Growing Annual HerbsA List of Herbs for Cooking and HealingGrowing annual herbs for the kitchen and the natural healing medicine chest. Growing culinary herbs. A list of herbs for cooking and healing. Easy to make herbal tea remedies.
Herbs de Provence Collection 6 Plants The healing action of herbs used in cooking is gentle. One teaspoon of fresh herbs or half a teaspoon of dried is a standard dose. You can chop the leaves and add them to your food or bruise them and steep them in hot water to make an herbal tea remedy. All the herbs listed here are annual herbs which can be grown to maturity in one season. List of HerbsBasil
"Basil Collection, Burpee's Best 3 Plants" The licorice flavor of sweet basil makes an incomparable contribution to Italian dishes. It pairs well with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and pine nuts. Marinara sauce is not complete without it. Basil is 1 of my favorite annual herbs. When I inevitably plant too much of it, I like to make banana basil bread with the excess. Medicinal Properties of Basil Herb: Basil is an antispasmodic herb which makes it useful in treating asthma, coughing, diarrhea and intestinal wind. It is also a fine digestive herb and an appetite stimulant. Little-known fact: Keeping a pot of basil on your kitchen windowsill or patio table will deter flies and mosquitoes. They dislike the scent. Lemon BalmThe bright green, aromatic leaves of this annual herb will add flavor to your garden and your table. Melissa officinalis has a minty/lemony taste that makes a fine contribution to iced tea. Medicinal Uses of Lemon Balm Herb Tea: In ancient times, it was known as the "elixir of life", an herbal fountain of youth. More than a few centenarians credit their longevity to drinking a daily cup of lemon balm herb tea. Lemon balm is also calming. Use it when you are anxious or need help falling asleep. Little-known fact: Lemon balm is antiviral and anti-inflammatory. Dip a cotton ball in the cooled tea and dab it on a cold sore or cut to speed the healing process. Green Purslane
Purslane, Goldgelber Mild 1 Pkt. Portulaca oleracea is a succulent annual herb which grows nearly everywhere in the summer months. Edible purslane is so prolific that most gardeners mistake it for a weed. Once you find out how useful it is, you will stop tossing it onto your compost pile and start tossing it into your salad bowl. Purslane is rich in vitamins A,B,C, and calcium. It is diuretic and anti-parasitic. Little known fact: Plant-based calcium is more easily absorbed than the calcium in dairy products or calcium supplements. Always dress calcium-rich greens with vinegar as it aids in calcium absorption. This is why salad dressing always contains vinegar or another acid. Cayenne Peppers
"Pepper, Hot Ristra Cayenne Hybrid 3 Plants" "Pepper, Hot Ristra Cayenne Hybrid 1 Pkt. (30 seeds)" Although cayenne pepper plants are perennial in very mild climates, most gardeners grow them as annual herbs. Hot pepper plants are ornamental as well as productive. You may want to grow 1 in a decorative pot so you can bring it indoors and keep it over the winter. I kept just such a plant on my kitchen table this winter and it provided me with ripe peppers until spring. Once the weather became reliably warm, I moved the pot back onto my porch where the plant spends the rest of the year. Little-known fact: The healing power is in the heat. Any chili pepper that is as hot as cayenne will have the same medicinal properties. If you are short on space, grow the variety you most enjoy eating. Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne peppers are nutritious. They are full of vitamin C an many other nutrients. The herb stimulates blood flow and feeds the heart. Eating chili peppers or taking cayenne tincture or capsules is of particular benefit to men over 40 who tend to eat a less-than-healthy diet. This group is vulnerable to sudden heart attack due to nutritional deficiencies. Because of its stimulating properties, cayenne can also be helpful in cases of suspected heart attack. A teaspoon of the tincture or powder in a cup of warm water works faster than the capsules for this use. Take it while you are waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Cayenne Pepper Healing will reveal more of this annual herb's health-enhancing abilities to you. Mexican Mint Marigold
