Wintering Herbs

I was kind of puzzled when I first read the title of an article I read about wintering herbs.  The first thing that went through my head was - why would I only winter my herbs?  Meaning, why would I only bring in my herbs during the winter?  We should all have a container in one or more windows of our homes / condos / apartments / etc... that holds fresh herbs. 

While outside in the fresh air is always preferred - having them inside provides several benefits - most all of your herbs are very fragrant and we just learned how beneficial smells are to our well being.  In addition, all plants provide a "cleansing" to our air.  Our homes tend to be a more harmful environment than a smoggy city street, if we are not opening our windows regularly to sweep out the bad air and bring in the good air.  Our homes are filled with chemicals - from cleaning products, from carpet and furniture, from paint, from sickness, etc...

In February I posted to the blog about the health benefits of Herbs - take a look and decide which herbs you want to bring inside.  Standing planter boxes will cost you about $75.00 US, unless you are or have a carpenter available to create one for you.  Some of these you can put in separate pots, some are a single trough that you integrate all your plants together.  Make sure you use some good organic soil for your herbs a pH reading between 6.5 and 7.0 works best. 

In preparing your planter for use indoors, you will need a rubber coated box to control your water flow (and ensure that it doesn't leak all over your floor), and it is very important that you have good drainage - put lots of pebbles / rocks in the bottom of your pot before adding your soil so that the herbs do not sit in heavily watered soil. 

Once your box is prepared, you will need to decide if you can house all your herbs together, or if you will need to have smaller separate pots.  Some herbs like full sunlight, some like partial sun, some like lots of water, some don't... like everything else. :) 

If you are bringing in herbs from outdoors, this next option is a moot point.  Will you be starting plants from seeds, layers, cuts, or seedlings?  All good choices.  If you are starting from seeds, remember you will not have fresh herbs for some time.  But as you grow your herbs, you will be able to start cuts and layers so that you are perpetually growing your beds. 

Additional Reading - this has herb descriptions along with good info on planting: http://www.savvygardener.com/Features/herbs.html
More Reading - this has lots of good help for indoor plantings: http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/edibles/herbs
More Reading - indoor herb gardens: http://www.natural-health-and-healing.com/indoor-herb-gardening.html
More Reading - wintering your herbs: http://www.herbcompanion.com/Gardening/Wintering-Herbs-Indoors-06.aspx?newsletter=1&utm_content=11.1.11+HBC+eNews&utm_campaign=HBC_ENEWS&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email

I love the smell of herbs... time to get them inside (northern hemisphere) and enjoy the scents of your favorite herbs!  Blessings... E

Windowsill Herbs

We tend to eat WAY too much salt. This only increases our probability of dehydration.  Replacing table salt with sea salt helps, but herbs are a wonderful way of helping you reduce your salt intake.  These windowsill herbs - easy to grow inside or out, very fragrant, easy to harvest, easy to dry - should be standard in your daily cooking, menu planning. 

Cilantro - Cilantro is now one of my most favorite herbs.  For most you will either LOVE it, or HATE it.  When I first tasted it, I was one of those that HATED it.  We were in Hawaii, and I was being introduced to Vietnamese food (Yumm!!) and we ordered Cha Gio (tiny spring rolls) and received the full platter of herbs and vegetables.  We also ordered Pho (soup) and this too came with lots of herbs and vegetables.  I kept tasting this one STRONG flavor that I was unfamiliar with and started picking at the herbs until I found what it was that I kept tasting - Cilantro.  We find Cilantro in lots of things - but it isn't as strong, if it isn't fresh.  Salsa, Mexican foods, Thai, Vietnamese, etc.... It is a very versatile herb and once your palate is used to its strong flavor, you too may learn to love it in many things.  I season my quesadillas and salads with lots of cilantro.  As a medicinal, it helps to remove heavy metals and toxins from the body. It is an anti-inflammatory antiseptic, and an antifungal.  The oils in Cilantro are beneficial to our digestive tract, aids in normalizing hormone levels, balances sugar levels, among others.

Recommended reading: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/cilantro.html

Oregano - Most of us are familiar with Oregano - heavily used in cooking Italian food.  Oregano has a wonderful aroma and can be grown indoors or out.  There are many varieties, you may find more to your liking than others.  Oregano is an antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparacitic.  Like Cilantro, it is very high in antioxidants - strengthening the immune system.  The oil in Oregano also helps to strengthen and increase flexibility of muscles and joints.  Fresh Oregano, like most of your green leafy vegetables / herbs are high in vitamins and minerals.  Aids in digestion, stimulates menstrual flow, relieves muscle spasms when given as an infusion, may slow aging, and reduces cancer risk.

Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=73

Basil - Did you know there are MANY different types of Basil?  And all of them have a very different taste?  Thai Basil - spicy, Sweet Basil - obviously sweet, Lemon Basil - lemony, etc.... Basil is another "windowsill" herb.   Many people grow it in their kitchens as it is frequently used in many dishes and is easy to grow.  Basil has powerful flavonoids to help protect cell structure and growth - meaning it is a natural cancer fighter.  it is an anti-inflammatory and an antibacterial.  It has been shown to fight ecoli and staph infections successfully.  It also fights heart disease, and helps to normalize cholesterol levels.  Play around with the different types of Basil in your dishes for a variety of flavors. 

Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=85

Dill - While not quite a windowsill herb... it is very fragrant and easy to grow.  Dill is another of my favorites... I regularly get a mix of herbs and leaf lettuces and mix for a salad rather than traditional head lettuce.  The more you mix your colors and types, the better flavor and better nutrition you gain from your salads.  Dill has been long known for its digestive calming.  The flavonoids in Dill also are cancer fighters.  Dill also aids in normalizing menses and fights insomnia.  It is a relaxant, antispasmodic, and a diuretic. 

Recommended reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=71

This is just a short list.. the point I am trying to make is that your fresh herbs are very, very beneficial to day to day health and if you grow your own - fairly inexpensive.  Keeping them in pots in your house will give your home a warm fragrant scent, and will provide you with lasting health!  E

SUPER foods - Herbs / Spices

The best way to a healthier you... is to add a little "spice" to your meals.  Get creative with what herbs and spices you add to your meals.  It doesn't have to be complicated or hard... my favorite use... add as many fresh herbs as I can find to my salad... mmmm... a little balsamic vinegar.

http://www.herbcompanion.com/ is a great site.  Lots of good info.  Recipes - how to grow herbs - where to find organic farms in your area.
http://www.whfoods.com/ is another great site for information.

Mint - Peppermint has the highest concentration of menthol of any in the mint family.  It is commonly used to settle stomach indigestion, soothes nausea, protects the body against the formation of cancer cells, cleanses the body, and clears congestion.  Peppermint oil is known to aid in relieving the pain of a migraine by rubbing a drop of oil on the temples and at the base of the neck.  Boiling water and adding both peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil and breathing in the vapor helps to relieve congestion (both sinus and chest) and helps to heal lung infections.

Ginger - We use the tuber root / rhizome of the beautiful tropical ginger plant.  The Asians have used ginger for thousands of years as a healing herb.  When taken internally, it helps prevent motion sickness, reduces morning sickness during pregnancy, reduces inflammation and the effects of arthritis, fights colon cancer, and fights tumors.  When used in the bath it is an anti-inflammatory, a stress reliever, and helps reduce the affects of cold/flu. 
Turmeric - Turmeric is an active ingredient in mustard and curry.  It has a very distinctive taste and color.  Turmeric is known for it's great anti-inflammatory characteristics and for its relief for arthritic joints.  It is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cataracts, colon cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dill - I absolutely love fresh dill in my salads.  I grow it in my garden, because I eat so much of it... it gets too expensive! :)  Dill helps with digestion, has cancer fighting properties, helps regulate menstrual cycle, fights insomnia, and promotes good oral hygiene.

Thyme - I was surprised to find how many health benefits Thyme has.  Thyme when drank as a tea (fresh thyme, honey, lemon) has a variety of benefits - expels parasites, soothes and relaxes the mind and eases sleep, eases menstrual cramps and the effects of PMS.  Insects do not like thyme so plant some in your garden or around your favorite roses to deter them.  Thyme increases brain function and cell regeneration.  There are too many benefits to list here.  Thyme can be used fresh, dried, as a tincture, and as an essential oil.  It can be used to aid in healing almost any ailment.

