Herbs For Today

The Chart of Common Herbs

Stop and think about it. Herbs are already in our lives more than we realize. Herbs are ingredients in almost every food we eat. From the grocery store shelf to our own kitchens herbs make bland foods more interesting and tasty. Our own spice drawers or shelves contain both herbs and spices that we consider our favorites. Long gone are the days when the primary use of herbs and spices was to try and cover the smell of less than fresh foods and living spaces. Today we use herbs to enhance our lives in the foods we eat, the homes we live in and as a remedy for better health.

Herbs are the basis for many alternative methods of caring for our health. Herbal remedies have been handed down for generations. You and I have the option to make choices concerning our personal health that are backed by centuries of evidence. We are free to choose herbs when we want natural and gentle healing as well as nutritional support. We are free to enjoy the fragrances of herbs and best of all we are free to grow these botanic wonders right in our own gardens. Below are several of the most important ways you and I can use and enjoy herbs in our lives.

l. Cook with herbs each and every day. Every dish benefits from a pinch of something herbal. What are your favorites? I personally prefer rosemary with chicken, dried and fresh. Try a little celery seed in gently cooked potatoes. Other basic favorites in this house are basil, cilentro, parsley (everything gets at least a sprinkle of parsley), cumin and garlic. The basic spices include cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves. Then there are my Italian seasoning Mix and chili powder. The point here is that we all have our favorites, but are always open to trying new things….so there are truly more jars on my spice shelf than I am admiting here.

2. Relax with herbs each and every day. We all have that mental picture of soaking in a bathtub filled with bubbles and rose petals or something like that. Who has the time………? Thankfully, there are much easier ways to relax with herbs. You can buy all sorts of sweet smelling candles (I havelots of those) and other gadgets, from things you plug in ,to insence sticks. You can drink herbal teaor jazz up your coffee. You can spray and spritz your entire home in any fragrance. You can use aromatherapy to relax. You can stragetically place wonderful potpourri and inhale as you pass by. You can simply grow and herb plant in a sunny window and enjoy it’s calming effect. Herbs make us feel good whether we are eating them, relaxing with them or just growing them in the garden.

3. Check out herbal supplements. So many herbs are known to have healing properties and they are available in supplement form. For the most part they are quite reasonably priced. Good multi-vitamin and mineral supplements often contain impressive amounts of herbal properties that help bridge the gap between the nutrition deficit in todays food and the nutrition our body’s actually need to function and stay healthy. Also, specific herbal supplements are available that target specific areas, such as lutein for eye health. Many, many herbs work alone, or in conjunction with other herbs to combat health related situations related to men and women’s health issues. One note though, if you are going to use your hard earned money to purchase supplements, make sure you are buying a quality product without filler ingredients. In some cases organic might be preferred.

4. Heal with Herbs. I have used tea tree oil on kids, pets, employees, friends and myself. It is nothing less than the ultimate first aid kit in a bottle. Did you know that flax seed is a great source of vitamin E? We also know that many of our most common culinary herbs are great storehouses of nutrition that is beneficial to our general nutritional health. Many books exist that discuss herbal healing in depth and I will tell you which are the best. Herbal supplements are an easy way to insure you are getting adequate nutrition, and fight trouble spots as well.

5. Create with herbs. Herbs are so versatile and that is the magic. Not only can we eat them and heal with them, we can make pretty things with them also. My favorite is drying herbs by pressing them in big and heavy books. Then, I mount and frame them in frames that I pick up all year long at store sales, flea markets, garage sales etc. These make great and lasting gifts. They also decorate my home. Other creative possibilities are incorporating herbs into potpourris and adding wonderful fragrant oils to scent your entire home or also give as gifts. Another idea comes right from your kitchen where you can make herbal seasonings as well as herbal oils and vinegars for your own use and for gift giving. Once you begin creating with herbs in your kitchen you will find an endless list of ideas for your creativity, personal use and gift giving.

6. Grow your own herbs. I know someone with a wonderful sunny kitchen window and a huge basil plant. She pinches off a few leaves nearly every day to add to salad or tuck into a sandwich. In the garden, growing herbs is really easy because herbs are not very fussy. They can thrive in less than great soil and they don’t mind the heat. Many have beautiful flowers and release their aromatic oils when you barely brush by them. It’s a great way to always have fresh parsley and cilentro as well as basil and even dill. Some herbs like Russian Sage you probably don’t want to eat, cut they can’t be beat for the beauty they add to any garden (or landscape for that matter). Many herbs have the ability to protect
certain vegetable plants in your garden as well as promote growth and production. One such herb is basil that is planted near tomatoes and peppers. Growing herbs is a must for any gardener.

