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Monday, February 28, 2011

Medicinal Herbs - The History of Herbal Remedies

It is estimated that one in every five adults in the United States, amounting to more than 38 million people, are currently using some form of natural product for health purposes, such as medicinal herbs for example. Among the top ten natural herbal products that were being used, several have been commonly considered to be herbal remedies for a wide variety of different purposes for years including flaxseed, Echinacea, ginseng, garlic and ginkgo. People have been relying on the healing and restorative properties of herbs and botanicals since the ancient times, but current government regulations are changing the way we look at what herbal medicine can do for us.

Ancient times are really when the use of medicinal herbs became apparent. Aloe vera, for example, can be traced all the way back to use during early Egyptian times. The plant has been depicted in numerous stone carvings, and it was known as being the plant for immortality. As such, deceased pharaohs received it as a burial gift. Another ancient herbal remedy is lavender, which was native to Mediterranean areas and was also used in the ancient Egyptian civilizations as part of the mummification process for the deceased.

The fruit from the chaste tree, known as the chasteberry, has been used for a long time to ease a number of different menstrual issues as well as to stimulate breast milk production when breastfeeding. Another herbal supplement is cat's claw, growing wild in areas in South America and Central America, especially in areas like in the Amazon Rainforest, has already been in use for numerous centuries in order to both treat and outright prevent certain types of disease. Hoodia is another herb, derived from a cactus-like plant that you will find in the Kalahari Desert of Southern Africa, and it can reduce thirst and hunger during hunting trips and is now found in numerous weight loss supplements.

Although the face of medicine has changed significantly through the years, many people still utilize herbal medicine and herbal remedies. Ayurvedic medicine, for example, relies on plants, herbs, oils and spices along with a variety of other naturally occurring compounds and substances for medicinal purposes. Chinese medicine also relies on herbs and plants like ginkgo and bitter orange to treat a wide variety of health conditions. Many cultures still rely heavily on herbal medicine and herbal remedies to treat ailments including diseases and injuries because they have proven themselves to be effective over the course of centuries.

Check out herbal remedies for a wide range of ailments.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_C._Thompson

Make Your Dried Herbs

If you decide to make some dried herbs for your kitchen, the best period to collect your herbs is in the late summer because some herbs begin to decline with the weather turning cool. During the day, morning will be best harvest time to pick up your herbs. When you do the cutting work in your garden, remember to take a good look at the health status of your chosen herb and remove the diseased leaves and insects. Before the drying process, you should tie several branches into a branch. You'd better use a rubber band as the whole branch will shrink when they are dried and the rubber band can still keep the branch tight compared with other strings. Then you should wrap up the whole branch using paper and wait until the moisture is gone.

The easiest and efficient way to make your dried herbs is using the air. However, this process may be a long time and some herbs oils may also not be fully depleted as well. The air drying process is suitable for some herbs with "dry" characteristics such as Rosemary, Thyme and Summer Savory. If the plants you are going to dry have high moisture substances like Basil and Mint, you'd better make use of a dehydrator to do the job. A microwave oven can also be used to dry the herbs, but it is more like a cooking process which help to remove the oily elements of the herb.

The dried herbs must be stored in containers which are properly sealed. Some small sized-jars can be used to facilitate categorization and labelling. When you put labels on your jars, be sure to put date on it for reference. To keep the flavor longer, you should store the whole leaves together instead of separate them. Also you should keep an eye on the status of your dried herbs, and discarded those which looks like to grow mold. Your herb containers should be put in a cool and shaded place to avoid direct sunlight. As your herbs may lose its qualities (color and flavor) with the time passing by, they should be consumed as quick as possible (less than a year).

For more articles on herbs, please visit http://herb-stuff.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paluiz_Chow


Herbs and Spices - Secret From Restaurants

How to Store Herbs and Spices:

You should always remember to keep your spices in a cool and dark place. You do not want to keep them in a humid place full of light and exposed to heat because they tend to lose their flavor quicker. Many people like to keep their spice rack on or above their stoves, but if you are one of those people, you might want to consider moving them to a different place to keep their flavor and freshness longer. I recommend to storing you herbs and spices in a refrigerator due to the level of humidity. However, if you want to store large quantities of herbs and spices, I recommend you store them in a freezer in a tightly sealed container to keep them fresh.

As a rule of thumb, I know that spices retain their best flavor for a year. However, it may be a bit longer for whole spices; some retain their flavor for up to three to five years. The better you store it, the longer they will keep their flavor and freshness.

