That's the way I do it too. The fun way! After all, it's not rocket science, it's an earthly connection. If you've lost that connection, or maybe never had it, try going into your yard or an open field and laying down in the middle of the grasses or wildflowers. Roll over and take another look at the ground ... a really close look. Pull a weed or two and smell it ... and stick it between your teeth. Check out the bugs while you're at it. Now roll back over and watch the clouds for a minute ... or an hour. This is YOUR earth! Touch it!

MY FAVORITE HERBS TO GROW

In alphabetical order ...

ALOES (Aloe vera syn. A. barbadensis or A. arborescens) can be grown by any one any where in any soil. When it's overgrown, take a knife, cut off some of the "pups" and put them in another place to grow some more. This herb is so beneficial. Tear off a leaf when you need it for burns, sunburn, cuts, scrapes, wounds, stretch marks, warts, etc., and apply the fresh gel to the skin. My grandson burned his hand recently and we applied a fresh piece of aloe with a bandaid. The blistering was minimal and the pain went away almost immediately. Aloe vera juice (the commercially made kind) is also an excellent remedy for peptic ulcers.

BASILS ... there are so many, but I always try to have holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) in the bunch. Basils are annuals, but we take cuttings from them to winter-over for the next year. We just stick them in a little pot and they cooperate very well. Holy basil is a good one to pick and apply on the spot when a bug bites or stings. The juice can be extracted and applied to ringworms, skin diseases, cancer sores, and as ear drops for infection. When ingested, it is good for lowering blood sugar levels (diabetes), for lowering blood pressure (hypertension), and for lowering cholesterol levels. It also has a reputation for helping the body adapt to stress. It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and fever-reducing properties ... and, is valuable for respiratory infections. (Note: Holy basil may inhibit sperm production.)

BAY LAUREL (Laurus nobilis) is so easy to grow I can't imagine myself ever buying those expensive little bottles of dried bay leaves again. We have fresh bay leaves all year round. If you need to bring it indoors for the winter, it does very well in a pot. It can be trained as a tree, shrub, or topiary. The leaves look beautiful strung up in garlands in the kitchen or stuck in amongst other herbs in a wreath. Throw a few of them into your bath if suffering from aching joints and muscles.

BLACKBERRIES (Rubus) grow wild in this neck-of-the-woods. If you have a place where you can let them "take over," they are a worthy plant to have around. Not only are they fantastic eating, they also make an excellent face mask for oily skin when mixed with yogurt. This concoction helps to clear up blemishes, blackheads, and other skin problems. Take a few bites of this mixture as you apply it to the skin. It works from the inside to clear blemishes too. When ingested, the berries (or a decoction of the leaves) are helpful with irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids. The tea (decoction) made with blackberry leaves is also good for sore throat, spongy gums, and mouth ulcers. The berries also make a pleasant gargle for swallowing. Then there's the blackberry cobblers, jams, and pies, but fresh off the brambles tastes best to me!

CHAMOMILE, GERMAN (Chamomile recutita syn. Matricaria recutita) makes the most wonderful little yellow daisy-like flowers. The scent of this herb is almost "heady" on hot summer days. It is an annual that readily reseeds itself in many parts of the world. This is one herb that would benefit everyone and it is a must to have around the house in my opinion. I can't even begin to list all of the attributes of chamomile in one paragraph, but if you do a search for it on our web site you'll find it everywhere.

COMFREY (Symphytum officinale) is a member of the borage family. Those who know me, know comfrey is my favorite herb. I must warn you, if you don't really want this plant, don't put it in the ground. It is tenacious. Some consider it a pest because it is almost impossible to eradicate. I, on the other hand, could never have enough of it. I think it is the best herb that will ever touch your skin bar none. You will find it everywhere on our web site too.

COWSLIP (Primula veris) also know as marsh marigold is increasingly rare in the wild and should not be wildcrafted. It is a member of the Buttercup family that does very well in a wildflower bog garden. If you can get this beauty from a reputable source, it is a treat to grow. It seems to have a magical value for the complexion ... very useful in herbal cosmetics for correcting imperfections. The medicinal benefits of this herb are underrated. The root is strongly expectorant (useful for chronic coughs), mildly diuretic and antirheumatic, and slows blood clotting. The flowers are sedative, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory. The earth and I would appreciate it if you would choose to grow cowslip and help to bring it back to the wild.

DANDELION (Taraxacum spp.) is that weed that gets sprayed with all those *killer* pesticides and keeps coming back. Hooray! Dandelion always wins! Why then would we package up dandelion seeds to sell for planting in a garden? Because it is well worth growing, that's why. Stop trying to kill this jewel and start harvesting it. The tender leaves can be used as a spring tonic and the long tap roots can be used raw or roasted in teas (decoctions) for a myriad of aliments. This is my grandson's favorite herb, at least right now, because he makes bouquets for all his favorite people with its flowers. I've been graced with a number of them :-)

ECHINACEA (E. angustifolia & E. purpurea) is a perennial also known as purple coneflower. The flowers can be harvested when in full bloom throughout the growing season, but the roots are best when harvested in the fall from 4-year-old plants. This is another must-have for every household. Ongoing research is proving this herb to be a powerful immune stimulant. It is even being investigated as a treatment for HIV and AIDS. The added bonus here is that it is so attractive in the garden and requires little effort to maintain.

SO DIG IN

Get your hands into some good dirt this week. I'll be back next week to continue this list. In the meantime, pull out your trowel and get a little closer to your earth. Your earth would love to reward you with some priceless gifts.

Our goal is to bring collective knowledge together to provide accurate herbal information, giving references whenever possible, for the purpose of being informed when choosing self-help and alternative approaches to health and lifestyle. At no time should this publication be considered prescription or treatment, nor should any information published herein be misinterpreted as such. The publishers can not be held responsible for the mishandling of information by its readers.

Please do not take herbal information lightly.
Remember our motto is ... When in doubt, don't!
Until next Monday I remain,

Herbally yours, Abby

Lynda "Abby" Trahan
Abby's Herb Company
P.O. Box 213
Round Top, TX 78954

lynda@abbysherbshop.com
www.abbysherbshop.com

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