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Self grown turmeric tubers
My first Turmeric harvest For you, living in warmer climates, most probably, it is no wonder. For me, living in Austria Alps with real Winter and temperatures well under freezing, it is a kind of a challenge. I planted my turmeric roots in pots and kept those in the greenhouse even throughout the summer and autumn. And…
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Calotropis procera a medicinal plant
Calotropis procera is the first medicinal plant which I discovered on Fuerteventura- one of the Canary Islands. We are staying here for 5 weeks. A kind of escape from late autumn darkness in the Alps. The climate on this volcanic island is like on a desert, although I have never been on a real desert. They have very little…
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Freezing sea buckthorn berries
My buckthorn (hippophae rhamnoides) bush is expanding. I try to dig out the baby plants and give them to neighbors, but there are still plenty left. And the amount of berries the main plant produces is huge. Harvesting is quite tricky. I cut branches with berries, cut off the thorns and then pick the berries. The ones left…
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What do you do with lots of grapes? Grape cure.
This year I have plenty of grapes. It is only one plant. Do not ask what kind. The plant was here when we bought the house. I just moved it to a better place from my point of view, but it was dominated by a huge Thuja tree. A year ago I decided to remove the tree and …. The grape flourished. This year we have so many…
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Home Medicine 101 is amazing
I find the Home Medicine 101 lectures here to be absolutely amazing. I have been sick, and it has really helped. Also that nice doctor that runs the Cures A-Z app is quite informative, I saw a lecture he gave about spices in the kitchen. How do we learn more about functional medicine / home medicine? I am very interested.…
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Sea buckthorn- what do you do with berries and seeds?
My sea buckthorn My sea buckthorn (hippophae rhaminoides) bush has grown into a real beauty and this is the first year that I have so many berries. I have managed to obtain Friesdorfer Orange - a monoecious plant - the one that has male and female blossoms and I do not have to have two plants. Well the berries are there,…
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Dahlias - How to grow them and their edible and medicinal uses
Does any one here grow dahlias? I have always loved them but never grew them. I like the idea you dig them up and they will multiply year to year but I am not sure how to store them. My one friend will not grow them saying they are hard to grow. So for fun I had top look up a few facts on dahlias. They are in the sunflower…
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My new medicinal plants & seeds
These are from Richters & Rarexoticseeds. I am still waiting on a live plant delivery. Those will be a yucca (from a local garden seed supplier), gotu kola, ginger bush, solomon's seal & comfrey. Here are the seeds that I bought and will be trying my hand at growing. Some will be for indoors, a few will be for outdoors.…
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Motherwort (leonurus cardiaca). Any experience?
Does anybody have experience in using common motherwort - leonurus cardiaca? in german it’s name is Herzgespann which already indicates that it is used for heart issues and the folk medicine it is suggested for heart issues based on nervous tensions. my friend asked me for advice. She suffers from stress and now she…
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Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel is one of my favorite trees. I like the native variety best. At this time of year I head out the the forested areas looking for a tree to harvest seeds or clippings from or if I am lucky small seedling under the trees. I always ask before I dig up any seedlings. Its usually from my neighbors property and he…
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Great article about plantain
Has a few things in it that I hadn't known before.
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Herbs for peace and inner harmony. Rhodiola rosea. Golden root.
Rhodiola rosea (commonly golden root, rose root) The Vikings already knew the effect of this root on inner harmony, resistance to stress. In Scandinavia and Russia, this plant is used for depression and emotional fatigue. Nowadays it is also used for the burn-out syndrome. I borrow some of “my wisdom” again from Natur &…
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Article about Spilanthes.
sounds like an interesting plant to try.