A tip for whole spices is to grind them in a grinder or mortar and pestle before using them. In addition, if you toast whole spices in a dry skillet on medium heat before grinding them will bring out even more flavor; do be careful not to burn them.

Tips on How Use Herbs and Spices:

When you are seasoning your food with spices, try to use a light hand, remember your goal is to compliment your dish, not crowd out the flavor in your food. Note: it is almost impossible to remove the spice from a dish, so make good decisions when adding spices to your meals.

As a rule of thumb, when doing long-cooking dishes, try to add your herbs and spices at least an hour or less before serving. If you over cook spices, they might release overly strong flavors. Also, crush dried herbs finely before you add them to your dish (after you measure them.)

You do not want to measure your dried herbs the same as your fresh herbs. Another rule of thumb to use is to use 1/3 of the amount in dried herbs as is called for fresh herbs.

Remember to keep things simple. Unless you have a recipe that specifically states otherwise, do not use more than three different herbs and spices in one dish. Of course, as many of you may know, an exception to the rule is Indian food; they usually call for 10 or more different spices at times, in a one single dish.

Some good after cooking spices are black pepper, salt, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. People are usually fussy about what spices they put on their food so you might want to have these spices available at the table.

Here are some spices that give another taste to your food without ruining them. For example, if you want to add some variety to your cooking, you might want to start by replacing oregano for marjoram, thyme for savory, parsley for cilantro, and there is so much more you can do.

Ready to start cooking like never before? Consider how much it costs you to get a decent meal now a days, and if you like eating out it can translate to hundreds of dollars every month. Click here and get Instant Access to over 300 secret recipes NOW!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carlos_F_Lopez

Four Herbs Perfect for Indoor Gardening

Two of the simple pleasures of life are herbs and indoor gardening.

Herbs provide for more savory dishes as well as a healthy mind and body through herbal medicines and teas.

  • Indoor gardening brings the beauty of the outdoors to the comfort of the indoors as well as provide pleasure for avid gardeners who have less space and time to work with than their full-time counterparts.

Starting an indoor herb garden is also very easy when you come to think of it.

  • You only need to choose a location with plenty of sunlight, containers with good drainage, good potting soil and organic fertilizers and, of course, right choice of herbs. Well, here are five easy-to-grow herbs that you can start with.

Basil

This is probably one of the easiest herbs to care for as it can thrive with very minimal care.

  • However, just like most herbs, basil requires plenty of sunlight to grow well.
  • Thus, you must place it in an area receiving maximum sunlight such as a window facing the south or the west.
  • If this is not possible, you should purchase grow lights or use ordinary fluorescent lights to replace natural sunlight.

Basil has bright green leaves that add beauty to a kitchen windowsill and add flavor to Italian dishes especially pasta. Its flavor has been compared to sweet peppers.

Cilantro

This herb can be grown indoors under certain conditions.

  • It must receive at least four hours of bright sunlight daily, its soil is kept moist at all times and its leaves are harvested regularly.
  • Just be sure to pick the leaves or snip off the stem as you need it but leave the rest of the plant as it is.

Cilantro has a distinctive and pungent earthy flavor that has been compared to a blend of sage and lemon.

  • Its bold, lingering flavor highlights the savory taste of curries, stir fries and soups as well as salads, sauces and vegetable dishes.

Dill

The dill is the easiest herb to grow because it can germinate quickly, grow quickly and be harvested quickly in a few weeks' time.

  • However, it needs plenty of sunlight during the daytime hours so be sure to provide said source of nourishment.

Dill is very aromatic but can quickly lose its flavor during the drying and cooking processes.

  • Thus, freezing them and adding them just before the dish is to be cooked are the best ways to ensure that the herb retains its flavor.

Rosemary

This is an herb that is beautiful, durable and useful, in a manner of speaking. Rosemary is attractive with its flowers in white, pink, purple or blue and evergreen foliage, it stands out in an indoor garden.

  • It is also resistant to dry soil and pests, which makes it very durable indeed. Juts make sure that you grow it on neutral to alkaline soil with average fertility.

And with its culinary and medicinal values, rosemary definitely has its fair share of uses. You can use it in many Mediterranean cuisines as well as in barbecues, thanks to its bitter, astringent flavor.

  • With these four herbs, you can now cook your flavorful dishes while enjoying the view of nature from your kitchen windowsill even when you are amidst high-rise buildings.

Now, that is truly enjoying the simple pleasures of life!


