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| Lemon Grass, Lavender, Jalepenos, Rosemary |
Please understand that the information offered here on Herbs is not to take the place of the advice of your physician. There are many issues to consider; such as allergy reactions, the herb may not work well with medications that you are currently taking - antibiotics, steroids, blood thinners or NSAIDS; also consider...age, pregnancy, lactating, depressions, ADHD...I think you get the idea.
In my experience, in speaking with a physician he/she may not have much knowledge regarding the herb that you are considering or studying. I've asked my physician about particular herbs that I'm interesting in and the conversation ended quickly due to lack of information on my physician's part. But - big but here, you must always discuss any herbs you'd like to try with your physician. He/She may surprise you. I also suggest that you do an in-depth study yourself. Since most natural herb usage for medicinal purpose are not tested by the FDA, there may not be much information.
I beg of you...please be careful and always think twice before ingesting any herbal concoctions without discussing with your physician first.
I will be adding information to this page as time goes on. Personally, I do prefer healing and cooking with herbs. In cooking, you can't beat the natural flavor of herbs - you use less salt and/or sugars in the flavoring of your meals. And in healing, well, they are natural not synthetic. Natural herbs have been used in healing for years - successfully. In magick, they offer that extra boost to any spell you're casting. There are also a few herbs that you can use to spiritually cleanse your home or any area that you'd like cleared of negative energy. But, since I do love to study and research, I cover all my bases before working with any herb and am willing to share the information with you. However, I am not responsible for your actions in regards to the information that I offer here. So...let's have fun, experiment together and enjoy the natural life of playing with herbs!
I'm not a licensed herbalist...I'm a Witch who prefers the natural way of life.
Garlic - Allium Sativum
Help for Colds: Fresh garlic mixed with honey is an effective home remedy for colds, hoarseness and inflammation of the throat. Use a garlic press or a mini food processor to crush 1 oz. of fresh garlic cloves. Mix the crushed garlic with 1 cup of honey. let the mixture sit for 1 hour to infuse the honey with the garlic's essential oils. Store in a cool place, take 1-2 tsp. of the mixture and then repeat every hour thereafter. Also, should the cold get worse, this remedy can be effective for relieving sever chest congestion and painful coughing.
Kitchen Hints…
- When buying garlic, choose solid, firm bulbs. The outer skin should be taut, unbroken and white or violet in color. Avoid bulbs with soft or spots.
- Store garlic in a cool, dry place; it will keep for several weeks. A ceramic garlic keeper is best for storage because it lets air in.
- Braided Stands of garlic may look attractive, but unfortunately most of the bulbs are likely to spoil before you get around to using them.
- Garlic loses its antibacterial effect when it is cooked or aged for more than 24 hours. Therefore some of the garlic you eat should be raw. Finely chop raw garlic to make it more palatable, and eat it with other foods, such as salads.
- Garlic-in-oil preparations can cause botulism if not prepared properly. When you make homemade garlic oils, refrigerate them and keep them no longer than 10-14 days. Commercial products are safe when they contain an acidifying agent, such as citric or phosphoric acid.
Extra Tip: Eating a lot of garlic can give you bad breath and body odor because the essential oils are excreted through the respiratory system and skin. To lessen this effect, chew parsley, thyme or peppermint immediately after eating garlic.
Components: Garlic is rich in essential oils, whose principal active agent is allicin. This compound is responsible for the characteristic odor of garlic, as well as for many of its healing properties. In addition, garlic contains calcium, selenium, potassium and zinc.
For Infections: For athlete's foot, warts, skin infections and acne, place a freshly mashed garlic clove in a piece of gauze. Rub it over the affected area.
*The Complete Guide to Natural Healing
Magical Uses:
Hex breaking. Garlic is extremely protective. It is placed in the home to guard against the intrusion of evil, to keep out robbers and thieves, and is hung over the door to repel envious people. Garlic is especially protective in new homes.
If you don't mind the smell - sprinkle powdered garlic on the floor to ward away evil spirits, place beneath children's pillows to protect them while asleep. Rubbed onto pots and pans before cooking in them, garlic removes negative vibrations which might otherwise contaminate the food.
*Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
This Witch's Tip: I keep three gloves of garlic in a bowl in my kitchen to gather the negative vibrations in the home - change every New Moon. Toss the old ones in your compost pile.
Peppermint is possibly the most popular herb in the world, cultivated in all warm and temperate regions and often found growing in the wild. Valuable in the kitchen, it also has wide range of uses in medicine as an antiseptic and analgesic. It is one of the most effective remedies for indigestion.
Chemical Constituents:
Essential Oil includes menthol, tannins, flavonoids, bitters.
Peppermint has a long, colorful history, but no one knows how long ago peppermint was first grown. In the Middle Ages, peppermint was used as a cleanser, including to purify drinking water stored on board ships during sea voyages. The Romans fashioned crowns out of peppermint and wore them, and the Greeks turned to peppermint for clearing the voice and curing hiccups. Colonists brought peppermint to America for a variety of medicinal uses and as a tea ingredient. In old herbals, mints are said to be aphrodisiac and to reduce breast milk. Culpeper classified mint as an herb of Venus, saying "It stirs up venery and bodily lust."
