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O D A
L E
ILLUSTRATED
ENCYCLOPEDIA 4
HERBS
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Q D A
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ILLUSTRATED
ENCYCLOPEDIA
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HERBS
O D A
E^S
ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA
R
M9j^r
'nryOif
ok
HERBS
CLAIRE KO^mLCHIK
& WILLIAM H.
HYLTON,
Writers:
ANNACARR
CAraERINE CASSIDY
ELLEN COHEN
ALICE DECENZO
CLAIRE KOWU.CHIK
SUSAN MILIUS
MARJORIE HUNT
KIM WILSON
FRANK FRETZ,
Illustrator
Editors
No
be reproduced or transmitted
in
may
468
10
9753
hardcover
Notice
This book
intended as a reference
medical manual or a
guide to self-treatment. We caution you not to
attempt diagnosis or embark upon self-
volume
is
only, not as a
presented here
for
is
any treatment
The information
CONTENTS
Aconite
Agrimony
Aloe
Autumn Crocus
18
20
22
Bay 35
Bayberry
Beebalm
Betony
38
39
42
44
Birch
Black Hellebore
47
Bloodroot 48
Blue Cohosh 50
Boneset 51
Borage 52
Broom 55
Burdock
56
60
63
65
Calendula
Caraway
Cardamom
Cascara Sagrada 66
Castor Bean 69
Catnip 71
Cayenne Pepper
Chamomile
Chervil
79
83
Chicory 85
Chives 88
Cinnamon
Clary
91
Comfrey
93
94
97
103
Companion
Angelica 10
Anise 14
Arnica 17
Basil
Cofifee
Coltsfoot
American Hellebore
Barberry
Cloves
90
75
27
Planting
106
Cooking with Herbs 114
Coriander 125
Costmary 128
Crafts from Herbs
130
Dandelion l4l
Dangers of Herbs 143
Deadly Nightshade 158
160
Dill
Dock 162
Dyes from Herbs 163
Echinacea 176
Elderberry
178
Elecampane 182
Ephedra 184
Eucalyptus 185
Eyebright 1 87
Fennel 188
Fenugreek 191
Feverfew 192
Flax
194
Foxglove 197
Gardening with Herbs 199
Garlic 215
Gentian 220
Germander 222
Ginger 223
Ginseng 224
Goldenrod 230
Goldenseal 232
239
Growing Herbs 240
Grindelia
CONTENTS- -continued
Hawthorn
Herb
Pokeweed
275
276
294
Hop
332
Horehound
Horseradish
335
338
34
342
Indigo 344
Jimsonweed 345
Juniper 347
Lady's Bedstraw 349
Lavender 350
Lavender Cotton 354
Lemon Balm 355
Lemon Verbena 358
Licorice 360
Lobelia 364
Lotions from Herbs 365
Lovage 369
Madder 371
Marjoram 373
Marsh Mallow 379
Mayapple 380
Mint 382
Mistletoe 389
Mugwort 392
Mustard 393
Myrrh 396
Nasturtium 397
New Jersey Tea 398
Onion 399
Oregano 401
Oregon Grape 404
Orris 406
Parsley 407
Passionflower 410
Pennyroyal 412
Pipsissewa 415
Horsetail
Hyssop
Plantain
VI
4 16
417
418
Potentilla 420
Rose 422
Rosemary 428
Rue 433
Safflower 436
Saffron 437
Sage 439
Poplar
St.-John's-Wort 447
Salad Burnet 449
451
Sassafras
Savory 452
Scented Geranium
Scents from Herbs
455
459
Serpentwood 468
Soapwort 469
Southernwood 470
Stinging Nettle 471
Sweet Cicely 474
Sweet Flag 475
Sweet Woodruff 477
Tansy 479
Tarragon 482
Teas from Herbs 484
Thyme
487
Wahoo
502
503
Willow
Wintergreen
Witch Hazel
Woad
506
507
508
Wormwood
Yarrow
Yohimbe
Zatar
509
516
520
521
Bibliography
Index
526
522
Aconite
Aconitum NapeUiis
\TRY TOXIC
Ranunculaceae
DESCRIPTION
HISTORY
Aconite
Aegean
sea,
poisons
In
made
from aconite were given to the old men when they became ill and
were no longer useful to the state. Hunters painted arrow tips with
aconite and mixed it into bait for use in hunting wolves; hence the
plant's common names, wolf's bane or wolfbane. In Europe and
^^sia, soldiers dropped it into the water supplies along the route of
their enemies.
During the Middle Ages, witches had an interesting use for this
herb. They mixed it with belladonna in ointments that they rubbed
on their bodies for flying. These xwo herbs are indeed good "flying"
herbs. In combination, the irregular heart action produced by aconite
and the delirium produced by belladonna surely produced a sensation of flying. Of course, the witches needed to be ven- careful with
such a powerful ointment, or they would have been flying forever.
As e\1denced by these stories, aconite certainly produces a physiological elfect on the body. However, aconite was not only used as a
poison.
,\s
medicine
Flouers.Violei-blue (white
and mauve
one
sepals,
in
long.
or 5 podlike
-i,
capsules.
Height: 2i
ft.
FLO\)C'ERING
Late
summer and
fall.
RANGE
The mountains of
Switzerland,
and
widely cultivated
Nonh America.
in
France,
Germany;
Europe and
in
1^63
in N'ienna. In 1^88,
Pharmacopoeia and
also the
first
U.S.
it
ACONITE POISONING
So acrid
So what good is this plant if it is so poisonous? Viell, homeopaths and Chinese herbalists still use it medicinally, prescribing
infinitesimal dosages. This
this plant in the
is
juice applied to a
USES
keep
varieties); "petals"
uppermost
shape of helmet. 2 lateral. 2 lower oblong-o\'al; in
terminal racemes about 6 in.
actually
a perennial her-
is
is
perilous
work
at best.
At
your home,
it
is
fin-
and s\Ticope.
M. Grieve
Herbal
A Modem
garden.
wounded
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ACONITE-.continued
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
Partial
pH
5-6.
shade to
full
sun.
is
in their
was long ago deleted from the U.S. Pharmacopoeia and the British
Pharmacopoeia.
Toxicity: Due to the extreme toxicity of this herb, it should never
be used for any r>pe of treatment. The entire plant, but especially the
root, contains several toxic alkaloids. Aconitine is the most abundant
alkaloid; others include picratonitine, aconine, benzoylamine, and
neopelline. These alkaloids first stimulate and then depress the central and peripheral nerves. A dose of as little as 5 milliliters of a
tincture of aconite may cause death. Cases of poisoning have been
reported when the leaves have been mistaken for wild parsley or the
roots for horseradish. Even used externally, it may be absorbed in
sufficient quantities to
cause poisoning.
cause of
its
is
height,
this plant to
it!
CULTIVATION
Aconite can be grown from seed
will flower in
two or three
years.
The
sown
easiest
in April Vi inch
and most
deep.
practical
It
form
of propagation
year, dig
that
The tops of aconite should be cut after the plants have been
by frost. In areas where winters are harsh, cover the beds with
killed
Growing Herbs
for information
on
controlling pests
and
diseases.)
Agrimony
AGRIMONY
Agrimonia Eupatoria
"Ten minutes
The
til
Rosaceae
DESCRIPTION
showtime!"
Agrimony
agrimony water, gargles, then spits in the sink. She pats her mouth
dv\ with the hand towel, paints her lips crimson, then combs her hair
one last time. She is ready to sing.
Singers and speakers have been known to gargle with agrimony
to clear and refresh their throats before performances. You, too, can
use such a gargle to relieve a sore throat from a cold or the flu.
is
a hain',
deep
whole
plant
is
The
slightly aromatic,
Yellow,
Vb
in.
egg-shaped petals
notched at end; 5-12
5
HISTORY
slightly
fusely
downy;
lower leaves 7-8 in. long and
have
more leaflets; upper
it
in
an old remedy
for internal
like a witch's
little
spike.
leaves 3
odd
pin-
and
toothed,
nate,
unusual.
on
Leaves: Alternate,
in.
nal remedy.
much
tients
Height: To 5
ft.
shal sleepyn as
safer.
Unless, of course,
it
mony remedies
Eu-
in
the
and
in the
north cen-
sections of Arizona.
HABITAT
USES
tea
to
for
native
now common
Originally
rope,
m-3.\ offer
bristly burr.
RANGE
he were deed;
shal never drede ne wakyn
Till fro under his heed it be takyn.
probably
He
He
is
Fruit:
measure
FLOWERING
An
lets
merely
it
also
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
AGRIMONY- continued
GROWING CONDITIONS
.
Plant hardiness
Soil
pH:
zone
tolerant
range of pH.
Average, dry
Light shade.
been prescribed
tea has
7.
of
wide
for internal
soil.
British herbalist
foul,
Culpeper said
that
that
make
troubled or bloody water, and makes them part with clear urine
speedily."
kidney,
Agrimony
liver,
is
problems of the
it
in cases of
tapeworm.
For any of these kinds of problems, you should see your physician rather than just treat yourself at home. However, for minor
ailments, teas and poultices made with agrimony can be tried and
may be beneficial.
To relieve a sore throat or mouth, try gargling with an infusion of
agrimony. Agrimony tea has been drunk to alleviate coughs and to
clear skin eruptions. John Lust, author of The Herb Book, recommends that you make an infusion from 2 to 4 teaspoons of the dried
1 cup of water and drink a cup a day.
To heal external sores, you might try a poultice made from the
fresh leaves. However, the plant contains certain compounds that
react with sunlight, and if a treated area is exposed to the sun, a rash
might develop.
hi general, though, agrimony appears to be safe to use. James
Duke, Ph.D., a botanist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, rates
this herb as safe as coffee, stating that he wouldn't be afraid to drink 2
cups a day.
Ornamental: Agrimony may not produce showy blossoms, but
with its high-reaching spikes of small yellow flowers, it can be used
attractively in a rock garden or a wildflower border, and of course,
leaves with
Cosmetic: Because of
a tine lotion for the skin.
made from
astringent properties,
is
perhaps best
known
produce
agrimony makes
joints.
Dye: Agrimony
can be
its
for the
The
fall.
yellow dye
that
specific information.)
CULTIVATION
Agrimony
is
easily stitrted
will self-seed
once
it
is
between each
plant.
Agrimony
is
susceptible to
powdery mildew.
Aloe
Aloe spp.
Liliaceae
DESCRIPTION
HISTORY
In the African
their bodies to
reaches
far
known
as A. vera)
common
the most
is
species.
orange-red, to
raceme atop
in.
3i
long; in a
ft.
flower
stalk.
USES
The
little
a pot of aloe
is
on the
becoming,
poison
have both
folk-
more
remedy
re-
iLs
been added
body of
main
plant.
Height:
Up
to 2
ft.
ivy.
sores,
cancer. James
to various
RANGE
Native to Africa and Medi-
culti-
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ALOE^ continued
PATIENT ALOE
plant
on
the middle, and apply the gel to the skin. For a burn or sore that
However,
means
patient. Al-
them
between
tion.
sig-
burial
and resurrec
prevails over
just
may cause
with gauze.
it
it
is
laxative,
but
it
and
ulcers.
However, no
scientific
Ornamental; The
attractive
fleshy,
appearance. In
warm
it
singly or in groups.
An
be
stunning set against a building where the wall presents a plain back-
ground
to
stout,
Aloe
great houseplants.
ing a
eyes?
tells that
complexion.
Aloe reponedly helps to clear acne, and dermatologists have
successfully treated oily skin and dandruff with it. Aloe has been
for her
added
If this
Cosmetic: Legend
into her skin e\'er\'
make
windows
The
little
drying
good
ophthalmologist
New Jersey,
that
an
in Secaucus,
has found evidence
aloe
damaging
absorbs
extract
and
he suggests aloe may be the
.source of the "miracle eye drop
ultraviolet rays,
use a moisturizer.
CULTIVATION
of the lens
minimum
temperature of about 41 F to
may be helped by
seems
will
relief
fertile soil
containing
low
some limestone
in nutrients.
is
Drainage
is
very important, so
the soil should not contain large quantities of organic matter. Coarse
material
added
Aloes prefer
full
soil to dr\-
An
The
Repotting
seem
years in the
thri\'e for
to
grow
you must
if
^'hen you
best
is
when
speed
heal-
best
same pot
if it
has
good
soil.
done
in
late
outermost leaves
winter or spring.
first,
GROWING CONDITIONS
.
Plant hardiness
oldest.
your aloe,
to
aloe will
plants
and seems
ing."
it's
a sign that
pH:
zone
10.
neutral.
Soil
Average, well-drained
Full
sun to
light
soil.
shade.
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
AMERICAN HELLEBORE
VERY TOXIC
Veratrum viride
Liliaceae
you come stumbling across this plant in the woods, just recover your footing and move on, unless you are looking for a stout,
leafs' herb for a shady portion of your garden. Actually, you are more
likely to bump into this plant than stumble over it as it can reach 8
feet in height. The history of American hellebore is rich with mediciIf
DESCRIPTION
American hellebore
stout,
is
perennial
Linbranched
nal
downy;
up
to 2
on
termi-
ft.
long;
greenish-yellow;
sepals; 3 petals;
accompanied
downy, pointed bract.
Leaves:
Alternate,
or
oval
wide; 6
in.
stitmens;
green,
by
bright
elliptical,
6-12
Fruit: 3-celled,
open when
and winged.
split
flat
Height: 2-8
remain
ripe,
in.
long,
seeds are
in history
make you
will
quite
Veratrum viride
it.
treat a
through the
tant
hair.
The medicinal use of American hellebore became more imporduring the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when it was
an analgesic and prescribed
cla.ssified as
pneumonia, and
for
peritonitis.
In 1862,
is
more
gia,
spotted as
and occasionally
as an
appetite stimulant.
RANGE
Carolinas.
ill if
its
herbalist.
doctors prescribed
the
home
it and ground it to a
wound, the Indians would spread animal fat on
the injury', then sprinkle powdered hellebore on top of that. The
powder was put on cavities to relieve toothaches a possibly deadly
treatment. American settlers sliced the rhizome, boiled it with vinegar, and applied the resulting fluid to external rashes and sores. To
remove lice, they made a strong decoction, which was combed
it,
powder. To
Midsummer.
to
where
the
mended by
FLOWERING
exactly
HISTORY
lepsy, convulsions,
ft.
is
at least for
south as Georgia.
HABITAT
Swamps, woods, wet meadows, stream edges.
it
for respiratory
in
England where
and headaches.
USES
American hellebore does have some use in modern medicine,
is limited because of its toxicity.
Medicinal: According to James Duke, Ph.D., author of The CRC
Handbook ofMedicina/ Herbs, the Soviets steep American hellebore
in vodlci and drink it to alleviate the pain of rheumatism and sciatica.
Whether it is the hellebore or the vodka that relieves the pain is
uncenain. Sounds like a good excuse to drink vodka.
American hellebore does have more "official" medicinal uses.
The herb contains several ester alkaloids that affect physiology by
lowering both .sy.stolic and diastolic blood pressure, slowing the
heart rate, and stimulating blood flow in the kidneys, liver, and
but that
American Hellebore
bore are mixed with other chemicals in drugs used to treat hypertensive toxemia during pregnancy and pulmonary edema in serious
cases of acute hypertension.
Toxicity' remains a problem, however. The effective medicinal
dose comes close to the toxic dose, so the herb has drifted in and out
of favor with the medical establishment. It was out of favor until the
1950s, when new techniques allowed the drug derived from this
discovered prop-
Homeopaths
still
make use
of American hellebore.
it
for
They
many
pre-
illnesses
American hellebore
American hellebore.
It is
it
is difficult
well-suited to
if
to find
and place
it
in
Remember
its
height,
flowers.
GROWING CONDITIONS
CULTIVATION
You can propagate American hellebore by division or seed. Be
sure to plant it in a moist, shady location where it grows easily,
requiring little care. Full sun can burn the foliage.
Plant hardiness
Moi.st
Liglit
.soil.
shade.
zone
*.
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ANGELICA
SUSPECTED CARCINOGEN
Angelica Archangelica
Angelica
surround
tions,
its
DESCRIPTION
Hence,
a similar
has
it
fra-
been
stem is
stout, round, hollow, and pur
plish in color, and it divides
into many branches. (See photo
on page 444.)
Flowers: Tiny white or
greenish
celer\'.
flowers
Its
in
fragrance.
Pinnate
Leaves:
coarsely toothed oval
Fruit:
leaflet
with
leaflets,
3-lobed;
contains
FLOWERING
here
RANGE
the
United
States.
HABITAT
By the sea and streams; in
marshes, swamps, and moist
10
to
taste, as
tales
associa-
well as those of
tell.
tall tale
tall
a remarkably
is
tall
plant,
one
any
herb garden.
HISTORY
Throughout
history',
angelica has
on May 8, the
its
blooms
even,' \'ear
name
feast
of angelica
'\s
to the songs,
brooks.
wonderful
pagan
It's
angelica
words
including
and
its
its
angelica.
tradition
tries
Many
Oblong,
Height: 5-8
its
globe-
both of
potential hazards.
called wild
a storied herb, in
is
tales
it,
Urabelliferae
is,
but such
is
it
Peasants
witches.
Legend has
met an angel in
it
monk
The angel
told
Angelica
and
tion,
pared
coughs, and other diseases of the lungs. Prewas considered a digestive aid, and to "help
and deafness," the juice of angelica was poured into
for pleurisy,
in a syrup,
dimness of sight
it
the ears.
for a
USES
While magical
herb
for a
long time,
its
many
soak;
added
few of
its u.ses.
is
used to
on
the
decoction of the
inflammation
simple infusion of the leaves is
this
The
brewed
Trs' a
cup of angelica
treat a
West,
in a
cup of water.
11
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ANGELICA- -continued
CHEF
TIPS
While
When
rhubarb,
stewing
substitute one-quarter of
the amount with peeled,
chopped, fresh angelica
stem.
Peel and
chop
fresh angelica
and bay
leaf to the
cooking
water.
any of them
being debated.
Generally, angelica has been considered safe in small
do
all
mended by
CRC Handbook
its
safety
is
James Duke,
Medicinal
Herbs,
considers
of
exist. Botanist
angelica
still
considers
it
as a drug.
safe for
The
U.S.
food use.
Its
root,
and seeds of
the plant.
Add
fruit
in desserts
When
and
dried and
pastries.
Gently
press
A POISONOUS
LOOK-ALIKE
Water hemlock,
Cicuta
been
mistaken
piirea.
angelica,
contact
botanist
who
it.
it
part of angelica
alone, or use
it
is
is its
stem.
to decorate cakes,
Candy
and
tarts,
butter.
Cut
like asparagus.
And in the middle of the afternoon, during that long, slow hour
between two and three, make tea from the dried leaves. Enjoy the
tea, have a couple of angelica cookies, and relax.
Many uses exist for angelica in the home, but this herb has
important commercial culinar}' value as well. The root and seeds are
used to flavor herb liqueurs such as Benedictine and Chartreuse, and
the root is a flavoring ingredient in gin and vermouth.
Available commercially: Candied stem, but difficult to find.
Substitute: For flavor, use ground anise seed. For decorative
candied stems, use candied violets.
Aromatic: Angelica has a pleasant fragrance. To freshen a musty
room, you can make a son of incense from angelica: Burn the seeds
or pieces of the dried root over a low flame.
Add
12
it
is
said to
calm
Angelica
the nen^es. So
if
oil
tr\'
soaking in
of angelica
is
added
BETTER THAN
A COLD SHOWER?
angelic yourself.
little
to per-
one time,
At
it
was thought
wne
con-
pow-
oils.
dered
dried
angelica
root
iron.
the root of ^.
mixed
atropurpureaWwh tobacco.
CULTIVAriON
The
best
way
OTHER SPECIES
to propagate angelica
is
seeds
when
Do
wisdom
is
viabilit\' is
that you
short-term.
atropurpitrea
Angelica
grows wild in swampy areas in
Nonh .\merica from Newfoundland to Delaware and Minnesota. It resembles A. Archangelica
is
Angelica
is
listed in
it
and a
flowering and
a biennial
dies after
but
is
little
smaller,
little
is
It
paler in color.
used medicinally
the
same ways
ica.
However,
in
as A. ArchangelA.
Archangelica
United
States.
producing one crop of seeds (which is why it isn't strictly a perenbut not always
nial). Flowering and seed production usually
occur
in the
second or
its
c^'cle is easily
disrupted by
The plant
grow for many years. This effectively makes the plant
cutting the flower stalks every year before the seeds form.
will continue to
Pests
and
it?
may grow
pest-free
and
it
zone 3
Plant hardiness
Soil
Panial shade.
disease-
GROWING CONDITIONS
pH
6.3.
ma\- not.
what is to be gathered. Han'est roots in the fall of the first year; stems
and leaves in the spring of the second year; and seeds when ripe.
13
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ANISE
Pimpmella Atiisum
DESCRIPTION
an annual herb
resembles
Queen Anne's lace. The flower
ing umbels bloom at the top of
a round, grooved stem.
Note that the leaves of
Anise
is
somewhat
that
seedlings
rounded
are
and
If
the
Umbelliferae
a better mousetrap
bait.
is
ever developed,
it
just
may use
terms of
in
its
anise as
populanty
with mice, but in the sixteenth centuiy, anise found wide application
as
mousetrap
irresistible.
bait.
it
it
appearance
in the
bels,
five
mature
plant.
compound um-
Flowers: In
yellowish white,
petals, five stamens, two
HISTORY
small,
He
anise.
zures in epileptics.
divided pinnately or
have three narrow lobes; leaflets may be toothed or tooth-
cian.)
less.
Fruit:
Flattened,
oval,
'-&
in.
Height: 2
is
this
best
and
the use of
known
century
iinay
dreams
if
at
night.
Summer
anise for
its
fragrance, flavor,
and
medicinal properties. They mixed the seeds with other savory spices
RANGE
Native to Egyj^t and
the
and the
One
(No wonder he
ft.
FLOWERING
Ru.ssia,
of recorded his-
styles.
much
Linited States,
Despite
in
England
until the
USES
Anise has remained
nary,
Medicinal:
If
the
may
14
medicinal, culi-
Romans
at least
is still
wed-
di-
Anise
make
tainly
it
today.
expectorant,
The
seed
is
said to
work
is
as a
cheese
cup
cheese
tablespoon minced
anise
fresh
leaf,
Vi
tea-
also
mustard.
mild antimi-
Create a wonderful
with
mild
on the
TIPS
by combining
creamed cottage
worthwhile.
heeded
CHEF
way seed
bread and
in
cracker recipes.
crobial action,
ingredients.
and
long
it
ailments.
list
None
been ascribed
to anise,
been examined
list
of
scien-
ho^^ever.
tifically,
needed.
It
cookePi', especially in
it
One
liqueurs.
Combine equal
is
STAR ANISE
This evergreen grows as a
tiush or small tree
to China.
The
and
is
native
star-shaped
fruit
with
vers' similar properties and uses
as those of anise oil. Commercontains an essential
cially,
it
is
oil
as a flavoring in various
in
sugared vodka, and you have anisette. Parrel's Rosehip and Anise
Liqueur mixes anise, rosehips, sugar water, and vodka. Anesone is a
liqueur similar to anisette, but stronger and sweeter. Several other
anise liqueurs are
made
in countries all
Spaniards,
ojeti:
made
in
ouzo
seed
is
GROWING CONDITIONS
Greece.
preferable.
pH
Soil
Full .sun.
6.0.
soil.
Substitute: Fennel
oil,
oil is
used
to scent
15
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ANISE-,continued
Immature Plant
perfumes and soaps and to
flavor toothpastes
and mouthwashes.
the growth of
is
to cats, anise
is
oil
and dragged
greyhound
is
CULTIVATION
Anise has a long taproot, which makes transplanting
it
is
best to
grow
difficult,
sown
The seeds
so
in the
require a
feet.
Easy to care
sheltered location.
for,
iLs
anise
growth
is
distill
16
heat.
it
"
Arnica
ARNia
Arnica montana
Compositae
Suppose you spent the whole day yesterday helping your best
move into a new apanment on the third floor. Today. ever\'
muscle in your body aches. Well, gather some arnica flowers, and
cook them with oil or lard. Soon you'll ha\-e a soothing ointment that
will help those aches and pains to fade away.
The soothing qualities of arnica have been known for quite
some time both in Europe and North America. While European
herbalists concocted remedies from Arnica montana, American Indians made healing ointments and tinctures with native species. A
salve made from arnica helped to relax stiff muscles, and a tincture
was used to treat wounds. In 1820, arnica was officially added to the
U.S. Pharmacopoeia and is still listed in the U.S. Dispetisator^:
friend
DESCRIPTION
.\mica
is
a true perennial
Its
daisylike blo.ssom.
2-3
in.
across.
Leaves:
somewhat
USES
Recipes for healing liniments and salves continue to be passed
on. for they really do work. In Germany, more than 100 drug prepara-
on upper
homeopathic remedy.
Medicinal: An arnica ointment relieves the pain and reduces the
inflammation of sprains and bruises. A 1981 German study found two
substances in this herb, helenalin and dihydrohelenalin, that produce anti-inflammaton,- and analgesic effects.
To make a liniment, heat 1 ounce of flowers in 1 ounce of lard or
oil for several hours. Strain and let the ointment cool before applying
tions contain arnica.
it
It is
also an important
The helenalin
Othenv'ise. arnica
The
is
it
is
may
cause dermatitis in
some
internally, arnica
in 77?^
on the
heart
folly of
hair\
lower leaves
surface;
tips,
to 5 in. long;
cili-
upper
leaves
smaller
and lanceshaped, opposite and attached
directly to stem.
Fruit: Bristly achenes.
Height: l-2ft.
FLOWERING
Midsummer.
RANGE
in arnica
extracts of arnica
up
ated,
bright
Entire.
green, toothed,
and
.\laska to
New
Mexico and
Ari-
addition,
GROWING CONDITIONS
CULTIVAriON
Arnica
montana needs
sun but will tolerate
well drained. A.
prefer
full
grow
grow
in
most
full .sun.
soils, as
pH
Soil
Sandy, humusy.
Full sun.
4.0.
It
dr\' soil.
light shade. A.
best under a
little
shade.
17
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
AUTUMN CROCUS
Colchicum aiitumnale
VERY TOXIC
Liliaceae
flowers
segments.
a pe-
is
brown inner
light
layer,
white,
interior
layer,
firm,
cro-
which
six stamens,
its
as a
it
family,
member
not the
clas-
of the
lily
family to
crocuses belong.
iris
which true
The wider leaves of Colchicum
autiimnale also distinguish
ii.
to
four;
6-10
late;
is
powerful
in action,
and,
HISTORY
by
it
pink
milky
juice.
sify
The
light
deadly powerful.
DESCRIPTION
outer
high.
in.
long,
\-\V2
in.
The ancient Greeks and Romans knew the powers of this plant.
They prepared medicinal remedies to treat gout and other illnesses.
Actually, the Egyptians may have used the autumn crocus to treat
gout 4,000 years ago. However, medicinal use declined once people
found out how poisonous this plant was. Then instead of using
Off and on over the centuries, autumn crocus has been a medi-
cine.
listed in the
Lofidon Pharma-
copoeia. After being out of established use for nearly 150 years,
it
was
wide.
Fruit: One to three oblong,
pointed seed capsules, V/i in.
long, 1 in. wide, three lobes
USES
and three
cells.
Height:
Up
to
ft.
Autumn crocus
itself a
keep
it
in the garden.
FLOWERING
has proven
is
The
this
and prescribed either in tablet form or intravenously for patients with gout, a form of arthritis. Colchicine aborts an oncoming
attxick and prevents a recurrence. No other forms of anhritis are
plant
September.
RANGE
Native
North
Europe
to
Africa,
but
and
becoming
familial
widely cultivated.
cjuite frec]uently in
and pains
Scientists
18
in the
Autumn Crocus
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
division,
Plant hardiness
treatment.
Full
medicinal herb.
An overdose
extreme
pains, purging,
the extremities.
thirst,
Damage
weak
pulse,
in
the vestiges of
Set
them
in
summer flowers.
autumn crocuses
varieties of
CULTIVATION
Autumn crocuses
gust or as early in the
are usuall)'
fall
as possible.
with only
two years
Pests
the entry
'/s
as
soon
old.
sun to
5.
partial shade.
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
BARBERRY
DESCRIPTION
Barberry'
shrub.
It
is
perennial
covered with
is
compose
calyx.
on
each
Berberidaceae
Berberis vulgaris
grouped
branch,
and
bark.
throat.
You can
find
many
HISTORY
we
medicines made from barberry' were prescribed as antiseptics, purgatives, and tonics. In North America, the Indians prepared decoctions
from the root bark and drank them to restore the body from general
debilirs'
and
to
Ovoid
Fruit:
to ellipsoid
two seeds.
h)e!ght: To 8 ft.
USES
taining
FLOWERING
RANGE
Europe,
heralded
is
considered
safe,
to try
Spring.
temperate
Asia,
and Nonh
America from Nova Scotia to
Delaware and Pennsylvania,
west to Minnesota, Iowa, and
nonhern
is
Africa,
barberr\',
berberine,
is
control diarrhea,
is
said to
be an
Mis.souri.
Lust,
erf
VA
root to
in
let
recommends
To
cool.
it
tea-
spoon of root
to help
effective purgative.
letting the
Vi
to
tea-
minutes.
Utboratory studies with berberine have
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Moist,
fertile,
zone
-i.
well-drained
soil.
Full
sun to
Ornamental:
partial
shade.
shown
it
to
have stimu-
heart in
lant properties.
using barberry.
j:)aine
20
on the
it
to rwist
It
If
Barberry
lovely,
Barberry lends
formal look or
itself
just let
it
several varieties.
go
in
an informal
setting.
for a
it
inches high can be planted around flower beds using dwarf species
such as Berberis Thtinbergii var. minor.
Their
fruits,
less brilliantly
for their
tumn.
Some produce
pretty blossoms,
col-
ored berries.
Culinary:
When autumn
and color
to
It
will
air,
add a
more
citrus.
Dye: While you are harvesting berries for jams, pull out some
roots for making yellow dye. The roots should be harvested in late
summer or fall
required,
yellow
in
and
fair to
cotton.
No mordant
is
CULTIVATION
Barberries are easy to grow in a fertile, moist, well-drained soil.
They prefer a sunny location but will tolerate shade during part of the
day. They are easily propagated from seeds sown in greenhouses, in
fall
will
germinate the
from seed may not be true to the seed parent. If you want to produce
an exact replica, use cuttings. Some plants may produce rooted
suckers, which can be separated.
Prune and thin the branches immediately after the shrub flowers
or in late winter. If you neglect your bushes and they become overgrown, they can be rejuvenated by cutting them to within a foot of
the ground in late winter, then fertilizing them and watering substantially
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
BASIL
Ocimum Basilicum
DESCRIPTION
Basil
leafy
is
stems
an annual
that give
Flowers: White,
in.
'/:
racemes
long,
has four
lip
tops of stems.
Opposite, oval,
toothed; curl inward along midrib; 2-3 in. long, sometimes
longer; yellow-green to dark
green depending on fertility' of
Leaves:
soil.
Fruit:
dark
Tiny,
brown
seeds.
Height: 1-2
still is
call basil
a sign of love.
herbe royale. In
According to
tradition,
it
basil has
Italy,
been and
and 238.)
two-lipped; upper
The French
with
bushy
it
Lamiaceae
ft.
FLOWERING
July and August.
RANGE
today, a
sills
man would no
she will
fall
in love
served
it
when
little
wine.
HISTORY
been associated with romance and fine dinwas a time when people feared this herb.
According to an anecdote attributed to Tournefort, a seventeenth century botanist, "A certain Gentleman of Sietia being wonderfully taken and delighted with the Smell of Basil, was wont very
frequently to take the Powder of the dry Herb, and snuff it up his
Nose; but in a short Time he turn'd mad and died; and his Head
being opened by Surgeons, there was found a Nest of Scorpions in
his Brain.
In keeping with this view of the herb, some believe its
name was derived from that of the legendary basilisk, a reptile who
Basil hasn't always
"
commercial
use in France,
Eg^pt, Hungary, Indonesia, Morocco, Greece, Bulgaria, Yugo
slavia,
and
Italy,
and
to
some
much
could
kill
name
is
a derivative of basileus,
Greek
offer
them entrance
to paradise.
USES
Men and women
become one
home,
it
has
is
a
it
it.
family,
it
digestive
leaves in a
22
Basil
Bush
Basil
Holy
Basil
23
BASIL- -continued
CHEF
TIPS
Add
several
large
basil
when
poaching
fish, shellfish,
or
chicken.
basil infusion
minum
foil
and
set
safe to drink
and can
certainly
it
be
made
basil
famous, but
don't stop with these two dishes. This herb's wonderful taste and
and tomato
aroma
will enliven so
many
and
other foods.
spicy,
mint and clove. For the best flavor use fresh leaves, but frozen and
to recipes, or
then bake in a
350F oven (or grill) for
Sprigs of basil
20 minutes.
packet,
Add
a handful of basil
when
superb with
Basil
oregano.
is
shiny-side-down. Arrange
slices of zucchini, onion,
in the middle
of the square and toss in
and in fact clinical studies show that extracts from the seeds do
indeed exhibit an antibacterial effect.
Mc:)dern medicine currently has no use for basil, and no studies
have been done to confirm any of its supposed effects. However, a
sores,
veal,
lamb,
fish, poultry,
is
toma-
toes, cheese,
dur
ing cooking.
and
Make
a basil
and sauces
and
Note
in
particularly attractive
that
if
tasty vinegar.
is
best stored in an
PESTO
oil,
vinegar, or frozen
may become
and stored
bitter after
in tightly sealed
containers.
by combining
enough
smooth
basil
rice,
olive
paste.
rice, fish,
oil
to
make
Use with
The
pasta,
vegetables, or in soup.
basil,
why
not plant it there? The lovely green foliage can offset brilliantly
colored flowers, and certainly the fragrance will be welcome.
to
mauve
is
little
24
BASIL SPECIES
Name
Ocimum americanum
Lemon
(TP)
Basilicum Cinnamon'
Cinnamon
O.
Flower
Color
Leaves
Comments
White
White
Purplish
Sweet anise
Like sweet
Cinnamon
basil
O. Basilicum Anise'
Anise basil
O.
AND VARIETIES
White
basil
O.
flavor
and fragrance
and fragrance
basil
Basilicum 'Crispum'
White
Very large,
Excellent in salads
crinkled
Lettuce-leaf basil
Basilicum 'Green
Green
flavor
Lime green,
White
Ruffles'
ruffles basil
Excellent ornamental
serrated,
ruffled,
much
longer than
sweet
O.
Bush
O.
1-11/2 in.
White
Light green,
!4-'/2 in.
Basilicum Purple
Purple
O.
O.
Dark maroon,
'Thyrsiflora'
Deep
Lavender
(TP)
kilimandscharicum (TP)
basil
sanctum (TP)
it
waters.
oil
Use
it
Bright green,
White, yellow
anthers
Gray-green,
White, red
anthers
Green
hairy
Camphor
coarse
perennial.
to a rosertiary rinse
bine the
smooth!
add
and
deep lavender
Lavender
TP denotes tender
fine basil
basil in size
White and
basil
NOTE:
purple,
shiny
gratissimum (TP)
Holv
Between sweet
shiny
Thyrsiflora basil
Camphor
flavor
sweet
Lavender
Ruffles'
O. Basilicum 'Purpurascerjs'
Dark opal basil
O.
2 -in. leaves
White
ruffles basil
Basilicum
wide
basil
O.
basil
Vero' (TP)
O.
basil
White
and blondes
to a
The
hair.
Brunettes can
fragrance alone
is
invigo-
rating.
The cosmetic
lotions,
it
Basil
widely cultivated
for
such use.
25
BASIL- -continued
BASIL
It
BOUQUETS
Companion
Other: Basil
is
CULTIVATION
Early
crop of
clove scent.
planting:
From
basil,
this
it
seed. Since
GARDEN IDEAS
spring
mari
golds for a striking con-
Plant opal
basil
with
it
is
It
sow
at this
grows
it
herb to
easily
from
outdoors in the
when you are certain the danger of frost has passed and when
warmed to a temperature of about 50 F. The seeds
should be planted
inch deep.
thin the
trast.
between them.
Basil may be started indoors and the seedlings transplanted after
the last frost. It germinates readily in soil temperatures of from 75 to
85 F. Use a moist medium. Marilyn Hampstead, herb grower and
owner of Fox Hill Farm in Parma, Michigan, uses a mixture of finegrade vermiculite and perlite. Plant the seeds '/s inch deep, pressing
the soil gently over the seeds. Hampstead recommends covering the
plants to leave
Green Ruf
foot of space
GROWING CONDITIONS
allow
some
ventilation.
pH
Soil
6.0.
Full sun.
Remove
opened
it
(a
varieties),
When
loosen the
couple of days
is
after
off,
fungal disease.
after
them
flats.
outside.
is
26
first frost.
that
mineral or
oil,
ful
is
true. Exactly
herbal bath.
One
in the
some
say,
most
effective
ways
to prepare
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
-continued
STIMULATING HERBS
an herbal bath
basil
bay
filled
calendula flowers
squeeze
citronella
the tub,
all
the herbs
fennel
horseradish roots
to
is
let
and climbing
in.
it
When
For something a
little
nicer,
method
is
V2
Another method
for
to
is
make a strong
rosemarj'
it
to the
steep for 10 to
sage
savory
Some
thyme
tubful of water.
vetiver roots
make a
An even
meadow
it
to use a large
marjoram
mint
herbs or about
you've
to capture everything
pine needles
queen of the
lavender flowers
lemon verbena
lovage roots
nettle
in
decoction
is
decoction
is
invariably
Temperature: To get the most benefit from your bath, pay close
attention to the temperature of the water.
SOOTHING HERBS
catnip
temperature (96 to 98 F)
peratures are likely to
chamomile flowers
comfrey
elder (whole plant)
evening primrose flowers
hyssop
Warm
while cool baths stimulate the body. Most physicians and researchers
agree that a water temperature equivalent to your internal body
is
make you
ture around 92 F is still relaxing but also refreshes the body. And if
you need some pep and zip, try something in the range of 70 to
85 E
Be
jasmine flowers
juniper berries
If
blood pressure, or
if
lemon balm
linden flowers
Higher tem-
water tempera-
dr\'
A bath
that
is
too
melilot
mullein
passionflower flowers
rose flowers
slipper^'
to
down
for a
good
night's sleep.
Some
baths
valerian roots
help to relieve aches and pains, others moisturize the skin, and some
simply leave you wonderfully fragrant. It just depends on which
tansy flowers
violet
own
28
for you.
to create a
bath that will either refresh, soothe, heal, beautifS; or simply smell
Because of its calming effect, bathing was one of the early treatments
mental problems. Today, hydrotherapy still is used in the treatment of anhrius and certain muscle problems.
Vi'ater alone heals and soothes, but add herbs to the bath, and
for
A combination
comfrey
dandelion
ginseng root
jasmine flowers
nettle
orange
patchouli
of sage
blackbern,' leaves
raspberry leaves
and
TONIC HERBS
leaves or sage
FRAGRANT HERBS
angelica roots
bay
clove
geranium
jasmine flowers
lavender flowers
mint
m\ nle leaves and flowers
orange leaves, flowers,
peel
and
patchouli
penmToyal
queen of the meadow
rose flowers
rosemar}'
Baths that aid circulation: One English recipe that is said to get
the blood moving calls for a decoction of equal parts of marigold,
sandalwood
southernwood
HERBS FOR
FOOTBAFHS
nettle,
used
in oriental
risk
that
of hean prob-
you are under panicular stress, an herbal bath can help heal
the mind and the body. Tr\- any of the soothing herbs listed on page
28. \'alerian and sweet flag have been specifically recommended for
tension relief Add a decoction made from I pound of the lea\'es of
valerian or V2 pound of the leaves and roots of calamus to the bathwater. A decoction of equal parts of hops and queen of the meadow
used as a rinse after a regular bath is also said to be healing.
lems.
If
agrimony
alder bark
burdock
goat's rue
la\ender flowers
mustard seed
sage
witch hazel bark and leaves
wormwood
29
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
-continued
agrimony
bay
Mangold leaves
body scars and soothe varicose veins.
Other herbs. Burdock root and hyssop are both reponed to be
diaphoretic (induce sweating) when added to the bath. For a cold or
the flu, add eucalyptus to the hot bathwater. The fragrant oils that rise
up with the steam will help clear congestion.
heal inflammations and generally cleanse the skin.
juniper berries
mugwort
oregano
poplar buds and bark
sage
strawberry leaves
Beautifying baths:
ANTISEPTIC HERBS
dock
eucahptus
sandalwood
BATH OILS
To moisturize and scent the skin, add oils to the bath. They are
make at home. Simply combine three parts of a vegetable or
nut oil to one part of herbal oil, or mix vegetable and nut oils and add
the herbal oil. Almond and avocado oils are often recommended.
Herbal oils can be bought commercially, or you can extract them
yourself (see the entr^' Scents from Herbs). Collect several vials of
herb oil; when it comes time to prepare your bath, you can choose
according to your fancy.
Most oils do not mix with water; instead, they lie on the surface.
'When you step out of the bath, they coat your skin. If you want one
easy to
ASTRINGENT HERBS
agrimony
alum root
bay
ba^'berrv'
bark
clar^'
mantle
lemongrass
mullein
myrrh resin
lady's
nasturtium flowers
periwinkle
potentilla root
pure plant
time
'WTien to
bathwater, but
oils are
add the
it
is
also
oil:
add aromatic
in the fragrance.
oil.
water
if
at a
powerful.
oils
ten minutes. This allows your skin to absorb moisture before the oil
Oil acts as a barrier and just as
your
raspberrs- leaves
coats
rose flowers
skin,
rosemary
strav\t)erry
it.
it
will dn.'
30
it
vour skin.
in
it.
s^-7'^3
l'^
v<
,:^>
/
../
,1?
Wy
,.#;-
i'
.^^
<-,
Quaking Grass
Feverfew
^Wormwood
//
Globe
Amaranth
Cockscomb
mm^^^
'"\^%^-.
-,
Bay
BAY
Laiirus
Lauraceae
iiobilis
Even
its
name
DESCRIPTION
is
the Latin
word
for
bay tree and ?iobilis means "renowned." From the leaves are woven
wreaths of victor\'. Use this herb in any way and you will reap great
victor^'. Add it to shellfish boils, soups, and stews. Infuse
and pour into bathwater for a soothing soak. Create your
own herbal \'ictor\- wreath to give or to hang in your home.
success and
tlie
lea\es
HISTORY
Ba\-
indeed
it
no
petals,
composed of
four-
this
had
ver\-
is
a romantic herb,
and
romantic beginnings.
Greek god of the sun, smitten with love for the fair
nymph Daphne, pursued her relentlessly. Daphne, though, wanted
nothing to do with Apollo. (This was all Cupid's doing. He shot an
anov,- into Daphne that made her hate Apollo.) To help her escape
this pursuit. Daphne's father, Peneus, changed her into a laurel tree.
Apollo fell upon his knees before this tree and declared it eternally
sacred. From then on he wore a wreath of laurel leaves upon his head
in remembrance of and dedication to his beloved Daphne.
Thus the tree became a sign of glor\', honor, and greatness.
Throughout Greece and Rome, men and women wove wreaths to
crown the heads of kings, priests, prophets, poets, and the victors of
battles and athletic or scholarly contests. Scholars wore wreaths of
bay when they achieved academic honors. At the first Olympics in
776 B.C., laurel garlands were presented to the champions.
The reputation of this plant has never dwindled. Great powers of
protection were attributed to it. Bay could keep you safe from thunder and lightning, for example. During storms, the fearless Roman
emperor Tiberius (-i2 b.c.-a.d. 37) could always be found under his
bed, a laurel wreath upon his head. In 1575 Thomas Lupton, in his
Book ofNotable Thitigs, wrote that "neuher falling sickness, neither
de\yll, wyll infest or hurt one in that place where a bay tree is." The
British herbalist Culpeper reiterated this, proclaiming that a man
standing near a bay tree could not be hun by witches, the devil,
x\pollo, the
Leaves:
Alternate,
shiny,
in.
wide, short
long,
'/2^1i/2
in.
stalks.
long).
Height:
Up to
10
ft.
(5
ft.
in
grows indigenously,
reached more than 60
it
has
ft.
FLOWERING
Spring.
RANGE
Indigenous 10 the Mediterranean region and Asia Minor;
thunder, or lightning.
Of cour,se, any
plant with such power had to be a good mediciNhddle Ages herbalists prescribed it to promote
menstruation and induce abonions. Culpeper recommended it for
snakebites, wasp and bee stings, for colds, rheumatism, urinar\' problems, pains of the ears, bruises, scrapes, and all sorts of ills.
Perhaps it is because bay was re\ered so highly as a protector
and as a .symbol of greatness and honor that the death of this tree was
considered an evil omen. In fact, in 1629 pestilence broke out in
nal herb, hi the
35
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
JLj/iY
Padua,
wrote
continued
Italy, after
'Tis
The bay
If
Richard 11.
in
is
dead;
we
your bay trees wither, are they warning you of impending evil or
More likely they are telling you that they caught a bit of frost.
death?
USES
The bay has
this day.
Medicinal: You
how well
it
if
works.
them
for relief.
Bay
joints,
rub a
little
bay
The
and skin
rashes.
if
emmenagogue, narcotic,
show that it has
been found
some continued
with
dermatitis in
be
some promising
oil.
some
safe.
Culinary: Bay
is visited by this
add bay leaves to Spanish, Creole, and
French soups, stews, marinades, and sauces. They're great in shellfish boils, pickling brines, and with game. Use them in combination
with peppercorns, saffron, garlic, allspice, citrus, and prepared and
dried mustards. Just remember to take the leaf out of the soup before
you ser\'e it. Many painful stories have been told of sharp bay leaves
stuck in the throats of those who have dined on stew.
Commercially, the essential oil of bay is extracted and used to
flavor baked goods, meats, sausages, and canned soups.
36
Cooks
instinctively
Bay
whole
preferable.
is
CHEF
Ornamental: The bay is a lovely tree, and anyone can grow it for
its beaut>'. If you live in an area with mild winters and warm summers, such as California, you can grow it outdoors as a landscape tree.
In locations that suffer harsh winters, the bay must be grown in tubs
or large containers that can be brought indoors for the winter The
ad\'antages are that they can be used to decorate patios, steps, and
terraces, and that they can be easily rearranged.
Bays are easily pruned into formal shapes; they lend themselves
TIPS
Add
beans,
lentils, rice,
or other
grains.
Rub the
in
and cavin,' of a
with
prepared
mustard, then tuck rw'o bay
skin
chicken
well to standards.
Craft:
much
fore roasting.
lighter,
tussie-mussie.
wreath, too.
and the stoutness of the leaves and branches progood support and form to a wreath.
Cosmetic: The fragrant oil of bay soothes the skin when added
to the bathwater Simply make an infusion of a handful of leaves in
boiling water. Let it steep and then add to the bath, or use it as a skin
for other herbs,
\'ides
lotion.
BAYS
and Thomas Bn'an of Allentown, Pennsylvania, gave President Reagan five bay trees to be
used as ornamentals at the
is
debatable, but
it
can't hurt to
tr^;
bay
from Belgium by
Many
tings.
Maintained
at a
temperature of 75
being
be
F,
Mr
Bn,'-
The original
now grow in
trees
Longwood Gardens
a reputation for
are
rare,
an's grandparents.
CULTIVATION
Bay has earned
trees
having originated
from cuttings taken from trees
that were brought to the United
quite
States
of cereal
GO TO D.C.
difficult to
started
propagate.
from seed or
in
Kennett
Square, Pennsylvania.
cut-
germinate within four weeks. Most gardeners, however, say that the
seeds always turn moldy.
fall
from
fresh,
may
months to root,
could be the easiest way to start a ba\'.
Harvesting and storage: Bay leaves may be harvested and dried
throughout the year Cut off individual older leaves to use as needed
or to dPi'. Pick them early in the day. When drying, place boards or
some other object on top of the leaves to prevent them from curling.
They should be dn- after about 15 days. Store them in tightly sealed
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Soil
Moderately
pH
zone
8.
6.2.
rich,
well-drained
.soil.
Full
sun to
partial
shade.
containers.
37
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
BAYBERRY
SUSPECTED CARCINOGEN
Myrica cerifera
Its
Myricaceae
DESCRIPTION
Bayberry is a perennial evergreen shrub with grayish bark
and waxy branchlets. (See
photos on pages 33 and 446.)
Flowers: Insignificant, yel-
no
lowish,
grow on
petals
catkins;
or
sepals,
male
flowers
plants;
Fruit:
thickly
ft.
air.
Fittingly, its
USES
bayberry has been used in folk medicine for its
and astringent properties, but the safest and probably most enjoyable use of this herb is in making candles.
Medicinal: Bayberry tea has been recommended for sore
throats, spongy gums, jaundice, and uterine hemorrhages. Snuffing
the powder is supposed to relieve nasal congestion and cure nasal
Historically,
tonic, stimulant,
polyps. Poultices
FLOWERING
March and
rats,
"
and
In ^
after
that
New Jer-
HABIT^Vr
Sandy
fields,
by the water,
and along streams.
soil
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
a hypothesis
large doses,
is still
in
Plant hardiness
Soil
They
Full sun.
the best
7.
CULTIVATION
5.0-6.0.
38
primitive.
April.
pH
RANGE
open
little
care.
Beebalm
Monarda didyma
Lamiaceae
DESCRIPTION
HISTORY
Native
in
to
Indians,
historv- is briefer
an area of
than
there.
place of black
The
beebalm
tea.
colonists also
in their
admired the
gardens for
its
and grew
wego. They learned of beebalm and valued it highly for tea and other
culinars' uses and for its medicinal properties.
.\lthough native to North America, beebalm is cultivated widely
in Europe. It crossed the ocean in the midl^OOs when John Bartram
of Philadelphia sent seeds to England. From England, beebalm traveled to the European continent, where it is generally cultivated
under the names golden melissa or Indian nettle.
scarlet
clustered
in
bular corolla 2
3-6
in.
long.
semble seeds.
Height: 31
re-
ft.
FLOWERING
July and August.
RANGE
Native to North America
from Maine south to Georgia
and west to Michigan and Ontario.
USES
Beebalm
by
HABITAT
is still
easily all
at
Fruit:
ornamental value.
Brilliant
bloom
flowers
whorls
beebalm's
bi-
A member
woodlands,
and
stream banks.
itself.
recommend an
to sip.
39
BEEBALM-
-continued
didyma and M.
punctata contains thymol, which is antiseptic against fungi, bacteria,
and some parasites. Pharmacologists add thymol to ointments and
powders applied externally to fungal irJ'ections. Internally thymol
has been used :is an antiseptic for the stomach and intestines and as a
vermifuge to get rid of hookworms, but in its pure form and in the
doses required for a therapeutic effect, thymol can cause vomiting,
diarrhea, and other symptoms, so its use has declined. Today, thymol
js produced synthetically.
Culinary: Few people consider it a culinary herb, but why not
it
use as such? The taste of beebalm is reminiscent of citms with a soft
mingling of orange and lemon. Use the leaves fresh in cooking or
have found that the
oil
Add
and
them
as
and curries. The citrusy flavor of beebalm natucomplements many fruits: strawberries, apples, oranges, tangerines, and melons, and it works well in combination with mint.
A western
oregano de
tea.
species, M. menthifolia,
la sierra,
known
as
wild oregano or
the flowers are hot. Michael Moore, author of Medicinal Plants of the
taste
The
that of
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
Full
pH
sun
forth
this
bergamot
stunning herb
in
in the
crimson
glory.
to shade.
Who
could
resist
planting
among many
several
shades of red. M. didyma and M. fistulosa are the two primary species
from which most of the horticultural varieties have been derived.
Choose whatever colors you like, but remember that the scarlet-
blooming beebalm
40
oil,
is
special for
its
ability to attract
hummingbirds.
Beebalm
CHEF
Craft:
The dried
some
Mince
brilliance of
is
said to
tomatoes.
of
fruit.
to
each
jar
before sealing.
CULTIVATION
of soils and light conditions. However,
sunny location or
toss
bit
and
fresh leaves
TIPS
in part-day
shade
it
it
will thrive in
does best
in a
holds mois-
ture well.
be uniform
and form. Furthermore, the seedlings do not establish thembe started until the
second year. If you use seeds, plant them within the first two years;
thereafter their viability declines considerably. Germination should
occur in about two weeks. If you want plants that are true to their
parent, increase beebalm by division done in autumn or spring.
Leave a distance of 2 feet between clumps of beebalm. Beebalm
in color
spreads rapidly.
Pittsfield,
that
The
hills
Massachusetts, are
rife
Monarda
citriodora: pink-pur-
blossom;
ple
AND
lemon
strong
didyma
'Alba':
ivor\' blos-
som.
that
BEEBALM SPECIES
VARIETIES
that has
New Jersey
suggests
The
them with a
plants should
be mulched
layer of snow.
When
har\'esting
beebalm, cut
it
down
cess.
A drying
and produce
Scarlet':
M. didyma 'Cambridge
bright red blossom.
M.
didyma
'Croftway
Pink':
M. didyma
blossom.
'Melissa': pale
pink
lav-
maiden':
41
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
BETONY
DESCRIPTION
Stachys officinalis
teristic
distinguishes bet-
that
an interrupted spike
ers
bloom
in a short
last night,
ma\'be
called
is
the flow-
spike
at
leaves.
grow
toothed,
opposite;
in pairs at relatively
wide
flowers
may be
sessile.
Up
down
a teacup
on the burner, open the cupand the glass jar of dried betony
virtue.
This tea
is
going to be good.
red-violet,
in.,
formed by an upper
and lower lip; two pairs of stamens; five sepals make up calyx; flowers are borne in whorls
tubular,
coarsely
top,
Flowers:
some
the
Labiatae
to 3
ft.
HISTORY
The Egyptians
it
didn't
as a magical herb.
betony
for a long,
make
seems
people attributed
to this
long time.
that
as
many vinues
as
if
betony"
illus-
a person had as
many virtues as betony had medicinal uses, he or she must have been
.saint. The Romans listed betony as a cure for 47 different illnesses.
FLOWERING
July and Augu.st.
USES
RANGE
Europe,
and western
Africa,
Siberia;
tivated.
if
you are
still
value
propeny
in
42
you'd
HABITAT
Grows wild in shady
woods and meadows.
as virtuous as betony,
better consider
areas
"
Betony
old sores," Lust continues. "If you have a sprain, don't throw away
the leaves boiled to
make
a decoction:
Make them
into a poultice to
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Average, well-drained,
in the Soviet
Union found
showed some
that
betony
effect in low-
have been
But Tyler
Culinary:
If
tea. Tr)'
virtues.
The
tall,
The
variety'
CULTIVATION
grow from seed,
However, with garden varieties, you are better
propagating plants by division or cuttings.
Betony plants require little care except for occasional weeding.
Naturally occurring species of betony easily
cuttings, or division.
off
if
them and
4.
mod-
zone
part.
Full
sun to
partial
shade.
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
BIRCH
DESCRIPTION
Betula spp.
Elegance
It is
a slen-
no
petals,
Alternate,
edges,
slightly hairy,
ovate,
undersides
resemble beech
ripen
RANGE
White, paper, or canoe
Betula papyri/era, in
birch,
throughout Canada.
Black or sweet birch, B.
lenta, from Maine to Tennessee
and west to Iowa.
River
or
and a smooth,
Coleridge refers to the birch as the "Lady of the Woods," and indeed
this tree
would
and elegance.
HISTORY
The American Indians knew that birch tea helped to relieve
They gathered the leaves of the black birch, steeped
them in hot water, and drank the tea to relieve headaches and ease
rheumatism. Some tribes brewed a medicinal tea from the leaves and
heaciaches.
dried bark for fevers, kidney stones, and abdominal cramps caused
strips.
Flowers: Tiny,
Leaves:
The
Betulaceae
black birch,
B.
and as
far
north as Massachusetts.
by gas
in the digestive
The Indians passed on this knowledge to the white frontiersmen, who then used birch medicinally. They gargled with it to
freshen their mouths and drank it to stimulate urination, to expel
intestinal worms, and to treat gout.
Some
tribes of Indians
them
to
make
a tea for
women
to take
during painful menstaiation. They also roasted these cones over the
coals of a campfire
number of other uses for this lovely tree. They constructed canoes
and wigwams from the bark of B. papyrifera. The bark, although
papei^' and flexible, is quite strong and durable and impervious to
water. The largest and smoothest trunks were selected in the spring,
and cut sections were pried off with a wooden wedge; they measured
from 10 to 12 feet long and 2 feet 9 inches broad. The sheets were
stuck together with the fibrous roots of the white spruce, rendered
supple by soaking in water. The seams were waterj^roofed by coating
them with the resin of the balsam fir. The canoes weighed little
four-passenger model ranged from 40 to 50 pounds.
For the white man, the birch offered medicine, paper, and whipping rods. Imagine cutting the branches of such a graceful, gentle
branches to make
USES
Birch trees are enormously
u.seful. "%)u
can
the bark, birch beer from the branches, or ma>'be a medicinal infu-
grow
this
if
methyl
salicylate,
its
you'll
want
to
beauty.
Birch
to
tr\'
them yourself to
find out
if
used
menthol
in
leiita, is to
Add 4
Stir in
"=^
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
BIRCH- -continued
LANDSCAPE IDEA
When
over the land. Watch the breeze rustle the leaves and
deciding
which
Most
type.
average
soils,
will
soil.
grow well
an
in
In poorer, sandy
will
river, cherry,
do
well,
tions.
colored
when
barks
water
look
light-
striking
reflects the
With
and yellow
its
golden
the branches
leaves.
that
dappled shade
background
of evergreens such as hem-
Birches
trees.
sunlight,
that
set against a
locks.
lift
which
They
benefits
plants.
when added
You can
Other: In
larly in
some
sider
chewing on
People
a birch
who want
to quit
lenta
fixation.
CULTIVATION
Generally, birches thrive in an area with a moderately
fertile,
and the
rise
summer
occur, cut
have developed
wounds
will not
bleed heavily.
Birches can be propagated from seeds. Pick the ripe, brown,
woody catkins and put them into a bag to prevent loss of seed. Spread
out the seed to dr>' for several weeks. Sow birch seed in late summer
or
fall
soon
after
GROWING CONDITIONS
pH
5.0-6.0.
Soil
Moderately
fertile,
well-drained
moist but
soil.
start
germinate.
46
weeks).
Black Hellebore
BLACK HELLEBORE
Ranunculaceae
Helleboriis ni'ger
By blooming
hearts.
Because of
because of
it
its
signified to
VERY TOXIC
season,
its
astonishing
it
ability-
cheered many
rose.
And
elements of winter,
herb must have great power.
that this
on the
homes
their
DESCRIPTION
floors of
actually
The
root
is
black,
Flowers:
Two
or three,
ter-
USES
However,
its
is
it
poisons.
mended
it
more recent
have prescribed
herbalists
it
for
warts,
Black hellebore
is
l'/2
-2!4
in. in
diameter
Leai'es:
ery, hairless,
Deep
green, leath-
evergreen; divided
Height:
ft.
FLOWERING
January through March.
RANGE
Native to the southern and
mountainous regions of
Europe; naturalized in parts of
North America.
central
plantings,
used
in
GROWING CONDITIONS
CULTIVATION
If
Plant hardiness
pH
zones 4-8.
6.5-7.0.
Soil
Partial
shade to
full
sun.
47
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
BLOODROOT
Sanguinaria canadensis
UNSAFE
DESCRIPTION
Bloodroot is an herbaceous perennial. A naked stem
rises from a bud at the end of
the thick horizontal rhizome.
Orange sap flows through the
shows
but
plant
entire
root.
the
(See
1-2
Solitary,
in.
ranged
whorls;
in
deeply lobed in palmate manner, edges toothed or wavy, upper surfaces smooth and yellowish green, underneath paler
and showing orange veins; 8 in.
across at maturity but only
bloom
partly developed
at
time; long channeled petiole
that grows up from buds on the
rhizome.
Fruit: Oblong, two-valved
1
in.
reddish
brown
Height: 6-14
oval seeds.
in.
bodies with
to frighten
it
ing intended
when
may have
Indian
women
They painted
this
a purpose
for
still
be used
today.
tea
Of course,
made from
was drunk
New
England,
Island, Pennsylvania,
New Jersey;
and
the juice on
official
it.
Bloodroot
Pharmacopoeia from
1820 to 1926.
USES
in
their
RANGE
grows
and
in
Florida to Texas.
HABIT\T
moist,
deciduous
Cool,
wocxls ;ind woodland slopes.
It
has
with bloodroot.
48
it
Long
their fingers
duced by the alkaloid sanguinarine. Sanguinarine stimulates respiration, increases blood pressure, excites the flow of saliva, and in-
FLOWERING
common
eral
HISTORY
corolla
slightly cup-shaped.
capsule,
Papaveraceae
Bloodroot
Toxicity:
the body,
it
No
cases of poison-
done by
Any medical
a physician.
Multiplex' (also
known
as
S.
Sanguinaria canadensis
It
flowers
last
blooms
much
few
d:tys later
than
5.
almost roselike
longer.
Dye: The Indians dyed fabrics with bloodroot, and so can you.
Shades the color of the root can be stained in wool and silk. To dye
these fabrics orange, use no mordant. 'With a mordant of alum and
cream of
tartar,
the
best
when
E.
to
is
M. Jacobs,
ing
CULTIVATION
Bloodroot can be propagated from seeds, but division of the
rhizome is easier and should be done in early autumn. Leave 6 to 8
inches of space bet\\'een plants. If you need to move them for any
reason, the best time is late August or September. Add decayed
organic matter to the soil, and bloodroots will be healthier.
The double-flowered variet\', 5. canadensis 'Multiplex', should
only be propagated by division, according to Thomas H. Everett,
author of the New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia
of Horticulture.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Acid
zone
3-
.soil.
49
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
BLUE COHOSH
UNSAFE
Caulophyilum thalictroides
DESCRIPTION
been touted widely as a healer of female ailments. One of the oldest native American daig plants, it was, for the
American Indians, the herb of choice when it came to problems of
If
Berberidaceae
is
it.
Caulophyl-
Blue cohosh
perennial
ous,
is
a decidu-
plant
with
is
low-green,
Vi
in.
bloom
wide,
the uterus.
1800s
in cluster at
sta-
pistil.
Leaves:
Only one
large
leaf,
may be
leaflets,
further divided
USES
Again and again, books on folk medicine report
this
Fniil:
Height: 1-3
ft.
herb
is,
yet
how
effective
recom-
plant.
berrylike,
Pharmacopoeia.
yel-
mens, one
in the U.S.
the
late
pressure. Caulosaponin
FLOWERING
April.
RANGE
From New Brunswick to
Manitoba south to South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and
Missouri.
HABITAT
Deciduous
woods
and
intestinal
use
it
is
it
isn't
advisable to
for self-medication.
woodland
It
CULTIVATION
GROWING CONDITIONS
pH:
neutral.
Soil
Rich, moist,
Shade.
50
humusy
soil.
"
Boneset
BONESET
Eupatorium perfoliatum
One
DESCRIPTION
Compositae
is
chiefly regarded as
how the
was
ability to
mend broken
its
powers included
is
some-
some
sense.
how boneset
got
its
name makes
high reputation.
It
when
its
of the century,
it
keep them
healthy.
they
Although
Dispensatory from
and
cathartics
and
ders,
the facts
members
of the
makes clear
it is
no panacea, only
no
species
hairy stems.
Its
refers to the
way
stem seems
to
in
name
which the
perforate
the
Dense terminal
of
clusters of
florets;
Leaves:
pointed,
Long,
remotely
tapering,
toothed;
neath; to 8
Fruit:
and flowers
administered in spoonfuls or half-cup doses. Drunk as hot as possible, boneset infusions were also used as emetics (to induce vomiting)
one of
in.
long.
Achenes with
crown of white
were steeped
is
Floivers:
was regularly
the hardiest
Eupa-
iioneset,
torium perfoliatum,
Common
a full
bristles.
Height; 2-5
ft.
RANGE
Indigenous to Mexico, the
West Indies, and tropical South
America; naturalized from New
Brunswick south to Florida and
Texas and west to the Dakotas.
tales,
weed.
tasting,
He
calls
it
an "outdated, bad-
worthless fraud.
since
it
is
a reasonably attractive
though not
first
rank
plant.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
Full sun.
pH: very
tolerant.
It is
in
soil,
51
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
BORAGE
DESCRIPTION
Borago
"What makes the Hottentot so hot? What put the ape in apricot?
What have they got that I ain't got?" Borage?
Had the Cowardly Lion known that borage brought courage to
those
to
who ate
make
Boraginaceae
officinalis
that
it
City.
As a matter of
to
own
fact,
he
backyard, where
make him
brave.
and 513.)
Floivers: Blue, star-shaped
corolla,
Vit
in.
in diameter, five
segments, five protruding stamens with black anthers, in terminal drooping racemes, on
long
peduncles,
five-seg-
mented
calyx.
upper
sette,
ones
alternate,
Four
Height: 2-3
nutlets.
naturally
was a
favorite
among
soldiers
flavored with borage to give them courage. Their fears would vanish,
and they would feel elated. (It was probably the wine. ) According to
used to
as
say,
soldiers
much
means
me
courage,
"
but this
is
this
a pretty loose
is
the sense of
Midsummer (depends on
RANGE
Native to Europe, Asia Mi-
Europe, and
Af-
HABITAT
Sunny locations including
waste places and along roadsides.
it
during war. Ancient Celtic warriors preparing for battle drank wine
Very
seeding time).
rica;
translation; gaiidia
ft.
FLOWERING
nor, northern
HISTORY
spirit to
dusk\' melancholie."
USES
would be nice to think that anytime you needed to allay a little
muster up a little courage, tna^'be before an important meeting at work or before going out on stage for a performance, you could
drink a little borage-flavored wine. But it's likely that if bold you were
to become, it would be the wine, not the borage, doing the talking.
It
fear or
joy
52
Borage
same
it
to
be a
diuretic,
by
demulcent, and
CHEF
constituents.
Its
tannin content
mucilage
makes
is
responsible for
its
a handful
(amount
for 2
mild expecto-
medicine," he
Add
chicken or
rant actions,
significant value as a
.soups)
and
slightly astringent
it
its
other
(or
by adding 2 tablespoons of
minced fresh borage to 4
cups of soup. Use borage
flavor of iced
vegetable
chilled
the leaves are reported to be cooling and soothing and so are applied
to external inflammations
Heighten the
cucumber
TIPS
"It
has
no
Make
fish stock.
by boiling
and stems in water.
a strong tea
leaves
Use the
tea in place of
wa-
lemon or
said.
liver.
flavoring in foods.
It
has a crisp
peel, chop,
You can
borage flowers in
salads or garnish foods with them. In candied form, they make
splendid decorations for pastries and dessert trays.
like celery. Toss fresh
The
leaves and stems enhance cheese, fish, poultry, most veggreen salads, iced beverages, pickles, and salad dressings.
They blend well with dill, mint, and garlic. If you object to the
etables,
MARRY ME?
According to old wives' tales,
borage was sometimes smuggled into the drink of prospecti\'e husbands to give them the
courage to propose marriage.
Mary Campbell
Basket of Herbs
to store
it
is
unacceptable
for the
long-term
when
is
in a flavored vinegar.
is
suits
in a
it.
It is
an especially
53
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
BORAGEGROWING CONDITIONS
pH
Soil
Full sun.
6.6.
-continued
CULTIVATION
Borage is easily grown from seed. You can sow the seed as soon
danger of frost has passed. When seedlings appear, thin them
to a distance of about 2 feet. Borage occupies a lot of room once it
matures. After the initial planting, the herb readily reseeds itself.
Borage will do well in just about any garden soil, but for optimum growth maintain a fairly rich medium. A manure compost is the
best fertilizer. The soil should be loose, well aerated, and hoed
as the
regularly to eliminate
weedy
competition.
Keep
is
easily
If
Broom
BROOM
Leguminosae
Cytisus spp.
Broom
is
LTMSAFE
a colorful, near-hardy
shrub
much
like
DESCRIPTION
Broom
USES
is
a low,
deciduous
with
many slender
branches. (See photo on page
shrub
Nowadays, broom
where many
is
that thrives
169.)
Though broom continues to be used in folk medicine in Europe, many American herbalists consider it too dangerous
to use. Heed the words of American herbalist John Lust: "Large doses
of Scotch broom can cause fatal poisoning."
Toxicity:- The flowering stem tops, when collected before
blooming, contain spaneine, a volatile compound that causes diMedicinal:
demonstrated
that sparteine
was
cardiac disturbances and to
this,
brilliant flowers.
The
flowers
first frost,
stamens;
from
V,
in.
long; ten
or
.solitarv-
paired,
axils.
upper leaves
lanceolate
in.
stalkless,
one
long.
it
lipped. yellow,
Brov\nish
Fruit:
black,
shagg\pod, containing 12
seeds;
in.
Height: 3-6
tail
as 10
ft.
to 18
long.
ft.;
can grow as
ditions.
FLO>XTRING
As early as April, but usuand June.
ally in .May
for
wool.
RANGE
-Native to
CULTIVATION
Typically
kncwn
as a dry-soil plant,
soil.
AJI the
cuttings,
cuttings
Europe; natural-
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
pH:
more
acid
than
alkaline.