"Sweet Marigold, Licorice 1 Pkt. (50 seeds)" Tagetes lucida is an herb that can be used, in cooking, as a French tarragon substitute. People in Florida call it Mexican tarragon. Texans know it as winter or Texas tarragon. Its leaves give off a lovely anise aroma when bruised and its gold blooms can be used to color rice. Parsley
Order Herb, Parsley Plain Organic 1 Pkt. (600 seeds) Parsley is technically a biennial but I'm including it here because it can be grown from seed to harvest in one growing season. It is commonly grown as an annual by many gardeners. Chopped parsley adds a subtle "green" note to many dishes which would be missed if it were not there. It also serves the important purpose of counteracting the "vampire breath" effect of garlic. Other Parsley Herb Uses: Parsley is the mineral supplement of annual herbs. It is rich in a form of iron which is easily absorbed. The tea is often taken as a spring tonic. Little-known fact: Pregnant women can eat parsley in food dishes without worry but they should avoid consuming parsley tea in medicinal doses (1 cup or more per day) because the herb can bring on your menstrual cycle when used at this dose. Women who suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding should also be careful with it as it can exacerbate this problem. If you need the iron boost, use 1 teaspoon of molasses in a cup of hot water instead. Summer Savory
"Savory, Summer 1 Pkt. (900 Seeds)" Summer savory herb, Satureja hortensis is the annual twin of Satureja montana,the perennial winter savory herb. Garden savory has a mild peppery flavor that compliments meat or bean dishes. A sprig of fresh or dried savory added to the cooking water of strong-smelling vegetables like cabbage will deodorize them. Add summer savory to a pot of beans to make them less gassy. Little-known fact: Fresh summer savory can relieve the pain of a bee sting. Bruise the leaves and rub them on the affected area. Scented Geraniums
Buy Geranium, Mosquito Shoo Here Apple, rose and lemon scented geranium plants are the most well-known of this group of interesting annual herbs. Many different flavors of scented Pelargoniums are available via specialty nurseries. These plants are cultivated mainly for their aromatic leaves which are used in perfume, potpourri and cooking. Simmer a few leaves of Pelargonium graveolens, the rose scented geranium, in a pot of filtered water and use it to steam your freshly-cleansed face to take advantage of its anti-aging properties. Use the leaves of any variety to line a cake pan before filling it with batter. The leaves will subtly impart the chosen flavor to the cake. *Botanical Journeys Plant Guides is not a medical resource and cannot take responsibility for any adverse effects you may experience when using herbal remedies. You should seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. Resources:Much of the information on the medicinal properties of the herbs listed here came from The Complete Guide to Natural Healing More Gardening Info:Aeroponic Gardening Step-by-StepThe Healing Water Made from Aloe Vera Flowers Return to the Annual Flower Guide Go from Annual Herbs to Botanical Journeys Plant Guides Home Page |
, a reference I really like. It is full of color pictures, recipes and even growing info for many of the herbs.
I was diagnosed with asthma as a teenager. After several years of struggling with asthma medications and not really getting any better, I decided I could not take it anymore.
The drugs made me feel sleepy all the time.
I threw them away, determined to learn to treat my asthma naturally.
Drugs were much cheaper in those days. I was an impulsive teenage girl. I don't think you should throw your meds away until after you speak with your doctor and find a natural remedy that works!
For the last 30some years, I have been managing my asthma naturally.
I sprinkle ground black pepper on my food daily (it cuts mucus) and avoid my triggers. I also use thyme and cloves often in cooking as these 2 herbal anti-spasmodics relieve the bronchial spasms which happen during an asthma attack.
I have not had a full-blown attack in years!
Over the years, I have discovered many other safe, cheap alternatives to pharmaceuticals. They work if you know how to use them correctly.
That is the true value of Herbs the Natural Alternative. It tells you which herb to use to treat your ailment and how to use it.
Best of all, it is written with gardeners in mind. If you need help deciding which herbs to fill your medicinal garden with, download this book.
You won't be disappointed.
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