Whitney Segura is an expert gardener and owner of Our Crazy Deals, a company that manufacturers and distributes indoor greenhouses, hydroponics equipment, compost bin tumblers, garden containers, and many other gardening accessories in the United States.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Whitney_Segura

Saturday, February 5, 2011

How to Grow Flowering Herbs - Part 1

Annual Flowering Herbs

Petunia- (Petunia spp.)

Petunias are tender flowering herbs that adorn the garden with a variety of striking colors such as, red, pink, white, violet or a mixture of white stripped with violet or blue.

They are more attractive when planted closely in flower beds forming a blanket of red or velvet blossoms. Petunias are mostly cultivated in pots or window boxes.

Soil Requirements.

The best soil where petunias are more adaptable is a well-drained, fertile, sandy loam soils.

Propagation.

Petunias are propagated by seeds sown in germinating trays or seed boxes and later on thinned and planted in pots or beds.

Plants in full bloom may be brought inside the house for a day or two but should be exposed to full or partial sunlight to maintain normal growth.

Cock's Comb - (Celosia argentia cristata )

There are two types of cock's comb like; dwarf and tall or medium height varieties.

There are as many colors of the rainbow as there are cock's comb varieties. Most often, the dwarf varieties are planted in group as low borders, while the taller varieties serve as background and foundation planting.

Thee flowers stalks vary in size where the taller ones have bigger clusters.

Propagation.

Cock's comb are easily propagated by seeds either by direct seeding or transplanted singly by seedlings.

When direct seeding is applied, you should do the thinning to avoid overcrowding of the plants.

Marigold - (Tagetes erecta)

Marigold, a native of Mexico is a member of the sunflower family is a hardy annual, bushy, producing flowers with raised centers of golden-orange petals gradually turning to reddish-brown in the outer petals.

Soil Requirements.

Marigold thrives best in a light loam soil with a good drainage and exposed to full sunlight.

Propagation.

Propagation by seeds is the only method to multiply marigold. They are easy to grow although they seem to disappear in most gardens.

Balsam or Touch-Me-Not - (Impatiens oppositfolia, I. glandulifira )

A native of Africa, balsam or touch-me-not derived its name from its characteristics where the fruits when touch at ripening stage burst even just upon a slight contact.
They have a striking beautiful flowers ranging from pink, white, purple, and red double petalled which resembles the rose flowers.

Soil Requirements.

Balsam usually prefers rich fertile soil with abundant sunlight.

Propagation.

Balsam can easily be germinated by seeds. The seeds easily germinate when touch to the ground.

Carnation - (Dianthus caryophyllus)

Carnations are lovely, double-fringed, fragrant flowers. They are favorites as cut flowers, for borders and beds.

Good as potted plants, carnation, when planted properly blooms 5 to 6 months. They may last for more years if you'll properly care them and fertilized properly.

Soil Requirements.

The best soil for carnation is a well drained and rich in organic matter soil with a cool climate and enough supply of solar radiation.

Propagation.

Carnation is propagated by seeds sown in germinating trays or seed boxes before they are transferred to individual pots or plots when planted in the field.

Verbena - (Verbena hortensis )

An excellent ground cover because of its compact habit of closely massed of flower heads.

There are three colors of verbena such as, red, purple, and white flowers which are attractive when planted in group as ground cover.

Soil Requirements.

Verbena grows best in a well drained, fertile soil and enough supply of sunshine in high altitudes during its growing period.

Propagation.

It is propagated by seeds when planted in temperate countries. However, they can also be propagated by cuttings where, you have to include the rooted portion of the stem to make a sure growth development.

Periwinkles- (Vinca minor)

Known as chichiricas or tropical periwinkles, they have a white or lavender flowers and said to have medicinal values.

They are excellent as border flowers, flowering hedges or foundation plants along bases of walls, fences and buildings.

They are attractive because they flowers the whole year round. You need less attention in replanting them since they grow vigorously.

The only attention you'll make is to continuously pinch the tips to keep them bushy and busy producing flowers.

Soil Requirements.

Periwinkles grows in any type of soils especially in a well drained rich in organic matter soil medium.

Propagation.

Propagation by cuttings is ideal for periwinkle but they multiply even faster when grown by seeds.

They prefer to bloom abundantly when exposed to full sunlight, though they also produce flowers in partial shaded areas, but not as good when planted with open sun exposure.

Bachelor's Button - (Cyntaurea cyanus )

Belongs to the Amaranth or Colitis family, bachelor's button is also known as butones, butonisan or botoncillo and is relative of cock's comb, Joseph's coat and cucharita.

Their flowers varies from purple which dominates of all varieties to white, pink, and orange colors.

Propagation.