Poor,
ordinan,-.
well-drained
soil.
Full sun.
55
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
BURDOCK
Arctium Lappa
DESCRIPTION
Burdock
is
coarse but
by a
which is
an armored clump of
bristly "flower,"
actually
is
a biennial, in cultivation
it
fall.
IM
in.
across; in-
Leaves: Alternate,
mostly
It's
pest.
Compositae
a vegetable;
Love
it
it's
or loathe
noticed.
HISTORY
A centuries-old
of both the great
London
herbalist John
Gerard and a
latter,
who
used
it
as an
image of
it
a persistent
ovate-cordate, to 20
white,
in.
long,
wooly beneath,
with
long leaf
stalks.
Height: 11/2-6
ft.
FLOWERING
it
Summer.
RANGE
Eurasia;
North America.
is
made
it
boon
to herbalists
in
plant shortage
list
it
was
plants,
USES
Medicinal:
is
The
question here
is safety,
seemed
first
i\\e
woman who
bought burdock root tea at a health food store and prepared cups for
herself and her husband. Later, she remembered that both of them
56
Burdock
symptoms
at
the time.
that
first
Some time
after that,
1 Vi
days,
she
and
in
minutes her vision blurred, her mouth felt dry, and according to her husband, she seemed to be hallucinating. She w^s taken to
the emergency room, where doctors treated her for poisoning from
about
five
an atropinelike alkaloid, and she recovered. The doctors were puzzled. Atropine, a poisonous alkaloid found in belladonna and related
mends
recommends
that
One
treatment
colorful use
may
may
by London
It's
women may
BURDOCK, A.KA
beggar's buttons
gipsy's rhubarb
rhubarb
snake rhubarb
pig'.s
ciotbur
bardana
hardock
hareburr
hurr-burr
turkey burrseed
CONFUSION
Don't confuse burdock
(Arctium)
with
cocklebur
(Xanthiiim). Their common
names are used interchangeably, but the
loose, hairy
Likewise,
don't
confuse
Lappa, which
is
often called
which
mon
is
burdock.
burdock
plant,
stxilk
if
minus,
comThe common
usually called
is a generally smaller
anything with a 5-foot
Its leaf
have distinct
stalks).
its
herbalist Nicholas
57
is
and
that
is
Burdock
BURDOCK-
-continued
CHEF
TIPS
ded
and appropriate
in
is
mild
minced
and lemon
carrot,
ginger,
fresh
juice.
cups as a
course or salad.
Seri'e in lettuce
first
root to hot
beverages,
and
CULTIVATION
Burdock
is
It
grows
easily
GROWING CONDITIONS
Full sun.
all.
soil.
its first
when
the
When
do have
the root
is
To speed up dning,
is
an
error, says
Shimizu. First-year
a stalk.
finally
it
fresh or dr\^
in a
it.
food
deh\'drator
59
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
CALENDULA
DESCRIPTION
Calendula
is
an erect,
many-branched annual.
Calendula
coarse,
The
entire plant
clammy.
is
When
bruised,
slightly
it
gives
this riddle,
378.)
Wi-A
in.
yellow to deep
or-
terminal heads,
itary,
covered with
and seems
hairs
fine
across, pale
ange; close
obovate,
faintly toothed;
first
HISTORY
It
at night.
Leaves:
Compositae
officinalis
who
gave
name
calen-
They observed
were
in
mostly
Achenes,
rough-skinned;
boat-shaped,
light yellow seeds unusual in
shape and formation, ranging
from winged to curled.
Fruit:
Height: 18
in.
FLOWERING
Spring through
fall.
RANGE
Native from the Canary
Is-
southern and
central Europe and North Africa
through
lands
to Iran.
was used
ists
it
some physical feature of the herb itself such as color or shape. (This
method became known as the Doctrine of Signatures.) Thus calendula's yellow color suggested that it would be good in treating
jaundice. The renowned seventeenth-century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper claimed that calendula strengthened the heart.
While calendula wasn't considered a highly eff'ective medicine,
it was believed to possess a powerful magic. For instance, a sixteenth-century concoction that was thought to enable one to see
fairies
and
first
wash
it
it
Wash
it
till
the oyle
becomes
budds of young
and the thyme must be gathered neare the
side of a hill where fairies use to be; and take the
the glasse, and then put thereto the
hazle,
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
pH
6.6.
Average, well-drained
Full sun.
60
it
all
not choose
between two
suitors
lie
Calendula
down, and repeat three times: "St. Luke, St. Luke, be kind to me; In
dreams let me my true love seel" And in dreams she would see the
man she was to marr^-. If he was going to be a loving husband, he
would be kind to her, but if he was going to be disloyal, he would be
unkind. Such a method, if it worked, could prevent a lot of divorces.
\X'ell, the taie magic of calendula must have been in its flavor
and color, for the most common use of this plant was in cooking.
Calendulas were tossed into food at every' opportunirs'. They were
practically a vegetable. In England, they were sown with spinach
and often were cooked in the same pot with it. They were just the
thing to flavor a stewed lark or sparrow, advised an Elizabethan
cookbook. John Gerard, an herbalist of the time, reponed that no
serious soup in the Netherlands was without calendula petals, and in
the eighteenth centun', one cook described making oatmeal with
calendula flowers. Cooks made calendula puddings, calendula
dumplings, even calendula wine.
Such a useful plant came to the Americas with European settlers.
They joined the army in the nineteenth centur)- and were used
during the Civil War to help stop bleeding and to promote the
healing of wounds. By this time, though, their heyday was past.
USES
It
foods,
particularly meaningful.
An
made by
cuts, baiises,^
crushing fresh
STOOD TIPTOE
UPON A LITTLE
Open
round of
fresh your
.starn,'
HILL
folds.
Ye ardent marigolds!
Dr\' up the moisture from your
golden
lids.
That
On
lately .stmng:
dewiness he kisses
I have you in my
world of blisses!
him
So haply
when
rove in
some
far \ale
upon
may come
gale.
John Keats
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
CALENDULA^ -continued
PLANETARY HARVESTING
Should a gardener wish
until the
moon
is
in the sign of
twelfth-century
just
to a
can
herbalist
discussion
start a lively
what
meant
among
ogers.
be
the ascendant
in
of rotation
plane
it
when
Culinary: In her
to
its
intersected
Guide
to
Inner
made
beauty of
size
yellow to
brilliant
orange.
Craft:
color to
make
Rose's Herbal
earth going
book Jeanne
fabric, also.
to
tures,
it
hair.
Used
often
early
fasting,
deadly
Our
recently
sin,
who
Fathers
Marys.
cleansed
of
recites three
and three
Hail
CULTIVATION
Calendulas can easily be grown from seeds. Their viability
but a year, so fresh seed
the sun
is
is
essential.
Sometime
in April or May,
is at
least
lasts
when
60 F, sow the
seeds directly in the garden. Although the plants need to be kept free
of weeds and thinned to 9 or 10 inches apart, there is not much more
care necessary. Calendula
is
a hardy plant
and
and
a matter of fact, in
and
They may
and smut.
also
be
62
humid
conditions.
Caraway
CARAV(AY
Carum
Carvi
Umbelliferae
DESCRIPTION
many
For
culinarv'
Caraway
is
usually termed
Some
a biennial.
varietie.s dis-
and going
seed
to
in their first
\ear of gro\\ih.
In
first
its
year of grov^th,
parsnip,
low,
compound umbels.
Leaves: Finely cut, bipin-
USES
Caraway
is still
an ingredient
in
used today
in
scribe
it
plants
winter.
to
be
relatively safe
if
taken as a
fi\'e
Oblong
distinct,
seeds;
pale ridges.
Height: To 2
oil.
ft.
FLOWERING
Spring.
erties.
is
RANGE
seeds in beef dishes, while Germans use them to season pork. Goulash, the Hungarian herdsman stew, is often made with caraway
long;
in.
6-10
stay
Fruit:
for a
some
nate,
The
rural
and
ralized in
Nonh
America.
aquavit of Scandinavia.
and enjoyed
zucchini,
sines of
r\'e,
Germany,
for
its
use
and
fish. It is
common
to the cui
in
Available commercially-
become
('4
to waffle
teaspoon
for a
India, Scandinavia,
raw.
TIPS
bitter
Tt)'
known
CHEF
popcorn.
Whole
63
Flowers
ground with
a bit of toasted
sesame
seeds.
You can take cuttings to produce new plants, but there is really
no need to since caraway is easily cultivated from seed. Once you
plant
it
in
supply of the herb. Set the seeds outside in early spring, 6 to 8 inches
apart, in '/2-inch-deep drills
plant an
autumn crop
that will
some reason, caraway does not like to grow near fennel, but it makes
good companion for peas, using garden space efficiently and helping to keep the weeds down. The long taproot makes transplanting
difficult. If you decide to try, nip off the end of the taproot to promote
drained
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Soil
Full
pH
zones 3-4.
6.4.
sun to
light shade.
fertile,
well-
64
but don't
Cardamom
CARmMOM
Elettaria
Cardamomum
Cardamom
Zingiberaceae
one of those
is
DESCRIPTION
have been
adopted by some ven' different cuisines. It's native to East India, so,
not surprisingly, it's a key ingredient in cuny- powder. It's also \\idely
used in Scandinavian pastries. A tropical shrub, it is a lovely, aromatic
specimen plant for the greenhouse.
USES
alter-
one
Today,
cardamom
at that.
a medicinal
is
also enjoyed a
minor reputation
as
Medicinal:
Fruit:
with three
and cineol. These ingredients make cardamom a stimucinnamon, ginger, or other stronger volatile oils.
Chewing on the seeds is said to relieve flatulence and indigestion, even as it sweetens the breath. A few drops of cardamom oil will
work even better, but the oil is expensive and hard to come by.
Culinary: Cardamom tastes like an air\', gentle ginger with a
pinch of pine. The pods of the plant, which can be white, green, or
black, are opened, and the tiny seeds inside are used whole or
ground as needed. One medium-sized pod contains 10 to 12 seeds
that uhen ground will make about Vs teaspoon.
Cuisines famous for cardamom include East Indian, Scandinavian, Arabic, and central African. Cardamom enhances squash, sweet
potatoes, duck, pork, pastries, pickling brines, sweet and sour meatballs, coffee, and sweet pastries. Its flavor combines well with cumin
and coriander seed.
Available commercially: Dried in pods or ground. The pods are
preferable since cardamom seeds keep best if they remain in their
pods until just before you are ready to use them. Once the pods
open, the seeds lose much of their flavor and aroma.
Aromatic: Place a few cardamom leaves in blanket chests and
drawers. They will give your woolens a lovely spiq.' scent. The seeds
can be included in potpourris and sachets.
Chew on the seeds to cleanse your breath after a spic\- meal.
Add a tablespoon of seeds or leaves to the tub for an especially
ft.
long.
ing
Ribbed
capsules
each contain-
cells,
4-6
terpineol,
lant, like
invigorating bath.
RANGE
Nati\e to the shady forests
of India. Ceylon, and Malaysia;
culti\ated mainly in
and
CHEF
Guatemala
India.
TIPS
.-Vdd
to
fmit
punches or marinades.
or
CULTIVATION
which is why cardamom
They need constant moisture
the
more expensive
spices.
and as jungle
is
one of
as
much
65
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
aSCARA SAGRADi
Rhamnus Purshiana
DESCRIPTION
known by
Also
names
the nick-
and "wahoo,"
cascara sagrada is a deciduous
"shittim"
on
tives
yellow;
in
Tiny,
greenish
umbellate clusters
leaf axils;
Leaves:
tubular corolla
Min.
consists of five
Thin,
lobes.
elliptical;
2-6
in.
long.
in the
about
Vi
in.
in diameter;
when
encloses two or
three pea-sized seeds or stones.
ripe; juicy flesh
Height: 5-25
HISTORY
The name "sacred bark" dates back to the seventeenth century,
it was bestowed on this tree by Spanish and Mexican explorers.
Apparently, they were intrigued by the American Indians' use of the
bark for a wide variety of medicinal purposes. Its most important use,
however, was as a remedy for constipation and upset stomach.
Word of its effectiveness spread quickly over the years, and soon
when
hairs;
Back
liquids, tablets,
earth.
Flowers:
from
ft.
settlers
and
A more
of
the
Pacific
inces.
HABITAT
Chaparral thickets, canyon
walls,
ests
letting
it
cool. Cascara
its
botanical
for-
ills.
RANGE
native
made by soaking a
Pursh (hence
Spring.
"tea"
cold water overnight; the next morning the liquid was drunk as a
tonic.
for several
FLOWERING
Rhamnaceae
States.
poeia.
USES
Even
ington,
and
British
forests of
Oregon, Wash-
Columbia.
equal the mild and speedy action of this "sacred bark"; and unlike
the old days, cascara is now marketed in the form of pills, powders,
and liquids made palatable with licorice, anise, and other flavorings.
66
Cascara Sagrada
COMMERCIAL
CULTrVATION
can also be administered to constipated dogs.
The active ingredients that make cascara such an effective laxaare t^'O r\pes of a subst:ince called anthraquinone. The first type,
tive
it
The other
movement,
in
absorbed
in
is
and
why most
aged
terrific
griping effect
on the
intestinal
system
which
is
Plants, chemical
seem
laxative properties of
its
bark,
nausea and a
Purshiana,
Rlximnns
though a native of the Pacific
northwestern states and provinces, can be cultivated in the
eastern states and elsewhere,
under the right conditions. The
to render
changes
it
that
F.L.S., in
her
occur within
more acceptable
cial cultivation
various
parts
proved
States
cessfiil,
of the trees in
of the United
largely
unsuc-
to the
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
Plant hardiness
Full
sun to
partial
7.
shade.
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
The
Rhamnus genus
ingly diverse.
are
surpris-
Noteworthy
rela-
Rhamnus
califoniica:
\-AVi
undersides,
Bisexual
long.
flowers.
in.
TWo-
An
evergreen,
to Nonh America, it
ranges from Oregon and Nevada to Mexico.
Native
in.,
stiff
spine. V/i-lVi-
on separate
plants.
The
common
who suffer from such condibowel syndrome or ulcers should not use this herb
at all. Nursing mothers should also refrain from using cascara sagrada, since the laxative effect will be transmitted to their infants.
Morton suggests that a reasonable dosage of the powdered bark
vomiting, and chronic diarrhea. People
tions as irritable
extract
cc.
is
(usually
possession of properly
cured cascara sagrada bark, Weiner's //erte/ offers this laxative recipe: Slowly boil 1 teaspoon of bark in 1 Vi pints of water in a covered
container for about 30 minutes. Allow the liquid to cool in the
covered container; drink 1 tablespoon of the coW solution per day, as
needed.
Culinary: Cascara sagrada
is
not generally
culinary
in
some
which
it
is
effect.
them.
It is
choice within
trous, dark green, usually toothless leaves, l'/2-3 in. long. Bi-
sexual flowers in clusters of 810. Alder buckthorn, a deciduous plant, is valued for its extreme hardiness, rapid growth,
and
out,
Morton points
Dr.
the
of
attractiveness.
variety'
Naturalized
in
pumila
tractive
diameter,
black.
an excellent and
rock garden plant.
is
CULTIVATION
As with most other buckthorn
in a moist, fertile soil.
14
shaded
R.
at
It
areas. Propagation
varieties, cascara
can prosper
sagrada
in direct sunlight
fairs
best
or partly
sagrada seedlings.
Harvesting and storage: Trees cultivated for pharmaceutical purposes should be stripped of their bark in the spring and fall. The bark
should be aged at least a year before it is used.
68
Castor Bean
CASTOR BEAN
Ricinus
The
communis
Euphorbiaceae
bean or castor
castor
plant
oil
DESCRIPTION
is
It's
of particular
HISTORY
The
castor
some
parts of Asia.
to
eratida, a Sanskrit
it
We know that
it
gain
its
dinaire.
male beneath,
stigma;
to
four-
less,
petal-
five-part
ca-
h-x,
low
.stamens.
leaves gray-
USES
1
Some
terrific
this is
it
fairly
is
home
remedies.
is still
widely
much
are poisonous,
The
culprit
and other
ricin, a
is
blood-coagulating pro-
tein that
is
found
identified as
in a rash
when
oil is
thirst,
quite safe
and blurred
when
castor
It
oil,
trouble?
ft.
FLOWERING
Midsummer.
RANGE
and the
to
tropical
Africa
weed.
would seem
fairly
vision.
extracted commercially.
pressed.
Height: 8-10
vomiting, diarrhea,
The
castor beans).
Native
The seeds
to sensitive individuals.
in.
pomace
as the
is
own
too great.
The poisons
only.
69
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
CASTOR BEAN^
GROWING CONDITIONS
Fertile, moist,
well-drained
Full
sun
be beat
it's
to partial shade.
is
For
new homes
in
plants that
southern regions,
lished beds,
soil.
-continued
more
clumps of
background
for
Other: Old-timers
it
keeps
all sorts
call R.
its
"smell
'
deterred
in-
sects.
CULTIVATION
Plant castor
soil.
Where
glass,
past.
Choose
a spot in full
short, start
is
fertile
;{
//'t
Catnip
Nepeta Cataria
to
DESCRIPTION
Labiatae
HISTORY
would be
It
guess
how
known about
some
of the
Agnus
castus, a
two words of the manuscript, recommends catnip tea for "evils that a
man has about his throat." That cup of something warm, pungent,
and minty brings comfort to the coughing, congested cold-sufferer of
any era.
The struggle between catnip grower and cat has been going on
in yards and kitchen gardens for centuries. In 1754, the British horticulturist Philip Miller
cats rolling
when
coarse-leaved,
gray-
catnip, but
timeless.
spots;
deep red
it
massed
occur
five-parted;
in spikes.
Opposite,
Leaves:
ovate
with
heart-shaped
bases,
coarsely toothed, 2-3 in. long;
gray-green above, whitish beneath; downy, especially
on un-
dersides.
Fruit:
nutlets.
Height: 1-3
ft.
FLOWERING
July through September.
RANGE
instead of transplanting,
ribbed,
on a patch until
in.
purple-pink
two-lipped
corollas;
naturalized
Eurasia;
Stowe.
some kind
more
to price
A PROVERB
If
you
set
it,
you sow
it.
it,
know
it.
Philip Miller
of catnip, as long as a
71
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
comment on
can't
filled," a
cat
thrill.
USES
A
Medicinal:
tea
made from
treat just
to the valepotriates,
beverage?"
Earlier doctors
\'ar\ing degrees,
ever,
"
;atnip and let it steep. One of the more detailed tea recipes came
from Euell Gibbons. He advised using a little more catnip per cup
than you would ordinar\' tea. He cautioned that catnip's flavor and
aroma are vet}' volatile, so he protected his tea while it steeped by
on the cup.
but more colorful use of catnip was as a sort of
fumigant. Catnip was used by women, who sat over the fumes of
catnip tea, to take away barrenness and wind, wrote the controversial
setting a saucer
less
common
grew herbs
in
London and
he
that
only
The question of
cians
72
reponed
that catnip
flap.
Catnip
some
of
make
now
gredient
comeback
as a salad in-
sharp
was
cially,
England, where
It
was grown commerbefore trade with China and new-fangled imports crowded it
a standard
beverage
in
it
out.
is
both a
little
culinary and a
little
medici-
end of
depending on your
to serve at the
them dry
let
for a
juice.
day or
Cat
Catnip
toys:
is
Chafl^
up his
some
cats
A house
it
seems
to
It's
be
certainly a
a genetic trait
Zoo brought
cat
in several fistfuls,
health, Dr.
some of the
480pound lion.
He can't accom-
73
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
CATNIP RELATIVES
THE GARDEN
IN
ous.
Nepeta faassenii:
Produces
masses of bluish '/2-in. blooms;
grows 1-1 '/2 ft. high.
From a
An oil
cat's
been used
as a lure in
no longer
has replaced
common
which
is
The
oil
cheaper,
it.
ender
grows
A',
ft.
high.
flowers
blue
in
or
yellow;
grows 1-2
high.
ft.
grandiflora:
N.
long;
grows
at
way to start a
may
CULTIVATION
l'/2-3
ft.
'/(
high.
medium
will root in
mer and fall cuttings take longer, if they root at all. Of course, the
easiest way to start a catnip patch is with a whole plant. The HuflFmans
have dug wild plants and successfully settled them into a garden.
However, even that effort may not be necessary. A gardening friend
with any catnip plants soon has extra catnip plants.
Once
CATMINT TEA
Before the use of tea from
China, our English peasantry
were in the habit of brewing
Catmint Tea, which they said
good
Miss Bardswell
lished themselves as
weeds so
widely.
who endured
striped cat
the
name Orphie
WhifFendorfer,
weighed
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
pH
He
sun to
partial
shade.
mer when
the plant
shade, advised
sources
at
is
in full
Or John
to pieces.
Gathercoal,
official
The
official
in
He
advised sorting
when
standards, allowed
74
cats,
Full
fields.
soil.
basically pest-free.
Cayenne Pepper
CAYENNE PEPPER
Capsicum
annuum
If you've
DESCRIPTION
Solanaceae
ever sprinkled
just
a bit too
condi-
ment on your supper and wound up breathing fire for a few minutes,
you'll no doubt agree that cayenne should be treated with delicac}'
and respect. And while most people don't think of the hot red
pepper which is what cayenne is as a medicinal herb, herbalists
love cayenne. They don't limit their enjoyment to putting it on
hoagies and steak sandwiches, either.
HISTORY
The
was
first
bus from the New "World. Although cayenne was probably cultivated
for hundreds, even thousands, of years in the tropical Americas,
Africa, India,
to
and other
first
Columbus seems
pungent herb. Certainly it eluded literary reference; there is no name for cayenne in ancient Chinese, Latin, Sanskrit, Greek, or Hebrew. The name cayenne is derived, quite aptly,
from the Greek word meaning to bite.
The first appearance of cayenne in history books was in 1493,
when Peter Martyn wrote of its arrival in Italy after Columbus's
voyage. "With the growing European interest in and market for herbs
and spices, the discovery of cayenne was important. Later in the
sixteenth century, the great London herbalist John Gerard reported
its cultivation in Great Britain. Since that time, cayenne pepper has
adopted many names red bird pepper, Africa pepper, cockspur
pepper, and goat's pepper, to name a few and has become important with herbalists the world over.
native form,
shrubby,
cayenne
tropical
is
perennial
angular
hardwood
branches and stems that often
have a slight purple cast at the
nodes.
Flowers: Drooping, bloom
in pairs or clusters on long
stems from leaf axils; corolla
star-shaped with five pointed
.segments, greenish or yellowish white, often with reddish or
golden veinlike markings, Yi-Vi
^\ith
in.
Leaves:
is
it
Broad,
elliptical,
in.
long.
Fruit: Technically berries;
pendulous,
podlike;
shiny,
leather.' covering of vaning
shades of red, orange, and yel-
Height: To
ft.
FLOWERING
Summer
RANGE
USES
Subtropical
Though
it
and
tropical
Africa,
cayenne, are not related to the black condiment you normally find on
dining tables and in kitchens. But they do share some of the same
qualities:
toms
75
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
OWENNE PEPPER^
CAPSICUM TAXONOMY
When
named
Carolus
Capsicum
the genus
mid- 1700s,
the
he
Cayenne from
Linnaeus
in
identified
species of Capsicums
had
been
named.
and
described
whose pod
had
ning."
re-
C annuum,
which
in-
two species.
in Africa
Common
paprika
is
is
said to
be the most
when
they turn red, are also highly nutritious but are inferior to the
hot variety
The
on every
count.)
active ingredient in
capsaicin, which,
when
capsaicin
cayenne pepper
is
a substance called
diflFerent
Leone
Sierra
-continued
concentrations.
It is
when
much Tabasco
Oddly enough,
ists
this fiery
its
Grieve, author oi A
bad humors."
Herbalist R. C.
Wren
called
it
medica
....
cold
may
in
generally be
warm
water."
when
feverish. This
seems
to
make
digestive
remedy and
thinly sliced
juice,
76
appetite stimulant
shallots,
known
as
blend of cayenne,
chives or onions, lemon or lime
Cayenne Pepper
Folk medicine aside, cayenne pepper can aid the digestive sys-
PEPPER SNEEZES
If
are
who
the
it's
hot.
cavit\-
probably burn
and the
long
effect
first,
first
but
it's
said to
cavit}-. It
will
be a good remedy,
lasting.
^ry^>~>
\^<;
\^
they
amounts can cause severe stomach upset and even kidney damage.
Those who suffer from these conditions should consult with a physician before using cayenne. (In normal culinan.- uses, howe\'er, cayenne should not cause problems.)
Cayenne can also be applied externally in poultices as a stimulant for chilled skin or as a remedy for painful joints. It slightly
irritates the skin and stimulates blood flow to the area, which reduces
inflammation. Cayenne does not cause skin redness because it affects the sensor}- ner\es and not the capillaries. But excessive contact
with the skin may result in severe dermatitis and blistering.
To make a powerful liniment for sprains and congestion, gently
boil 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper in 1 pint of cider \'inegar. Bottle
One
fire,
and noisome
Capsicum
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
CAYENNE PEPPERCHEF
TIPS
Make
In
dipping sauce
for
powerful nature
and respect
for
its
is
a pinch of cayenne to
corn bread batter before
baking.
chili
bell pepper,
cayenne
and a pinch of
in a
food proces-
sor.
all
-continued
Add
blends.
Hot
Storage note:
because the
when
flavor
chili
powder.
ready to serve.
CULTIVATION
Although cayenne is native to the tropics, you can grow it with
results in temperate latitudes. In fact, it should do as well as
tomatoes or eggplant would in your garden, reaching a height of 2
good
more by late summer and bearing long, podlike fruit. Cayenne grows best in soil that is quite rich. But even if you have average
garden soil, you can get satisfactory results by fertilizing with com-
feet or
wood
ashes.
drought
Harvesting and storage: Cayenne peppers are ready to be harvested when the fruit has turned uniformly bright red. Don't pull the
peppers
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Soil
Fertile,
Full sun.
78
pH
zone
6.8.
moist loam.
10.
off; cut the stems V2 inch from the pepper cap. Hot peppers
keep best if they are dried immediately and then stored in a cool, dry
place. So string them up on a line to dry. Or you can pull the entire
plant and hang them upside down in a well-ventilated place until the
peppers dry.
When perfectly dry, the peppers can be ground into a fine
powder in a food processor. (Be careful not to inhale the powder, or
you'll be in for a surprise!)
Chamomile
CHAMOMILE
Chamaemelum
Chamomile
Compositae
DESCRIPTION
height of 2 to 3
Aiitlxmis
that
Though they
is
are
this
chamomile
German
counterpart.
nor-
name
Chamaemelum
different.
nobile
nial.
tall,
is
a low-growing peren-
Matricaria recutita
is
273.)
Remarkably
apple scent.
like
no-
C.
pairs.
M. recutita: Hollow,
of
downy
than
C. nobile.
feet.
share a
into threadlike
segments
that
appearance;
covered with downy fuzz. M.
recutita ahit coarser than C. nogive
featherlike
bile.
HISTORY
For centuries both kinds of chamomile have been reputed to
was used
delicate fragrance
made them
common
"little
Women
'
as a
way
In Spain,
Fruit: M.
recutita: fivenobile:
ribbed achene.
C.
three-angled achene.
Height: C. nobile: To 9
M. recutita: 2-3 ft.
in.
FLOWERING
Late
spring
through
late
.summer
RANGE
Both chamomiles native
to
is
used chamomile
immersing meat
in
79
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
CHAMOMILE-
continued
German Chamomile
80
Chamomile
TRUE CHAMOMILE
USES
Chamomile has remained one of the world's best-loved herbs.
Many believe it can cure almost anything like a European counterpart of ginseng. In fact, the Germans have a phrase to describe it;
Alles zu trail meaning "capable of anything."
Medicinal: The secret to the chamomiles' medicinal wizardry
t,
the oil
ous
itself
afflictions
mucous membranes;
vari-
as antispasmodics
as
numerous minor illnesses. Ointments, lotions, vainhalations, and the like can also be made with chamomile
anti-infectives for
por baths,
Throughout
chamomiles
t^'o
the
history,
have
been
confused.
Germanic
In general, the
peoples
have
considered
Matricaria recutita to be the
Chamaemelum
no-
bile to
sion
cal-
extract.
umny add
of
derived from
its oil;
even a strong
tea,
he
says,
many
vital oil.
if
Never-
the tea
is
People
who
themums, or other
Aromatic:
Its
Ornamental:
The
plants should
be
moist regions
set
it
may
to the confusion. In
is
"The more
commonly found chamomile
orientation notes,
the genus
Which
plant
the
is
tnie
C.
nobile
chamomile and
who
first
is
the true
that Linnaeus,
classified
and named
resembled
commonly
A.
plant
(Modern
taxono-
have renamed
German
nobilis.
mists
the
called chamomile,
work.'
regularly until the gaps among them are filled. The first two cuttings
should be done with hand shears, but thereafter, the chamomile
81
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
CHAMOMILECHAMOMILE
lawn may be
LOOK-ALIKES
high.
members
Several
member) have
ance and some of
as a
the appear-
known as mayweed. A.
is known as stinking
coluta
around.
have
has an unpleasant
you
plant
It
and
love
it
more
well-known chamomiles. M.
inodora is known as the scentless mayweed and corn feverfew. Although it shares the medicinal
of
properties
the
name
\-ell(nv d\c.
imjilies,
let cool,
and pour
in
it
as a skin lotion.
One
because
facials
it
is
let
the
face.
hair.
Companion
upon chamo
more
and onions
especially, as well as
It is
said to benefit
cucumber
most herbs.
CULTIVATION
to
has a reputation of
blistering
the
hand
that
touches it. But it shares the mesmell,
fairly
prevent blooming.
the charac-
of the chamomiles.
A. arvensis is a wild plant
generally called corn chamomile. In France it was considteristics
Mow regularly to
of the
mowed
-continued
it
yields a
Roman chamomile
will
grow
in nearly
any type of
soil.
The
sandy
soil
The seed of Roman chamomile is very fine and requires a wellsoil; it will drop deep into an ill-prepared bed and disappear, never to sprout. Spring sowing is recommended.
It is easier and quicker to propagate Roman chamomile from the
little oflTshoots or sets that the mother plant produces. They can be
prepared
about 18 inches
apart.
Roman chamomile
is
soil,
spaced
if
plants,
or spring. Planting
when
it
in the fall
is
increased
lished, the
German chamomile
plant will
on the
82
disk.
when
Chervil
CHERVIL
Umbelliferae
Cerefolium
Atithrisciis
DESCRIPTION
that you've
been tr^dng to identify in the fish sauce, will almost certainly turn out
to be chervil, the most retiring of the sister spices that make up the
fines herbes of French cuisine, but one that's good company and not
to be overlooked.
Chervil is a warm herb. Its taste and fragrance fill the senses the
way warmth does, slowly, subtly. You notice chervil in the background, and you are glad to find it there because its flavor and
fragrance are themselves warm and cheering.
of chervil,
and dainty
cate
subtle.
and
is
and white.
in
compound umbels.
Leaves:
Opposite,
compound,
cut leaflets.
have
light
leaflets sub-
Only lower
Fruit:
14
Oblong, segmented,
in.
Height: 2
The warmth of
histor)''s herbalists.
this
The
first-century
Roman
many
of
"does
it,
much
long.
ft.
FLOWERING
Culpeper put
leaves
.stalks.
beaked,
Thursday.
as
is
are branched
Its flavor
vil,
as their flavor
The stems
finely grooved,
thin
green,
HISTORY
stmcture as deli-
a fernlike leaf
please and
warm
RANGE
."
stomachs
During the Middle Ages, chervil was used for a variety of
.
tried
by some people
today.
USES
Chervil works better in foods than
Medicinal: Those
it
does
in
CHEF
remedies.
been considered
infusion
a diuretic, an
eczema, a digestive, and a cure for high blood pressure, gout, kidney
stones, pleurisy, dropsy, and menstrual problems. Of these properties, the most persistently recognized up to this day has been the
ability to lower blood pressure, but no clinical studies support this or
Culinary:
is
It
might not be an
effective
minced
cer-
in
decorative garnish.
French cookbook,
If
it
make
means "blanched
a delicate
and
cerfeuille in a
sprigs of chervil,"
which
are
Steam,
peel,
and
slice
about a pound of fresh
beets. Combine V2 cup of
sour cream or plain yogurt
with 1 teaspoon Dijon
teaspoons
mustard,
2
fresh chives,
and
TIPS
Toss
about
'/2
pound
of
at
the
last
moment to
83
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
cheiA'il in
cook-
add it at the end. Lengthy heating turns the flavor bitter. Chervil
enhances carrots, eggs, spinach, sorrel, fish (especially oysters), veal,
cream, cheese, corn, and peas. It complements tarragon, shallots,
freshly ground black pepper, marjoram, and lemon. Bearnaise sauce
and classic French vinaigrette taste best with a little fresh chervil
ing,
added.
Available commercially: Dried.
Substitute: Flat-leaf parsley.
Storage note:
To preserve
or
dr\'er
\\hich can be kept in the refrigerator or freezer (see the entry Cook-
IVATION
since
it
transplants poorly,
5ermanent location.
If light
it is
best to
in
is
the sun,
water the seed with a misting hose, or cover the furrow with cheesecloth
height, thin
them
inches in
to 9 to 12 inches apart.
at a
sowing again
Some
pH
Soil
Moist, humusysoil.
Partial
for a
fall
and self-sow
growth.
6.5.
shade.
grown
window
84
summer
GROWING CONDITIONS
in late
suffices).
Chicory
DESCRIPTION
Cichorium Intybus
Compositae
at
It's just
some
scraggly
weed
are paying
premium
greens like radicchio or Treviso, which are nothing more than the
forced leaves of special varieties of chicory.
by midday.
Leaves: Broadly oblong or
lanceolate with ragged indenta-
bottom of
diminishing rapidly in
size toward the top, resulting in
a naked-stem appearance.
Fruit: Hard, brownish, oval
seeds, perhaps a tenth of an
inch long.
Height: 3-5 ft.
tions, hairy; large at
plant,
HISTORY
a very old activity. The plant was in cultivaby the flooding of the Nile, about 5,000 years
ago. Its name may have been derived from its Egyptian name.
The oldest complete herbal we have, from the first century a.d.
and written by the Greek physician Dioscorides, mentions chicory,
as do most herbals written since. Charlemagne respected it and listed
it among the 75 herbs to be grown in his garden. In sixteenth- and
seventeenth-century herbals, it was recommended for a motley collection of ailments, which show the theory of the Doctrine of Signa-
Growing chicory
is
FLOWERING
As early as March in the
South and Pacific Northwest;
elsewhere June to October
RANGE
Native to Europe; naturalized throughout North America.
should give some clue to its medicinal value. For example, chicory
will ooze a white milk when scratched; thus British herbalist Nicholas Culpeper in the mid-seventeenth century recommended chicory
milk." Chicory flowers are a lovely sky blue, the color of the most
hard to realize
it's
is
so
all
came from chicory imported by colonists. Thomas Jefferson had some planted at Monticello in 1774, the seeds probably
coming from Italy. He used it as a ground cover in his fields and as
see today
."
mention "a tolerable sallad for the table
It
must have been a success. In 1795, he wrote to George Washington,
describing chicory as "one of the greatest acquisitions a farmer can
have." His fondness for chicory didn't exactly cause one of the public
85
CHICORY- continued
was revealed
be in contact
around the
corner). He defended his behavior, protesting that he was dealing
with the International Board of Agriculture in London, performing
such apolitical tasks as arranging for George Washington to receive
the
flap: In
some
to
just
chicory seed.
1785,
dealer grinds up his color with brick-dust, that by his greater cheapness,
and the
variety of shades
he
offers,
amount of
chicory'
on the package.
Liverpool
company roasted chicor\' roots until they were quite brown, ground
them to a powder, and then re-formed them into little bean-shaped
pellets that they sold as coffee beans. Fortunately, later pure food
been more
legislation has
successful.
USES
There's a popular belief that chicory smooths out coffee,
may be something
counteracting
its
to this belief
bitter
on the
ably, these
86
Chicory
system and the heart than the cafFeine-rich coffee with which
it
is
usually mixed."
Medicinal:
ists
are
Combine
is
considered by herbal-
the liver
dandelion.
root
is
The
CHEF TIP
is
used dried
cooked
like spinach,
and the
3 cups of small,
chicory leaves with Vi
cup of thinly sliced sweet onions and Vi cup sliced orange
sections. Toss in M cup of
minced fresh chives and serve
with apple cider vinegar and
fresh,
stir fries,
or sautes.
Dandelion greens
when
dried or
frozen.
CULTIVATION
Pan of the secret of growing chicory
garden with deep, rich, friable soil, the
thrive.
Dig
in
and
is
finding a
sort of place
before seeding.
thin seedlings to about a foot
and store the roots in a cool, dry place. Some gardeners arrange
them in a big box, alternating layers of roots with layers of dry sand,
and then putting the box in an unheated garage.
tops;
first
dormant
at least
18
filled
with decent
soil,
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
zone
3-
By
harvest
fall,
it
now or
dig.
is
You can
the time to
pH
Soil
6.4.
Full sun.
think about another option, forcing the roots for winter greens.
87
CHIVES
DESCRIPTION
Like
all
Allium Schoenoprasum
they are
may
not realize
The hollow,
there.
Liliaceae
Did you ever wonder why recipes don't ever call for using a
Why no one ever talks about eating just one chive? Perhaps it is
because they multiply so quickly and grow so closely together that
when you go out to the garden to pick them, you can never pick just
one. Or perhaps it is because chives taste so good that no one can eat
chive?
just
one.
HISTORY
at
in
at
bel
at
Chives have been added to foods for nearly 5,000 years. Native
top.
much
in
most herbs,
herbalists
FLOWERING
believed that chives could drive away diseases and evil influences
June.
RANGE
Native to Greece, Sweden,
USES
Although
widely cultivated.
this plant
HABITAT
virtues
historically
another reason
found
in all
This
oil is also
oil
responsible
and medicinal properties o( Allium. Sulfur oil is antisepand helps lower blood pressure, but only in fairly large quantities.
oil
medicinal applications.
Culinary: Best
known
for their
taste like
sweet, mild onions. Mince the fresh, slender leaves and use
recipes or as a garnish.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
zone
3-
Whole
them
in
tarragon.
pH
Soil
Moderately
6.0.
soil.
Full sun.
well-drained
try, fish
and
shellfish, veal,
fact,
chives suit about everv' flavor except sweet. For texture and zip, add
chives
at
the very
last
sautes.
88
either.
Toss them
in salads,
or gar-
taste
good
in
herb vinegars,
too.
Green
part of scailion.
settings.
blooming, keep their neat appearance throughout the spring, summer, and
fall.
Plant
any species
vegetable garden.
Craft:
Both
common and
and make
Companion
planting:
chives as a
CULTIVATION
"feu
can
start
70 F for best
results.
Sow them
Vi
flats
of soil
mix. In two to three weeks, you'll begin to see green sprouts appearing.
When
moved
to the
garden.
some from
be divided every three years anyway, and
most gardeners are eager to share. Plant clumps of up to six bulbs 5
For faster results, purchase spring plants or "borrow"
a neighbor. Chives
need
to
CHEF
you leave the plants to bloom, cut them back after they have
They will send up leaves again in the spring.
Container gardening: Chives can be brought indoors for fresh
harvests all winter long. Dig up a clump in late summer and plant
them in a pot. Leave the container outside for several months to
insure that the tops die back and the roots freeze. The bulbs need a
cold dormant period in order to send out leaves again. Then, bring it
indoors and place on a sunny windowsill. Plants will sprout within a
few weeks, and you'll soon be enjoying freshly snipped chives again.
Harvesting and storage: The leaves can be snipped any time
If
inches
tall.
mow
down
keep
need some
leaves in order to
growing.
The
attempts
Saute
minced
flowered.
TIPS
or
cloves
of
oil
Add
a splash of ol-
and
serve
with
cmsr^' bread.
flowers and leaves are most often eaten fresh, and most
at
89
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
CINNAMON
Cinnamomum zeylanicum
DESCRIPTION
Cinnamon
ovate to ovate-lanceo-
about 7
in.
long.
to
it.
Fruit: Pointed, V2 to
Height: To 40
USES
recommend cinnamon as an astringent,
and carminative to aid digestion and relieve vomiting.
Recent studies by Japanese researchers show that cinnamon contains
a substance that kills fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms, including Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism, and StaphyMedicinal: Herbalists
stimulant,
in.
long.
ft.
RANGE
Native
world exploration.
pannicles.
posite,
Cinnamon
small,
is
Lauraceae
Sri
Lanka and
in
gillus parasiticus
that
It
produce
aflatoxin, a
all sorts
potent
of possible
used
is
is
pungent and
it
slightly sweet.
dries,
it
The
Cinnamon
vian,
is
as at
it
is
in desserts.
It's
vital to East
CHEF
TIPS
freshly
satility
Whole or ground.
Ground sweet flag at one-third of the amount.
Aromatic: Used sparingly, cinnamon oil or bark nicely comple-
minced
teaspoon
fresh
cloves of
ginger,
minced
an
stir-fry.
of the tomatoes.
in the refrigerator
is also wonderful
punches, ciders,
beverages, and
90
Substitute:
garlic,
hour, then
Available commercially:
of
blueberries,
it
sits
stick
in spicy
mulled
fruit
soups.
CULTIVATION
Varieties of
grown
cinnamon can
where they
are
specimens in collections.
Plant in well-drained, sandy loam and provide plenty of nutrients because they are fast-growing trees. Propagation is by seed or
cuttings of half-ripened wood, started in the spring in a hotbed.
as ornamentals or
Clary
Salvia Sclarea
DESCRIPTION
Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
leases
As an ingredient
say,
pleasant
strong,
(See
fragrance.
on
(hence another
large bracts
among
it.
clary at
common name
muscatel sage)
and made the wine more potent. Clary was also substituted
for
hops
in beer.
flowers are
in.
downy,
green,
oblong,
long, dull
wrinkled,
Tiny
Fruit:
brown
seeds,
dark
to black.
Height: 3-5
in
balsamlike
more
The
branches.
HISTORY
If
ft.
FLOWERING
June and July.
RANGE
Native to southern Europe
and the Mediterranean region;
widely cultivated.
USES
Most of the
have declined
Medicinal:
wash
to
Some
more
herbalists
remove foreign
particles
practical,
still
in popularity.
uses for
recommend
There are
GROWING CONDITIONS
it.
A typical
approach
soak
4.8-7.5.
Soil
Average to sandy,
drained soil.
Full sun.
is
pH
six or
dry,
well-
Clary
is
is
questionable.
also reputed to have antispasmodic, astringent,
carminative properties.
Its
and
91
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
recommend an
a kidney tonic.
It
digestive system
is
is
essential
oil.
upset, have a
cup of
internally,
clary tea.
so
if
your
try
making
used; they
from clary
oil
to
and more.
liqueurs,
bal-
Try
perfumes.
It
and .soaps.
Ornamental: Clary's white, blue, or purple spikes look pretty in
an herb garden or formal garden, where you will enjoy its fragrance.
Cosmetic: Because of the herb's astringent properties, an infusion of clars' makes a good skin-freshening lotion. Add an infusion to
fimies,
CULTIVATION
You can propagate
Once
clary easily
and
in the spring.
the early
fall
or spring.
The
second year
to
be divided every
three years.
fact,
your
soil is poor,
fertiliza-
first fall
ground around
clary with
92
If
if
when
the soil
Cloves
Syzygium aromaticum
Myrtaceae
DESCRIPTION
and
sniff deeply.
One
it
an
air
The whole
tree.
is
woody
evergreen,
nonhardy,
tree
is
highly
commer-
USES
trunk
Medicinal:
The mild
been
oil
Dentists also
it
oil as
Some
an ingredient in mouth-
at
allergic reactions.
less
red-tinged color;
sometimes use
oil
concentrated
petals,
more
glossy green,
long,
large
into
gray bark.
in
dividing
on shon
hairy;
petioles;
fra-
oil.
grant.
fla-
The small dried buds are used ground or whole. Generally the
whole buds are removed from food before serving. Strongly flavored,
clear clove oil can be substituted for ground cloves where the ground
cloves would discolor the food.
Fruit:
vor.
split
compotes, rhubarb,
prunes, cranberries, pickling brines, strong meat stews, cakes, puddings, mincemeat, marinades, spiced teas,
They
prominent
and China.
are
India,
in the cuisines
Available commercially:
Aromatic: The
berry.
ft.
RANGE
Native
to
the
widely cultivated
car, India,
in
Moluccas;
Madagas-
Whole
fierce, oily
Long
Height: 15-30
or ground and
oil.
ing as well as in cooking a peculiar affinity for fruit. The clovestudded pomander is the traditional air freshener for stale rooms and
is also used to repel moths and to ward off diseases. (See Scents from
Herbs for details on making a pomander)
CULnVATION
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Ordinary
Full
zone
10.
soil.
sun or
partial
shade.
even
in
is something you
experiment or as a hobby.
would do only
as a challenging
93
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
DESCRIPTION
Coffea arabica
During fniit-bearing
is
remaritably
Be-
pretty
sight.
Delicate,
star-
abundant
clusters;
fragrance
reminiscent of sweet-smelling
jasmine; remain just two days
after
opening.
Leaves: Opposite, pointed,
bright
cherry;
almost
smooth, glossy, Vi-Vi
or
round,
in.
long,
teas,
it
their favorite
beverage
specific,
a decoction).
it's
is
to
many long-time
ft.
RANGE
Native of Africa; naturalized in Asia, South and Central
is
ties
of the
fruit
HISTORY
Although the botanical name
varieties
what
is
is
for the
Coffea arabica, the plant hails not from Arabia but from
now
Ethiopia,
feet.
it
as a
food: Using mortars, they crushed the ripe berries (called cherries),
mixed them with animal fat, and shaped the mixture into balls. These
were consumed before tribal warfare. Coffee as a drink
emerged later, not in the steaming hot form that we savor, but as a
wine derived from the fermented juice of the ripe cherries. It wasn't
until A.D. 1000 that the Arabs learned to boil coffee and serve it hot.
Italy was probably the first European country to become acquainted with coffee. Italian fleets toured the world and established a
huge trade in silks, spices, perfumes, and dyes from the East; coffee
most likely entered Europe in this way.
Coffee did not reach England until nearly a century later, where
it immediately became popular at Oxford. After a fight to keep it at
delicacies
well.
As
drink's
came
one
new "golden
94
be
is
Height: 15-40
Indies.
sea-
Rubiaceae
and
to
some
in.
in-
Coffeehouses
as well as the
of choice
Middle
among
East. In
intellectuals
thinkers.
number
profitability. Coffee's
many
varieties
many
keep a
roasting
to satisfy a
USES
Its
coffee.
at
common companion
before coffee
became
it
was
its versatility.
medicine
flu,
fevers,
ills.
it
other
is
employed
modern
ills:
at
snake-
in
pharmaceuticals. Caffeine
other
many
to cure
atropine poisoning,
The
in folk
the
all
many
is
ills
is
caffeine.
prescription
common
and over-the-counter
it
95
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
COFFEE^ continued
BREW UP SOME
ASTHMA RELIEF
A cup
can be injected as an antidote for poisoning or an emergency treatment for respiratory failure, although there are other methods of
of coffee
may help
asthma medication
in patients
widens the
passages in the lungs, allowing asthmatics to breathe easier
caffeine effectively
air
much
as a 15 percent increase
[a
measure of breathing
trouble
all
caffeine-containing products."
case
its
FEVl
in
treatment that are more commonly used and much more effective.
While there are other means of obtaining caffeine to use in these
pharmaceuticals, decaffeination of coffee is the most common.
A negative side exists, as most people kno'w. In large amounts
caffeine "produces many undesirable side effects
from nervousness and insomnia to rapid and irregular heartbeats, elevated blood
sugar and cholesterol levels, excess stomach acid and heartburn,"
Varro Tyler, Ph.D., explains in The Honest Herbal. He advises "mod-
is
evi-
this
CULTIVATION
on
a regular basis.
grown
in
getting scorched)
adequate
soil
fertile soil
moisture
be treated with
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
zone
is
rot. If
conditions
become
is
equally im-
fall off.
Plants should
from scale
10.
if
pest problems
they
come
dealt
with appropriately.
Full sun.
But
in areas
96
air.
Coltsfoot
COLTSFOOT
Who
SUSPECTED CARCINOGEN
Compositae
Tussilago Farfara
its
its life
embrace
name and
several
nicknames
as
it
for
virtues
that
DESCRIPTION
Coltsfoot
tremely
bechioii, the
Romans
coltsfoot has
both words
mean "cough
its
early reputation).
People suffering from inflammations, swellings, burns, evysipelas (also known as St. Anthony's fire), and wheals (swellings or
welts on the skin, usually itchy) were treated with poultices of
crushed coltsfoot leaves and
roots.
Water
distilled
Flowers:
1%
in.
at niglit.
stem; broad,
fuzz.
RANGE
Native to northern Europe,
and North Africa; naturalNova Scotia and Quebec to New Jersey and West VirAsia,
ized from
USES
HABITAT
as a healing herb that coltsfoot
is
made
its
mark, but
its
Stream banks,
in fields,
and
on ridges or embankments.
in question.
flower
Early spring.
ginia.
was
in. in
FLOWERING
It
Mass of fluffy-topped
seeds.
Height: To 6
fighting
yel-
composed of
also inhaled.
Native American Indians and American settlers also put this herb
contemporary' use
Composite,
across;
Fruit:
work
in
when
fades.
licorice.
to
of.
low,
Coltsfoot has
peper.
early
plant" (so
get rid
.scaly
HISTORY
For
difficult to
Growth begins
spring,
perennial
is
is
97
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
COLTSFOOT- -continued
Its reputation is deserved. What is quesmethods employed by herbalists to get the mucilage
and onto the trouble spot. As noted, teas have been
throat-soothing mucilage.
number
Varro Tyler, Ph.D., author of The Honest Herbal. "The useful muciis not volatile and would not reach the affected tissues," he says.
As wrongheaded as it may seem, a favorite remedy for asthma
and bronchial congestion is to dry and smoke coltsfoot roots. It has
been recommended though not here since the days of
Dioscorides and Pliny. Certain herbal tobaccos blends of lavender,
rosemary, thyme, chamomile, and other flowers are still marketed
as expectorants and throat soothers, particularly in Britain. Dr. Tyler
lage
clears the
rational therapy at
all,
for the
is
not
'the
showing
liver;
they concluded
of the liver (66 percent)." Dr. Tyler indicates that the rest of the plant
could be similarly harmful and concludes that neither the leaves nor
the flowers can be considered safe for medicinal use.
some
it
was used
in
also
made from
the herb.
It
has virtually no
modern
uses.
Stents
CULTIVATION
GROWING CONDITIONS
Full sun.
or seeds.
98
^\^
m
Zatar
La
M^T^J^L
Oregano
.;.,^.
Fennel
Creeping Savory
Comfrey
COMFREY
Symphytum
Throughout
histon,'
it
SUSPECTED CARCINOGEN
Boraginaceae
officinale
in addition
a great healer.
by a few vision-
aries as a
that
Now
comfrey
it
stands
DESCRIPTION
HISTORY
Comfrey
heavy bleed-
hardy, upis a
perennial that dies
down in the winter and comes
back strong every spring. Inch-
right, leafy
of the
first
B.c
it
broken bones. In
fact the
word comfrey
is
to stop
lotig
plant
oflTers
Moved by the
suffering caused
by the
Irish potato
famine
in the
1840s and driven by a vision of the world being saved from hunger by
comfrey, Henry Doubleday, an Englishman, established a charitable
and use of comfrey. The association bearing his name is still in existence today and publishes
pamphlets and books on comfrey's history, use, and cultivation.
The setback came in 1978. A study found that rats fed a diet
containing dried comfrey leaves and roots developed liver tumors
after six months. Initially, the news prompted even the Henry
Doubleday Association to caution against all but the external use of
the herb. More recently, however, the association has sponsored
additional research along the lines of the 1978 study and seems set
on refuting its findings.
association to research the cultivation
and white
side
within.
They
frey
names
another of
slippery
its
nick-
(See
root.
'/2
in.
mens.
Leaves: Entire, lanceolate
to ovate-lanceolate, join
deep green,
up
stem
at
to 10 in.
hain'.
Four nutlets.
Height: 3-5 ft.
Fruit:
FLOWERING
May through
frost.
RANGE
Native to Europe and Asia;
naturalized
on
tinent.
HABITAT
Rich
banks and
along stream
moist meadows.
soils
in
USES
Debate about the safet\' of comfrey for internal use is far from
comfrey is an externally useful medicinal herb,
over. Nevertheless,
103
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
COMFREY- continued
and
it
comfrey have been replaced by plaster and gauze, but for bruises and
external wounds and sores, this herb is an effective remedy. The
healing compound in comfrey is allantoin. Scientists have found
allantoin in the milk of nursing mothers and in the fetal allantois, a
tubelike sac that eventually
some way
affects multiplication
and burns do heal faster when allantoin is applied. Currently, pharmacologists add allantoin to ointments and creams used to treat
various skin problems.
it
seems
to
be
healing process.
Individual claims
abound
for
its
and
psoriasis, bruises,
and
it
in hot
boil comfrey.
sprains.
foot,
eczema
If
it
and
allantoin.
Comfrey
Internal use
is still
not recommended.
daily diet
potherb.
to
end
If its status
this practice,
knowing
that
comfrey
is
in fact a
poor source of
tion
on how
to
make
dyes.)
CULTIVATION
Do grow this plant for its fine benefits. You can propagate
comfrey by seed, by dividing roots in the fall, or by taking cuttings at
any time. Set plants 3 feet apart in the ground. Choose the location
carefully as comfrey is a tough plant to get rid of once it has established itself. Comfrey grows fairly easily and requires little maintenance once you get it started.
Harvesting and storage: The value of comfrey for medicinal or
cosmetic use
Two
showed
spring,
it
is
the
new young
is
By
The rhizome
search
Association,
long
first
cal
damaging
type
in
comfrey,
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Soil
Full
pH
zone
3.
7.1.
the rhizome.
105
COMB\NION PLANTING
up and
die.
who
be hard-pressed
to find a researcher
conduct experiments
one
Why
a plant
fail
in
location
another question.
the
last
can
affect
ways plants
by trapping
pests, or
106
Companion Planting
A GLOSSARY
HERBS FOR
TASTIER VEGETABLES
seem
to taste better
when
tomatoes, and
It's
bit
dill
if
is at
work
here:
There may be
at least a
of truth to these associations. Herbs that shade the soil might keep
this
to
recommend
mals
may even be
Plants or ani-
hosts:
feed on
food isn't
that insects
able.
ited
none
relies
totally
when
avail-
fairly lim-
almost
on
one
between the
plants. Early gardeners looked fondly on the dandelion as a companion in the orchard and vegetable patch. We now know that dandechemical reaction
Alternate
their preferred
helps cabbages.
possible something
The process by
which one plant releases chemicals or phuoioxins that inhibit
the gro'w'th or development of
another growing nearby.
Allelopathy:
taking place
lions not only attract pollinating insects but they give off ethylene, a
it
be
that a tree
faster,
than one
Autoallelopathy:
by which
The process
produces
(phuotoxins) that
inhibit the growth of members
of the same species. Thus, the
roots of an apple tree might release substances that would
harm other apple trees growing
a
plant
chemicals
nearby.
ENEMY HERBS
Gardeners are onl\- human, and they hold grudges. Indeed, you
might say, they've held a few horticultural grudges for hundreds of
years! Many plants, from tiny herbs to fuU-gro^Ti trees, have been
blacklisted as dangerous companions in the garden. Herbals and
garden writings are filled with indictments of dozens of plants. Grass
"destroys
"
trees;
it
seems, there
may be
uncovering evidence
truth to
that
some
many
of these claims.
blackberries,
lilacs,
called allelopathy,
Among
plant cho-
to
Inteyplanting: Also called intercropping. The practice of growing rwo or more crops at the
same time in the same field or
this
by exud-
its
The phenomenon
Companion plant: A
They do
other's growth.
of these plants. For example, the black walnut tree exudes a chemical called
Surprisingly,
beneficial,
shadow,
is
inal-
is
is
107
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
below
scientifically
Herb
are
some of the plant combinations that gardeners have long recommended. None has been
some do seem to make good common sense as interplants. Test them yourself.
proven, but
Companion Planting
COMPANION PLANTING^conunued
harm certain species. Often they are
present in such small amounts that their effect on other plants is
hartily noticeable. Funhermore, these toxins have to travel through
the soil or air, reach the target plant, and be absorbed, all without
losing their poisonous powers. More often than not, the material
e\'aporates or leaches away, or some chemical change renders it
innocuous before
Still,
there
is
it
ever reaches
its
target.
Among the
of allelopathy in several
some chrv'santhemums on
lards,
and
lettuce,
on
wormwood on
col-
peas
and beans. Cleady, all the facts aren't in yet. But if you find that a
plant is failing in your garden and all the usual explanations don't
seem to work, consider what's growing next door! ft could be that
or flower or tree
is
the culprit.
flea
it
does.
They
plant basil
near beans and have fewer bean beetles; garlic near roses and have
wormwood
little
"
butterflies;
tiums,
tobacco against
that
common
para-
many
help control
garden pests.
Chemical
Pheromones:
sub-
individuals of the
Insect
territorial
Some
markers.
plant chemicals
beetle and
There's remarkably
or
We know that many, perhaps even most, insects rely on taste and
effect?
and feed on
other insects. Parasites lay their
eggs on another insect; when
the lar\'ae emerge, they consume their host. Tachinid flies,
chalcid,
braconid
and
smell to find dinner. To find the right plant, for example, the
to feed.
cies.
same
A GLOSSARY co>/rtz/e^
mimic these
Phytotoxin:
Plant
produced
some
hungry
reactions.
They
growth
attack,
kill,
and
eat
beetles; catnip
and
nastur-
tiums against green peach aphids; catnip and tansy against squash
T. patula) against some nematodes,
Mexican bean beetles, and possibly against Colorado potato beetles.
Lots of work remains to be done in this area. But to most herb
enthusiasts, such .scientific confirmation isn't important. They swear
by the benefits of repellent plantings.
109
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
list
below
to
help you
map
arrangement.
Pest
Ant
Peppermint, spearmint,
Aphid
tansy,
and
wormwood
and
spearmint
and tomato
Asparagus beetle
Basil, parsley,
Cabbage
Southernwood
butterfly
Cabbage looper
Cabbage maggot
Carrot
fly
and
wormwood
wormwood
and wormwood
Codling moth
Garlic
Corn earworm
Cucumber
beetle
Cutworm
Flea beetle
and rue
Spiny amaranth
Catnip, peppermint, rue, spearmint, southernwood, tansy, tobacco, and
wormwood
Imported cabbageworm
Japanese beetle
Leafhopper
and tansy
iVIouse
Wormwood
Mole
Peach borer
Garlic
Rabbit
Garlic, marigold,
Spider mite
Coriander
Squash bug
Radish
Tomato hornworm
Dill,
Whitefly
no
and onion
wormwood
Companion Planting
COMPANION PLANTlNG-continned
GOOD BUGS TO
HAVE
GARDEN
How can you distinguish
IN THE
While some companion plants protect
their
neighbors by repel-
some cases,
plants. In
they feed, they get sick or lose their ability to lay eggs.
Eighteenth-century growers recommended radishes as a "trap"
cabbage maggot. Many gardeners claim that mullein traps stinkbugs in apple orchards, and borage lures Japanese beetles away from
other plants. They plant goldenrod to trap cucumber beetles and
for
proven by researchers.
make up
his
It's
own mind
up
to
traps.
the helpful
insects
from the
Ground
beetles and
soldier beetles,
ti-
are
If
stick around.
attract
is
food to
flies,
the like.
and some
pests' eggs,
Hover
flies
or syrphids
flies
we
at-
them.
egg laying. Plant ferns, evergreens, and all sorts of nectar-rich flowers
to keep them in the garden.
Parasitic wasps, such as the chalcid, ichneumonid, and
trichogramma, are invaluable for their control of caterpillars, aphids,
111
BENEFICIAL INSECTS
Adult
COMPANION PLANTING-
continued
and other soft-bodied pests. But they must have nectar. Since most
are very small and could drown in the nectar of larger flowers, these
wasps need small, open flowers such as Queen Anne's lace, dill, and
anise. All flowering members of the carrot family host most parasitic
wasps. Milkweed and catnip also help sustain some species.
Plant composite flowers
daisy, goldenrod, chamomile
and
spearmint,
jackets,
mud
flies,
peppermint, catnip
adults,
to attract
paper wasps,
they catch caterpillars, grubs, and other insects to feed their young.
flies
prey on
all sorts
closely to provide
first-class pollinators.
have no garden
fruits
butterflies)
we'd
as well.
112
Companion Planting
insecticides
from tobacco
wood
Other widely used botanical insecryania and ryania powder, and quassia
leaves.
chips.
Thus, they
predators
any insect
in
its
path and
poisons
just
about
is
may
kills just
die
about
all caterpillars,
It
many beetles
problems.
Several experiments offer encouraging results. Sprays of both
seems
garlic spray
Braconid
The
wasps
less than a
quaner inch
pests.
egg
The trichogramma
you can buy for
parasite
biological control
is
a rype of
wasps,
stay
flowering plants.
seem
to benefit
Wasps also
from nearby
evergreens.
Ichneumonid wasps
are
pan of
and
and
ichneumonids during
their life cycle.
sion of butterfly
The
less.
possibilities for
home-brewed herbal
the insect,
and
try
general rule of thumb seems to be: the stronger the smell, the
more
113
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
is
a pre-
and tips.
Using fresh herbs: Some say it started in California at restaurants
like Spago and Chez Panisse. New Yorkers claim it began in the
Village and spread from there, and others say James Beard had been
doing it for years.
Regardless of where it started, any red-blooded lover of food has
realized that there's a new culinary aroma in the air, and that aroma is
herbal. In restaurants, markets, and in the home, fresh herbs are
becoming commonplace. They're being sprinkled, pureed, and sauteed with everything from appetizers to desserts.
individual herbs for additional ideas
In
fact, in
many
and the
and
marjoram
114
fullest
aroma,
MAXIMIZING
THE FLAVOR
To
that
be rubbed between your hands before adding to marinades, soups, stews, and punches. The amount of
leaves to add will vary depending on their size, but use the 2teaspoons-for-4-servings rule and try to visualize how many whole
leaves will make that amount.
For the best flavor in long-cooking foods like soups and stews,
add fresh herbs during the last 20 minutes or so of cooking.
Conversely, fresh herbs may not have a chance to release their
flavors in uncooked foods like salad dressings and marinades or
ipe
may be
necessarv' to
When
Work
add
To
intensify
briefly in a
our staples were bay leaves, dried oregano, and cinnamon, our
nary'
exploration
is
We now own
Dried seeds
like coriander
now
for
our gumbos.
norm
culi-
like
ginger
to
it.
where they'll last for about two weeks. Be sure the leaves are
completely dry, or brown spots may develop.
Using dried herbs: Although this is the most common condition
Where once
herbs
the
ator,
changing.
lemon
minutes to an hour.
whole
is
the rec-
sealed in plastic bags, and placed in the crisper drawer of the refriger-
collection
in
oil,
or vinegar
bles with
common
for
weeks.
for
them
flavor
can be used
stock,
juice,
the
Whole
develop
let
the
flavors
spices, toast
dr>',
of
them
heavy
skil-
before using.
cupboard.
flavorfijlly
when
and
just after
free
the
imperfections.
people, or about half the amount you would use of fresh. Smell the
herbs before using them to make sure they're aromatic. Then rub
115
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
AND CRUSHING
An
is
method:
tr\'
to
this
a standard-size
mouth
perfectly
many blender
into
will
fit
them
if
-continued
enhance
their flavors.
Herbs may, of course, be dried in commeryou don't have one, there are lots of alternatives.
For starters, use your oven on its lowest setting. Spread the herbs on
cookie sheets, set the sheets in the oven, and leave the oven door ajar
to help encourage circulation. Stir and check the herbs occasionally.
They're dr>' when the leaves crumble when pinched and rubbed.
Bouquets of herbs can be hung to dry. Choose an airy, dry place
like an attic, and hang the herbs upside down. Tie a paper bag over
tlie bouquet to keep it from the light and to catch falling herbs. The
bouquet may take up to two weeks to dry, but check its progress
Tipsfor dryhig herbs:
But
cial dryers.
if
daily.
Microwaving
because
is
another alternative.
humid weather
in
the herbs
Start
may
with a
sunny
clear,
reabsorb moisture
day,
when
removed from the microwave. Brush soil from the leaves and stems
stiff paintbrush. Then place about a cup of herbs in a single
layer between paper towels, and microwave on high for about three
minutes. (Delicate herbs like thyme should be turned every 30
with a
seconds.)
If
and
start
let
the
when they
or when the
and
rattle
when you
Herbs
refrigerator.
in a
in the
paper (not
them
abo\'e or next to }'Our stove, for the heat will dissipate their
flavors.
116
them
in tightly
covered glass
jars
ain,'
place. Store
a coffee grinder,
powder or
paprika.
also
is
you use
If
be dried using a commercial dryer or your oven. Store the dried pieces in a tightly covered
glass jar Grind as needed for garlic powder or onion powder
Using frozen herbs: Clever chefs are learning that the herbal
Garlic cloves
pantr)^
COMBINATIONS
FOR FREEZING
AND DRYING
The
freezer provides a
spices because
its
low
basil
and thyme
for other
t:ist\'
Italian
parsley
if
you need
to grind
room temperature.
Many frozen herbs can be used
them
at
if
as
parsley
blanch. Although the color of the herbs will usually stay greener
and aroma
will often
be
and chives
Tough stemmed herbs like basil, tarragon, and sage should have their leaves removed for freezing. Brush
off the soil with a stiff paintbrush rather than washing because too
much water may dilute flavors. Once the leaves have been brushed
and removed, lay them out flat on a cookie sheet and freeze them for
several hours. Then place them gently into freezer containers or
bags, and they'll be easy to remove individually as needed.
The big question when freezing herbs is whether or not to
and parsley
mint,
dill,
lovage,
oregano,
dill
and chives
basil,
and thyme
if
sacrificed.
arrange
them
thyme and
dill
in freezer containers or
them
as
bags and
seal.
Use whole
needed.
117
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
and
borage,
dill, shallots,
and
chilies, garlic,
oregano, and
cider vinegar
mint, honey,
mony of the
cardamom
dill,
rice vinegar
cider vinegar
and
cider vinegar
fennel
recipe.
Choose white
-continued
vinegar, white
wine
vinegar, red
wine
vinegar,
to deglaze pans.
oil,
peanut
oil,
or other vegetable
warm and fragrant. This will take three to five minutes, depending on
how much oil you're heating. Then pour the oil into a glass jar to
which you have added fresh herb sprigs, herb leaves, garlic, or chilies. Use about three 2-inch sprigs, one clove of garlic, or one chili for
each cup of oil. Let the oil cool, cover, and store it in a cool, dark
place for about six months. Use the oil to saute and in marinades and
salad dressings.
Making herb
rie
a breakfast table or
more
flavor.
They also
jazz
up
tastes.
Combine about
118
buuer curler
them with
and
store
it
Vi
cup
in the
poached chicken, or
CLASSIC HERB
AND
warm
fish.
biscuits or toast,
Use
it
steamed vegeta-
to saute.
SPICE COMBINATIONS
tastes are
little
The
leaf,
and olive
saffron, garlic,
dill, garlic,
and
oil
and sunflower
and
oil
olive
oil
and
cardamom
idea behind a
bouquet garni is to keep the herbs contained so that flavor, but not
flecks, will permeate the food. The little bundles can be made up of
several fresh herb sprigs tied together with string; fresh or dried
make
fresh ginger,
oil
safflower oil
string,
seed, coriander
other cultures.
ball;
garlic,
olive oil
and peanut
oregano, thyme,
and
Our
COMBINATIONS
FOR FLAVORED OILS
olive oil
to find.
occasional additions of
The
become good
COMBINATIONS
FOR HERB BUTTERS
For breakfast butters:
mint and dill
costmar^'
and tansy
shrimp
old
a dash of
marjoram and
garlic,
garlic
chives
119
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
WHAT HERBS GO
BEST
WITH
The question
is
true that
your
own
culinary experiments.
Lamb
Corn
Cher\il
Saffron
Basil
Chives
Sage
Bay
Lemon balm
Thyme
Cinnamon
Eggplant
leaf
Spinach
Marjoram
Mint
Onion
Coriander
Parsley
Cumin
Rosemary
Dill
Saffron
Onion
Oregano
Garlic
Ginger
Sage
Tarragon
Dill
Parsley
Lemon balm
Thyme
Garlic
Sage
Savory
Mushrooms
Basil
Cinnamon
Marjoram
Mint
Thyme
Eggs
Anise
Marjoram
Basil
Oregano
Caraway
Cayenne
pepper
Parsley
Rosemary
Saffron
Chives
Coriander
Sage
Savory
Tarragon
Dill
Thyme
Chervil
Caraway
Fennel
Chervil
Fish
Chives
Rosemary'
Anise
Marjoram
Basil
Oregano
Borage
Caraway
Parsley
Chervil
Saffron
Rosemary'
Chives
Sage
Dill
Savors-
Fennel
Tarragon
Garlic
Thyme
Ginger
Fruit
Anise
Lemon balm
Cmnamon
Mint
Clove
Ginger
Rosemary
Pork
Anise
Savory
Tarragon
Thyme
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
wise
to
straint.
it
-continued
is
It
is
famous
white
cinnamon,
in East Indian
masala.
is
chilies, ginger,
allspice,
garlic,
it
is
called
cay-
cook-
garam
Thai.
ways:
much
of the herbs
and spices as possible out
Strain as
of the dish.
