Harvesting and Drying Herbs

How do I harvest and dry the herbs from my garden?
The traditional method is to cut them, tie them loosely together, and hang them upside down to dry.  It is as easy as that...well, almost.  It is best to allow them to dry in a cool, dry place, with air movement.  A dry basement, garage, or shed works well.  Attic spaces are usually too hot...you end up cooking all the goodness out of your herbs.  Another method is to lay the herb flat on a screen to dry, or you may use a dehydrator at a low heat.  Be careful not to over-dry the herbs or to leave them so long they are dusty.

How long will the herbs take to dry?
It depends on the weather, temperature, and water content of your herbs.  If the weather is rainy, the herbs may reabsorb water from the air and take longer to dry.  If they feel dry to the touch, try rolling a couple of leaves between your palms...Do they make a moist ball?  Or do they crumble?  When the herbs are ready they will crumble fairly easily.  I like to store the herbs in quart-size canning jars.  Check the inside of the lid about 3 days after you seal them.  If there is moisture there, you need to dump out your herbs onto a screen and let them dry a little more.  Watch out for mold!

When do I harvest the herbs?
Harvest on a sunny day, not after a recent rain. It is best to cut them in the morning after the dew has dried on the plants, but before it gets too hot and they begin to wilt.  Harvesting the leaves of the plant may be done at any time in the growing cycle...Avoid yellow or diseased leaves.  If you want the leaves and not the flowers, it is best to cut them before the flowering cycle begins.  Once the plant flowers, most of its energy will be in the flowers and then producing seeds.  It is best to harvest the flowers before they are fully open.

What about roots?
Roots should be harvested in the fall when the plant is fully developed and it is easy to identify.  Wash the roots carefully and slice them while they are fresh.  You may also want to run them through an old-fashioned meat grinder.  It is almost impossible to cut roots after they are dried...Even when fresh you may want to enlist some muscular help!    Lay the root pieces on a screen to dry. 

Other things to note:
Be aware that some herbs may give off smells as they dry, which may bother sensitive or allergic persons...especially if in large amounts.  Remember to label your herbs as they dry, because they will look quite different than the fresh herb, and many dried herbs look alike.  Dried herbs should be stored in airtight containers and in a cool, dark place.   Optimum quality will be in the first year, but herbs stored properly will last a long time.  If it still has color, taste, and smell...then it still has medicinal value.

Enjoy the beauty of your drying herbs.

Catnip - Not Only for Kitty

Catnip or catmint is a favorite plant for cats, but it is great for people too.  Cats love the scent and will roll around in it, destroying your plant.  I sprinkle my plant with cayenne pepper in the early spring until the cats get the idea to leave it alone.  Many people give their indoor cats a treat of a little catnip to enjoy.

Catnip is part of the mint family, so it has the signature square stem.  It doesn't send out pesky runners though, but multiplies slowly.  It grows easily from seed or root division in the spring.
I like the shorter variety, Nepeta parnassica, for growing under bushes.  Sometimes called Greek catnip, it grows two feet tall.  Nepeta cataria is nice too, growing to 3 feet tall.  Catnip has a tradition of keeping away rats and snakes, so people have tended to plant them around their houses.

Catnip makes a wonderful tea for respiratory infections.  It increases perspiration, reduces fever, soothes a painful throat, and acts as a decongestant.  It is a perfect remedy for children, calming and relaxing them.  Catnip contains vitamins A, C, and B-1,2,3,5,6,9,12.  Historically, catnip has been used as a healing enema.  It can help with delayed or suppressed periods, and relaxes the uterus, relieving pain.  Catnip relaxes headaches related to tension.

Join your cat in the enjoyment of this wonderful herb...have a cup of catnip tea!

Lisa Purdy is not a physician and all recommendations are not to be considered diagnosis or prescription.  Any information given is for educational purposes only.  You are responsible for your own health choices.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth works great as a natural insect killer.  The white powder is made from the fossilized shells of tiny creatures called, diatoms.  The powder is sharp and glass-like, cutting the insect's cuticle causing it to dehydrate and die.  Doesn't sound nice, but it gets rid of the pesky critters in your garden.

