As I had written in the aromathaphy link, I strayed away from herbs as I do not have a green thumb. Then I found out that most people who work with herbs find them fresh and already dried at the local health food store. Now I'm hooked!!
There are books that can be intimidating as they can mention 100's of herbs....as if! OK, I will speak of only a few that you can work with easily; I like these the best...then mention a couple of books that are very easy to read and understand. Continue with the section on working with herbs in tintures and infusions, etc.
Understand that in many cases, yes, you have to go to the doctor. I recently had an awful ear infection. I soothed it with chamomile oil, warm compresses with the calendula oil..but I needed antibiotics. I never want to sound as if I am putting down western medicine, it has a good side. I find herbs are best for prevention, plus more. Do not use any of these herbs if you are pregnant without reading up on them first.
Read on and have fun! Remember now, be a good kitchen witch and always make your potions here with only happy intent and loving feelings! Ask the herb to help you and it will. Remember, herbs have their own spirit and aura too! That is not new-age mumbo-jumbo, it is a proven fact. No one can say there is no chi, prana, ki... energy in all!!
a member of the daisy family, bright orange flowers which are dried and used. Calendula tea is for the speeding the healing of ulcers and sore lymph glands. Use a calendula cream for cuts and sunburn, varicose veins, dry skin and lips (any lines around my eyes are completely gone using the oil) and insect bites. It is a good tea to drink after an operation to help healing.
This is best to take and use raw, capsules are I waste, I think. Very anti-viral, great for colds, flu and to help heal infections. It is good for killing intestinal parasites. It reduces high cholesterol. Take about 2 cloves a day, in salad, with chicken, the ideas on how to have garlic with your meals are endless. Cook the garlic if you wish, but you can't go wrong with raw.
This is a low-growing aromatic plant from the mint family. Drinks a lot of this tea for coughs, cold, flu, and sore throat! Take a bath with the infusion. Thyme is available in syrups and lozenge form as well
A plant with small, daisy-like flowers. Make sure you buy dried whitish yellow herbs, not brown and dingy. Drink it's tea to ease intestinal cramps or irritation and indigestion (great for after a mexican dinner!) Apply the cream for burns and bites. I love burning the herbs with lavender on charcol as incense.
A small shrub of the mint family. It is best known for healing the spirit and relaxing.
Recommended for nausea, depression and colic. Use lavender oil for burns. Can be used as a tea.
You can boil down it's gel inside the plant to make a salve. Drinking the juice, which you can buy in stores relieves constipation Helps clear up acne and rashes. Excellent for sunburn. I personally use this gel instead of body lotions and apply it to my face also.
An aromatic woody shrub with blue and violet flowers. A good tasting herb with powerful antioxidant effects to slow the aging process and reduce the risk of heart disease. Good for headaches, fatigue, low blood presure. Make as a tea, or infusion for an invigorating bath.
A weedy herb with bright yellow flowers.Make an oil of this for reducing inflammation and pain, like when someone slams there finger in a car door.
Anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant. It can ease asprin-induced upset stomach, fight ulcers an enhance athletic performance. It is a digestive aid and releves gas. Place some cayenne pepper oil on cuts for quick healing.
A relative of ginger. Known to help against cancer. Eaten in food such as rice. Helps against arthritis, liver inflammation or menstrual pain. Can be drunk as a tea.
In much of Europe, this herb was used in May Day salads. Some of the plant is toxic, like the roots. Relieves pain and speeds healing of cuts and wounds, works like a sewing kit in this case, and stimulaes the growth of new cells. However if you need the wound to drain, like my ant bite did, do not use this-all the poison will be trapped inside!
Oil of clove is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal. Helps treat herpes and can help kill bacteria in food poisoning. Reduces the gas pressure from peptic ulcers. The herb protects against stomach cancer. The oil relieves tooth ache and helps strenghen the gums.