Category — Herbs for health

Perennial

Lavandula species
Family: Labiatae/Lamiaceae

History

Lavender’s name comes from the Latin ‘to wash’, and both the ancient
Romans and Greeks scented their soap and bath water with the herb.

Uses

Medicinal: The essential oil has spasmolytic, antiseptic and carminative properties. Warm lavender tea applied as a compress aids chest congestion, bruises and bites. Flower tea treats anxiety, headaches, flatulence, nausea, dizziness and halitosis. Lavender is safe but should be used in moderation.
Culinary: Flowers flavour jams, vinegar, sweets, cream, and can be crystalized.
Aromatic: Dried flowers add longlasting fragrance to sachets and potpourris. The aroma is an insect-repellent—an ideal herb for the linen press, wardrobe and jumper drawer.
Ornamental: With many species to choose from, there is a variety to suit and enhance any herb garden or herbaceous border. A good hedge plant.
Cosmetic: Lavender stimulates and cleanses the skin. Add to the bath.
Craft: Fresh or dried, it can be used in wreaths, arrangements, sprays and decorations. Lavender vinegar, for the dressing table not the dining table, is made by adding rose petals, lavender flowers and jasmine flowers to distilled vinegar. Stores well in airtight bottles.
Companion planting: Attracts bees and other pollinators to the garden.

Cultivation

Propagate from cuttings of side shoots in summer. After rooting, plant in well-drained soil in a sunny position. Drought and frost resistant.
Harvesting & storage: Harvest while in flower. Dry in shade in bunches, or on screens in an airy place.

Photograph by Amanda Leigh. Check her web site for more.

Plant plenty of lemon balm, lemon verbena and lemon grass on hand. Also, plenty of different species of mint, especially spearmint, peppermint, apple mint and orange mint.

Chamomile, too, would be needed en masse. Others to include are bergamot (which has a flowery essence not dissimilar to Earl Grey tea), anise-hyssop (with its licorice-mint flavour), briar roses, sage, sweet cicely and rue.

Medicinal teas are prepared in much the same way as ordinary teas, but are allowed to steep for much longer.

Tougher bits of herbs such as roots and bark are boiled for five minutes and then steeped and strained. Always use a lid to keep the volatile essential oils from escaping.

Often the brew is sipped at throughout the day to achieve the desired effect. Be aware, however,that not all herbs are suitable for making teas — culinary or medicinal.

Experiment first with the more traditional teas, and especially with the herbs used for medicinal reasons, and only use recipes in modern books.

Many of the older herbals — such as those by Gerard and Culpeper — are not reliable sources as new research has found problems with some of their concoctions, while also finding that many do work.

Enjoy and experiment with the well-known herbs first.

Perennial

Rosa canina, Rosa rugosa
Family: Rosaceae

History

Also known as dog rose, wild briar or wild rose, it is often found growing wild in woods and shrubland in Tasmania and parts of Victoria.

In the language of flowers, dog rose symbolises pleasure mixed with pain.

Rose hips have been eaten for thousands of years, and the petals were used to scent water potpourris and food.

The hips were either eaten in times of fruit scarcity or used to make wines, syrups, jams and preserves.

Uses

Medicinal: Rosehips have a high vitamin C content—higher even than citrus fruit. They are also high in calcium, phosphorus and iron, which makes them very useful for dealing with coughs, sore throats and bronchial problems.
A popular European cure for headaches caused by sunburn is rose vinegar. To make it, collect enough rose petals in the morning to fill a jar. Cover with quality distilled vinegar and leave to stand in the sun for three weeks. Strain. To use soak a cloth in the liquid and apply to the forehead. It can also be used as a skin lotion, gargle or eyebath.
To make a concentrated general tonic for convalescents, the aged and children, put a handful of dried rose petals into a litre of boiling water and infuse for 10 minutes. Drink two cupfuls a day.
Culinary: Crushed rose petals are used to flavour cakes, jams, wines and sweetmeats. The fruits are used commercially to make syrups as a nutritional supplement, especially for babies. The syrup is also used to flavour medicines such as cough mixtures.
Garden: The briar rose makes a fine hedge, and in large gardens a few allowed to grow wild make a welcome, safe nesting place for small native birds.

