When we think of medicinal herbs, most people's minds go right to small weeds and flowers growing at the edge of your lawn or on a roadside. We don't usually think of trees as a
Botanical Name: Cinnamomum camphora. Other Common Names: True camphor, hon-sho, laurel camphor, Japanese camphor, kamfertræ (Danish), Kampfer (German), alcanfor (Spanish), laurier du Japon. (French). Habitat: The camphor tree is native the southern islands of Japan and Taiwan, where they form majestic forests. It is also found growing wild in China. Today, it is cultivated in many countries with tropical and subtropical climate, especially in India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Madagascar, South Africa and the USA. Still, Taiwan is the largest producer of natural camphor, with Japan in second place. Description: The camphor tree is a member of the Lauraceae or the
Often thought of as a weed, common plantain is actually edible, medicinal, and restorative to soil. Learn how you can grow and enjoy this useful herb.
Usnea is an edible lichen, with potent medicinal properties. It grows all over the world, and it's often easy to find and abundant. Often called "old man's beard" or "the lungs of the forest," usnea
Planting medicinal trees and shrubs in your home landscape turns your yard into a holistic farm-macy! Here are ten wonderful medicinal to consider for your herbal medicine use!
Botanical Name: Portulaca oleracea. There exist two sub species of purslane, wild or common purslane (Portulaca oleracea ssp. oleracea) and garden purslane (Portulaca oleracea ssp. sativa) but forty or more cultivars are currently grown. It is garden purslane that is grown and used as a vegetable plant while common purslane is mostly used as a medicinal herb. Other Common Names: Green purslane, summer purslane, pigweed, pusley, little hogweed, golden purslane, portulakk (Norwegian), pourpier (French), Gelber Portulak (German), portulakka (Finnish), portulak (Danish), verdolaga (Spanish), ma chi xian (Chinese). Habitat: Purslane is probably native to India and Pakistan, where the plant still
Botanical Name: Sambucus nigra, Sambucus canadensis. Other Common Names: Black elder, black-berried European elder, European elder, boor tree, bountry, elder, ellanwood, ellhorn, German elder, saúco (Spanish), sureau noir (French), almindelig Hyld (Dansish), Schwarzer Holunder (German), svarthyll (Norwegian). Habitat: Elderberry is native to most of Europa, parts of Asia and North Africa. Black (American) Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is widespread in eastern North America, ranging from Nova Scotia to Florida and west to Manitoba and Texas. Plant Description: Elderberry is a shrub or small tree, between 3-10 Meters (10 - 30 feet) high. The bark is light brown at the bottom of
Feverfew is making a comeback in modern gardens for both its medicinal value and attractive daisy-like blooms. Learn how to harvest and use feverfew now.
How to start foraging for wild herbs, beginning with these 8 easy to identify plants. Collecting herbs and medicinal plants that can be found in the wild or even in your own backyard.
NOTE: This article is about 20 of my favorite medicinal healing herbs to grow in most garden areas and types of soil. There are 100’s more, though, that I just couldn’t include because of space. Enjoy this rundown of 20 of my favorites. Have you ever wondered which medicinal herbs are the best on
Herbalists know that burdock root is powerful medicine, but most would be surprised to learn that the burdock is edible as well. Burdock leaves, stalks and roots are edible and can be downright tasty if you
Did you know Mimosa had medicinal benefits? NO! Not the yummy drink Mimosa, although that would be good right now, I mean the TREE Mimosa(Albizia julibrissin). Nearby tree that I will get the flowe…
Maclura pomifera, commonly known as Osage orange or hedge apple has often been overlooked in favor of more well-known herbs and plants. However, this
The goldenrod plant, also known as solidago, blooms in the late summer and early fall with yellow flowers, and is also edible and medicinal.
Did you know Mimosa had medicinal benefits? NO! Not the yummy drink Mimosa, although that would be good right now, I mean the TREE Mimosa(Albizia julibrissin). Nearby tree that I will get the flowe…
Potentilla canadensis, often referred to by its Dwarf Cinquefoil, is a remarkable medicinal plant with a rich history of traditional use. This article
Scientific Name: Cinchona spp. (C. officinalis, C. ledgeriana, C. succirubra). Linnaeus named this genus of tree species after the Countess of Chinchon, according to legend, promoted the use of the medicinal bark after she herself was successfully treated for malaria in the 1630s. The scientific name was later modified from Chinchona to Cinchona, which is the accepted spelling today. Other Common Names: Peruvian bark, quinine, Jesuit’s bark, chinchona, fever tree, kinakina, quina-quina, quinine bark tree. Distribution and Habitat: The native range of cinchona species are the lower to mid-elevations of the Andes in South America. Cinchona is the national tree
Botanical Name: Tanacetum vulgare. Other Common Names: Buttons, wild tansy, gold leaf tansy, ginger plant, bitter buttons, hineheel, scented fern, stinking willie. The common name, tansy, is likely derived from Greek words meaning “immortal”, which may refer to the long-lasting flowers or its traditional use in preserving dead bodies. Habitat: Although the plant is native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia, it has been introduced throughout the world and grows wild in North America. This hardy, sun-loving plant is resistant to cold and frost and commonly grows in open areas close to water, such as roadsides and ditches. Description:
Consider harvesting comfrey seed to grow new plants. Learn how to harvest comfrey seeds, and add new comfrey plants to your herb garden.
Herbal antibiotics help fight infections, such as UTIs, and speed wound healing. Many also fight viruses, like colds and flu. They are gaining interest as treatments for antibiotic resistant bacteria.