The subject of herbs is so vast you could spend a lifetime studying it’s history, it’s lore, and it’s place in the world today. No wonder herbs are called leaves of magic. Herbs are the most versatile of any botanical known to man.

Dandelions Up Close

Did you ever look at a blooming dandelion plant up close? I think they are really very pretty. And in the spring at our nearby state park, the grounds are covered profusely with bright yellow blooms almost as far as the eye can see. That’s when I have gathered the flowers and turned them into a really delicious wine.

Dandelions have quite a long history that’s interesting. They weren’t always considered a noxious weed to be drowned in weed killer with the vengence of a spray-wielding homeowner determined to destroy anything in his (or her) quest for the most perfect lawn on the block. Glad I don’t have that problem…….

In fact, dandelions were used by Arab physicians as far back as the 11th and 12th centuries. Fortunately, their many curative properties are still recognized today. Modern herbalists use the dandelion as a mild laxative, a diuretic, a tonic, a blood purifier and a digestive aid. The dandelion is also used in the treatment of chronic and degenerative joint diseases, which should be of great interest to older folks who seek better mobility. The mature leaves in the summer can be used for tea.

Nutritionally speaking the entire dandelion plant is a power house of protein, natural plant sugar, vitamins and minerals. Dandelions are nothing less than what we call “whole food”. Tender young leaves in the spring are delicious additions to soups and salads with bits of bacon and a viniagrette dressing. I did this when my children were younger, but I didn’t tell them until they became adults……too late to say ‘ewwwww!

Concoctions can be made using mature leaves and roots. Dry the leaves, and harvest the roots in the fall. It’s a great nourishing boost in winter. The roots also can be roasted and ground for a caffeine-free coffee substitute. Dandelions, also called “tooth of the lion” because of the jagged edges of the leaves, are a true gift of nature………and the best part is they are free for the taking. Help yourself….it doesn’t look like we’ll see dandelions on the endangered species list any time soon, if ever.

Herbs for Many Uses

The subject of herbs is most fascinating. Think about it. We buy and/or grow them. We touch, feel, smell, preserve and use them in thousands of different ways. Some make us feel better and heal us. Others make us feel like gourmet cooks even when we aren’t. Herbs can take our headaches away. They can either calm and relax us, or stimulate us. Herbs lend themselves to creative natural crafting both indoors and out. Take a simple walk and observe….some very important herbs grow in the wild and may be thriving at your very feet. Take a moment to think about how herbs touch your life every single day. You will be amazed.

Herbs have been around for thousands of years and right here in Herbs for Today you will read about how important herbs have been throughout history. Herbs have been as valuable as money at one time or another. They were considered by some to be the work of the devil himself resulting in the deaths of those healers who’s “magic” somehow managed to survive so many centuries. Today we know much more about this “magic” and we use what we’ve learned freely.

I like and appreciate all herbs, but I definitly love the culinary herbs. Today the most popular varieties can be purchased fresh and dried. They are easy to grow for the most part. They can and do change a ho-hum dish into a flavorful feast. You will be tempted to experiment…..you do that!

We’ve found that a good number of the culinary herbs are also highly nutritious. What a nice benefit…use herbs (and spices) to bump up the nutrition level of the food you serve your family. My personal favorites are basil, rosemary, parsley, garlic and cilentro. Then there is dill. Once I thought dill was only for pickles. Wrong!

So, as I sit here trying impossibly to wrap my thought around the massive world of herbs I want to welcome you to what I see in the future of Herbs for Today. This is the place you will come to when you want to learn about shopping for herbs….not all are natural or organic. This is where you will learn about growing herbs which I consider a MOST satisfying experience. I’ve seen beautiful herb gardens, but I am most moved by my friend’s tall and leggy basil plant which she admires and nurtures each and every day.

Herbs lend themselves to creating wonderful things like vinegars and oils that are as pretty to look at as they are good to eat. Imagine a stunning bottle of olive oil, garlic cloves, dried red pepper and parsley. I may be German, but I love my Italian food, and I call this Italian. Makes a greatly appreciated gift too.

Crafting with herbs is another topic for Herbs for Today. There are untold ways to create with herbs. My personal favorites are growing and drying all sorts of stuff like cayenne peppers for instance. This eventually becomes what I like to call Kitchen Gourmet Potpourri. I’ll tell you how I make it.

The other is pressing and drying herbs (and anthing else that will lay nice and flat). These are beautiful when mounted in frames, and make distinctive and original gifts as well. This is the one herbal art I have an interest in expanding.

I would like to welcome you to this herbal adventure and invite you to visit often. Because herbs are a subject that lends itself to the exchange of ideas, I do welcome yours….and your comments and suggestions as well. We are going to have a great time exploring the finest gifts nature has to offer. Welcome aboard!