Name: Basil
Latin:
Other Common Names:
Family: Mint
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: Improves concentration, assists with headaches, relieves depression, and can calm anxiety and stress. Some of the strains are anti-inflammatory.
Use in tandem with:
Directions & Warnings:
Name: Parsley
Latin: Petroselinum sativum
Other Common Names:
Family: Umbelliferae (Parsley)
Parts Used: Leaves
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: This is a good nutritive tonic. Useful for bringing down fevers, as a breath freshener, and as a diuretic.
Use in tandem with:
Directions & Warnings:
Name: Motherwort
Latin: Leonurus cardiaca
Other Common Names: Herzgespan, Agripaume cardiaque, Yi mu cao
Family: Compositae (Sunflower)
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals: Calcium
Used for: Good for moderating hot flashes and regulating mood. Also a very potent aid if you suffer from anxiety. Motherwort is particularly useful as while it is calming, while not being sedating. It also regulates and tones the thyroid, blood vessels, liver, heart, and uterus. It also can ease uterine cramping.
Use in tandem with:
Directions & Warnings: Unfortunately, motherwort has a distinctly unpleasant flavour, and is hard to utilize in teas or as a fresh green in salads. The best methods for utilizing this herb are tinctures and syrups.
Name: Sage
Latin: Salvia officinalis
Other Common Names:
Family: Mint
Parts Used:
Vitamins/Minerals:
Used for: Anti-bacterial, both internally and externally usable. It is also a gentle stimulant, adding energy to the system without overstressing it.
Use in tandem with:
Uses for Pets:
Directions & Warnings:
Edibility: Lovely with poultry specifically, and a wonderful spice for a number of other concoctions. Makes a nice addition to a variety of teas. Suggested to lightly flour fry it in olive oil and serve as an appetizer. So many things to try.
Other uses for:
Growing: Perennial. It likes full sunlight and good drainage.
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.
Name: Marigold
Latin: Calendula Officinalis
Other Common Names:
Family: Compositae (Sunflower)
Parts Used: Flowers
Vitamins & Minerals:
Used for: A lotion made from these flowers can be pain-relieving, and alleviates itching. As a tincture or wash or ointment, it can be used for wound healing. Only suggested for clean cuts, however, as the increase in speed to healing can be dangerous for jagged or dirty cuts. Also useful for allergies.
Use in tandem with:
Directions & Warnings:
Others Uses for:
Growing:
IT should be noted that all the data here is purely from research. As I am allergic to this herb, I have not been able to experiment with it.
Most of my sources lavender will assist in fighting insomnia. Classically, it has been used inside sachet pillows that you place in or near the one you use, and the aroma helps to bring sleep and to deepen it.
I do suggest care in using this herb on a large scale with children. Lavender has been shown to mimic estrogen, and there is evidence that it can provoke early maturation in girls and increase the femininity of boys. Stay away from toiletry products for children and babies that utilize this as a scent or calming agent. There are other options without the potential hormonal issues.
Mint Family.