Add
a peeled, whole,
raw po-
clude
If
possible,
lots
that
of fresh
basil.
in-
commonly com-
be heated before
Note
Chili powder
eating.
is
a combination of
that
always contains dried chilies plus a selection of garlic powder, oregano, allspice, cloves,
all
dried spice
Now imagine that you're pickling carrots. Think about what flavors
enhance them. You could choose cinnamon, nutmeg, bay, and peppercorns.
SALT-FREE BLENDS
Are you one of the millions
The
bitter.
salt, is
122
"
salt.
By
bitter,
flavor
flavor
PEPPER PARTICULARS
World
consump-
is
Association.
Malaysia.
Union
agreement in
which they swap Indian
pepper for Soviet construction equipment.
have
For poultry':
pepper
a trade
In 1984, the
pepper
consumption of
white, and
(red,
garlic
For fish:
minced
fresh
dill,
lemon
juice,
and mustard
seed
For yellow
and orange
vegetables:
minced
juice,
and minced
The
33
sales have
percent
since
New
York
research company.
business
Frost
and
thyme
cinnamon, apple cider
and minced fresh lovage or celery
fresh ginger,
vinegar,
leaf
minced
fresh
fresh
thyme
123
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
For cheese
's
magazine:
beebalm
For beans,
daylily
and eggs:
minced fresh chives, minced
and paprika
freshly grated nutmeg, dr\' mustard, and freshly
ground black pepper
minced fresh oregano, garlic, and minced fresh
thyme
minced
fresh
dill,
fresh parsley,
tiful
borage
calendula
clii\e blossoms
-continued
rice,
chilies,
English daisy
forgetmenot, Myosotis
fresh oregano,
and
garlic
scorpioides ot M. sylvatica
geranium
hollyhock
impatiens
lavender
saffron, garlic,
fuchsia
SWEETNESS ENHANCERS
lilac
mint flower
nasturtium
adding
calories.
pansy
portulaca
redbud
rose
snapdragon
squash blossoms (especially
angelica
stem
in salads
beebalm
violet
frs'ing)
in
beverages
in sparkling waters
in frozen
fr\'ing)
desserts
violet
and rose
in
condiments
vanilla (just a
compotes, and
fruit tarts
EDIBLE FLOWERS
Many
fned
in a light
124
batter.
cornmeal or
is
in salads, stuffed, or
flour batter.
edible,
which
is
a nice
way
of saying
Coriander
Coriandrum sativum
DESCRIPTION
Umbelliferae
that coriander
is
is
der,
more than
few
Tiny,
white
in
to
short-stalked
flat,
outer
flowers
larger
pin-
many more
interesting facts,
and they have accumulated over a great period of time, for coriander
has been cultivated for more than 3,000 years. Seeds of coriander
have been found among the funeral offerings in ancient Egyptian
tombs. From Egypt, in all probability, the herb came into use by the
ancient Hebrews, who made it one of the bitter herbs involved in the
ritual
rays,
umbels;
HISTORY
The
It
10
surprises.
grooved
finely
erect,
stems.
a fragrant ingredient
offers
is
ments.
Fruit: Seeds,
brownish
yel-
in.
long,
musty odor,
in
sym-
metrical clusters.
Height: 2-3
of Passover.
ft.
FLOWERING
time.
der with
medicines from
coriander as
time,
it
mind.
Others developed coriander concoctions with lust in their mind,
for they believed that it aroused passion. This rumor may have begun
in an Arabian fantasy. The Thousand and One Nights, in which
this in
Spring or mid- to
mer,
depending
on
sumsowing
late
RANGE
cultivated in Morocco,
Mexico, Argentina, Canada, India, and the United States. In
the United States, it is found
mostly in South Carolina.
rope;
USES
This herb has had
years.
It
does have
some potent
properties assigned to
it
over the
it's
to soothe upset
chew
The
U.S.
and carminative."
125
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
CORIANDER- -continued
Immature Plant
Coriander does have valid use in modern medicine but primarily
as a flavoring agent to
mask the
taste
is
compounds in
on the stomach that
of other
irritating effects
more
often appreciated in
fruits,
or roots.
are
surjorising that this spice sets a spark in the cuisines of Southeast Asia,
China, Mexico, East India, South America, Spain, Central Africa, and
126
Coriander
Available commercially:
preferable. Leaves
stores
of
fish
for
or shellfish
by combining
and
use:
Coriander
is
gin.
that
is
Once
in
;2(:/ they
potpourris to give
them
lemony scent.
extracted and used
oil is
gro^;^^;h
planting:
to scent
Vz
enhances
reportedly
the
does
relish
for
spicy
combine
of anise.
it
oil.
Coriander
chili,
To make a
poultry- or lamb,
Companion
teaspoon
Mix them
Vi
justified as a
garden plant
if only for
bees and other
marinade
pound
age.
Create
Commercial
liqueurs,
one
TIPS
CHEF
CULTIVATION
Add
Vi teaspoon of ground
coriander seed to the batter (for one loaO of gingerbread or banana or carrot
bread.
you
will do best to sow the seeds directly into beds as soon as the danger
of frost has passed (April or May in most parts of the United States).
In ver\' mild climates, seed, which is slow to germinate, may be sown
in the fall. Put seed in drills V2 inch deep and 5 to 9 inches apart.
Vihen seedlings appear, thin, if necessary', to allow at least 4 inches
bet^'een plants. Caraway, a biennial,
ander because of
its
is
difficult to transplant,
soil
funher
When
Seed
seed as
it
falls
Soil
Moderately rich,
drained soil.
Full
6.6.
light,
well-
or threshing
pH
the
hang
GROWING CONDITIONS
it
out for
a bitter taste.
leaves for the best flavor. Dried leaves store poorly, but the seeds will
store well
if
kept in stoppered
jars.
127
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
COSTMARY
Chrysanthemum Balsamita
DESCRIPTION
a leaf\- perenbalsamlike fra-
Costmar^'
with
nial
(See photo on
grance.
page
513.)
rays,
heads gath-
across;
in.
is
at
top of
stem; yellow.
margins,
Gray-green,
siloblong, serrated
two small lobes at
base
some
Leaves:
Compositae
to
its
brittle leaf
of
leaves
l'/2-5
leaves to 12
Fruit:
leaves;
long,
in.
upper
lower
The
like they've
Late
HISTORY
Its
Tiny seeds.
summer.
RANGE
Native to southern Europe
and western Asia; now rarely
found wild, but cultivated in
Europe and North America.
mended
CHEF TIPS
add
to
tuna.
Add young
leaves to a glass of
lemonade.
Make
tea
It
was
liver, for
two seemingly
and
it
disorders
the British
officially listed in
as a gentle laxative,
and
oriental plant.
It was introduced into England in the sixteenth centun,; where it became popular and could be seen growing in gardens everywhere.
Like clar\', costman,' was a beer drinker's herb. Its leaves spiced
their pints of ale. Fresh leaves were also added to salads and to heart)'
soups and stews.
The seventeenth-centur}' British herbalist Culpeper reported
that costmar)' "maketh an excellent salve to cleanse and heal old
ulcers, being boiled with olive oil, and Adder's Tongue with it. After
straining, a little wax is added to thicken it." Herbalists recom-
Mince
meaning
ft.
FLOWERING
grand-
in.
Height: To 3
down
hairv;
vers',
grown
contrary- uses.
The one custom that most endears a person to costmary is its use
bookmark. Since colonial days, costma^^' leaves have marked the
pages of Bibles and prayer books, hence its nickname, Bible leaf. It
did not serve as just an innocent bookmark, however. Sleepy churchgoers benefited from the scent and flavor. 'WTien the sermon became
long and boring and their e^'elids drooped and heads began to nod,
they would pull the leaves from their prayer books and sniff them or
nibble on the edges, and they would be revi\-ed at least for a little
while. You could probably determine which parish had the most
boring clergy by the amount of costmary grown in the area's gardens.
as a
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Soil
Fertile
Full
pH
zone
4.
6.2.
USES
loam.
sun to
partial
shade.
\bu could
who slumber
still
128
would
now and
benefit
by
this leafy
marker.
spirits,
and
Costmary
do well
in their studies.
much
like
those of
haps currently
its
greatest virtue.
The dried
it
leaves
make
is
per-
good
either alone or
and water.
Costmary can be used to make herb baskets (see the entry
from Herbs)
CULTIVATION
Propagation by division
produces
little
is
really the
them 2 feet apart. Costmary spreads rather easily once you've started
them and will probably require dividing and transplanting every few
years.
do
It
Do
it
ground.
Harvesting and storage: Harvest small quantities of leaves
time from one plant, as few leaves are produced up the stem
at a
most
grow from the base of the plant. Collect them before they yellow.
The leaves take only a short time to dry at a temperature of about
100 F.
Once
129
and
abun-
craftwork.
The pleasure
is
not
all in
itself
soothes
and
refreshes.
herb
when she
is
ready to
start
visit,
make
lying
on
lamp
in the center,
they
a treat for the palate as well as the eye, a perfect gift for a
is
good cook:
1
Soak several handfuls of sphagnum (not milled) in water until
wet throughout, about 15 minutes. Cut a strip of '/2-inch-mesh
chicken wire 3 inches wide and 14 to 18 inches long. Bend the long
up
to
water out of the sphagnum, so it won't drench the table while you
work; then pack it tightly into the trough. (A good dense mass of
sphagnum will give the plants a firm base and will hold water well.)
2. Bend the trough sides together until they overlap slightly and
you have
sides together
are about 6
130
ck
in
hopes of discovering
striking effects.
some
cade of petunias.
4.
hers
she soaks the whole wreath for 15 minutes in a tub of water with a
fertilizer. If herb tendrils start growing in odd direcprune them back or wire them into shape. In about six weeks,
you should have a fully covered wreath.
dash of plant
tions,
PLANTS
wooly thyme
For fragrant wreaths:
ia\ender
some
little
unusual holiday
1.
neys
globes have
of the
prostrate
.scented
To
gifts.
rosemary
santolina
add
geranium
color:
marigold
petunia
at least Vi
and
water. Then, wearing rubber gloves, swirl each ball in the solu-
Hook
sphagnum moss
131
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
list
meanings
traditionally
as-
cribed to them:
love,
basil
in
dill
grief,
endurance
geranium, scented
The
wash
continued
water.
color should
off easily. If
off
it
(available
'/)
over the
4.
soil.
some
in-
more festive),
and remove the bottom pair of leaves. Using tweezers, poke the
cutting through the chimney and into the soil. Make sure at least one
node is below ground. Put the point of a long-necked squeeze bottle
cluding
make
tie a
when
a perfect rooting
happiness
Cc07itiniied)
TUSSIE-MUSSIES:
"Making things
meaningful
is
one
thing, but
making them
another,"
a tussie-mussie
These
little
is
that
.says
each plant
in
it
has a meaning.
them
love)
and rosemary-
(for constancy). If
send back yellow roses (for infidelity) and larkspur (for fickleness).
He'd best rush for the white violets (innocence) or a lot of rue
(repentance). After laying waste to several flower borders, they
might get the matter soned out, or perhaps she would finish the
liaison with one scorching handful of fumitory (for hatred).
132
Crafts from Herbs
THE LANGUAGE
continued
faith
mantle protection
devotion
lemon balm sympathy,
lady's
lavender
regeneration
life,
full
interest
spirit
herb patch
is
hostility
lasting
violet
make
with what you have," Lane emphasizes. Using only the plants from
makes the bouquets absolutely distincand expressive of the maker. She describes seeing a tussie
mussie in National Geographic whose maker was not identified. She
the backyard or a nearby field
tive
wrote to ask about the maker, commenting that the style didn't look
American to her, and if she had to guess, she would say that it had
been made
in
England,
at
received an astonished
exactly right.
it
needs
for a tussie-mussie."
133
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
point. This
main message
is
Lane's starting
is
through her garden searching for plants that express her theme,
preferably something colorful. Perhaps opal basil flowers for
good
just
is
in particularly
finally
make a good combination for the flowers. These last plants she looks
up on returning indoors, and often she discovers that their sentiments would be perfect for the occasion. She has made tussiemussies with as few as 2 kinds of plants and as many as 36. (The 36
went into a tussie-mussie for Nancy Reagan to whom Lane had a lot
to say.)
become
irrelevant.
an
Here
activity
is
go
at
is
her approach:
symbol
for the
with a
frame of
little
something wispy
added
perfect.
personal
Lane
strips the
style.
makes
for contrast.
little
this is a
matter of
for a bulkier
when
re-
little
it
Then
fold
up
it
it
with a
in the
middle of the
Ribbon
134
doily, fold
down
them with
a !4-inch
florist's
pin
If
the bouquet
eventually going
is
Lane creates a
little
wax
GOOD HERBS
FOR BASKETS
protector for the doily by dipping the points of the X-cut in paraffin
costmary
flax
tussie-mussie
wrapped
this
way. To keep
lets
for
trail
down.
hours
when
long ends
several
it
When
the bou-
goldenrod
mints (for fragrance)
mugwort
Queen Anne's
.salvia
lace
for color)
tansv
quet dries, remove any sprigs that didn't dry gracefully and rewrap
the stems.
final note.
ing what you intend the plants to symbolize. Even a fellow speaker of
the floral language might appreciate clarification
several meanings.
mean
on
easiest
way
to
make
is
to start
most
These highly textured baskets with a
heather\' blending of colors make a dramatic container for any numpliable,
and then
ber of displays
let
them
at their
dry.
pinecones,
stufl^
Armstrong:
florists
centers
carr\'
woody
to bend.
2. To weave the first row, select one or two leafy stems. Anchor
one end of the bunch by poking it very far down into a crack between
two ribs at the base of the basket frame. Weave the herb stem(s) over
and under the wire ribs. Press the stem(s) down against the base as
firmly as possible. The stem(s) will probably go all the way around
the base with a bit left over. Then just use the same stem(s) to start
the next row. Weave under the ribs you went over the first time and
vice versa.
3.
When
the
finst
in,
select
135
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
same
the basket.
When you
down
Weave herbs
into
a wire-frame
basket.
start
just
:i.^r~
Add a handle
to
rib
5.
When
you've
woven
three-quarters of the
way up
the frame,
add
a handle.
Finished Basket
6.
so
jars
it
can
dry.
In drying flowers
brown
is
on
At
us.
way to break
we
first
a dried arrangement
When
the rules:
can have
tufts
and
seems
like
dis-
such
blue petals, clumps of tawny flowers, hundreds of echoes of summer. But consider the "unnatural"
couple of days.
Air-drying
is just
It's
trick:
Mother Nature's
The
warm
a matter of
principal
air,
of drying
and a
way possible.
in a dark attic
with a
members
its
sort
them in bunches,
dehumidifier, and wait. There are
Staff
Libbey Oliver,
tie
who
supervises Wil-
liamsburg's flower arranging, but air-drying produces a look appropriate to the colonial atmosphere. (Silica drying
is
described
later
it
can be refined
art.
how
do it:
1. Choose plants that work. The most common mistake that
beginners make, says Libbey, is to try to air-dry the wrong things. The
technique just doesn't work on some plants, particularly those with
large petals that
shed
is
Pick flowers
at
with
open more as
much as possible on the vine (see the accompanying
when some
still in bud;
top leaves remain)
strawflower
flowers are
let
to
opeti:
chive flowers
best)
to
dry as
to
yarrow (yellow
Here, step-by-step,
2.
Flowers
open:
Flowers
hang them
other ways
way
a light breeze,
FLOWERS FOR
AIR-DRYING
florist's
artemisia
Pods
to let
dry on plant:
love-in-a-mist
green or dried)
list.
For flowers, strip the leaves: the less plant material on each
Of course, no
stripping
is
neces-
in
her drying
attic.
The drying area should be dark and well-ventilated. Air movement is the key. Heat won't be much help if the moisture has no
place to go. Williamsburg's drying
attic
137
USING DRYING
clearly.
Drying powders
while the
plain Kitty
air dries
Litter,
1.
open. Cut off the stem right under the blossom. Poke a piece of
florist's wire into the center of the flower, and pull it through until it
forms a wire "stem." Bend one end of the wire into a little nubbin so
it won't pull through the stem and out the bottom. (The flowers will
be too fragile to wire once they're dried, but the wire is essential if
you want to stand the flowers in a vase.)
delphinium
forget-me-not
hollyhock
larkspur
marigold
rose
zinnia
138
dPi'ing
HINTS
ON COLONIAL-STYLE
DRIED ARRANGEMENTS
work with
They may
absorb moisture on rainy
days and become a little
on
good
you will
arrangement
"wilting" as you put it together Don't panic; just
a
find
day,
the
herbs
hours or overnight
until they recover.
eral
To achieve arrangements of
rich texture, use some
dried flowers that are
spiked in shape (like
some
celosias);
round and
fairly
marigolds);
are
that
big (like
some
and
pearly everlastings)
add a Valentine's
We
We
it
as a centerpiece.
Hang a
hatchet in
it
for
George's
of wreaths.
colors
at least
own wreath
at
the Rodale
tions;
and
seem
filling material to
These are
something
it
with
that
florist's
wire.
richer.
matter of personal
taste,
of
that
too
many
1.
2.
German
statice)
wreath.
139
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
continued
3.
flowers,
Fill
the
with
containers
finger
bility.
florist's
foam.
Start
among
the
tall
stems any
more
than
necessary.
Libbey
starts
with
flowers, putting
low
them
in
flowers with a
140
on
it.
fade.
wreath:
1.
Cut a long
strip of
you want
in the wreath.
Using
big wire.
Just keep adding bunches until you've covered the wire. The
most important part is keeping the bunches close to each other.
Otherwise there will be gaps when the wire is bent. (Peggy prefers to
keep the composition simple. She advises people to use no more
constructing a dense
core for the arrangement,
After
wire in several
artemisia.
neutral flowers.
When you
have
filled
bend the
garland into whatever shape you want. 'Vbu can have a wreath, a
heart, a circle
wound herb
part>'.
with Mickey
Mouse
ears, or whatever.
Dandelion
nmDELiON
Taraxacum officmale
DESCRIPTION
Compositae
and medicine.
brown on the
The
derivation of the
first
is
outside.
Golden
Flowers:
yellow
diameter on smooth, hollow stem
protruding from the center of
flower head
!/2-2 in. in
Leaves: 2-12
become
potherb
in
its
By the
Europe
and America.
The
taproot
opens
in daylight.
who knew
The
finger
little
HISTORY
The
in.
long, very
Fluff}',
downlike
round seed head cont:)ins a cluster of as many as 200
achenes; narrow seeds with
parachutelike tufts, carried by
Fruit:
puflhall;
plant picked
up
number
common names
of
something of
its
daisy, puffball,
that reveal
gowan,
Irish
the wind.
time.
Height: 6 in.-l
ft.
FLOWERING
kite .spring.
RANGE
Native to Europe
Our word
lion,
and
throughout
naturalized
Asia;
the
USES
Medicinal: As an herbal medicine, dandelion root has held a
among European
distinguished place
dried root
is
The
evidence exists to
herb.
CHEF TIP
The
ists
to treat diabetes
of the
is
juice of the
be.st
dandelion root
and
liver
is still
aid in digestion,
and
It
also
is
It
as an appetite stimulant.
Make
it
as
Create a
pastries
by combining minced
dandelion
le;if,
ricotta
cheese,
and a pinch of
mint. Fill pastries and bake in a
moderate oven until browned.
fet:i
cheese,
you would
141
DANDELION-^connnu.d
flavor, add ginger, sliced lemon, and
orange rind. Use 1 gallon of boiling water and 3'/2 pounds of sugar to
each gallon of flowers. Add a wine yeast for best results.
hi many parts of the world, dandelion roots are roasted as a
dried by
artificial heat,
that
cofl"ee,
and
then ground for use. You can mix roasted dandelion root with coffee,
much
as chicory root
is.
They
Cosmetic: Dandelion
is
well as internally. Use the leaves in herbal baths and facial steams.
wool.
If
the
whole
plant
is
Companion
go around ripping
that you
recommend
LTIVATION
Dandelion greens are more nutritious than spinach. Cultivated
produce greens with a milder flavor than the weed. Seeds
can be collected from the wild plant for sowing in shallow drills, 12
varieties
finches apart, the following spring. For the best results, prepare nar<5w, raised
lith
sawdust or fine
wood
soil that
make
it
depend on the
you have
GROWING COISfDITIONS
in
Any
soil.
Full
sun to
142
fall
partial shade.
to
mke
if
you wait
until
eat
to blanch
them
first.
"
mNGERS OF HERBS
Herbs are wonderful
'
some
call
them. By definition, they are useful to man, for food or physic, color
or fragrance, or simply for their beaut)' But the herbal realm
without
its
Each
is
not
dark side.
year, countless
It
may be
causes a brush
unpleasant
gerous.
of the matter
fact
is
that
some
herb
Among the dangers that surround herbs and their uses are these:
Misidentification: An herb lover collects plants from the woods,
wayside weed patch, a farmer's pasture. He or she gets the plants
home, brews
tea or prepares a
first
mouthful may
group of friends
in a
all
became
violently
talized.
Writing in the New Ybrk Times, health writer Jane Brody recounted the stor\' of an elderly couple in Chehalis, Washington, who
heard about and decided to try comfrey tea as an arthritis remedy.
"The wife picked what she thought was comfrey and prepared tea,
which the couple drank with lunch," Brody reported. "Within an
hour they were overcome with nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. The
husband discovered that what his wife had picked was not comfrey
but a similar-looking plant called foxglove, the source of the toxic
heart drug digitalis. By the time the ambulance arrived, his wife was
dead and his own heart rhythm was so unstable that hospital treat-
may be
totally
armed with
a paperback
book
or rw'O
you fe;ioz/what
that plant
is
it.
package's label
is
is
accurate.
in Eastern
143
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
DANGERS OF HERBS-.
:ontinued
South America,
of people think of
terms of seasonings, of
lot
in
The FDA,
craft plants,
fragrant
after
all,
and
gardens.
classifies
them
as such.
where there
in
of
chamomile
workers
in
is
use machines that cut the whole plant. So the chamomile you buy
covered
that the
forces maybe at
man who suffered
more deceptive
in
when
at
symptoms
macognosy
resulted from the high percentage of caffeine found in kola (but not
at
the Philadelphia
and
active
components
alL"
Some
are actu-
dangerous to be used
at
in
gotu kola).
requirements.
still
remain, of course.
happen with
advice or directions.
a brand
is
It
[Convallaria majalis
L.)
if it is
"One
'
.
of
them
tells
which he
us that
titled (point-
lily
of the valley
all
modern
women who
it,
re-
is
suffered
They
didn't
know
that
common
folk
laxative.
The
point here
is
how
importitnt
it
is
to
nosists
144
when
it
comes
Dangers of Herbs
And
"He who
an "unnatural product."
It
is
2.
from
from plant to
That
How
plant.
or
self-collected,"
Ph.D.,
"it is
important to
re-
member
stituents
.storage,
tors."
What
this
self-medicator
means
is
that the
may
innocently
underdose or overdose, simply
becaLise different specimens of
the same herb may be widely
divergent in potency'.
tion.
Your self-medication may cure your minor ailment, but aggrablood pressure.
These dangers prevail whether you are using herbs or more
5.
does
in.
The
too.
R.
F.
at
Dalhousie Uni-
Nova Scotia, is a member of Canada's Expen Advisor\' Committee on Herbs and Botanical Preparations. He summed
up the concerns about self-medication: "First, most of us aren't
trained to diagno.se symptoms of illness. If you start following your
.son of control
own
versity in HalifiLX,
may delay
is
that
may
or
may
by diagnosing and
you
well beyond the point where
treating yourself,
tency,"
it
be
utilized to as-
Unfortu-
DANGEROUS HERBS
The
fillip
145
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
DANGERS OF HERBSOVERDOING
IT
common
danger
herbal self-medication
is
"over-
doing it."
"What happens is that
some people think they can
make
good thing
California
Koehler.
better," says
It's
prompts people
to take three
of tea
is
must be
Nan
herbalist
If
cup
Or
if
a tea
is
became
interested in herbs,
decided to
tial oils. I
try
put
lently red.
essen-
few drops of
cinnamon in my
just a
essential oil of
bathtub, and
some
out
my
same
internally."
ment
146
The
of
damage your
lists
-continued
organs.
36 herbs
that are, in
one way or
another, dangerous.
The
listing is
list
of danger-
ous herbs, from the FDA's unsafe herb list, and from a toxicity
ranking in James Duke's CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs.
'"We take a very cautious attitude toward the use of potent medicinal herbs," says Mark Bricklin, executive editor of Prevention.
The magazine's dangerous herbs list, he points out, "is not complete,
but covers most of the common herbs as well as some uncommon
ones." The toxicity of the included herbs varies greatly, he says, and
it includes some herbs because they may present a danger to people
The FDA
list
called the
"for
GRAS
food use"
as foods or
is
list,
for
and
safe herbs.
The
latter
category
is
often
food additives.
"It must be realized," the FDA report points out, "that no matter
what recognized use there may be for any herb, such as GRAS or
regulated flavor or spice, exaggerated usage or abuse outside of the
context of customary usage may introduce safety problems, which in
no way reflect on the safety of the herb when used in moderation.
Too much of any herb is toxic."
Duke's ranking grew out of hundreds of phone calls about the
safety of individual herbs. For many years Duke was chief of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Medicinal Plant Resources Laboratory.
Even after the laboratory was closed down in 1981, he continued to
get calls. "Some inquiries came from those who might be called
champions of herbs,' " he wrote, "others from 'enemies of herbs,'
but perhaps most came from confused citizens barraged with overzealous statements, pro and con. 'Within one year alone, I was asked
about more than 100 herbs by the FDA, trying to protect consumers
from certain herbs, and/or the late HTA [Herb Trade Association],
trying to educate consumers about the utilities of the herbs. Often
one faction would be promoting an herb or concept the other faction
was denouncing."
Duke came up with the idea of comparing individual herbs to
coifee, a widely consumed decoction. "On a safety scale of zero to
three," explained Duke, "I rate coffee 'two,' not real safe, not real
poisonous. A score of zero means I think [the herb being rated] is
much more toxic than coffee; perhaps deadly in small doses. For a
Dangers of Herbs
score of one,
would discourage
all
seems
to
me
to
be
would not be
afraid to
seems
immoderate."
new
information.
experts
':
Tyler,
Duke supplemented
his
own
whom Duke
147
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Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
DEADLY NIGHTSHADE
Atropa Belladonna
VERY TOXIC
Solanaceae
Every family has a black sheep, and in most, the black sheep isn't
really black but grav'. In the plant world, however, the Solanaceae
one that gave us those delicious tomatoes, egghas a whole flock of black sheep.
plants, potatoes, and peppers
There's henbane. jim.sonweed, and European mandrake. The
family
DESCRIPTION
Deadly
nightshade
is
cylindrical,
purplish
Flowers: Bell-shaped,
five-
in.
long,
bloom
individually
is
deadly nightshade.
HISTORY
Much of the ciark histor\- of deadly nightshade is revealed by its
name. According to mvthologv; Atropos, one of the three Greek
goddesses of fate, used the poisonous berries of this herb to cut the
thread of life. So the generic name of deadly nightshade became
Atropa. Belladonna is derived from the Italian words for beautiful
lady. The most common and perhaps most plausible explanation for
why
name
is
that Italian
women
placed drops of the plant's juices in their eyes to dilate their pupils
fall.
Leaves:
Alternate,
ovate.
green on
upper surface, paler green underneath, conspicuous \'eins.
purplish midrib, 3-9 in. long.
2-4 in. wide, upper leaves accompanied by smaller leaf.
Frtiit:
Roundish
berr\-.
turns from green to deep pur
ptiinted. entire, duskv'
pie to black.
'2 in. in
diameter,
reach 6
and make them more beautiful. Another legend, though, tells that
men once belie\ed that deadly nightshade changed from an herb
into a beautiful lady, delightful to
when one
.said to
ft.
but
ft.
FLOWERING
he an ingredient
women would
Europe.
England,
the
United States, and northern In
is
not surprising
in the
at
which
it
go unnoticed
either.
fly.
Deadh' nightshade's
USES
States.
HABIXVr
forests,
and
wretched
past,
Those
likely to manife.st
home
is
themselves
in a
qualities,
truly deadly.
added
158
This
tral
Meadows,
de\"il.
kill.
waste places.
plant of the
RANGE
United
fa\'orite
herbs, in a way.
Midsummer
North
.Ages,
into the
c~an
that nice
made from
the leaves.
Deadly Nightshade
but
when
It
was
child-
was ceased. The law made use of this drug for a brief time, administering it as a truth serum to suspected criminals.
Ironically, though deadly nightshade is Itself toxic, one of its
compounds, atropine, is an effective antidote for certain poisons. In
1967
in Tijuana,
who had
uses of this drug with their beautiful eyes. Atropine also helps to
control
it
mucous secretions
in the throat
and
respirator,' passages,
and
mouth and
weakness,
and sometimes paralysis and coma. A person who has merely handled the plant may also show some signs of
delirium, rapid heartbeat,
POISONED?
Julia
method
Follow
my counsell,
in
your garden.
in
Major Meinter-
determining
deadly nightshade poisoning in
an individual. Take a few drops
esting
CULTIVATION
Morton
them
in-
under light,
the person
it
ate
some
night-
shade.
159
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
Anethum graveolens
DESCRIPTION
Dill
N'ersion of fennel,
Its
taproot
is
relative.
its
One
long, hoi
terminal,
Flat,
compound
umbels,
6
in.
across; numerous yellow flowers with tiny petals rolled inward from either side.
Leaves:
Feathery,
blue-green;
nate,
bipinleaflets
threadlike, pointed.
Ribbed,
Fruit:
and
flattened,
three
on
the
longitudinal
ridges
germinating capacity
ties;
lasts
Dill
is
Umbelliferae
at,
and therefore
garlands
and
light,
is
feathery leaves,
is
salad dressing.
The name dill comes from dilla, Norse for "to lull," and indeed
was once used to induce sleep. It was taken to relieve flatulence
and as a milk stimulant for nursing mothers. Dill was believed to
work as a charm against witches; mystics could combat an "evil eye"
spell by carrying a bag of dried dill over the heart.
dill
USES
Medicinal: European and American herbalists use both the
leaves
treat
Height: 3
ft.
FLOWERING
July through September.
RANGE
from
Native to the
Mediterra-
to
The
8 teaspoonfuls.
CHEF TIPS
When
the
mincing,
delicate
preser\'e
flavor
of
dillweed by snipping it
with sci.ssors rather than
ripping it with a knife.
Dill is delicious with fish (especially salmon), lamb, pork, poulcheese, cream, eggs, cabbage, onions, cauliflower, parsnips,
squiLsh, eggplant, spinach, potatoes, broccoli, turnips, cucumbers,
try',
Create a chilled
dill
sauce for
by combining 1 cup of
plain yogun, 3 ublespoons
lish
and
\Vi
mustard.
teaspoons Dijon
carrots,
is
pref-
erable.
160
is
easiest to
handle
when
frozen
on
its
some
off
you can spare some dill from the kitchen, both the
and flower heads dry nicely and add a light, airy touch to herb
Craft: If
foliage
Companion planting:
Dill
is
supposed
to
CULTIVATION
attract bees or
backdrop for shorter plants. Wherever you place dill, be
sure to pick a permanent spot; the plant is self-seeding, and chances
are good that new plants will shoot up every year if you let the
flowers go to seed. Consider a protected location; wind can destroy
the tall stalks. Or you can tie plants to a stake to keep them upright.
Seeds are best sown right in the ground; transplanting is not
always successful. Plant early in the spring after the danger of frost is
gone, in rows 2 to 3 feet apart. Within the rows, place seeds in
shallow drills from 10 to 12 inches apart, or thin the young seedlings
to this spacing when they are approximately 2 inches tall. If you grow
dill chiefly for the foliage, you can sow the seeds just 8 to 10 inches
apan; do so ever\' three weeks for a constant supply of dillweed.
If you're growing dill for the seeds, keep in mind that seeds may
not be produced until the beginning of the plant's second year. If dill
is planted early enough, however, seeds should appear at the end of
that summer. Weeding is the only care required.
Harvesting and storage: Once the plants are well established,
you can begin clipping the leaves close to the stem. Do so either
early in the morning or in the evening. Dillweed will last only a
couple of days in the refrigerator before it droops and loses its flavor
For year-round use, dry it by spreading the leaves over a nonmetallic
screen in a warm, dark place for a couple of days. Then place the
dried leaves in an airtight container. An easier alternative is to freeze
the freshly picked leaves.
Harvest the seeds when the flower matures, anywhere from two
Dill
used
as a
GROWING CONDITIONS
color.
pH
6.0.
Soil
Moderately
rich, well-
drained, moist
soil.
Full sun.
161
DOCK
The
Polygonaceae
Riimex spp.
DESCRIPTION
Ruinex species
in-
is
a divided family.
ily in
Many
Flowers:
small,
mens.
Leaves:
light green;
long or more,
ft.
wavy
edged,
lower leaves larger
lance-shaped,
three-angled
achene.
Height: 1-4
ft
FLOWERING
June through August.
RANGE
Native to Europe; naturalized in North America.
hea\y
soil
in
dis-
and
meadows.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
pH;
Any
.soil.
Full sun.
USES
HABITAT
Rich,
HISTORY
acid.
Yellow dock
a laxative.
CULTIVATION
Dock grows as a weed and
is difficult
contained area.
soil.
In spring,
When
to eradicate
seedlings are
them with a
to 2 inches
in late
tall,
summer, autumn, or
162
grances, medicines
flavors, fra-
as
Stirred
wool, the leaves, flowers, and roots of many herbs impart reds, blues,
greens, yellows, browns, and grays.
creative
MATERIALS
Before you get started, you will need the following materials:
You can dye wool, cotton, linen, or silk, but wool is the
assume you are dyeing wool).
Finished fabrics can also be dyed, but it is difficult to achieve even
1
Fibers.
water can
collect
If
4'/2
best to set aside pots specifically for dyeing rather than using
your cooking pans. Although most of the materials you use are
perfectly safe, some of the mordanting chemicals are poisonous.
6. Stirring rods. Rods to stir and lift the yarn. Glass is best, but
you can use plastic or wooden dowels. "Wooden rods do absorb dye,
so you will need a separate one for each dye that you create.
7. Sieve. A sieve, cheesecloth, or a colander for straining the dye
bath and removing plant material.
8. Mordants. Alum, chrome, tin, and iron. Cream of tartar is a
supplement to these chemicals.
9. Measuring spoo^ts and cups. Stainless steel, plastic, or glass is
best.
10.
Thermometer
It
212F.
11. Scale.
at least
up
to
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
12.
Rinsing containers.
alder
black walnut
yarrow
13.
14.
BLUES
fibers.
to use
file
box.
elder
elecampane
indigo
Oregon grape
woad
BROWNS
burdock
cascara sagrada
comfrey
fennel
geranium
hops
juniper
madder
onion
pokeweed
poplar
GOLDS
agrimony
amaranth
dock
goldenrod
lavender cotton
mullein
onion
plantain
poplar
ragwort
safflower
salsify
yarrow
Before dyeing your wool, you will need to wash and mordant
them from
and
tangling, tie
suriflower
varrow
164
it
tightly
enough
to
together,
but loosely enough that the dye can flow around the individual
if you knot the two ends of the skein
them loosely around the skein, you will easily
find them later on when you work with your yarn.
Washing: And now, even though it looks clean and new, wash
the skeins to remove any traces of dirt, oil, or chemicals that would
repel the dye. Use a mild soap. The water should be warm (about
tie
95 F) but not hot. Squeeze the soapy water through the skein for
several minutes. Rinse in water of the
ing,
same temperature.
roll
After rins-
your yarn
before placing
raspberry
agitated.
GRA^S
elder
poplar
is
When
it
is
dry,
in the
soak
it
mordant
in cool
solution.
Boil a
in
it.
lirtle
GREENS
When
agrimony
After
it
the
hue of
is
is
For
V2
ounce of chrome,
Vi
ounce of cream
tartar,
harsh
brittle.
After mordanting,
it is
it
is
best
soapy water
ounce of
ba\t)err\'
betony
comfrey
dock
fennel
foxglove
goldenrod
horsetail
marjoram
mullein
rosemary
sage
salsifs'
sunflower
tansy
uva-ursi
weld
yarrow
ORANGES
bloodroot
chicor\-
golden marguerite
madder
sunflower
weld
PINKS
bloodroot
pokeweed
sorrel
barberry
coltsfoot
has soaked and cooled, pull the skein out of the bath,
angelica
for
V2
woad
PURPLES
blackberry
geranium
grape
lad\''s
bedstraw
solution.
When simmering
water, then in
165
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
to tn- this,
dandelion
dock
hops
is
tin
complete.
ladys hedstraw
madder
pokeweed
potentilla
St.
add 2 teaspoons of
John's- wort
Use
'/2
ounce or
at
less
it
When
stir in
sweet woodruff
RUSTS
-lO
pokeweed
siifflower
TANS
barberry
onion
Oregon grape
raspbern'
sunflower
sweet woodruff
uvaursi
YELLOWS
agrimony
barbern-
broom
chamomile
is
simmer
for
20 to
Iron also is hard on wool, so rinse the skeins two or three times.
Squeeze out the water and dry the yarn in the shade.
Other opticus: A few herbs, such as tea, sumac, and black walnut,
contain their own mordant (usually a tannin). With these dyes you
will not need to go through the mordanting procedure unless you
want to vary the shade of the dye somewhat.
Besides the mordants, you can either acidify or alkalize the dye
pot, often affecting the color greatly, say from red to blue. Use
vinegar to acidif\' and clear ammonia to alkalize.
A shortcut in mordanting: To save work, time, pots, and water,
simply add the mordant directly to the dye bath. This can be done
with all mordants and all dye baths. The limitation is that you will
only get one color out of the bath. When using premordanted wool,
you can put skeins with different mordants into one dye bath and get
different shades of color.
dandelion
dock
fennel
fenugreek
golden marguerite
goldenrod
grindelia
Once \ou have finished preparing the yarns to be dyed, you can
begin working with the herbs. Many herbs can be used fresh or dried,
but you will usually obtain brighter colors with fresh herbs, and you
horseradish
will
lad\''s
t>edstraw
onion
safflower
saffron
St.John's-wort
ripe. Roots are best harvested in the fall, leaves in the spring. Bark
should be harvested in the spring also, but if you let the spring pass
salsifs-
sage
sunflower
tansy
varrow
Remember,
all
(continued on page
166
71
-^'j^
iA.:&^>'.^
i\y
.^'9r"
'^m:'
Bloodroot
Calendula
Agrimony
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
Uva-Ursi
pound
roots, Vi
have a
soft
peck
pound.
It is
always safer to
little
wood, or bark to ready them for the d)'e bath. Preparation varies
somewhat from herb to herb. Several good books are available with
dye recipes (see the Bibliography), but the following guidelines will get you started:
Tough leaves, roots, nut hulls, and bark: These should be
specific
t\s'0
quantities
of water.
Flowers, fruits,
and easily damaged, they don't need any soaking at all. Place
them in 4 to 4'/2 gallons of water; bring to a boil; and then simmer for
30 minutes to 1 hour, until the material has given up its color Strain
delicate
WOOL-HANDLING
TIPS
help.
temperature
and
this
all
is
where
it
gets exciting.
The
stark fibers
soon
will
bloom
If your
yarn
is
dry,
soak
it
it
for
in the
171
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
When you
and throw
cept
Dye
the entire
needed
amount of yarn
one
for a project in
same shade
If
again.
work
with. For
pes given
in
Rinsing:
to
of the color in
it,
so go ahead
same temperature
as the
than brew a dye bath, strain out the plant material, then add the yarn,
wrap the plant material in a thin cotton bag, and simmer it with the
yarn. This procedure is used with delicate plant parts like flowers.
KEEPING RECORDS
Before you
all
another skein.
ingredients.
start to knit,
fully
the water
at
it
or try to vary
many variables do
it
some
in
ever get exactly the same shade twice, but you can gain
over what you do if you keep records.
way.
Of
you won't
some
control
How well
light is certainly
sets.
to
file
covered and expose the other half to direct sun. Again, after
a month uncover all the yarn and check the results.
Recording: You actually shouldn't save this step until the very
last. Take notes throughout all of the stages of preparation and dyeing, beginning with the gathering of herbs. In your dye notebook,
half of
it
time spent soaking and simmering the plant material to create the
dye bath and the time spent simmering the yarn in the dye. Note the
results of
your light test, and finally write in any remarks you might
have: pleasures, displeasures, surprises. Beside each enu^', you might
want
172
to attach a snippet of
dyed
yarn.
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ECHINACEA
known
Also
coneflower, the
root,
Its
stout,
and
its
is nc3t
27-t.)
its
would think
to
HISTORY
According to Melvin Gilmore, an American anthropologist
roots
of numerous
With
as the purple
Sampson
on page
Compositae
Echinacea angustifolia
DESCRIPTION
who
states. All
purple, tubu-
used the juice of the plant to bathe burns and added the juice to the
surrounded by 12-20
lar florets;
tiny,
in.
long;
nar-
rower.
monies.
Height: 1-2
ft.
FLOWERING
Mid- to
fication purposes.
late
summer.
RANGE
Native to the prairies from
HABITAT
at
at
one time
it
was
have
actually
And
popularity
however, echinacea
fell
from
USES
To
its
healing qualities.
with other substances in the body's cells and facilitates the woundhealing process. In folk medicine, this unidentified substance was
used as a "blood
purifier
"
to cure a
bee
wide
variety of ailments:
rheuma-
176
Echinacea
blood
purifiers, as
blood
Ornamental:
If
list
of immunostimulants."
its
roots,
on hot
coals or
most North American outdoor gardens. They work well in perenand cut-flower gardens; the natural wild species are lovely additions to native-plant gardens and informal areas.
for
nial
cunrvATioN
Echinaceas are hardy plants and will grow in any ordina^^' gardening soil, but they prosper in soil treated with compost and rock
phosphate in the spring.
Echinaceas are easy to start from seed, provided you wait until
the air temperature is about 70 F before you sow. In the garden,
echinaceas should be spaced about V/i to 2 feet apart. Weeds should
be kept in check through mulching and shallow surface cultivation;
dying flower heads should be snipped oft". Normally the plants do
not need .staking, since they tolerate hot, humid temperatures so
well. While the soil needs to be moderately moist, you should not
have to water unless there is an extended dry spell. (If you live in the
Southwest, you will need to water periodically.)
If you experience cold, dr)' winters, you might want to cover the
plants with a bed of hay or evergreens to prevent any instance of root
damage, but this is not absolutely essential. In most cases, prospering
plants are hardy and will survive winters unattended. Every four or
five years, it's a good idea to dig up echinaceas, divide them, and
replant them in newly fertilized soil.
Pests and diseases: Leaf spot or Japanese beetles could infest
your plants. (See the entr^' Growing Herbs for information on controlling pests and diseases.)
Harvesting and storage: If you intend to use the roots for herbal
healing purposes,
it is
GROWING CONDITIONS
zones 3-9.
Plant hardiness
Fertile,
root has
Echinacea purpurea
well-drained
soil.
as medicinalK
potent.
177
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ELDERBERRY
Sambucus spp.
DESCRIPTION
The name
One
elderberry' (or
human
of the
Stone Age
Caprifoliaceae
sites),
companions (found
in
powers of good one physician was said to tip his hat in respect
ever)' time he passed the plant
as well as great powers of evil
in
some parts of the world, no paident carpenter would make a cradle
of elderberr\' wood for fear of bringing harm to the baby.
Leaves:
Odd
Vi
in. juicy,
berrslike
To
12
treelike species to
ft.;
50
more
ft.
During
tions have
RANGE
its
western
made music
Asia,
and
become an
tradi-
It
Africa.
it
Summer.
Nonh
The elderberry has been involved in human history for centuand one stors' suggests that it takes its name from a unique
medicinal dimension. The generic name Sambiicits raay come from
the Greek sambuke, a musical instrument, supposedly made from
elderberr\' wood. For centuries the plant has had the reputation of
ries,
FLOWERING
Europe,
HISTORY
pinnate, op-
it
USES
Medicinal: Elderberry shrubs are not the place for the amateur
herbal enthusiast to experiment.
gluco-
found primarily
178
says
Dr.
hijiirioiis Plants.
of elderberry
jelly
was used
in tea blends.
Add
berries.
CHEF TIP
in extensive
cup of elderberries
179
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ELDERBERRY- continued
CHANGING TIMES
"It is
description of
New
at
some
dis-
"They are generally too vigorous and coarse for small properties;
they do not lend themselves to the ornamentation of intimate gar-
"
seventeenth
was
century.
and whir, the elderberry is falling into disuse and needs an explicit
description.
dens."
He
the
homespun elegances
that
belonged on a
half-
along
combs.
Its
virtues
all
the
An
necessary to drink as
CULTIVATION
One northwestern herb grower sounded incredulous when
asked whether he had ever grown elderberries. Then he remembered his manners and pulled himself together, gently replying that
elderberries
in the
wild and
just
collecting the
berries or leaves
is
an option
for
done
a very
than
grow elderberries, and a number of landscapes include a lush informal clump of the shrubs. In Europe, elderberries are beloved
ornamentals, says Holly Shimizu, curator of the National Herb Garden in Washington, D.C. She reminisces about working in a botanical
180
Elderberry
garden
sive.
in
suckers,
sa\'s
freely, to
put
it
mildly.
They
luxurious treatment.
The
plants
seem
to
be more vigorous
in wetter
rather than drier soil, but they forgive a lot of shortcomings in their
and
location
ELDERBERRY SPECIES
Sambiicus
caenilea:
Tall,
sometimes 30 ft. high, occasionalh* 50
ft.; fi\'e
seven
leaf-
from
British
California,
Columbia
but adaptable.
poned hardy
their care.
to
southern
in
to
Re-
New
England.
up shoots
'
pruning.
Harvesting and storage: There are modern hars'esting techniques, which are simple, and old techniques, which are not. Cutting
branches
or,
beny
Take
toba, Kansas,
5.
Ebiilits:
and Texas.
Grows
leafleLs.
to
about 3
ft-
in winter; five to
Cream-colored
lived in elder-
spirit,
plants
British,
usually
off
your hat and kneel, one source ad\ises, and \x\ to sound
"Give me some of thy wood and I will give thee some of
respectful:
mine when
consent.
to
it
5.
tiigra:
(It is
Maude Grieve
Reaches 30
ft.
under
have
five leaflets.
describes
For flowers: Pick the flowers when they're in fiill bloom. They
can be used fresh, "pickled by the addition of about 10 percent
common salt, or dried. She recommends drs'ing them by stirring
them in a heated copper pan or by placing in a cool oven with the
door open.
"
For bark: Strip the bark from young trees in autumn and drs* at
moderate heat. She also has cured bark in the sun, taking it indoors at
night. (Be reminded that the bark contains toxins.)
For leaves: She collects them only in June and July on clear
mornings after the dew has dried. The leaves can be used fresh or
dried. (Be reminded that the leaves contain toxins.)
GROWING CONDITIONS
Full
sun
to partial shade.
181
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ELECAMB^NE
Inula Helenium
DESCRIPTION
A
lall,
plant, the
striking
monly known
Known
perennial
elecampane
is
com-
flower
primarily for
on under
HISTORY
There are many fables about the origin of
classical
Troy,
ovate,
heart-shaped
at
bases,
Achenes;
brown,
quadrangular, with a ring of
Fruit:
reddish
hairs
the
pap-
pus.
Height:
i-6h.
FLOWERING
Summer
months.
RANGE
Native to central and nonhern Europe and nonhwest Asia;
in some parts of
North America, from Nova Scotia to North Carolina and west-
naturalized
ward
name
iiiida
is
derivation
this herb's
same
who
is
species.
Some
said to have
name.
of the Greek
is
Its
word
now applied
Paris stole
her away. Another legend describes the plant springing from the
tears. A third postulates that it was named after the
where the best plants grew.
In Rome, ancient poets and writers specializing in agriculture
and natural history were well-acquainted with elecampane. The acclaimed ancient physician Galen brought this mysterious medicine
of Rome into brief focus when he wrote that elecampane root is
"good for the passions of the hucklebone." Perhaps this is what
prompted Pliny to praise it for causing mirth.
A plant that supposedly blossomed in the domain of the Roman
gods, survived the Norman Conquest, and was used extensively during the Middle Ages, elecampane has earned many nicknames
from elfdock, elfwort, and the wild sunflower to horseheal and
scabwort. Scabwon came from the herb's alleged effectiveness in
healing scabs on sheep. Horseheal developed in much the same
goddess Helena's
stalkless.
pale
Latin
oblong, to 2
long, stalked;
to the
ft.
bitterness
its
Romans
rets.
upper surface,
Compositae
island Helena,
to Missouri.
it
cured
many ailments
suffered by
horses.
HABITAT
soil.
grow
USES
Planting elecampane in a garden, to grow proudly alongside the
geraniums and the daisies, is perfectly natural. But it's likely that
most people don't realize that it's also perfectly natural for this herb
to
be sitting next to the Vicks and the throat lozenges in the medicine
cabinet.
Medicinal: Herbalists throughout the world have used elecampane's thickened root for treating diseases of the chest. Rarely used
alone, the dried, crushed root is said to be an effective ingredient in
182
Elecampane
many compound
medicines.
American Indian
dropsy.
when
its
brown
stage.
CULTIVAriON
Elecampane is easily propagated from off'shoots or 2-inch root
from a mature plant during the fall. Cover the cuttings
with moist, sandy soil, and keep them in a room with an air temperature that remains between 50 and 60 F. The roots will develop into
plants by early spring; make sure you set them out after all clanger of
cuttings, taken
frost
GROWING CONDITIONS
has passed.
The
loam that
If you intend
a slightly
shaded
locale.
two hard
fall
zone
Plant hardiness
is
3.
frosts.
183
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
EPHEDRA
Ephedra spp.
DESCRIPTION
Epliedras are among the
most primitive plants.
oldest,
(EqiiiRelated to horsetail
setum), broom (Cytisiis), and
the conifers, they are gymnosperms or naked-seeded plants.
Most species are shrubby plants
resemble stunted pine
that
plumed
or
trees
Some grow
horsetails.
trail
may be
ers
on the
green, depending
.spe-
The
Height: 5-36
upon
in.,
depend-
the species.
FLOWERING
Early
summer.
and desert
HISTORY
The Chinese
have been
E. sinica,
and
E. trifurca,
much
study. In the
who
both attested to
its
health-giving properties.
USES
The most common use of the American species is in making a
fact, the herb may have been called Mormon
tea since it brews up into a tasty beverage that served as a substitute
for the coffee and black tea scorned by the Mormons. A conflicting
legend claims that the name refers to a Jack Mormon who, frequentpleasant piney tea. In
ing the bars and brothels of the West, concocted the tea as a cure for
than the
Ephedra major,
in the
1800s.
some
species,
RANGE
known
syphilis
several
the American
cies.
ing
Ephedraceae
and gonorrhea. In
Medicinal:
but
is
fact,
the tea
was served
in brothels in the
Amencan
species.
It is
branches.
Dakotas.
have been disappointing, but weak as it is, Mormon tea is still considered a good decongestant, tonic, diuretic, and fever and cold medication.
in
GROWING CONDITIONS
To make
CULTIVATION
These plants
Soil
pH:
alkaline.
collections.
Dr)' soil.
Full .sun.
184
Propagation
The
plants
Eucalyptus
EUCALYPTUS
Eucalyptus spp.
DESCRIPTION
Myrtaceae
If
from bushy,
5-ft.
shrubs to tow-
The
koala bear.
HISTORY
varieties there are more than 500 species of Euconstitute more than three-quarters of the vegetation on
Eucahptus
gum
calyptus
is
rich
and
varied.
the trees,
One
made an
of the most
drinking water.
the
name
is
(. globulus)
color;
it
matures to reveal a
The peeling oc-
as the tree
creamy
trunk.
ered.
xxils;
ous
in
stamens
poned by
the
and
sn-le
bud
receptacle;
sup-
Leaves:
Young
leaves op-
Australian fevertree.
USES
in.
long.
oil,
first
to
called eucahptol,
The
oil,
apply
it
full
it
oil in
Herbals
recommend
oil,
or
a pint).
oil
is
Fruit:
Capsules containing
several seeds.
Height: To -i80
ft.
RANGE
Native to Australia and Tasmania; cultivated in southern
Europe. South .-Vfrica, Tahiti, India, Latin .\merica. and in the
Lnited States in Califomia and
other southwestern states.
for
185
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
EUCALYPTUS-comnu.d
the
oil to relieve
many commercial
used
is
in
mucus from
a handful of fresh or
water Breathe
in
drunk or used
in a
vaporizer
Toxicity: Large
muscle spasms.
Aromatic: The refreshing fragrance of dried eucalyptus leaves
adds interest to potpourris. The oil is used in both home-prepared
and commercial air fresheners, deodorants, and insecticides; 1 tea-
spoon of oil
in
pint of
'/2
warm
water,
rubbed
humans and
makes
animals.
where
trees,
makes
good shade
if
you grow
tree,
but
its
and produce
fruit trees as
fragrant
blossoms
well.
high wind.
It's
more
information.)
CULTIVATION
If
you want
hardy young
light
GROWING CONDITIONS
tree.
a eucalyptus in
rapidly
8-10.
it's
best to transplant a
your yard,
even
might
suflFer
more quickly
it's
soils.
in areas
plenty of moisture.
Soil
pH:
tolerates
range of pH.
loamy
Light,
Full .sun.
soil.
wide
186
Eyebright
EYEBRIGHT
Euphrasia
DESCRIPTION
Scrophulariaceae
officinalis
is
knew of eyebright's
healing
name of one
minh and joy. It
was characterized
is
for her
acquired this
It
brought
who
eye ailments:
for curing
as a tea
USES
Medicinal: Although most herbals tout the use of eyebright as an
eye medication,
modem
scientific studies
applying a
homemade,
may be
stiff,
the base of the plant and alternate toward the top; leaves
deeply cut around the margin,
point\' at the tips; to Vi in. long
and '4 in. broad.
Fruit: Many ribbed seeds
from small, flattened capsules.
Height: 2-8 in.
a danger in
an
its
been used
is
officinalis
HISTORY
bright has
Euphrasia
elegant annual.
Flowers: Shoot out in terminal spikes with leaf\' bracts
FLOWERING
July through
September
colds.
RANGE
CULTIVATION
As a semiparasite, eyebright takes pan of its nourishment from
the roots of other plants, panicularly grass. Because the leaves of
devoid of any green color, eyebright is
deceptive. Its bright green leaves give it the appearance of a normal,
self-sufficient plant. But below the ground, tiny root suckers spread
out, lie on the rootlets of the grasses, and absorb nourishment. There
totally parasitic plants are
the
Found predominantly in
meadows, dr\' pastures, and
heaths of England;
some
gra.ssy
.Asia;
in
different
appearance
in various
near the sea, the plant will grow only an inch or so high, with the
GROWING CONDITIONS
pH:
Soil
Poor
Full .sun.
alkaline.
must be gro^wi in
conjunction with grass because it is a semiparasite.
.soil;
air circulation.
187
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
FENNEL
Foeniculum vulgare
DESCRIPTION
Fennel
is
annual,
grown
for
its
leaves,
The branch-
stem is round,
smooth, striated, and a glaucous
ing
semihardy pe-
compound umbel.
Leaves: Alternately branch
ft.
When
shopping
officinale,
is
known
region;
border. Or,
it
when
can create an
commonly known
is
at
at least
as wild fennel.
vulgare dulce,
Fennel's taste
is
Its flavor
When
anise flavor
is
An
ist
ized.
good
seeds
early
which meant
RANGE
nean
perennial
to
make
pronounced.
Its
character
is
subdued by cooking.
HISTORY
FLOWERING
Native
to
shoiter specimens,
segments.
Height: 4
tall
among
broad
stands
It
intermittently placed
erect
Umbelliferae
the
Mediterra-
widely natural-
Culpeper wrote
drink or broth to
make people
fat."
much used
in
In medieval
long church services and on fast days; the seeds were considered to
be an appetite suppressant. Others employed fennel to prevent
witchcraft.
cottages
USES
Medicinal: Fennel has been used as a carminative, a
All
and
weak
di-
uretic,
188
Fennel
and 18
oil,
which
is
also the
to 22 percent fenchone, a
CHEF
so add to
the very
Serpents were believed to eat the plant to restore their sight after
shedding
their skins,
and
it
came
to
be regarded as a remedy
deli-
in babies;
to hot or
nel and
add
avocado and
cooked recipes at
moment.
last
for
visual ailments.
To
mended
TIPS
to a salad of
grapefaiit.
famous "gripe water" was concocted, which relieved infants of flatulence. The tea was gargled as a breath freshener, taken to expel
worms, and applied as an eyewash. A poultice was used to relieve
swelling in the breasts of nursing mothers.
a softer and nuttier version of anise.
and seeds are used from the sweet fennel
variet}'; the stalks and bulbs are used from Florence fennel.
Use fresh leaves in salads and as lacy garnishes; the tender stems
are eaten like celery. The seeds, whole or ground as needed, are
popular in desserts, breads, cakes, cookies, and beverages. Florence
fennel stalks and bulbs can be minced for use in salads and soups.
Culinary: Fennel
The
ta.stes like
fish,
and cheese.
and seeds lend aroma and flavor to herb butters, cheese
spreads, salad dressings, and Chinese marinades.
Available commercially: Sweet fennel whole and ground
seed (whole is preferable), fresh leaves, and stalks. Florence fensauerkraut, beets, pickles, potatoes, lentils, breads, eggs,
The
leaves
nel
fresh.
Substitute: Anise,
slightly less
in
proponion,
for
seeds and
leaves.
Aromatic: Fennel
It
oil is
used commercially
is
in
when
dried.
sweetly aromatic
in
An
Plant hardiness
is
pH
zone
6.
Soil
Average, well-drained
Full sun.
more
GROWING CONDITIONS
6.5.
soil.
intbrmation.)
189
FENNEL
-continued
make succession
yield a
fall
harvest. If you're
arrival,
which
will
plant seeds in
autumn
wormwood
is
is
edible.
well established.
lippings can be frozen for later use; as with other herbs, the leaves
"
Fenugreek
FENUGREEK
Trigotiella
Foenum-graecum
Fenugreek
is
well-known
in the
not only as a
crop. In
the Latin
fact,
Leguminosae
DESCRIPTION
"Greek
hay,
it is
An annual
Leaves:
in.
its
many
medicinal and culinary' purposes involving the seeds and occasionMedicinal: Fenugreek has been
at least
add
and
taste.
or,
according to
little
some
herbalists,
honey or peppermint
Midsummer.
RANGE
Native to western Asia and
the Mediterranean; naturalized
CHEF TIPS
to pickling brine.
extract to
and maple. The seeds are used whole or ground as needed in East
Indian, Pakistani, and African cuisines, and are used in chutney and
halvah. Fenugreek enhances meats, poultr\", marinated vegetables,
and curry blends.
Available commercially:
Whole
North America.
FLOWERING
in
some
ft.
is
sore throat
Height: 1-2
thing under the sun. Here and there around the world, the plant
M-l
three
long.
Fruit:
In addition to
Compound;
oblong, toothed,
leaflets
USES
herb, fenugreek
sal-
ads.
seed.
GROWING CONDITIONS
CULTIVAnON
Broadcast seed thickly in a rich
Remove
when
ripe,
them
soil
soil
that has
been deeply
temperature reaches 55 F.
Plant hardiness
Rich
Full sun.
zone
6.
soil.
in the sun.
191
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
FEVERFEW
Chrysanthemum Parthetiium
DESCRIPTION
A member
of the
grows
family, feverfew
sometimes
chamomile,
which has a dome-shaped central floret receputcle and very
The
plant
confu.sed
is
Chamomile
is
yellow centers
diiisylike;
composed of many
round
tubular disk
florets;
disk;
bloom
sur-
in tight,
flat-
ti^pped clusters
scented,
nate,
stemmed,
hairless,
in.
bit-
alter-
long, yel-
leaves:
leaflets
in
egg-shaped
.segments
with
deeply incised lobes; upper
pinnate divisions
leaves:
two or three
inttj
name. Fever-
HISTORY
The ancient Greek physician Dioscorides valued the herb for its
effect on the uterus. It was often used in childbinh to help in the
delivery of the afterbinh if contractions were not regular. Its use
against fevers has been well documented.
In more recent times, in the southwestern United States and in
Finland, it has been taken as a tonic, while a Cuban variety is used as
an antiperiodic. In its long history this herb has been used as an
making confectionaries and wines; as an aromatic to
and as an insect repellent.
The seventeenth-century herbalist John Parkinson claimed it
aided in recovery from opium overdose, and Cotton Mather recommended it for toothache. It has also been used against ailments as
ingredient in
ward
off disease;
diverse as "female hysteria," infant colic, melancholia, shortwindedness, vertigo, arthritis, kidney stones, constipation, and insect
bites.
USES
Feverfew has only recently become available
Fruit:
in health
self-medication. As a headache
recommended by
scientific findings
remedy
it
is
used
food
it
for
now support
claims of
its
effectiveness.
FLOWERING
MicLsummer through
fall
medical journal, that since feverfew has long been used against both
migraines and arthritis, it might share properties with aspirin. Two
later, the Lancet confirmed this educated guess with results
from a subsequent study In 1985 the British Medical Journal teported yet another study with findings that demonstrated that fevertew helps alleviate the pain of migraines. Researchers speculate that
years
RANGE
Native to central and south
ern Europe; naturali7.ed in mo.st
parts of the temperate zone, in
eluding
anti
Uxt'in
pairs of toothed
segments.
long
its
The
Romans believed in its powers, but by medieval times it had fallen
out of favor Only lately has this helpful member of the chrysanthenuun family been rediscovered, this time not as a fever cure but as an
few comes from the
with
feather^' leaves.
and
daisy
as a vig-
Compositae
Nonh
America.
substances
in the plant
cells less
192
Feverfew
three or four of the Httle feverfew leaves each day," says Varro Tyler,
at
To hide the
some migraine
small daisies.
Craft: Drv' the
arrangements.
Dye: The fresh leaves and stems produce a greenish yellow dye
wool mordanted with chrome.
Other: One active ingredient in feverfew is thought to be pyrethrin. If it is, the effectiveness of feverfew as an insecticide and insect
repellent would be explained.
in
CULTIVATION
grow from a chink in a
methods of cultivation. Ordinary, well-drained soil and full sunshine will meet its needs, and a
little shade can be tolerated. Propagation can be by cutting, division,
or seed. Root division is done in early spring.
Divide feverfew by sectioning each old plant into three parts and
transplanting these. To use cuttings, dig part of the heel of the old
It
Cuttings
may be
new
at its
fo-
and 50F
at night.
may be sown
them 9
directly outside
fall.
The double-flowered
variety
is
most popular
it
in
among
ornamental gar
GROWING CONDITIONS
other flowering
Plant hardiness
Soil
Average, well-drained
Full
pH
zone
5.
6.3.
sun to
partial
soil.
shade.
193
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
FLAX
Linum
DESCRIPTION
Fixx bears a
stem
that
off at the
top.
Ught
Terminal,
Flowers:
Vi
in.
across;
wither
extremities;
the
quickly after opening in the
at
morning.
Leaves: Alternate, stalkless,
pale green; shaped like a spear-
head; ^4-1
Fruit:
cells
tinct
in.
long.
contain
seeds, about
Vt
in.
Height: 20
in.
10
brown
usitatissimum
'-
'Vfil
Linaceae
erect
solitary',
branches
v^-
known
as linseed, offers
some-
thing for the weaver, the painter, the physician, and the cook. Fibers
from the stalk are spun into linen; oil from the seeds is used in paint
and linoleum; both the seeds and the oil are used medicinally; and
the seeds are baked in bread.
It stands to reason that such a versatile plant would figure in
legend. In Teuton mxthology flax was said to be under the protection of the goddess Hulda, who taught mortals the an of growing,
spinning, and weaving flax. In the Middle Ages, flax flowers were
believed to be a protection against sorcery.
belief held that
they
if
children danced
would become
among
flax at
beautiful.
long.
HISTORY
Flax began serving civilization before the time of recorded his-
FLOWERING
June through August.
The strong
earliest
RANGE
Widely cultivated
northwestern
United
Canada, and Europe.
in
the
States,
HABITAT
Roadsides,
railroad
lines.
"
at least
USES
Flax's
it
is
many uses
are important
states
oil,
paints.
194
Flax
Its
can't
as an herb.
Medicinal:
aced with
discussion of
word of
poisonous, but
all
caution.
flax's
curative virtues
Immature seedpods
must be
creased respirator}'
rate,
Full
pref-
sun to
partial
shade.
are especially
GROWING CONDITIONS
symptoms include
and
in-
and convulsion.
main constituents include 30 to 40 percent fixed oil,
mucilage, wax, tannin, gum, and protein. Linseed oil has been recommended as an ingredient of cough medicines; as a tea, it has been
used as a remedy for colds, coughs, and irritations of the urinary tract.
The tea can be made from 1 ounce of ground or whole seeds to 1
pint of boiling water. The active principle seems to be the mucilage.
Add a bit of honey and lemon for taste. The tea is said to be mildly
paralysis,
Flax's
laxative.
poultice.
The
weeks
to rot
called retting.
When
flax plants,
dried.
Then
wooden
is
swingling knife
"
195
continued
i'Ll/xJv
the fibers. These are passed through the teeth of a hetchel (or
hacksel), straightening
pieces.
The
fibers are
The
wax
all
much
as
we now
use car
feed to put
CULTIVATION
Flax is easy to grow, whether you start the seeds in the ground or
under glass. If you will be planting seeds directly in the ground,
remove weeds and avoid heavy, clay soils. After the plants are established, weed carefully by hand; the roots are shallow and easily
disturbed. Sow the seeds either in early spring or late fall and thin the
when
set in a container of
porous
soil in
which the
plants will stay. Thin the seedlings to leave six or seven in each pot.
They
when
relatively low.
Don't apply
flower.
trolling pests.)
as the fiber
Immature
Plant
while
han.'ested
when
must be taken
damaged by dampness.
196
The
and the
and stronger
stalk
if
begins to
dry, as
they are
Foxglove
FOXGLOVE
Digitalis purpurea
One day in
Scrophulariaceae
UNSAFE
He
He
that
DESCRIPTION
This stunning biennial
unmi.stakable
It's
ally
deduced
that foxglove,
an ingredient
in the tea,
woman's
yielded an active
recover*'.
digitalis,
has
become
a very
a rosette of
In that
fir.st
green leaves.
10
in.
growing
in a
HISTORY
The medicinal use of foxglove began much earlier than Dr.
Withering's account of it. It was cultivated for herbal medicines as far
back as 1000 a.d. The English used it as a cough medicine, a treatment for epilepsy, and a cure for swollen glands. Some suspect that
Vincent van
vision this
is
bloom.
in
is just
the
when
discovery, foxglove
was widely used as a cardiac sedative and dioverdoses and fatalities discouraged the use of
the drug.
USES
Potent indeed. Digitalis
is far
all
five-lobed, lavender
surface,
white
on outside
with
crimson
rolla,
cah'x.
3-4
tains
many red-brown
in.
Height: -4-8
seeds.
ft.
for
FLOWERING
June and July.
of woods.
the
RANGE
Native to the British Isles,
HABITAT
Along roadsides and edges
low
arterial
197
of
blossoms. Foxglove
its
fits
it,
beauty
summer,
the early
it
is
among
the
first tall
in
The plants naturalize easily along forest edges and beside hedges. A
few of the smaller varieties work nicely in rock gardens, while some
of the larger cultivars, reaching up to 6 feet tall, are spectacular
against a
CULTIVAriON
Foxgloves can be grown from seed. Since the seeds are so tiny,
mix them with sand before broadcasting in the cold frame or nursery
bed. Cover them very lightly with soil and keep continuously moist.
You must sow seeds in the late spring or early summer in order
to have plants strong enough to survive the winter. However, if they
are started too early, they may bloom that first fall rather than waiting
until the following summer. Germination occurs within two weeks
after sowing. When seedlings are 2 to 3 inches tall, transplant them to
the garden. Allow about 1 foot between plants, in rows 1 to 2 feet
apart.
It is
by division
in the early
fall
or
spring.
Foxglove tolerates a wide variety of soils and growing condiThe only thing they absolutely have to have is good drainage to
tions.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
Fertile, moist,
pH:
prevent root
Full
sun
and snow.
humusysoil.
to partial shade.
tles
wilt,
and
diseases: Foxglove
it
is
on
bee-
information
198
The
acid.
Pests
rot.
controlling pests
and
diseases.)
Growing Herbs
for
GARDENING
WITH HERBS
There are two ways to landscape with herbs: Work them into the
overall design as decorative elements, or feature the herbs in special
If
make
still
for
an
landscape.
A low hedge
mowing
when anyone
grass, a colorful
walks through.
If
stones.)
On
a smaller
.scale,
handsome
its
majes-
from makes
it
variety to
choose
In the vegetable garden, annual and biennial herbs like nasturtiums, basil, parsley, anise,
dill,
and possibly protection from inBut to avoid grief at tilling time, confine the perennial culinary
herbs, such as sage, thyme, and their like, to a site of their own at one
diversity
sects.
just like
strawberries, rhubarb,
and artichokes.