I use diatomaceous earth every year to kill the slugs around my hostas, lady's mantle, and wild ginger plants.  I use an old parmesan cheese or spice type container with a shaker screw-on lid, which makes it easy to sprinkle the garden.  Sprinkle around the base of the plant for slugs.  Sprinkle the foliage of plants to be rid of beetles or aphids.  If it rains, you must reapply the powder.  You can also sprinkle a line across basement windows or the house foundation to prevent ants from coming into the house.  Or pile some diatomaceous earth powder on an ant hill to discourage them from remaining in your yard.  It is even safe to use on your vegetable garden or fruit trees, and it is safe to use where children or dogs might wander.

Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic to mammals.  It can be brushed into the hair coat of goats, dogs, or cats for flea control.  You can also spread it around their bedding.  I have used it to get rid of fleas on a carpeted area.  Simply sprinkle the area and let it set undisturbed awhile and then vacuum.  It can be used with chickens for lice and mite control.

Use food grade diatomaceous earth with your animals or on your vegetables.  Then if a bit is ingested, it does no harm...in fact it will kill internal parasites.  The powder may be mildly irritating to the lungs, eyes, or skin, so you may want to wear a mask, eye protection, long sleeves, and gloves while working with it.  Some people will add it to grain buckets before storing them, to keep the insect critters out.  For more information go to:   www.earthworkshealth.com

If you are looking for inexpensive, non-toxic, and natural options to kill those pesky bugs...give diatomaceous earth a try.

Lisa Purdy is not a physician, and all recommendations are not to be considered diagnosis or prescription.  Any information given is for educational purposes only.  You are responsible for your own health choices.

Rose Hips - Natural Vitamin C

 

Rose Hips are the dried fruit or round ball which grows under the rose petals.  Some varieties of roses produce larger hips than others.  A Dog rose or Rugosa rose is recommended for harvesting the hips.  They may be sliced and dried to use as a natural source of vitamin C.  I love to add the rose hips to an herbal tea blend.

Rose hips contain more vitamin C than any other food!  And they contain vitamins A, B-1, B-2, D, E, K, P, pantothenic acid, calcium iron, phosphorus, and zinc.  Rose hips stimulate the immune system to fight infection.  They are useful during colds, fevers, or times of stress.  Rose hips are rich in bioflavonoids, which increase the absorption of vitamin C.

Take time to smell the roses...and to harvest the rose hips for tea!

Lisa Purdy is not a physician, and all recommendations are not to be considered diagnosis or prescription.  Any information given is for educational purposes only.  You are responsible for your own health choices.

Calendula - the Flower of the Sun

"The marigold goes to bed with the Sun
And with him rises, weeping."  William Shakespeare

The marigold, Calendula officinalis, is called pot marigold or Mary's gold, in honor of the Virgin Mary.  The orange flower is associated with grief, and it has been considered a magical plant used to protect against evil.  In some cultures it is considered a symbol of endurance.  To the Aztecs, calendula represented the cycle of life. 

An annual, growing 18-30 inches tall, with daisy-like ray flowers, the entire plant is covered with fine hairs.    The parts used medicinally are the flower petals, which are commonly used as a tea.  The petals have been used in cosmetics and to color foods, naturally.  Calendula may also be prepared as a homeopathic medicine, where it is indicated if the pain seems out of proportion to the injury.

Calendula is useful for the skin, healing wounds and ulcers.  It promotes tissue repair with minimal scarring and reduces inflammation.  It is antibacterial and antifungal.  Research has shown it to be effective in flu and herpes viruses, and to reduce lymphatic congestion and infections.  It improves circulation and strengthens the heart.  Calendula detoxifies the liver, increasing the production of bile and enzymes, improving digestion.  Traditionally, the tea has been used for fevers.