We love, love, love, love stinging nettle as a food. We harvest this wild green regularly and use it primarily in our very dense greens soup. Five years ago I would not have imagined that I would be harvesting nettle regularly. Even the slightest brush up against it would leave me with an aching rash […]
Herbology - 400 Herb Profiles : Medicinal & Spirituality Printables | Metaphysical , Nature's Remedies,Botanical Reference Herb Profiles Resource – What You’ll Find This resource offers detailed profiles for an array of herbs including trees, flowers, plants, and more. Each profile is meticulously crafted to provide a holistic understanding of the herb’s significance in both health and spiritual realms. Included in Each Profile: Illustration of the Herb: High-quality images to visually identify each herb. Metaphysical Properties: Explore the spiritual and esoteric aspects of each herb. Health Benefits: Detailed insights into the medicinal advantages of the herbs. Latin Name: The scientific nomenclature for accurate identification. Summary: A concise overview capturing the essence of each herb’s uses and characteristics. Element: The natural element (Earth, Water, Air, Fire) associated with the herb. Zodiac Signs: Astrological connections that align with the herb’s energies. Chakras: The specific chakras each herb is believed to influence or balance. Additional Information: Delving deeper into the unique aspects of each herb. Formats Available: PDF Files: Easy-to-download files perfect for printing and offline viewing. JPEGs: High-resolution images suitable for various digital platforms. Canva Links: Editable designs on Canva to customize the profiles according to your needs. How to Use This Resource: This resource is ideal for individuals seeking to enhance their knowledge of herbal properties for health and spiritual practices. It serves as an invaluable tool for educators, practitioners, and enthusiasts in the fields of herbal medicine, aromatherapy, and spiritual healing. By presenting this wealth of information in a structured and accessible format, users can easily explore and integrate the profound benefits of herbs into their daily practices and wellness routines.
Many kitchens have pots of ground cinnamon or raw sticks, which are commonly used for crafts. If you've ever played with a cinnamon stick, you've taken a look at the dried bark of a cinnamon plant...
One summer evening I took a walk to a mimosa tree close to my house. It was mid June and the mimosas had just started to bloom. I chose to place my blanket on the ground right under a branch that h…
Have you ever wondered, 'Are elderberries poisonous?' There's a lot of confusion out there, which we'll use science to clear up once and for all!
Botanical Name: Geranium maculatum. Other Common Names: American cranesbill, spotted cranesbill, spotted geranium, alumroot, alum bloom, wild geranium, storksbill, chocolate flower, crowfoot, flekkstorkenebb (Norwegian), Amerikansk storkenæb (Danish). Habitat: Cranesbill is indigenous to the eastern and central North America. It is mostly found growing wild in woods and forests. Plant Description: Cranesbill is a perennial plant from the genus Geranium and belongs to the Geraniaceae family. It can grow up to 60 cm (around two feet) in height and has deeply lobed toothed leaves. The flowers have five petals and are pink or purple but white flower varieties of the species
By Maryann Readal The fuzzy, light gray, deeply-wrinkled leaves of horehound (Marrubium vulgare) offer a nice contrast to other colors and textures in the garden. I love that contrast around the ba…
Chamomile is one of the most popular herbs known and used around the world. Here are 23 ways to use chamomile in many different applications – not just tea!
Ever wondered if you can eat pine needles? Here's what to know about foraging and using pine needles, plus 12 creative recipes for using them. #foraging
Botanical Name: Filipendula ulmaria. The medicinal perennial herb belongs to the plant family Rosaceae. The genus name “Filipendula” has been derived from two words – “filum,” which means “thread” and “pendulus,” which means “hanging.” This perhaps describes the root tubers, which hang characteristically from the roots. The specific epithet name “ulmaria” denotes “elm-like”; however, this plant does not appear like the elm! Other Common Names: Bridewort, dollof, ergecsakali, European meadowsweet, lady of the meadow, meadow queen, meadow-wort, meadsweet, moerasspirea, pride of the meadow, queen of the meadow, and ulmaria. Habitat: Meadowsweet grows commonly in damp meadows, fens, marshes, wet swamps,
Make the most of the local wildflowers by creatively using honeysuckle for food and medicine in your kitchen and home apothecary.
Each week, I tell myself: Write your post early. Stop procrastinating. Yet, each week, I find myself in a similar predicament, one very similar to many a predicament I found myself in 15 years a…
Since my last post on harvesting nettle seeds I’ve had a couple of emails asking me for more specific details about how and when to harvest. I remember that when I first started to collect he…
Mid-summer in the herb garden is full of glorious smells, but it's hard to beat the fragrance passing by the lemon balm patch. Lemon balm is at its fullest when temps are hottest in the
Making mullein flower oil is one of the easiest herbal infused oils you can make and have on hand. Here are 5 ways to use this great oil in your home.
Botanical Name of Cinnamon: Cinnamomum verum. Other Common Names: Cassia, Ceylon cinnamon, kayu manis, canela, vayana. Habitat: It requires hot and humid tropical weather and though native to South India and Sri Lanka, it is widely grown in countries such as China, Vietnam, Brazil, Indonesia. Plant Description: Cinnamon is an evergreen tree which attains the height of about 10-17 meters. It has strong branches, a stout trunk that is 30-60 centimeters in diameter and a thick bark. The tree bears small white flowers; the fruits are oval berries that are blue in color, with white spots and its shiny green
Borage is a beautiful annual flower that's popular with gardeners, mostly for its abundant display of showy blue flowers. It also happens to be both edible and medicinal, and it has a number of uses
Nipplewort – Lapsana communis You have to agree this plant has a weird name. If it could it would probably change it. There are two reasons for the name. One is that the seed capsules resemble a nipple in shape and secondly being an astringent plant it probably helped heal chapped nipples or breast ulcers. […]
