Mad About Herbs - A friendly forum for you to ask any of your herb gardening, cooking and craft related questions

Ayucare Neem moisturising Lotion

Mosley — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:30:12 GMT

Neem Moisturising Lotion with soothing and softening properties that nourishes and protects the skin and promotes natural luster and healthy blemish free skin.

Forum: Herbal Skin & Hair care & Aromatherapy

Basil and it's Health Effects

Mosley — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:54:26 GMT

Newly, Researchers have found many necessary oils in basil, which have lots of effectiveness on our health for its anti aging, anti oxidant, anti cancer and anti vital properties and used world wide for healing diabetes, asthma and stress.

Forum: Herb Nurseries, Suppliers

Wheatgrass Benefits

sharplab — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:45:24 GMT

Studies of wheatgrass by Dr. Chiu Nan Lai of the University of Texas System Cancer Center showed it to be a potent inhibitor of several carcinogens. Applying low levels of the extract to mutagens diminished activity in them by up to 99%. More research has examined the healing properties of chlorophyll in general and seems to be related to the fact that the chlorophyll molecule is nearly identical to that of hemoglobin, whose single atom of iron replaces one atom of magnesium. Buy organic wheatgrass on sale www.SharpWebLabs.com!

Distinguished medical specialists have reported hundreds of cases in which chlorophyll has cured deep infections, stimulated healing, removed necrotic debris from open wounds, and accelerated connective tissue and epidermal proliferation. Many reports of chlorophyll's effectiveness have come through Dr. Ann Wigmore, ND, and teacher of natural living. Dr. Ann credits wheatgrass with curing her gangrenous leg and preventing its amputation. She subsequently founded the Hippocrates Health Institute in Boston to teach others about wheatgrass.

According to Dr. Ann, Dr. Bernard Jensen and G. P. Earp-Thomas of Bloomfield Laboratories, chlorophyll purifies the blood, prevents tooth decay, aids in proper digestion, helps detoxify the liver, keeps the thyroid gland in balance, cleanses internal organs, enhances capillary function, supports sex hormones, decontaminates inorganic chemicals, and builds up white blood cell counts. Furthermore, green juices provide easy assimilation of nutrients especially in cases of poor digestion or immuno-suppression. Reports of chlorophyll's effectiveness in managing human ailments abound.

Wheat grass is grown by soaking the seeds in clean water until they sprout and grow shoots approximately 2 inches (5 cm) long. Barley grass provides a broader ranger of nutrients, but wheat grass has a superior content of antioxidants and organic phosphates.

Constituents
Quercetin, rutin, organic phosphates.

Parts Used
The dried shoots, powdered. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, wheat grass may be "massed" or fermented before drying.

Typical Preparations
A level tablespoon (3-4 grams) of powder added to teas, smoothies, or cereals, daily. Sometimes found in encapsulations.

Summary
Wheat sprouts contain a very high level of organic phosphates and a powerful cocktail of antioxidant molecules. According to research recently published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, the antioxidant activity of catalase and peroxidase appears very strong. Addition of a small amount of wheat grass powder to food is known to prevent cataracts in aging dogs, and may have a similar effect in people.

Precautions
Like barley grass, wheat grass may reduce lactation in nursing mothers.

Wheatgrass health benefits
Okay, so we have heard how of the extremely high nutrient content of wheatgrass but how does this benefit our health?

The high chlorophyll content of wheatgrass juice causes increased Haemoglobin production in the body which increases the oxygen carrying capabilities of the blood. The increased capability of the blood to carry oxygen has a number of health benefits including purification of the blood, improving blood sugar disorders, helping combat toxins such as carbon monoxide and other traffic pollutants, cigarette smoke and heavy metals that can get into the blood. The brain and other tissues function best when they are in a highly oxygenated environment. Wheatgrass juices high vitamin content is of benefit to some skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and also helps give healthy looking hair. Wheatgrass is also said to benefit dandruff problems.

Many people cite wheatgrass juice as having cancer preventing properties due to its carcinogen and toxin neutralising abilities.

Other wheatgrass health benefits include:
Improved digestion
Reducing blood pressure
Improved ability of the body to heal wounds
Chlorophyll found in wheatgrass can prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
Helping prevent tooth decay
Has anti-ageing abilities and can keep the hair from greying.

Certified Organic, In Stock And Ready To Ship In Our Flavor Savor Containers! All our herbs are true certified organic by CCOF, OTCO and certified NOP Kosher! All herbs are free from irradiation and ozone treatment, sulfur, gasses and other sanitary chemicals! Unsurpassable in color, depth, taste and aroma! Guaranteed fresh and not from "warehouse stock" Processed and handled according to strict organic standards! Analyzed for quality, safety and true botanical identity by the best in quality control!

Forum: Herbs for health

Willow Bark - Arthritis

sharplab — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:41:07 GMT

Being the founder of SharpWebLabs.com we have enjoyed helping the public with natural healing from our over 2000 herbal products.

One tip I offer is the benefit of my aunt and others while substituting 1-2 teaspoons of willow bark in her main dish recipes. It has helped her with her soreness due to arthritis greatly.

She also steeps the root in her tea which adds more benefits.

Sincerely,

Stephen C. Sharp
Sharp Labs Inc.
www.SharpWebLabs.com

Forum: Cooking with herbs and spices

Rosemary Leaf Beetle?

LindaF — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:45:34 GMT

I had a huge Rosemary plant in a pot & it gradually died last year, branch by branch, finally leaving just the branches with no leaves. It hasn't come back this year. I just assumed it was a disease & bought another plant, which sadly i positioned fairly nearby.

