FYI Healthwise -- Herb Garden

Historical records show patterns, trends that man have followed. Knowledge of plants is old and easily accessible. In recorded history, around 500 B.C., feminine forms of pharmiseutical and herbalists words led one to believe at that particular time, women were entrusted with the handing down of medicinal knowledge. By the middle ages, women were expected to have medicinal herbal gardens. They were the healers; except amongst the monks whose herbal medicinal knowledge is legendary. The monasteries kept better records of their practices, observations, techniques. Cloistered, their knowledge almost became mystical while common folk relied on the apprenticeship within the family structure to pass on healing traditions.

Healing traditions first came under attack during the inquisition of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and then again during the 20th century by the pharmaceutical companies which caused people to hand over control of their healings to others, pushing the herbals out of the home medicine chests. Things have come full circle again.

It's Springtime. Prior issues of the Vigilance have dealt with what to harvest and when. I thought I'd remind folks of the benefits of walking through your backyard. Of arranging the common weeds in a herbal display away from pesticides and pollutants, the need for a good field guide (you don't want to poison yourself), and how anything one eats or the herbal medicnes one takes connects you to the earth. Which is in itself very healing. ONE must move away from thinking of medicine as heath in a bottle. Health should be a lifestyle.

Use healthy plants in cooking, eating, refreshment. Joyful. Joyful consumption is far more beneficial than the stressed, agonizing reach to the medicine cabinet upon discovery of an ailment. Prevention, wholeness, joy. Health.

These following herbs make a great beginning herbal garden. Most of which can already be found out there. And with little effort, can be arranged into a quiet corner to enjoy. Don't forget to practice your breathing while enjoying the sight and smell of your endeavors prior to harvest. That too promotes healing, cleaning the body to toxins, refreshing one's organs, calming one's thoughts.

Caution! Please remember to use herbs grown only in a clean environment. If you don't know, don't pick there.

Backyard Herbs:

Dandelion - Common weed
Leaves and roots are good for stimulating digestion. water retention,constipation and liver health.

Nettle - Common weed
Handle fresh nettles with care, using gloves. After cooking, nettles don't bite back, they lose their sting. Leaves are good in tonics. Especially helpful for increasing breast milk... while in other mixtures, may aid in decrease of water retention.

Red clover - Agriculture crop, common weed
Flowering tops are good for balancing hormones. Helpful with fertility, menopause and menstrual ailments.

Mint - common wetland friend, garden tea herb
Digestive aid, eases spasms, nausea

Yarrow - common field herb, ornamental plant
Leaves and flowers are good for cuts and scrapes

Lavender - ornamental
Flowers and leaves are good for helping the body build up antigens to allergens. Great anti-bacterial. Can be used to help reduce stress, tension and promote relaxation to name a few. One of my favorites.

Garlic - Edible herb
Bulbs are good for fighting infection, immune system builders,reducing cholesterol.

Calendula - garden flower herb
Petals are a great wound,tissue and burn healer

Red raspberry - common garden and wild shrub
Leaves are great for hormone balancers. Helpful for reproductive health, pregnancy friendly.

Lemon balm - common garden herb, ornamental
Leaves are good for insomnia, herpes simplex, spasms in the digestive tract

Thyme - culinary herb
Immune system builder,congestive aid,respiratory infections

Plantain - common weed
Great for stings,insects bites, rashes, digestive disorders

The garlic , the red raspberry, and the yarrow are taller and should go in the back or off to one side. With the way red raspberry plants send out entrails to spread, they probably should be kept on an end where they can mutiply easily.The rest of the design ,enjoy, have fun, be creative.

Enjoy in good health.
Rebekah