Domestic Uses: The flower remedy is used to promote alertness and clarity. Fresh peppermint may be sniffed to achieve the same effect. Rats dislike the smell of peppermint.
External Uses:
Internal Uses:
Caution!
Do not use mints during pregnancy (except in cooking), and avoid while breast-feeding. It can cause digestive upsets in babies; use cat mint (Nepeta Cataria) instead.
* A Simple Guide to Using Herbs for Healing ~ Non Shaw
I just ran across this article on Mint:
A true botanical wonder, mint is a breeze to care for, and its pleasing aroma makes it a welcome addition to the garden. The best part about this easy-to-grow herb is its usefulness. Mint makes a delicious addition to meals, a healthful tea, a fragrant potpourri and an insect-deterring spray. This sweet-smelling plant also has soothing and anesthetic properties that make it a great fit for homemade body-care products. To grow mint, get a cutting from a friend or purchase a starter plant at a nursery. (Mint doesn’t reproduce true from seed.) Mint can actually be too easy to grow—it takes over the garden—so give this attractive ground cover plenty of room to spread, or plant it in a container.
For Infections: For athlete's foot, warts, skin infections and acne, place a freshly mashed garlic clove in a piece of gauze. Rub it over the affected area.
*The Complete Guide to Natural Healing
Magical Uses:
Hex breaking. Garlic is extremely protective. It is placed in the home to guard against the intrusion of evil, to keep out robbers and thieves, and is hung over the door to repel envious people. Garlic is especially protective in new homes.
If you don't mind the smell - sprinkle powdered garlic on the floor to ward away evil spirits, place beneath children's pillows to protect them while asleep. Rubbed onto pots and pans before cooking in them, garlic removes negative vibrations which might otherwise contaminate the food.
*Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
This Witch's Tip: I keep three gloves of garlic in a bowl in my kitchen to gather the negative vibrations in the home - change every New Moon. Toss the old ones in your compost pile.
"If someone offers you a breath mint, accept it." ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
PEPPERMINT
Peppermint is possibly the most popular herb in the world, cultivated in all warm and temperate regions and often found growing in the wild. Valuable in the kitchen, it also has wide range of uses in medicine as an antiseptic and analgesic. It is one of the most effective remedies for indigestion.
Essential Oil includes menthol, tannins, flavonoids, bitters.
Peppermint has a long, colorful history, but no one knows how long ago peppermint was first grown. In the Middle Ages, peppermint was used as a cleanser, including to purify drinking water stored on board ships during sea voyages. The Romans fashioned crowns out of peppermint and wore them, and the Greeks turned to peppermint for clearing the voice and curing hiccups. Colonists brought peppermint to America for a variety of medicinal uses and as a tea ingredient. In old herbals, mints are said to be aphrodisiac and to reduce breast milk. Culpeper classified mint as an herb of Venus, saying "It stirs up venery and bodily lust."
Domestic Uses: The flower remedy is used to promote alertness and clarity. Fresh peppermint may be sniffed to achieve the same effect. Rats dislike the smell of peppermint.
External Uses:
- As a compress for "hot" headaches and neuralgia.
- As a wash for hot and itchy skin conditions: the tea is cooling as it evaporates.
Internal Uses:- Spasm and colic pains; diverticulitis, colitis and irritable bowel.
- Indigestion, flatulence and wind.
- Travel sickness, nausea, pain from gallbladder disease.
- Headaches from indigestion.
- Insomnia, especially if exacerbated by stomach tension and restlessness.
- Use as a tea and inhalant for infections of the nose and sinuses.
- As a mouthwash for freshening the breath.
Caution!
Do not use mints during pregnancy (except in cooking), and avoid while breast-feeding. It can cause digestive upsets in babies; use cat mint (Nepeta Cataria) instead.
* A Simple Guide to Using Herbs for Healing ~ Non Shaw
I just ran across this article on Mint:
A true botanical wonder, mint is a breeze to care for, and its pleasing aroma makes it a welcome addition to the garden. The best part about this easy-to-grow herb is its usefulness. Mint makes a delicious addition to meals, a healthful tea, a fragrant potpourri and an insect-deterring spray. This sweet-smelling plant also has soothing and anesthetic properties that make it a great fit for homemade body-care products. To grow mint, get a cutting from a friend or purchase a starter plant at a nursery. (Mint doesn’t reproduce true from seed.) Mint can actually be too easy to grow—it takes over the garden—so give this attractive ground cover plenty of room to spread, or plant it in a container.
1. All aBuzz: Growing mint will keep your yard and garden buzzing with beneficial insects. Mint is rich in nectar and pollen, and its small flower clusters keep these sweet treats easily accessible for helpful bugs such as honeybees and hoverflies.