The methods used in propagating bachelor's button is by seeds. They multiply fast and are easy to reproduce.

Perennial Flowering Herbs

Star cluster- (Pentas lanceolata )

A native of Africa, this flowering plant is a newly introduced to the Philippines.

They are an attractive herb with a cluster of red, star-like flowers. Although there are pink, white and lavender varieties, the red is considered the most attractive.

Star cluster becomes shrub reaching a height over seven feet as it develops woody tissues through the years of its growth.

To produce a continuous blooms the whole year round, you have to cut the flower stalks after the flowers have fallen down.

Propagation.

Propagated usually by young cuttings ( the hard or matured stems generally do not develop roots).

Anthurium - (Anthurium andraeanum, A. spp. )

Anthurium,also called flamingo flower because of its showy, waxy bract of flaming, deep red or pink color, often mistaken as the flower, is gaining popularity as a cut flower or potted plant.
When used as cut flower, anthurium lasts for as long as one month which explains why it's expensive and prized by many florists.

There are a hundred varieties of anthurium scattered in the Philippines, but only a few are truly attractive accepted by florists.

Proper care and watering of anthurium is advised to enhance a continuous flower blooms.

Soil Requirements.

Anthurium thrives best in a well drained rich, sandy loam soils.

They usually favors in a cool climate and high elevations, like Baguio and Bukidnon. However, they can be made to flower just as beautifully in greenhouse or controlled environment.

Propagation.

Propagation is usually done by dividing the suckers or shoots, including some roots.

The newly propagated plants must be placed under the shade until they have recovered and new shoots developed.

You have to avoid anthurium exposure to the noon day sunlight. They are intolerant to too much heat of the sun.

African violet- (Saintpaulia spp.)

A native of Africa as the name implies, also known throughout the world as Saint Paulia by gardeners, this flower plant is loved by many because of its soft, waxy leaves and flowers that stays the whole year round in different shades of blue, white, pink, and purple colors.

This plant loves the morning sunlight. They dies easily when exposed to extreme heat and too much water.

African violets can be grown successfully when grown in pots as well as on screened window boxes.

They can also be grown in greenhouse of which they produce more attractive flowers.

Spanish flag - (Gonioplectus hispanus )

Spanish flag also known as canna or bandera espanola are ideal when you want to establish a new garden and an instant supply of flowers.

They are in handy, bearing a profusion of attractive colored flowers within a few weeks.

Their flowers are numerous from streaked to just plain white, cream, pink, deep red, purple, tangerine, lavender or sometimes a combination of two or more colors.

Spanish flag have numerous hybrids. You can select from among the hybrids you think attracts your interest or plant all them if you wish a colorful flowers in your garden.

If you want to maintain large, continuous flowers the whole year round, you have to cut the stalks which have flowered since they'll compete for food with the rest of the developing plants. These stems will eventually dies anyway.

Soil Requirements.

Spanish flag grows best in rich, friable, sandy loam to loam soils. However, they also grow well in clay loam soil.

Generally, they produce attractive flowers when planted in an open field with abundant supply of sunlight.

But there are other hybrids that shows an excellent flowers even in partially shaded areas.

Propagation.

The easiest way to propagate Spanish flag is by separation of rhizomes which multiplies easily.

However, seeds may be used in propagation but it will take a long time to bear flowers compared to those propagated by rhizomes.

Red Billbergia- (Billbergia spp. )

A member of the pineapple family, red billbergia have a strikingly beautiful red or pink flowers which blooms during the months of May, June, and November in Luzon, Philippines.

They grows well in partial shade or full sunlight.

Soil Requirements.

Billbergia thrives best with a mixture of soil, ground charcoal, moss and other medium used in planting orchids.

Propagation.

They can be propagated by separation or by division of the young shoots which comes out after the flowers have wilted and the old plants have died.

Camia- (Hedychium philippinense K. Schum. )

Camias are shade loving plants to which they can be grown under trees. Their flowers are white with a fragrant scent which makes them favorite as cut flower and also for corsages or bouquets although they doesn't stay fresh very long.

Their flowers are numerous during the rainy season and the plants gradually die as the dry season sets in. However, the rhizomes send out new shoots again once the rain starts to pour in.

You should prune the stems which have flowered just above the ground level to induce more flower blooms.

Camias have a cousin called the yellow camia or India Ginger which produce yellow flowers and a native of the Himalayas.

Soil Requirements.

The best soil for camia is sandy or clay loam with sufficient amount of moisture.

Propagation.

Camias can be propagated by division of the rhizomes or root stock. They are planted at a distance of half a meter apart directly in the field which have been properly prepared.

