This page has been visited times.

  Finally, I've found the time to get some work done on this page. I apolo-
gize to all of you who have taken the good time to visit, only to encounter
a blank page. I'm going to try really hard to keep my information updated 
also, but with a preschooler, a toddler, and a newborn to keep me busy, I 
won't make any great promises.
  Obviously, if you are here, you have an interest in information on 
herbs. Or maybe you're just bored. In any case, I'll be as helpful as 
I possibly can. I myself have only started gathering together information
on herbs and their uses, so I'm sure I won't be as helpful as someone 
who has been practicing for years. Luckily, though, I have a very brave 
husband and two unwitting children to use as guinea pigs. I'll put down 
some of the remedies I have used on them with success and as I go on 
with my experience and experimentation, I'll add the more useful of the 
preparations to the list. I strongly recommend to anyone who is interested
in a healthier alternative to synthetic medications, to at least
try an herbal remedy. You might be surprised at the results you get. 
CAUTION: Herbs are very useful in a lot of ways but they
         must always be treated with respect to the powerful effects
         they can have on the body. I strongly urge anyone who
         is planning to use an external preparation to do a patch 
         test before applying anything to the skin, and if you
         are using an internal remedy, DO NOT use an ingredient
         if you have any doubts about its safety. Herbs also are 
         like medications in that the proper dosages, when given, 
         must be followed exactly as written. And, of course, all
         of these recipes are given for your personal use only.
         I am not responsible for anything that occurs as a result 
         of using these remedies.    


                
HERBS
 
  Some of the most useful herbs can be found in very unlikely
places, including your own backyard. Just this past summer, I
encountered several types without even realizing what they were.
For two years, I've been unwittingly mowing down some of the
most useful plants to the herb kingdom. Thank goodness that I
now know how to tell the difference between a beneficial plant
and a weed. I'll list some of these below.
     
Yarrow
(achillea millefolium)
  This fern-leaved herb is commonly found at roadsides and is
commonly treated as a weed. Because of its tenacious root system,
it spreads rapidly, and if not contained, can quickly become a
nuisance. The plant also thrives in lawns, although it only reaches
a height of about two inches, rather than its normal two feet. The
leaves have a very distinct, almost peppery scent, so it is an asset
to any herb garden. This herb is very easy to grow. Since it is a 
perennial, once it is established, it will return year after year,
with minimal care. It can be propogated by cuttings, root division,
and can be started from seed, although this method tends not to be
as successful as the others. The leaves and flowers of this plant 
are used in several ways. The leaves can be crushed and made into 
a green poultice, good for treating external wounds, and the leaves 
and flowers can be made into an infusion to treat various problems.
The plant is antiseptic, antibiotic, and has pain-killing properties.

    
Plantain
(plantago major)
  This is another common herb that is often mistaken as a weed. It 
abounds in lawns, though like most, it stays fairly compact,usually 
growing only to about two inches tall. Since it is so abundant in
lawns, it is almost unnecessary to plant this herb in your garden.
The leaves and seeds are very useful medicinally. The leaves can be
made into a poultice to treat urinary infections, burns, bee stings,
hemorrhoids, and vaginal tears. The seeds are used in cosmetics and 
the seed husks can be soaked in water to make a gel used to treat
constipation. The whole plant is also very rich in vitamins and is
made into a nourishing tea or tonic.

     
Selfheal
(prunella vulgaris)
  Selfheal is a very useful and common herb. Unfortunately, it all
too often overruns a bed, strangling some of the more delicate plants.
Plant it with caution as it can easily begin growing out of control,
and once established in an area, it is extremely hard to eradicate.
It is easy to find in almost any lawn or field, but you may want to
buy seeds from a nursery instead of transplanting the leggy plants
already growing. It usually stays low to the ground, but if given the
proper conditions, it can reach up to 18 inches in height. The flowers 
of this plant are mauve, pink and purple. The leaves of the selfheal
are used as a poultice, and being antiseptic, are often made into a tea
or infusion to treat sore throats and bleeding gums. 

    
Dandelion
(taraxacum species)
  Probably the most common of herbs, it is also one of the least recog-
nized. This pesty plant abounds everywhere, and as I'm sure you know, 
can become quite a problem in gardens and lawns alike. The plant spreads 
very easily and has a deep tap root which makes it difficult to remove,
so take care where to plant it if you are planning to include it in your
herb garden. If there is a need to propogate, this can be accomplished
by root cuttings, or you can buy the seeds from a nursery specializing
in herbs.The plant has been used medicinally for quite some time, 
especially as a diuretic, but it has lately been grown and cultivated
for culinary use. The new leaves contain more vitamins than even spinach
so it makes a wonderful addition to any salad, and the flowers can be 
made into the popular dandelion wine. The roots are also dried and made
into a coffee substitute.

    
Sorrel
(rumex acetosa)
  This plant is also known as broad-leaved sorrel due to the size of its
leaves, which can reach up to two feet in length. The whole plant can be-
come up to three feet tall, but it is best if used when still young, as 
it can become bitter and tough. It is a self seeding plant, so put it in
a place where it won't move in on any other herbs. The tender leaves are 
rich in nutrients and add a tangy, slightly sour flavor to soups and salads.
They can also be made into a poultice that treats acne and skin problems, 
and can be drank as a tea to aid kidney and bladder infections. The leaf 
juice is also useful as a bleach for rust and mold.

Queen Anne's Lace
(daucus carota)
  This herb is often called the 'wild carrot' probably due to its strong
carroty smell and the long tap root. It has umbels of white flowers with 
one dark purple flower in the center. It can become up to four feet in 
height and is not a wise addition to a garden unless it is planted some-
where along a cement border, by itself, to contain it. The roots are 
dried and ground up as a coffee substitute, and can be made into an orange
dye. The seeds are said to be good to treat hangovers, and the plant can 
be made into an antiseptic and diuretic tea to treat urinary infections.
However, caution must used when using the plant for any reason. Several
instances of poisoning have occurred due to the resemblance of the plant
to the deadly hemlock. Fatalities have been reported because of this
mistake, so be sure you have properly identified this herb before in-
jesting any part of it.

Red Clover
(trifolium pratense)
This plant grows in clusters, mostly in fields and meadows. It stays in
bunches, marked by its three oval leaflets and pale pink to red purple 
flowers. It rarely exceeds twelve inches in height, even in the richest
places. The flowers yield honey and are used as an antinflammatory treat-
ment for arthritis and skin complaints. Research shows that it can inhibit
some tumors. The whole plant is being tested for use against some types
of cancers. The flowers can also be made into a type of infusion to help
the symptoms of some colds and throat problems.

Wood Sorrel
(oxalis acetosella)
Wood sorrel is found throughout North America in woodlands and grassy
fields. They are typically ground-hugging plants with a creeping rhizome.
They bear a resemblence to clover in that they have three heart-shaped 
leaves surrounding a small flower, usually white, but also sometimes
light yellow in color. The plant is made into an infusion to treat fevers
and urinary infections, and can be prepared as a wash for external rashes 
and boils. The leaves also can be added to salads and sauces to give them
a tangy, zesty flavor. Care should be taken with its use, however, as it 
is dangerous in large amounts. It should be completely avoided by those
with gastritis, mostly due to the quantity of gas produced after comsump-
tion. It should also be avoided by people with a history of rheumatism
and gout. 
                                               

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