I haven't had any herbs (besides the obvious one we all know I won't do without) since I left Oregon over a year ago, and I lost all my herb books while on the road. Does anyone have any recommendations for household herbs for a young woman (I'm 22) to have around? I can remember a few: Red raspberry leaf, lemon balm, etc. But I don't know what's good for what anymore, or how best to utilize each herb. Looking around on the internet can be useful, but the more I look, the more contradictory information I find! Any advice or helpful links would be greatly appreciated!
I use comfrey a lot, especially with little kids who get bug bites and scratches and things. I steep it in oil and make lotion and diaper rash ointment with it. Chamomile is a good one, topically or internally or even as aromatherapy. It helps calm a person, it also has pain relieving qualities and is very good in ointments and lotions. I like motherwort tea for pms and moodswings, anxiety and such. I don't like it alone, but rather mix it with red raspberry leaves and nettles (those two I always have on hand as well, for female things, you know). Red raspberry is good tonic for toning the uterus and nettles really helps relieve bladder pain (not caused by UTI). In combination, they work wonders for me with my endometriosis-related and menstrual issues. Catnip and crampbark are good for menstrual cramps, too. I like pau d'arco tea for it's yeast-fighting and general immune building properties. dandelion root is a very potent diuretic, and basic cleanser/detoxifier. again, I mix it with other herbs because the taste of it alone is not to my liking. I only use it in very small quantities because I'm still nursing my kids. I also use valerian as aromatherapy when either I or my kids need to calm down or we get overstimulated and agitated. I do not take it internally, but know people who do. that's what I have on hand right now, or all I can think of at the moment
Hi there I am a practicing complimentary medicine therapist and I also ran our local community garden until recently so here are a few that I have in my home garden Feverfew - great for headaches/migraines and lovely in salad Lavender - yes this is a herb! - general great all rounder, great for calming the skin and easing sore muscles and also known for its aid to sleep. This is also great for keeping moths out of clothes, hence lavender bags Comfrey (russian), known as knitbone, is also great but be careful with it This also makes a brilliant plant food half and half with waater left in a watering can for a week. Added to anything you are composting too makes for a wonderful rich compost mix You can use this also as a poltice applied directly to the skin Be careful where you plant this - it can take over as it is systemic and lateral! Its also great for keeping slugs out of a veg patch they love it and will leave your veg alonePlant it at the edge and in a pot in the ground Rosemary is a great tonic/astringent and stimulates the circulation and can be mixed with rosemary in the moth repellant Oregano is used traditionally in Greece for stomach upsets Add two teaspoons to a cup and a half of water bring to the boil and then leave to steep for half hour. Two tablespoons at a go is enough three times a day. Melissa - or Lemon Balm is natures antihistamine best used when it flowers Mint - there are lots of varieties. Peppermint, spearmint and black mint are the regular ones I use for the digestive system but also good in the bath for a quick pick me up as it helps the circulation and is a decongestant Works on colds too for obvious reasons Another one to watch where you plant and if you put it in the ground put it in a pot as it is like comfrey and will take over. Thyme - lots of varieties here too digestive, tonic Marjoram great for colds and can be used as a bath soak too for achy joints and muscles Raspberry leaf - works on PMT avoid if pregnant. Sage is astringent, digestive and a good tea It has some pain relieving properties I could go on for ages...one of the oldest in depth herbal books is Nicholas Culpepper's 17th centuary herbal. Check out your local library. Herbs need to be used carefully and with respect but I'm sure you know that.
for some things, you don't need money, you just need to know how to identify it. Plantain works nearly as well as comfrey for skin ailments, and my backyard is just full of it right now! I disagree with Sea Breeze about the RRL. You most definitely can and should take it during pregnancy. I waited until after 13 weeks, because of the controversy, but found that it did not cause my uterus to contract in any way at all. It is very very good to drink on a regular basis during pregnancy. for more information, try Susun Weed's book, Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year. If you find that it does cause you to have contractions, simply stop drinking it.