LANDSCAPING
If
them
in a
design or
199
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
of refer
Myrrh
herbs.
to
garden,
is full
and
gifts
plant that
ception.
chicors',
would
insure con-
Dandelions,
and
.sorrel
endive,
saffron,
quince
and
aloes,
trees,
grow among
pomegranates,
lilies,
flowers,
can
sit,
and fragrances of
the garden, and be soothed by
them. To visit this garden, just
walk in. It is open from sunrise
ors, textures,
until sun,set.
The Cathedral of
in
manageable proportions.
When you begin the actual design, bear in mind that it's a lot
easier
to make mistakes or changes on
to say nothing of cheaper
paper than in the garden. Measure the garden site, then uransfer the
outline to graph paper, making the layout to scale. Mark down trees,
buildings, and other obstructions, and note the direction north. Make
sure to leave enough space for comfortable paths, and keep beds
narrow enough to work in 4 to 5 feet is about maximum but wide
enough to look effective. Once you have the basic design down,
choose the herbs that will bring it to life. The choice can be based on
color, height, climatic conditions, or type of plant
for example,
those suitable for a colonial or dye garden.
It's wise to keep basic rules in mind when choosing plants. First,
always plant groups of a given herb together. Individual plants will
get last, creating a blurred, jumbled effect, while masses of plants
will stand out and create a unified design. Second, plant in descending order of height. If your design features a border backed by a wall
tallest
tall
112th Street.
Finally, a
look best
in
mind.
If
"floor" contrasts
lost. If
front. If
do
any t)pe of garden design. Before you start to design, remember that
all gardens involve work. The more formal the design and the larger
the scale, the more weeding, clipping, mulching, and watering you'll
need to do. Scale down those visions of grandeur until they reach
your design
that will
is
show up
word about maintenance. Herb gardens, like any oththe plants are full and lush. This is vital when an
when
herbal hedge or
good gardening
practice to
grow
is
It's
fill
in
gaps.
PERIOD GARDENS
Period gardens are complex because they are limited to the
designs, materials, techniques,
An
is
200
A medieval
should be walled, if
possible, and include a fountain. Surround the fountain with an
irises, clove pinks, lilies, daisies,
herbal lawn studded with flowers
garden
is
a delightful refuge.
It
THE NATIONAL
HERB GARDEN
portant to
you have a tree in the garden, you can build a circular seat
around it. But the most traditional seating arrangement is a turf seat
under an arbor. The turf seat a medieval inspiration is an earthfilled rectangular box surfaced with a creeping herb such as one of
the prostrate thymes or creeping chamomile. Its walls can be brick,
stone, wood, or plaited wicker (wattling).
The vigorous formality' of a colonial garden may seem far removed from the enclosed tranquillity of a medieval bower, but the
symmetry of a successful colonial garden is soothing. To make a
colonial herb garden, lay out raised, board-sided beds along a central
walk. The two sides of the garden should be identical. The walk
lization that
it
is
If
southernwood.
Colonists often planted herbs randomly with vegetables and
An
rigid
sage,
lemon balm,
saflTron,
One
creation
is
and calendula.
thing to bear in
that
should
The
exist
National
a historical re-
Local materials
only approprigarden
national
in their honor
Herb Garden, lo-
is
it.
flowers.
ate
stroll
through the
designed
or
use.
The
Dioscorides garden features
herbs known and used by the
significance
famous
Greek
physician.
Herbs used to make natural
dyes are highlighted in the dye
garden. The Early American
garden
displays
were important
nists.
herbs
to
that
the colo-
THEME GARDENS
a medicinal garden,
dye
possibilities include a
white gar-
bloom
in
201
-continued
in Victorian
for courage).
Theme
Shakespearean gardens
all
literar\'
significance.
roses
all
dill,
There are
wormwood,
rue, hys-
herbs mentioned
in the
Bible
are
popular.
Some
and
in-
and
lady's bedstraw.
it
is
basically an indul-
in
You could use all one plant for the central accents and keep three kinds in the borders. Or
202
mulching material
used here
cocoa bean
hulls
is
and grays
make
mosaic
granite in others.
in
some
brilliantly
perennial, to 2 feet
foliage
green santolina.
4.
LAVENDER COTTON
A perennial,
cyparissus):
cut,
summer.
Plant
keep
mounded effect.
5. HYSSOP (Hyssopus
Another option
is
to simplify and
made in
in mind
reduce the
a 9- or 10-foot square.
The
be
thing to bear
knot gardens were originally intended to be viewed from above as when one
is
that
to
The
1.
it
will require
GREEN SANTOLINA
perennial, to 2 feet
officinalis):
perennial,
summer.
Plant
on
Beauty'):
'Blue
blue-
summer.
Plant
on
sired shape.
Other plants
(Santolina virens):
tall,
by a
a hard clipping
in
foot
tall,
and bright lavender flower spikes in summer. Plan on one plant per foot of border. Trim
only if needed to keep plants in bounds during
the growing season, but prune back hard in early
spring for bushy growth. Will probably need
winter protection, such as a covering of ever-
foliage
green boughs.
3-
tall,
lightly for a
that
bor-
plants:
perennial, only
to 3 feet
bounds.
in
in
and
tall
would have
GERMANDER
{Teiiaium Chamaedrys): A
germander,
'Hidcote'
lavender,
mother-of-
Roman and
fringed
wormwood,
sweet marjoram, rosemary, and southernwood. Creeping thymes can be used in place of
sand, stone, or mulch to fill in the design between the borders. The entire knot garden can
vory,
tural practices,
winter.
Keep
a nurserv' of
'squares" of
all
the
plants you use in the knot in an out-of-sight border so you'll always have replacements ready.
203
Brick Wall
for the
medicinal garden
may make
cup
of comfrey or chamomile tea, or try your hand at
horehound drops, or gather a bouquet of aconite, foxglove, and feverfew, many medicinal
plants are poisonous and are best admired for
their historical significance and left in the garden. The half-kidney shape of this garden subtly
reinforces
its
medical theme.
The plants:
1. VALERIAN (Valeriana
nial, 3'/2 to
5 feet
tall,
from June through September. Plant on 2from the roots has been used as
a sedative and painkiller.
ers
2.
with deep-veined leaves and showy yellow flower clusters in late summer. Plant on 2-
feet
tall,
foot centers.
tive
aid,
treatment.
204
The
root has
vermicide,
3.
MULLEIN
to 6 feet
(Verbasciim
thapsiis):
A biennial,
tall
used to treat coughs, congestion, and tuberculoand were smoked to soothe pulmonary dis-
sis
eases.
4.
ELECAMPANE
nial, to
6 feet
tall
tory diseases.
5.
AMERICAN HELLEBORE
perennial, to 7 feet
tall,
{Veratrum
viride):
treat
6.
COMFREY {Symphytum
officinale):
A peren-
LOBELIA
feet
tall,
The
ters.
asthma, as a ner\'e
substitute.
8.
perennial, to 3 feet
fingered
bunonlike
Plant
on
used as
flowers
a sedative
2'/2
feet
and
The
flowers have
fall.
been
tonic.
(Stachys
officinalis):
in flower,
tall
midsummer through
centers.
'/2-foot
BETONY
9.
tall
foliage
perennial,
been used as
and sedative.
10.
'/2-foot
centers.
3 feet
leaves have
ACONITE (Aconitum
nial, to
The
tall,
Napellns):
peren-
hooded
flowers in large
painkiller,
and
to ureat
11.
FOXGLOVE
nial,
3 to 4 feet
(Digitalis
tall,
purpurea):
bien-
in
mid- to
late
foot
tall,
leaves
WTIITE-WOOLY
HOREHOUND
(Marrubi-
tall and
and whorls of
white flowers in summer. Plant on 1-foot centers. The leaves and flowers ha\'e been used for
coughs and colds.
incanum):
perennial, 2 to 3 feet
16.
nobile):
A perennial,
to 4-inch-tall
foot
tall
in flow^er;
with
and white
liage
daisylike flowers
2-
fo-
from June
poisonous.
long
and greenish yellow bellshaped flowers borne singly in late spring. Plant
on 1-foot centers. The root has been used as a
painkiller and sedative. All parts are poisonous.
wrinkled
um
perennial, to
15.
on
perennial, to
tall
and yellow daisylike flow^ers in midsummer. Plant on 1-foot centers. The flowers have
been used as a compress for bruises, wounds,
and inflammation. .\11 parts are poisonous.
13. ECHINACEA (Echinacea angustifolia): A
perennial, to 2 feet tall, with long, narrow leaves
and lavender daisylike petals cunlng back from
mer
leaves
tall
matic,
12.
2 feet
been used
as a sedative
and
hair
rinse.
17.
AUTUMN CROCUS
A
Jiale):
September by rose-purple
and
flowers. Plant on 6inch centers. The seeds and
corms ha\e been used to treat gout and rheuma-
June and
July.
leaves ha\"e
Plant
been used
on
1 '/2-foot
centers.
as a heart stimulant
The
and to
poisonous.
summer
are followed in
tism.
.\11
205
Ours features
and
half-barrel
rectangular,
place.
split-rail
makes the
Some dye
in the
in.
fill
dye garden.
and
these
In subsequent years,
left for
them, as
BEDSTRAW {Galium
LADY'S
rennial, to 3 feet
tall,
Plant
on 15-inch
centers.
The
The flowering
with chrome.
The
4 feet
6.
1.
ulmaria):
perennial, to 4 feet
{Filipendula
tall,
with large,
pe-
desired.
plants:
verum):
leaves
perennial, to
tall,
ers in early
The
feathery
centers.
WELD
{Reseda luteola):
biennial, 5 feet
tall
madder
7.
dyes.
saff'ron is
I'/i-foot-long,
which die
The whole
on
2-foot centers.
lemon
bears
2-inch,
bulb,
sends up
thin,
midsummer
in
it
In September saifron
cup-shaped
lilac
with
flowers
alum and
3.
tin.
GOLDEN MARGUERITE
A
{Anthemis
tine-
perennial,
MARIGOLD
to
double flowers
rust; also
bushy plants
in
206
The
to 6-inch cen-
SOAPWORT
nial,
domesticated varieties
2- to 3-inch,
blooms
to 2 feet
tall,
with
in panicles
ber. Plant
gundy and
ters.
on 4-
on
Soapwon
is
not a
were used to
which the yarn was
in
SAFFLOWER {Carthamus
tinctorius):
pe-
tall,
lowed by
summer
used
Plant
on
2-foot centers.
The
fresh or
(Solidago Goldenmosa');
ters.
perennial, to 3 feet
der,
can be
2-foot cen-
The young leaves, picked fresh and fermented, yield blue; mature leaves treated in the
saflfron.
GOLDENROD
10.
It is
on
often
yellow plumes
tall,
The
on
in
2-foot centers.
alum used
is
is
chrome.
ragweed).
It is
one of
tum):
perennial, to 2 feet
tall,
most
attractive
plants.
While
dye
'Goldenmosa' is suggested, try any of the tall,
domesticated
the
the
varieties.
11.
WOAD
tall
{Isatis tinctoria):
and
cloudlike yellow blooms
blue-green
leaves
biennial, 3 feet
large
in
-foot-long
panicles
May and
June,
of
fol-
ters.
with yellow
on
2-foot cen-
used
as a
with blue
13.
historic, hav-
ZINNIA (Zinnia
inches
tall,
elegans):
An annual,
tin.
6 to 36
207
summer through
cultivars
on Ifoot
Plant
frost.
centers;
The
alum used
as a
mor-
dant;
tin;
CALLIOPSIS {Coreopsis
1-1.
an-
1-foot centers. The fresh flowers yield bright yellow with alum used as a mordant; bright orangeyellow with tin; rust>' orange with chrome. If
vitriol.
An
tinctoria):
tin.
first
in the fragrance
sweet violets
mer
is
a blaze of color
apricot,
half the
stor^'.
The
by
enjoyed
all
blue, white,
Sum-
lavender,
garden
in April until
lemon balm,
laven-
season.
plants
spikes.
silver-gray fo-
foot apart to
solid "hedge."
4.
perennial, creeping
bears tiny
pet underfoot.
5.
The
to
plants:
SWEET VIOLET
6 inches
April
tall
Viola odorata)
-.
A perennial,
in spreading clumps;
blooms
in
cascade
trail
Xcitriodorus):
The
2.
{Monarda didyma
feet tall; blooms in
a 2-foot circle;
light
bears
tall;
mix them
foot
eff'ect.
punform a
reach 3 feet
plants
plants
may
tall.
must be
passed;
spp.):
it
probably reach
1 '/2-foot
The
3.
tall
and up
to
l'/2
feet
wide; blooms in
208
soft,
geraniums; plant
all
is
geranium {P
P crispum
creamy white
leaf margins;
7.
LEMON BALM
{Melissa officinalis):
peren-
may
garlic chives
on VA-
foot centers.
10.
NASTURTIUMS (Tropaeolum
annual;
foot
tall
by 2
An
majus):
through
nial;
flower;
strongly
8.
BLUE
lemon scented.
WONDER CATMINT
'Blue Wonder'):
is
A bushy
{Nepeta mussini
perennial, 12 to 15
tall,
rennial, to 2 feet
tall;
blue-green foliage
more
pe-
nicely with
the
summer
frost in saturated
on
I'/^-foot centers.
11.
bed or
Can reach hedge
proponions, but won't north of Zone 8, where it
8 through 10; otherwise, sink pots in the
plant out
circles.
9.
is
in
fall.
eral
early
the
209
taDDna^
2^ Path
is
composed
everlasting in
two senses:
ties tight
Hang
stems will
down
ail
210
in a dark,
(such as an
in a glass.
attic
more information.)
Many other plants can be chosen
add
to
flowers
flow-
ers
yellows,
reds,
TANSY {Tanacetum
6.
feet
Plant
on
used
in
love-in-a-mist.
with
tall,
vulgare):
feathers'
2-foot centers.
The pungent
tall
1 '/4-foot
WORMWOOD
LAMBROOK
SILVER
{ArtemiAbsinthium Lambrook Silver'): A perennial,
to 3 feet tall, with finely dissected, metallic silvery foliage, which emerges green in spring, and
1.
sia
mer.
2.
The
foliage
is
used
midsum-
in arrangements.
angusti-
perennial,
in
arrangements.
MUNSTEAD LAVENDER
nial,
is
{Achillea
perennial,
tall,
Plant
on
{Lavandula
angiis-
peren-
clusters
flat
summer
The aromatic
centers.
8.
tifolia
foliage
^RROW
The
perermial, 3
and yellow
arrangements.
CORONATION GOLD
7.
foliage
The flowers
centers.
'/2-foot
plumes borne profusely in August and September Plant on 2-foot centers. The flowers are used
in arrangements; pick them early or they'll turn
to loose
summer.
4.
fluff'.
YARROW
2 feet
tall,
{Achillea Millefolium):
perennial,
flat
11.
Beaut)''):
Plant
on
2-foot centers.
brown
stage, are
used
dulina 'Moonshine'):
The
and
5.
perennial,
with small,
Majorana):
and 4 to 6 inches wide,
rounded leaves and showy, deep pur1
foot
tall
12.
green or
arrangements.
MOONSHINE YARROW
in
The aromatic
in the
{Achillea filipen-
perennial, to 2 feet
tall
and flat
clusters of cream-yellow flowers in summer.
Plant on I'/i-foot centers. The flowers are used in
l'/2
arrangements.
211
-continued
14'
/;'
r Pat,
of borage
it
is
designed
is
composed
to
be orna-
The borders
best advantage.
A mulch
as
color, as well
The
age, with
its
garden
is
the bor-
The
1.
plants:
Basilicum
Control
212
them
for the
most ornamental
effect. Plant
fra-
on
,&^z-^
Green Globe'.
foot centers.
2.
PURPLE SAGE
cens'):
perennial, 12 to 30 inches
new
in
tall,
powder
powder purple,
The foliage has a
it grow in subse-
leaves
June.
BERGAMOT MINT
7.
citrata):
centers.
{Mentha Xpiperita
perennial, 2 to 3 feet
tall,
crispum):
Bushy
1-foot-tall
8.
on 2-foot centers.
APPLE MINT {Mentha
to 4 feet
nial,
hair>' leaves,
and
foliage dies
back
the following
at
the
end of the
tall,
suaveolefis):
SPEARMINT {Mentha
to
2'/2
1 '/2-foot
centers.
4.
lilac
on
1 '/2-foot
COMMON THYME
shrubby
rennial,
do
divi-
centers.
{Thymus
plant, to 14 inches
pe-
with
tall,
flowering. Plant
feet
tall,
on
2-foot centers.
spicata):
perennial,
10.
PEPPERMINT
nial, to
3 feet
tall,
vulgaris):
small,
tightly
peren-
9.
yellow-green umbels
sion. Plant
stalks of
var.
with long,
season
1 '/2-foot
Plant
first
on
Plant
tall.
BORAGE
to 3 feet
tall,
Borago
officinalis)
with strong,
An annual,
hairy,
2'/2
large green
blue flowers
is
in drinks.
The
l'/2-
foot centers.
is
best
way
to visit
on
few
Herb
MA
213
California
Fragrance Garden
Str^djing
Arboretum
Oklahoma
Anne Hathaway Municipal
Herb Garden
Woodward Park
Michigan
Fox Hill Farm
440 West Michigan Avenue
Parma
Tulsa
Minnesota
Landscape Arboretum
University of Minnesota
3675 Arboretum Drive
Chanhassen
Pennsylvania
Fragrant Garden
John J. Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Lima
Missouri
Shaw's Garden
Missouri Botanical Gardens
4344 Shaw Boulevard
Denver
St.
Conneaicut
Capriland's Herb Farm
New Jersey
Colorado
Denver Botanic Garden
Gainesville
Louis
Botanic Garden
New York
Monticello
Colonial Williamsburg
Williamsburg
Route 53
St.
John
the Divine
New York
Rochester
Center
Museum and
Maine
Merry Gardens
Mechanic Street
Camden
New York
The
National
Herb Garden
Arboretum
3501
Cornell University
Wisconsin
Boerner Botanical Garden
Ithaca
214
Washington, D.C.
Ohio
Sturbridge
City
Vernon
Washington
Pioneer Herb Garden
Washington State Capitol Museum
211 West 21st Street
Olympia
U.S. National
Mt.
Science
Rochester
Massachusetts
Pittsfield
Charlottesville
City
Plants
Pawtucket
Virginia
Garden
Cathedral Church of
Rhode Island
Garden of Dye and Textile
Old Slater Museum
Garden of Fragrance
Illinois
Plant
Morris Arboretum
Biblical
Georgia
Callaway Gardens
Highway 27
Pine Mountain
Drug
Whitnall Park
Garlic
Allium sativum
Garlic
is
a medicinal
nary' affection in
table, rather
are pickled
Liliaceae
DESCRIPTION
was eaten
as a vege-
Whole bulbs
garlic lovers
Rose.
Garlic
is
an onion with a
of 4
These
is
tan-colored in early
vari-
eties
HISTORY
Garlic was once thought to possess magical powers against evil
and was widely used in charms and spells. The poet Homer's Odysseus used it to keep the sorceress Circe from turning him into a pig.
The Egyptians swore on a clove of garlic when they took a solemn
Many
it
speed, and endurance. Egyptian slaves ate garlic as they built the
p\Tamids.
The
Israelites
nibbled
it
'/2
in.
wide.
Fruit:
Seeds;
rarely
pro-
Height: To 2
ft.
FLOWERING
Spring and
summer
later
chews on a garlic bulb during a foot race, no one will be able to get
ahead of him (and it's doubtful anyone would want to draw close).
Medicinally, garlic has been prescribed since prebiblical times.
In the Far East, ancient herbalists used it to treat high blood pressure
and respirator}' problems. It is mentioned in the Calendar of the
Hsai, which dates back to 2000 B.C. An Egyptian medical listing of
1550 B.C. recommends garlic as a remedy for 22 problems, including
headaches, bites, worms, tumors, and heart ailments. The Roman
scholar Pliny said it would cure over 60 ailments. Within the past 500
years, doctors have brought along a few cloves on house calls as a
charm and disinfectant. However, because of what one British herbalist calls its "intolerable Rankness," the English never really grew
ver^' fond of it. The seventeenth-centurs' British herbalist Culpeper
was reserved in describing its powers. It killed worms in children, he
said,
duced.
oath.
and
RANGE
Origin uncertain; may be
indigenous to southern Siberia.
Naturalized widely.
as
men
it
will
add
fuel to
humour
Therefore,
215
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
CjJ\J\L1(^ continued
since the early eighteenth centuiy. According to the story, four con-
OLD-TIME GARLIC
REMEDIES
demned criminals were recruited to bur>' those who had died during
herbaUst
mends pouring
ing w-ater
on
fell
ill
because
high altitude.
a quart of boil-
pound of
a plague in Marseilles,
fresh,
USES
for
12 hours, then
ounce of fresh
garlic juice.
and swallow
flu.
Chop
cup of water
let
it
if
several
steep in
Garlic
it;
is
several claims
made
for
its
Hundreds of dishes
call
been
substantiated;
stuff. If
it
a place in the
hours.
was a good
wash wounds and ulcers.
During World War I, army doctors daubed garlic juice on sterilized
sphagnum moss and applied it to infected wounds.
Now we have research findings to explain these cures. The very
component that gives garlic its strong odor is the one that destroys or
inhibits various bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Called allicin, its antibacInfection: Herbalists have long claimed that garlic
few drops of
recommend
tincture of garlic.
pound
Soak
Vi
in 1
of peeled cloves
germ
killer.
terial
action
In India, garlic
is
used
to
tincture)
is
in the garlic
day as needed.
alliin,
equivalent to that of
when
smell and
some
the affected
ear.
allinase.
The
result
is
that potent
garlic
may reduce
its
effec-
oil:
garlic oil
Make
Garlic
oil,
amount of
and heating
briefly
tiveness.
It is
more
and
yeasts,
some
that causes
It
works against staph and strep bacteria, against the organism responsible for cholera, and against the bacillus species that causes typhus,
dysentery, and enteritis.
Experienced herbalists recommend care in using garlic rubs and
poultices. If placed directly against the skin, these may cause irritation or even blistering. Apply the crushed garlic cloves, extracted
216
KSs
infection.
Garlic
is
worms and
other parasites in pets and people. Perhaps you have heard of giving
your dog a clove of garlic every day for just this reason. An old-time
remedy for pinworms was an enema of raw garlic juice.
Such treatments may not be as farfetched as they sound. Several
of the sulfur
parasites.
compounds
However,
concentrations to
it's
not
known
if
noxious to
do much good.
and Europe,
garlic
is
respiratory ailments.
of the
oils
feet. It is
be
easily
it
remedy
is
A more
direct
High blood pressure: The Chinese have long used garlic to treat
high blood pressure and other cardiac or circulatory ailments. Now
Western physicians are beginning to experiment with it. Re-
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
GARLIC- -continued
GARLIC BREATH
Whether
you
just
eating.
Here are
of
a few:
parsley
many
is
folk cures.
Chew on a sprig
immediately
after
cardamom
warm
evaporate).
showed
from
garlic inhibit
blood
is
Stomach cancer:
garlic
may
counties with the lowest and highest rates of stomach cancer deaths
and found that the residents of the healthiest county regularly ate up
to 20 grams a day of garlic. They proved to have "significantly lower"
levels of nitrite in their stomachs as well.
Other medical uses of garlic have yet to be supported by research. We don't yet know whether garlic truly is useful against colic,
colds, kidney and bladder troubles, toothaches, or snakebites.
But for those who wish to try home remedies, garlic is one of the
safest herbs. Given in moderation (and not to small children), garlic
is very unlikely to cause a dangerous reaction. While it may not help
the problem, it seems unlikely that it will harm the patient. Use as
much
as
tolerate.
plant,
and pickles.
and pesto is unthinkable without garlic.
Available commercially: Fresh whole; dried
flavored oils
salad,
der.
Whole
is
in flakes, or
pow-
preferable.
flower arrangements.
Companion
planting:
The
pest-controlling
off'
roses.
It is
also
recommended as an
haven't
contains
218
been able
some
to prove
its
fruit trees.
benefits, they
interplant
Although scien-
Garlic
1
at bay for up to 30
Nonhwest have found that a garlic spray also
deer away from tender saplings.
keeps hungry'
Other: Japanese
scientists
TIPS
Garlic will
bulbs, tubers,
can
much
faster
start garlic
and
easier,
but
latter
more expensive.
Since
it is
first
side of a knife.
use
in
purees, sauces,
soups, and marinades. You
flat
choice being
Plant garlic cloves in early spring for a garlic harvest the follow-
ing
if
flavor
if
"Vt)u
bitter
with the
CULTIVAriON
become
some
dormancy' in
CHEF
quite cold-hardy,
can
also
use
roasted,
peeled garlic whole as an
accompaniment to
meats and poultrs'.
roast
ing spring.
The
soil
elephant
should be
bulbs
When
some
shade.
them back so
can devote their energs' to developing bulbs. Allow a
few plants to blossom, just so you can enjoy their beauty.
Harvesting and storage: E\entually, the tops will begin to bend
flower stalks appear in early summer, cut
and turn brown. If by midsummer they have not done so, don't wait;
knock them down yourself. Withhold water and a few days later lift
the plants. Place them on a screen in the shade for several days, then
shake the
dirt free.
dry spot
same
as for onions.
cool, dark,
Take care not to bruise the bulbs since this will invite
molds and insects; you might e\'en separate the bulbs so they don't
bump against one another One easy, attractive way to store garlic is
is
best.
oflF
just
Hang this up
below a knot.
GROWING CONDITIONS
pH
Soil
Rich,
Full
4.5-8.3.
deep,
moist,
drained soil.
sun to
partial
well-
shade.
219
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
GENTIAN
A
emerges from a
ft. long and 1-2
in. thick.
When
much
extremely
is
Gentianaceae
Gentiana lutea
DESCRIPTION
bitter.
lutea, the
yellow gentian,
perhaps
beautiful flowers
out of a puritanical belief that the sweet in life comes only after
bitterness. For our less straitlaced times, the soul-restoring sight of
used
commercial
in
bitters
and
to flavor
Still, it is
Moxie, an old-time
soft
drink.
in.
HISTORY
whorls of 3
of the upper-
from
to 10
most
axils
The
tur)' B.C.
leaf pairs.
ft.
long, 6
king of
Illyria,
its
name from
Gentius, a second-cen-
in healing.
But gentian was an ingredient in medicines described on an Egyptian papyrus dating from 1200 B.C. Both the Greeks and the Arabs
for
stomach and
liver ailments, as
prominent veins
and to kill intestinal worms. It has also been used against hysteria and
ague and for washing wounds and raising white blood cell counts.
in.
wide;
five
A twovalved capsule
USES
It is
if
a substance tastes
FLOWERING
bad enough,
Maybe
terrific.
this
aperitifs.
having no
Native to the mountains of
aftertaste.
Medicinal:
The
Among
the
HABITAT
tures at 3,000-8,000
pas-
ft.
digestive
tract,
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
zone
ters
itself that
7.
alkaline.
humusy
soil.
sun to
partial
shade.
appetite.
may be
Commercial
bit-
vised against
substances
may
women and anyone with high blood pressure are adtaking gentian root. When taken in too large a dose,
it
220
it
that gentian
Pregnant
Moist, well-drained,
Full
it
employ gentian
show
so strong that
due
these substances
is
they do in healthy
gish appetite
pH:
of gentian root
Soil
bitter taste
ada.
and
preparations;
RANGE
the
is
own bitters,
SSSiiBK^
T""
-^KTOB'f .fjgifil
ii^awiiigfffFfiriftft'iiWiTt
viaBii
ued for their looks in rock gardens, woodland plantings, and informal wild gardens. They are flowers of spectacular beauty, and only
their finicky culture (and our lack of experience with them) keeps
them from wider use. In Europe, gentians rank with primroses in
among
popularity
effect.
gentian, G.
CULTIVAriON
Gentians can be raised from seeds, but the process
foolproof. Without frost, the seeds will not germinate,
frost,
is
hardly
Some
crown
would do
rich, acid,
soil.
is
location.
little
care
if
given abundant moisture, shelter from cold, dry winds, and strong,
direct sunshine.
They
benefit
need
light
snow
to
protect them.
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
GERMANDER
Teucrium Chamaedrys
DESCRIPTION
There are
varieties
many
as
of
this
Teucrium Chamaedrys
is
slen-
On
small stalks in
leaf axils;
gardens are
rounded,
pur-
tapering,
that
iftuw
W M wiii
i
'
II
iW
of clipped germander.
The
glossy, dark
green
USES
Medicinal:
The
active principle of
It
iiii
corolla,
five
made
Labiatae
as 100
perennial.
iii
and
and
rupted margins.
Four
Fruit:
small
nut
use, however,
modern
or counterindication, neither
is
is
no knovm
toxicity
ft.
It
FLOWERING
July through September.
RANGE
Naturalized in North
Amer
Europe. Cultivated
throughout the temperate zone.
and'
CULTIVATION
Germander can be
days to germinate.
started
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness zones 5-9.
. Soil
pH
and organic
it
takes as long as 30
matter. If
soil.
An
ideal
soil
fall
under
glass.
is
to
Layering
them about
foot apart in a
in pots, select a
sunny
location.
6.3.
Average, well-drained
Full
222
its
Height: 2
in
times.
seed.
ica
was
sun to
partial
soil.
shade.
Ginger
Zingiber officinale
Forty-four
DESCRIPTION
Zingiberaceae
New
It became so
popular among Europeans that in 1884 Great Britain imported over 5
dors introduced
million
An herbaceous
to the
pounds of the
World
via Jamaica.
whitish
or
buff-colored,
pending on the
de-
strain.
root.
long
of a 6-12-in.
USES
Today, Chinese cooks rarely stir-fry vegetables without first
browning a piece of the fresh, pungent root. Ginger is spic\^ to the
tongue, and yet it's also soothing to the digestive system.
Medicinal: Ginger is used to soothe indigestion and take the
wind out of flatulence. Researchers have found that ginger is effective against motion sickness. It is a safe and effective herb.
Ginger is a mild stimulant, promoting circulation. On a cold
winter day, a cup of ginger tea is warming and invigorating. Pour 1
pint of boiling water over 1 ounce of the rhizome and steep for 5 to
20 minutes. Drink it hot or warm, 1 or 2 cups a day.
Culinary: Ginger's flavor seems to be half spice and half citrus.
The root of the plant is used fresh or dried in the recipes of China,
Japan, Southeast Asia, East India, the Caribbean, and North Africa.
Add
tropical pe-
grows from an
aromatic, tufjerous rhizome that
is
knotty and branched and
rennial, ginger
at
end
com-
the
stalk; corolla
in.
Vi
in.
wide, alternate,
pointed, lanceolate.
Fruit: Fruiting is
Height: 2-4
unknown.
ft.
FLO'WERING
Rarely flowers in cultivation.
RANGE
Origin
is
uncertain, proba-
it
Florida.
in tightly
wrapped
plastic;
it
first
in a
CHEF TIP
peeled
marinade
each pound of meat or
Toss
of
slice
CULTIVAriON
for
poultry.
Ginger is grown commercially tfiroughout the tropics. Elsewhere, it's easy to grow in a container Plant a rhizome purchased
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Fertile,
moist,
zone
9.
well-draihed
soil.
Partial
shade.
223
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
GINSENG
Panax
DESCRIPTION
Ginseng's thin, single stem
rises from tlie ground and then
separates into a whorl of com-
pound
leaves.
grows from
simultaneous
This
amount.
growing and shrinking produces wrinkles around the neck
of the root that can be used to
estimate the plant's age.
Flowers: After three or four
years; 4 to
40 green flowers
ginseng root looks like any of a number of wrinkled old roots a gardener might grub out of a weed patch,
and the slow-growing plant won't stop sightseers in their tracks. Its
glossy green leaves have something of the ground cover about them,
To be perfectly
each
toothed or
radiating from a
ordinariness
parts
story
HISTORY
Considering the origins of ginseng, an evolutionary botanist
might chat excitedly about the curious pattern of plants whose close
relatives are
they offspring of a
location,
RANGE
Manitoba and Quebec;
through Alabama to Okla-
homa; south
to Florida.
HABITAT
Hardwood
when
common
ancestor or offspring
If
we
who were
forests; prefers
we
mud
puddles. All a
bit
disconcerting.
It's
a relief to consider
224
sepa-
in.
FLOWERING
we.st
in
rated
Depending on
June through August.
And
lobed
central point
Height: 6-16
one
Fruit:
to, say,
too tall and sparse. (That's daytime of course. At night, the legends
tell us, the plants glow, mysteriously rise from the ground, and flit
around the forest, a more interesting spectacle.) However, the plants
frank, the
at
Araliaceae
quinquefolius
Ginseng
SUPPLY AND
figure
the whole of
human
contained clues to
its
that
could enhance
medicinal benefits
is
Menumerous
same
system,
which
they
dieval European herbalists discussed the
took as a sign of divine skill and generosity in constructing the
Signatures and has
popped up
dissimilar cultures.
in
may
universe. Ideas
The
root that
DEMAND
ac-
have a very
extraordinary opinion of the virtues of this root, so that it sells
for many times its weight in silver Americans, on the contrary,
disregard it, because it is found
plentifully in their woods.
Robert Thornton
British doctor
1814
count of
iLs
scarcity,
Iroquois
noted
ingly."
that
it
The
He added
of the
William Byrd
a reassuring note
price had other ginseng eaters agreed with him): "All this
trou-
some Americans.
was a commodity
225
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
CLEAR THINKING
CIRCA 1908
It has been asked why the Chinese do not grow their own
Ginseng
Ginseng
requires
China
home
traded
and
as
proper
company
in the city.
to
use
it.
It
was the
financial
was
Harding
Ginseng and
Other Medicinal Plants
1908
A. R.
in 1824,
The
set
chance to
left
until after
New
ment of ginseng
ice cream.
They needed
226
it.
Ginseng
is
"
Ginseng
ratcir
"
^*"^
one can
a
weed
still
it
scheme;
as a get-rich-quick
who toss
in
some
or two in the summer, and then stand back while the profits
that
Nonsense.
To begin with, growing ginseng requires a big capital investment. Even in the late 1970s, stratified seed cost $85 a pound that's
about $10,000 in seed alone to plant an acre. The plants need shade,
so growers construct lath sheds or drape the fields with black nylon
costs could
in cost
roots aren't ready to dig for several years, so the farmer has plenty of
is
roll in.
mesh
PULUN' SANG
plants, pull
money before he
The
off a root
"
roots" value
comes
in part
from
their
men
and 10 copAnother
'sang
hunter Allen Brown, reported
being charged by a bear on an
outing. "I almost got run over,
he said.
USES
Medicinal:
that has
science
been
is
It's
think that
whether and
how
list
hun-
identified
unclear.
According
to the
it's
very
much
a muddle. The agencs' categorizes ginseng for tea as "GenerRecognized as Safe, but that's as far as it goes. As long as it's just
for flavoring and fun, the FDA permits ginseng sales. But dealers who
claim the plant has any medicinal virtues are disciplined.
The evidence may not have brought the two sides together on
this debate, but here is a sampling of the medicinal claims made for
ginseng and some of the evidence that supports or denies them.
Perhaps the broadest health effect claimed for ginseng is that it
is an "adaptogen," a substance that protects against stress, physical
ally
"
kill
3 rattlesnakes
perheads."
And
if
aren't
lected,
trans-
it
who
to exporters.
in
More
is
funneled into
Hong
Kong.
and mental. Put another way, adaptogens help body functions return
227
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
I
GINSENG-continued
BUT THERE'S NO
GINSENG IN IT!
It
should
is
come
as
no sur
ginseng
room when
Two
this
studies have
come
to
conclusion.
The
first,
published
in the
ucts
tested
contained
nar^'
that
of the ginseng
products analyzed in a recent
percent
Twenry-five percent of
the sampled
ently contain
products appar-
no ginseng at
all!
nism
No mecha-
is
is
advertised
what
is in-
side
to
But here
information
we
shrub, a
lot
of the
It's
a prickly
same genus,
And
the reports
do suggest some
it
into space.
An adaptogen
has certainly aged well; almost 2,000 years ago the great Chi-
itself
found
that a culture of
human amnion
cells
grew denser on
me-
dium containing
along these
lines;
conclusive.
It's
of a cup of tea
consumed by
whole
organism.
a true ginseng).
Ginseng has been explored as an aid in preventing heart disThe American Journal of Chinese Medicine reported that in
both rats and humans, ginseng seemed to moderate the effects of a
high-cholesterol diet. However, ginseng extracts given to shock patients raised blood pressure. Again, research does not seem to have
ease.
The
list
Tyler, Ph.D.,
228
Ginseng
^rtBilBtfftlipWWBftMJHji'ti'^g^
at
A TESTIMONIAL
I
for
out
of.
Jake Plott
Georgia ginseng trader
behavior
Out of all
this,
we may be no
Not
all
the tests
CULTIVATION
Unless you have the naturally perfect garden spot, ginseng
needs
to
be pampered.
It's
usually
the com-
needs
months.
Some growers
it
dip the
in a
when
them
then;
one Russian
scientist reported
is
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
Plant hardiness
Soil
Humus-rich, well-drained
loam.
pH
Partial
4.
5.0-6.5.
shade.
229
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
GOLDENROD
One
gold-
:gU:^
Compositae
Solidago spp.
DESCRIPTION
r^.^Ai:-.-'i..^^:*.
gardener's lifelong
enemy
is
or perhaps
plants with
cies.
Leaves: Simple
alternate,
ft.
FLOWERING
August and September.
just
of
human
nature,
is
beautifully illustrated
by the
goldenrods.
HISTORY
Goldenrod has long been associated with wound healing, often
by peoples who were not obviously associated with each other like
the American Indians and the Chinese. (The Latin solida, "whole"
and ago, "to make" combine to form the genus name, Solidago.)
The plant appears in British folklore as a healing herb for both
the body and the pocketbook. The golden plants were supposed to
point toward equally golden hidden treasure. They were also supposed to mark hidden springs.
The sweet goldenrod was one of the early herbal equivalents of
sugar coating on a pill; the pleasant smell and aniselike taste of the
tea could disguise disgusting flavors and odors of other ingredients.
RANGE
Native chiefly to Nonh
America; a few species are native to Europe, Asia, the Azores,
and South America.
HABITAT
Open
fields
and roadsides.
USES
Medicinal: Three species in panicular,
S. nemoralis or gray
odora or sweet goldenrod, and S. virgaurea or European goldenrod, have been used as astringents, diuretics, and di-
goldenrod,
S.
aphoretics.
Gray goldenrod has been taken as a carminative. Sweet goldenby some, has been used as a
stimulant.
flow.
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
Plant hardiness
Full sun.
230
4.
Some
herbalists
^mi^r
record of serious illness connected with the plant.
One
obvious
enrod as a medicine.
Ornamental: While most Americans look on goldenrods as
roadside weeds, Europeans cherish them. The British plant them in
colorful perennial borders and have named varieties. These horticultural varieties of goldenrod are moving toward bigger flower heads
and shorter plants. The so-called dwarf goldenrod varieties only
grow a foot high and are recommended for the front of borders, an
incredible concept for an American.
Craft: The flower heads of goldenrod dry to a nice golden color,
certainly not as bright as the plant's fresh color, but
still
one
that
is
CULTIVATION
Goldenrod does best in poor soil, according to Holly Shimizu,
Herb Garden in Washington, D.C. In rich soil,
they tend to grow tall and flop over (an annoyed weed-control
specialist may grumble that that's not so bad). Shimizu says she has
had no pest problems.
Although some people start a goldenrod collection by marking
particularly lush weeds and then returning in the fall to dig them,
Shimizu recommends buying them from nurseries that carry native
curator of the National
varieties.
and dry
it
it
carefully.
turns black
Spread
and must>'
it
when
it's
flowering
if left
in a heap.
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
GOLDENSEAL
Goldenseal is a small perennial plani with an erect, cylindrical, hain,' stem. The stem
emerges from a rhizome that is
seldom more than 2 in. long
and '4-?4 in. thick. Fleshy in
texture and marked with sealshaped scars from flower stems
of earlier years,
twisted,
the
of it
be
(it's
toxic);
and
HISTORY
corolla;
no
three small,
frail
when
one
fall
off
flower opens.
near top of the stem; deeply divided into five lobes (sometimes seven); lobes pointed
and
but
irregularly
toothed; to 12
ered with
finely
across; cov-
in.
down.
Oblong orange-red
soft
Fruit:
berries,
top; clustered;
seeds inside.
Height:
d-M
in the claims
to tales of
its
terminal,
composed of
States,
on flower
in
locations are
You'll
powers.
Solitary',
woodland
Ranunculaceae
Hydrastis canadensis
DESCRIPTION
name
affliction
known
to
man
to
near extinction.
Early on, the pioneers followed the Indians'
chewed
it
example
in
using
goldenseal to
treat
it
"one
FLOWERING
May.
RANGE
Native to North America.
HABITAT
Moist,
woodlands,
how to
cultivate
it.
232
many
law of supply and demand. And that is despite the fact that the plant is
no longer officially recognized as a medicinal herb. Recently, the
mistaken idea that it could mask heroin use in tests drove the price
up
yet again.
USES
made for goldenremember that you are dealing with a potentially dangerous
substance whose effectiveness has been exaggerated. The mechanism for many of its purported cures still awaits study.
Medicinal: The most active ingredient, and the one that acBefore you get carried away with the claims
seal,
As
that in small
and muscle
it is
is
is
a mild sedative
shown
scientifically to
be
wash
is
also astringent
levels, which
and anxiety.
Toxicity: The medical jury is still out on the controversial
that inspires so much passion among its advocates and so much
cynicism among its critics. Note well, however, that in large doses
goldenseal's major component, hydrastine, is toxic and dangerous.
To be absolutely safe, you should not take goldenseal internally.
Eating fresh plant material may ulcerate and inflame the mucous
in the
It
may be
fatal.
let
your neighbors
know
that
233
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
GOLDENSEAL-oontinued
GROWING CONDITIONS
Panial to
you're growing
EJye:
full
shade.
it
or you
wealthy neighbors.
Perhaps the Cherokees were right to value goldenseal's
CULTIVAriON
Goldenseal
is
is
a sensitive plant
try
permanent woodland
going. Later,
move
it
to a
It
them
it
location.
woodland
in
if
you
start
Budded pieces
it
spaded and enriched with leaf mold, combonemeal, and cottonseed meal to a depth of
should feel light and moist.
soil,
10 inches.
The
.soil
they are
at least in their
seal to
The root will remain in storage for a number of years and can be
refreshed by soaking in water. For longer storage or easier use, the
root
is
check
234
When
taste.
Goldenseal powder
many
other
members
is
..:?^
^^
.'>f
*^.,
<^L^^
^
^;-^
V-,
^""-t^.
:r>e''
S&.
y5^^':;;/t^
-T
??^.,
Lavender's form
in
any garden
and color
236
left)
design.
nestles
among
trilliums in
a wood-
New Jersey.
se-
dum
237
in
Parsley, sage,
and
basil
add
striking color
and
texture to
any garden.
i^c...^
238
Dutch
/.
,rr
i-Jk
(foreground)
mm^M
Grindelia
Among
DESCRIPTION
Compositae
Grindelia spp.
use
this
The
shrublike plants.
roots are
the
but
plants sometimes have a biennial, or even an annual, tendency.
perennial,
u.sually
where rwo
covering,
to eight
narrow
bristlelike,
spikes,
they
fall
yellow;
in
Medicinal:
humilis,
and
G.
lists
G.
camporum,
G.
'has
if
only feebly
been used
there
is
so.
a tendency to asthma.
modic
Its
some
when
action
is
sur-
flowers; occur
of
around
bracts
the
flower
Leaves: Slightly toothed,
spade-shaped, green or bluegreen leaves, alternate, clasping
the stems.
Fruit:
small achene.
Height: To 3
ft.
effect."
flowers
disk
rounded by ray
USES
over, large
rate,
irritation since
the active
is
as an external
ointment or
and soak
Dry
prairies
ewan south
from Saskatch-
Some
to Mexico.
burns. G. squarrosa
RANGE
in
a cloth in the
in
almost
all
pint of water
cooled
liquid.
CULTrVATION
Since the plant
seldom
is
too scrubby to be
much of an ornamental,
it
is
soil. If
your area,
in
tr^'
starting
it
from seed
there are
poor
soil.
no wild
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Light,
Full sun.
plants in
also
zone
7.
moderately rich
soil.
be
239
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
GROWING HERBS
Although herbs may have an
air
It's
as straightforward as
less
and
effort.
SITE
AND
gardening.
is just
SOIL
you don't have the sunny, well-drained site most herbs prefer,
no need to abandon herb growing. Grow herbs in raised beds
or containers for better drainage, or plant angelica, beebalm, boneset, sweet flag (calamus), elecampane, lovage, meadowsweet, and
the mints, which will grow in damp soil. If your site is shaded,
choose sweet cicely, pennyroyal, violets, sweet woodruff, lemon
If
there's
hellebores, or goldenseal.
too
"good"
dry
soil
The
and hyssop.
humusy loam
age in waterlogged
is
so herbs
will
The
ideal
pH
is
pH
acidic to neutral).
lavender,
tilled
If
your
soil is
wood
240
ashes,
before
bonemeal or wood ashes a few weeks before spring sowAdding plenty' of organic matter is the best way to lower the pH
planting;
ing.
fall
Grounng Herbs
Once
need
for irrigation.
Two
which are
fine
salt
hay
is
ideal.
on paths but
if
used as mulch.
Grass clippings will add a boost of nitrogen as they break down, but
they can form an impenetrable mat unless they're mixed with a
looser material like straw. Don't put clippings against plant stems or
they'll
bum
them.
GROVtTNG HERBS
IN THE SHADE
heard
my
"Oh,
can't
yard
is
grow amthing"?
Rarely
is
you've seen, thick with undergro'v^rh; you can find herbs that
Some
niff.
started
flats
caraway,
coriander, cumin,
fennel, and
herbs
anise,
chervil,
dill,
will
grow,
if at all
clumps
flats
more than
can be
trans-
and
them out
and to resist
The
trick is to plant
a couple of inches
tall
flats
of each with paper toweling (one sheet thick), then adding a layer of
fish-tank gravel or perlite for drainage. Next,
ing
medium
vermiculite,
and
part peat
moss
in a
common
it
The time
Some
is
ers,
shady spot.
wood-
in
full
taller
Tp.'
italic
rest will
tial
location so
will flourish in a
PLANTING
have you
complain,
so shady, I
grow in
full
sun to par-
shade.)
aconite
agrimony
angelica
beebalm
betony
black hellebore
bloodroot
blue cohosh
cardamom
castor
bean
catnip
chamomile
chenil
comfrey
coriander
costmar\'
weeks
241
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
-continued
the first seedlings are up, remove the covers from the flats
and
move them to a sunny window or under fluorescent
and pots
light racks. Seedlings need 12 to 15 hours of light daily for the best
growth. If you aren't providing overhead light, don't forget to turn
the containers! Thin crowded rows by snipping "extra" plants off at
the soil surface with scissors
don't disturb the roots by pulling up
Once
plants. In individual pots cut off all but the strongest seedling.
tall;
Keep
then allow
between waterings.
all danger of
harden them off gradually by putting them outside in a
sheltered location. Begin by leaving them out only an hour or two a
day, and increase the time until, after 10 days, the plants can be left
frost is past),
outside
all
flats,
you begin
off
SOWING SEEDS
Growing Herbs
will,
however,
still
have to
worn' about watering and thinning, and you'll also have to cope with
weeds. The trick to successful direct-seeding is a well-prepared seedbed. Clods should be broken up and the soil raked smooth and fine
so that the seeds are in close contact with soil and moisture and the
For
"
as a container plant, or
tr^'
it
If your
area
is
it
IN THE
SHADE contmiied
dill
fennel
feverfew
flxx
foxglove
gentian
germander
ginger
gimeng
goldenseal
hyssop
lemon balm
licorice
lobelia
lovage
it
mayapple
mint
(all varieties)
parsley
pennyroyal
pipsissewa
plantain
VEGETXriVE PROPAGATION
rosemary
St.-John's-wort
is
means of rejuvenation
new growth
tarragon,
yarrow,
begins,
beebalm, evening primrose, oregano, and lungwort. Other candidates for division are chives, horseradish, lovage,
monkshood, the
sharp shovel
is
yaaow
that
form
ground.
salad
bumet
sweet cicely
sweet flag
sweet woodruff
tansy
tarragon
thyme
tropical periwinkle
valerian
L'iolet
wintergreen
wormwood
gardening, as with
there are no
guarantees. If you want to grow
a panicular herb, experiment
with it in your garden and see
how it grows. You just might
In
many endeavors,
be pleasantly surprised.
larger Once you've divided the perimeter of the plant, dig up and
compost the woody center of the clump. Replant and water-in the
divisions as soon as possible.
The bulbous roots of chives and garlic chives can be pulled apart
to
243
GROWING HERBS-
-continued
Layering: Propagating noninvasive herbs such as rosemary, marjoram, the chamomiles, horehound, hyssop, sage, santolina, clove
and the thymes is even easier and more foolproof In summer, select a branch near the base of the parent plant
that's flexible enough to bend to the ground. Strip the lower
branches and foliage from the part of the stem that will touch the soil.
pink, winter savory,
wire bent in a U.
If
you
like,
Keep the soil evenly moist until the new plant is estabend of the growing season. Once roots have formed, cut
the connecting stem from the parent plant and transplant the layer to
its new location. The big advantage of layering is that the new plants
remain attached to their parents during rooting, so losing them to
same
plant.
lished at the
neglect or shock
isn't
a possibility.
much
faster,
is
The
list
of
and the shrubby thymes. From cutting to rooting should take only
two to three weeks. Spring and late summer are the best times to take
spring for planting out the same season, late summer for
overwintering indoors or for rooting plants as Christmas presents.
cuttings
The method
is
straightforward:
U.S.
minimum
in a
tional variations.
Zone
6, for
example,
is
as diverse
o]
Zone
below -50F
Zone 2
-50 to -40
Zone 3
-40 to -30
Zone 4
-30 to -20
r~| Zone 5
-20 to -10
Zone 6
-10 to -0
v'.'v^
1^
^M
0 to 10
Zone 8
10 to 20
-^ Zone 9
20 to 30
Zone
Zone 10 30
Average
Minimum Temperatures
for
to 40
Each Zone
245
Soil
Herb
Soil
pH
Herb
Soil
pH
Herb
Soil
Soil
Light
Propagation
PH
Requirements
Requirements
Method
Alkaline
Poor
must be
soil;
grown
Pests
Full
sun
Seed
Full
sun
Seed sown
and Diseases
conjunction with
in
grass because
it
parasite
6.5
Average, welldrained
in spring;
will reseed
readily; resents
root disturbance
Rich
Full
Seed sown
sun
when
in spring
Root
rot in cold,
wet
soil
temperature reaches
55 F
6.3
Average, welldrained
sun to
shade
Full
partial
soil
Seed sown
as soil
worked
Light, well-
drained
Acid
Rich, moist,
humusy
sun to
shade
Full
partial
sun to panial
shade
Full
as
soon
can be
in spring
drained,
sun
shade
Full
to panial
Seed sown
as soil
as
soon
can be
6.3
Average, well-
drained
Mosaic
wilt,
in spring,
Japanese beedes,
and meahtiugs
as
soon
as ripe
sun
shade
Full
to panial
Cuttings, layering, or
division in spring
Panial shade
Division of rhizomes
in spring
Panial shade
Seed sown
drained
5.0-6.5
Humusy,
well-
drained
6.9
Full
Rich, moist,
Panial to
Deep, sandy,
well-drained
as
soon
may
and mites
Soil diseases
as berries ripen
Average to poor,
well-drained
humusy
anthracnose, leaf
spot,
rust,
cut-
Cuttings, division, or
seed sown
humusy
Grasshoppers and
worms
or Stan indoors
Moist, well-
dis-
ease-free
in spring
Seed sown
worked
Limey
sun
shade
Full
sun
Division in spring
every 3 years
full
Seed, or division in
fall
Seed sown
in early
spring or division
(continued)
253
Soil
Soil
Light
Propagation
pH
Requirements
Requirements
Method
Full
6.8
sun
division
Acidneutral
Pests
and Diseases
RODALE'S GUIDE
TO GROWING HERBS
continued
Soil
PH
Soil
PH
RODAIF'S GUIDE
TO GROWING HEUBScotitinued
Soil
pH
o
C
"
c
o
c: c
o o
^
ti
(U
OJ
srt
^ io
op
3 D
OJ
o
-=
i
c
u
^
E
O
w c
X
c/:i
262
C
o
.i2
C/5
^ g S
= -5-aS
H
U
(LI
in
.S O-Q
>^-"
3
U
C
n
CO
"O
A
O c
O
..
a.
i'
cE
E^
^^ 3
ii
P
-a
c
o
ou
Si Q.
1^
T3
.
.2
I"?
ii
>-
E
"-'
(LI
_- 00
J"
S 3 >
CQ
266
_o
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
GROWING HERBS-continued
mature but not yet woody (i.e., that still bends easily but isn't too
is not in bloom. Cut stems 3 to 4 inches from the tips
succulent) and
using a sharp propagating or razor knife. Strip the leaves and small
branches from the bonom third to half of each stem, and immediely insert
it
medium
is
sterile
medium such
as
Once
them
all
part
medium
dampened
to overlap.
been
set in the
medium, water
or pots
bright
but not
and mist the plants daily to maintain high
flat
in
light
direct sun-
humidit}'.
Prompdy
remove any dead cuttings. New top growth is a sign of rooting. Vfhen
it begins, remove the plastic and water the cuttings normally for a few
days before transplanting.
PESTS
AND
DISEASES
Herbs are not immune to pests and diseases, but they seem less
perhaps because of their high concentrations of aroatic oils or their undomesticated nature
than most garden plants.
Like vegetables and flowers, herb seedlings must be protected from
cutworms and damping-oflF; aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites prey
on many; slugs and snails tend to their usual voracious tendencies;
and rots, mildews, and wilts take their toll, usualh' of plants spaced
too closely together in poorly drained soil. Good gardening practices, including prompt cleanup and rotation, will take care of many
problems; specific pests, ailments, and consols are listed in the pests
and diseases tables (see pages 262-67).
[usceptible
harvesting
and
what you plan to do with them. If you need a few snippets of parsley,
chives, and basil for a salad, or some thyme and oregano for the
spaghetti sauce, the most sensible time to collect
you're ready to
fitx
quantity- of a given
apply.
268
herb for
them
is
when
If
Growing Herbs
The
day
after the
leaves, the
dew
in the
is
peak time
for flavor
and fragrance
is
just
flower in the spring. Harvests can continue as need and plant growth
permit, until early
for
fall.
unimpeded
off"
Trim
off
basil
and mint
before winter.
If,
frost
first
open
blooms
are fully
dill,
and the
like,
much
cut as
You can
growth in a
in the garden.
If
your
is
small,
down
Drying herbs:
If
To air-dry herbs,
bunches tightly with string or rubber bands (stems will shrink as
they dry), and hang them in a warm, dark, well-ventilated area as
dust-free as possible. If dust is a problem, poke a hole in the bottom
of a brown paper bag and insen the herb cluster lantern-style. To dry
seeds, wrap unpunched paper bags around the stems and secure
them; the seeds will fall into the bag as they dry. All drying takes
about two weeks.
If you haven't the room or time for air-drying, the oven is an
option. With a gas oven, simply leave on the pilot light
the oven
temperature will be 85 to 90 F and spread a single layer of herbs
on cookie sheets or brown paper on the oven racks. Hirn the herbs
once or twice daily; they'll dry in one to three days. If your oven is
electric, turn it on its lowest setting and proceed as for gas; the herbs
will dry in a matter of hours. Oven drying works particularly well for
several effective techniques for drying your herbs.
tie
basil.
Storage: Whatever
them from
When
for
them
Hanging Herbs
to
Dry
Rodale 's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
-continuei
some herbs
recommended, if available) or canning jars; plastic bottles can be airand moisture-permeable. Store out of direct sunlight, which
bleaches and deteriorates the herbs. The same storage techniques
work for the flowers and seeds.
If you would prefer fresh herbs to dried, the leaves can be
harvested and frozen as you would freeze any leafy green. A clever
for
alternative
A word
of warning
is
in or
But
will
fine
them
ers
when you
by setting up
is
plant.
barri-
Sinking
with Herbs.
soil
WINTERIZING
.soil.
The
barriers
at least a foot,
must go down
however, or the
and go
their
The worst
'Silver King'
and
offenders
'Silver
are
Queen'
After a year's
enjoyment of herbs
bed
it's
in the
fall,
and
pull
up unusable
parts to
Once
artemisia.
horseradish,
tansy,
the plants. Gray-leaved plants that hold their leaves over winter
about two weeks before you bring them in so they can adjust to the
transition.
you
A week
little
as possible.
Once
270
If
Valerian
Black
Horehound
Garlic
Foxglove
Soapwort
Echinacea
Tropical Periwinkle
274
Hawthorn
HAWTHORN
Crataegus laevigata
Rosaceae
DESCRIPTION
It
The
flowers
named
in
after the
Flowers:
sepals,
USES
The pendulum of opinion
is
is
hawthorn.
In
clusters,
five
many
sta-
petals,
ft.
FLOWERING
tonic.
May.
comes
it
to treating
course, self-medication
remedy
has
five nutlets.
When
five
it
mild
the spring,
hoped
is
an organ as
foolish,
vital as
no matter how
the heart, of
RANGE
that
hawthorn's benefits. In
the
HABITAT
Hedges and open deciduous woods.
CULTIVATION
Hawthorns can be grown in a range of environments from
closed urban sites to open, exposed, windy locations near the sea.
They tolerate a wide variety of soils, but they do best in a limestone
soil that is rich, loamy, and moist.
Hawthorns are best propagated from seed, except for certain
horticultural varieties that must be grafted or budded. Smaller hawthorns transplant better than older, larger ones.
Pests
and
diseases:
Check your
Herbs
zone
Plant hardiness
Soil
pH:
3.
alkaline.
GROWING CONDITIONS
for information
275
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
is
There are
macist and you may get a lecture on the impurities of the material
and the vagaries of dosages.
On the other hand, you may have read about or heard about or
even know someone who claims to have had successful healing
experiences with herbs. They can't explain how or why they worked.
They just worked.
These two approaches to healing exist in today's society, as they
have throughout much of history. One can be called rational, the
other empirical.
and
is
a search for
tioners,
including almost
all
current folk
healers,
empirical perspective.
modern
Inherent in
ism." Vitalism
is
folk
medicine
life is
is
the philosophy of
unique,
and
that
it
"vital-
possesses
pljysical
medicine.
Thus, in the empirical approach to healing, crude medicines are
made using
plants gathered from the garden, meadows, and woodand poultices made from leaves, bark, roots, and flowers
are administered to cure all manner of ailments. This is folk medicine, practiced by naturopaths, herbalists, and a great many ordinary
lands. Teas
folk.
In the rational approach, the active principles of plants are extracted or chemically duplicated. This
is
prescriptions
ents.
276
To a pharmacognosist, there
is
no meaningful
difference be-
PHARMACOGNOSY
ween a drug that has been s\Tithesized and the natural substance on
which
its
panies
in
its
One
whether
as to
And
the decision
is
ought to be used
"
for instance,
Still
another herbal
its
bioactive
herbalists
are
opposed
strongly
to
whole
herbs.
ically identical,
if
the
use of
made from
its
history
and
superstition, there
is
also a
pharmacognosy.
A pharmacognosist has expen knowledge of the chemi-
how
terest in their
that
while
it
traditional herbalism,
certainly
had some
one
validitv;
doctors cannot use herbs unless they are absolutely certain of their
puriD,'
the body.
It
is
availability'
them
to
use preparations
cannot be measured
said.
or a possibly
As
for
fatal
setting.
actual use.
He would
collect
to
cognosist
rspically, a
is
and
lating
pharma-
interested in iso-
describing
the
molecules, of plants.
And
his
them
and vitamin suppliers sell all sorts of readymade herbal medicines. Still, it's far cheaper and more satisfying to
make your own remedies with homegroun herbs picked right from
your garden. You can combine the herbs to fit your own needs and
tastes and make just the amounts you need. Furthermore, you can
guarantee the puriry of the herbs since you would know they hadn't
been treated with any toxic chemicals.
Natural food stores
Just
A pharmacognosist
Most
underdose.
medical applicamay,
for instance, travel through a
mral area such as Appalachia or
a remote jungle area, learning
how the residents use plants
for healing and observing their
tions.
desired
creased
greater
effects,
such
as
in-
or
stability'.
properties,
277
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
MODERN
Read the
made
Botanical materials
up some 80 percent of
pharmaceuticals
in
plants accurately
all
those days.
very harmful in larger doses. Finally, don't try to treat yourself for
serious ailments without
principles
active
in
plants.
first
"
entries
may be
in
taking.
own
A common
after the dew
suggestion
is
just
to gather herbs
on
collect
each herb.
sunny morning,
just
Wet
plants
can mold or mildew. Fresh herbs are best for flavoring foods, but
chemistry laborators',
then marketed as "purer" med
dr)'ing concentrates
in
the
fact,
icines.
Over the
years,
some
plant
we
since
some
when many
particularly
temperature
gathering conditions
pro
ducing countries. Moreover,
depending on the weather and
soil, the concentration of a
plant's active ingredients can
var\' greatly. So,
in
wherever pos-
'
made
in the laboratory.
Laboratory- made
drugs
diseases.
many
Mother Nature
still
come from
higher plants.
is
careful
happy
of our herbs
aren't available.
fact,
may mildew,
isn't right
or
if
there
isn't
fade, or spoil.
hang drying. Clean these parts and chop them into 1-inch
pieces. Dry them in a food dehydrator or indoors on a propped
screen, near but not directly on a heat source.
Leaves and stems are sufficiently dry when they crackle between
your fingers. Flov/ers should be light yet still holding their shape.
Roots are ready for storage when they snap or chip easily. All parts
should smell and look pretty much like they did when first picked:
the color only slightly muted and the smell as strong or suronger.
It is best to bottle the dried herbs without any further processing. Grinding or powdering them seems more efficient, but it tends
to release the herbs' oils and to make them weaker medicines in the
long am. For example, the whole cloves stored on your kitchen shelf
have a lot more punch than the bottle of ground cloves beside them.
Store dried herbs in opaque glass, wood, hard plastic, or other
nonmetallic containers that are approved for food storage. Keep
them in a cool, dry, dark place.
this sort of
When
it
and
pestle.
Teas:
278
by brewing up a tea. Medicinal teas barely resemble mildflavored packaged herb beverages. They are much more potent
drinks, and many aren't the least bit pleasant tasting. They are made
by steeping about 1 ounce of dried tops (leaves, flowers, and stems)
per pint of boiled, hot water. Commercially prepared herb tea bags,
cines
is
in contrast, contain
concentrated
preferred since
is
it
has
more
oils.
As a general
practice,
When
it
is
brewed
less potent.
for 15
made
then kept in a bottle for use over a day's time. One pint
drink Vi cup three times daily should be enough for one day.
Some
if
you
recommend you
stay
tea,
and
tin,
or other
stainless steel
with a clean
glass,
ceramic,
pottery,
some have
traditional healing
drug
to extract the
which
for
stimulates
The
lotions
juice
is
new tissue to
used
in skin
and soaps.
hypertension.
cum
making medicinal
teas.
first,
or
ceutical
below
listed
is
plants
herbalists distinguish
The
are widely
tic that
MEDICI>fES
is
ties,
MAJOR BOTANICAL
then remove
but tastes
like
vanilla,
has
bactericidal
and
antiseptic properties.
in
fungicidal,
it
anti-itch
bitter,
mildly
It is
antiseptic,
creams, and in
used
and
some
dental cements.
(continued)
279
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
use
Ophthalmologists
bella-
pils.
Benzoin tree
zoin):
tree
this
is
resin
from
the principal
in
in
industry uses
in
Styrax ben-
benzoin tincture
balsam). The cosmetics
gredient
(friar's
The whitish
it
perfumes,
lotions,
and
soaps.
Calabar bean Physostigma
(
venenosum): The active prin
Another
relieve
is
intraocular
caused by glaucoma.
and heavy
To make
a decoc-
parts
such as bark,
tion,
sedative,
donna drops
-continued
make an
infusion
roots, stems,
leaves.
to
pint of water.
The
heavier herb parts require a higher heat than that used for infusions.
Add
medium-size
minutes and
Some
pot.
mustard, cayenne,
ginger, and the
or the "cool" ones borage, comfrey, aloe, slippery elm. Ap-
plied to the skin, they are used to treat congestion, tension, aching
and
itching.
Castor
communis):
bean
Once
{Ricinus
widely
some
cells
garlic,
all
mind
among several
a warm room in
kinds
careful to distinguish
principle
has
shown
and leukemia
in
experi
mental animals.
(continued)
the liquid is not hotter than 180 F, and wring out the towel thoroughly Cover the compress with a dry towel. Leave the hot compress
in place for several
replace
it
280
order
to
active
like
if
the area
becomes red or
if
ties.
is
used
in a
A poultice
made from
dried,
burn the
elm
skin.
irritating
injuries,
which
is
\fciu
when an
antiseptic
oil
which
is
plants in just a
continued
(Cinchona
Cinchona
spp.):
the
roots are
of quinine and
drugs
Synthetic
source
quinidine.
digitalis
like
to
regulate
the
heanbeat.
Ephedra (Ephedra
The
principle
active
shrub
ephedrine,
is
spp.):
of this
a heart
MEDICINES
powdered
leaves
is
is
also prescribed.
It
is
Drug companies
C and the
fast-acting
digoxin.
poisoning.
(contiymed)
281
Japanese
Mentha
Pharmacopoeia (the
official
hsting of
nearly 90 percent
is
menthol; this mint is the
source of most of the menthol
in medicines and cosmetics.
Licorice ( Gfycyrrhiza gla-
an excellent
qualities of herbs.
leaves
bra):
licorice
derivative
is
make
Serious
side
dosages
(Podophyllum
and to a
*Mayapple
Roots,
peltatiim):
the green
lesser extent
leaves,
of this
wildflower yield a
fruit
common
ver\'
strong
com-
drugs are
made from
the active
principles.
for preserving
tablespoon
is
Be
tinctures.
These
alcohol, or methyl or
wood
lid.
alcohol, both of
Shake the mixture several times daily over a two-week period. By the
end of this time, the herb will have released its properties to the
alcohol. Let the herb settle, then strain off the liquid into another
clean bottle for storage.
Herbal baths for gentle healing: The herbal bath, a very old
form of medical treatment, is a safe and effective way to use herbs for
healing. Besides being healing, herbal baths are enjoyable. Baths can
relax the
ill
skin. If
Unripe
pods,
thebaine,
medium
trickx
and
longer readily available to the general public, they remain very useful
effects
establishing
is
no
narcotine,
papaver-
you
Herbs.)
ple, tubocurarine, is a
risks
muscle
(continued)
Here
282
is
presented in
and anti-inflammatory;
and scrapes.
mended
use;
not recom-
to
Many
cathartics.
and
for
sore
muscles and
sprains.
form of senna.
Serpentwood
The
serpentina):
some
(Ramvolfia
and to a
stem and
root
liniment.
mended
for external
effective
use;
not recom-
lesser
extent
the
Barberry {Berberissp'p.)
Lies.-
cardiac stimulant.
ering fevers,
Thyme
The
oil
of
(Thymus spp.):
some species is ef-
against
salmonella,
and other
liver.
fective
staph, streptococcus,
Preparation: Infusion
water. Take
tea
is
so
ounce to 1 pint of
before meals. Because barberry
prepared from
Vi
cups daily,
should be taken in small doses, a mouthful at a
example. A decoction is taken as needed, 1 table1
bitter,
time, for
is
to 4
it
spoon at a time.
Remarks: One herbalist calls barberry "one of the most beneficial medicine plants of the West." A pharmacognosist, on the
other hand, says there is "no reason to recommend barberry
for
its
therapeutic properties."
germs.
It
officinalis)
more than
at
a time throughout
in
some
disinfec-
(Astragalus
Tragacanth
gummifer): The gummy substance oozing from the roots
and woody parts of this shrub is
an ingredient in toothpastes
and spermicidal jellies and
creams. It is used as a binding
agent in pills and to help in the
sides in
used
and
tants.
absorption
Betony {Stachys
is
mouthwashes
of steroid
some
glyco-
vitamins.
periwinkle
Tropical
(Catharanthus roseus): Two
alkaloids have proved to be important. Vinblastine sulfate
may
is
lymph
cancer. Vincris-
tonic; to
flu
and
to
and
induce sweating.
at a
283
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HEALING WITHHERBS-continued
THE FUTURE
OF HERBAL RESEARCH
daily.
against colds
less,
expens estimate
that just 4
and
flu.
and acne.
Preparation:
One cup of an
is
taken three
down to
ounce of
1
pint
rashes, pimples,
eczema, and other skin ailments, use a decocburdock root and yellow dock as a wash,
and,
at
the
same
time, as a tea.
but not
remove most
safety.
Calendula (Calendula
its
toxic
officinalis)
its
safety.
taken
in
gestion.
yourself.
and carminative;
materials.
it
and burns.
indi-
Remarks: Despite what this herb does to your cat, camip does
appear to be a safe and effective natural u-anquilizer.