Cultivation

Propagate from seed or cuttings. Adaptable to most well-drained soils in an open, sunny position. Frost-hardy but drought tender. Most wild species flower on the previous year’s growth.
Harvesting & storage: Gather hips after the first frosts when they are bright red and slightly soft to the touch. Cut lengthwise and dry rapidly in a well-ventilated site. Store in a cool place.
Do not keep for more than a year as they lose their vitamin C.

Sweet basil

Annual

Ocimum basilicum
Family: Labiatae/Lamiaceae

History

The history of basil dates back many centuries and its is said to have come to Europe from India via the Middle East.

In Iran, Malaysia and Egypt, it is planted on graves; in Crete it stood for sorrowful love, while in parts of Italy it was used as a love token.

However, in ancient Greece and Rome it was believed that basil would only prosper where there was chaos and it was aligned to poverty, hate and misfortune.

In India it is a sacred herb dedicated to the Hindu gods Vishnu and Krishna.

Globe basil

Uses

Medicinal: A leaf tea aids digestion and expels gas. Also recommended for stomach cramps, vomiting and constipation. Extract from the seeds exhibits an antibacterial effect.
Culinary: Used extensively in tomato sauces and the classic Italian pesto sauce. Traditional in Italian, Mediterranean and Thai cookery.
Fresh basil is delicious added fresh to salads, especially tomatoes.
It is used in soups, stews, vegetable dishes, and with eggs, poultry and mushrooms. Use sparingly in cooking as heat develops the herb’s flavour.
Aromatic: Add dried leaves to potpourris and sachets. Grown indoors, the aroma will discourage flies.
Cosmetic: Brings lustre to hair when added to the final rinse.
Companion planting: Plant basil near capsicums and tomatoes to enhance their growth.

Lettuce leaf basil

Cultivation

Sow outdoors after all frost and when the soil is warm.
Prefers sunny, sheltered position in rich, moist, well-drained soil.
Harvesting & storage: Harvest just before flowering. Freezes well, retaining it’s colour and flavour, or store in olive oil. Can also be layered and salted.

‘Dark Opal’ basil

Perennial

Aloe vera
Family: Liliaceae/Aloeaceae

History

Aloe vera has a long history as a healing herb, and was used as an embalming ingredient in ancient Egypt.

The gel was applied externally to wounds — especially burns and scalds, and was often used to clear blemishes and maintain a healthy skin.

It has been said that Alexander the Great conquered Madagascar so that his army could have a good supply of the herb for healing wounds.

In the Congo, the Slukari hunters rub the gel over their bodies to remove their scent before they stalk their prey on foot.

Today the gel, obtained by breaking the leaves, is still used for its remarkable healing properties. Applied to wounds it forms a clear protective seal and encourages skin regeneration. It can be applied safely directly to cuts and burns and has an immediate soothing effect.

Extract of aloes has an intensely bitter taste, and has been known to be used as an aid to wean children and to discourage them from thumb-sucking and nail-biting.

Uses

Medicinal: Used internally for chronic constipation, poor appetite, and in colonic irrigation. It also destroys internal parasites.
Not to be given to pregnant women or those suffering from haemorrhoids or irritable bowel syndrome.
Major use is externally for burns, scalds, sunburn, wounds and eczema.

Cultivation

Easily propagated from suckers or offshoots that grow around the base of the plant.
Drainage is important and they will cope with soil low in nutrients, although they will prosper in fertile soil with limestone added.
Flowers are rare in cultivation.
Harvesting & storage: Leaves are cut as required from two- to three-year old plants and used as is.
The sap can be drained from leaves and evaporated. The leftover brown crystalline solid is used for creams, lotions and tinctures.