Cinnamon - my favorite spice is also my favorite scent.  The most common benefits of cinnamon is a healthy heart and lower cholesterol. Just 1/2 t. of cinnamon has been known to reduce the LDL and triglycerides.  It has also been shown to reduce blood sugar levels.  There are also studies showing that cinnamon helps fight cancer.  Specifically slowing the growth of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.  It helps clear sinuses and reduce coughing.  Cinnamon reduces nervous tension and increases alertness, memory, and concentration.  Many women use it to ease menstrual pain and cramping.  Cinnamon aids in digestion, reduces urinary infections, and boosts immune system functions.

Garlic - one of the oldest medicinal herbs known, many consider it a wonder drug because of its many benefits.  There are so many benefits I can't name them all here... Garlic is a natural mosquito repellent.  It helps normalize cholesterol levels, strengthens the natural ability for the body heal itself, fights cancer, strengthens the body against allergies, helps regulate blood pressure, helps the body maintain a healthy weight, helps fight strokes, and promotes a healthy heart.

Hot Peppers - spicy food has long been known to aid in heart health, breaks up congestion, and as an analgesic (pain killer).  It also helps reduces the symptoms of Asthma, fights free radicals that cause cancer, boosts immunity, helps one maintain a healthy weight, and fights ulcers. 

Aloe Vera - aloe has long been known to help heal skin rashes, burns, and other skin ailments.  It also has been shown to regenerate skin cells.  An anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immune stimulant herb with wonderful benefits. 

This is only a start... every herb and spice out there has some healthy benefit... the more herbs you use in your food - the less salt you need.- obviously your heart will than you there!  Try using one of the many Mrs. Dash products more and salt less... I know!  this is a work in progress.. we take baby steps!  Just giving you some great alternatives.  :)

My prescriptions are causing side effects... what do I do?

Good Evening!
I am off to my grams tomorrow so will be blogging twice today. I was asked this question earlier today and I had a very lengthy reply... and maybe not really what she had expected. Sorry Jen! :)

Let's take a look at it logically.... if you wanted to do something, but the side effect was a broken leg would you do it? It is difficult because we have been so trained to go to a doctor for every ailment to be fixed. Did you know that in other countries, doctors are paid to keep people HEALTHY... if the village doesn't remain healthy, the doctor doesn't get paid... shouldn't that be the way we look at our health system? Ok... off my soap box... :)

The specific question I was asked had to do with ADHD meds and a rash that she got when she took the meds. Now that you have heard my soapbox speech... you know how I reacted. :) When I was a child (70s) there was no such thing as ADD and ADHD. With the growth in fast food joints, sugary treats, and frozen dinners, we have had a huge influx of diagnosis for both. WHAT YOU EAT directly affects your well being. Take a frozen dinner - do you know where the vegetables come from? How old they are? Did the farmer use pesticides or herbicides? How often did they rotate the crops? do you know where the meat came from? Did they use steroids? How about antibiotics? and finally at the manufacturing plant. Did they use preservatives? Coloring agents? All of these things are negative influencers to your well being.

We are too busy to shop and cook dinner... kids are too picky.... it is too costly. I understand and had this same challenge as a single mom with two daughters. A couple things to note... when you feed your body better nutrients, you don't need as much. That is a smaller bill at the grocery store. Now add that food can help your body heal itself - if you feed it well - and you have fewer trips to the doctor and less chemicals going into your body. Getting the drift? Cook as a family. Cooking can be fun. And you don't have to do it all at once. Spagetti sauce / Lasagne sauce / Chilli... all these things taste better after a day - herbs meld together. Stirfry seems time consuming - why do it all at one time? During lunch chop a couple sets of vegetable and store in the fridge... then all you have to do is cook.

As for the kids... here is my secret. Give the kids a 30 minute menu recipe book, one with lots of pictures. Let them choose a meal once a month. Let them make the grocery list for that meal, help shop, and help prepare.... some will be a big hit, others will flop miserably... but they will get excited about cooking and help more often. Another secret, is an herb garden. Herbs are wonderful healers, and smell divine... grow a small one in the house and let the kids harvest the leaves for salads and meals.

Back to my friend with ADHD and a rash.... the first directive was to eat better, and exercise. Exercise is great for ADHD because it works the body and the mind. The endorphins released do a lot to help calm your body and mind. And she agreed that when she rode her bike and ran regularly she felt much better. Secondly, get off the medicine!!! There are a lot of natural alternatives. And lastly, to handle the rash until she is clear of the meds - go to the natural health food store and get some oatmeal soap. Use it at least once a day. Vitamins B & C are great skin healers as well...

Break out the wok and the herbs and create something wonderful ....