284
Fruit.
Preparation: Infusion
teaspoon to
cup of water
can be
on the
cavity;
oil is
potent.
Externally, a
compress
can be
in
is
effective for
rheumatism, inflam-
it's
Chamomile {Matricaria
Uses:
retic,
Chamaemelum
recutita or
ach.
bedtime,
it
mint in an infusion,
Comfrey {Symph)'tum
officinale)
wounds and
bruises,
and
for healing
in the
The
costs
stag-
gering.
company can
principle
is difficult.
Placed on
ernment sponsors some research in botanical dmgs, patenting disputes keep most of
these discoveries from ever
reaching the market.
tries are currently
and
is
boils.
more
hospi-
come by
chopped
botanical medicines
sprains.
fresh,
New
are harder to
nobile)
Anodyne, antispasmodic, calmative, carminative, diaphoand tonic; for colds, headaches, and nervousness.
daily, for
HERBAL MEDICINES
make an ointment
for
vita-
minor burns
is
changing.
Germany
By 1989, West
on the market to be
proven not only safe but also
effective. Thus herb preparations will only be marketable
(continued)
botanicals
285
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HEALING WITHHERBS-continued
HERBAL MEDICINfES
"
and
fKJSsible to label
will be im
them with di
it
come
with
any drug.
Canada
is
leading the
way
drugs
FM
Dandelion
Taraxacum
officinale)
and
antiseptic; for
and healing
wounds.
Parts used: Leaves and roots.
The
at
infusion
as
formal
certifica-
and type
ture's best
name and
Standards
would be enforced, so that the
active constituents in the drugs
would remain stable. A volun
tary code of ethics and advertising would enlist the help of retailers in avoiding the sort of
advertising that preys on people desperate for help. Such
of
preparation.
proven.
in
its
safety,
question
its
effective-
ness.
and hemorrhoids.
Rhizome and
sores,
Parts used:
Preparation:
roots.
It
wounds and
painful
swellings.
eflfective
by pharmacognosists.
An
congestion
added
is
The
be added
bath, or to water to
make an
an astringent
Remarks: Eucalyptus
directly
diluted with
oil,
alcohol,
lotion, to the
infusion.
it
to bathwa-
remedy for
The oil can be
classic eucalyptus
very diluted.
286
and decongestant;
and bad breath.
for
A GLOSSARY
A substance
Abortifacient:
An
causes abortion.
is
taken
cup
at
day to soothe the stomach and intestines and to relieve flatulence. The infusion can be gargled to remedy a sore throat or
hoarseness. A syrup, made by combining up to 3 drops of the oil
with 1 tablespoon of honey, is a natural cough remedy.
Remarks: Judged by pharmacognosists to be safe and effective
as a stomachic and carminative.
is
taken a cup
at a time,
three times a
The
for
A substance that
gradually alters or changes a
condition. Often, it is a medicine that cures an illness by
Alterative:
little
and
Analgesic:
lieves
facient,
antiseptic,
antibiotic,
or counterirritant.
that re-
migraine headaches.
worms.
Such
medicines are
substance
pro-
duced by a microorganism
that
A substance that
counteracts the action of another, particularly a poison.
Antidote:
gastrointestinal ailments.
ommend
main-
lieves pain.
against migraines.
and
that
by increasing the
Anodyne: A medicine
sure,
tains health
A decoction
forestall
An herb
Adaptogeti:
that
dicinal potency.
A substance that
prevents the periodic recurrence of a disease, such as ma-
Antiperiodic:
laria.
A substance that
tends to reduce or prevent a
fever Such medicines are also
Antipyretic:
to clot,
lessening the risk of heart attack or stroke. The active components of garlic are odoriferous; deodorized varieties have some
of the activity removed.
frigerants.
(continued)
287
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HEALING WITHHERBS-continued
A GIOSSASX continued
A
Antiseptic:
Rhizome and
Parts used:
roots.
medicine
Antispasmodic
muscle spasms or
cramps, such as those occuruntary
men-
cramping,
herbs.
effective.
Ginger (Zingiber
Aperient:
officinale)
deconges-
tant,
Aromatic:
strong,
substance with a
volatile,
and fragrant
made by simmering
Preparation:
open
nate phlegm,
added to
tea
morning
substance that
causes dehydration, tighten
ing, or the shrinking of tissues
Astringent:
and
is
tion, take
and tighten
muscles.
The powdered
empty capsules
drugstores
a bracing
and
ounce
at a
time through-
are available in
some
as effective an antidote to
is
motion sickness
as
Dramamine.
A tea, made
is
good
is
A substance
Balsamic:
that
tion;
on the
heals or soothes.
Bitter tonic:
an acrid,
agreeable
substance with
a.stringent, or dis
the flow of
juice.
and
and
vasodilator; to dilate
blood
vessels
to
Preparation:
day,
is
good
for
tea
taken 1 cup at a time, two or three times a
nervous conditions and insomnia. Extended use
will
Part used:
fruit (strobiles).
288
li
"
aKqgjj^'
wnc-^-^awggyyiy^iTt
:'
Remarks: Hops are best used fresh; they lose their potency
rapidly in storage. Pharmacognosists judge hops both safe and
effective.
A GLOSSARY continued
An inflammation
of
es-
Catarrh:
pecially
Horehound {Marrubium
and
lant,
antiseptic; for
for fevers.
The
time.
at a
symptoms of
a cold
good
coughs,
to
be safe and
effective
tive
is
by pharmacognosists.
and
and
root and
V2
forceful
and
stubborn condi-
Cholagogue:
substance that
invigorating.
An
irritant
from an-
Counterirritant:
appetite.
Combine
in
to stimulate
much more
tions.
is
circulation
is
used only
for all
Judged
tive that
cup
one
pirators^ tract.
viilgare)
in
pint of boiling
produce
to the skin to
ficial
inflammation
a superthat
re-
inflammation.
To make
in
enough honey
pain-relieving
Hyssop (Hyssopus
compress
for neuralgia
and
Deobstruent:
substance that
clears obstruction
from the
nat-
diaphoretic, expectorant,
and vulnerary;
for
A warm
the mouthful,
A substance
taken
promote sweat-
and
specific health.
(continued)
ailments.
Diaphoretic:
internally to
ritation.
Detergent: In medicine, as in
stiffness.
officinalis)
Uses: Stimulant,
to
be
safe
and
effective as
289
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
Licorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra)
demulcent, and
Uses: Expectorant,
Emetic A substance
Parts used:
Diuretic:
that
in
duces vomiting
EmmcHagogue: A
taken
Rhizome and
internally
to
medicine
promote
ener, demulcent,
elderly people
A substance
that,
helps
the
to 3 inches
is
added
internally,
chewed; a piece up
Expectorant:
is
menstruation.
taken
roots.
to bitter tonics to
and expectorant,
it is
As a sweetcough syrups.
palatable.
added
to
or
spit
ting.
A substance that
helps dissipate a fever. Some
times called antipyretic.
Febrifuge:
Hemostatic:
Any
substance
ments.
A poultice
all sorts
of lung
ail-
its
the
the
constitution.
Ho
elude
herbology,
fasting,
apy,
and
nutrition
massage, p.sychother
exerci.se,
creative
arts
and stimulant;
for
emmenagogue,
carminative, expec-
all
throat
diseases.
mouth
ulcers,
and
thrush.
effective.
and
anti
290
in
raw for their nutritive and medicinal valraw onion can be applied to an insect sting. A
poultice of chopped onions can be applied to bruises or sprains.
For chest congestion, consume clear soup made with lots of
onions, or the strained liquid poured off a mixture of honey and
onions heated but not boiled on the stove for several hours.
Remarks: Like garlic, the onion reduces the tendency of blood
platelets to clot, which may lessen the risk of a heart attack or
stroke should a clot block an already narrowed artery.
Onions
are eaten
ues. Slices of
A GLOSSARY
continued
readily
attract
and
retain
moisture.
A gentle cathartic;
helps to promote bowel movework by
ments.
Laxatives
stimulating the peristaltic action of the intestinal wall, by
moistening the colon, by increasing the secretion of bile,
relaxing
intestinal
or
by
cramps.
Laxative:
Mucilaginous:
Mucuslike,
remedy water
Pectoral:
and tonic; to
bad breath, and di-
substance that
re-
gestive problems.
and
lungs.
P/jysic:
or preparation.
cup
at a time, two or three times daily. Fresh parsley juice can be
drunk, 2 ounces at a time, twice daily. Eaten raw, parsley is good
for bad breath.
Remarks: Pharmacognosists say the leaves have no medicinal
value, and that the seeds are only mildly effective.
1
and calmative;
and
medicinal substance
combined
formulas to
in
in-
nervous headaches.
Refrigerant:
for
and
substance that
pyretic.
by
stiffness
of the
joints or muscles.
(continued)
and stimu-
Preparation:
An
infusion should
be taken
in
291
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
where it is applied,
usually on the skin but some-
-continued
mouth and
nostrils.
the area
Remarks:
times internally.
Scrofula:
An
largely to
tation,
scrofula
modern
sani-
no longer
is
sto-
and en-
infection
Thanks
common.
and
flu
symptoms.
An agent
Sedative:
that
re-
Simple:
as a
tion
or
called
treatment,
digenous
grown, or
A medicine
special effect
on
that
that has a
particular
disease.
Stimulant:
A substance
that in-
so on.
for colds
and
flu.
taken
The syrup
is
frequently, a
good
cup
at a
Rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis)
and
and
digestive ailments.
plants.
Soporific: A
substance
tends to induce sleep.
Specific:
in-
time
at
day,
is
Sage (Salvia
Uses:
officinalis)
symptoms and
digestive upsets.
up
like a tonic,
or cold, as needed,
which
(continued)
add
to 2
lime;
Thyme (Thymus
vulgaris)
and
292
antispas-
at a time,
up to
2 cups a day,
as well as
A GVO^SKS^ continued
is
A medicine
Stomachic:
gives strength
and
An
infusion
is
to 3
day.
mallow
root or
uva-ursi
Valerian
Uses:
An
of the root in
roots.
Tonic:
infusion can be
cup of water.
like di-
United
in the
States, valerian
compounds
A medicine used
Thoratic:
remedy
Rhizome and
that pro-
aphoretic.
nerves.
Preparation:
A substance
Valerian officinalis)
Parts used:
that
to the
secretions.
stones.
and tone
to
respiratory ailments.
Often tonics
and
act as
alteratives.
stimulants
Bitter
tonics
.stimulate
stroys
is
is
for
minor
infections.
Uses: Astringent,
and
wounds, toothaches,
diarrhea, gas,
hemoand in-
testinal ailments.
a vesicant.
treating
subsunce used in
wounds, usually an
antibiotic,
and/or
antiseptic,
plant
that
styptic,
promotes
The infusion
The decoction
is
Vulnerary': A
tonic; for
worms and
Vesicant: A
substance that
causes blisters or sores. Poison
ivy
intestinal
Preparation:
is
times a day.
is
tion.
as
293
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HERB
"A tree can't be an herb, can it? I mean, this book's got poplars
and willows in it! They can't be herbs, can they? And cloves and
cinnamon? Aren't they spices? Dandelion? Plantain? Those are
weeds, for crying out loud. My neighbor's lawn is undergoing chemotherapy to get rid of them. Now you are saying these are herbs."
What makes a plant an herb is an oftasked question, and one
that an encyclopedia of herbs should answer.
The definition for herb that we use in this book is one that's
usually a dictionary's second one: "A plant or plant part valued for its
medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities." The Herb Society of America, as good an arbiter of such things as any, has always held that an
herb is "any plant that may be used for pleasure, fragrance, or
physic, or some variation on that theme. As defined here, the term
herb includes a broad spectrum of plants trees, shrubs, and forbs.
Historically, most plants categorized as herbs make it on the
basis of some medicinal concoction derived from the root, leaf, bark,
flower, or fruit. Paging through an old herbal (which properly is a
book dealing with the medicinal aspects of plants), you will find the
names of hundreds of plants. Could such a definition take in too
"
many
plants?
Henry Beston,
in his short
In
its
He
and
the
said:
essential spirit, in
its
an herb, however,
is
and
it;
they destroy
its
unique atmosphere.
Beston's remarks advance imposing standards, although beauty, in
the eye of the beholder, can encompass even "vegetables, quasivegetables, herbal what-nots, and medicinal weeds."
contrary' stitnce
book on wild
294
Gibbons in his
Herbs While agreeing
late Euell
Herb
WE
from
their beauty,
he pre-
SAY "ERB";
How do you
That's
Everyone appreciates the conspicuous and flamboyant beauty of the larger wildflowers, but
common
by every roadside?
intricate
How many
beauty of the
yarrow
that
it?
most-asked
Is
the
aspirated or not?
thrice-
grows
that are
pronounce
the
how
many wildflowers
easily
so
tiny they
say.
appreciated.
Gibbons made
his
mark by finding beauty and utility in whatthem for themselves. Even what-nots and
weeds
find
utility'
and place
an herbal landscape.
in
spices.
its
thumb
and
herbs apart;
Leaves, both fresh
and
fruits,
flowers, or bark
are spices.
Herbs more frequently grow in temperate regions, while spices come from the tropics.
Herbs are green and often have more subtle
tastes; spices tend to be shades of brown, black,
or red, with a dramatic, pungent flavor
"A good example of some of these differences is the coriander plant
(Coriandrum sativum)," continued the magazine. "Its fresh or
dried green leaves are referred to as Chinese parsley or the herb
cilantro. The brown seed from the same plant is known as the spice
coriander"
have
been
used exclusively as
and healing qualities as
well. If you accept the broad definition of herb "A plant or plant pan
valued for its medicinal, savon; or aromatic qualities"), then you see
Historically,
seasonings.
spices
not
for aromatic
And
in this
book.
295
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
Terminal
Bud
HERBAL BOTANY
Botany
is
serious science.
properties and
life
phenomena
branch of biology,
exhibited by plants.
it
A botanist
stud-
PLANT STRUCTURE
Varied as they appear,
all
They have
all
book share
tures.
They
same
it
will
bit
identifying
unknown
plants.
It's
also necessary
if
is
crucial for
make up
the calyx.
Stamensare the male flower parts. They lie just inside the petals.
Each stamen consists of a flametit supporting the anther where
pollen
is
found.
Pistils
flower.
Each
one or more
pistil
They
lie in
and
Herbal Botany
A GLOSSARY
into seeds,
The
fruit.
female parts they need for pollination. But single-sex flowers are also
common. These are either male or female (staminate or pistilCom, asparagus, and cucumber produce single-sex flowers.
In some species, individual plants are single sexed because they
produce only male or female flowers, but not both. Many fruit trees
fairly
late).
fall
tion,
if
hence
fruiting
is
planted nearby.
want red berries on your holly tree, you must be sure to plant a
female tree and have a male one nearby. In the herb garden, however, flower sex isn't an issue: The failure to bloom can't be blamed
on having a male. It simply indicates poor care or poor growing
If you
conditions!
is
whose comdevelopment
from germination of the seed
through flowering and death
occurs in a single growing season. See also Biennial and PeAtimial:
in
called an inflorescence.
shown
plete
below.
tasty,
wheat.
Among
woody
structures
of
The
central stalk or
branch
which
arises at the
base of
a stem.
Biennial:
Fruits
fertilized
plant
rennial.
Axis:
year,
in the illustration
CTcle
Bract:
scalelike, that
(continued)
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
Catkin.
or scaly spike
The pussy on
example.
a familiar
Cleji:
the willow
to the midrib.
complete of themselves,
which are united in a single
is
the characteristic
its
disklike
fruit,
called a silique.
When dry,
contains
so tightly attached to
the
daisy family.
the carpel, that the seed and fruit are indistinguishable. Such
Corona.
dage
ai
appen-
crownlike
fruit
The
rolla.
Cor}'mh:
short,
broad,
flat-
topped flower cluster with individual pedicels emerging at different points along the axis, in
which the outermost flowers
open first. See also Umbel.
Crucifer: Flower of four petals
formathe characteristic of
the Cruciferae or the mustard
in a crosslike
is
family.
This type of
open, even
plant.
They
fruit is
is
the
called a schizocarp.
when
fruit is like a
you
it open, however,
seed within. Such is the case of the sunflower
Break open a "seed" and you'll find the true seed, attached by
mature.
If
carefully crack
a stalk, within.
of the receptacle.
Lily,
iris,
many
more
Cultivar:
An unvarying plant
va-
maintained by vegetative
propagation or by inbred seed.
riety
as a
new
plant.
Cyme: A
bers of
shaped
its
short,
broad flower
in
the axis.
You might think you know what a leaf is, until you begin
at the leaves on plants in and around your garden. A
single pine needle is a leaf. The tendrils of peas, the fleshy pads on a
cactus, and an entire head of cabbage are all leaves, too.
"What are leaves, then? They are the main light-trapping, energymaking organs of plants, with a distinctive anatomy designed for
photosynthesis. Their shape, size, and special features vary greatly
from plant to plant.
Leaves:
to really
fruit.
we
is
fruits
with
herb plants, a few fruits are useflil in dried arrangements. The money plant or honesty (Lunaria annua) is grown for
ers,
head. This
fruit,
Among
dill
look
298
Herbal Botany
TYPES OF LEAVES
SIMPLE AND
COMPOUND LEAVES
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
description.
ing off
seasons,
fall
as
the
of
leaves
many
leaf
It's
tip
ascending.
floral
members
of one piece.
is all
and compound.
leaf consists of a
A simple
number
leaflet on a compound
leaf.
of
is a simple
Each of the roundish leaves on a
leaf or a
rose, for
form the compound rose leaf. Other garden plants with comleaves include most carrot family members such as parsnip,
angelica, and caraway, as well as strawberry and ginseng. The best
stalk
pound
test to
flower.
A compound
flowers.
leaves, simple
maturity or at certain
at
a plant
or branch. Leaflets of a
compound
leaf will
be arranged
in
one plane;
When
all
leaf is
palmately compound.
leaf
pintiately
is
The
Floret:
up
dense head or
makes
cluster.
one or more
it,
usu-
seeds.
re-
back to ground
May
its
medicinal,
Not woody
the ground each year;
HerbaceoiiS:
dying to
(1)
(continued)
one
point, the
compound.
Entire:
sions.
at
gin,
If
The
we
leaf,
and the
petiole, or
is sessile.
This
is
and mullein.
The arrangement of leaves along the stem may be alternate or
opposite, or the leaves may form in clusters or whorls.
The
have petioles
either.
They have
lilies,
stem where the leaf joins. These plants are distinguishable in many
other ways as well, including the pattern of their leaf veins.
Veins:
The
make
identification.
The
blade
is
lilies,
on the stalk.
The stem gives
central point
Stems:
nutrient-absorbing roots.
its
It's
plant support
water can be saved. All along the stem are nodes, or swollen parts
where leaves, buds, and branches form. Some herbs, including rose-
mary and sage, can be propagated from stem cuttings with nodes. Cut
300
Herbal Botany
> >.1?S'
^TO*. .r'i^^7
upright in moist
Among
soil.
on many
different forms
A GLOSSARY cow^mwerf
Hybrid: The offspring of rwo
parent plants that belong to dif-
ferent species.
Lanceolate:
their crowns.
rujitier'xs a
stem
that
bulb
isn't a
compressed and
is
more
flattened
aboveground
and
squat. This
is
called a
bunching
onions, in the flower. Left to its own devices, it will fall to the ground
and possibly stan a new plant. It can also be harvested and stored in a
bulblet forms
like
tip
and
leaf.
Lobe:
Shaped
segment of
a cleft leaf
or petal.
Midrib:
The main
rib or vein
of
more or
It might be quite
and shon, as in the iris, or longer, as with bluegrass, the mints,
tarragon, and the thistles. Where the rhizome is enlarged at its ends
(as in a potato), tubers form. Plants that produce rhizomes tend to
thick
TYPES OF STEMS
301
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HERBAL
TYPES OF ROOTS
BOTANY-coniinued
them
in
may wish
to
bottomless cans.
Roots: Since they are usually underground, these most important structures are typically
anchors that keep the plant upright, the plant's means of absorbing
water and nutrients from the soil, and a major storage organ. Roughly
one-third of the entire mass of the plant
is
roots.
The
plant's health
most members of
prolific self-sowers.
PLANT NAMES
Suppose you are speaking to someone about herbs,
talking about valerian. But the other party
is
"tou are
Valeriana
What
officinalis.
system
for
Or more
correctly, the
genus name
last
first
is
name
first, first
name
last.
epithet) second.
similar plants,
302
all
given a generic
name
to identify
them
as to
group
Herbal Botany
A GLOSSARY continued
An open flower cluster
blooms from top to bottom
and does not end in a flower; a
Panicle:
that
branched raceme.
The species
ideal
the
is
epithets are
supposed
name
Especially
among
the herbs,
we
see
many
which means
had some
When
word
is
common
which has
red,
named
Millefolium
var.
Two
blossoms
common
and
name.
vulgaris, or officinalis
ization of a species
first
is
de-
name
yarrow
Achillea
rubrum.
In the
is
specific
officinale,
and
Pedicel:
is
simply a
The two elements of the binomial must agree in genand the species element is the one that must agree with the
genus element. It might be worth mentioning in passing that Latin
was originally selected as the standard language for the botanical
classification system because at the time Linnaeus advanced the
binomial system, Latin was the language that was almost universally
stalk of
one flower
and
fruiting
for
at
fir.st.
primary branch of an
umbel-like flower
ciu.ster; in composites, the corolla of a ray flower
Ray:
umbel
or
radially symmetrical.
A crowded
Rosette:
leaves,
name
The
flower cluster.
in a
and
at
cluster of
ground
level.
rule of Latin.
Scale:
der,
usually covering a
bud or at the
base of a pedicel. In true bulbs,
the scales are leaf bases, swollen with stored food.
(continued)
303
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
arising
from ground
flower stalk
leafless
level;
it
ripened
covered
fertilized,
Solitary:
the
The second puzzler is simply an example of a traditional excepThe inle is that the species epithet never be capitalized except when the species name is a former genus name. The
dual capitalization came about years ago, when some botanist reviewed a plant's classification and determined that it was in the
wrong genus and moved it. He may have kept the old generic name
as the species epithet to go with the new generic name, in which
tion to the mle.
not in clusters.
Species:
is
Seed:
population of plants
whose members
or animals
are
is
re
productively
isolated
from
other populations. Plural spe-
to
capitalized.
all
breed with
liotentially able to
name used
be
misspellings.
It
acceptable practice
is
traditional practice
still,
practice
is
to
list
cies
Spike:
bearing
flowers
or
first.
Stolon:
runs
sessile
along
ground and
the
new
Having
margin
the
into
small,
toothlike segments.
mon
|X)int,
with
flowers forming a
flat
surface.
Variety:
flat
individual
or nearly
subdivision of spe
cies; incorrectly, but popularly,
a form
produced
staff
of the Liberty
lists
them
this
Hyde
Bailey
Honorium
at
Cornell University,
still
Toothed:
in cultivation.
One
of the
's;
The
tongue
304
Herbs as Houseplants
HERBS
AS HOUSEPLANTS
room
bring a
to
life.
And
basil,
or chives
life.
Some
are downright
Visually, there's
little
mound
its
Some,
foliage, and
chives, with
architectural.
And then
more
lemon
stately, like a
with
like spearmint,
riage.
taste.
its
its
clump of
and
parsley, with
its
are simply
to
why grow
if
grow herbs
live
tall.
handsome compact
such as
'Spic\'
Globe'
nobilis):
perennial
tree
But
an-
ering. Tr\'
beautiful.
reasons
Ocimum Basilicum):
fuzz\',
nual, to 2
well, there's
Deep
outside the
no place
pH.
Allow the
dn' between
up one size in
soil to
waterings. Pot
of room for
Har\'est
plent\'
(continued)
round.
winter
you
all
right or
if
particularly like.
To
simplify' things,
categories: herbs
rative
305
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HERBS AS HOUSEPLANTS-con^mued
BEST HERBS continued
SchoenoChives
(Allium
prasum). perennial, to l'/2 ft.
uill.
mum
peratures in the
""Os
amd
night
room
within
leaf
buy a pot
lished.
Or
that's
frost,
already estabin
the
up
fall;
killed
back by
where
new
been
it
will
all
if it's
the time,
it's
got
If you're
as houseplants.
How will
ticularly effective
grouping?
you going
them
The
to put
first
rule of
ornamental appeal,
them
in
an
it
How will
Do some make
a par-
attractive container
them
to
helps
Another technique
clump outdoors
it
by cutting
And
blades
going to
grow herbs indoors and you want them to look good, you've got to
for a minute, anyway. Think of them
stop thinking of them as herbs
for
off
If
to look good.
make vigorous
to plant
some
growih.
is
Dill
nual, to 3
6.0
time temperatures
in
the 66s
in
Sow
directly
and
dr\'.
thin to three
four
months
two
to
indixirs; harsest
by
growth
siiock. Just
make
It's
better to
having a forest of
in
the
fall,
tall
306
L T
r*^
?\
n\
Mi
Rodales Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
New
and flavoring.
^^iHi
^p^f
309
Herbs as Houseplants
HERBS AS HOUSEPLANTS-
continued
HERBS IN WINTER
growing herbs specifically for winter, chances are some
of those herbs will be culinar\' herbs. You may be bringing in a
clump of chives or a roseman; or a spring-planted pot of parsley or
ginger Or you may be rooting cuttings of perennials like mint, sage,
and oregano in midsummer for the winter windowsill. Or you may
be sowing seeds of dill, basil, and marjoram in late August for the
plant table. But a goal ever\' gardening cook probably has in mind is:
fresh herbs for winter salads, stir fries, and sauces, right at your
If you're
fingertips.
When growing
Make
sure you
BEST
HERBS cowrmwerf
sum): perennial, to 2
Needs
pH. Culture
as
ft.
tall.
optimum
sun; 6.0
full
chives.
for
Ginger
{Zingiber
officinale):
moist
soil.
and
Plant a fragment of
underground stem
with "eyes" on a roomy,
rhizome
it
shallow pot.
zomes
lifting
fill
in
When
them.
(continued)
in
New
York
City.
311
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HERBS AS HOUSEPLANTS-conunucd
BEST HERBS continued
Marjoram
(Origanum Majorana): peren-
realistic
nial, to
Needs
ft. tall.
optimum pH.
6.9
full
sun;
Prefers day-
come woody,
root
grance
pen'asive
is
new
4-in.
Heavenly
cuttings.
tip
use
fra-
(Mentha
Mints
nial, to 2
part
ft.
sun;
tall.
6.5
spp.):
peren-
Needs
full
or
optimum pH.
low
Give them good air circulation and high humidity', and wa-
40s.
when
into a
When
crowded, repot
container wider than it is
to dry.
Xpiperita),
spicata),
If
dill,
grow
more
chives, oreg-
is
practically indispensable.
marjoram,
And
it
CULTURE
Growing herbs indoors means dealing with seven major aspects
of plant culture:
and
light,
temperature,
pests.
plants.
Light:
Most herbs
thrive
on
light
at least five
hours of direct
ter
more growing
spar-
ingly in cooking.
number
spearmint
(M
(M.
suaveoleris
make
'Variegata')
(continued)
partial
shade; and
ginger and lemon balm, which actually like shade.) Natural sunlight
light.
A two-tube,
problems.
Don't forget to turn the plants on windowsills regularly. Tlirning
keeps the plants shapely and makes sure all sides get enough light.
Temperature: Most herbs like temperatures on the cool side
daytime temperatures of 65 F and night temperatures of 60 or even
55 "E Bay, dill, and the mints are the most insistent on daytime
temperatures in the 60s and night drops to the 50s, and parsley does
best between 60 and 65 F day and night. The other common
frozen
the
plant
312
Herbs as Houseplants
may be bracing to
us,
but
it
(or a constant draft) is anathema to herbs. Try to keep the air moving
around the plants by cracking a window in an adjoining room or by
opening doors for better cross-ventilation. Another preventive measure is to give the plants plenty of space so air can circulate around
them. Don't crowd the pots, and don't let the foliage from neighboring plants touch! Finally, if the air is very dry, you can set the pots on
pebble-lined trays filled with an inch or less of water. But make sure
Herbs
drainage.
Some
in pots
need a reasonably
rich soil
2 parts compost,
and
part
part
sand and
compost,
peat
Experiment
If
until
you
might be best
off"
you
find a
part sand,
and
part peat
One word
with.
of
like the
is
even
better.
in a
it.
No
with long taproots, like bay and parsley, a deep pot or bucket
cris-
with
'/(
of
in.
soil.
Sow
gallon bucket
is
in late
a 3-
Bring
tered until
fall.
before the
first fall
it
it
wa-
indoors
frost, giving
it
is
necessity.
feu want
so
{Petroselinum
Parsley
habitually have
moss.
warning:
in.
part sand,
in
moss
and 1 part perlite
peat moss, and 2 parts coarse
1 part
da\time temperatures
fers
part
perlite
1
tion.
part vermiculite,
much
month
to fertilize
them enough
to
sette to
that
flavor.
Once-a-
The
ian) parsley
is
make
313
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HERBS AS HOUSEPLANTS-
-continued
Rosemary (Rosmarinus
perennial, to 6
nalis):
Needs
officift.
tall.
full
mum
the
If
evergreen
signs
the
that
plant
pot-
is
bound.
shock the
Pests:
plants.
Herbs
aren't attacked
by pests
woody
insect-ridden plants.
Sage {Salvia
nial, to 2'/2
sun; 6.4
mon
officinalis):
ft.
tall.
peren-
Needs
optimum pH.
full
Com
handsome pot
for
one
two years
to
Grow from
regularly
shape.
in
tip cuttings.
to
maintain
pots.
Pnine
bushy
Be sure
to have enough
on hand for stuffing the Thanks
giving and Christmas turkeys!
(continued)
Bringing plants
in:
bay,
gerani-
fairly easily.
remember
them first.
damage as possible, and pot
them carefully. Then water the herbs and set them in a shady place
outdoors for three days to a week so they can gradually adjust to the
dual shocks of pot culture and decreased sunlight. Check the plants
vigilantly for pests, and isolate them for a couple of weeks before
mixing them in with your other houseplants, just in case an infestafor the winter,
Dig the
to acclimatize
plants, causing as
little
root
by you. This shading-and-checking routine is necesin plants that have spent the summer outdoors in their pots, like bay, rosemary, parsley, and lemon verbena.
The best time to pot most outdoor herbs is after the fall harvest
and before the first frost. They should be safely indoors by the time
frost strikes. Chives and gadic chives, however, benefit from induced
dormanq' before "coming in from the cold. Divide the clumps, pot
them, and let them remain outside until frost kills the foliage. Then
sary even
when moving
"
bring
314
rosemary,
come
true
dill) as
well as
Herbs as Houseplants
thyme, for example) in the same mix you plan to pot them
the seed in late August or early September, water the
in.
flats,
Sow
cover
them with plastic wrap, and put them where temperatures will drop
no lower than 60 F. (The top of the refrigerator is warm and out of
the way.) When the seeds sprout, remove the plastic and move the
flats into full sun. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. When seedlings
have their second set of true leaves, transplant them to 4inch pots,
and when the first pots are outgrown, move the plants to 6-inch pots.
For cultivars that will not
lemon balm
cuttings.
come
true
like
before the
root)
flats
If
first fall
your
home
weeks
mon-
ft.
tall.
in
low
Water
tures
in
when
dr\',
40s,
room
Prune
GROW A STANDARD
Suitable herbs for
growing
include myrtle,
scented geranium,
rosemary, and lemon verbena.
The mature plant's stem must
be able to support the foliage
head, so only selected species
trunk)
single
rose,
bay,
will do.
Clip
height.
thus
more branching,
good
a
forming
cro'WTi.
315
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HISTORY OF HERBS
The
used by
history of herbs
man
for
is
a history of
plants
economic botany
warriors
nomic.
Herbs, of course, are celebrated for
many
seem
to
oldest
known systems
compounded and self-tested hundreds of herbal prepaabdomen that enabled him to observe
wdri^ings of his internal organs. The freakish condition was un-
said to have
rations,
the
aided by a transparent
doubtedly^
gift
How
in the
hope of bolstering
their value,
316
two
and such
in the first
is
millennium before
History of Herbs
.-vS^\" :^J^i*
From
herbals.
life
to other
much
human
physicians. Eventually,
it
MATERIA MEDICA
OF U-SHIH-CHEN
The first major Chinese
medical work to be translated
into Western languages was
the Materia Medica of LiShihChen. It was first published in
1596.
A compendium
of reme-
12,000 prescrip-
dies,
it
tions
h-zes
lists
-i-ii
ancient scriptures
The Vedas
and religion
culture
is
based.
no
it is
c. It
continued to evolve
until
about
A\Tjneda
a.d. 1100.
lost
its
state
By
a.d.,
due
to invasions,
slightly.
But
evolved, particularly along the lines of mineral and botanical medicine, until well into the sixteenth centun.:
the
first
like the
still it
of
sia,
coriander,
mom,
onions,
mustard,
fennel,
carda-
thyme,
fenugreek,
garlic,
sesame,
saifron,
embalming.
317
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
King Nebuchadnezzar
favorite
his
wife,
II
for
who was
homesick for trees and mounon the featureless Mesopotamian plains. Legend lies,
tains
gar-
of
The
were
Hanging
Gardens
dens,
to a
Deep
poppy,
saffron,
mandrake,
anise,
rosemary',
as
such
least a
The
few of
fragB.C.)
The
ac-
West
for over a
described the paradise gardens of kings Darius the Great (521 to 486
B.C.) and Cyrus (d. 401 B.C.), stressing the straightness of rows and
angles and the regular spacing in the plantings. The paradise gardens
had trees and sweet-scented herbs and flowers, usually with geometric water courses and pools laid out symmetrically
When Alexander the Great (356 to 323 B.C.) conquered Persia,
the concept of a well-ordered pleasure garden spread to Greece and
throughout the Hellenistic wodd, eventually reaching Rome and,
from there, finding its way to the medieval castle and cloister.
Of course, Greece had gardens long before Alexander's advenThey are featured even in the epic poem the Odyssey. The
tures.
318
History of Herbs
".jmiBdai: iLJte>*iBwt
SPICE
TRADING ROUTES
The Arab
TRADE ROUTES
tween
the
Eastern
lands
lay
be-
spice-producing
countries
and
the
Western
spice-consuming
turf.
Greek
merchant
named
winds called
monsoons
changed direction. Erom April
through October, the prevailing southwesterly favored the
trip from Egypt to India. Then
from October through April,
the northeast monsoon was favorable for a return voyage.
most famous
is
categorizing
plants
uted
were
much
them
(c.
some 450
371 to 287
B.C.)
wrote
plants, systematically
and noting
that
Though Theophrastus
some
contrib-
true
The discovery
of the
mon-
it
an of European gardening.
The Romans perfected the idea of the enclosed courtyard garden. They incorporated the geometrical symmetry and water features
of the Persians and the potted plants of the Egyptians and added
homegrown innovations, such as elaborate topiary (usually of boxwood). Even city houses had garden rooms, open to the sky and
painted with landscape murals to extend the feeling of the shrubs
that the
Roman's genius
for
319
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
effective
called
medicines,
"simples," feature but a single
herb. The concept of the simple seems wonderful, but the
herbal
-continued
Villa gardens were usually geometrically precise, with colonnades and statuary (the Romans were enthusiastic collectors of
Greek statues), topiary and plane trees, and canals and fountains.
They
many
mary, and
embrace warmly.
Throughout history,
physi-
A cup of herb
it may be, is
tea,
not
And
other herbs.
Herculaneum
and Pompeii, at Fishbourne in England, and at Conimbriga in Portugal. And where they brought their gardens, the Romans also brought
their herbs, flowers, vegetables, and trees
and their knowledge of
chaeologists have uncovered "classic" villa gardens in
herbal medicine.
The sim-
touts.
ple
the choice of
is
u.sually
who
those
through
eco-
first,
together. At a
ture for
better.
'
GRECO-ROMAN MEDICINE
The roots of Roman medicine, from which bloomed most European medicine for the next 1,000 years, were in Greek medicine.
To herbalists, the two great figures in Roman medicine were
Galen (a.d. IJO to 200) and Dioscorides (first century a.d.), both
Greeks. Galen, physician to Marcus Aurelius, wrote a "recipe book"
of 130 antidotes and medicines. Dioscorides, also a physician, traveled with the Roman legions. He wrote the first true herbal, an
attempt to describe the medicinal plants of the Mediterranean area
and
sketchily,
nean
it's
plants. Galen's
work
is
herbalism! Until well into the sixteenth century, when a new world
of plants brought back by explorers forced a reevaluation of botany
herbalists
all
over
with
Europe.
pounding
witnessed
in
of
Theriac
he
Venice in 1645.
The
earliest surviving
manuscript
320
History of Herbs
THE PLAN OF
Dioscorides and Fuchs lay all the Middle Ages, the age
and
ladies in their
sections to the
q.'cle
("On
The
ST.
GALL
of a Benedictine monasters^
Shown are four gardens:
the cloister ganh,
where the
watercress,
cumin,
and fennel.
Herbs had the featured
iovage,
PLAN OF
ST.
GALL
ing
n
Factors-
Garth
Church
Dormitory
Abbot
Servants
f\
Holy Bread
Bloodletting
Bath
Bath
Cemetery
*
Ducks
Garden of Herbs
the
gardener's
house.
Cloister
Doctor
Novice
Infirmary
Convent
'^Pljysic
And grew
them.
Garden
321
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ANTHONY'S FIRE
St.
who
Anthony
is
protects against
lep.sy.
and
the saint
fire, epi
infection.
reh-
in Egypt,
where he died
In the
of the
in
most
"fire,
"
common
form
pital to
the
cereal
rye was
tain
grains, principally
isolated.
The fungus,
stetrics, internal
psychiatry.
medicine, and
The nature of
the
hallucinations victims of St. An
thony's Fire experienced can
be imagined; lysergic acid di
ethylamide
(LSD)
is
syn
lily,
plants,
them
He
and he,
like the
gave the
Romans, grew
in raised beds.
And what
lutist in
the
were
alive
On
Vegetables
on
a lawn,
GRECO-ARABIC MEDICINE
The
641, the
history of herbs
fall
and medicine
in these
disgusting elixirs
Of
course, the
When
322
prac-
History of Herbs
f^^v^^^jf^V'^'fjy^y'-i:
initially
t^.:
principles.
well
Until
into
the
seventeenth
It
was
century,
this
canon
fire in
1527,
A
lerno,
physicians.
its
enthusiastically
on healing plants from Europe, Persia, India, and the Far East.
The Arab businessmen also took an active interest in herbs: They
were the first occidental pharmacists and had opened their shops in
Baghdad by the early ninth centur\'. Another Arab contribution was
the use of astrology- in medicine. In Arabic culture, astrolog)' was
tion
in
inherited the
were
legally
common
and
still
found no
favor. Herbalists
socially separated
tradi-
a threat to the
medical academies.
Rosengarten,
Jr.,
described
it
WHAT IS AN HERBAL?
An
made with plants from faraway lands became popular healing agents.
who had
as follows in The
herbal
is
book
that
Book of Spices.
323
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HISTORY OF HERBS-continued
Philippus
PARACELSUS
In the early 1500s, a Swiss
named
physician
Hohenheim
bastus von
burst
medical scene. He
learned about medicinal plants
and minerals from his father, a
physician and chemist. Using
the name Philippus Aureolus
on
the
he
Paracelsus,
traveled
He lauded
folk
thought to be.
healers,
more
his
leagues.
He
theory that
from
colcelebrated
rejected Galen's
disease stems
excess or defi-
all
either
He
ward
the
mineral
movement
to-
medicines,
Initially,
were
in Italy, thanks
them.
Orient.
He
predicted
the disctwery of pharmacologi-
centuries.
also
"active
principles"
Paracelsus
believed
cally
in
plants.
that
all
and
entirely beneficial.
It
was
them
avail
spices:
new
love apple (better known today as the tomato), to Jesuit's bark (the
bark of the cinchona tree, which has yielded the malarial-fighting
Remembered
primarily as
the greatest alchemist, Paracelsus changed the course of
Western medicine
beth
The
era of herbals
opened
in
1530
in
324
Eliza-
German
botany,
History of Herbs
1
published herbals with illustrations that have never been equaled in
all the herbals that have followed. Brunfels's work is notable in that
wilted
leaves
and
all.
truly a
first
is
of Theophrastus
and Dioscorides.
cine, Fuchs seems to have felt compelled to write his herbal because
of the general ignorance of herbs even among his fellow physicians.
He also made an effort to be thorough; in addition to the indigenous
European
plants,
was
in the
grand
tradition.
He
names of those
new cultivars.
But
many
herbals
Gerard's
lished
in
Herbal.
1597,
pub-
First
it
is
much
is still
the
last
edition
ol
garden (he
in general.
It
is
to
whom
when he
he
erred,
it
Gerard, like so
all
GERARD'S
CRIBBED HERBAL
at
the time).
325
"
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
son,
An
The most ambitious of the English herbalists was John Parkinwhose massive Theatrum Botanicum {The Theater ofPlants, or
Utiit'ersall
It
was published
is this
1640
London and
when
Parkinson,
who
was 73. The title page bears personifications of Europe, Asia, Africa,
and America, to indicate that the plants described had been drawn
from the four corners of the earth. In the true herbal tradition,
Parkinson incorporated the works of two Continental herbalists (one
of which, Caspar Bauhin's Pinax, provided a system of nomenclature
for the plants) and took most of his illustrations from Gerard.
The Theatrum Botanicum is distinctive as well as comprehensive,
Tribes," including
Hurtfull plants
and
their
326
History of Herbs
Tribe,"
plants."
with an antidote for love potions and a Rabelaisian recipe "to enter[an] unbidden unwelcome guest to a man's table, to make
tain
spon with him and drive him from his too much boldnesse."
The follies perpetrated in the herbals of Gerard and Parkinson
and there are some are trifling compared to the whoppers perpetrated in the herbal of Nicholas Culpeper, surely the most outrageous and perhaps the most popular of all the herbalists. Culpeper was a nonconformist, a Puritan apothecary when virtually the
entire medical establishment of the day was loyalist. His goal was to
take medical knowledge out of the hands of the College of Physicians
those "proud, insulting, domineering Doctors, whose wits
were born about five hundred years before themselves" and put it
within the reach of the apothecaries, who actually did most of the
prescribing, and the families who could not afford to consult any
doctor. To this end, he translated the London Pharmacopoeia from
Latin to English and published it in 1649 as the Physicall Directory,
earning the ire of the medical establishment and the devotion of the
.
mm
m-:
reading public.
Unfortunately for those
more than
a bit of a crank.
PARKINSON'S
VEGETABLE LAMB
Doctrine of Signatures, which held that the key to a plant's use lay in
it
connected the astrological influence of the planet with its plants. The
combination of astrology and signatures created quite a witches'
brew, and Culpeper distilled it lavishly in his herbal The English
Pljysician (also called The Complete Herbal), published in 1651.
Despite or perhaps because of its dubious and sensational con-
tents,
Tenets
many
The
kinson's
a small
representation of a plant that
existed only in the mind. The
fantastic plant apparently had
grown to legendary propor-
Europe in Parkinson's
and he was extremely
tions in
time,
fond of
it.
He gave
fulsome de-
"vegetable
book. The plant
bore a lamblike fruit atop its
stem that "feeding on the
grasse round about it until it
hath consumed it and then
dyeth or else will perish if the
grasse round about it bee cut
away of purpose."
The vegetable lamb apparently is based on misreadings
scription
lamb
"
of
the
in his
of
327
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HISTORY OF HERBS-continueJ
HALLUCINOGENS
Hallucinogens
plants
that
affect
are
drug
the
mind
more than
in
the
ment
more empirical
treat-
as those discovered
THE
NEW WORLD
Along with
their cherished
food.
their
not have separate gardens for herbs, flowers, and vegetables. Instead,
everything was thrown together in a "kitchen garden. The colonists
societal
Thus,
Indians gave
relationships.
"
followed
the garden
just
Algonquin
medicine that induced derangement and mem
by-jowl, with
the
w^'soccatj, a
recollection
of
childhood.
Tribes of the Southwest and
Mexico use various Datura
species in divination, proph-
ecy,
balls
.so
can
we
could
no attempt
and flowers
as
companion
plants
To the
colonists,
mary, thyme,
der cotton,
savor>', sage,
dill,
basil, parsley,
were
colonial gardens.
saffron, tansy,
328
at
History of Herbs
m
ZSXiSh
But the
just that, a
new
and
a plant
discovered that some of their plants didn't thrive in the new land,
while others did quite well. The upshot was the development of a
lore, a
body recorded
largely
by the naturalized
Americans.
script, in Latin,
New
Comfrey
and
stantly use to
Cure
their Distempers,
perfect Description of
amongst
the
English.
was residing
in
the Indians.
college-edu-
Indian mate-
folk healing
among
medica
to
hope
for
more
if
modern
physicians
were not
own
Benjamin Smith Barton studied the Indihealing materials and techniques and soon after published Col-
329
"
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HISTORY OF HERBS-cominued
PATENT MEDICINES
In 1813,
son
Samuel
obtained
A.
Thomon
patent
of Botanic Practice of Medicine." His objective was to allow him to "sell" his system of
medicine,
notable
fast
buck, would
to
it
grand promises.
He grew garlic,
bles.
at
Monticello. Like
scientific
"Orthodox" medicine
with a
sive,
fairly topical
in this
countrywas nothing
if
not aggres-
to 140
died.
most
called 'heroic."
flourished.
One
of the
330
History of Herbs
copy of the
Purchasers
some
Soci-
Elecampane
HERBAL REGENERATION
Scientific
plants.
Norman
R.
all
at
the Illinois
in medicinal folklore."
not be as
many
The old
modern
science.
yes,
modern
all
have found a
life.
is
and Rome; Egypt and China; and even our own vigorous colonial and
federal heritage. To the Unicorn Tapestry and illuminated manuscripts. To Dias, da Gama, and Columbus. To Thomas Jefferson
relishing his nasturtiums. And even if brushing past a rosemary plant
doesn't conjure a vision of a Roman villa garden, we must find, like
Gerard, that its fine, pungent fragrance "comforteth the heart and
maketh it merry." Perhaps after all, that's the refl/ secret of herbs.
331
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HOP
Humulus
DESCRIPTION
The hop's
angled, fibrous
l^ersistence of
paired
mature into
conelike structures
composed
Male flowers:
inconspicuous,
white;
five
form loose
bunches or panicles 3-5 in.
sepals, five stamens;
long.
Resemble grape
heanshaped,
Leaves:
leaves; opposite,
coarse,
hair\,
al-
ternate.
Fniil:
Achenes;
appear
20-25
Height:
been known
one season.
have
ft.;
to reach
40
ft.
in
Maybe it isn't just the alcohol in beer that makes you drowsy.
The hop, an ingredient of beer, has a long and deserved reputation as
a sedative. Simply resting one's head on a pillow stuffed with this
herb will put any insomniac to sleep. Or so they say.
Sedative or not, its status as an ingredient of beer has
summer.
HISTORY
Once used
scholar Pliny for
as a kitchen
its
brewing
sedative, a tonic,
an agent
for the
among
other conditions.
numerous skin
infections
discoloration.
native
to
Eu
In \'acant fields
Hops aren't used for these ailments today, but the herb does
have a few valid medicinal properties.
USES
HABITMT
rivers.
the
tural significance
cure
RANGE
Originally
made
hop an herb that's anything but sleepy. Few herbs can claim to be
grown and used on the scale of the hop. It is of considerable agricul-
diarrhea,
late
Cannabaceae
FLOWERING
Mid- to
liipiiliis
and along
Not all hops germinate equally. Female flowers are the ones of
economic importance. The female flower, a conelike growth called a
,irf .hi!e. is the
part used in brewing and in most medicinal applica-
tions.
plants,
and
since they have no commercial value, they are quite ruthlessly elimi-
By far, the most common use for hops has been as a flavoring
and preservative for beer. Much has been claimed for it medicinally,
but then people have always claimed that whatever they liked to
drink was good for them.
Medicinal:
Do you
at
night?
Make
a hop-
pleasant dreams.
Hops
when
also have
been found
to
mations.
lupulone. These
hops and
compounds
humulone and
fruit.
Cut and
dr\'
and dried
made from
the vines
arrangements.
is
333
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
hops, growers
full,
color
is
haylike, the
too soon.
If
after
for
to
it
more the
better
be separated. The
flexible vine
enough
CULTIVATION
pleas-
-continued
grown
studded
fields called
A network
hopyards.
in bizarre, pole-
of wires
is
staing from
pole to pole, about 18 feet overhead, and more wire dangles from the
network to the ground. The hop vines are trained to these trellises in
early spring
just
begun
trailing.
much
as 6 to 12 inches in a single
The
vines
and
foliage.
The cones
are dried
Hops
early
summer from
rhizome
that
is at
least
inch thick.
The
cuttings are started in a nursery area. After a year there, the plants are
moved, usually
feet apart.
in
The groups, or
in
groups 6
soil;
you should
good to
prevent mildew.
Seeds can be used for propagation, but these will not always
reproduce true to variety.
Train the plants to long poles, wire, or strings. Major growth
does not begin until the second year, and the plant bears well only in
the third and following years.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant
hardine.ss
zone
(hardy to -35F).
pH
Soil
6.0 to 7.0.
soil.
Full sun.
becomes
pests of hops.
If
is by making a tincture.
and medicinal effectiveness very quickly.
unstable in the presence of light and air One study
demonstrated that nine months of storage cost 85 percent of the
hop's original chemical vitality. Obviously, hops should be used as
Hops lose
They are quite
their flavor
promptly as possible.
334
common
this
Horehound
HOREHOUND
Marrubium vulgare
Labiatae
DESCRIPTION
You thought you had recovered from your head cold enough to
an e\-ening at the symphony, but to\\'ard the end of the final
mo\ement of the Mahler, the tickle in your throat became impossible to control, and your parox\'sms of coughing were causing your
fellow concertgoers to focus their frowns on you. At intermission the
gentleman on your right reached into his pocket and produced a
decorated metal box, extending it open in his hand. You unwrapped
the little round cough drop and. as he instructed, held it far back on
branching
Horehound's
stems give it a bushy look, accentuated
by the exueme
^ooliness of the stems and
leaves. The squareness of the
stems reveals the plant to be a
member of the mint family.
(See photo on page 273.)
Flowers: White, in dense
your tongue.
risk
entire
head, soothing the rawness of your throat and reaching into nasal
passages with
spic);
its
fragrance.
"What
is
you whispered.
"Horehound." your companion replied. "My grandmother's
people used to make their own. I couldn't manage without the things
it?"
when
HISTORY
Horehound
and
bite
takes
its
name from
sk-y-
bitter
when
more recent
Height: 2-3
ft.
FLOWERING
Summer.
RANGE
bronchitis.
battle cankery\'orms
In
'
worms, itches, jaunYou could take your choice and either put it in
your eyes or sniff it to improve your eyesight. People also believed it
removed obstructions from the liver and the spleen and, with the
addition of oil of roses, that it would cure earaches. Horehound was
thought to be both a diuretic and a diaphoretic. It has been used to
and
spells.
fur; in
light.
central
southem Europe,
and western Asia, and
Nonh
Africa;
Native to
naturalized
in
North America.
HABITXT
Dr\'.
lands,
is
probably
focus
that
just as
well since
it
appears to be reliable
lets
us
hore-
lots,
hound's
tion.
abilin,- to soothe a hoarse throat and to promote expectoraHorehound syrups and cough drops were used as early as the
fa\'or -^ith
country'.
CHEF TIP
Add horehound and fennel
USES
few
years, but
it
test for
removing magic
335
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HOREHOUND-o
oiitinued
HOREHOUND
COUGH S^TRUP
counter and
ing
mix
much honey
well,
and
known
as liquid,
bottle.
cough
syrups.
It is
as
mallow, ground
ivy,
and
rue. Either
make
honey or sugar can be added
drops,
and
cough
syrup.
candy, cough
Medicinal: The primary constituents thought to be responsible
for the medicinal actions of horehound include a volatile oil, tannin,
and a bitter principle called marrubiin. (Marrubiin does not exist in
the living plant but is formed during the extraction process.) Scientists have found that marrubic acid, formed from marrubiin, stimulates the flow of bile in rats. This may account for horehound's use as
a purgative and a bitter to produce gastric action. In large doses
horehound also serves as a laxative, but in ver>' large doses it can
to
infusion by steep-
Make an
some
horehound
it
with
some
tea or extract to
caution.
cough soother and expectorant is better substantiated. Marrubiin and vitamin C inay play a part in the action, as might
the high concentration of mucilage, which eases sore throats. Horehound has also been found to promote the secretion of mucus.
Make a decoction from 1 teaspoon of horehound leaves in a cup
of boiling water; take only 1 tablespoon at a time and no more than 1
cup a day.
This plant should not be confused with black or stinking horehound {Ballota nigra). True to its name, this is a strong-smelling
Its \'alue
as a
Horehound
weed, and
may be
it
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant liardiness
Soil
Deep,
pH
zone
4.
6.9.
well-drained,
sandy
soil.
often, teas.
Full sun.
rope.
When grown
as
where bees
are needed.
CULTIVATION
it may take over
allowed to flower without being picked so that it self-sows. It prospers in a dry soil and can
survive on as little as 12 inches of water a year Clearly, mulching is
Horehound grows
your garden
if left
easily,
unrestricted
so easily in
especially
fact that
if
not required.
You can
start this
sown
plants
Vs
start
Recent experiments
show
fluctuations in temperature
that
germination
between 50
to
is
77F and 95
to 104F.
recommends
when
the
You can hang bunches of horehound to dr^', but the plant loses
remove the leaves and chop
them. As soon as they have dried, place them in tightly sealed jars.
its
337
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HORSERADISH
Armoracia nisticana
DESCRIPTION
This herbaceous perennial
is often
The
long,
stem
in
the second
year.
terminal
axils;
racemes
from
in
leaf
at
bases.
Cruciferae
not a condiment.
mustard of the Germans, and indeed, the Germans and the Danes
were the only Europeans of the Middle Ages to use the root at the
dinner table.
Simply put, horseradish assaults the tongue and nose so powerits use and culinary reputation spread only very cautiously.
Once horseradish caught on, it became a staple in many households,
fully that
way
most often
short stalked.
Fniit: Plant generally
de
ovoid to
year;
ellip.soid
cap-
sules.
Height: 2-3
ft.
in
second
HISTORY
The
origin of horseradish
to eastern
year.
FLOWERING
stamped with a
Midsummer.
the
RANGE
fish
is
we do
musuirde."
and western
vated in
little
widely
North America.
Asia;
culti-
Not until the l600s did horseradish become an acceptable condiment in England and even then, only for "country people and
stomaches."
USES
The fresh root of horseradish has been used by
an internal and external medicine for centuries.
Medicinal:
herbalists as
The
cyanate, or mustard
and vitamin
for as
oil.
The
is
long as
it
is
allylisothio-
weakening,
Externally,
with a
little
compress
The
338
classic internal
Horseradish
tions in
is
retained. Horseradish
is
best
known
mustardy
Flower
Flowering Stem
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HORSERADISH- -continued
CHEF
TIPS
Help
preserve
texture of
low
crisp
the
salt
cucum-
Substitute:
quart
'ryi'^:.<y^fVA
Dry mustard
ground
jars,
root.
become
bitter
if
stored for
more
recommend planting horsemake them more disease resistant. No sciensupports this claim, but none refutes it either.
Companion
jar.
planting: Gardeners
Add
to
ing
tific
study
Other; For
ish has
dressing salads.
stimulating
its
been used
to
make an
CULTIVATION
most often propagated by root cuttings. These
young roots, about 8 or 9 inches long and Vi inch
wide. Each cutting should have a bud or a growing point, although
pieces will develop new buds (or crowns) in the ground. The roots
grow out, not down, and should be placed 12 to 18 inches apan each
way and 12 to 15 inches deep. When planting, carefully remove all
side roots from each set, then drop the cutting into the hole, and fill
in by trickling a fine soil around them.
You will have the best results with a rich soil that is high in
organic matter Since the root is the portion for which the plant is
most commonly grovm, you should take care to provide a deeply
cultivated soil, free of stones that could cause gouges in your crop.
Prepare the soil as early in the spring as possible. In fact, most
herb growers recommend you work the soil in January for a February
planting. Till deeply and fertilize generously with well-rotted manure and compost. Water the bed well and frequently and keep the
bed weed-free.
Horseradish
should be
Horseradish
the area in which
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Soil
Full sun.
pH
zone
5.
6.8.
is
straight,
is
an herb
that
is
planted,
the crisper drawer of a refrigerator. Be sure to scrub the root thoroughh before you store it for the winter.
340
Horsetail
Equisetum spp.
Horsetail
is
Equisetaceae
qualirs' is
DESCRIPTION
book
that
to sand
silica
among the oldest of all plants, having domisome 200 million years ago. In those times
The 20 species
The species of
common
most
ica
Equisetum arvense, a
is
ferny
little
zome
perennial with a
rhi-
beads.
It
appears in two
ent stages.
tile,
horsetail
North Amer-
in
The
first
differ-
stage
is fer-
atop
USES
stalk.
Second
stage,
none.
its
supposed medicinal
recommend
enthusiasts
stems
in
occur
Medicinal: Medicinally,
it
at
1-in.
Second
Fruit: Spores.
medicinal use.
and has
is
toxic
if
Its silica
is
most prized
in the sun,
and
tie
them
in bundles.
them
wood
its
final
to 18 in.
one form.
has
It
no
around
FLOWERING
April.
RANGE
Naturalized in
the world except
and
all
New
pans of
Zealand
Australia.
HABITAT
Moist
as
sanding.
CULTIVATION
Horsetails are
briefly
needlelike leaves.
Second stage
The plant
bamboo-
stage,
and even tuberculosis. An external application is said to stop bleeding wounds and speed the healing of ulcers. Horsetail contains
saponin and glycosides, which may account for its mild diuretic
action, but otherwise, no scientific evidence supports claims for its
Toxicity:
along
intervals
length of yellowish,
and waste
woods,
roadsides.
places.
GROWING CONDITIONS
seldom
cultivated because
Plant hardiness
Soil
Humusy, moist
Full
zone
2.
suggested for erosion control along the sides of ponds. A safe way to
enjoy the plant while keeping it under control is to plant it in buckets
placed
just
below the
surface of a pond.
when
by
is
pH: acid-neutral.
sun to
soil.
partial
shade.
mature barren
highest.
341
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
HYSSOP
Hyssopus
DESCRIPTION
Hyssop
is
a pretty,
perennial. As a
of the
stamens;
tubular,
Hyssop has
compact
member
a strongly
herb
with a
flavor that is
it
its
rightful
as a pot-
today.
is
the hys-
esob,
meaning "holy
herb."
HISTORY
bell-shaped
caK'xes.
Labiatae
officinalis
Because of
its
lanceolate,
long; sessile.
Fruit:
Four
Height: 2-3
to
from hyssop
nutlets.
ft.
tine
FLOWERING
USES
RANGE
Medicinal: Seventeenth-centun,' British herbalist Nicholas Culpeper called hyssop "a most violent purgative and warned against
taking it unless under the care of "the alchymist." During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, tinctures and teas of the flowers and
'
when it was strewn about the floors of sickimprove the smell of kitchens. The volatile oil
throughout
North
;\nierica.
Herbal,
Maude
Grieve, writing in
A Modem
will
attribute
Although hyssop
certainly
CHEF TIP
For a sauce to serve with
cheese omelets or on rice,
mince
cup of fresh hyssop
and add to ^ cups of tomato
'/<
sauce.
342
rant tea
it
may not be as
its
a safe herb in
volatile oils.
advocates claim,
it
a mildh" expecto-
and
poultrv' stuflnng
Hyssop
small
along
with thyme.
grow and
Clip
it
frequently, bringing
full
down to within 6
it
and
lush.
emulsion
fish
to
the
more
feather^'
herbs such as
dill
and
anise.
It's
a lovely interplant
ommends mixing
it
is
(See the
entr\'
Companion
beetles
members
results.
cleanses the
doesn't confirm
this. Still
lures
hyssop
is
some
other
is
it
and thyme,
it is worth
least,
CULTIVATION
You can start this plant by seeds, cuttings, or division. Choose a
sunny spot where the soil is well drained, or even dry. In early
spring, sow seeds 14 inch deep in rows about 1 foot apart. In early
summer, thin the seedlings to stand 1 foot apart within the rows. You
can propagate by cuttings or division in the spring or fall.
You'll need to paine the plants occasionally and remove the old
flower heads, but hyssop plants require relatively
may need
to
little
maintenance.
be replaced.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
Full
just
much
pH
6.7.
sun to
partial shade.
343
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
INDIGO
Itidigofera tinctoria,
DESCRIPTION
Indigos are mainly tropical
perennial
subcropica!
and
The
Pealike;
purple,
cemes
that
emerge from
ra-
How
Leaves:
now viitually
Alternate,
and side
on surface.
leaflet
Though
Orient.
the
is
not forgotten.
leaf
tooth-
leaflets;
fine
some
angled pods.
Height: 3-5
varieties
have
USES
Late
ft.
ornamentals grown
in the
and diminish
documented.
pain,
tirictoria
re-
is
tropics.
grows
in India
and
/.
States.
fever.
None
is
RANGE
Indigo/era
United
/.
summer.
tinctoria,
FLOWERING
fore,
were
made and
hairs
10 stamens.
axils;
less,
Leguminosae
suffruticosa
I.
/.
tinctoria
extent,
is
States.
enzyme
collected,
is
made
powder
is
reaction.
It
becomes
into cakes,
exposed
is
to
air.
a colorfast dye
CULTrVATION
If you live in the Deep South, or in Hawaii, you may succeed in
growing indigo, but the varieties that produce dye have little orna-
GROWING CONDITIONS
Well-drained,
Full sun.
loamy soil.
mental value. Pick a sunny location with well-drained soil. Root the
in spring or early fall, or from cuttings in summer.
Cuttings should be taken with a segment of branch wood. Propagate
greenhouse,
if
344
must be used
prune
severely.
Jimsonweed
JIMSONWEED
Datura Stramonium
At
one time
Solanaceae
The
gen.
VERY TOXIC
its
herb again
reputation as a hallucino-
it
extracts a
toll
its
is not suited for areas frequented by children. The seeds are the
most poisonous part, but the leaves are also potentially lethal. Fortunately, its fetid aroma does not inspire the curious to take a nibble.
Adults have rarely been fatally poisoned by accidentally ingesting
jimsonweed.
Other names for the plant reflect either its looks or its part in
Indian ritual: thorn apple, mad apple, sacred damra, locoweed, Indian apple, and devil's trumpet.
plant
DESCRIPTION
Jimsonweed
is
a rank, foul-
holds
Its
rubbers'
stem
many
branches.
Its
yellow-green
root is white and
fibrous.
in.
up
to
glo-
blue or white.
triangular,
HISTORY
edges;
victim to
it
some
same
strong,
it
when
inhaled.
spiny,
fleshy,
and
many
opens
Height: 3-6 ft.
seeds; capsule
at
black
the top.
FLOWERING
May through
when
odor
results.
because
sweet
bruised.
August.
RANGE
Native to Asia; naturalized
HABITAT
Isolated stands in a pro-
345
JIMSONWEED-comnued
USES
This most pharmacologically valuable of the Daturas is widely
grown commercially for use in medicines. The active principles are
extracted and prescribed in carefully controlled doses for a variety of
ailments.
to
circula-
some
became
thinst,
regularity:
One
New Jersey
boys
ill
inabilirs' to urinate,
dn,' mouth,
and slurred
speech. Certain
Skin contact
may produce
Jimsonweed contains
rashes.
work of
atropine, hyoscyamine,
all
are toxic.
and exocrine glands. The weed paral)-zes a pulmonannerve and so relieves the spasms of bronchial asthma when smoked
taiy muscles,
it
medical super\'ision.
CULTIVATION
Because of the danger associated with ingesting parts of the
do not cultivate it near where children may play For supervised collections in flower beds, it can easily be grown from seed like
an annual, or it can be transplanted from an indoor stan after the
danger of frost is over. Plant jimsonweed in a sunny location at the
back of a border Rich, deep soil is best. Space widely for this large
plant,
plant,
to
346
Juniper
JUNIPER
Juniperiis cormnunis
Why
is
UNSAFE
Cupressaceae
medicinal
juniper
is
oil that
and yields
Common
in this genus.
HISTORY
DESCRIPTION
Many know juniper chiefly as the source of gin's flavoring. Inname gin is derived from the Dutch ye^erer, which means
deed, the
"juniper."
The
junipers
most often
Juice
bark.
on
separate
USES
Medicinal: Rheumatism,
are said to
is
and applied
to the sore.
and wounds
Adding a
rubs.
oil
or simply
mashed
tied steaming
bundles of the boughs to sore limbs. Juniper tincture has been used
externally
on painful swellings,
and
bruises,
sores.
The primary medicinal use of juniper over the years has been as
The plant does work but through an irritating action, and
herbalists advise pregnant
women and
The main
only
have
its
in the berries
irritating qualities.
is its
wood
volatile oil,
as well.
found not
constituent
oil
oil,
terpinen-4-ol,
Berries
'4-'/3
in.
a diuretic.
most
plants;
in whorls;
gular seeds.
FLOWERING
April through June.
RANGE
Native to Europe; naturalized in North America.
347
JUNIPER-conrXnned
Toxicity:
women
or
those with kidney problems. Repeated use can cause kidney dam-age, as well as convulsions
Culinary: Juniper has a place in the kitchen other than in the gin
The
Dttle.
and
for this
is
/ith discretion.
wild
CULTWATION
If you are growing juniper for its berries, be sure to plant both
male and female shrubs, or the female won't fruit.
Junipers like sandy or light, loamy soil in sunny locations. The
more open
Junipertis
common
fields in
juniper has
much
of
its
habitat.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Hardy
Sandy or
Full sun.
in all zones.
light,
loamy
soil.
When
348
glow
will
Lady's Bedstraw
LADY'S BEDSTRAW
Galium re rum
Rubiaceae
DESCRIPTION
York
fall
nial
square,
in
crowded
honey scented.
low;
in.
and minutely
side;
stem.
Fnut:
Two-lobed,
rwoseeded, sometimes bristly.
Height: 3
If
made by
footbath
after standing or
walking
If
all
day,
tr\-
your head
to the landscape.
it
It is
spreads rapidly on
and
it
therefore
a
is
abuzz and you can't sleep, U)- a bedstraw pillow. Most gardeners,
howe\"er, grow bedstraw as an ornamental or dye plant.
Ornamental: Lady's bedstraw contributes a light, delicate look
ized,
ft.
FLOWERING
USES
since
panicles;
is
branched.
Mary
that is slightly
RANGE
Southern
Canada,
the
northern and eastem United
States, most of western Europe,
and the coastal areas of Great
Britain.
HABITAT
gardens. Airy sprays of bedstraw help to offset the heavy look of large
blooms
at bedstraw's yellow
produces a dull yellow color in wool mordanted with
alum. The roots, however, are used more often for the beautiful
shades of red they yield.
flowers,
it
An alum mordant
two hours
to extract the
GROWING CONDITIONS
Hardy.
Deep,
CULTIVATION
Thereafter,
it
will spread
deep,
is
rich,
on
its
own.
It
grows well
soil,
in full
although
sun or panit
light,
drained
Full
sun to
rich,
well-
soil.
light shade.
prefers a
well-drained eanh.
349
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
LAVENDER
Lavandula
DESCRIPTION
lavender
branching shrub,
In general,
bushy,
though
are
there
is
memories of
encountered it as a
We tend to think of
five-
on 6-8-in.-long
stalks.
itself.
it
has a
clean, spare fragrance that could be called classic. In fact, its name
derives from the Latin verb "to wash," and both the Romans and
Greeks scented their soaps and bathwater with the herb.
lavender
late,
first
to conjure
may have
few
come
terminal .spikes
The
a
al-
Labiatae
angustifolia
For some,
it
is
where otherwise
washed with a special color and a palpable scent.
Lavender also has modest abilities as a medicinal herb, and it has
been used to relieve headaches and revive those with "nervous
think of the "lavender Alps" of southern France,
featureless hills are
languor."
Fruit:
gray-brown
Height:
Four
dark
shiny,
nutlets.
To 3
HISTORY
Middle Ages, lavender was thought to be an herb of love,
worked both ways: Although it was considered an aphrodisiac,
a sprinkle of lavender water on the head would keep the wearer
chaste. Traditionally, the herb's fragrance has been exploited in sachets, to protect linens from moths, and to freshen sickrooms. It has
also been used to soothe troubled minds and bodies as a medicine
In the
ft.
but
FLOWERING
June and July.
RANGE
Native
to
the
Mediterra-
in the
throughout
the
world.
it
for hysteria,
ingredient of smelling
as a disinfectant for
salts.
wounds.
some
digestive systems.
USES
er)'
CHEF TIP
When making
lish
apple
jelly
Today the largest percentage of the blooms goes into perfumand perfumed products. For this, LavandtAla angustifolia (Englavender)
is
lavender) or their
oil in
many crosses
latifolia (spike
lower-priced products.
Medicinal:
The
more valuable
350
is
The
oil
Lavender
LAVENDER SPECIES
been
it
The
carminative powers.
may have
oil
work devoted
little scientific
leaves
do
to laven-
repel insects.
should be used in moderation. One teaspoon of flowers to a pint of water is safe for infusions to be used as a
mild sedative. For eczema and psoriasis, add no more than 2 drops of
Lavender
is
safe but
the yellow-colored
oil to a
Warm
is
cup of a bland
oil.