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Papaya. Delicious and good for health
As I am now in a country where papaya grows, I looked for more information about this delicious and useful plant. I knew it is useful, but did not know that sooo useful: strengthens heart, prevents diabetes, cancer, regulates blood pressure, even prevents age related macular degeneration. I like eating the fruit, but also…
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Walk in a tree heather forest
Erica arborea, the tree heath or tree heather I feel really blessed here on a canary island La Gomera. Yesterday we hiked in an ancient tree heather forest. Another spooky experience. Ages ago, the tree heathers used to cover huge parts of Europe. Alongside with Laurel forests. Now they can be admired only where nature is…
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Chaga mushroom
During my hikes in the ancient forest of La Gomera I think I found another rare medicinal plant - the Chaga mushroom. It looks like one, doesn’t it? It was too high to collect any of it, but I will keep my eyes open for another one. Has anyone collected it in nature? What do you do with it?
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Psychotria insularum or matalafi!
Another plant that has been found to be a possible herbal medicine. Anyone familiar?
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What Medicinal Plants Grow Well Indoors?
Have you grown medicinals indoors...not just the usual culinary herbs, but beyond? Which ones? Are there any others? Any tips? Which need special treatment, grow lights, special growing medium? Just what do I need to be successful? Are they susceptible to any particular pests? Do I buy seed, root or started plant? I would…
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Wild carrot (daucus carota) for concentration
Wild carrot seeds (daucus carota) - useful for concentration and a great spice. I think many have seen wild carrots, but, maybe, not everyone recognizes or uses them. It is easy to recognise the plant in the second year when it blossoms. In autumn their seed "nests" look like a tiny bird nests. They remain long in fields…
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Pine Cone ginger
I'm growing pine cone ginger also known as zingiber zerumbet and shampoo ginger (because you can make shampoo from it). I was researching how to make shampoo when I came across information on what powerful medicinal properties this ginger has. But the articles I found didn't go into detail about how to use it medicinally;…
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Mulberry leaf tea
Very helpful to know, since I have several mulberry trees.
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Black Medic?
Never heard of this one before. Amazing what you've seen and never really looked at.
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Ferns help keeping feet light during long trails
the weather is nice and together with our friends we went on a long hike up a mountain. After 4-5 hours one starts feeling the heaviness of the feet and then I remembered Father Johannes Künzle’s advice to put ferns into the shoes. I did, my friend as well. Believe it or not, call it placebo or not, but the feet got…
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Forageable plants to add sugar to a survival diet
8 plants that can be used to add sugar to your diet. Some that I have heard of, some that are new.
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Summer herb Giveaway resources available until 5th July.
This is from the same girls that do Ultimate Bundles, except under the Homestead Bundle title.
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Medicinals to grow in the shade
Out browsing again and found this in Mother Earth Living's website. I have 2 areas with pine trees in the yard. I can get way with planting some stuff in between them. Thought that I would post this if you have similar areas.
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Clover Blossom Quandary
The clover is coming into bloom here now, but I can't decide which blossoms to gather. I found a large and lush stand of beautiful red clover in bloom, but it is growing right along the side of the road along the front of my property. All the clover that I've found so far growing far enough up from the road that I know…
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Growing Goldenseal
I have purchased 1 goldenseal plant, not wild. Because of the one leaf i think it could be 3 years old. I need to repot into a bigger container. Since i live in SoCal i want to be sure this lovely little plant thrives. What i read online is a little overwhelming. Please if someone can lead me to how to make this plant…
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Spruce buds
Just came in from picking a nice bunch of beautiful spruce buds. My intent was just to dry them for later. Got me thinking that this group likely has lots of awesome ideas. I hear they are loaded with vitamin C. I added them fresh into a handful of nuts and dried fruits I happened to have with me for snack. My tastebuds…
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Wild sage. Do you use it? How?
Wild sage (salvia pratensis) is in full blossom in our Alpine meadows. I collect it every year and use it in my herbal infusions, because of its mild taste, the deep purple colour of the blossoms, because it’s ethereal oils are so good for respiratory tract. Sometimes I add it to my summer wild flower lemonades. So far I…
