The Herbs I Use

The Herbs I Use

Herbs have a long history in medicine. In fact they were the only medicine people had until about 150 years ago and even today many of our drugs are based on chemical compounds found in plants. Herbs are equally effective when used externally on the skin or inhaled. The great thing about herbs is that each one has different therapuedic properties. Some of them go great with other herbs and some are best used on their own.

I use herbs in several forms. Many of my products contain the crushed leaf or flower of the herb such as my Minty Lemon Tea or my bath salts. It is really the easiest and most basic way to enjoy their scent and there is somthing special about having flowers floating in your bath or in your tea cup. Anyone can go pick a leaf and make a tea with it and I encourage you to do that if you have tea herbs growing in your garden. Mint, Sage, Thyme and Rosemary all make great tea! The second way I use herbs is to make herbal oils and tinctures. The process involves soaking the fresh or dried herb in either vegetable oil or 100 proof vodka for 2-4 weeks and then straining out the herbs. The resulting liquid is used in my creams and balms. The third way I use herbs is by adding their concentrated properties with essential oils. These are the oils used in aromatherapy. They are very difficult to make at home so all of mine are purchased from environmentally responsible companies. Essential oils are a great way to add the therapuedic qualities of an herb even when you can't grow it yourself. Below is a list of the more common herbs that I use but is by no means all of them. Do your own research on herbs or visit a local nursery and see which herbs you would like to grow and use! Visit my Herbal Medicine Making page to learn more ways to use the healing plants.

Calendula- Calendula is probably the best herb for soothing irritated skin. It's a common garden flower and easy to grow. I use the petals of the flowers to make herbal infused oils and then add them to my balms.

Rosemary- A wonderful aromatic herb that symbolized fidelity in centuries past and was worn by brides. It is wonderful in cooking but also in blends that revitalize the mind. The dried or fresh leaf is used.

Lavender- Probably an herb that every one knows and for good reason. Lavender has a wonderful fragrance and is used extensivly in perfumery. It is edible and and can be used to flavor confections. My favorite thing to due with lavender is to inhale the fragrance. It is very usefull in easing headaches and is calming to the nerves.

Mint - Another herb that everyone know and loves. This is consistantly the best seller for me when I sell herb plants at farmer's markets. Uplifting with a wonderful flavor, it is a natural in teas both hot and cold. Wonderful for upset stomachs and applied to the skin it is an instant pick me up with it's cooling refreshment.

Chickweed- Another great herb for the skin, it is a common garden weed which most people try hard to kill with chemicals. It's also a very nutritious green to add to salads provided you havn't tried to kill it with chemicals.

Plantain- Another garden weed with great skin soothing properties. It is the best garden cure for bee and insect stings and take my word for it, it works! Just chew it up and rub on the bite.

Comfrey- The old name for Comfrey was knitbone and the name is well deserved. An oil made from the leaf and roots has an amazing ability to help bones to heal. It's also usefull for bumps and bruises so I use it in skin salves.