A few
drops of
this
chest congestion. Bruises and bites are treated with lavender compresses in France and Spain.
cinnamon
made by combining
lavender
oil,
oil,
bark,
monly known
der
In China, lavender
is
used
in a cure-all
medicinal
oil called
Oil.
jellies,
and sparingly
in salads.
is
according
to Grieve.
deli-
She could
Modem
come
lavender
der
is
in
the variet\'
still
known
and
rosemar}',
and
it is
L.
delphin-
lavender
known
also
latifolia),
as
"mule
they are
hNtirids
";
that
Many were
sterile.
and
and
L X intermedia,
L.
L.
vera,
officinalis, L.
is,
White Flower
as English laven-
L. latifolia is
a hybrid
some-
more
oil-stingy
angiistifolia,
it
is
parent,
dustr\'.
hybrida
the lavender
inL.
cent esthers.
underclothes. Potpourris frequently include the herb. You can simply place oil of lavender
on
it
to freshen a
Lavender soaps abound, and you can complement them with laventoilet water, cologne, and perfume. These are
usually made from the very best lavender, especially the English
der shaving creams,
variet)'.
facials,
lavender
stimulates and cleanses the skin (see the entry Bathing with Herbs).
Lavender vinegar
is
351
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
LAVENDER- -continued
LAVENDER WANDS
A
an aromatic wand to
freshen closeLs and drawers. A
as
is
variet)' that
qualities of
bracts);
one
'/I
to
up
in the air,
down one by
-inch-wide
two rows
cult to
do
are the
most
The
L.
stalks
L.
angnstifolia 'Nana'
L.
habit);
plants,
and
L.
inter-
changeably.
Other: Lavender
oil
room
decorations.
diffi
centuries, including
and
embalming
lice,
to tlop, cross,
CULTrVATION
covered.
5
When you
inches of
is
have about
woven
material,
sew
it
matching thread.
titming lions
tigers,
oil.
light,
Protect the plants from both summer and winter winds because
spikes of flowers are easily broken in storms.
Full pickings of lavender are possible in the
352
fifth year.
ing to
After that,
new soil,
some growers
but others
do well
in the
rotat-
same
is
given where temperatures are low. Hardiest are English and spike
lavender. If you are not using the
keep your plants flourishing.
blossoms
to
attractive
form.
Even
the
hardy
less
lavenders
make
trouble-free
in
the sun.
oil:
An
acre of lavender in a
is
done
good year
rapidly on a dry,
still
August day before the high sun can carry oflf some of the fragrance.
Flowers should be in early blossom, short of maximum bloom. The
flower spikes are cut by machine or with a hand-held
The spikes
hook
to 6
on mats and covered to prevent sun scorch. That evening, the mats
up and taken to a still. To make a better-quality oil, the
are rolled
flowers are
The
that
is
first
flowers are placed in a vat over boiling water, and the oil
is
produced from lavender harvested after a hot, dry season with much
sun. Temperamre is crucial from May to August, when the weather
should be both hot and dry. The distilled oil is aged for several
months before being sold.
Prune and shape the bushes either after the flowering and harvest are over or in early spring.
for a
open or when they are full. Hang them in bunches or set them
on screens in a shaded, air)- place with a high temperature. You can,
tie them in bunches and suspend them from rafters in an attic or
first
shed.
GROWING CONDITIONS
is
made by adding
Lavender
oil
and
It
and not a
and jasmine
spirits (a 5
Plant hardiness
oil in alco-
pH
zones 5-8.
7.1.
Soil
Full sun.
353
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
LAVENDER COTTON
leaves give
on page 512.)
Bright
Flowers:
tubular;
tiny,
at
top of
round,
in. in di-
stalk.
gray-green;
long,
in.
'/8
Although
l-l'/2
in.
is
it
member
In Mediterranean regions
yellow,
in
ameter,
Compositae
Saiitolina Cbarnaecyparissus
DESCRIPTION
is
native, the
and as a
was as an
ornamental. Elizabethan gardeners found they could prune lavender
cotton into lovely low hedges, and they created the twists and turns
herb was
first
used medicinally
vermifuge. But as
its
for
its
astringent properties
it
it.
on stem.
Frtiit:
Brown achenes.
Height: To 2
USES
ft.
FLOWERING
June and
orna-
July.
RANGE
Native
its
southern
Mediterranean region; widely
to
the
cultivated.
is
it
to potpourris
and
musky
fragrance of lavender
sachets.
for
its
texture
Craft:
The
Dye:
golds
and yellows
to
wool
CULTIVATION
Lavender cotton can be propagated from seed, layering,
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
zones 6-8.
pH: alkaline to
Soil
Full
354
sun
neutral.
divi-
light,
dry
Lemon Balm
LEMON BALM
Melissa officinalis
Bnjsh
Labiatae
and your
DESCRIPTION
people
swarm over
may
lemon
lemon balm to
HISTORY
This rather floppy, coarse-leaved plant has a histor\' with an
Lemon balm,
mentioned
plants
Homer's Odyssey
(trying to
modern botanical names would make a good parlor game for classicists). The Roman scholar Pliny noted that bees preferred lemon
balm to other plants. The Greek physician Dioscorides put the plant
on bites, both scorpion and dog, and then would drop some more
lemon balm into uine for the patient to drink. His pages may have
been so full of bite remedies because none of them worked terribly
well and herbalists kept experimenting. But in the days before
antivenom and rabies shots, a comforting drink was about the best
anyone could offer.
The Greeks and Romans seem to have been fond enough of the
plant, but its real fans were the Arabs. They held that lemon balm was
good
rwo-lipped, white
or yellowish,
stamens.
Leaves:
ovate,
Vi
in.
long; four
Opposite, broad,
1-3 in. long;
toothed;
lemon scented.
Fniit: Smooth
Height: 1
nutlets.
ft.
FLOWERING
July through September.
RANGE
Lemon balm
is
native to
southern Europe and Nonh Africa and now grows wild and is
cultivated throughout much of
the world.
from home.
It
milder than, those of the labiate [mint family] plants already de-
The mildness of
scribed.
its
USES
It
Medicinal;
in
choler
."
.
LEMON BALMwhich
is
cheery enough by
-continued
itself.
punch,
tea.
Substitute: Fresh
nion verbena
is
Ornamental: The common variety of lemon balm looks somewhat rank and weedy a mass of coarse green leaves. It is rarely
round outside of herb gardens. For more formal settings, consider
^sing a variety with variegated leaves as a border plant.
Cosmetic:
lemon balm
facials are
might want to add the leaves to a cleansing herb bath mixture, too.
(See the entries Lotions from Herbs and Bathing with Herbs for more
information.)
Lemon balm has been put to a lot of other uses over the
some are more practical than others. Here are a few of them.
Wine: An 1829 recipe for lemon balm wine calls for 40 pounds
Other:
years;
hours and was fermented under cover for six weeks before it was
bottled. A sugar lump was thrown in each bottle. The receipt noted
that balm wine improved with age, being better
the second year.
Bees: Beekeepers once rubbed
lemon balm
inside a hive to
356
Lemon Balm
CHEF TIPS
Chop
leaves
fresh
them
orange
to
and add
marma-
lade.
aromatic
sprigs
whole
Stuff
fresh,
fish
ing.
Remove
fore eating.
Make an
extra-strong tea
fresh
boiling
or
by
dried
and stew
fmit in
fresh
or dried
it.
is
tr^'
down
rubbing
balm
into a fire so
lemon
it.
CULTIVATION
Lemon balm grows easily from seed and germinates better if the
seeds are not covered. Take care to keep them from drying out.
Plants can also
be grown by
by division
layering,
a well-drained
soil.
The
second
leaves the
first
if
By
the
year,
Pests
many
by
in spring, or
summer.
and
diseases:
Lemon balm
is
susceptible to
powdery
mil-
in fertile,
well-watered locations
optimum
fragrance since a
easy,
and
it is
har/ested before
lost in
is
to obtain as many as
will
it
be
plant 2 inches above the ground. Try to avoid bruising the foliage.
ing
it
harvest
is
best
dry,
done
it is
dried quickly.
Do not
in the
best to use trays or sieves for drying the herb, rather than tying
bunches on
a string. If
GROWING CONDITIONS
it
in
Plant hardiness
pH
zones 4-5.
Soil
Average, well-drained
Full
sun
7.0.
soil.
to shade.
for tea,
357
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
LEMON VERBENA
Lemon verbena
is
lemon
Here
decid
a dis-
fragrance. (See
Flowers: Lavender;
two equal
mens (two
tiny, tu-
four
lips;
explorers
sta-
racemes from
leaf axils.
lan-
margins
pointed,
ceolate,
toothed or toothless,
slightly
Two
wide; in
in.
warm
grow
to 10 or 15 feet
climates; to 5
ft.
in
FLOWERING
summer and
fall.
RANGE
Native to Chile and Argen-
The
Rush, the
woman
lemon
leaves are
act as a sedative
before
serving.
finely
crumbled
baking
carrot,
when
before serving.
and
her bodice.
to reduce fevers.
made from
the
and beverages.
Lemon balm
tea.
sweet,
lemony
sachets.
Add
fragrance.
at
The
twice the
Commercially, the
and
toilet water.
oil is
You can
extracted
will also
work
it
its
home
or scented baths.
to
make cologne
for use in
home-
A simple infusion
Ornamental: With
plant, but
and used
foliage
is
its
tiny blooms,
lemon verbena
is
not a
showy
attractive,
358
at
banana, or
zucchini bread.
verbena
dressings
Culinary:
tough, so be
dried,
body scent,
dings,
Add
to containers.
USES
CHEF TIPS
them
itself as a
and it is an aroma that people seem to find intimate. The leaves were
used as an after-bath body rub, and the scent naturally found its way
into commercial soaps and bath oils. In Gone with the Wind, lemon
verbena is mentioned as the favorite fragrance of Scarlet O'Hara's
mother. And in Charles Willson Peale's portrait of Mrs. Benjamin
dried leaves of
.salad
delicate
Fresh
in
tina;
it
tall,
seedlike nutlets
Late
four.
enclosed by a calyx.
Height: 10-15 ft. outdoors
in
slirubs
two long);
short,
is
Lemon verbena
Verbenaceae
Aloysia triphylla
DESCRIPTION
If
at
list.
Keep
in
mind
that
it
Lemon Verbena
isn't
hardy
in
trained as a standard
drawn by
a formal shape
children.
CULTIVAriON
Lemon verbena
is
is
it
best to
keep the donor in the shade and make sure it is well watered. Seeds
may also be used, but the plant produces them infrequently.
Container gardening: Unless you live in a very mild climate, you
will probably grow lemon verbena in a container The plant does
best in a loamy soil of the son used with geraniums and chrysanthemums. Lemon verbena needs to be kept moist, but do not let the soil
get soggy. Because it feeds heavily, apply regular applications of fish
emulsion. Pinch the tips of the plant to keep it bushy. Mist or wash
the leaves weekly to keep mites from colonizing.
If you've kept your lemon verbenas outdoors during the summer, cut away the very thin branches before bringing the plants in for
the winter. These branches will only become weak and straggly and
deuract from the appearance and vigor of the plant. Still, these discards will effuse that delightful fragrance, so place
them
in dresser
is
deciduous
don't be concerned
when it loses its leaves in the fall. At other times of the year,
leaf loss
is
under
stress,
however,
perhaps caused by a
on watering for a
and the plant
^
will not be able to handle large quantities of water. Keep your lemon
verbenas on the dry side until they start perking up again. Then
lack of water or root shock.
little
while.
The
If this
Many people
for the
bring container-grown
warmer months.
If
you choose
or bricks, to
tile
to
the pots and entering the ground. Potted plants that have rooted will
suffer
shock
to their roots
if
broken
free
will
GROWING CONDITIONS
Pests
and
diseases:
Lemon verbena
is
often infested
by spider
mites and whiteflies. (See the entry Growing Herbs for information
on
controlling pests
and
recommends
Parma, Michigan,
sprigs of leaves
all
pH
Soil
Full sun.
6.5.
diseases.)
midsummer and
9-
10.
first frost.
year long.
359
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
UCORICE
"Give
me
seems
It
flavoring has
DESCRIPTION
Licorice
An
nial.
a hardy peren-
is
somewhat
erect,
branching plant,
it
issues from a
which is brown
on the outside and yellow on
the inside. The taproot grows to
4 ft. and sends out stolons,
which in turn branch into rootlets, creating a tangled mass
like the head of Medusa.
Flowers: Resemble sweet
pea or vetch, Vi in. long, purple
or lavender, in spikes shorter
than leaves.
Leaves: Alternate, pinnate;
1-2
in.
on
leaflets,
unclerside, slightly
damp and
sticky underneath.
One-celled pod, Vi
smooth,
reddish
brown to maroon; containing
one to six small kidney-shaped
Fruit:
long,
in.
seeds.
Height: 3-7
been around
for a
not licorice
but takes
seem
at all,
all
the rest."
at least to
It is
its
flavor
from anise
oil.
is
the
often
Other countries
in Italy, for
example, licorice fans can buy sticks of the pure, unsweetened extract. Licorice is also a popular ice cream flavor in southern Europe.
If
grow
real licorice
is.
Although
its
constitu-
HISTORY
A papyrus dating from
tribes ate
ft.
ancient Assyrians.
stringy taproot,
9-17 oblong
Leguminosae
Glycyrrhiza glabra
wy
i-ya
it
fresh.
FLOWERING
fever;
Midsummer
RANGE
lient,
Native
to
Mediterranean
also to
Spain,
poultices.
Iran,
Iraq,
Italy,
India,
keep
pills
It
USES
Licorice root is used to flavor and color a variety of foods and
beverages. But by far the greatest quantity of the licorice we import,
up phlegm.
360
been used
Licorice
GROWING CONDITIONS
rheumatism and arthritis, and to induce menstruation. In
it was used in powder form as a laxative.
The
chief
component of licorice,
is
ing agent,
it is
ponent
is
The
country
A
is
sweeten-
added
to
a terpene
proven useful
in
cramps.
Glycyrrhizin stimulates the secretion of the adrenal conex hormone, aldosterone. In healthy people this licorice constituent can
cause headache, lethargy, water and salt retention, potassium secretion, raised blood pressure, and even cardiac arrest. However, its
ability to stimulate the adrenal cortex makes it useful in treating
Addison's disease, which is characterized by abnormally low activity
in the cortex.
pH:
neutral.
Soil
Full
constituting 5 to 20 percent of
the plant,
steroid.
this
sun
to partial shade.
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
Once recommended
treat
inflamed
eyes,
to
licorice
root
and
drop
eye
formula. The conisonelike ac-
added
to
the
responsible for
fects.
its
healing
aid
for
indigestion.
can reduce
arthritic activity.
herbs, either to
mask
been used
in
ef-
ginger, ginseng,
women, who
are especially
subject to
licorice,
even
less
in
modest
than a gram
herbalist Jeanne
rice,
to
open the pores and allows the other cleansing and healing herbs
secretion of scalp
stout,
it
adds
flavor, color,
tutes.
Not only
362
is
licorice
it is
also used
Licorice
as a
foaming agent
wetting, spreading,
products figure as
in insecticides
and
as a
it
is
insula-
tion.
herbs.
Some
are
far-fetched
root,
is
is
satisfying to
much
used
and
in
New
gnaw
on,
cigarette).
licorice plant
the right
from
divisions of the crown, from sucker cuttings, or, most easily, from
root cuttings. Set the cuttings 1 to VA feet apart in prepared, deeply
tilled soil. Sandy soil from bottomlands, fortified with compost, is
ideal. It should be rich, mellow, moist, and free of stones. Water the
cuttings frequently directly after you set them out. Later, all you will
have to do is control the weeds. Growth goes slowly for the first two
years. Only when the plants are three to four years old, and before
they have borne fruit or become woody, is the glycyrrhizin content at
its peak and ready for harvest.
Licorice can be cultivated in a greenhouse. Put the roots in footdeep pots of sandy loam with good drainage. If the fall sun refuses to
shine, use artificial light to simulate long day length.
Wild licorice is occasionally cultivated from seed for collections
of native plants, but no licorice has any real ornamental value. The
leguminous plants are useful in the garden for fixing nitrogen.
Harvesting and storage: Cut the licorice plants in late autumn or
conditions, but
in early winter
it
is
when
fall
plants,
and
toward
it.
Remove
the
is
demon-
such lore
is
fiction.
(licorice),
as
rian
[Scythian
CULTIVATION
The
root)
sweet.
Some
sweet
root.
It
against asthma
also
is
call
it
is
and
simply
useful
in sev-
and
mares'-milk
with
this
cheese
Can anyone go 11 or 12
days without drinking?
If they eat enough lico
rice, which has been demon
strated to cause water reten
tion,
just
maybe they can
thinks William A. R. Thomson
M.D., a British physician and
writer "If excretion of water in
the urine was reduced as a result,
then thirst would not
arise, and
there would be
much
behind
363
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
LOBELIA
Lobeliaceae
Lobelia inflata
UNSAFE
.^
but
its
to fall
is
home
it
experimentation. All
The
plant
DESCRIPTION
Lobelia
itijlata is
an annual
When one
breaks,
it
exudes a
at
packaged
it
it
Samuel Thomson, an
herbalist-physi-
recommended
some sort of
The Shakers
to the settlers.
lobelia as a
muscle relaxant during childbirth; as a poultice for healing abscesses; and for the treatment of epilepsy, tetanus, diphtheria, dysentery; and whooping cough. Many herbalists of the time believed that
the vomiting lobelia induced somehow cleansed the patient.
long.
USES
Medicinal: Lobelia
bearing
Height: i-3
RANGE
Native to North America.
HABITiMr
and
light
home medicine
is
dry,
open
woods.
it
belong on
Roadsides;
the
though there
ft.
FLOWERING
fields;
hairy.
known
The
has
recommend it
Make a rub by
CULTIVATION
GROWING CONDITIONS
Humusy
364
Indian tobacco
tier lobelias better
soil.
is
rarely cultivated
pret-
What
SKIN-CLEANSING CREAMS
If you wear makeup, cleanse your skin with a cleansing cream,
which will remove the makeup more efficiently and more thoroughly than soap. The cream will leave a light emollient film on the
skin to keep moisture in, protecting the skin. Does this mean that if
you have oily skin, you can't use creams or lotions? No. Just follow up
with soap or an astringent lotion to remove the film.
Herbal creams require a base to which an infusion of herbs is
then added. A basic cream base can be made from the following
ingredients:
ounce of lanolin
ounce of beeswax
3 or 4 ounces of a vegetable or
1
Vi
fruit oil
bean)
1
instructions
on page
367.)
Add
yarrow water. Fennel and comfrey benefit any skin and can be used
in any lotion. Prepare an herb water from any of the herbs listed in
this section according to the properties desired.
HERBAL EACIALS
Once you've cleaned the surface
open your pores and take the cleansing process to the deeper layers
of your skin. The facial will bring out impurities that are clogged in
those lower layers and will leave your face feeling and looking clean,
healthy, and vibrant.
365
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
L OTIONS
ASTRINGENT HERBS
make
ba\t)erry bark
blackberry leaves
chamomile
leaf
facial: Boil
quart of water
-continued
and pour
it
over
!4
cup
of dried herbs in a bowl. Lean over the bowl, close to the water, and
agrimony
bay
comfrey
dock
Preparing a
FROM HERBS-
and root
elderberry flowers
frankincense
houseleek
lady's mantle
lemon
loosestrife
mint
m>Trh
nasturtium
pansy
primrose
rosemary
sage
violet
wintergreen
witch hazel
yarrow
warm
Herbs
When you
minutes.
Keep
thoroughly refreshed.
and
heals;
tightens; fennel
for
facial);
heals; lady's
circulation;
nettle
tightens;
circulation;
excellent astringent.
fennel, chamomile,
For
normal skin To fennel and comfrey add any of the
following: lemon peel, lemongrass,
witch hazel, or lavender.
To tighten and stimulatepeppermint, anise seed, lavender,
and comfrey.
To stimulate
rosemary, fennel, peach
and pansy
ver,
licorice root,
clo-
oily to
rose,
nettle,
leaves,
leaves.
SKIN-FRESHENING LOTIONS
The
lotion.
final
An
soap that
may be
left
on your
skin.
freshening
dirt and
Depending on the herbs you
last traces
of
STIMUIAnNG HERBS
choose, the lotion can also help to relieve specific skin problems. It
can increase circulation and add the final spark of color and life to a
beebalm
dull, tired
calendula
elderberry flowers
horseradish
lavender
lemon verbena
mint
nettle
plantain
raspberry
rosemary
sage
savory
scented geranium leaves
complexion.
Preparing a lotion:
Dab on your face and neck. Dried mint may also be used: Add 1 cup
of dried, crushed mint to I pint of pure water in a quart glass jar with
a tight fitting
lid.
jar
in a
Strain
and store
tight-fitting lids.
Other lotions can be made from any of the herbs listed with this
enuy, choosing according to the benefit you desire. The following
are suggestions for some specific skin problems:
366
For
dry) skin:
melilot, mint,
berry, or violet.
ANTISEPTIC HERBS
bay
chamomile
echinacea
eucalyptus
marjoram
myrrh
sorrel
thyme
both dry and oily complexions and act to refine the skin pores.
Vinegar tightens skin pores, reestablishes a natural acid balance, and
wine
cup of petals or leaves for each pint of vinegar and
place on a sunny windowsill in a tightly sealed glass bottle. Let the
mixture steep for two to three weeks, shaking it vigorously every day.
Strain and rebottle. If you like a more diluted lotion, add water.
For a pungent vinegar, use such herbs as sweet basil, thyme,
sage, rosemary, dill, or marjoram. Yes, it sounds like a salad dressing,
HERB WATER
To make an herb
softens the skin. Start with either apple cider vinegar or white
vinegar.
but try
Add
it
pea, or
lilac,
own
combinations.
When
erator.
An even
easier
invigorated
it
and freshening
lotions, there's
to pur-
and add
to
will
It
keeps the
dirt out.
Preparing a moisturizer:
almond
oil,
in a
slightly,
then
is
done and
oil
method of
MOISTURIZERS
water,
CLEANSING HERBS
chamomile
fennel
lady's
mantle
linden
lovage
nettle
parsley
plantain
367
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
parts
using
Make the herb waters from any of the emoUient herbs hsted with
the
roots,
tough
bark,
in
or
seeds
this entry.
traditional rinse;
Combine equal
If
shaving
irritates
your
fumitory
horsetail
iris
lavender
lemon balm
Solomon's seal
southernwood
tansy
face, splash
lotion
clover
mild
AFTER-SHAVE LOTIONS
agrimony
burdock
and rose
astringent.
lotion.
parts of glycerin
HAIR CARE
EMOLUENT HERBS
acacia flowers
chamomile
coltsfoot
comfrey
licorice
linden
loosestrife
elm
You can concoct marvelous herbal lotions for the hair, too.
The three best-known herbs for the hair are rosemary, sage, and
chamomile. If you are a brunette, a rosemary or sage rinse will leave
a fine sheen in your hair Make an herb water of one or the other or a
combination of both. After shampooing, pour the rinse over your
liair, catching the rinse in a bowl or container
so that you can repeat
this several times. You can add a rosemary or sage water directly to
your shampoo.
Chamomile
is
Chamomile
will
hair.
to
Again,
make an
your shampoo.
feel great.
368
Lavage
LOVAGE
Levisticum officinale
Lovage
DESCRIPTION
Umbelliferae
is
easier
more,
it is
a large, dramatic
compound umbels
l'/2-4
in
in.
across.
herb
in his landscape.
compound; decrease
toward top; leaflets
wedge-shaped, may be toothed
opposite,
in
USES
size
when
bruised.
Fruit:
it
recommended
lovage as a diuretic
rice,
in.
!4
long, grooved;
pies,
Height: 5
ft.
FLOWERING
June and July.
RANGE
Native to southern Europe;
throughout North
naturalized
America.
CHEF TIPS
or no-salt recipes.
it,
leaving
VA
in.
of
stalk.
Keep
rolling
around
as you're slicing to
the
stem
and
it
to serve
mus-
dips.
and
369
L OVA Gccontinued
steamed vegetables.
Available commercially: Dried stems, but hard to find.
Foliage
Substitute: Celery.
CULTIVAriON
This herb
much
is
fertile,
during dry
Pests
spells.
and
is
susceptible to leaf
miners. Pick off and destroy the infested leaves so this pest won't get
Growing Herbs
for information
on con-
trolling pests.)
Once
lovage
is
seeds
when
Lovage stores fairiy well in the freezer. For best results, blanch
small bundles of leaves by quickly dunking them in boiling water,
then plunging them into an ice bath for two minutes. Drain very well,
ripe.
stews,
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Soil
Moist,
Full
pH
zone
soil.
sun to
partial
shade.
in ice
well-drained
cube ttays.
makes sense espethey will dry on the flower
it
cially if
3.
6.5.
fertile,
Many herbalists
upside
370
Madder
Rubia tinctorum
Rubiaceae
Just forget
I'm going to
its
madder
much
to
means
a lot to
anyone working
HISTORY
Burial wrappings of Egyptian
der dye, so
we know
was used
passed
its
time has
Actually, a study of dyes derived from madder spurred the development of the chemical dye industry, according to British herbalist
Maude Grieve in A Modem Herbal. One of the constituents of mad-
slender,
stems.
alizarin,
is
a perennial with
jointed
four-sided,
The stems
are covered
on page l68.)
The reddish brown, succulent root
cylindrical, fleshy,
is
It
many
with
by.
der root
Madder
this historically
talk
ended
DESCRIPTION
somewhat bell-shaped;
tubular
and midribs,
gins
lanceolate,
Frtitt:
'/i
2-4
Resembles
burrs; Va-
red to black.
Height: 4
ft.
FLOWERING
Early
summer
ance occurs
(first
appear-
in third year)
RANGE
Native
nean
to
the
Mediterra-
east Europe,
and,
less
widely,
in
North
America.
USES
The
constituents of
madder make
it
more useful
as a
dye than
as
a medicinal plant.
Medicinal:
One
and bones
in animals
When taken
internally,
it
colors milk,
feet
371
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
it
the characteristics of
in several steps.
The
it
textile
oil
was
first
scoured
in a
galls,
alum, and only after that dyed with the partly fermented roots and
powder of madder.
root
Today
less interesting
chrome for wool, and alum for wool, cotton, and silk, depending on the color desired. The roots are placed in a fabric bag, then
soaked overnight in AV2 gallons of water. The wet mordanted wool is
added, and the bath temperature is slowly raised to 190F for alummordanted wool or 212 F for tin-mordanted wool, and it is kept
there for 40 minutes. Later, the material is washed in soap. Madder
yields orange, lacquer red, or garnet red colors. (See the entry Dyes
from Herbs for more information.)
Other: According to Maude Grieve, the French once used the
prickly madder stalks for scouring pans and polishing metal. The
tin
or
herb
is
also
CULTIVAriON
Although
cultivated.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
pH:
zone
Soil
Deep, welldrained
Full sun.
7.
foot apart.
so.
fall.
when
neutral.
growth dies
down
in the
fall.
Harvest
is
best
best dye.
soil.
Harvesting and storage: In France the roots are dried and the
outer layer threshed off and packed separately as an inferior product
called mall.
The
unusually warm.
372
three times.
is
Marjoram
__
MAI^ORAM
Origanum Majorana
Labiatae
DESCRIPTION
for
us
modems
they did for the ancients. Sweet marjoram, once the plant that
is
now most
is
is
knotlike
HISTORY
Leaves:
The Greeks
Have
Flowers:
in medicine,
(See
hairs.
and used it
were used at wed-
to cure rheumatism.
it
was precious to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and that this was what made it so gentle gentle
enough to cure sprains as well as to comfort the dead when it grew
on their graves. Young Greek couples were crowned with it at their
weddings. Legend had it that if you anointed yourself with it before
sleeping, you would dream of your future spouse.
dings and funerals. They said
it
Opposite,
ovate,
short
!4-l
stalked,
in.
long;
Fruit:
brown, very
small nutlets.
Height:
ft.
FLOWERING
August and September.
RANGE
USES
A great
cancer, but
its
pregnancy. Otherwise,
it
is
Culinary: Marjoram
is
hint of balsam.
The
leaves
quite safe.
green vegetables,
mushrooms,
parsnips, potatoes,
Add
it
CHEF TIPS
marjoram
for
oregano when preparing
pizza, lasagna, and egg-
Substitute
plant Parmesan.
oils,
Add marjoram
to a
marinade
agus,
and mushrooms.
are preferable).
373
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
MARJORAM-continned
Substitute:
Oregano,
in a lesser
amount.
air
of homes.
much used
as a strewing
into
hope
chesLs
lianging container.
The
large,
them
in the
The
furry,
make good
adding
for
to
it
more
information.)
CULTIVATION
Because marjoram seeds are small and slow to germinate, they
are usually started indoors in midspring for setting out
danger of
'\
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Choose
when
all
zones 9-
sparingly Pinch the plants back just before they bloom to maintain
their shape. Later, when the plants are ready to bloom again, cut
them to 1 inch above the ground. In subsequent years, the roots can
for winter
spring.
10.
pH
has passed.
sunny location with rich, welldrained soil, and space the seedlings in clumps of three, every 6 to 8
inches. Five clumps will supply the average family Because seedlings are small, you should take care that the weeds do not overwhelm them. Weed by hand at first and then hoe frequently Water
frost
Soil
6.9.
two
may get
the plants.
Full .sun.
Unlike
when
fla\'or.
374
retain
Chives
Damask
Rose Petals
Borage
Goldenseal
377
Calendula
K
i
Nasturtium
Marsh Mallow
MARSH MALLOW
Althaea
No,
Malvaceae
officinalis
this
herb
DESCRIPTION
is
is
humble
plant,
gargle to treat
mouth
infections.
irritation
organs.
It
it
several
two or
across;
in.
is
as a
Leaves: Alternate,
powdered roots were applied as a poultice on abrasions or eruptions. The powdered root has been used as a
grayish
one seed.
was
taproot;
and
sepals.
USES
demulcent. Internally
woody
stems;
and
leaves. Herbalists of the Renaissance period also used marsh mallow
for sore throats, stomach problems, gonorrhea, leukorrhea, and as a
Horace, a
woolly
Flowers: Solitars' or
Marsh mallow
a link
Height: -1-5
ft.
FLOWERING
binder in formulating
The
pills.
RANGE
original
HABITAT
Moist
salt
CULTrVATION
be
places,
marshes and
particularly
damp
its
land
estuaries.
soil
easily propagated
GROWING CONDITIONS
Ver^' hardy.
Soil
Full sun.
pH;
neutral.
soil.
379
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
MAYAPPLE
Podophyllaceae
Podophyllum peltatum
UNSAFE
DESCRIPTION
The mayapple
is
a simple
one or two
leaves
and
a single
flower.
nodding,
wide; six to nine
smooth, concave, petals; 9-20
stamens.
Flowers: White,
^-2'/i
in.
in.
the top;
leafstalks
3-6
HISTORY
VA-2
when immature;
long; green
light
mon names by which it is known: duck's foot (for the leaf shape),
ground lemon, devil's apple, hog apple, Indian apple, racoon berry,
and the most common (after mayapple), American mandrake.
You may have heard of magical properties connected with mayapple, its human-shaped root in particular. In the era of psychedelic
rock bands, an American group named itself Mandrake Memorial.
But these references are to European mandrake, Mandragora
officmarum, which is no relation to the common woodland plant of
in.
long.
in.
when
ripe; contains 12 or
dark brown seeds.
Height: 12-18
more
in. tall.
laxative.
from the
FLOWERING
April
and May.
RANGE
Native to North America
from Quebec south to Florida
and Texas.
HABITAT
Rich,
land,
streams.
pastures,
They
made
a spring tonic
New
and some
USES
Medicinal: The active principle, podophyllin, is found throughout the plant, including the seeds and unripe fruit, but it is especially
concentrated in the rhizome. The FDA has studied the health effects
of this agent and calls it "an unsafe laxative," citing powers that go far
beyond the
digestive system.
to affect cellular
growth and
is
who took laxatives or dieting tablets containing it. Research suggests that this same property may make podophyllin useful
as a treatment for skin cancers, but the drug has damaging side
effects. It has been used commercially in
creams as a wart remover,
of mothers
380
is
unsafe.
Podophyllin
is still
sometimes used
as a laxative, but
Mayapple
fatalities
It
drake.
The
fruit,
which ripens
its
in
September,
is
Ornamental:
Use
it
matter, just as
in
it
wooded
it's
canopy of
attractive,
prefers in nature.
An Asian
species,
and
is
glossy green
fruit
CULTIVATION
Divide rootstock in the
requires partial shade
fall
or
and a moist
sow seed
soil
in the spring.
Mayapple
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Humusy,
Partial
rich,
shade.
zone
moist
4.
soil.
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
MINT
Mentha
DESCRIPTION
One of the most
distinctive
mints
features of the
is
their
new
up
plants
which send
from their
spreading roots. Since mints interbreed readily, it can be difficult to determine the exact spe-
Labiatae
spp.
When summer days bum hot and the heat seems to follow you
everywhere, you might be glad the mint is overtaking your garden.
Out
in the
Chew on a peppermint
leaf
over your face and on your shoulders. Drop a few sprigs in a glass of
iced tea or
make
and
relax.
cies.
Flowers.
Tiny;
purple,
five-
cal^oc.
smooth, ovoid
nutlets.
Height: To 2
ft.
FLOWERING
July and August.
RANGE
Most mints native to Eu
rope and Asia; some indige
nous to South Africa, America,
and
Australia.
Naturalized
CHEF TIPS
Mince
Add
aigrette.
fresh
peel.
HISTORY
When
beautiful
nymph
that Pluto
changed Minthe into a lowly plant. Pluto couldn't undo Persephone's spell, but he did soften it a little so that the more Minthe was
tread upon, the sweeter her smell would be. The name Minthe
changed to Mentha and became the genus name of this herb, mint.
Few people considered it a lowly plant. The Pharisees paid their
tithes with mint. The Romans crowned themselves with peppermint
wreaths.
Pliny thought
it
"The very smell of it reanimates the spirit." The Greeks used mint in
various herbal treatments and temple rites. They believed it could
clear the voice, cure hiccups, and counteract sea serpent stings.
No doubt because of its refreshing scent, mint was always strewn
around kitchens and sickrooms. This use of mint played an important
role in a tale from Greek mythology: Two strangers walking through
Asia Minor were snubbed by villagers, who offered them neither
food nor drink. Finally, Philemon and Baucis, an old couple, prepared them a meal. Before setting the table, they rubbed mint leaves
across it to clean and freshen it. The strangers turned out to be the
gods Zeus and Hermes in disguise. They richly rewarded Philemon
and Baucis for their hospitality, changing their humble home into a
temple. Mint thus became a symbol of hospitality.
Mint continued to be an important aromatic herb in medieval
times. People preferred to su-ew their homes with water mint
(Mentha aquatica) because its scent is su-onger than that of spear-
mint or peppermint.
Pulegiutn, European pennyroyal, was spread
about to get rid of fleas. Mint was also added to bathwater for its
fragrance (infrequent though baths
in the
382
was
salt
and applying
it
to the
Mint
MINT WATER
Peppermint and spearmint came to the New World with the
who also used them medicinally. They drank mint tea for
headaches, heartburn, indigestion, gas, and to help them sleep.
They also drank mint tea for pure pleasure, especially since it wasn't
taxed, but also simply because it tasted good.
colonists,
gallon container.
Fill
with fresh,
Serve
on
ice.
USES
Mint can be used
someone who
in so
couldn't use
is
hard to find
it.
home
remedy, and
hot mint
tea,
it
is
tastes
or drinking
way,
ger,
It can also temporarily reduce hunwhile the stomach resumes peristaltic action and
it
but after a
little
you want
effect
good use
at
first.
(Those
when
Peppermint's antispasmodic
may help
Toxicity:
though
it
an herb
that
Culinary:
If
it
is
satisfying to
think of hot,
southern days, sometimes a scene comes to mind of
men sitting on great porches,
overlooking
even
greater,
summer
manicured
finely
ping
glasses.
lawns,
sip-
from
The mint julep was
mint
juleps
tall
cre-
the
gentleman.
"A mint julep is not the
product of a formula," explained one nineteenth-century
southern gentleman. "It is cere-
deep
It
is
rite
that
to a nov-
nor a Yankee."
383
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
A4Il\ I continued
MINT REMEDIES
The following are some
popular mini based remedies
that you can try.
For flatulence: Take 2 or 3
drops of peppermint oil on a
sugar cube, or drink a cup of
peppermint tea.
For abdominal pain (including menstrual cramps): Drink
warm milk heated with fresh or
dried peppermint leaves; take a
soon begin
will
oil;
or sip hot
food.
a bit strong.
it,
may
also be
tired,
used to soothe
sore muscles or arthritic
joints.
gums.
For had breath: Chew on fresh
mint leaves and stems.
For chapped hands: Wash
rough skin with spearmint tea.
on the
bite.
jellies,
sauces, candy,
bage. Dried mint adds a nice touch to split pea soup, diminishing the
need
for salt.
Apple mint
(M
are particularly
fruit
zest to
salads or cottage
Some
(M
Requienii) has
make creme
de menthe. Use it sparingly to make mint water
When adding mint to foods or when preparing mint tea, use
either fresh or dried leaves. A garnish of fresh mint sprigs adds a
refreshing touch to both foods and beverages. Mint is popular in
Greek, Arabic, North African, Middle Eastern, and Indian food.
It is
sixteenth-century herbalist
384
all
veal,
They are
and chocolate. Stufi"
fresh mint leaves and small garlic cloves beneath the skin of a roasting lamb before you cook it, or use the mint in a marinade. Add
spearmint or curly mint to steamed carrots or new potatoes. Welsh
cooks even add mint to the boiling water when they prepare cab-
mint
more
are
tea.
var. crispci)
Mint
Wa
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
JVlliS 1 continued
STARTING FROM SEED
If
someone
tries to sell
seems
you
dried,
to
is
sure you've
wallet
and
flimflam
false teeth.
man on
doesn't
Pe|5pcrmint
duce seed.
There's a
the loose.
pro-
a sterile h^tjrid
It is
Mentha
spicata and M.
Peppermint must be
propagated By cuttings, divi-
of
cujuatica.
mint.
ways
the mints.
It's
to propagate
the only
be sure you
plant you want.
you
c-an
way
make
got your
some
-with age.
an excellent aromatic. In
where
grow unchecked.
In large, natural
areas
a hardy
ground cover
is
impression, plant
and
mint, pepf)ermint,
spear-
particularly
Mentha arvensis
cens,
is
the species
menthol and
is
var.
cultivated in Ja-
peppermint
oils
is
produced by
Xpiperita
386
some of
to create a
more formal
Corsican mint. Corsican mint looks lovely in rock gardens and grown
between paving stones. 'With so many species and varieties from
which to choose, there is a mint for just about any situation.
Cosmetic: Before you settle down to that iced mint tea, cool
your skin with a refreshing mint water. You won't get all hot and
bothered making it either it is so simple to prepare. Just soak a cup
of fresh peppermint or spearmint leaves in a quart of cool water,
strain, and chill. Use this mint water to wash your face.
"Any of the mints used in the bath will be stimulative and
restorative," writes Jeanne Rose in The Herbal Body Book. They are
cleansing, too, and make effective lotions and facials. Steeped with
rosemary in vinegar, mint is reported to help control dandruff". Rose
recommends a strong mint infusion for restoring tone and softness to
chapped hands.
Companion
pel
all
sorts of
listed as
cabbage
good
pests.
menthol
planting: Old-time gardeners claim that mints regarden pests. Spearmint and peppermint are often
While
confirmed
this,
and various
we do know
is
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
A4ll\ I continued
GRO\XaNG CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
pH
zone
5.
6.5.
Soil
Full
sun to
,^
, ^
^^^^^
CULTIVAriON
Gardeners tend to have more problems getting rid of mint than
they do getting it started. With the possible exception of Corsican
mint, mints are such rampant growers that they quickly
partial
shade.
overwhelm
other plants. Unless you have a large area you want covered in mint,
set up some barriers to their growth. Plant seedlings in bottomless
number
barrier
10 cans or surround
is
10 inches deep,
it
will
or division. Peppermint
is
is
usually by suck-
a sterile hybrid of M.
wide
lished plants,
to
do
it
even
in the
in water. If
you wish
to divide estab-
fall.
or add too
much
even
Frequent cutting
mints at their prettiest.
It
mowing
of large plots
rust.
will
keep
mulch with straw or pine needles. Most species will begin to get a
little woody and weedy after several years. You may v^ash to dig out
old plants after
make fine pot plants and will thrive indoors and out. This
keeps them under conurol and guarantees a fresh supply of leaves
the mints
you'll
include: spider mites, loopers, mint flea beetles, mint root borers,
grasshoppers, cutworms, root weevils, and aphids. (See the enuy
Growing Herbs
and
388
Mistletoe
MISTLETOE
Viscum album, Phoradendron serotinum
Loranthaceae
UNSAFE
The phase of
year.
The
others
DESCRIPTION
Both mistletoes are semifreely
branched,
clumping, tree -bom shrubs that
live on a wide range of trees.
Flowers:
Inconspicuous,
parasitic,
separate plants.
site,
leathers',
M-2
long. (Ameri-
in.
HISTORY
Fruit: Small,
with
stick)' flesh
Height: 1-2
white berries
awe.
and denied
How
a place
this tradition
on the
became
By
earth
who
it is
said
moved
welcomed
the
remedies
where
was used
and
St.
for apoplexy-
FLOWERING
Midspring to early summer.
RANGE
Phoradendron serotinum
can be found from New Jersey
and southern Indiana south to
Florida
HABITAF
American
many
hosts,
mistletoe
although
has
rarely
European
many
mistle-
hosts, but
it
greens.
389
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
MISTLETOE^ continued
BIRHTH
OF A MISTLETOE
USES
those trees?
Birds are the true propaga
U(X)n spying
white berries,
the delectable
they
fly
Some
dropped The
sticky berries
to the
iLs
host.
it
to
purposes hung
ent purposes
when
Medicinal:
mistletoe
is
temporarily
It is
taken medicinally.
a resin, viscin,
benumb
and
that
its
physiological effect
is
to
from a painful area or organ to the brain. Viscin first raises the blood
pressure and then lowers it and speeds up the pulse. In this way, it
interferes with the spasms of epilepsy.
American mistletoe, on the other hand, which contains the
isn't really
is
known.
James Duke, Ph.D., author of the CRC Handhook of Medicinal Herhs, describes recent research in which cancer
cells treated with an extract from V album were unable to reproduce
toe in treating tumors.
from
cination.s,
and lead
to death.
of V album.
According to the British Medical foumal, some people who have
taken mistletoe remedies have shown hepatitis-B-like symptoms,
although no direct link to active hepatitis has been found. Very large
after eating the berries
do.ses of
it
lives on.
390
Mistletoe
"'''^^'-^-^''i'':^^-'
iiau.
Ornamental: Be careful
the
home,
too.
might eat them; it's a good reason for hanging mistletoe high in
doorways.
Another good reason to hang mistletoe in doorways is to try to
win a kiss from a loved one. The traditional Victorian kissing ring was
made from interlocking hoops festooned with colorful ribbon and
with the sprig of mistletoe suspended in the middle. Mistletoe is also
used in wreaths, sprays, door ornaments, or other trims. The magic of
mistletoe continues to keep
and Christmas
tree sellers
box loads of
around the
first
it
coming
of
to fancy florists
December
THE THIEF
American mistletoe, which
its nutrients by sending
roots into host trees and
derives
its
stealing precious
life juices,
ap-
"
given to
it
for
its
sticky white
berries.
CULTIVAriON
Neither American nor European mistletoe is cultivated, although sometimes in Europe the berries are rubbed onto branches
or inserted into splits in the bark to help propagation. Mistletoe
is
European
Mistletoe
391
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
MUGWORT
panicled spikes;
nal,
Compositae
Artemisia vulgaris
DESCRIPTION
five
sta-
mens.
Leaves:
Deeply
cut,
was temporarily
USES
in
vogue
as a
moxa
supposed cure
where it
and many
to France,
for blindness
other problems.
Seeds look
like tiny
sticks.
Height: To 6
ft.
FLOWERING
Summer.
RANGE
temperate North and
South America. In the United
States, it is found south to Georgia and west to Michigan.
In
Ornamental: Variegated and golden-leafed varieties of Artemisia vulgarisare atttactive additions to the
go
HABITAT
Waste places, deserts, and
prairies; ditches
and roadsides.
and
joints.
Modem
herbalist
it
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
zone
4.
CULTIVATION
Mugwon can be gathered from the wild but is easily raised from
seed. Seeds germinate best
Full sun.
392
easiest to start
at
it
is
them
Mustard
Brassica spp.
Cruciferae
The mustard family is a big one, and its fold includes scores of
common weeds and such vegetables as cabbage, broccoli, and turnip. Relatively few herbalists and gardeners grow mustard for seed; it
is
a different plant than that cultivated for greens. But gardeners are
showing a renewed interest in growing seeds for homemade mustard. Nurseries and seed companies carry black mustard {Brassica
ftigra), white or yellow mustard (B. hirta), and brown mustard (B.
juncea), the common commercial variety. Why grow your own?
Because you can have your mustard hot or mild, plain or spiced.
Some catalogs and herb books still use the earlier Latin genus,
Sinapis.
DESCRIPTION
Like
the
Cruciferaes,
petaled
white
species
growing up
to
are
ft.
and
annuals,
2
ft.
tall,
respectively.
Flowers:
Small,
yellow;
two stamens.
Leaves: Alternate, various
HISTORY
Black mustard
all
shapes;
is
The ancient Greeks valued the herb for its medicinal properwell as for its spicy flavor. They enjoyed the pungent green
leaves as a pot herb and salad. The early Romans pounded the seeds
and mixed them with wine to make an early version of our table
mustard. The popularity of the condiment spread during the Middle
Ages. The English name "mustard" is derived from the Latin mustum
ardens, or "burning must," which refers to the early French practice
of grinding the pungent seeds with grape must (the still-fermenting
juice of wine grapes) By the seventeenth century France became the
main source of table mustard.
As a medicine, black mustard was preferred over the milder,
Bible.
ties as
white-seeded species. Early herbalists recommended taking it internally to relieve digestive problems, and applying it externally to
encourage blood flow. The English herbalist John Parkinson suggested the seeds as a treatment for epileptic seizures, and Nicholas
Culpeper, another English herbalist, considered it excellent for
toothaches and many other ailments.
In this country, the early settlers and Indians used mild and
cultivated mustards for food and medicine. They ate the seeds and
spring greens. Black mustard seeds were ground to a fine powder,
added to animal fat, and applied as a paste to rheumatic joints and
sprains. The Mohegan Indians used the black mustard to relieve
headaches and toothaches.
FLOWERING
Early
summer.
RANGE
The mustards grow anywhere and everywhere. They
are quite hardy, and their seeds
remain viable for years even
is
na-
USES
The mustards are equally at home in the kitchen and sickroom.
They contain no poisonous parts, but the powdered seeds and the oil
can be irritating if misused.
393
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
MUSTARD- -continued
MAKING MUSTARD
Medicinal:
If
it.
It
Commercial
cup of
tablespoons of honey, 1
tablespoon of chopped roasted
hot red peppers, '/b teaspoon of
turmeric, and Vi to 1 teaspoon
of salt. While hot, combine with
Vi cup of yellow mustard seed
and V\ cup of brown mustard
seed and immediately grind the
mixture in a blender. When
smooth, add 1 tablespoon of olcider, 2
ive oil.
The
Tips:
yield
is
114
cups.
lose
time.
You can
and
fruit juice,
it
make
buy
grainy mustard
plaster
need
is
It
breathing easier.
The same
plaster,
dered seeds of black mustard or the milder species, has also been
used to relieve arthritis, rheumatism, toothache, and other causes of
soreness or
stiffness.
A mustard
plaster feels
it
the
powdered seeds
(and feeling)
der or
the seeds. Most important are the glycoside sinalbin and the
ents in
long,
warm because
we
stuff
oil
are
mixed with
the strong-smelling,
water,
hot-tasting
oil
mixing
down
the mustard by
The
inake
it
improving digestion. Larger doses of whole mustard seed will induce vomiting. The seeds' content of oil and fat make them a good
laxative. Because of the risk of overdose, remedies made with this
herb should be handled with special care. Over a prolonged period,
large doses of black mustard could irritate the stomach and intestines.
Culinary: Use
whole white
to
vided
The mustard
congested chest.
is
making
familiar bright
German
types.
is
used
in Indian
cooking to impart a
distinctive flavor
The young
and
394
tangy.
The
many
different varieties to
Companion
this,
bland
denies
for
fruit trees.
No
shown
scientific
that
when
evidence supports or
planted with collards
plants
feet.
CULTIVATION
by seed. If you are growing mustard
from spring through early fall. If
you want to harvest the ripe seeds, sow in the spring or late summer.
A late-summer sowing will give you a head stan on the following
season; young plants will survive the winter, and by early summer of
the following year, they should produce seeds that will ripen by
autumn.
Plant the tiny seeds Vs inch deep in a sunny spot where soil is
rich and well drained. Some gardeners say that white mustard tolerates hea\y soil conditions better than black. Thin seedlings to stand 9
inches apan. The plants are heav\' feeders, so dress the soil regularly
with well-rotted manure or finished compost.
Mustard can easily become a garden pest because it self-sows
readily. Don't plant it in your most formal areas, and take care to
harvest all the pods before the seeds scatter. Once the seeds drop to
the ground, you'll have a tremendous weed problem that could take
Plants are easily propagated
for
its
leaves,
sow at several
intervals
years to correct.
Pests
mustards
and
may be
on controlling
Grow-
pests.)
Han'csting and storage: Harvest the seeds when the pods have
turned from green to brown, but before they begin to split open. Cut
and spread the plants on a screen or tray covered with a tightly woven
cloth. Within two weeks, you'll find that the seeds ripen
the pods
will shatter easily. Abrade the pods between your palms. "W'innow the
seeds to clean them. Store whole or ground mustard in tightly cov-
ered
GROWING CONDITIONS
pH
4.2-6.0.
Soil
Full .sun.
jars.
395
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
MYRRH
Commiphora myrrha
DESCRIPTION
The mvTrh
is
little
more
were
gray
tnink
stunted. Its knotted branches
support branchlets that come
end
in
oozes
that
wounds on
is
from
fissures
the bark.
The
or
gifts
of the wise
men at the dawn of the Christian era. The aromatic resin of myrrh was
valued
whitish
Burseraceae
at least
with the goddess Myrrha, daughter of Thesis, the king of Syria; she
was forced by Aphrodite to commit incest with her father and then
escaped being murdered by him when the gods transformed her into
a myrrh tree. The drops of gum resin that come from cuts on the tree
are said to
be Myrrha's
tears.
pale
used myrrh as an ingredient. The Egyptians employed myrrh in embalming fluids. It also was used as a cure for
cancer, leprosy, and syphilis. Although such is the stuff of legend,
myrrh does have some verifiable medicinal properties. It is also still
with an
USES
oil that
surface fractures.
at
the tip
much
low
it;
roughly toothed.
less,
nal
accomplishments, keep
tire
mains on
fruit as
Height: 9
it
ripens.
ft.
RANGE
Myrrh remains confined to
very hot regions of the Middle
East with basaltic .soil. The best
myrrh, called Tlirkish myrrh or
karam, comes from the Arabian
peninsula, Somalia, and Ethiopia, but myrrh is also imported
among
its
resin to give
myrrh
particularly effective
its
when
astringent
acting
its
minor medici-
Fruit:
p>ointed
it
and
its oil
antiseptic properties.
It is
peristalsis.
It
CULTrVATION
This desert tree
available at
and occasionally
396
is
gum
is
Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
Tropaeolaceae
DESCRIPTION
isn't for
The
spectral
and
its
Flowers:
Funnel
shaped,
orange, or
petals, fusing at
yellow;
base
the continent.
to
five
form
narrow
up
USES
Culinary: Nasturtiums have a peppery
taste.
bril-
ing,
garnishes. Float
bloom
in the fall. The leaves are attractive in their own right, with a pleasing
shape and texture.
With their low, compact form, nasturtiums can be set attractively
in and around rocky areas. The vining varieties will climb trellises
and fences, and they can be trained along wires or strings in front of
walls. If planted on a bank, they will creep down the slope.
Nasturtiums make wonderful potted plants, indoors or out. Plant
them in window boxes or hanging baskets.
Companion planting: Nasturtiums are a well-known companion
plant. They are credited with repelling whiteflies, various cabbage
pests, and squash bugs. Scientific studies don't give a lot of support to
these claims. Nasturtiums did keep green peach aphids away from
peppers but were not as effective at reducing Colorado potato beetles on potatoes. They also didn't keep whiteflies away from beans or
imported cabbageworms from collards.
shafts;
make
calyx.
FLOWERING
Through summer until
first
frost.
RANGE
Nasturtiums are native to
South America, where they
grow
as perennials.
They
are
widely cultivated.
CULTIVAriON
soil
warms,
grown
in a shady,
Once
them
to 6 to 9 inches apart.
Container gardening: Nasturtiums are easily grown in pots for
the windowsill or greenhouse. Sow seeds in a coarse, porous soil that
is
not overly
rich.
in
full
GROWING CONDITIONS
drained
soil.
Full sun.
If
397
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
NEWJERSEY TEA
leaves are
Its
on
growing
growth;
make
a soaplike
foam.
Leaves: Alternate but occaopposite,
sionally
finely
acorns
with
three lobed;
Rhamnaceae
Ceanothus americanus
DESCRIPTION
horns;
when
made infusions of
much like Chi-
it
is
somewhat
astringent,
been used
of lymph, treating
cysts,
hemorrhoids and
treating
stopping menstrual
ulcers.
distinctly
dr>',
separate
USES
Height: 2-3
ft.
FLOWERING
Medicinal:
September.
The
plant
The
lant.
RANGE
works
Native of North America.
HABITAT
Dry
woods, on rocky
ledges, and in hardwood forests; adaptable to poor soil.
for
root bark
mouth
is
is
it
that
may
explain
its
definitely astringent,
is
tea
from the
East)
it
1922
a place in the
slirubs or
it
is
CULTIVATION
Nearly
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardine.ss
zone
5.
all
replaced often
when grown
Full
398
sun to
partial
shade.
the base to
remove
its
Prune
short-lived,
as ornamentals.
late
winter to
and close
to
Onion
ONION
Allium Cepa
Liliaceae
What plant
What plant did
is
DESCRIPTION
in Egyptian
Romans come
its
tomb
paintings?
to have a love-hate
rank odor?
to his troops
powers, and
fact that
that
varieties
make
we
tend to
green.
lovely ornamentals.
Fruit:
Capsule containing
black seeds.
is
white,
stamens; in globe-shaped
umbels.
Leaves: Four to six, narrow,
as vegetables that
Small;
six
some
carries
an umbel of flowers.
pink, or purple; six segments;
USES
overlook the
a bulb.
Flowers:
to give
A paste of onions
Height: 4
ft.
FLOWERING
extracts
blood clotting and seem to reduce cholesterol levels in people who eat high-fat diets. Experiments have shoun that rats injected
with an onion extract had lower blood pressure. And recent research
suggests that onions increase the production of high-densirs' lipoproteins, which in
are believed to help clear the arteries of fany
inhibit
mm
RANGE
Native to Asia, these hardy
bulb plants are grown through-
deposits.
In addition to these
CHEF
sweetest. Sulfur
compounds
it
in
and mouthwash,
TIPS
to rid your
body of
that
pungent aroma.
steamed,
broiled,
pickled,
and freeze
size portions.
is
used raw,
marinated,
needed direcdy
as
to sauces,
smffed,
in recipe-
Add them
and stock
to cover
Simmer
then
puree.
fresh bulb.
399
OMOTV-continued
Ornamental: Many alliums have been bred strictly for their ornamental value. The most familiar species is A. giganteum with its
huge purple flower. Just let any of your garden alliums blossom, and
you'll
Craft:
The
bit as
nice as
this.
and
garlic chives
can be
Dye: Dyes made from onion skins are famous. Yellows, oranges,
and browns can be produced in wool depending on the mordant
used and whether yellow or red onion skins are employed. (See the
entry Dyes from Herbs for more information.)
Companion planting: Gardeners recommend planting onions
with beets, cabbages, lettuce, and strawberries to enhance their
growth. They'll also tell you to keep onions away from beans, peas,
and sage. Reportedly onions repel cabbage loopers, Colorado potato
beetles, carrot flies, and imported cabbageworms.
CULTIVATION
Ordinary onions can be propagated from seed or
sets. Seed is
and 'Welsh onions are best started
from sets. For Egyptian onions, plant the bulbs that form in the soil or
the largest bulbils taken from the stem tops.
In frost-free climates, onions do well if planted in the fall for an
faster.
Shallots
early spring harvest. Elsewhere, they are best planted in the early
Sow seeds thickly and evenly, about V2 inch deep. Plant bulbs
and bulbils about 1 inch deep, making sure to place the pointed end
up and the rooting end down.
Onions need rich, well-drained soil that is loose and moist. As
spring.
little
Pests
is
and
attack
disea.ses.)
GROWING CONDITIONS
pn
Soil
Full sun.
400
6.0.
weather
up the
plants. If the
you can let the pulled onions ripen outside for a day
or two before moving them to a dry, unhealed shed. Otherwise,
bring them in promptly and spread them on a screen. You can keep
them there indefinitely; or, once they're thoroughly dry, you can
is
dry,
braid them or place them in net bags for the winter. As long as the
onions have been thoroughly dried and are not bniised or diseased,
they will keep well all winter. Do not store them in the refrigerator.
Oregano
OREGANO
Origanum
spp.
Labiatae
DESCRIPTION
is
Oreganos
herbaceous
aromatic,
are
with
square stems. See
perennials
erect, hairy,
it
Origanum
of
description
lar,
HISTORY
in
in.
long.
overmuch
Many
sighing."
them on
sores
list
Fruit:
lets.
Height: 1-2
ft.
FLOWERING
July through September.
RANGE
The Mediterranean region
of
Europe
to
central
widely cultivated.
naturalized
in
United
States.
CHEF
TIPS
Asia;
O.
vulgare
the
eastern
chunk of
cheese with a
oil.
Then
minced
fresh
feta
of olive
sprinkle
on
bit
oregano and
and
up
to 2 in. long.
nary ones.
lemon
401
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
OREGANOWHICH OREGANO?
you
If
seeds
many seed
Origanum vulgare,
houses,
by
you'll
tooth. Bald
Some
difficult.
ovate leaves.
remedies, and
nial,
no's past.
Its
prett}'
it
indoors
it
in a
sunny,
with
it,
hope swelling, into their scalps. The olive oil and oregano mixture
was also rubbed onto rheumatic limbs and sprains.
As a cooking herb, oregano did not catch on at first. Looking
pink flowers,
which dry well and can be used
in floral arrangements.
For flavor in cooking, grow
O. vulgare subsp. hirtum (also
referred to as O. heracleoticum
and O. hirtum) or O. vulgare
'Viride'. You can also try any of
the "oreganos" that really aren't
oreganos at all.
One of the most flavorful
of these is Uppia graveolens,
known as Mexican oregano or
Puerto Rican oregano A member of the verbena family, it has
cream colored
flowers
and
for
aching
sold
-continued
it's
upon oregano
it
in a recipe
is
War
more
II
that
nean with a taste for oregano (or at least a taste for Italian cooking),
and once pizza embedded itself in the American consciousness,
oregano became ail-American.
USES
who hadn't tasted oreghow many people do you know who have never eaten
all,
who
Medicinal: Oregano
is
still
indigestion, coughs, headaches, and to promote menstruation. Oregano has been described as a tonic and stimulant. The historical
toothache remedy that calls for placing drops of oregano oil on the
painful tooth is still practiced by some today An infusion of the
south-facing window.
No
clinical
you want
them
If
yourself,
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Soil
pH
zone
5.
6.8.
Full .sun.
402
amount.
Oregano
Cosmetic: Read
Batbs:
bath
is
labels;
oil
of oregano.
recommended
for relieving
aches and
stiff joints.
The hot
water alone might account for the comfort, but the fragrance would
certainly
lift
Craft:
the
The
spirits.
flowers of O. vulgare
dr\'
Companion
to
enhance
recommended
planting
their growth.
CULTIVATION
To grow oregano
The consensus
Gilbertie's
F,
Tom De Baggio of
Earthworks Herb Garden Nursery in Arlington, Virginia, and keep
them a little on the dry side.
suggests
Herb grower Betty Ann Laws seeds her oregano directly as long
be above 45 F To keep the seeds from being
washed away in a hard rain, she covers them with cheesecloth until
the seedlings start to poke through.
Pests and diseases: Oregano is susceptible to root rot and fungal
disease, and it can become infested with spider mites, aphids, or leaf
miners. (See the entry Growing Herbs for information on controlling
pests and diseases.)
Harvesting and storage: To harvest the plant, Betty Ann Laws
says sprigs can be snipped when the plant is only 6 inches high. In
fact, this makes the plant bushier. In June when the plant is budding
so vigorously that it's hard to keep them picked, she cuts the whole
as the temperature will
plant, leaving
start leafing
It
sounds
rash, but
she
403
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
OREGON GRAPE
Mahonia Aquifolium
DESCRIPTION
The Oregon grape has
green
shrub
bears
Oregon's
state flower.
tasting root
stamens; in
l'/i-3-in.long
ra-
dense
clus-
4-6
cemes; racemes
in
ters; fragrant.
in.
prickly
long,
holly,
edges
into
its
While
it is
plant catalogs
lus-
pie berries;
Vi in
long; in droop-
when
ripe.
moved
honiculturist of Philadelphia,
who
common
bar-
HISTORY
Long before hardy pioneers
Spring.
traveling the
Oregon
encounand medi-
Trail
RANGE
taxonomists have
ft.
FLOWERING
mon
fall.
Fruit:
still
like
.spring
purple in
Berberis.
it
and summer;
turn bronze, gold, crimson, and
trous
Berberidaceae
coniferous
is
com-
forests
throughout
the
American
Northwest, from Colorado and
Idaho west to Oregon, and
north to Canada; variants can be
found iri New England and the
Atlantic states.
taste,
among
rootstock to cure a
wide
men
The
HABITAT
Along roadsides, in pas
and thickets, and under
trees in pine mulch.
tures
from the Indians, and Oregon grape's popuin the 1800s. One popular Oregon
grape remedy concocted by early herbalists called for soaking the
roots in beer that had been warmed to just below the boiling point.
This tonic was said to relieve hemorrhaging and jaundice.
larity as
a medicine
Oregon grape
and the herb was
boomed
tonics appeared
listed in official
USES
Medicinal:
The active
an effective remedy
404
is
Oregon Grape
is
found
in other
such as goldenseal. Berberine stimulates bile secretions, and modern herbalists and homeopaths suggest it promotes good liver func-
Oregon grape
is
also
still
CULTrVATION
Some
planting
however,
varieties of
them
is
in
Mahonia
are hosts to
wheat-growing areas
immune
is
wheat
rust fungus,
and
prohibited. M. Aquifolium,
to the fungus.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant iiardiness
Well-drained,
Shade.
zone
6.
humusy
soil.
405
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ORRIS
Iris
DESCRIPTION
One
iris is
many
col
name,
comes from
word for rain-
in fact,
bow.
com
Corolla
Flowers.
Leaves.
Slender,
sword
Iridaceae
the rhiOrris is the part of the florentine iris you don't see
zome. Everyone is familiar with the flower, in its extravagant range of
colors and forms. (Thousands of varieties and hybrids have been
developed from the 300-odd species.) The rootstock is dried to
prepare one of the most potent and enduring violet fragrances, and it
remains an important fixative and scent.
The ancient Egyptians and Greeks learned that the bland-smelling orris root would take on a remarkable fragrance if dried for at
least two years. Medicinally, the root powder and juice were used as a
and diuretic, and to treat convulsions, coughs, upset stomand "saucie face," known to us as acne.
As its name suggests, however, the florentine iris has deeper
roots in Florence, Italy. It was here, during the Middle Ages, that the
commercial cultivation of orris root first began; the city remains a
center for orris root production for perfume making.
cathartic
achs, bites,
at bases.
Fruit: Many-seeded,
long capsules.
Height: 30 in.
ob-
USES
Orris
FLOWERING
strong
its
suit.
herbalists
is eflFective
as a
be added to aromatic
sachets and herb pillows for freshening household linens. Commercially, it is used to produce violet blends. Frangipani, an Italian
fixative in potpourris.
RANGE
A
is
for treating
power of
little
orris increases
among
with age; in
also
its
ingredients.
fact,
The aromatic
Ornamental: Even
if
orris
enough
to
CULTIVAriON
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
pH
Soil
Fertile,
Full sun.
zone
5.
is left above the surface because it will rot if comby soil. Irises should be divided every few years to
insure pretty and abundant blossoms.
Harvesung and storage: If used for aromatic purposes, the rhizomes should be dug up in the autumn and immediately set out to
pletely covered
7.0.
well-drained
soil.
dry.
406
The
violet fragrance
won't
come
into
its
own
for
two
years.
Parsley
B\RSLEY
Petroselinum crispum
Umbelliferae
DESCRIPTION
and
on plates of
and its high
fish.
The Romans
used
it
at
orgies to cover
up the
And
leaf,
Flowers:
yellow,
mens;
five
greenish
Tiny,
petals,
five
sta-
umbels.
Leaves: Divided pinnately
in
flat
on
before
leaf (Ital-
flat
and parsnip
rooted (Hamburg). (See photo
on page 238.)
curly
ian),
HISTORY
common
depending
variety.
oval,
FLOWERING
Early
summer.
RANGE
Parsley grows wild
Sardinia east to Lebanon.
from
It
is
perate zones.
USES
Although
parsley has
we
tend to think of
been used
it
to attract rabbits
to repel
head
lice.
Medicinal: Parsley
is
all
by
itself,
containing vitamin A,
several
vitamins,
is
al-
the
407
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
PARSLEY-cominned
CHEF TIP
Create
sauce
for
cold
may be toxic in
blood pressure and pulse rate,
followed by muscle weakness and paralysis and possibly lung congestion and swelling of the liver. Pregnant women should avoid
parsley oil and refrain from eating large quantities of parsley. Like
There
is
some evidence
many
diuretics, parsley
can
irritate
the kidneys.
well
at
blending the
of the
used
flat
leaf
is
flavors
used
in
Hamburg)
parsley
is
like a parsnip.
part of the
leaf,
dried
leaf,
and
fresh root.
Substitute: Chervil.
CULTIVATION
Seed can be sown in the spring when the soil temperature
reaches 50 E Although hardy, parsley goes to seed in its second
year, so it is usually treated like an annual. The superstition that it is
bad luck to move parsley plants from garden to garden is based on
the fact that parsley
where
it
is
is fairly
408
sown
to grow.
it
that parsley
Parsley
before
tion
grows and can be explained by its extremely slow germinaup to six weeks. You can speed things along by covering seeds
it
GROWING CONDITIONS
drill
before covering
it,
and
Plant hardiness
Soil
Six plants, set 8 inches apart, will supply the average family
If you let
Full
the season, they may produce seedlings for the next year's
You can lift the plants in late September, cut them back, and
grow parsley on a window ledge through the winter. Protected window boxes seeded in early autumn will produce a late-autumn crop.
To keep parsley productive, weed it often and thoroughly, frequently cut back the full length of the outside stems, and remove all
crop.
flower stalks.
and
diseases: Parsley
is
susceptible to
crown
rot. It
may be
for information
on
controlling pests
and
dis-
eases.)
be frozen.
is
6.0.
and
late in
Pests
pH
9.
seed by
treating the
zone
sun
to partial shade.
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
PASSIONFLOWER
Passiflora
DESCRIPTION
incarnata
Fassiflora
is
The
incamata
Passifloraceae
colorful,
by
show}' blooms and coiling ten
characterized
that
drils
leaf axils.
Flowers: About 2
in.
wide,
each of white or
lavender petals and .sepals; bril
liant pink or purple corona con
solitary; five
sisLs
readily visible
Fruit:
on
.stalk.
ovoid, 3
Height: 25-30
ft.
FLOWERING
Early to late
summer.
RANGE
Ohio,
The
five petals
and
five
traitor,
Passionflower
unknown
is
also
known
as
derivation.
Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Indiana,
Illinois,
and
USES
Missouri.
HABITS
shaded dry areas,
fence lines, and the
Partially
thickets,
edges of wooded
areas.
Throughout the
few
last
centuries,
hyperactivity in
late as
not recognized as safe or effective in the United States, pharmacognosist Varro lyier, Ph.D., points out in The Honest Herbal that "it
410
no known
toxicity.
For me-^
lutea,
is
V2
to
gardeners.
landscapes,
and
is
Still,
it
it
nature.
name might
its
it
CULTIVATION
Passionflowers
deep,
fertile,
from strong
is
grow
well-drained
easily
from seed or
soil, plent)'
cuttings.
of water, and a
They
little
like
shade
revitalized every spring; this involves replacing the top layer (an
new
on
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Deep,
fertile,
zone
7.
well-drained
soil.
Panial shade.
controlling pests.)
