stress. It can lower high blood pressure. A tea is good for sore throats, and can be used to lessen inflammation and infection in tonsilitis. If used as a poultice on your chest (often in conjunction with onion), it can help with bronchitis and other chest ailments. Along with being capable of lowering blood pressure, it can help to reduce your cholesterol, strengthen your heart, increase immune response, reduce stroke risk, and stabilize blood sugar. Garlic and its relatives are a source of phytoestrogens, which not only reduce the risk of cancer, they can assist with the passage through menopause. Garlic also has an antibiotic effect similar to penicillin, with the added benefit of not killing off the beneficial bacteria in the body. Used in a cold poultice, it can help to lower swelling; as a hot poultice, can be used to help snakebites and wasp or hornet stings. Crushed and packed in near a tooth, it can assist with toothache. Most of the folkloric and historic beneficial effects of garlic have been proven scientifically.
Use in tandem with: Hawthorn and Cayenne
Directions and Warnings: As garlic is a natural blood-thinner, you should consult with a doctor before increasing the amount of garlic you consume, or using it in supplement form if you are on blood-thinning medication.