2. Bug Off: While it attracts “good bugs,” mint also deters “bad bugs.” Repel ants and flies by growing pennyroyal mint right outside your door, or spray diluted peppermint essential oil (10 parts water to one part oil) around doorways and windows.
3. Flea Free: Keep pets free of bothersome fleas with this homemade repellent: Bundle 2 parts fresh spearmint, 1 part fresh thyme and 1 part fresh wormwood, and tuck it inside a small pillow. Place the pillow near your pet’s bed or another favorite resting place.
4. Room Refresher: Keep your home smelling fresh by adding a few drops of mint essential oil to your favorite homemade or unscented store-bought cleaner. Try this simple floor cleaning solution, good for wood, concrete or tile floors: Dilute a cup of white vinegar in a gallon of water and add 3 to 5 drops of mint essential oil.
5. Beverage Booster: Mint is refreshing in iced beverages. Add sprigs of fresh mint to a pitcher of water or plain iced tea, let it sit for 30 minutes or more, and serve it over ice. If you enjoy cocktails, mix fresh mint into homemade juleps or mojitos.
6. Veggie Revamp: Enjoy an interesting twist on a vegetable medley by adding fresh or dried chopped mint to peas, green beans, carrots or cauliflower during their last two minutes of cooking.
7. Divine Desserts: Mix 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves into chocolate chip cookie dough and bake as usual for wonderfully minty treats.
8. Breath Saver: You don’t have to rely on mint gum or candies to freshen your breath. A sprig of your favorite fresh mint variety will get rid of bad breath just as well. Simply pluck and chew.
9. Tummy Tamer: Peppermint tea is an excellent way to ease an upset stomach. Peppermint helps calm the digestive tract and alleviate indigestion, intestinal gas and abdominal cramping.
10. Hiccup Help: Try this homemade concoction to help soothe the diaphragm irritation that can cause hiccups: Pour a glass of lukewarm water, then add a couple squeezes of fresh lemon juice, a pinch of salt and a few mint leaves.
11. Steam Clean: A peppermint steam can help clear sinuses and congestion and fight infection. Bring a pot of water to boil, turn off the heat, add a few drops of peppermint essential oil and lean over the pot, draping a towel over your head. Breathe in the minty steam. Mint steams also act as a cleansing and stimulating facial.
12. Nausea Nix: Peppermint essential oil can boost your mood and reduce feelings of nausea. Simply add a couple drops to a clean handkerchief and breathe in.
13. Headache Healer: Apply a few drops of peppermint essential oil to your temple to relieve migranes, as compounds in peppermint oil are known to calm muscle spasms. You can also make a simple compress to get rid of tension headaches: Pour 3 cups hot water over 3 peppermint tea bags. Steep, covered for 5 to 7 minutes; remove tea bags and add ice. To use, dip wash cloth into cold tea and apply to forehead.
14. Fresh Feet: Mint soothes aching feet thanks to the pain-relieving properties in menthol, a compound in mint. Menthol also triggers a cooling sensation, perfect for foot scrubs. Try this one: Combine 1 cup sea salt, 1⁄3 cup olive oil and 6 drops peppermint essential oil. Scrub feet and rinse.
15. Sunburn Soother: Menthol cools and refreshes the skin, making mint a handy herb to keep around in the summer. Use it to ease sunburn pain by making a strong peppermint tea and refrigerating the mixture for several hours. To use, gently apply to the burned area with cotton pads.
10. Hiccup Help: Try this homemade concoction to help soothe the diaphragm irritation that can cause hiccups: Pour a glass of lukewarm water, then add a couple squeezes of fresh lemon juice, a pinch of salt and a few mint leaves.
11. Steam Clean: A peppermint steam can help clear sinuses and congestion and fight infection. Bring a pot of water to boil, turn off the heat, add a few drops of peppermint essential oil and lean over the pot, draping a towel over your head. Breathe in the minty steam. Mint steams also act as a cleansing and stimulating facial.
12. Nausea Nix: Peppermint essential oil can boost your mood and reduce feelings of nausea. Simply add a couple drops to a clean handkerchief and breathe in.
13. Headache Healer: Apply a few drops of peppermint essential oil to your temple to relieve migranes, as compounds in peppermint oil are known to calm muscle spasms. You can also make a simple compress to get rid of tension headaches: Pour 3 cups hot water over 3 peppermint tea bags. Steep, covered for 5 to 7 minutes; remove tea bags and add ice. To use, dip wash cloth into cold tea and apply to forehead.
14. Fresh Feet: Mint soothes aching feet thanks to the pain-relieving properties in menthol, a compound in mint. Menthol also triggers a cooling sensation, perfect for foot scrubs. Try this one: Combine 1 cup sea salt, 1⁄3 cup olive oil and 6 drops peppermint essential oil. Scrub feet and rinse.
15. Sunburn Soother: Menthol cools and refreshes the skin, making mint a handy herb to keep around in the summer. Use it to ease sunburn pain by making a strong peppermint tea and refrigerating the mixture for several hours. To use, gently apply to the burned area with cotton pads.
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