411
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
PENNYRO\L
Mentha Pulegium, Hedeoma pulegioides
UNSAFE
Labiatae
finding yourself in
DESCRIPTION
stand yourself.
it
keeps the
flies
It keeps the insects away, your appeand your skin pleasantly fragrant.
ropean pennyroyal
and
nial
is
is
a peren-
more ornamental
grows low
It
ground and is
distinguished from Hedeoma
to the
Tlibular,
two-
lilac, !4 in.
long;
or
obovate,
edged or
stalked,
HISTORY
The use of pennyroyal as an insect repellent isn't a new idea.
on its eff'ectiveness against fleas, and in the eighteenth century, when Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus was
Pliny remarked
classifying plants,
similar beginnings.
European pennyroyal;
The
with
minty odor;
leaves of American pennyroyal
measure '/2-I in. long while
those of European pennyroyal
measure about Vz in.
Fruit: Four nutlets.
Height: 4-16 in. (American); 1 ft. in flower (European).
fine hairs; strong,
FLOWERING
Late
summer.
European pennyroyal is
native to the Near East and Europe. American pennyroyal is a
412
herb, boiled
If
it
and
sak,
it
purges by stool.
In North America several tribes of native American Indians
found medicinal uses for the American species of pennyroyal. The
Chickasaws soaked the plant in water and placed it on the forehead
to relieve itchy
to
colds.
RANGE
native
both continents. The writings of seventeenth-century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper reflect the opinions of most herbalists on the use of
smooth
slightly toothed,
The
plant
is
a very efficient
remedy for
all
Pennyroyal
mmtamvmffi,nf?i^4Sk.yr
,.--- A^^y^ys
One cold and flu treatment of that time required that the patient
soak his or her feet in a
of pennyroyal
tea.
The
layers of blankets to
The white
patient then
was
to get into
encourage sweating
bed under
several
settlers
ver^'
GROWING CONDITIONS
American pennyroyal:
acid.
Soil
Average, dry
Full sun.
learned of
pH:
soil.
European pennyroyal:
Plant hardiness zone 5.
pH:
neutral.
Soil
Rich, moist,
Full
USES
sun to
humusy soil.
partial shade.
list
of
official
oil
oils contain
amount of
oil
poison. As
little
death of an eighteen-year-old
known
As
to
for drirJcing
amount of
Vi
it probably
won't help you either. If you are looking for a digestive aid, peppermint is the most eff^ective herbal remedy you can use, and it is
oil in
Ornamental: Generally, pennyroyal does not find much ornamental use outside the herb garden. Its appearance is a little too
weedy for a very formal setting. Of the two, European pennyroyal is a
little
more
works well
grows low
to the ground,
it
make
of penn^Toyal
is
as
an insect
Crush the leaves and rub them into your skin to keep away
mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, and chiggers. PennvToyal will leave a
repellent.
flies,
some
with string to
make
a flea collar,
"
or
and
413
RodcUe's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
PENNYRO^iL-continued
if you live in an area where pests can be a problem,
be worth your while to grow pennyroyal.
yourself,
it
would
CULTIVAriON
European pennyroyal propagates easily from cuttings or root
division. American pennyroyal can also be started from rooted cuttings, but most gardeners prefer to sow seed in the spring or fall. In
extreme northern areas fall-sown seeds may not survive the winter.
In
all
regions
good
fail
to germinate, so broadcast
stand.
Cover with
just Vs to
!4
them
inch of
a sidewalk.
sometime
when
plants
in the early
^^
English Pennyroyal
Pipsissewa
PIPSISSEWA
Chimaphila umbellata
Ericaceae
an ingredient in popular
Pipsissewa
is
is
an evergreen, a
DESCRIPTION
it
has been
member
Pipsissewa
is
a low-grow-
decades.
of the heath family.
It
winter.
HISTORY
up from
ground
the Civil
War
to relieve
to lanceolate;
in
VA-lVi
many seeds.
sules, containing
Height: To 10
Medicinal:
The
The herb
is
in.
FLOWERING
long;
USES
the other parts of the plant.
oblong
in.
May through
August.
for
diuretic action
and
weak kidneys
He
to
says
it
remedy
or chronic nephritis.
A typical infusion is
HABITiM
Woods and
hardwood
diseases.
been an ingredient
in
coniferous and
forests.
commercial root
beers and was listed on the label of Hires until recent years.
is bitter,
and cardiac
RANGE
Its flavor
yet sweet.
CULTIVAriON
Taken out of the coniferous forests in which it flourishes, pipsissewa will live as a ground cover on a shady lawn, as a creeping cover
on an embankment, or in a rock garden. Provide it with dry, acidic,
sandy soil and mulch it with pine needles. Propagate by division or
cuttings in a mixture of sand and peat moss. Spring is the time to
divide plants, while late
cuttings for a cool
summer
to
fall
is
GROWING CONDITIONS
pH:
Soil
Rich,
Partial
acid.
humusy
soil.
shade.
slowly.
415
Rodales
Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
PLANTAIN
Plantago major
DESCRIPTION
The plantain ranges in appearance from the lawn crawl
ers that seem to seed overnight,
to the miniature versions of cat
tails
erywhere,
deep
to
found
plants
lilylike
green,
along
major.
Flowers:
Tiny,
yellow
green
symbolized for early Christians the well-trodden path of the multitude who sought Christ. Early American history recalls that the Indians called it white man's foot; the plant, with its rosette of leaves and
its
stalk of seeds
white
settlers
cattail,
USES
be your friend and not just a weed. The next time
winding its way through your carefully seeded lawn, grab
a handful of it and try a few of its positive uses.
Medicinal: If you're stung by a bee while mowing a not-quiteperfect lawn, pick a fleshy plantain leaf, crush it, and apply it to the
welt. The Indians found the leaves to be a good treatment for stings
and bites.
The New EnglandJournal ofMedicine printed an account of the
successful use of crushed plaintain leaves to stop the itching of
poison ivy; the treatment is a folk cure from Maryland's Eastern
Plantain can
you
cultures.
5-26 seeds.
6-18
tains
in
reputation as an aphrodisiac in
many
Plantaginaceae
Height:
in. in
flower
FLOWERING
find
it
Shore.
RANGE
and
adaptable
Culinary:
P major is
live,
The
the
European na
hearty,
plant
has
highly
spread
lanceolata 'Marginata'),
nivalis), a
GROWING CONDITIONS
Very hardy.
Average, well-drained
Full
416
sun to
partial
soil.
shade.
It
however.
Dye: Using the whole plant, you can color alum-mordanted
a dull gold or chrome-mordanted wool camel.
wool
CULTIVATION
Propagate them by seed in the early spring or fall. You don't
need to worr>' about special growing considerations: All will flourish
in any soil and in full sun or partial shade.
Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
Phytolaccaceae
UNSAFE
done
in
when
DESCRIPTION
kets
Pokeweed
inks
racemes
mens.
USES
lanceolate,
bushy
to
The fruit, seeds, and root are poisonous. In fact, you should wear
when yanking it. Many gardeners consider it nothing more
than a persistent (if unusually handsome) weed.
gloves
poke
root, bittersweet,
yellow
was
however,
if
many wild
birds
who
many
of these berries,
it
will
4-12
pointed,
in.
'4
in. in
Height:
when
when
diameter; toxic.
4-9
ft.
FLOWERING
June through September.
RANGE
parilla,
that
dered pokeroot to treat tumors and skin eruptions, and the colonists
followed their example. It was believed that the plant's highly toxic
qualities were responsible for its medicinal effect. The Delaware
in.
herb
Oblong
Leaves:
made by combining
a deciduous,
perennial,
is
bas-
become
Pokeweed
is
found from
New
to the
Soviet Union.
HABITAT
The
borders
cleared areas,
of
fields,
roadsides,
and
strip-mine areas.
mind
as
CULTrVATION
Pokeweed
adapted to
its
is
rarely cultivated as a
growth,
it
thrives with
little
GROWING CONDITIONS
Ven- hardy.
Moist,
Full
garden
plant. In climates
and
in a variety of soils.
care
humusy
soil.
417
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
POPLAR
Populus spp.
DESCRIPTION
poplars
All
growing,
ous
soft
trees.
greatly
Most
are
The
varies
size
shaped
like catkins.
Leaves:
Poplars, cottonwoods,
rapidly
wooded, decidu
Salicaceae
trees that
common
particularly aromatic
shade tree that has winter buds and bark that are
Note
that the
more
or less effec-
not a
is
member
of this family.
broad
Generally
delta-shaped;
to
alternate; hairy or
pending on
species;
tast-
or more.
FLOWERING
Spring.
RANGE
Widely distributed through
out the Northern Hemisphere.
HABITXr
Poplars and cottonwoods
are generally associated with
water; cottonwoods are often
found on riverbanks.
occur as
clear-cut
weed
and burned
for poplar
buds was
in
Pom-
In tincture form,
sule;
Height: To 90
various
HISTORY
smooth, de
USES
eleva-
By far the most commercially important use for the poplar tree is
and hybrids have been bred for this purpose. The
trees in
areas.
as paper pulp,
is
Medicinal:
sors,
The
entire poplar
to aspirin
The species
vary greatly in
buds are usumost efi'ective. Any ailment helped or relieved by aspirin will
probably respond in the same way to the internal use of poplar-bud
ally the
418
Poplar
well as
ficial
arthritis
is
no evidence
that the
bene-
Closed winter
the buds
is
leaf
The aroma
coolness.
Toxicity:
Ornamental:
Some
ground with
their cottony
grow
fast
and fresh
scent.
Dye: Gray, gold, and brown dyes for coloring wool can be
for
made
more
information.)
CULTIVATION
All poplars prefer a loamy,
dampish
and
tremuloides can do with less water than the others), but they can
grow in most soils and do well where other trees will not grow. They
are usually started either from nursery stock or hardwood cuttings.
Cuttings root without difficulty and can be heeled in directly in the
fall
or early spring, with only the tips above the ground. Water the
cuttings well.
The
trees can be grown from seed but may not be true to their
Prune only to shape young trees,, removing the lower
branches until you have established a healthy crown and a wellformed trunk.
breed.
Pests
branch
and
gall, rust,
and willow beetles. (See the entry Growing Herbs for information on
controlling pests and diseases.)
Harvesting and storage: The winter buds used medicinally are
sticky, resinous, and highly aromatic. They are dried or, occasionally,
used fresh. Tea is made from the bark, which is gathered from
pruned or felled trees in the fall, or from pruned twigs in the spring.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Full sun.
soil.
419
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
POTENTILLA
Squint
each
lets,
ish petals
V2
in leaf-
saw-toothed
with
edges.
Flowers:
long slender
at
Rosaceae
Potentilla spp.
DESCRIPTION
wide, on
round-
in.
weeds and
genus Potentilla
Of
the
of threatened plants,
mentil
(/?
erecta syn.
in California
Tormentilla)
stalks; four
yel-
HISTORY
four
lanceolate,
green,
pale
hairy segments.
Palmately
Leaves:
pound;
ovate
five
to
com-
leaflets small,
lanceolate,
ob-
toothed,
upper opposite,
short stalked;
leaves
lanceolate
or
ovate,
smooth or toothed.
Fruit:
used tormentil to
some swampy
in.
anti-
common.) The
if
on the
in the mixture!
would
drive
all
kinds of
RANGE
The
Hemisphere.
vised that
HABITXr
Damp meadows,
and rocky
FLOWERING
marshes.
treat malaria
Achenes.
Height: 3
and
It
recommended
was supposed
to
chewed
the root of
The
them
palatable.
roasted.
USES
It was used
from sore throats to gonorrhea. Not
420
Potentilla
into
tridetitata,
which forms
a carpet of
plum
summer
color. In early
tered with
sunny
is scat-
little
dry,
locations.
blooms
dense
weeds
that
in early spring
flower or two on
warm
three-part,
stravit)errylike
The
plant
fail.
Jayne says
it
will
grow
in
sun
or partial shade.
The
European
native;
white flowers;
rupestris var.
little
creepers:
pygmaea,
villosa, with
a tidier version of a
under
P.
its
leaves and
atrosanguinea,
avail-
able.
recommend
it
in
facial lotions
Potentilla
Anserina
Other:
It
may
properties that
power
make
to tan leather.
Orkney
islanders
mashed up
it
the
purpose.
CULTIVAriON
propagated by division. Most are sun-loving
and adapt well to a variety of garden soils. "Sometimes I think you
can't kill them," says Jayne. "They're the one thing you can depend
on." Expect blossoms in the second year.
GROWING CONDITIONS
pH: acid or
alkaline.
Soil
Average, well-drained
Full
sun to
partial
soil.
shade.
421
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ROSE
DESCRIPTION
Rosa spp.
five,
and sepals;
semidouble and double varieties have more petals; numerous
stamens and pistils.
rarely four, petals
tain
true
fruits,
seedlike
achenes; hips hard or pulpy,
Depends on
the
May through
in rose petals;
HISTORY
It was the Greek colonists who probably first brought the rose
from Greece to southern Italy, starting its very long European history.
The Romans cultivated Rosa gallica, crowning bridal couples with it
and using it lavishly in banquet centerpieces. Rose water was prepared as early as the tenth century, and attar, or otto, of roses in the
sixteenth. For many centuries the production of attar of roses was an
almost exclusively French industry, but it later moved, in part, to
Bulgaria.
mouth
sores.
FLOWERING
eyes,
frost.
RANGE
Native to the Middle East;
throughout
world; widely cultivated.
the
HABITXr
Wild species grow in damp
ground
throughout
North
America.
covered knee-deep
to cure
species.
naturalized
floors
When
Berrylike hips con-
Rosaceae
When Cleopatra invited Mark Anthony to her palace, she had the
USES
The
rose
is
as
much adored
422
today as
would
it
flourish in gardens
even
if it
Rose
SUB ROSA
offered
no
practical uses at
all.
However,
does
it
in
fruit
by far than oranges, ounce for ounce) that some people say
should make rosehip tea a part of our daily diet. All health food
(richer
we
One
recommends
Swiss herbalist
if
and
K, organic acids,
In
adding to medicines, especially syrups. Rose petals have generbeen used in tonics and gargles to cure catarrhs, sore throats,
mouth sores, and stomach disorders. Several commercial eyewashes
people
times,
early
silence
to
ceiling
called a rose.
is
The
ex-
for
ally
gent properties in
The
roots, also,
some
herbalists
Otherwise, there
is
no indication
Some
diarrhea.
To benefit from
prepare an infusion from the hips
more
and
and
relish recipes.
is
used
in East
petals.
SHADES OF MEANING
A
rose by any
scent has
floral
candied
petals.
been captured
in
perfumes, bath
oils,
soaps
and reserved
expensive
R. centifolia
oil
signi-
love. Dur-
used today
is
R.
damascena,
R.
are the
most
fragrant.
wherever a
and
name
and
cific
Its
scent can be enjoyed. Rose water and rose oil of the natural
gallica,
beauty,
ple
Aromatic:
lime
muffins.
squeezed
dessert
crepes
with
spoonfuls of rose jelly and
garnish with candied rose
fies joy,
make
sauce
Fill
in
juice.
is
cranberries
freshly
rosehips
fresh
for
useful medicinally
TIPS
Substitute
diarrhea,
CHEF
teas.
although
astrin-
red
passion, desire
achievement
423
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ROSE^continued
A WHITE ROSE
The red
And
rose whispers of
passion
the white rose breathes of
love;
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
A rose is a rose
rose, unless
it's
is
a rose
is
a multiflora, or a
But there
isn't
much agree-
in
one system
based on rose
of classification,
genealogy, while growers
who
related
hybrids,
may
pri-
some modern
R.
hybrids. Rosa
rugosa are rwo
examples.
424
in
covering banks.
their ancestry.
canina and
CULTIWriON
Roses can be propagated from seeds, cuttings, or buddings, but
do best to stick to nursery-grown stock,
if
the roses are desired for herbal use only and not for
exhibit or display.
If
you want
methods,
on growing roses.
heavy clay loam that has been
do
best in fairly
deeply dug and thoroughly enriched with organic matter, but they
will survive in a good, well-drained garden soil. They prefer a pH of
6.5 to 6.8 but will grow in soils ranging from a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
at least half a day. Since roses require more attenmore frequent water, and more feeding than other flowers, they
most often given a bed to themselves. They cannot, in any case,
are
need
is
sun.
In starting a planting, use dormant stock or potted plants. Dormant roses may be set out in the fall or spring, but spring is the more
common time. If you plant them in autumn, mulch them well for the
winter. Roses should be planted immediately, so do not purchase
stock until your beds have been prepared.
To prepare a bed, dig it to a depth of l'/2 to 2 feet. Remove the
soil, mix it with organic matter, mix in additives to adjust the pH, if
necessary, and fill the bed just slightly lower than the height of the
it
will
hold water
off'
when flooded.
Let
it
settle for
Wild Rose
it.
any
split
any canes
that
foot
depending on
budded
425
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ROSE-.continued
A NAME
continued
roses, holes
Some types
of roses
this
lands.
roses cultivated to
and arbors.
Shrub roses include
trellises
fit
culti
into the
modern
roses. Eglantines,
musks,
and hybrid
rugosas belong to this group.
Floribundas are a group of
modern roses that usually have
hybrid
many blooms on
their stems.
Grandifloras were devel
oped in the 1950s. These pro
duce
large flowers
and bloom
abundantly.
They
the
but
bloom
GROWING CONDITIONS
pH
6.5-6.8.
Soil
Full
soil.
and
12 to 14 inches,
in the
gallica,
426
Heap
more
often
made
ROSE SPECIES
Name
Flowers
Leaves
Comments
Rosa Xalba
White rose
Double, white,
2-3 in. across
5 or 7 leaflets,
gray-green
An old garden
Single, white
5 or 7 leaflets,
or pink, 2
across
1 in.
R.
cafiina
Dog
rose
in.
long
zone
5;
Provence rose
chinensis
China rose
used
in tea
5-toothed
Old garden
leaflets, hairy
6;
underneath
in
medicines
Single,
3-5 toothed
crimson, pink,
or white, 2 in.
leaflets,
Double, pink,
nodding, 2'/2
in.
R.
hardy to
fragrant;
petals
R. centifolia
rose;
very fragrant
across
across;
no
down
stimulant
Old garden
rose; hardy to
zone
many
stamens
damascena
Damask rose
R.
Semidouble,
5 or 7 leaflets,
clustered,
hair^'
rose-red to
underneath
pink,
in.
R.
Eglanteria
Eglantine rose
used as
2'/2-3'/2
laxative
and
to regulate
menstruation
across
Single, solitary,
5 or 7 leaflets,
bright pink, 2
hairy
underneath,
apple scented
in.
across
gallica
Single, rich
French rose
crimson, to
R.
in.
2'/2
Toothed
Old garden
leaflets, hairy
6;
underneath
across
rose; hardy to
5;
colic
zone
laevigata
Cherokee rose
Single, solitary,
3 or 5 toothed,
white, to
glossy
fragrant;
in.
3'/2
across
leaflets;
terminal leaflet
larger
used
in
China
7;
for
and
longer
stemmed
R.
multijlora
Japanese rose
Often double,
5-11
leaflets
rugosa
Japanese rose
6;
small, white
medicine
or pink
R.
clustered,
Single and
double
varieties;
white, rose, or
red, to
5-9
leaflets
as diuretic
and
laxative
3'/2 in.
across
427
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ROSEMAEY
Rosmarinus
DESCRIPTION
Rosemary is a perennial
evergreen shrub whose ashcolored scaly bark and green
needlelike leaves give it an
overall grayish green appearance. (See photos on pages 32
and 100.)
Flowers: Pale blue;
upper
Vi
in.
appears
notched or has two lobes, lower
two small
lip has three lobes
long;
lip
lateral
and one
lobe;
four
grow
larger central
stamens;
in clusters
flowers
of two or three
along branch.
You draw the bathwater, filling the tub high, then gingerly step
and sink down. Soak. Let the oils rouse the blood under your skin.
Breathe in the piny fragrance of the steam rising from the water
ahhhh .... The special ingredient? Rosemary. This is not just an
in,
in.
herb
HISTORY
Did you know
family's garden,
it
that
if
means
a rosemary
that the
husbands, and
nurtured by strong-
to
would improve
lieved this
underneath; prominent
vein runs do'WTi middle of leaf;
margins turn downward; pungent, piny fragrance.
Fniit: Very small, spherical
nutlets with smooth surfaces.
Height: 5-6 ft. outdoors;
2- 4'/2 ft. indoors.
hairy
FLOWERING
December through
'Beneden Blue'
and
start
spring.
"lUscan
flowering in
'Majorca
prosuate rosemarys
Pink'
bloom
and
al-
hair
Februarv-.
in a
willed wives.
Blue' cultivars
woman
Labiatae
officinalis
others to
remember
their
is
these.
no higher than 6
most continuously.
serious matter).
RANGE
Hills along the Mediterranean, Portugal, and northwestern Spain; widely cultivated.
428
Rosemary
and heat
it
PRESERVING FOODS
WITH ROSEMARY
mary
is
love.
St.
my garden
because
my bees
love
and therefore
it,
friendship,
it
runne
all
and
over
but because
to friendship
."
.
'tis
At
mourners tossed fresh sprigs into the grave as a sign that the life of
the departed would not be forgotten. Tapping a fresh sprig of rosemary against the finger of a loved one was supposed to secure his or
her affection. Such a gesture would certainly capture the loved one's
attention. Even today, an offering of rosemary signifies love, friendship, and remembrance.
als
it
a use-
USES
Placing rosemary under your pillow at night might not keep
away bad dreams, and tapping someone you admire with a fresh
sprig is more likely to frighten that person off than capture his or her
love, but rosemary does have many other uses that do produce
practical and beneficial results.
Medicinal: Rosemary has long been included in many herbalists'
CHEF TIPS
mended
it
ing
is
made from
The
oil,
It is
in
which
oil is
is
of
For
extra
aromatics
when
add a handful of
of cooking.
Pharma.
sweetness
combination with
copoeia.
the
grilling,
responsi-
an ingredient
Enhance
butter.
by adding rosemary.
rose-
fruit
certain since
firmed.
ened unsalted
bruises,
add
to
loaf.
mary
baking,
mary
emmenagogue,
When
in a
it
poultry.
429
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ROSEMAEY-- continued
was burned in the hospitals of France to kill germs.
These practices may not be as strange as they seem. Research has
found that rosemary oil does indeed have some antibacterial effects.
As a medicinal herb, rosemary should be used carefully. According to pharmacognosist Varro Tyler, Ph.D., writing in The Honest
Herbal, the larger quantities of the pure oil used therapeutically can
irritate the stomach, intestines, and kidneys. However, don't let this
worry those of you who cook with rosemary. As a seasoning, it is
juniper berries
Culinary:
ong and
And
subtle qualities.
It is
combines both
ork,
Mint and a
bit
some,
many
than fresh.
among
among
"
Herbs.)
Ornamental: Rosemary
is
looks
that radi-
on patios
and
effect,
430
It
the land-
rosemary
at
it
will
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ROSEMARY- continued
GARDEN
IDEAS
Bathing with Herbs and Lotions from Herbs for other bath recipes.)
of an
herb wheel with rosemary.
Create
the
spokes
border.
hedgerows can be
formed with
rosemary
Lovely
Creeping
bushes.
varieties
of rose-
your
Hair
riiise: If
hair.
you are
a brunette, a
rosemary and sage in 1 pint of water for 24 hours, but a simpler rinse
can be made by steeping a sprig of rosemary in 1 cup of boiling water
for 5 to 10 minutes. Work the rinse into your hair after shampooing.
Dye: Though not usually thought of as a dye plant, rosemary
produces various shades of yellow-green with wool. (See the entry
Dyes from Herbs for more information.)
Other: Rosemary attracts large numbers of bees, and a very fine
honey can be produced from its nectar.
CULTIVATION
To grow rosemary
start
your
PLANT HARDINESS
fallen in love
home
by
layering.
tion occasionally.
Container gardening:
GROWING CONDITIONS
"It is
"
Soil
Well-drained
Full sun.
pH
6.5-7.0.
soil.
well-drained soil
is
essential.
Hampstead recommends
year.
Hampstead recommends
432
a cactus soil
Rue
Ruta graveolens
The
Rutaceae
deners and
just
curious
and
UNSAFE
is
attractive to
then.
oil that
accounts for both the unusual smell and the bitter taste of the herb.
The
oil also
has the
odd power
at
Hyde's
Rue has a long and colorful history. The genus name, Ruta,
comes from the Greek "reuo," meaning "to set free," which suggests
the herb's reputation in treating disease. Aristotle said
it
eased the
digestion.
the
Rue
nial subshrub.
HISTORY
DESCRIPTION
some
to induce abortion.
3-5
in.
long; leaflets
oblong to
somewhat
spatulate,
fleshy;
stalks than
Fruit:
capsules
upper
leaves.
Four or
five
containing
lobed
grayish
seeds.
Height: 3
ft.
FLOWERING
June through August.
RANGE
Rue's
native
origin
is
southern Europe and northern
Africa. Although it is no longer
HABITAT
Old
fields,
roadsides,
and
waste areas.
433
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
RUE-continued
VINEGAR
OF THE FOUR THIEVES
on
branches of
still
it
tradition.
ward
USES
warning
to the
to the unscrupulous.
Among
the
latter
was
by
minds
at
least
in
their
drafts of
vinegar, stole
for-
own
an herbal
from corpses.
gar-
In terms of
utility,
its
it
was
historical richness.
is still
edged
leaves,
and 'Jackman's
Blue', a
rich blue
foliage.
Craft:
interest
and texture
to
Companion
planted near
434
basil, sage,
or cabbage, but
it
it
of figs.
tific
scieti-
CULTIVAriON
Rue
well as
is
its
grown
in
by either seed,
for
its
The herb
historical interest as
easily propagated
is
from
planting seeds,
planting.
The
in the shade,
starts
Rue makes an
sill
attractive
pot plant;
it'll
thrive
on a sunny window-
Pests
and
in areas
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
Full sun.
drainage.
first
stimulate
new
Dry them
in the
good compost
to
in
an
airtight
pH
7.0.
container
435
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
SAFFLOWER
DESCRIPTION
Carthamus
is
an annual
smooth, erect,
whitish stem that branches to-
It's difficult to relate a bottle of cooking oil to a beautiful orangeyellow flower. But since the days of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs,
the safflower has been the source of a cooking oil.
It is much easier to picture those orange-yellow flowers bright-
Safflower
plant
with
ward the
top.
Orange -yellow,
flowers:
compound,
with
thistlelike,
'/a
in.
wide.
Leaves:
pointed
Alternate,
at tips,
ovate,
tinctorius
Compositae
ening foods (or a dress or a room). And so they have, for just as long
Dried safflower is a popular
food coloring agent and can be used to dye cloth or make cosmetics.
Live safflower is a bright and colorful accent for an herb garden.
minutely spiny
toothed.
Fruit:
Seedlike
achenes;
ft.
FLOWERING
Summer.
RANGE
grew wild in Euand perhaps Egypt,
HISTORY
The use of safflower oil in cooking dates back to ancient Egypt.
During the Middle Ages various medicinal uses were found for this
flower. Those with constipation or respiratory problems drank the
juice of the seed mixed with chicken stock or sweetened water.
Only relatively recently has the most significant aspect of the
safflower been determined; it's the oil lowest in cholesterol of all
contemporary vegetable oils.
Originally
rope, Asia,
USES
Culinary: Use dried safflower to enliven the hues of cream
fla-
curries.
red color.
comparison,
amount of
CHEF TIP
slightly
Heighten the
flavor of saf-
back of a spoon.
safflower that
you would of
saffron, but
you
will get a
redder color.
oil.
amount of safflower.
Dye: The flower heads yield yellow to red dyes for silk and
wool. (See the entry Dyes from Herbs)
Substitute: Saffron at about one-fifth the
GROWING CONDITIONS
Full sun.
CULTimTION
soil.
436
Saffron
SAFFRON
Crocus sativus
Many
Iridaceae
DESCRIPTION
needed
ready to
produce
to
pound
Some
of the spice.
"Vfet
your goal,
even
if
you
aren't
start
tumn flower
just
If that is
is
worth growing
HISTORY
The
dye
or red-
is
and
in.
long; red-
Not produced.
Fruit:
Height: 18
in.
FLOWERING
September
"
Modem Herbal:
"saffron water
RANGE
leaves,
From
stuffed with
widely cuiuvated.
it."
as a
its
was used
use
at this
CHEF TIPS
USES
Medicinal:
Traditionally,
saffron
has
been recommended
and cancer. It is also
in saffron,
We do know,
even
it is
rarely
Soak saffron
in hot water or
stock before adding to recipes.
Then add
and the
but researchers have yet to learn whether these or any other saffron
constituents have any therapeutic effects.
color
the
however, that
the saffron
disperse
to
is
Add
rarer.
have a
rich,
used to
Africa.
Add
gars
tion
fish.
flavored
with garlic
salads
wonderful
in
fish
and marinades.
437
SAFFRON-connnneA
shellfisljfpoultiy, pork, duck, cream, corn,
shallpts, garlic,
and oranges.
Available commercially:
Whole
whole
be disanpe^^d
'itute:
in the taste,
its
beautiful
blooms
after
in the
summer gardens
winter to cheer
autumn
to
lift
the
at
the base of
ability to color
up
It
yields an
yellow, but in such small quantities that saffron yellow has always
are
CULTrVATION
Plant
corms
in the
fall
or spring. Set
them 3
to 4 inches deep,
with the rooting side down. Allow about 6 inches between plants.
pound. Yet
when you
wonder
if
that's return
To obtain
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
Plant hardiness
Full
sun to
6.
light shade.
saffron,
enough.
growers plunder the flowers daily during the
438
Sage
Salvia officinalis
Labiatae
DESCRIPTION
you use
cooks
in the
Mediterranean region, you can't pick sage from the wild but must
grow
it
yourself.
and 514.)
Grow
Flowers:
of four to eight
he can go
It
at
to his
whorls
HISTORY
Salemo,
in
at axils; pink,
was so prized
was used
to counteract snake-
own
fine
it
in a ratio of 4 to
were
1
and harvested
like wheat or hay, three crops a year, for cooking. American Indians,
on the other hand, thought of it principally as a medicine, mixing it
with bear grease for a salve they claimed would cure skin sores, as an
infusion for rubdowns and baths, and as a sort of leafy, disposable
In Yugoslavia to this day, fields of sage are planted
shaped
calyx.
Leaves: Opposite; to 2
in.
and pucker-
made
of wrinkled
veined, as
if
An
oval nutlet.
Height: 12-30
in.
FLOWERING
June.
RANGE
toothbrush.
Americans of the 1800s said the herb cured warts. Claims have
Sage
is
The
USES
and
and ornamental value.
Medicinal: The volatile oils and tannins in sage are thought to
account for its reputation for drying up perspiration. A product made
from it is marketed as an anhidrotic in Germany. The oils have
antiseptic, astringent, and irritant properties. This makes sage useful
in treating sore throats, mouth irritations, and possibly cuts and
bruises. Experiments in 1939 showed it had estrogenic properties,
which may have some connection to the herb's reputed ability to dry
up milk. Research has shown it lowers blood sugar in diabetics.
Sage also contains terpene, camphor, and salvene. When fresh,
Sage's culinary talent earns the herb a place in the garden
home.
It
439
Growth
Habit
Salvia Clevelandii
Blue flowers
ft.
Comments
Blue sage
Use
in potpourris;
as a substitute for
recommended
5.
officinalis in
cooking
2-3
elegans
Pineapple sage
S.
ft.
Pineapple
scent, brilliant
red flowers
5. leucantha
Mexican bush sage
ft.
Use
and
Gray-green
foliage with
spikes of
lavender
flowers
5.
18
officinalis 'Aurea'
in.
Golden sage
Striking gold
and green
very
variegated
leaves
5.
18
officinalis 'Dwarf'
in.
Dwarf sage
More compact
Makes
grower,
good
border, rock
smaller leaf
S.
officinalis 'Holt's
Holt's
mammoth
Mammoth'
Larger,
ft-
sage
rounder
leaves than
garden sage
S.
officinalis 'Purpurea'
18
in.
Purple sage
S.
officinalis 'Tricolor'
2-3
ft.
Tricolor sage
Compact,
Use
aromatic,
stufiings, sausage,
purple foliage
and stews
Variegated
Very decorative
like
garden sage in
omelets, soups,
leaves in
cream, purple,
green
5.
Sclarea
ft-
Clary sage
Huge, pebbly
A most
gray leaves,
spectacular
lilac and pink
flowers
Culinary: Sage
fish,
and
440
Sage
SAGE-continued
Available commercially: Dried whole or dried crumbled leaves.
Note
is
away
and cosmetics.
flies
It is
attracts bees,
and the
result
is
flies.
It
Some
may take on
a greenish
makes
tint, if
neglected.
lotions or herbal
is sometimes
mixed with lavender for this purpose. (See the entries Lotions from
Herbs and Bathing with Herbs for more information.)
Craft: The foliage of sage dries well and can be used in herb
baths.
It
Purple Sage
and
Garden Sage
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
SAGE-continued
CHEF TIPS
to
and
iron-mordanted yarn.
and
Companion
strawberries, tomatoes, or
marjoram to encourage
other.
Sage and rosemary together work better than either alone. Distilled
life
of foods.
soy
stability of
oil
CULTIVAriON
Sage seed stores poorly, and you should
before planting a large amount. Fortunately,
you
and
will
it
is
when
it
test its
germination
germinates quickly, so
working.
Sow
in late spring
in height.
Some
takes
two years
it
in the
woody and
less productive.
large plantations,
first
to
in
start
it
by
light
become
established. For
it is
and should be a
until
no
later
last fall
harvest
than September
are possible.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
Well-drained, moderately
pH
6.4.
rich soil.
Full sun.
in
an
airtight,
442
taste,
flavor,
Sweet Woodruff
Pineapple Sage
S.
V
Rose Geranium
>
\-
'tW
Tansy
Angelica
Lemon Balm
St.-John's-Wort
ST-JOHN'S-WORT
Hypericum perforatum
Hypericaceae
this attractive
weed that
UNSAFE
is
perennial and
common
roadside
tied
DESCRIPTION
HISTORY
St.-John's-wort
power
to drive
out devils. With the spread of Christianity, the plant was associated
St.
The
may
why
cians used
it
explain
early
to dress
"little
mon herbs,
it
fell
hardy
borne
Bright
terminal,
in
panicles,
yellow,
flat,
leafy
posite bracts
at
base of each
and corolla
marked with black dots and
lines; five petals and sepals;
three stamen bundles.
pedicel;
calyx
posite, with
oil
glands,
look
like holes.
Fnnt:
holes" (glands)
plant,
when
is
Three-celled
cap-
FLOWERING
July and August.
it
RANGE
Native to Europe; naturalized in North America.
USES
We no
The
HABITAT
air
of evil
spirits,
tile oil,
a resin, a tannin,
antidepressant in humans.
ties
447
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
ST-JOHN'S- WDier-continued
The herb
is
its
ingredients
was called
hemorrhoids are said to respond to it. It has served as a sedative,
painkiller, and analgesic. The blossoms have been added to sweek
oil (a refined olive oil used medicinally) for a soothing dressing for
cuts. Herbalists credit it with increasing and inducing a sense of wellbeing. It has even been said to help repair nerve tissue after trauma.
Toxicity: Does this herb seem too good to be true? Well, it is.
There's also a dangerous side to St.-John's-wort, and until more is
learned about this side, the plant and its oil should be used with
caution, if at all. In Australia, where St.-John's-wort is a rampant
weed, it has killed palepigmented sheep and goats by inducing
photosensitivity. If an animal or a light-skinned
plant,
exposure to direct sun may cause dermatitis, inflammation of mucous membranes, and more toxic reactions.
Pharmacognosist Varro
The Honest
who
rarely result
CULTIVATION
The herb grows
nial bed,
division
dig
it
done
John's-wort
is
wild.
intact. It
in the
To
may
fall.
transfer
also
short-lived.
Despite the
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
zone
pH: acid or
Soil
Average to poor.
Full
sun to
5.
alkaline.
partial shade.
seldom
invasive
the plants
448
is
Salad Burnet
SALAD BURNET
Poterium Sanguisorba
Rosaceae
DESCRIPTION
anything, even
if it's
is
likely to contain
known
ish;
home
in a
rounded head;
of
HISTORY
one of the more venerable of forgotten herbs, used
at least 2,000 years. The Roman scholar Pliny disits
medicinal
powers in the first century a.d., although he may
cussed
have
been
recording
older customs or even a diff^erent but
just
Bumet
is
medicinally for
bumet
officinalis) and the salad bumet have the same medicinal uses, so the confusion in Pliny's ^ATiting has not been worth
untangling. (Hortus Third prefers Poterium Sanguisorba as the
proper botanical name for salad burnet over a synonym, S. minor,
which would put these two bumets in the same genus.)
That pinkish, rounded head of flowers must have reminded
herbalists of blood; again and again, bumet is prescribed for some-
(Sanguisorba
thing gory.
The
'i6-^
leaflets,
4-12
in.
pairs
long,
forms
liage
ft.
1-ft.
in flower; fo-
basal rosette.
FLOWERING
May through June.
RANGE
Native to western Asia and
Europe; naturalized in North
America.
the sixteenth and seventeeth centuries, a golden age for plant medicine;
bumet moved
remark
in a
TUmer
to
wings, open in
flight.
Bumet could
named
Pechy,
who
de-
CHEF TIPS
He
minced
fresh
bumet
leaves to coleslaw.
the melon.
These traditions crossed the Atlantic, and bumet appears in
American herbals. The Shakers mentioned using it in the 1820s for
healing wounds.
Considering bumets modest use as a medicine and salad ingredient, it is astonishing to note in Thomas Jefferson's letters that he
once dispatched two boys to pick up 6 to 8 bushels of bumet seed.
Based on his calculations, that would be enough to cover up to l6
Add
Toss fresh
bumet
leaves with
snipped
dill,
and yogurt.
Stufl^
slices
ing.
449
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
SALAD BURNET-continued
mind, however, but used
cai firm in
it
and
erosion control.
it
was championed by
Sir Francis
Bacon.
when
He suggested
that
whole
USES
Medicinal: Burnet has long been associated with blood.
Sanguisorba means, literally, "drink up blood, and herbalists prepared a tea to stop hemorrhages and smoothed an ointment on
wounds. Various preparations were supposed to help women going
"
through a
diflBcult
menopause.
to
and diarrhea.
The foliage contains vitamin C and tannins, but there is no
modern evidence that burnet is effective medicinally.
Culinary: Salad burnet tastes like cucumber Only the tender
young leaves of the plant are used, because tfie older ones can taste
bitter. Use them in salads, flavored vinegars, herb butters, and iced
beverages (they were once placed in claret), and as garnishes. The
seeds are found in vinegars, marinades, and cheese spreads, and the
for vaginal discharges
dill, basil,
thyme,
garlic,
oregano, mar-
Young borage
leaves.
cucumber
It
taste.
in a
delicate
its
foliage.
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
Plant hardiness
Soil
Average, well-drained
Full
pH
3-
6.8.
sun to
partial
soil.
shade.
CULTIVAriON
Propagate it by dividing in the spring. Burnet also grows readily
from seed and will reseed itself. Sow directly outside and thin to 12
to 15 inches. To stimulate new leaf growth, remove the flower stalks.
The
full
450
plant
sun.
is
Once
established, burnet
needs
it is
little
partial to
attention.
lime and
Sassafras
SASSAFRAS
Sassafras
albidum
Lauraceae
This native American tree offers brilliant yellow, orange, and red
foliage in the
fall
wood
young
leaves of citrus.
The
The
roots
roots
were once
in root beer,
identified as a carcinogen.
it
These
trees
are
including saffafras
2-in.
ra-
on
diiFerent trees.
worth planting
the colorful
fall
foliage.
its
is far
is
still
like ash or
oak
lighter in
Fniit:
Ovoid, one-seeded,
Height: 30-50
toxic, sassafras
ft.
FLOWERING
constituents,
is
seldom included
ai./
other location.
Its fall
color
is
landscaping
in
damp spots,
lists.
Yet
it
to
move
to their
permanent
or just about
Try growing very small trees in containers until they are large
enough
RANGE
is
yellowish
in
tic
Pale,
green, apetalous,
USES
but
deciduous
small
immediately recog-
liver
DESCRIPTION
HABITAT
In sandy soils along the
edge of woods.
location.
CULTIVATION
You can transplant young
nearly impossible to
move
sassafras trees
it is
GROWING CONDITIONS
may
Plant hardiness
Any garden
be used.
Pests and diseases: Gypsy moths eat the
also
one of the
Herbs
leaves,
and
sassafras is
for information
on
zone
5.
soil.
Growing
controlling pests.)
451
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
SAVORY
Satureja spp.
DESCRIPTION
The
members
savories are
Labiatae
hortetisis)
comprises about 30
species.
Summer
and
and bushy,
The
highly aro-
HISTORY
montana is a hardy
S.
semievergreen perennial. It is
woody at the base and forms a
writer Pliny
entire plant
is
matic.
compact bush.
It
has a heavier
hortensis:
S.
White
upper
three to
leaf axils in
six. S.
groups of
montana: White
about
1 in.
long,
in late
turning purplish
montana: Dark green, glossy, and lance-shaped, wider toward the tips, to 1 in. long.
5.
Fruit:
Four
Height:
ft.
used
it
The poet
cate.
in
S.
nutlets.
hortensis: 1-1 Vi
montana: 6-12
5.
in.
FLOWERING
S.
hortensis:
Midsummer
Virgil
it.
the pleasant-tasting
honey
it
produced.
it is
it
Romans introduced
became popular both as a medi-
quickly
pungent
taste.
vated until
to
their
summer
was thought
to decrease sexual
savory
became
the
Naturally,
two!
women
to taJ^e inwardly
"it
and
to
is
RANGE
mended
it,
together with
recommended by
several
trout.
452
Savory
The
World
it
fish
or flesh, to give
it
a quicker rehsh."
as trusted
remedies
them
to the
New
for indigestion.
USES
The
that doesn't
Medicinal:
Ph.D.,
it
is
and
which give
it
Tyler,
active
Its
tannin,
tea
made
Summer Savory
Winter Savory
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
TIPS
Mince
summer
fresh
sa-
marinade
and
melted.
make
Add minced
fresh savory to
Satureja hortensis:
pH
Soil
and with
flavored vinegars,
Average
Full sun.
5.
soil.
montana:
zone
Plant hardiness
Soil
Full sun.
454
pH
6.
6.7.
It's
popular
herb butters,
in teas,
creamy
soups, beef soup, eggs, snap beans, peas, rutabagas, eggplant, asparagus, parsnips, salsify, onions, cabbage, brussels sprouts, squash, garlic, liver, fish,
many
is
famous
for
an
is
antiflatulent.
strong
is
more
piny.
used with
It is
pates.
CULTIVATION
Both kinds of savory are easy to grow from seed or
fresh seed, as
its
viability
flats
and
cuttings.
quickly.
transplant
later,
If
mound
than
^A
weeded.
Use
soil slightly
them well
Keep them well watered for best growth. Summer savory also makes
good subject for an indoor container garden.
Winter savory is somewhat slower to sprout; start it in a flat or
if
you
live in a
its
annual counterpart. In
fact,
6.8.
it
GROWING CONfDITIONS
pleasant tasting
Winter savory
thirst. It is
for fish.
relatively
is
too
It grows in any
and requires less water
cold climate.
fertility
much moisture
hardy as
far
north as
in the soil
can
Scented Geranium
SCENTED GERANIUM
Pelargoniutn spp.
Geraniaceae
DESCRIPTION
mint
they sound
to the
same
botanical family as
and
Flowers:
of
variety
commonly
HISTORY
Scented geraniums were probably enjoyed for centuries in
South Africa before they were introduced to Europe by sailors who
stopped off while rounding the Cape of Good Hope in the early
roses in
even wine!
associated with
parlors,
It's
probably for
rosewood
chairs,
this
era.
But there
is
now
by
on the
collectors.
umbellate
clus-
two
upper petals often larger and
colored differently from others;
distinguished from true geraniums by cal^oc with a spur that
extends backward from blossom and reattaches itself to
flower
and
petals;
stalk.
Leaves:
Frilly,
femlike, and
and round
and almost
the touch;
topically
stick>' to
an-
fragrance
discernible
after
Height: To 3
ft.
FLOWERING
still
little
in
sepals
ters; five
Varies dep)ending
on the
variety'.
RANGE
part of herb
New scents
continue to proliferate.
and
\'ated.
USES
These plants serve the imaginative herb grower in a variety of
ways from wound healers to cake sweeteners to spirit soothers.
Medicinal: Not much has been made of the medicinal properties of these plants. Folklore has it that scented geraniums work as
excellent astringents, and some herbals profess that they are valuable
in the treatment of dysentery and ulcers of the stomach and upper
intestines. One headache remedy still in circulation is to bathe the
455
Pepper Geranium
Peppermint Geranium
Lemon
Geranium
Pine Geranium
Fern-leaf Peppermint
Geranium
scalp
and forehead
remedies
is
in
folk
limited, however.
have shown
that
scented geranium
oil
(the pure essential oil) can cause contact dermatitis, a rashlike condition of the skin,
and
is
it
true of
most
Culinary: You can use the leaves of rose geraniums to flavor tea
standard, apple
jelly.
particular)
of
Commercial geranium
456
A pound
depending on the
come from
oil is said to
1
grain of
oil.
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
Plant hardiness
Soil
pH
zone
10.
perennials
on trellises as well
as potted in
6-7.
-continued
is
best placed
where the
foliage can
be
loamy
For
soil.
Full sun.
astrin-
fragrances
and
baths.
Companion
in the
for
work
Japanese beetles.
CULTIVATION
Scented geraniums are tender perennials. They are best started
cuttings. Take cuttings in spring or summer, using a sharp knife
below the node where a leaf grows from the stem. Place cuttings
in clean sand, and allow enough space around them so that air can
circulate freely. Water them, keep them shaded at first, and you
should have little plants that can be transplanted in 2 or 3 weeks. Sow
seeds indoors in the early spring, 10 to 12 weeks before planting
outside. Expose plants to the elements only after all threat of frost is
never let potted
past. Keep the plants dry enough to prevent rot
geraniums sit long in water, but neither should you allow them to dry
to the point that the leaves turn yellow. You can add regular doses of
from
just
air
if
may diminish a
plant's fragrance,
Scented geraniums
improper growth and increase susceptibility to disease. The midis best. Keep the blooms pinched back to discourage
dle course
and
geraniums are susceptible to bacteand blight and to infestation from whiteflies. But
diseases: Scented
maximum
oil
do so early on a sunny,
458
more
We
ters
pungent, sweet,
spicy.
Your
jar
drawer Potpourris, pomanders, sachets, aromatic waall easy to create and such a pleasure to enjoy.
they are
POTPOURRIS
A
potpourri
matic herbs.
is
a mixture of coarsely
The mixture
usually
is
broken
bits
of dried, aro-
When
of the herbs that you use. Then consider additives seeds, spices,
woods, roots, essential oils that will blend with the main scent to
enhance the fragrance.
Harvesting and drying herbs: Cut and collect your herbs on a
sunny day, working in the early morning, just after the dew has dried.
To capture them when their essential oils are at their peak, flowers
should be gathered just after they have opened.
Gently pull off the petals, discarding any that are brown and
wilted. "Vt)u can place the petals on newspaper to dry, but spreading
them on a screen exposes them more completely to the air and
speeds drying (a shorter drying time helps to retain the volatile oils).
Dry the flowers in a warm, dark, airy place, stirring the petals often.
The leaves can be stripped from the stem and dried in the same
way, or you can hang bunches of herbs to dry.
When drying citrus peel, first scrape all the fruit pulp from the
inner skin, then break the peel into small pieces, and allow it to dry
until brittle in a
warm
place.
Check your herbs every day. The drying time varies depending
on climate and weather conditions. Make sure your ingredients are
perfectly dry or else mold will develop and ruin your potpourri.
You can gather herbs throughout the grov^ng season, dry and
store them in airtight containers, and keep them in a dark place until
you are ready to make a potpourri.
459
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
traditional potpourri
pretty to look
at,
known as
They
are
most
as are
wonderful as well.
Rose petals are primary ingredients,
but any fragrant
flower petals will work. Many
people partially dry the petals,
though this is not essential. Add
any oils or spices to the petals
and layer them in a widemouthed jar with uniodized
salt.
do
stir
the
Once
fermentation of the
fixatives. Let
it
blend
for a
it
few
in a
decorative container.
Since a moist potpourri
isn't very attractive, put it in a
so
it
-continued
lemon verbena,
lilac, lily
mint,
gallicas,
roses,
gallica;
moss
roses,
centifolia 'Muscosa';
and musk
soft,
white
saf-
Fixatives:
fixative is a plant or
the evaporation of essential oils and holds the fragrance in the potpourri.
civet,
and musk. Although unpleasant smelling by themselves, these substances amplify, enrich, and set the beautiful fragrances of botanicals.
All are fairly expensive, so you might want to use plant-derived
fixatives, which work quite well and can be purchased from the
pharmacist or made at home.
Orris root is the most commonly used of the plant-derived
fixatives, and it complements lavender especially well. It is ground
from the root of the Florentine iris, Iris Xgermanica var. florentina.
Though a very fine fixative, orris does cause allergic reactions in
many people. If you, or the recipient of your potpourri is allergic, you
may want to choose from among the other plant-derived fixatives:
benzoin, rose attar, ground and dried rosemary, sandalwood, storax,
sweet flag, tonka beans (vanilla scent), and vetiver root (nice with
roses).
Add about
tablespoon of
fixative
460
preparing.
jars,
home
or to give as a
SCENTS
bayberry
chamomile
(applelike)
bedstraw (grassy)
marjoram (piny)
oakmoss
pine needles
rosemary
sandalwood
southernwood
sweet woodruff
thyme (piny, medicinal,
refreshing)
gift.
WOODSY/EABTHY
vetiver
wormwood
all
SACHETS
Sachets differ only slightly from potpourris.
the same.
It's just
The
ingredients are
whole, and they are stuffed inside decorative fabric bags or pillows.
it! You can even take an existing potpourri, crumble the leaves
and flowers, bundle it up in a handkerchief or piece of fabric, and tie
a ribbon around it. Voila! It is ready to be tossed into the clothes
That's
The
size
is
size
you
on each
side, but
linens. Stuff
some
sachets
allspice
bay
caraway
cardamom
cinnamon
cloves
thyme)
mint (refreshing)
nutmeg
pennyroyal (minty)
vanilla
like.
between
you can
SPICY SCENTS
among
flatter
ones
461
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
Make larger, bulkier sachet bags to hang in clothes closets. You can
even sprinkle some ground sachet powder in an envelope to scent a
personal letter, or place a small sachet in a box of writing paper to
add fragrance.
sandalwood (woody,
RECIPES
balsamic)
sachets
is
not
just in
working
own
favorite fragrance.
CITRUSY SCENTS
beebalm
lemon balm
lemongrass
lemon thyme
lemon verbena
orange peel
In
making
you
will
a potpourri,
mix
all
it.
dried ingredients
first,
and then
2 cups of apple
FLORAL SCENTS
acacia
jasmine
lavender (heavy, strong)
cup of thyme
2 cups of patchouli
carnation (spicy)
geranium leaves
nutmeg geranium leaves
Summer
harvest: Created
many
is
ways.
lilac
lily
orange blossom
rose (range from violet to
musklike scent)
scented geranium (scent will
vary according to species)
sweet pea (light, sweet)
violet
1
1
1
cup
cup
cup
cup
of rose petals
of lavender
of
of
lemon verbena
mixed mints
Scentamental journey:
Little girls
at
the
who
the
its
462
Its
name
is
l'/2
of cups of patchouli
Manly
scent:
A good
lemon balm
cup of thyme
cup of nutmeg
2 cups of
1
1
Herb garden:
Culinar\- herbs
in potpourris.
thyme
cup of rosemary'
Vi cup of lavender
1 cup of mint
Vi cup of tansy
!4 cup of clove
2 cups of
1
POMANDERS
pomanders were made from small balls of ambe:
which herbs and perfumes were added. The French original
called them pomme d'ambre pomme meaning "apple
for its,
shape, and d'ambre, which means "ambergris. Men and womech
wore these pomme d'ambres to mask the stench of their unsani{aM[>
surroundings and also to protect them from disease and infectiort-:''
Cases containing the pomme d'ambres hung on chains around their
necks or from their belts. Members of royalty had exquisite cases
made from gold, silver, ivon,'. and other materials. The name pomme
d'ambre eventually came to mean the case as well as the ball of
Historically,
gris to
"
"
herbs.
you go along.
When you
-continued
be completely
covered and the cloves touching each other. You might want to wear
a thimble to protect your clove-pushing finger. Some pomander
vidually, or
or place
is
They make
ROSE BEADS
If
is
ways
beaded
interesting
to
make
Making these beads is simple and fun. "Vt)u will need a lot of rose
though about a half a bushel and considerable patience. It
take several weeks to prepare a paste from the rose petals, then
several more to dry the beads formed of the paste.
To start, collect the petals early in the morning on a dry day. Use
the fresh petals, discarding any that are brown or wilted. You can
macerate them with a mortar and pestle as has been done traditionally, but pureeing them in a blender is easier. Rose beads have a very
'^uil,- ebony appearance. To acquire the color, simmer the paste
gently for about an hour in an iron pot or skillet in just enough water
to cover. Let the petals cool and simmer them again. The iron reacts
with the roses to turn them black. Grind the petals each day for about
two weeks, until a paste forms that is thick enough to roll into beads
(it should be about the consistency of clay).
When your rose paste is ready, roll beads from it. Dipping your
fingers into rose oil first or spreading some on the palms of your
hands adds more fragrance as you roll the beads. Remember, when
Is
drying, the beads will shrink to about one-half their original size.
Take a large needle and pierce a hole through the center of each
If
pins,
grance of rose.
HERB PILLOWS
Herb pillows
sleep.
Hops
to
As with
when
all
them
in a closed
jewelry box.
lot
of mystery
It
is
practice, but
it
is
really quite
oil:
One
to soak
them
Use
it
aside for
is
bringing
it
As strange as
it
may sound,
good
choice. Sci-
sleep,
unfortunately
the
work
simple.
pure olive
to
ESSENTIAL OILS
perfumes.
is
in
at least
ready to
fragrant
fall
into a pleasant,
slumber
method of obtain-
is
465
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
OF ESSENTIAL OILS
Akwenasa Essentials
R.D. 2, Box 160A
Ghent, NY 12075
(518) 672-4519
Aura Cacia
1
Rohnen
Park,
It with some water. It also makes a fine base for a perfume. Most
perfumes contain a high percentage of alcohol because as it evaporates quickly from the skin, it sends out from you a blast of fragrance.
If you want to remove the oil from the alcohol, place it in the
freezer. The alcohol does not freeze, but the oil solidifies and can be
skimmed from the liquid.
This solvent
CA 94928
-continued
method of
extracting oils
It
is
particularly
good
as
them
These
oils are
(707) 584-5115
for
in-
them.
Caswell-Massey Co.
Ltd.
NewYork,
NY
10011
Colin Ingram
Sutton,
NH
credible
03273
(603) 927-4237
Original Swiss Aromatics
start
experimenting.
toilet
waters are
made by combin-
Weleda Inc.
841 S. Main
weeks
to
them
fix.
St.
at least
four
weeks
before using.
1
Vi
Herb
tablespoon of storax
466
oil
this
perfume.
cup of undenatured
teaspoon of
basil oil
ethyl alcohol
INCENSE
teaspoon of sage
teaspoon of
tablespoon of sandalwood
oil
dill oil
oil
after several
weeks.
V2
tablespoon of storax
oil
common and
2 tablespoons of
lemon
oil
tablespoon of sandalwood
perfume
oil
dicinal
cup of undenatured
ethyl alcohol
tablespoon of clove
oil
2 tablespoons of
AND MORE
Those
store in a
cinnamon
oil
The word
"through
that this is
probably the
powdered
orris root
USES
oils
and
purposes.
perfume
means
smoke," indicating
women
cup of
Filter
bottle.
'-4
oil
them
FOR OILS
many
charcoal.
clove
oil,
mint
oil,
rose
oils.
oil,
wax with
sage
oil,
additions of bayberry
lavender
oil,
lemon
oil,
or
often pleasing. Use about V2 ounce of oil for each pound of wax. Or
you may add powdered herbs to the melted wax. Grind them with a
mortar and pestle.
Scents for soaps: Just before pouring your soap into molds, add
oils for a sweet-smelling aroma; lavender, citrogeranium, rosemary, cloves, cinnamon, sassafras,
lemongrass, or lemon.
at
Valentine Day.
467
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
SERPENTWOOD
Rauvolfia serpentina
DESCRIPTION
Serpentwoods are
shrubs or small
They
appearance.
Numerous;
Flowers:
clusters; tubular;
Serpentwood
tropical
trees.
pink with
in
five
the holy
tions,
Height: 4V2
ft;
R.
vomitoria
ft.
is
is
the
from
men
and Gandhi
is
said to have
been
made
it."
The wide use in India, however, did not draw the attention of
Western medical people, even when its active principles were isolated by Indian chemists, or when it was prescribed to lower blood
pressure by Indian physicians. But in 1949, an Indian cardiologist, R.
Vakil, M.D., wrote an article about serpentwood in the British
Heart Journal. Within a few years, scouts for the pharmaceutical
industry were scouring the tropics for Rauvolfia serpetitifia and its
relatives. It has since been determined that a Central American species, R tetraphylla, and an African species, R vomitoria, are also
J.
RANGE
R serpentina: moist forests
in
Deciduous;
in
Leaves:
whorls of three to five; oval,
pointed; 3-8 in. long.
Fruit: Fleshy, ovoid drupe;
'/4
in. long; contains one or two
to 15
one of the
is
white lobes.
seeds.
Apocynaceae
India,
Indonesia,
Burma,
R
Ceylon;
tetraphylla: southern Mexico to
Colombia, including the West
Indies; R vomitoria: Senegal to
Thailand,
and
Mozambique.
pharmacologically potent.
USES
It's
serpentwood's
utility
Medicinal: Serpentwood
is
The focus
is
its
signifi-
primarily used in
of
insanity. "Its
critical
James Duke,
symptoms
Ph.D., in the
or
CRC
GROWING CONDITIONS
Rich
Full
soil.
sun to
CULTIVATION
Serpentwood
partial
shade.
is
commercial plantings
in
468
is
possible.
in the
Soapwort
Saponaria
Caryophyllaceae
officinalis
DESCRIPTION
Soapwort
nial
nonhairy; to 3
late,
short,
broad
Fruit:
on
Four-toothed
cap-
ft.
FLOWERING
Saponification
of this Saponaria
is
is
in the plant
is
RANGE
A few
On
long;
sule.
Height: 1-2
USES
in.
leafstalk.
top of
that,
herbalists have
is
come
naturalized in the
sunny
it
The
Applied externally,
or roots
is
it
is
safe.
CULTimXION
Saponarias are
tolerate
most
object to
soils and,
some
although
shade. Propagation
in the spring or
Once
GROWING CONDITIONS
among
fall,
full
is
sun
is
by seed or
They
sow
division. Plant
seed
indoors in the
be
late
winter.
Full
sun to
light shade.
invasive.
469
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
SOUTHERNWOOD
Abrotanum
Compositae
DESCRIPTION
Artemisia
Southernwood is a hardy,
many-branched perennial.
Known as the lovers' plant, lad's love, and maid's ruin, southernwood was once used in aphrodisiac potions and perfumes. The herb
was thought to stimulate not only young men's passion but also the
growth of their beards, so they rubbed the fresh, lemon-scented
leaves on their faces.
Its reputation as a protective nosegay was such that southernwood was routinely used in courtrooms to ward off a disease known
as prison fever. Nosegays and branches of it were also used in
churches, but for another purpose the sharp, acid scent helped to
keep people awake during tedious sermons.
Medicinally, southernwood has been used as an emmenagogue,
stimulant-tonic, diuretic, antiseptic, and, as a close relative of worm-
grown
Leaves:
in the North.
Finely
divided,
segments filiform or
somewhat downy; gray-
feathery;
linear;
green.
Fruit: Seedlike achenes.
Height: 5
ft.
FLOWERING
wood
August.
{Artemisia Absinthium), as a
been used
RANGE
Native of Spain and
Italy;
against tumors
worming medicine.
It
has also
and cancers.
USES
Southernwood has an
foremost, southernwood
is
effective
first
and
valued as an ornamental.
is
and where woolens are stored. Add the leaves to a bath; they
and soothing.
Ornamental: In spite of small flowers, southernwood is an important landscape shrub. The leaves have a fine, feathery texture, and
their gray-green color serves as a splendid backdrop for bright-colored flowers. The foliage remains fresh through hot summers. It can
be used in bouquets. Plant southernwood in the back of borders or as
a hedge. Its odor is thought to repel bees.
Cosmetic: According to modern herbalist Jeanne Rose, a decoction made from southernwood and barley is a good wash to use on
closets
are aromatic
acne.
Craft: Southernwood works well as a base for herb wreaths and
herb baskets (see the entry Crafts from Herbs). The foliage can be
used in any dried herb and flower arrangement.
Dye: Branches are used to make a yellow dye for wool. (See the
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
Average, well-drained
Full sun.
pH
information.)
CULTIVAriON
6.7.
soil.
Southernwood
fall.
is
do well
in
an average
rigorous pruning in
470
more
soil
Stinging Nettle
STINGING NETTIE
Urtica dioica
The
nettle
Urticaceae
seemed
DESCRIPTION
human
and
for centuries
Stinging nettles often look bushy, but that's because each plant
can send out underground roots that generate new stalks, resulting in
a ven' dense cluster An individual stalk often has no branches, just a
stem
central
that
can reach 5
The
feet.
dark
They con-
racemes, or in
panicles.
toothed edge.
When
injecting a stinging
venom
The
plant's
hairs.
name comes
from the Anglo-Saxon word for "needle." Figuring out exactly what
causes the sting has preoccupied several researchers. Just extracting
enough fluid from the hairs to study is a serious problem. A hundred
hairs weigh only 1 milligram; in one study, extracting just 40 grams of
ing
FLOWERING
July through September.
found
some
of
the pain, but this did not explain the other effects. Other ingredients
in the natural
If
injected into the skin alone, the histamine causes only reddening,
little.
onds and itching about 30 seconds later. One hair alone does not
pack the sting of a bee, but the collective effea of brushing against a
leaf-ful
of hairs
is
a close approximation.
Stinging nettles
The
to attract bees.
in the axils of
The
upper
and
Asia;
the Carolinas.
HABITAT
Weedy
so
Look
for
leaves.
much
irrelevant botanical
no showy
fluff.
petals with
The
tufts
The
Native to Europe
water
which
RANGE
whole seems
to
be a matter of
specific
"
HISTORY
A modem gardener may want to keep
from
471
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
STINGING NETTIES.continued
NETTLE FERTIUZERS
Nettles are quite high in ni
manure
tea
Denmark. Nettle cloth again became comwhen the Germans were stretching their
cotton supply; in 1916 they collected 5.9 million pounds of nettles.
The nettle's medicinal use also goes back to ancient times, with
Bronze Age
mon
burial site in
bunches of stinging
variation
ers
known
tery
on Lake Constance
One
by the Swiss
monk
Not
that
Nettle tea was credited with many uses. It was combined with a
sweetener to make an expectorant. In the spring, it was taken as a
tonic.
The
tea
was
body of
worms, cure
It
fire to
USES
Medicinal:
472
The
and made
into
Stinging Nettle
tea,
has been used to treat asthma. Fresh nettle juice was rubbed into
the scalp to
make
sting,
Once
tea
in
making
cheese.
cir-
culation.
a green dye,
while the roots create a yellow shade. (See the entry Dyes from
for more information.)
Companion planting: Plant stinging nettles in the garden? Most
people would pull them, but some gardeners do recommend growing them around vegetables and herbs. They are said to stimulate
Herbs
plant growth
and increase
you have a place on your property where nettles thrive, consider putting a garden there; nenles flourish in fertile soil.
If
CULTIVAriON
The
and
Put the plant in rich soil that tends to be on the moist side. (In
the wild, the plant often grows
part of the
A
out":
day
If
on stream banks.)
It
should tolerate
wisdom
for
gardeners
try treating
is
"Nenle
in,
juice
is
said to
be an
zone
Plant hardiness
Full
dock
of curly or yellow dock. Mullein will also work, and even the nettle's
own
GROWING CONDITIONS
in shade.
sun to
partial
3.
shade.
antidote.
473
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
SWEET aCELY
Myrrhis odorata
DESCRIPTION
Sweet cicely
is
a hardy pe-
compound um-
across; in
in.
bels of 5- 1
bisexual.
leaflets;
and spotted
leafstalks
wrap
downy,
underneath;
difficult to
it
propagate,
it
will
reward the
few medicinal
and a
uses.
Roman
least since
Umbelliferae
times,
little
dark brown,
in.
USES
Medicinal: Sweet cicely
Height: 3
ft.
know that
May and June.
less,
RANGE
employed
in folk
which
sweet
caraway seeds
in
some
scientifically. It
flatulence,
and we
in a
way seems
to
is
CHEF TIPS
Substitute
The
anise.
medicine
is
FLOWERING
its
cicely
Substitute: Anise.
for
Omamenul: The
in baking.
bloom
lacy foliage
and
seeds are
blossoms
that
flower beds.
The
large white
in spring
grilling.
CULTIVATION
from purchased or dug seedling plants, or
The seed needs to have undergone rather
mysterious patterns of freeze and thaw and is notoriously slow and
finicky about germinating. If you do use it, use fresh seed and sow in
If
possible, start
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
Plant hardiness
Moist, well-drained,
soil. Partial
474
shade.
3.
humusy
the
fall.
fall.
One
seldom
dried.
and
V2
cup of seeds
Sweet Flag
SWEET FLAG
Acorns Calamus
Araceae
UNSAFE
dies that
cally,
DESCRIPTION
HISTORY
Sweet
short-term effects
we been
have
seemed
in India
knew the
and used it in remedies. Its Latin generic name is a modification of the one used by Dioscorides, the great Greek herbalist of the
first centun' a.d. Calamus is mentioned in the Bible, but that may not
necessarily be the same plant.
For a while, sweet flag was a botanist's one-upmanship plant. In
plant
from Asia Minor, grew it in Vienna, and distributed it to other European botanists. Late in the same century, the great English herbalist
John Gerard wrangled a plant from an apothecary in Lyons, France,
and he thus may have been the person to have inuroduced it to
England.
and
it
for
its
medicinal properties
omamental ones. In England, it quickly escaped from cultivaand before long, the banks of the Thames River were lined with
its
tion,
The
circle nearly
closed
when
the
looks like an
iris
considerable heat.
trait.
(It's
a family
botanically
related,
can melt
snow.)
Flowers: In 2-inch cylindrispadix at top of flower stem;
tiny, greenish yellow, sLx truncated petals, no calw.
Leaves:
Long,
narrow,
sword-shaped; V^
in.
wide;
prominent midrib; arise from
rhizome; clustered at bases.
cal
Fruit:
There
flag
Oblong
Height: To 3
capsule.
ft.
FLOWERING
Midsummer.
RANGE
in overharvesting,
as
as the
nous
to
it
in hair
cordials,
is
indige-
to Minnesota, to
and Texas.
HABITAT
Wet meadows or
pond banks.
river
and
found
it
Quebec
Florida
and
and
flavoring,
and
It
beer.
USES
Contemporary uses of sweet
flag
475
its
-continued
safety.
Although
it
But the plant has uses beyond these and shouldn't be ignored.
Medicinal: Long-term feeding studies in rats show oil of cala-
mus
information, the
sweet
flag's
Pharmacognosist Varro
Tyler,
no
Ph.D.,
be provided
more safely by other drugs. Its use, he says, "is no longer rational."
Herb writer Michael Weiner, while not disputing the research
findings or the FDA's action, points out, nevertheless, that only one
variety of sweet flag's oil
the Jammu
variety
different in
sition.
many
recipes
cinnamonlike
still
is still
available commercially
you are
far
and
wiser to forego
its
taste.
Substitute:
Ground cinnamon.
ill
CUmVATION
plant is hardy as long as it is in a moist spot. Some plants
being an inch or two underwater Semishade or sun will do.
Just provide plenty of organic matter to hold water
Sweet flag is best propagated by division in the spring or fall. It's
also possible to grow the plant from seed. Sow them immediately
The
tolerate
GROWING CONDITIONS
after collecting
and cleaning
before, or
planting.
collect the
marshy
Ricii,
Sun or shade.
476
soil.
Don't
let
10.
after,
rhizome
third year, a
mucky operation but not a difficult one. Soak off the mud
Sweet Woodruff
SWEET WOODRUFF
Galium odoratum
Rubiaceae
DESCRIPTION
an
attractive
as well as tonka
in
coal
tars.
HISTORY
Tfiis
perennial
member
444.)
Flowers:
Small,
Fruit: Vi
in.
long, bristly,
longitudinally ribbed.
leaves.
FLOWERING
in Elizabethan
Height: 8
In
funnel-
of
in.
RANGE
Native to Europe, North Africa,
HABITAT
Moist,
wooded
locations.
USES
Medicinal: Sweet woodruff has been used as a calmative,
and antispasmodic.
di-
was thought to be beneficial to the heart and liver. A medicinal tea can be made by infusing 2
teaspoons of the dried herb in 1 cup of water It is said to soothe the
stomach. Fresh leaves were applied to wounds.