Cris Ramasasa, Freelance writer, writes about home gardening and Internet marketing tips. You can get a copy of his latest ebook "Discover How to get started in Flower Gardening" and "Vegetable Gardening Made Easy", also get lots of tips, Free articles, and bonuses at: http://www.crisramasasa.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Crisologo_Ramasasa

Curing Herbs

Use Curing Herbs to Deal With Skin Abnormalities
As one of the important organs in our body, skin can isolate our bodies with the external world and can maintain the well-being of us. Sometimes, there are some disorders or abnormalities happening on our body because of the unbalance of the internal biology. When some special chemicals cannot be produced properly, some symptoms such as redness, blistering and itchiness will appear on our skin. Apart from the normal medical treatment, we can also use some natural curing herbs to deal with those abnormal conditions. As a special pea species, red clover's antioxidant element tocopherol can be used to deal with eczema and other skin disorders related to toxins. Aloe Vera, a well-known skin curing herb, is helpful to alleviate itching and soothes and revitalizes the skin. Olive leaf is also a special kind of herb helping to treat infection.

Alleviate Anxiety using Curing Herbs
Nowadays, more and more people have different level of anxiety from work or daily lives. Some physical disorder may accompany with it such as chest pain or headache. We should pay more attention on these abnormalities because excessive anxiety may cause depression or other psychological disorders. Compared with prescription drugs, some natural curing herbs are gaining more popularity because of its minor side-effects. The extracts of Valerian is used in clinical conditions to relieve anxiety. Passion flower is also an effective herb to deal with anxieties. The most successful anti-anxiety herbal remedy comprise standardized Valerian and Passion Flower extract and L-theanine.

Cancer-Curing Herbs
A long time ago, people already knew to use natural herbs to cure some severe diseases such as cancer. These curing herbs are becoming more and more popular today and some treatments already be used in clinical conditions. Actually many herbs can be used to cure cancers, and some have be used as important raw material for new medicines. As a main material to make Etoposide, a chemical used to treat tumors. Some fungus are also found to have some anti-tumor elements which can be helpful to create effective drugs. Chaparral, a common tea which you can see in the market, is known to have the abilities to destroy cancer tumors and cure other diseases like colds and inflammations.

For more articles on herbs, please visit http://herb-stuff.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paluiz_Chow


Italian Herbs

Anyone that has cooked in a kitchen that even somewhat resembles an Italian kitchen can easily tell you just how important the Italian herbs section of the kitchen really is. This area that seems to be well away from everything else is either a small ledge garden, or a section of the kitchen where it is cool and convenient to store these herbs. These herbs along with spices are what make a good dish great, and without these ingredients you can bet that your recipe will simply fall flat. Knowing how to keep fresh herbs is actually key to a successful kitchen, and if you know what you are doing you can have herbs to last quite a few recipes with one shopping trip.

Cost Versus Replacement

One of the first things you will notice about Italian herbs is just how expensive they really are. You can actually spend a great deal of your shopping budget on herbs, if you are not paying attention to what you are doing. While the dried herbs will do the job if need be, you can be sure that no right minded Italian is going to want to resort to that measure. Fresh is where it is at, and you need to be able to keep the herbs you do buy for a while before they go bad and cannot be used anymore. Keeping the herbs fresh is very important, if you want to keep cost down while shopping for your foods at the market.

How To Store Fresh Herbs

When you are planning to store fresh Italian herbs, you are going to want to follow a few basic rules. These rules will help you keep the herb stash that you have longer5, than if you elect to just leave it laying around to dry out. If you are going to do this, it may just make sense to buy the dried herbs to begin with. First you will want to wash the herbs in cold water, and in doing so you will also want to remove any stems that appear limp or dead. It is also a good idea to snip the ends of the herbs, and this will help in the packing process. You will want to place the herbs in a container of water, but you will want to be sure that you do not completely submerge the herbs in the water you have in the container. After the herbs are in the container, it is time to cover the herbs with some form of plastic like a bag or wrap keeping it loose. When in the fridge, you will want to periodically check the water the herbs are in, if it appears murky you will want to change this water for fresh water. This will allow you to extend the life of your herbs by at least a week in this manner.

All But Basil

It is important to note that all Italian herbs can be stored this way except basil. This herb should be left out of not only water and plastic, but also refrigeration as well. This is one of the exceptions to the rule that the crisp fresh herbs are best.

Anna Fiori writes food related articles for the Italian Traditional Food website at www.italiantraditionalfood.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Fiori