Now my new plant is deteriorating. By chance someone told me about Rosemary Leaf Beetle & I checked my plant to discover quite a few of them (which I picked off). I've been checking daily since then & apart from an occasional one, there seem to be no more.

Is it worth treating? (not keen on spraying insecticides on something I'll be eating though..) or would it be best to completely start again......

Anyone else had trouble with these? My mum also checked her huge Rosemary bush & it was covered in them so she's had it dug up.
Linda
ps great website Madeleine :o)

Forum: Herb pests and diseases

Curry Plant

LesleyJay — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:27:27 GMT

Is the curry plant poisonous? It is sold as a culinary herb but one of my vegetable gardening books recommends not using it.

Forum: Herb gardening, growing and harvesting

Mint Seeds to Swap

indigoshirl — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:44:01 GMT

I have a packet of mint seeds to swap. Would like to swap for something with lots of flavour .... :0)

Forum: Herb Seed Exchange

Current Favourite Herb Book

indigoshirl — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:40:25 GMT

I have quite a few herb books and love to look through jumble sales for the older books. Having said that my current favourite book is an american one called "Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs"

Forum: Herb books

lemon verbena

soytyka — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:24:54 GMT

I am looking for a source for lemon verbena. I love the scent of this plant and would like to mix it into batches of my homemade soap. I cannot find it locally. Any suggestions for a good place to purchase seeds or starts? Also any tips on growing this plant would be helpful.
Thanks!
Kate

Forum: Herb gardening, growing and harvesting

soup for cold weather

herbgirl — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:59:10 GMT

This is my favourite soup as it's quite simple to do and nutritious. I've had to make quite a bit of it recently for all the people with nasty coughs. It includes ginger, onion, garlic and vitamin C - all are reputed to be good for coughs and colds.

4 large carrots
1 medium potato
1 medium onion
1 level teaspoon of ground ginger
1 clove garlic
450 ml vegtable stock
100ml fresh orange juice
Olive oil for frying

Peel, wash and chop veg - you can use larger chunks than usual as you'll be blending them anyway. Fry in large saucepan for a few minutes - just until browning. Add ginger and garlic whilst frying.

Add veg stock and orange juice. Simmer until veg is par-boiled.

Let it cool and then put in blender until smooth.

Heat and eat with bread to dip.

You can easily adjust the amounts above to suit taste and texture. In Summer coriander could replace the garlic and ginger for a different flavour.

Forum: Cooking with herbs and spices

Coffee ceremony

Barley — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:22:00 GMT

Coffee may not be for everyone but it does have its good points. My wife and I find it delicious too. Here is our simple 'researched AA method' for anyone interested.
1. Use a cafetiere, organic coffee medium roast, a 15ml measuring spoon, freshly boiled tap water, organic milk (for example Waitrose semi skimmed non homogenized). Nice plain big cups or mugs. A timer.
2. Put 4 measured spoons of coffee in the cafetiere. Pour over 500ml just boiled water (use a wooden chopstick or similar to stir). Set timer to 4 minutes. Warm the cups by any method you can think of. Pour milk in a saucepan.
3. When timer pings, heat the milk until it 'smokes' (about 60-70 deg C).
4. Half half milk and coffee for those who like it white. Drink peacefully.
ps This 'coffee ceremony' is an enjoyment of life, make it properly, don't guess quantities but you can vary them a bit with practice. Throw away any instant junk coffee.

Forum: Cooking with herbs and spices

Looking for a variety of herb seeds

herbgirl — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:42:38 GMT

I'm revamping my garden so am looking for a variety seeds. Stuff I have on my shopping list are Dill, Basil, Feverfew and Parsley.

I've got some chilli seeds ('jalapeno summer heat pizza pepper'), clary sage and evening primrose going spare.

Also happy to exchange for other chilli varieties or any other herbs people may have spare.

Forum: Herb Seed Exchange

veg and herbs - mix and match

herbgirl — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:50:30 GMT

I'm dedicating a part of my garden to growing veg and would like to do it in the border style rather than an allotment style. The plan is that everything in the area could be used in the kitchen and ultimately the border will be pleasing on the eye. Therefore, I'm looking for good plants to grow in between my veg and am looking particularly at using herbs.
I've looked into companion planting a little but there just seems to be the odd comment like "plant coriander next to carrots" and "don't put peas next to onions".
I'm looking for ideas of plants that would go together well as they would complement each other in certain ways, e.g. herbs and veg that may look good together in the garden, tried and tested companion planting, etc. One thought I had was to group things in the garden as you would in the kitchen, e.g. plant basil with tomatoes as they also go well together in cooking.

Also, one bit of the area is shaded and I'm struggling to find a good idea for what to put in that bit. Most of the veg/herbs I've looked at so far need at least some sun.

Any ideas are welcome as we're coming up to sowing time.

Forum: Herb gardening, growing and harvesting

Around the world in 80 gardens - Monty Don

Madeleine — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:44:45 GMT

Is anyone watching this programme? I love it. Last night he was in India and visited a spice garden. It's so rare for most of us to see the spices growing. They showed a pepper plant, cardamom and turmeric root and coffee plant amongst others.

The show is on at 9pm on BBC2, repeated at 7pm on the following Tuesday or you can watch it via the BBC iplayer.

Forum: Fancy a chat?

Rosemary

Barley — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:39:38 GMT

If like me you know little about the subject, may I heartily recommend one herb, Mrs Jessop's Upright Rosemary (evergreen with light mauve flowers in summer). Useful in so many ways and no trouble at all. Mine grows in a nondescript clay and chalk soil which is somewhat sheltered and keeps fairly damp. I just cut 3 feet off the top it grows so luxuriantly, a delight all the year round and lasts many years. An alternative if you want it hanging over a wall is the creeping variety.

Forum: Herb gardening, growing and harvesting