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Sunday, May 18, 2014

My Medicinal Garden, Weeds and Otherwise

For the last few years I have been trying to learn more about herbs and medicinal plants.  Some I have planted successfully on my property (many, not so successfully, but I'm not giving up) and MANY I have found just growing wild around my property.

Here are some of the medicinal plants that I have growing MOST PROLIFICALLY on my property despite my lack of care or knowledge.  If I can grow them, you should have GREAT success with them as well!!


Basil, Cultivated

USES I HAVE TRIED:
I use this to season many dishes.  I have also rubbed it on mosquito bites to kill the itch.  It was VERY EFFECTIVE.


Blackberry, Native and Himalayan, Growing Wild
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1076-BLACKBERRY.aspx?activeIngredientId=1076&activeIngredientName=BLACKBERRY&source=2
http://www.everygreenherb.com/blackberry.html

USES I HAVE TRIED:
I eat LOTS of blackberries.  I also make blackberry jam and pie and smoothies and wine.  I also drink blackberry leaf tea (mixed with other tasty things) often.



Chamomile, Cultivated AND Growing Wild
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-951-Chamomile+GERMAN+CHAMOMILE.aspx?activeIngredientId=951&activeIngredientName=Chamomile+(GERMAN+CHAMOMILE)&source=2

USES I HAVE TRIED:
I have used this in tea when I am tired or have an upset stomach.


Cilantro, Cultivated
http://www.naturalstandard.com/news/news201108030.asp

USES I HAVE TRIED:
I LOVE to eat Cilantro on many, many dishes or just a sprig here and there.  I read that it is a natural antidepressant.  My husband asked, "Why?  Are you depressed?"  I happily replied, "NO!  I have Cilantro!"


Feverfew, Cultivated
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-933-FEVERFEW.aspx?activeIngredientId=933&activeIngredientName=FEVERFEW&source=2

USES I HAVE TRIED:
I made a Migraine Tincture with this herb.  It didn't work at all for me.  But it is growing so prolifically, I will give it a few more tries before giving up on it.


Marjoram, Cultivated
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-563-MARJORAM.aspx?activeIngredientId=563&activeIngredientName=MARJORAM
http://www.vitaminsestore.com/marjoram-leaf-benefits-reviews-side-effects-and-dosage/

USES I HAVE TRIED:
I have used this to season poultry, beef, and spaghetti sauce.  I have not used it medicinally yet.


Mint, Cultivated
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-705-Mint+PEPPERMINT.aspx?activeIngredientId=705&activeIngredientName=Mint+(PEPPERMINT)&source=2

USES I HAVE TRIED:
I have made tea with this herb, and sometimes just pick a leaf and eat it.  I encourage my children to eat the leaves also.  A friend made Mojitos with some of my dried mint in the middle of winter and they turned out pretty good!  I have not specifically used them medicinally yet.


Usnea, Growing Wild
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-694-USNEA.aspx?activeIngredientId=694&activeIngredientName=USNEA&source=2

USES I HAVE TRIED:
I have not used this yet.  A friend advised he used it to stave off a bad cold/flu this winter with successful results according to him.


Willow, Cultivated
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-955-WILLOW+BARK.aspx?activeIngredientId=955&activeIngredientName=WILLOW+BARK&source=2

USES I HAVE TRIED:
I have not used this yet.



Wormwood, Growing Wild (Saw much less last year, hope it returns)
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-729-WORMWOOD.aspx?activeIngredientId=729&activeIngredientName=WORMWOOD

USES I HAVE TRIED:
I have not used this yet.



NOTE:
PLEASE do your research when planning to eat or use any plant as medicine.  Case in point, I have a single scotchbroom plant on my property.  It also has 'medicinal' qualities, namely causing uterine contractions which induce labor and/or reduce bleeding after giving birth.  Very interesting.
BUT, this medicinal herb was used by MANY HOSPITALS in the 1970's for this very purpose and it led to MANY deaths of mothers and babies due to overdosing on other toxic characteristics in the plant.
This information was not found easily.

The point....... MAKE SURE you know what you are doing before you DO anything.  DO YOUR RESEARCH.

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