Calendula has a reputation for treating tumors, fibroids, and cysts of the female reproductive system.  It regulates menstruation, reduces muscle tension and cramps, and reduces excess bleeding.  It has an estrogenic effect which helps menopausal symptoms and reduces breast tenderness.  It stimulates uterine contractions and the delivery of the placenta...therefore DO NOT use in pregnancy.

Calendula is easily grown in your backyard.  Harvest the flower petals and dry them to use in tea, or to make your own healing ointment.

Lisa Purdy is not a physician and all recommendations are not to be considered diagnosis or prescription,  Any information given is for educational purposes only.  Your are responsible for your own health choices.

Aloe - Great for Burns

Aloe vera is great for anything that burns...inside or out!

Aloe soothes wounds, scrapes, rashes, and sunburn.  It promotes the removal of dead skin cells and stimulates growth of living cells.  It stops pain and reduces chance of infection.,  Aloe neutralizes body toxins, balancing the pH of the skin or internally, the blood.  Aloe promotes growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines, and is very effective for soothing digestive issues.  It has been used in the treatment of HIV; as it hinders the virus from spreading throughout the body. 

Aloe is one of the oldest therapeutic herbs.  Drawings of the plant dating to 3000 B.C. have been found in Egyptian temples.  Aloe is found in Egyptian medical writings and is thought to have been included in their embalming process.  Alexander the Great heard of aloe's healing powers when he conquered Egypt and sent an army to seize the island on which the plant grew.  He wanted to use the plant in healing his soldier's wounds.

Whole leaf aloe is rich in over 200 nutrients; many times stronger in nutrients than the gel.  It is generally recommended to use the gel, externally and the whole leaf juice, internally.  Do not use the yellow juice lining the leaf as it is very cathartic.  Every kitchen should have an aloe plant on the windowsill, where it is easily accessible as a first aid in burns.  Another idea is to keep the gel in the refrigerator, where its cold temperature will help to cool a burn.  The plant is easy to grow, it likes sandy soil and a bit of sun.  Be careful not to over-water...it is a desert plant.  In Ohio, you must bring the plant indoors for the winter.

Lisa Purdy is not a physician, and all recommendations are not to be considered diagnosis or prescription.  Any information given is for educational purposes only.  You are responsible for your own health choices.

Are Your Muscles Sore and Overworked?

As the weather turns warm, we find ourselves out in the yard doing spring clean-up projects.  Our muscles find the extra work objectionable and give us a pain response.  There are several simple remedies which may help relieve these sore and painful muscles.

Magnesium – The first thing I do is increase the magnesium in my diet.  Food sources of magnesium include:  kelp, almonds, cashews, dulse, soybeans, dandelion greens, spinach, figs, apples, and fresh citrus fruit juice.  It may also be taken as a supplement.  Magnesium helps with bone strength, relaxes the muscles, and it useful for nervousness.  It may help with leg cramps, anxiety, or insomnia.

Arnica – A popular homeopathic remedy, Arnica is used for pain relief, bruising, or injury.  It may be taken in tiny tablets or pellets which dissolve under the tongue.  It is wonderful in a cream or gel to be rubbed into the painful area.  It is commonly used for arthritis or back pain, and brings relief to sore muscles.  Arnica should NOT be used on broken skin.  It may be helpful after an accident or surgery, and does not interfere with any medications.

Passionflower – A beautiful and invasive vine which grows well in Ohio.  It has lovely aromatic purple flowers, but the leaves are the part of the plant used for herbal medicine.  Passionflower may be taken as a tea, tincture, or in capsule form.  Passionflower relieves muscle tension, menstruation cramps, nervous insomnia, and helps calm anxiety.  It has analgesic or pain-relieving properties and is anti-inflammatory.  Passionflower should not be taken during pregnancy, as it may stimulate uterine muscles.  It also should not be taken if you take an MAO inhibitor drug.

Essential Oil Bath Salts – Mix together this blend and add it to a warm bath for a relaxing soak.  1 cup Epsom Salts, 4 drops Lavender oil, 2 drops Juniper oil, 2 drops Rosemary oil, and 2 drops Peppermint oil.

Try one of these natural remedies today and enjoy more yard work tomorrow!