In folk medicine, the herb had a reputation for combating jaundice and nervousness, healing wounds, and regulating the activity of
uretic, diaphoretic,
It
477
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
SWEET WOODRUFF-.
continued
the hean. It was also added to other medicinal formulations to improve their taste.
Toxicity:
Sweet woodruff
is
Dye: From the stems and leaves, a tan dye can be produced
wool mordanted with alum. The roots yield a red dye.
in
jrVATION
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
Plant hardiness
Soil
iMoist, well-drained,
pH
soil.
Shade.
478
3.
5.0.
humusy
Sweet woodruff can be propagated by seeds in the fall to produce plants the following spring; cold weather encourages them to
germinate. However, you'll be better off purchasing your first plants
from a commercial grower or local herb gardener because woodruff
is very difiicult to start from seed; germination may take as long as
200 days.
Whatever your choice, provide a slightly acidic soil, rich in
nutrients and high in humus; a leaf mold compost is the best medium. If you use a hoe, take care to avoid damaging the spreading
root system. Keep the soil moist and the weeds at bay.
Harvesting and storage: Harvest sweet woodruff foliage whenever needed. The stems may be cut close to the ground. Either handtie sprigs and hang them in a warm, airy place, or chop the herb
immediately after harvesting and dry in a warm, shady place.
Tansy
Tanacetum vulgare
Compositae
TOXIC
is
DESCRIPTION
HISTORY
like leaves.
still
effective
Tansy takes
means
its
name from
"immortality',"
the Greek
critical
ingredient in a
god
The
leaves of ornaare
\'arieties
Other authors have proposed less-romantic explanations. For example, the herb was put in coffins, perhaps because of its
power as an insect repellent. Another herbalist has suggested that
tansy's strong smell was a relief during funeral rites in an era without
and
not wilt
air
easily.
conditioning.
made people
in the English
It
homes
floors to release
its
scent
of the
common
when crushed
James
Ribbed achenes.
Height: 3-4
ft.
FLOWERING
Juh' through
September
turn pale.)
tossed on
upper leaves
riages.
strewing herbs
on pages 32
-i-i-i.)
The plant was also supposed to prolong mortal life through its
numerous medicinal properties. Gerard prescribed it as a spring
tonic and gout remedy and advised his readers that they could rid
themselves of worms by chewing the seeds. The seventeenth-century* British herbalist Nicholas Culpeper mentioned tansy as an aid in
treating freckles, sunburn, and pimples. He even recommended
holding bruised tansy leaves on women's navels to prevent miscar-
buttermilk that
5ne and
II
this
was the
flavor,
RANGE
Native to Europe; natural-
ized in
HABITAT
Along roadsides and
other
weedy
in
places.
or "domi-
479
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
l./\lyO Y continued
neering relish" as the seventeenth-century writer John Evelyn put
ould be pleasant
in a salad
if
it,
He
formula for Chartreuse liqueur, a recipe perfected in 1757. But considering that
be included,
to
tansy's
contribution likely
The
always for cooking. Colonial cooks rubbed tansy into their tabletops
to discourage bugs.
Even
today,
little tufts
of tansy swing in
windows
flies.
USES
Medicinal: Tansy's use as a folk medicine
questions of its
cist.
safety. Certainly,
it is
is
on hold because of
The
were used
and to
bathwater, the herb was
the mouth.
leaves
to
a factor,
Thujone
level appears to
be genetically determined.
is
tansy
may possess,
ever,
is
The
flavor,
how-
been
much
of a
loss,
is
inbred.
oil.
more
He
effective.
They have
was
pepper when
and minced in pancakes, waffles, cookies, pudding, cakes, teas, liqueurs, salad dressings, and marinades.
They are panicularly well-known for adding zip to scrambled eggs,
omelets, frittatas, herb butters, and stuflSng for poultry and fish. Use
been used
unavailable.
480
as a substitute for
Use them
fresh
Tansy
it
is
its
potentially toxic.
CHEF TIPS
he
more
its
says,
delicate foliage.
in a container
is
One
by a path so
grow the
marinade
A few
Tanacetum capitatum
make
pound of
similar species,
salad
though
for
creates a
The
of
tansy in a
fresh
beef.
good
tablespoon
minced
plant,
brush against
Use
crisp
rye toast.
When
mulling
wines,
add
tansy leaves.
in controlling acne.
and
ciders
a
few
fresh
Remove
be-
fore serving.
Craft:
willing to
growth.
It
can be
invasive.
is also known as ant fern, and sprigs have been
from raiding kitchen cabinets. You might try the
old-time practice of planting tansy near the doorway to discourage
flies from entering.
used
to
keep
ants
CULTIVATION
Tansy can be propagated by division or by seeds sown
spring or
in the
GROWING CONDITIONS
fall.
is
checking
The very
gardens
plants
may
good
its
relentless spread.
little
tall tansy.
cushions in rock
Give the smaller
Plant hardiness
pH
Soil
Average
Full
zone
4.
6.3.
soil.
sun to
partial
shade.
drainage.
481
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
TARRAGON
Artemisia Dracunculus
DESCRIPTION
This arotnatic perennial
grown
for
distinctively
its
is
fla-
fish. Its
aniselike character
called
it
feeling
late,
chew on
a leaf,
on your tongue.
HISTORY
The plant's name is derived from the French esdragon, meaning
dragon." The dragonlike roots may strangle the plant if it is not
in
"little
divided often. In medicinal lore and legend, any plant with a serpen-
ft.
FLOWERING
Should not
usually sterile.
is
deserves a wider role in the kitchen. Food writer Craig Claiborne has
terious property as well;
open and
Compositae
flower.
RANGE
United
culti-
open air
and
of slips."
States.
USES
Although chiefly a culinary herb, tarragon has been used
CHEF TIPS
tism.
chicken
boneless
breasts with walnuts and
Saute
Before
stuff
also
and
chicken,
roasting
tarragon
and
There appears
to
garlic
slivers
and leg
skin.
used
in
liqueurs.
It
be no
may be
Culinary: Although
and tarragon
15 minutes only.
toss in chives
It
thetic.
is
to
stimulate the appetite, relieve flatulence and colic, and cure rheuma-
fight
with other
flavors.
Use
try,
pates,
asparagus,
leeks,
mushrooms,
lemons, oranges,
rice,
and
Use it in
cream sauces,
barley.
lic vinaigrette.
and soups, and with cheeses, eggs, sour cream, and yogurt.
Available commercially: Dried or in tarragon-flavored vinegar.
482
CULTIVAriON
Although not a visually stunning plant, tarragon was at one time
gardens of the European nobility. Take note
before buying tarragon seeds: They are apt to be of the less-versatile
restricted to the formal
Russian tarragon, a variety that lacks the aromatic oils of the classical
French tarragon (Artemisia Dracunculus vai. sativa). Most gardeners acquire tarragon as seedlings, divisions, or cuttings. Take divisions in the early spring as the new growth comes up. Take cuttings
in
autumn
or, in
it from
You can bring it inside for a potted winter vacation, but it may
transplant poorly and does require lots of light.
Even in warm climates, the plants should be divided every two
or three years to assure vigor and flavor. Tarragon most often fails
from having been planted in a wet or acid soil. It needs well-drained
loam. The clump will always be larger in the second year, with
shoots appearing in the late spring. All flower stems should be
removed to keep the plant productive.
Container gardening: You can have fresh tarragon year-round by
placing plants in pots for the sunny windowsill. See that the roots get
good drainage. You can even force tarragon in the winter. In the
summer, place a mature plant in a good-size pot, cut it down to the
base, wrap the pot in plastic, and place it in the refrigerator until fall
to bring the tarragon into dormancy. Then unwrap the pot and place
it in a south-facing window to break dormancy and cause the plant to
sprout. Take a sprig or two as needed throughout the cold months. A
apart.
frost.
mildew.
is
GROWING CONDITIONS
ling diseases.)
each
year, the
first
six to eight
Two
weeks
When
harvest-
the sun.
It
will
brown some
in drying. Store in
an
zone
Plant hardiness
Soil
be made
pH
4.
6.9.
loam.
airtight container.
483
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
all
aromatics
the one
as
crafts,
that
the
dyes, seasonings,
making and
drink-
Herb teas were first used as medicines, and as such they are still
brewed and consumed today. But they are also consumed simply as
beverages. For
meal
can't
go by without
tea
is
cup of herb
tea.
CULINARY TEAS
The custom of
East India
in
Company
first
when
the
it
daily at four-ish,
and
it
soon
became the thing to do. A single serving cost about the equivalent of
one dollar then, so the rich filtered their used tea down to the
servants
who
thought
it
was
a great treat.
in snazzier London hotels, but beand diet, the custom is not practiced frequently in
contemporary homes. In fact, taking tea is more of a formal affair in
places like India and Hong Kong than it is in Great Britain.
High tea is the most formal kind and is served using silver and
china with cream and lemon to add. An accompaniment of scones,
strawberry jam, and thick Devonshire cream for spreading is expected. One or two types of petits fours, pastries, or tiny crustless
cucumber sandwiches are also proper fare.
Scottish high tea is served between 5:00 and 6:00 in the afternoon and replaces dinner. Here, meats are offered, especially sausage and egg pie.
Herb teas are becoming more popular at traditional London
establishments as well as in the United States. People are meeting for
tea, rather than cocktails, and as caffeine drinks dwindle as popular
cause of
life-style
How to make
water to a rolling
teapot with
pure
some
in flavor
boil.
Then
First,
nonmetal
it
tablespoon of
dried for each cup of water you'll be using, plus an extra 2 table-
484
TIMED BREW
out as soon as the tea has reached the desired strength. Serve herb tea
slices,
summer
in ice
cube
trays
and used
to chill
your
CHEF TIPS
favorite:
spearmint, elderberry,
Chamomile
made
tea,
tansy, sage,
verbena,
lemon balm,
make
pleasant-tasting tea,
in either
Rosemary
tea
helps
flavor
cure
MEDICINAL TEAS
Creating an herb tea for medicinal purposes
different than preparing
sorts, just
Lemon
one
is
not a whole
lot
fe-
warm cup
in
rise
Catnip tea and catnip and fennel tea have long been
used to help alleviate colic
in babies.
485
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
CAUTIONS
for
pleasurable
obviously taste
will be a guiding factor But if
you are brewing a medicinal
tea, there's more to it than good
tea,
taste.
herb
The
about 2 cups
The
in a pint of "water.
part of the
in
how
the tea
is
prepared. Most leaves and flowers will yield their healing virtues in
an infusion. But roots and bark, along with leathery leaves, require
herbs one
time
at
book, judging
what
especially
pharmacog-
exposed
carcinogenic,
as
for
example.
Pay attention to what contemporary herbalists have to
Sixteenthsay.
and seven
teenth-century
herbalists
information.
Follow
instructions
for
brewing the tea, and follow
dosage guidelines.
Use your common sense.
In her book Herbal Medicine,
Dian Dincin Buchman quoted
one of her grandmother's favor
ite
bad and
but
tastes bad,
it
isn't right;
be
if
it
tried out."
In either case, strain the herb parts out of the tea before
it
is
drunk.
It is
much
the tea.
oils
the
room and
Health
'Umm, doesn't that smell nice?' " explained CaliNan Koehler in The Woman's Encyclopedia of
say,
fornia herbalist
like
sources
minutes.
roots, bark, or
Herb Book,
only
if
The
tea
herbalist
the goal
is
is
John
Lust
recommended
Rather,
it
is
up
cough or
cold.
day,
perhaps a spoonful
4 cups a day,
health. 'Very
after
486
one or
Thyme
Thymus
vulgaris
"When
Labiatae
in doubt,
DESCRIPTION
Herb
Thyme
thymes
Society Newslet-
that taste
thyme
its
The
list
grow
essential
lar,
tiny blossoms.
It
makes an
ideal
edging
plant,
and
it is
It is
one of the
"Thyme
first
is
is
lilac to
thyme
many-branched,
aromatic shrub. (See photos on
pages 99, 237, and 273.)
of medicinal uses.
perennial,
small,
sums up the
edges
newsletter
hairy.
It's difficult
to discern
is
T.
leaf.
With
its
Height:
1 ft.
FLOWERING
June and July.
RANGE
garden.
iterranean
cultivated.
HISTORY
grow wild
The
sources,
for
name may
also derive
from the
fitting,
as the
The
plant
is
said to
herb was burned to chase stinging insects from the house. A bed of
thyme was thought to be a home to fairies, and gardeners once set
aside a patch of the herb for them, much as we provide birdhouses.
The
little
plant has
been
symbol
senting style and elegance to the early Greeks, chivalry in the Middle
France. On a practical level, thyme
and cheese. A caraway-flavored variety, T.
Herba-barona, was imported from Sicily and Corsica to the Continent, where it was the choice for seasoning beef.
The plant's medicinal reputation grew over the centuries.
Thyme pillows were thought to relieve both epilepsy and melancholy. From the fifteenth through the seventeenth centuries, thyme
was used to combat the plagues that swept over Europe, and as
recently as Wodd War I, the essential oil served as a battlefield
was used
spirit in
to flavor liqueurs
antiseptic.
A soup
487
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
THYME- continued
CHEF TIPS
thyme
tea.
Thyme
and today
it
sailed to the
grows wild
plain yogurt,
and
minced
thyme.
garlic,
USES
over
Serve
Medicinal:
pasta or rice.
Thyme
tatces its
lemon
appetizer
and
on an
platter
with
cines.
cough medi-
flavor in
and
that
thyme
Thyme
to
minced
thyme, basil, and a
was boiled
yogurt,
is
and
in
wine
tea
fresh
its
nal complaints,
Add
sprigs of fresh
It
antiseptic.
combine
variety of ailments.
juice,
for
The
essential oil of
thyme
is
thymol.
If
taken in pure
form,
it
Culinary:
Thyme
tastes delicately
green with a
faint
clove
after-
ranks as
Thyme works
fish,
poultry
ASS
Thyme
Thyme
dies.
is
it
when
one of the
used
to preserve linen
from
Cosmetic:
Thyme
insects.
and detergents.
planting:
Thyme
more
information.)
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
GROWING CONDITIONS
Soil
pH
and
Full
sun
whiteflies.
6.3.
Light, dry,
and tomatoes, when planted near them. In addition, gardenrecommend plantings of thyme to repel imported cabbageworms
tatoes,
ers
well-drained
soil.
to partial shade.
CULTIVATION
you are a beginning gardener,
If
before trying
sown
more
try
need
growing
common thyme
are best
a temperature of
filled
mends
He recom-
soil is
transplanting into
new
spots.
when
490
THYME
Name
SPECIES
Height
AND VARIETIES
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
TROPICAL PERIWINKLE
Tropical periwinkle
It
woody
plant, erect,
and many
and threes
Apocynaceae
Catharanthiis rosens
DESCRIPTION
across, flaring to 2
in.;
mouth
bris-
tlelike hairs.
herbs go,
it is
cure. Enjoy
particularly
is
home
it
HISTORY
Tropical periwinkle received official status as a medicinal plant
1-3
in.
spinelike point
long;
Fruit:
in.
shon
Two
at tip;
leafstalks.
paired pods;
long; containing
up
to 15 cy-
USES
lindrical seeds.
Height: 1-2
ft.
FLOWERING
May through
would alone
October.
even
if
tion as an ornamental.
RANGE
Native to Madagascar; naturalized throughout the tropical
world.
used
to treat
or lymph cancer.
An
is
employed
in
in a
lymphoma.
in treating dia-
492
is
contradictory.
Tropical Periwinkle
a6s*tw!fw>w ih'
overdose can be
fatal.
The
when used
damage
in cancer therapy.
sulfates,
for-
loss,
cramps, phlebitis, rashes, temporary mental depression, loss of tendon reflexes, headache, nosebleed, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and
numbness.
chemotherapy.
the
immune
system.
Ornamental: Tropical periwinkle is a beautiful ornamental garden plant. It can also be used for indoor bouquets and arrangements.
It is suited for window boxes, beds, and borders and is attractive as a
potted plant in a greenhouse or window garden.
CULTIVAriON
The members of the Catbarattthus genus, which
are natives of
season.
cultivated.
It
has
become
It is
where
extremely
sensitive to frost.
Start tropical
cuttings in the
other warm,
fall
humid
place.
When
in a
greenhouse or
tall,
tips to
It
tends to
become
scraggly
Tropical periwinkle
is
by pests or
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
Plant hardiness
Average, well-drained
Full
sun to
10.
soil.
partial shade.
disease.
493
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi
DESCRIPTION
A
perennial
has
short, dark stems, and long fidelicate,
ground
brous
cover,
uva-ursi
(See
roots.
photo on
page 170.)
White,
Flowers:
'4
clusters at
ends of branches.
in.
medicinal herb.
The
tinged
long; in small
with red;
oblong,
tapering to leafstalk; undivided;
green on upper surface, pale
and veined on underside; 1 in.
Ericaceae
known
some
in
attractive to
and
it is
even
look
at
are boring
to the
human
tongue.
Leaves: Leathery,
long;
on
USES
Uva-ursi
short leafstalks.
round,
Small,
Fruit:
in.
and
make sense
FLOWERING
April
is
in light of
and American
ans,
its
all
The
its
natives
all
considered
it
prescribed the leaves and fresh berries for treating kidney stones,
and May.
RANGE
For a tea low in tannic acid, use cold water, not hot, and allow
in dry,
may
in
lead to poisoning.
swellings.
ing.
Ornamental: Arbutus
uva-ursi
where
bred
comes
it
into
its
is
own on
resists erosion.
cover, but
dense
foliage.
a green in
CULTIVAriON
With a bit of luck, you can transplant uva-ursi from the wild into
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Peaty,
Full
moist
sun to
zone
2.
soil.
partial shade.
cuttings or seeds.
Uva-ursi needs
sionally pinch back
Generally,
494
it
little
young
plants to encourage
when
dvf.
Occa-
compact growth.
Valerian
VALERIAN
Valeriana officinalis
Valerianaceae
DESCRIPTION
The Pied Piper of Hamelin may have used more than music in
Legend suggests that he also employed
valerian, an herb known to both intoxicate cats and attract rats. However he did it, in ridding the village of Hamelin of its rats, the Pied
luring the rats out of town.
its
citizens.
is
as a natural tranquil-
efficacious use,
and
in
States,
however.
The
smell.
stem
Its
grooved, hollow,
base,
It
today, for
American
dirty socks."
friend.
carminative,
photo on
page 272.)
Flowers.
Some
near the
above.
HISTORY
erect,
is
hairy,
The
British herbalists
Gerard and Culpeper both recommended valerian for the latter condition. Combined with cinchona, valerian yielded a medicine to treat
Small,
tubular,
three
stamens; in 4-in.-wide panicles
that expand as they open.
Leaves: Dark green, opposite, simple, pinnately lobed,
.sometimes divided more than
five-lobed,
pink-tinged,
on underside.
Fruit: Seedlike achenes.
Height: 3'/2-5 ft.
FLOWERING
fevers.
RANGE
Native to Europe and Asia.
HABITXT
Grasslands,
on
damp mead-
6,600
so protected.
In contrast,
June.
up
to
ft.
valerian
USES
Medicinal:
495
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
MLERIAN-continued
do act as tranquilizers in
They produce fewer side effects than
diazepam, a tranquilizer
be taken with alcohol without the synergistic effects, including depression, which are usually associated with the simultaneous use of
alcohol and tranquilizers. One recent study showed that valerian
preparations could halve the time
it
took
human
subjects to
fall
subjects.
Valerian
it is
more
He recommends an
teaspoon of the root in 1 pint of water. It should be
cup during the course of a day or at bedtime. The tea is
drunk cold,
particularly bitter.
Toxicity: Valerian
does have
its
may
may lead to
Aromatic: Valerian has been used to perfume soap. Oil from the
is used to flavor tobacco and beverages.
Ornamental: Also known as garden heliotrope, valerian is an
old-time favorite. You can buy cultivars of several colors, and its
blooming period and appearance recommend the plant as an addition to flower beds and herb gardens. Routine care is minimal, but
beds must be redug and thinned periodically. Once established, the
plant can naturalize itself.
Cosmetic: A soothing herbal bath can be prepared using valerian. (See the entry Bathing with Herbs for more information.)
root
CULTIVATION
Valerian grows wild in North America and is regarded as an
ornamental plant, but it is grown commercially in parts of Europe. It
can be propagated by cro-w'n or runner division in the spring or fall,
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Soil
pH:
zone
tolerates
4.
wide
range of pH.
Rich, moist,
Full
496
sun to
humusy
soil.
partial shade.
and daughter plants can be collected at the end of the summer. Set
plants at least a foot apart. Give them rich soil and plenty of water and
weed frequently. Seeds may also be sown in a cold frame in April and
transplanted in May, but they germinate poorly. The whole planting
should be dug and renewed by division every three years, or overcrowding will decrease its vitality.
Harvesting and storage: The roots are harvested in the fall or
spring before the shoots come. Wash them, then dry quickly and
thoroughly at 120F until brittle. Store free of moisture. The roots
keep their odor and flavor for a long time.
Vervain
VERVAIN
Verbena
Verbenaceae
officinalis
Ver\-ain
is
a ver\- old
DESCRIPTION
race.
name
the classical
for "sacred
boughs."
It
is
crucifixion:
^ith
I,
example, described
for
how
a handkerchief.
When
a shooting star
is
Vervain was
don
still
tion.
Flowers:
\\hite; tubular
it
Tiny,
with
purplish
deeply divided;
upper leaves attached, lower on
to lanceolate,
leafstalks.
Fruit: Nutlets.
Height: 1-3
ft.
FLOWERING
Verbena
probably
it
herbalist Nicholas
ver\'ain
will
over the pimple, and the blemish will disappear. Don't use your bare
hands, or you'll simply transfer the pimple to your hands.
blue
hastata), although
Theodosius
Throughout summer.
RANGE
secret parts.
USES
Medicinal: Vervain has been reported to have broad healing
powers: astringent, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge,
and on
modern
for
scientific
They repon
to
be any
modem
scientists.
even in
moderate doses.
Cosmetic; A bath prepared from ver\'ain is said to be quite
soothing. (See the entr^' Bathing with Herbs for more information.)
that a glycoside in vervain causes vomiting,
CULTIVAriON
Venain grows ven,- easily from seed, says Holly Shimizu, curator
Herb Garden in Washington, D.C. Though it seems
of the National
rather short-lived,
it
reseeds
itself readily.
who used a
GROWING CONDITIONS
lot
when
exchange
for
Full sun.
497
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
VIOLET
DESCRIPTION
The
violei
is
Violaceae
"Sweet
sweeter than
a low-growing
stitute for
Viola odorata
violet,
all
the roses."
In the seasonal soap opera of the garden, the violet plays the part
of the ingenue.
Its
we seldom
overlook
it.
We
The
stolons root
pro-
more sentimental
duce new
at their tips to
it
of artless inno-
overlooked, and
at least to
it
goes
most.
plants.
on
of ages prizing
air
may be
HISTORY
stalks arising
Oval
kidney-
to
4-6
go back
in
an attempt to protect her from the jealous Hera, Zeus gave her
"plate"
it
for
was used
in
were
USES
The leaves and flowers have antiseptic and expectoand one experiment carried out in I960 showed that
a violet extract damaged tumors on mice. Not enough scientific work
has been done, however, for anyone to know how the constituents of
the violet work. It is known that the plant contains myrosin and other
glycosides and saponins. It serves as an emetic in quantit)', and it has
been used to treat respiratory disorders, as a gargle, in cough mixtures, and as a diuretic. The flower is healthful if only because it
contains an abundance of vitamins A and C. An aspirinlike substance
has also been obtained from the plant.
In China, violets are burned under abscesses to cure them and
Medicinal:
and May.
rant properties,
RANGE
Native to Europe, Asia, and
North
Africa;
naturalized
throughout the temperate zone.
HABITXT
Damp
clearings,
violet
in.
FLOWERING
April
When the goddess lo was turned into a heifer by her lusty lover Zeus,
places,
and limy
wooded
soil.
It
may cause
catharsis
and expectorant
498
is
irritates
the
action. Eating
Violet
Culinary: Violet flowers and leaves are softly fragrant and are
used as garnishes in chilled soups and punches. The petals are often
candied and used to garnish cakes, pastries, and poached fruit.
Violets add verve to jams, jellies, liqueurs, puddings, flans, gelatins, fruit salads, and green salads. Violet vi'ater, made by weighting
fruit
is used in tea
compotes, and chilled soups.
if
unproven, theory
is
is
in;
the sense of
is
as strewir
welcome
Violaceae
violets;
is
a family
nothing more.
composed of
One would
and
would be
ous.
One
more hybrid
varieties of
CULTIVAriON
Propagate from division or runner in late winter to early spring,
setting
outdoor boxes
freeze to
in
and
Keep the
plant moist
if it
originally
grew near
water,
Pests
in
and
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Soil
Rich, moist,
Partial
zones 5-8.
They
lose their
lose their color if not dried slowly and well. Store out of
blue coloring matter turns green in water storage.
will also
light.
pH: acid
to neutral.
humusy
soil.
shade.
The
499
SNAKEROOT
VIRGINIA
Aristolochia Serpentaria
UNSAFE
The
most
ancestors recognized
wort family.
DESCRIPTION
strike.
of the plant
rest
The stems
It's
is
flowers.
a perennial herb.
purple;
no
petals,
shaped
open
the base;
Vi
in.
on
at
in.
long.
Angled capsules.
Height: 2
It
its
some
of the funniest-looking, or
herb garden.
It's
relationship to other
easy to see
members
how our
of the birth-
HISTORY
The
Aristolochiaceae
ft.
name given
is,
FLOWERING
Early
summer.
RANGE
some
tricks.
was
old.
One
herbal includes a
wood-
holds out an
Aristolochia.
tic states
The
HABITAT
man
Woodlands
rich soil.
with
moist,
adopted
it
USES
Medicinal: Unless you have years of experience with this herb,
stay
it,
500
away from
period.
Virginia Snakeroot
dizziness,
paralysis.
In the interests of preserving herbal lore, the Virginia snakeroot's traditional uses are discussed here. But this does not constitute
an invitation to be reckless.
The dried rhizome (underground part of the stem) and roots,
known
called aristolochin
Much
treat snakebite.
in this
its
alleged ability to
all sorts
Now herbalists
hesitate
recommendation.
cately in
aristolochine.
came from
A Modern
mad
dogs.
British herbalist
It
will
cultivated.
"irregular
Hyde
disagreeable."
plant."
CULTIVATION
According to Shimizu,
them
but eventually
in a tightly
it
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
Plant hardiness
5.
soil.
closed container.
501
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
Euonymus atropurpurea
UNSAFE
Celastxaceae
DESCRIPTION
Wahoo
shaib or
deciduous
is
tree.
and
and pointed,
yellow
USES
in.
The seed oil was employed as an emetic and purgawere said to be diuretic. The dried root bark was used
as a stimulant and a laxative and in the treatment of dropsy.
The American Indians used a bark decoction for uterine troubles and eye ailments, a poultice for facial sores, and an infusion as a
in
Fruit:
to
fall.
folk medicine.
tive.
Smooth
capsules;
Native from
as far
The
New
fruits
physic.
RANGE
Florida
1917 report claimed the plant affected the heart much like
and its popularity as a heart medicine jumped. But only four
digitalis,
York to
years
west as Montana.
later,
remained
soil
in the U.S.
Toxicity:
HABITAT
do
was long
But wahoo is
this plant
facial sores.
toothed;
finely
hairy underneath;
on
on
petals in fours.
long;
also
cymes;
sepals
and
used
extremely toxic and has fallen from favor as a medicinal plant.
The Euotiymtis genus takes its name from the Greek goddess
Euonyme, the mother of the Furies; the connection apparently is that
the shrub has irritating properties. Wahoo was frequently called
skewerwood, prickwood, or spindle tree because the hard wood was
used to make toothpicks, spindles, and skewers. Pipe stems were
once whittled from it, and shoots were converted into an excellent,
internally as a physic
recommended
for
home
medicinal use.
Ornamental: Plants of the Euonymus genus in general are attractive as border shrubs, hedgerows, espaliers, screens, foundation
plantings, and single subjects. Their red berries draw more attention
than their small flowers. Wahoo itself is usually dismissed as a poor
representative of the genus's ornamental qualities.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
zone
CULTrVATION
Since
to
Any gardening
Full
sun to
soil.
partial
shade.
most any
seeds sown
location,
it
is
in the spring.
It
is
adaptable
can be propagated by
by placing a 3-inch branch tip into a fine, sandy loam. The roots of
the new plantings must be kept damp, and the top should be sprayed
regularly.
502
wahoo
5.
Willow
WILLOW
Salix spp.
Salicaceae
DESCRIPTION
The willows are one of the big success stories of herbal mediThey
cine.
and
practicality,
serving
tall
wil-
trees to arctic
used medici-
nally.
HISTORY
dense
James Madison
at his
He
first
first
century a.d.,
may have
Height:
cies:
capsules;
seeds.
Depends on
Salix alba to 75
nigra to 35
spe-
ft.;
S.
ft.
FLOWERING
Midspring.
RANGE
Temperate regions of the
Northern hemisphere.
tion.
Small
Fruit:
downy
undi-
Alternate,
home, Montpelier.
willow.
cylindrical catkins.
Leaves:
to
who
certainly
for the
and
bit
of willow lore
is
the story of
its
fighter
painkiller.
that Johnson
More than
substitute.
One
is salicin. It is
had been
Salix.
An
a principle
isolated,
Italian
it,
503
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
WILLOWEVOLUTION
It
when
those
flowers,
illus-
continue-
being
to
nated. Petals,
purpose on a plant
need the
wind-polli-
which serve no
that doesn't
& Company
in
Bayer hated
it.
Of
the market.
services of pollinating
creatures,
with
interfere
on a
USES
female
flowers
also
lination
that the
is
attested to
by the
female flowers
duce nectar
still
fact
pro-
to attract insects.
far
more
the
willows aren't
free of insect help in polthe
could
landscape
are
useful for
inflammation of joints
recommended
needed
artistic setting.
504
Willow
GROWING CONDITIONS
CULTIVAriON
be started by unconventional techniques. In
willow
once
was
propagated by tossing a willow basket into a
fact, a
of
house
in Philadelphia. Eventually someone noin
the
yard
a
pit
was
growing
into a tree.
basket
that
the
ticed
You can root leafless, several -foot- long branches of first-year
wood in moist soil. And 9- to 12-inch hardwood cuttings, taken in the
spring or fall, will root if left in water. Even leafs' summer cunings
Willow
Full sun.
soil.
trees can
will root.
The
trees,
considerably
at
however, are
difiicult to transplant.
cover slowly.
Willows are associated with soggy soil and indeed thrive in it.
However, they grow in almost any soil that is not extremely dr^'.
Once established, they grow fast and must be pruned to keep their
good looks. The shrubby species can be seriously chopped back;
they
may look
months but
damage from
troublesome pests include imponed willow leaf
beetles, willow flea weevils, gypsy moths, fall webworms, aphids,
and scale. Willows are also susceptible to fungal diseases, willow
Pests
and
insects. Particularly
blight,
tion
for informa-
505
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
Gaultheria procumbens
DESCRIPTION
This low, glossy-leaved,
perennial forms an attractive ground cover in acid
woods from Canada to Georgia.
woody
white,
'4
in.
ery,
in.
long.
pears
in diameter; ap-
in.
summer through
late
early winter.
Height: 4
and birch
toothpaste,
more
familiar
is
the refreshing
gum, candy,
beer.
Penobscot, Sioux, Nez Perce, and other Indian tribes used a tea
made from
settlers.
Crushed
arthritic,
joints.
wintergreen flavor
now produced
is
synthetically,
it
reason for gathering, drying, and shipping large bales of the plants to
where the
volatile oil
was
extracted.
USES
FLOWERING
July.
found
in
is
methyl
salicylate.
A cloth soaked
wintergreen can relieve body aches and pains, but the pure
RANGE
irritate
common
to Georgia.
the skin
internally, as
make
a tea,
it
may
add
cautiously.
Do
in oil of
can
oil
oil
cup of
HABITAT
wooded
In
Poul-
even
distilleries
creeping.
in.,
Fruit:
capsule,
relief
is
It
Ericaceae
areas
and
gum but
taste
clearings.
soon turns
cream
available,
is
and teaberry
gum
has been
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Soil
zone
it
more
information.)
CULTIVATION
4.
pH
5.0-6.0.
sandy
Partial
506
soil.
shade.
or seed.
It
grows well
in
suck-
an acidic
soil
Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Does
it
Hamamelidaceae
work, or doesn't
it?
DESCRIPTION
hazel extract are sold yearly as a health and beaur\' aid, yet few
it
joints.
witches.
"
brown
bark.
Four bright
Flowers.
yel-
long;
calw
dull yellow
in.
on inner
side.
Leaves: Obovate or
cal
with
rounded
ellipti-
to
heart-
20
ft.
Height: 8-15 h.
The
Medicinal:
gallic acid,
and
dr^' extract
leaves, tvvigs,
volatile oils.
The
and bark
U.S.
all
Dispensatory
\\s\s
Cosmetic: The
is
distillation
and
RANGE
FLOWERING
the liquid or
The
to
dispensatory'
comments
that
"exactly
how
it
func-
clearly established."
is
deciduous
are
black seeds as
USES
tions
These
shrubs
external
use,
as
Indigenous
throughout
most of North America except
the far "West, especially from the
Maritimes and Quebec south to
Florida and west to Minnesota
and Texas.
HABITAT
Grows in moist, light
woods and along rock\' saeams.
CUmVATION
Witch hazel
North,
where
it is
is
Hamamelis
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
Soil
Full
pH: neutral
sun to
zone
5.
to acid.
partial
shade.
cuttings or layering.
507
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
WOAD
Cruciferae
DESCRIPTION
Isatis tinctoria
'-4
Oblong
to lanceo-
waned
green; to 4
long; attached to
in.
makes
it
unsuitable in
home
remedies.
HISTORY
top of stem.
Fruit: Black seedpods, V2-I
stem; smaller
in.
late,
at
Height: 3-5
Woad was
long.
East.
ft.
FLOWERING
battles
and
tion of
woad came
in
to
II.
May.
RANGE
USES
just to
home
Eu
look
at
dyers
still
color
it
natural landscape.
Dye: Traditionally,
woad
is
fabrics blue,
when an alum
CULTIVATION
Start
8 inches
\'ear.
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
woad
is
members
Plant hardiness
Full sun.
on
5.
make
508
Wormwood
WORMWOOD
Artemisia Absinthium
Compositae
UNSAFE
is
task
its
name
implies, but
it
may be
best
known
If
DESCRIPTION
By
HISTORY
wood
in
The
earliest
known
description of
B.C.
wormwood
Even then
it
is
found on an
was used to
rid the
body
of worms.
According to legend,
serpent's
tail
as
it
wormwood grew up
Among
who
was impressionist
painter Vincent van Gogh. Allegedly, van Gogh was whacked out on
absinthe when he cut off his ear to send to a lady friend.
In his book American Medicinal Plants, published in 1892,
Charles Millspaugh reported that "the effects prominent in absinthe
drinkers are: Derangement of the digestive organs, intense thirst,
restlessness, vertigo, tingling in the ears, and illusions of sight and
hearing. These are followed by tremblings in the arms, hands, and
legs, numbness of the extremities, loss of muscular power, delirium,
loss of intellect, general paralysis, and death." He added that "peculiar epileptic attacks," which came to be called "absinthe epilepsy,"
the lovers of stimulating beverages
autumn,
late
is at
appearance.
nial,
it is
worm-
hardy peren-
unharmed by frost.
It is
Round-to-oval,
acid odor.
Simple seeds.
Height: To IVi ft.
Fruit:
FLOWERING
July and August.
RANGE
Native
to
the
Mediterra-
nean
region;
naturalized
throughout
the
temperate
world; widely cultivated.
resulted.
no wonder then
most countries of
which
was the leading producer of absinthe, was also one of the last counIt is
that absinthe
is illegal
in
509
Roaale s Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
WORMWOODtries to
ban
it,
that in 1915.
-continued
Wormwood, however,
is still used
vermouth and Campari.
to
USES
Wormwood, with
used much
in
is
it
many
useful in
other ways.
men and
wormwood
"Wormwood
tea
is
worm-
an odorous
botanist Liberty
memory with
Hyde
Bailey noted,
every person
who was
from poor
suffering
and
dice,
to
women
and stimulant.
circulation,
It
has
rheumatism,
fever, colds,
in labor.
duces
its
The theory
same receptor
does explain
amounts,
could cause such profound mental and physical changes in habitual
or even casual users."
Tyler does not "endorse" the use of wormwood, and most
herbalists stress that caution is necessary in its use. Michael Weiner,
noted in Weitier's Herbal, however, that "thujone has a very low
water-solubility; thus it would be difficult to experience the adverse
effects of absinthe when the plant is used in the form of a normally
why
absinthe, even
brewed herbal
when consumed
it
in relatively small
tea."
External uses
seem
less problematic.
Compresses soaked
in
when
tis."
Used
activity. It
in
Lust,
"The
anesthetic
some
and
some
Toxicity
The
essential oil of
wormwood
is
arthri-
antibacterial
people.
It is
used
Jr.
especially danger-
ous.
i^^BSff^^^^,.
m^
^^^v^Jt.'
i-f
L^'
AA
^
---
'"SffijS!^.
'-.
1:4
\'"f^
iV
V^.v
V<
^^
^a*:
^;-^ii
English Lavender
512
Corsican
Rue
w
514
Golden Sage
Wormwood
WORMWOOD-
continued
This account
is
wood.
Aromatic:
Wormwood
used
lent. It is
is
in sachets to
flea beetles,
is
planted in
cabbageworm
St.
gold flowers, a sprig of marjoram, thyme, and a little Wormwood: dn' them before a fire,
rub them to powder; then sift it
through a fine piece of lawn,
and simmer it over a slow fire,
adding a small quantirs' of virgin
honey, and vinegar. Anoint
yourself with this when you go
to bed, saying the following
lines three times, and you
dream of vour panner "that
to
be":
"St.
Luke,
Luke, be kind to
St.
me.
In dreams
let
me my
tme-love
see."
Mrs. M. Grieve
odor.
Ornamental: The
wood
will
is
attractive
plant,
A Modern Herbal
worm-
and addition
to the
herb garden.
fresh.
CULTIVATION
Wormwood
soil.
compost occasionally.
Seed is small but easy to germinate.
It
be
transplanting,
it
can
later
When
first
year,
in
fall.
Wormwood
is
not a
good companion
It
Absinthin
is
There
water-soluble and will wash off the leaves and into the
tion will
it
peak
in the
GROWING CONDITIONS
zone
Plant hardiness
Soil
Full
pH
4.
6.6.
sun to
partial
shade.
be harvested twice.
515
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
YARROW
Yarrow is an erect perenherb with lovely femlike
foliage. It is covered with silky
or wooly hairs. (See photos on
pages 169 and 377.)
Flowers: Numerous white
flower heads composed of disk
florets surrounded by five ray
florets; resemble miniature daisies; flower heads borne on
nial
broad,
terminal,
Yarrow
United
FLOWERING
Thanks to modern, high-tech archaeology, fossils of yarrow polbeen identified in Neanderthal burial caves, suggesting that
its
Yarrow
HABITXT
Roadsides,
516
race
waste
places,
is
some 60,000
packed
it
this story.
years old.
on
his
yanow
stalks.
And yarrow
name,
Achillea,
Some
came from
plant,
also
wound
Civil War.
The
fields.
human
is
Chinese used a
RANGE
len have
and
it is
HISTORY
who
ft.
casting the
is
States. It
flat-topped
clusters.
Height: 3
Compositae
Achillea Millefolium
DESCRIPTION
Rumanian pharmacopoeia
One
still
AMERICAN INDIAN
USES FOR 'VARROW
of the less-glorious
a nosebleed,
if
my
abortive
analgesic
bloody urine
bowel complaints
bruises and sprains
burns
common
cramps
cold
in
neck
dermatological aid
earaciie
emmenagogue
eyewash
febrifuge
headache
hemorrhage
indigestion
kidney aid
laxative
liver aid
sleep aid
sore throat
spiritual aid
spitting
blood
thing.
swollen tissues
the sleeper
about to
toothache
wounds and
sores
strike.
USES
Medicinal: Yarrows have been prescribed for
ailment
at
one
throughout
pounds
just
about every
history.
And chemical
some com-
make blood
As
far as
clot faster.
becoming
compounds have
shown
antiinflammatory' activity. Previous experimenters had produced conflicting results, perhaps because they used extracts from
what are now classified as diff'erent species. A. Millefolium may be
azulene-free and hence lacking antiinflammatory properties. A.
Millefolium var. lanulosa and A. collina, on the other hand, are
supposed to contain azulene. Even within azulene-containing spe-
517
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
iril\J\.L) Vvcontinued
SHAKER'S USES
cies, the
FOR HARROW
acrid
alterative
aromatic
astringent
wide
its
age, the
and
it
variety of uses to
Research from the 1960s indicates that yarrow shows some antieffects, perhaps because of substances called flavonoids.
cathartic
detergent
spasmodic
diuretic
The
stomachic
tonic
its
is
aspirin),
some
thujone,
which
in sufficient
quantities can cause abortions. Perhaps this explains the plant's use
in treating various
women's complaints.
Toxicity:
Yarrow
attractive
when mixed
into a peren-
the
tight, flat
for
use in skin lotions. (See the entry Lotions from Herbs for more
information.)
cultivars in
wool.
Companion
GROWING CONDITIONS
Plant hardiness
zone
tell
when
you
that
planted
this claim.
yarrow
in-
among them.
2.
pH
Soil
Moderately
6.1.
soil.
Full sun.
and lady
rich,
well-drained
CULTIVAriON
fall, and most can be
from seed. They appreciate full sun and adapt to a
of soils, perhaps excluding sogg\' ground. The plants' roots
grown
variety'
518
beetles.
easily
Yarrow
will help
be
hold the
mowed once
soil
a year.
when
he's nearby
The
spread species
it
in
Europe.
It
was introduced
is
to
States. In
these areas
519
Rodale's Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Herbs
K)H[MBE
Pausinystalia johimbe
UNSAFE
Rubiaceae
The bark of this tropical tree has been ingested, sniffed, smoked,
and rubbed on the body for its effect on sexual interest and performance. Like many aphrodisiacs, however, yohimbe bark is not all
that it's cracked up to be. It may cause temporary impotence
certainly a step in the wrong direction
and other far more serious
side effects.
HISTORY
The bark has long been valued as an aphrodisiac, in demand the
world over. Strangely, there has been little scientific work on just
how it works. The bark is taken as a sweetened tea, or smoked, or
sniffed as a hallucinogen. The plant yields yohimbine, which in the
form of an alkaloidal salt, yohimbine hydrochloride, has been used
in prescription formulas intended to improve sexual performance.
Scientific papers discuss the effects of such yohimbe extracts on
animals, but there has
extracts.
USES
Medicinal: The drug yohimbine dilates the blood vessels of the
It
uretic, for
DESCRIPTION
Yohimbe
cal
West
is
a tree of tropi-
Africa.
RANGE
Yohimbe grows wild in
Cameroon, Gabon, and Zaire.
unsafe drug.
520
is
no proof
it
is
Zatar
Thymbra spicata
Labiatae
DESCRIPTION
it
sounds, to an English-speaking person, as though it had three syllables, za-a-tar, although it has only two. Zatar has an exotic name
because
it is
exotic.
and
slightly
on
in-
Smooth, entire,
'4-% in. long.
Fruit: Four nutlets.
Height: To 22 in.
Leaves:
sessile, linear,
USES
The name zatar refers to the species Thymbra spicata, but it has
been used to describe varieties of thyme and oregano. When you
purchase zatar, be certain you are getting the herb you want.
Culinary: Zatar tastes like hearty thyme and is famous in Arabic
and North African cooking. It can be used with chicken, fish, and
beef; on cheeses; in breads, breadsticks, rice, cracked wheat, and
COUSCOUS; and with yogurt sauces and soups.
Zatar zips up eggplant, cucumbers, summer squash, carrots,
also
FLOWERING
Summer
RANGE
Native from Greece to
Is-
rael.
lentils.
Joe Vallan, the owner of Soumaya and Sons Bakery in Allentown, Pennsylvania, describes a recipe that calls for blending zatar
with sesame seeds, sumac {Rhiis coriaria, which can be purchased
GROWING CONDITIONS
Middle Eastern groceries and bakeries), sak, and olive oil. The
mixture is used as a dip for bread or is spread on bread and baked in
the oven. A variation of the recipe substitutes ground Origanum
Fertile,
Full sun.
in
syriacum
treat is
for salt
and
is
spread over
flat
Soil
pH; alkaline to
neutral.
well-drained
soil.
Dried thyme.
CULTIVAriON
According to Cyrus Hyde, zatar can be propagated from cuttings
as well as seed. He grows his in a fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny
location. Cy brings his zatar in for the winter. Kim Kuebel, who
grows
Texas,
that
zatar in
this.
it
521
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS
Angier,
Bradford.
New
Spell of Gardens.
1940.
Sachets, Decoratives
Audubon
-.
to
Bacon, Richard M. The Forgotten Arts. Growing, Gardening and Cooking with Herbs. Dublin, N.H.:
Yankee Books, 1972.
H. The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. 3 vols. New York: Macmillan Co., 1950.
Bailey,
York:
Magic
Macmillan Co.,
tions, 1972.
and James
E.
and Medicinal Plants: Recetit Advances in Bota?iy, Horticulture and Pharmacology, Vol. 1.
Phoenix,
Ariz.:
Oryx
Press, 1986.
L.
Balsam, M.
S.,
and Edward
de
Bray, Lys.
to Weeds.
New
York: Wiley-Interscience,
Dye
and
Technology.
1972.
City,
New
Herb Book.
Healing.
Dyer,
York:
T.
F.
New
York, D. Appleton
Everett,
Blunt, Wilfrid,
Plants
Thomas
H. TTie
New
York Botanical
Garden
New
Femald, Merritt Lyndon, ed. Gray's Manual of Botany. 8th ed. New York: D. Van Nostrand Co.,
1950.
Fetmer,
Emmaus,
Co., 1980.
edies:
)four Face.
London:
Duckworth, 1973.
Foster, Steven.
Freethy, Ron.
Uses,
From Agar
to
Books, 1985.
1979.
522
Goodwin,
Jill.
Books^ 1982.
Dyer's
New
from
and
Teas.
Dover
A Modem
Plants.
Medicine.
and
New
Keys,
Roots:
Ancient
Ybuth.
Culver
City, Calif.:
Vt.:
Charles E.
Krochmal, Connie.
New
New York:
and
Eublications, 1971.
Griggs, Barbara.
Herbs
Grieve, Mrs. M.
Co., 1973.
York:
and Injurious
AMA Handbook
Plants. Chicago:
of Poisonous
American Medi-
1986.
Harris,
and
tion
Usage.
New
1970.
Co., 1983.
Hills,
edy.
New York:
and Rem-
New
York:
Le Strange, Richard.
Comfrey the Herbal Healer Bocking, Braintree, Essex, England: Henry Doubleday Research
al.
Herb
Lust,
B. Lust E^iblica-
1981.
New
fully.
New York:
tions, 1974.
Co., 1984.
New
Wiley
Jacobs, Betty E. M.
est
Publications,
Association, n.d.
Watson- Gupti 11
1970.
Amy Bess. Shaker Herbs: A History and a ComNew York: Clarkson N. Potter, 1976.
pendium.
Mills,
Modem
Publishers, 1985.
523
BIBLIOGRAPHY- continued
Moore, Michael. Medicinal Plants of the Mountain
West Santa Fe:
Museum
of
New
Mexico
Press,
Sanderson,
How
To
1979.
New
York:
Humban,
Santillo,
B.S.,
Herbs Prescott
Valley, Ariz.:
Hohm
Month Guide
Herbs
with
Press, 1984.
Shaudys, Phyllis
New
New
Use.
York: Har-
Charlotte, Vt.:
1986.
A Country Cup: Old and New Recipesfor Drinks ofAll Kinds Made from Wild Plants
and Herbs London: Pelham Books, 1980.
Spoerke, David
Oliver, Paula.
Paterson, Wilma.
Guide
to
1980.
bara:
New
New York:
Em-
New "Vbrk:
New York:
's
Grosset
&
&
A.
R.,
Uew
Thorpe,
Patricia. Everlastings:
Dried Flowers.
New
to
Inner Health.
Dunlap, 1979.
New
York: Facts
on
File Publica-
tions, 1985.
New
Tolley,
Thomson, William
Grosset
New Ca-
York: Grosset
.
New
VNR
Herbalism.
Reinhold, 1979.
Santa Bar-
Press, 1980.
England, 1984.
Van
Woodbridge
and
maus.
Malcolm, ed.
Stuart,
524
Liz.
New
phia:
George F
Lafayette, Ind.:
New
Garden Design.
distributed
by
St.
'Vbrk:
Martin's
Press, 1984.
Herb Blerbs
Pike's
New
Van
York:
Weiner, Michael A., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., with Janet Weiner. Weiner's Herbal. Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.: Stein
1985.
VT
S.,
OR
Salem,
97302
(quarterly).
CO
Herb Market Report. Organization for the Advancement of Knowledge, 1305 Vista Dr, Grants Pass,
OR
97527 (monthly).
WA
Publications, 1974.
Atkinson,
1,
(quar-
terly).
Foster's
Herb Business
AR 72616
Berrj'ville,
Bulletin. P.O.
Box
32,
Ki.sco,
NY
105-^9
(bimonthly).
TX
Herbal
CO
6739
80023 (monthly).
Technologist.
Wheatridge,
NH
St.,
Marcellus,
44th
Ave.,
1000,
03811 (monthly).
St.,
PO.
Y.
Williams, Rte. 1,
Switch, KY
Livitig with
The
Plant Lore.
16
Oak
St.,
Geneseo,
Rd., South-
NY
14454 (semi-
Row
Publications,
annually).
Box
terly).
NY
13101
(quanerly).
The Herbarist. The Herb Society- of America, 2 Independence Gt., Concord, MA 01742 (annu-
Box
1143,
Orem,
LIT
8405^ (monthly).
The Tymes 2219 Long
(monthlv).
CT 06437
ally).
525
11
61
11
INDEX
Page numbers for
illustrations
Abortiiacient, definition
of
287
Abortion, herbs causing
angelica,
153
mawpple, 38
in healing,
in
juniper,
341
as,
498
Achillea fliipendulina. 1
377,516-19,519
American Indian uses
for, 5/^
attracting insects. 111,
in healing,
293
Aclnllea sibirica, 5 1
Achillea tomentosa, 5 19
Aconitum Napelliis.
Alterative, definition
of 287
211
1-2,2,
205
Acorus Calamus, 475-76,
Amaranth, 33, 1 1
Amenorrhea, 6, 9, 61
Adaptogen, definition
of,
Agrimonia Eupatoria.
4,169
Agrimony, 3-4, 4, 169
spp.,
3-4,
LV
Albuminuria, 153
Allelopathy, 107, 109
Allergic reactions,
81,93
283
24
bay 36
beebalm. 40
burdock, 58
calendula, 284
cinnamon, 90
tropical periwinkle.
492
rosemary. 430-3
m-a-ursi, 293,
447
southernwood, 470
wormwood, 510
violet,
St.John's-wort,
definition of
licorice.
287
2,
40
59
288
239
hawthorn. 288
lavender 35
mint. 383
rue, 155
sage, 292
520
482
51
Antioxidants, 3"'3, 4 1 9,
497
Ants, / 70.481
3~3
wormwood,
265, 275
482
287
wormwood, 510
onion, 399
tarragon,
vervain, 293,
burdock, 58
cinnamon, 90
m;u-joram,
Antispasmodic(s)
chamomile, 8 1 295
clary; 9 1-92
treat
beeb-tlm,
10-13,11
Angelica atropurpurea.
287
bay 36
Angelica Archangelica,
504
grindelia,
Antibiotic(s); Infection,
herbs to
306
10-13.11,444
as houseplant,
willow,
wormwood. 510
ginger,
362
Antidote, definition of
494
498
deadly nightshade,
definition of 288
160-61,161,375
451
453
southernwood, 470
sweet cicely, 474
thyme, 292^ 488
216
hyssop. 342
101,
439
sassafras,
eucalyptus, 185
garlic.
287
sage,
savory;
goldenseal, 233
horseradish, 338
Angelica.
roseman; 292
comfrey, 104
definition of 287
Anemia, l4l, 191,229
520
36~
283
chives, 88
comfrey, 285
dandelion, 286
definition of 288
eucalyptus, 185, 286
garlic, 287
goldenseal, 152. 233
hop, 333
horehound, 289
aloe,
echinacea, 177
relievers
28''
lavender, 35
anise, 15
13
Anthriscus Cerefolium.
83-84, 84
Antibacterials. See also
Antibacterials; Antifungals
287
Addison's disease, 36
Aging, ginseng and, 228
Anethum gmi'eoleiis.
476
526
359
113
in everlasting garden,
Antiseptic(s ), 30.
barberr);
213
in italics.
Antipyretic, definition of
basil,
in kitchen garden.
Absinthe, 509
Aclnllea collina. 51^
appear
Anihemis cotula. 82
Anthemis nobilis. 79
Anthemis tinctoria. 82, 206
herbs to treat
88-89,89,101,376
as houseplant, 306
lists
Anthetnis arrensis. 82
Antibiotic(s); Infection,
Allium Scboenoprasum,
Abrasive, horsetail
1.37-38,
1 1
old-time remedies,
216
434
480
Ailanthus
287
as insect repellent,
rue, 155.
tans>',
266
217
type;
Aristolochia Serpentaria.
herbs to control
218-19
mint. 387
mustard, 395
500-501,501
garlic,
Annorada
39^
wormwood, 515
and houseplants, 3 14
and lo\'age, 255
and mint, 388
and nasturtium, _'5~
and oregano. 403
and poplar, -il9
and rose, 426
and southernwood, 261
and willow, 505
Aphrodisiac( s ), purported
feline, catnip, "3
ginseng, 225,
229
passionflower, 4
437
452
sa\'or\',
Raiwolflci serpentina.
468
dandelion, 14
160
288
horseradish, 289
rue, 434
saffron. 437
sweet cicely, 4^4
gentian, 220,
loss, 155.
493
476
Araliaceae
Panax quinquefniiids,
224-29, 226, 272
Arctium Lappa. 56-59, 58
Arctostaphylos
Uni-ursi. 170, 293.
494
Aristolochiaceae
Aristoloc/jia Serpeiituria.
500-501,501
trapped
266
408
and poplar 4 1
b)'
herbs,
1 1
feverfew, 192
ginger 29
goldenrod, 230
158-59,280
Benzoin tree, in
Balsam of Peru, in
pharmaceuticals, 280
Berberidaccae
Berberisspp. 20-21,
347
pharmaceuticals, 2^9
362
Barbern, 20-21,21,237
394
poplar 419
wormwood,
51
Asparagus, best herbs with,
273, 283
Bardana. See Burdock
Barton, Benjamin Smith,
212-13
species and varieties of
25
grindelia,
239
59
282
Bath
oils,
151.
21,237,273,283
thalictroides,
50
405
30
Beans. 120.
Berberine, 20
Beriberis TIjunbergii \~!ii.
minor. 2
Berberis vulgaris, 20-2
1,
21,283
Bergamot. See Beebalm
Betonv, 42-43 43, 205, 283,
309
135 136
96
deadly nightshade,
elecampane, 183
ephedra, 184
eucahptus, 186
fenugreek, 287
1, 5"^,
Caulophyllum
Basil,
coffee, 95,
Burdock
Belladonna,
329-30
betony,
parsley repelling,
42
caNcnne pepper ^5
cocklebur. 57
and healing. 284
205, 2^9
Back pain, birch and, 45
and calendula, 62
and mustard, 395
and nightshade. 111
aloe,
<Ki\h
18-19, 19,
See Antibacterials
120
Aconis Calamus.
flea beetles
autumn crocus, 18
dandelion, 286
mu.stard,
501
and coriander, 1 27
and h\-ssop, 343
and lemon balm, 355,
356-57
and rosemary, 432
and sage, 44
and thyme, 490-9
Beestings, 384,416
Beetles, 110. 111,112, 113
See also Colorado potato
beetles; Flea beetles;
herbs to treat
Bees, 113
and borage, 54
Autumn crocus,
101,482-83,483
Artemisias, 236
Artemisia rulgaris. 392
licorice, 361,
Araceac
4-'5-''6,
520
:?/,
378
159
charm. 5
494
baths for 30
Beebalmtea, 39, 41
Artemisia canadensis, 1
Artemisia Draainailus.
juniper,
X'irginia snakeroot,
confused
Arthritis,
Appetite
283
Arnica sororia. 17
Aroma, from herbs. See
Scents from herbs and
in old lo\-e
Apoc)Tiaceae
Cathamiithtis mseiis.
492-93, 493
208,
283
definition of 288
m)Trh, 290, 396
rose, 292, 423
roseman; 292. 429
sage, 292. 439
m-a-ursi. 293. 494
witch hazel. 293, 507
^arrow. 293
Astrology; 62. 327
Astronomy. 62
1~, 205,
Beaut>-, herbal
488
betom'. 43,
211
southernwood, 470
yohimbe, I5~. 520
dill,
Arnica montana.
473
in e\-erlasting garden.
saflfron,
th>Tne,
33,509-10,510
stinging nettle,
nisticana.
338-40, 339
nasturtium. 111,
jimsonwced, 346
onion, 290
24
446
Betony tea, 43
Betulaceae
Betula spp., 44-46, 45
Betula lenta. 44, 45, 46
Betida nigra, 44
Betula papyrifera, 44
527
11
[IN
INDEX continued
287
288
lobelia. 15-i, 364
onion. 290. 399
parslc). 408
serpenmood. 468
>ohimbe. 15~, 520
garUc, 21^-18,
hawthorn. 2~5.
Betula pwnila, 44
Betuld spp., 44-46, 45
Bible garden, 200
Bile flow. 220. 288. 405.
429
Birch. 44-46.
45
Birch beer 44. 45
Birth defects. 380
Bites. 351. 364.
See also
herbs increasing
149
bloodroot. 48
herbs to
arnica,
and
treat;
l"".
Black hellebore, 47
Black spot. 24Z 266, 426
395
220
ginseng, 228
grindelia. 239
Breast,
jimsonweed, 152.
Breath
346
juniper.
40^
153
1.
Hemorrhages
uterine. 153,
233
Blisters
aloe and.
garlic.
^""
216-1"
434
chenil and. 83
dandelion and. I4
garlic and.
mistletoe,
390
377, 513
Boraginaceae
'
n^
b\ indigo.
S^tiiplTftiim officinale.
344
405
St.-John's-'wort and.
spitting
155
of betom- and.
42
Blood cells, white
decreased by tropical
periwinkle, 492
increased bv goldenseal.
233
Blood pressure
herbs decreasing
American
2"9-83
Botanical sprat's and dusts,
112-13
Botany. See Herb(
Plant( s
);
).
botam
and related
blue cohosh, 50
83
88
betom; 42
bloodroot. 48
blue cohosh. 50
borage. 53
elecampane. 183
eucal\ptus. 186
ginger 288
239
Broom. 55. I69
Browne. Sir Thomas, 327
Bruises, herbs to treat
arnica. 1"
458
134
95-96
Calabar bean, in
pharmaceuticals. 280
Calamus aromatiats. 434
Calendula, 60-62, 61, 100,
168-69, 284, 378
Calendula
officinalis.
60-62
61,100,284
dye garden, 208
Calliopsis, in
Camphor tree,
in
pharmaceuticals. 280
36
Cancer
38
burdock. 58
calendula. 61
448
wormwood. 510
St.-John'swort.
Brunfels. Otto.
324-25
herbs causing
angelica. 12. 148,
149
342
juniper 347
la\'ender 351
lobelia. 364
roseman; 429
sage, 439
entries
wormwood. 515
20.
h\-ssop.
chives,
1 1,
Caffeine, in coffee.
ccmfrey. 104
48
490
th\-me.
iris.
44
tans\.
120
ba>t)ern;
bore. 8. 9
betony, 43
cher\il,
528
helle-
sage,
285-86
Borago officinalis, 52-54.
54,213.377
419
nasturtium, 397
onion, 400
difificuln; 9. 20.
154
ba>;
38"
mint.
148, 151
98.
1 1
cabbage. 110
Butters, herbed. 1 18-19. //9
Cabbage. 120
Cabbage pests. 110,11 3. 508
herbs repelling
Breathing
ginger and. 29
Butterflies.
291,384
shortness of. 362, 488
grindelia.
Borago ojjiciiuilis.
52-54.54,213.377,
bv Oregon grape.
396
492
Bronchial problems.
burdock. 5"
Breast cancer.
Broccoli.
bv echinacea, 176,
Commiphora m\rrha,
congested in nursing.
and. I60
purification of
b\'
Burseraceae
Bursitis,
2n-18
284
comfrey IO4. 285
flax. 195
grindelia. 239
onion. 399
witch hazel. 293
calendula, 61.
393-95,
390
283
5.
herbs causing
ca\enne pepper
12,
burdock. 58
Respiraton' entries
362
dill
bad. 286,
Bleeding, 34
Brassica spp.,
foxglove. 19"
gentian.
288
Bouquets gamis. 1 19
''''
Bowel disease.
Bowel pain. 500
Bowels. 4. 283
Branch gall, and poplar 4 1
Brassica hirta, 393
Bmssica japonica. 395
Brassica jimcea. 393. 394
Brassica nigra. 393. 395
283
149
comfrey 103. 105.
150
sassafras. 156
sweet flag. 156
ba\t)ern; 38.
herbs to
fight
autumn crocus. 19
bloodroot. 48
calendula. 6
catnip.
"2
coffee.
95
390
437
mistletoe,
safifron,
,-< -^^T^a
southernwood,
tropical periwinkle,
492, 493
ofliver,98,
750
96
thalictroides,
380
Candles, 38, 467
skin, 5,
as houseplant,
284-85
Ceanothusamericanus, 398
in
426
Cannabaceae
Cell
64
144
and,
364, 496
390
stimulation, 364,
Cephalalgia, 757
Chamamelum nobile,
79-82, 80
attracting insects,
1 1
Cardamom, 65
in healing,
look-alikes,
288
Carrot files, 7/0,400
Carrots, 120
Carrot wee\'ils, 257, 262, 265
Carthamus tinctorius,
206--', 436
Carum Cani, 63-64, 64
Caryophyllaceae
Sapoiiaiia officinalis.
206, 469
Cascara sagrada, 66-68, 67
Cassia spp., 144
Castor bean, 69-70, 70, 280
Castor oil, 69
Cataracts, aloe and, 7
Catarrh, definition
of,
288
113
and calendula, 62
and la\ender 353
and poplar, 419
Catharanthiis pusillus. 493
Cathamnthus
285
82
mseiis.
288
Cauliflower 120
285
look-alikes, 82
in healing,
in medicinal garden,
and,
205,211,287
Cichorium Intybus. 85-87,
86
in
pharmaceuticals, 281
Cinnamomum zeylanicum,
Cheese. 124
Chenil, 83-84, 84
Chest congestion. See
Respirator)- congestion
Chest pain, 18, 520
Chest problems, 182, 396
Chicken, 720
Chicon; 85-87. 86
Childbirth. 750. 468. 500.
510
Children, mint and, 383,
powder,
384
22
757291
bloodroot, 48
boneset, 283
eucalyptus,
fennel,
286
286
fenugreek, 287
195
fiax,
garUc,
218
362
384
rose, 292
saffron, 437
sage, 292
licorice,
mint,
wormwood, 510
Colic
autumn crocus,
149
hellebore, 148
284
herbs causing
90
Cinnamon, 90
384
Chills,
205
Chili
La.\ative( s
definition of,
205
Chamomile, 79-82, 80, 100,
273
attracting insects, 112
Chamomile tea. 8
Chapped hands, mint
410
Cinchona,
in medicinal garden,
of,
passionflower
Chrysanthemum Balsamita.
128-29.129,513
Chrysanthemum Parthen-
aloe,
436
Christianity',
definition
of,
Flatulence
213
288
Ceiitella asiatica,
Colchicum autumnale,
18-19.19,205,2^9
306
kitchen garden,
Cholagogue, definition
Caprifoliaceae
213,306,376
of pancreas,
Caulophyllum
50
750
Circuta nuicuUitei. 1
Clar), 91-92, 92, 100
Classification, of herbs,
302-4
Claiiceps pMpurea. 'ill
Cleansing herbs, 36''
herbs to treat
caraway 63
284
160
catnip,
dill,
218
383
rue, 434
thyme, 488
Collapse, 148. 149. 152
garlic,
mint,
Colon, inflammation
of,
68
98
Coma, herbs causing
Coltsfoot, 97-98,
307-310
Clotbur See Burdock
Cloves, 93
Club root, in woad. 508
Coagulation, 398
CockJebur confused with
burdock, 57
Cockscomb, 33
Codling moth, 7/0
Commiphora myrrha.
Cloisters,
95
lobelia, 75-^.
364
penmTojal. 4 1
tropical periwinkle,
493
329
in healing,
in
285-86
medicinal garden,
204-5
290,
396
529
286
ginger 287
licorice. 290
herbs
108
in.
Consciousness, loss of 9
Constipation, 53, 151
relief of. 5eeLa.xative(s)
69
Achillea Millefolium.
Contracepti\es,
516-19.519
Arctium Lappa. 56-59.
58
Arnica montana. 17
Coniallaria nuijalis.
Comiilsions
herbs causing
509-10,510,515
officinalis,
Carthamus
436
tinctorius.
Eupatoriiim perfoliatum. 5
Inula Helenium.
182-83,183,378
Matricaria recutita.
79-82, 80, 273
Santolina Chaniaecyparissus. 203, 354
Solidago spp.,
2.30-31,231
Tanacetum itdgare,
32,444,479-81.
480
Tamxaaim officinale.
141-42,142
Tussilago Rirfam.
9''-98,
98
Compresses, in herbal
medicine, 280-81
Confiision, 151,
434
herbs to treat
cayenne pepper, 77
530
448
286
Cyclamen
mites.
2. 2-i~.
262
293
169
h>-ssop,
goldenseal, 233
lavender 350
jimsonweed, 152,
Dandrufl.
soapwort. 469
th)me. 488
348
364
390
413
156
wormwood. 15~
aloe.
498
\iolet.
of 289
Cowbo)
20
434
Cooking
herb and spice com{A)n\Tjlsive twitching,
in,
130,131,133,134,136,
138, 139, 140
119,
122
herb-food combinations
in, 120-21
with herbs, 114-124,
114, 120.5eefl/,so
specific herb entries
salt-free, 122-24
Coreopsis tinctoria. 208
Coriander 125-2"'. 126, 295
Coriiindnim satiium,
125-27.126,295
Com. 121
Com chamomile, 82
Corn feverfew, 82
Corn pests. / 10. 1 1
Corroborant, definition of
288
from cjebright. 151
288
Creams
(skin),
Cmais satinis.
2"'5,
365
206. 437-38.
438
Croup, eucahptus and, 186
Crown
266
rot.
24Z 25Z
261.
^.
12
362
143, /4-5"
American hellebore. 9
arnica.
N9
autumn crocus.
broom. 150
1-19
hemlock, /52
jimsonweed, /52
lobelia, 153. /5-J.
and aconite, 2
and angelica. 13
and parsley. 409
Annomcia
nisticana.
393-9S. 395
Isatis tinctoria.
/5-/
mav'apple.
/ 5-1.
364
38
390
I68,
Hr. 508
Nichola.s.
mandrake.
mistletoe. 154.
Cruciferae
Culpepen
15'J
See Ephedra
Crafts, from herbs. 130-40,
tea.
Crataegus laevigata.
barberr\'.
binations
289
Counterirritant, definition
herbs to treat
Cor^-za.
493
wahoo, 15^
Cutworms.
335, 3.36
horseradish. 289
tropical periwinkle,
176-77.177,274
439
St-John's-wort.
159
flax. 195
tan.sT,
Echinacea angitstifolia.
.sage.
deadh' nightshade,
penn^Toii'al,
193
Cichorium Intybiis.
85-87.86
fla-x,
mistletoe, 154.
spp.
beebalm, 39
betony 283
bloodroot, 48
195
horehound, 298,
lobelia,
Chrysanthemum
38
betony. 42
fennel,
juniper, 153,
79-82, 80
bav'bern,;
anise, 15
elecampane, 183
346
Chamamelum nobile,
coltsfoot, 9"'
44
broom, 150
Calendula
fennel.
entries
Compositae
Coughs
ephedra. 184
501
walioo, 502
yohimbe, 520
327
312-15
Cupressaceae
Juniperus communis.
347-48, 348
Dcobstruent, definition
foxglo\i;. 151.
of.
289
Depression
herbs causing
tropical periwinkle,
198
hemlock, 152
th\Tiie.
rose.
423
496
th>Tne.
St.-John's-wort.
488
44"
in
ba>.
36
black hellebore.
4"'
ca>i;nne pepper.
rose.
chamomile. 8
savory;
deadh nightshade.
151
St.John's-wort.
448
scented geranium.
4S6
herbs to treat
1''
362
Desert herb. See Ephedra
Detergent, definition of. 289
licorice.
Jimsonwced
Diabetes
herbs to treat
dandelion. I4I
fenugreek. 191
ginseng, 229
sage,
453
439
4S4
comfrey, l43
492
vohimbeand. 15".
520
definition of.
289
Diarrhea
herbs causing
autumn crocus,
149
becbalm. 4O
broom. 150
cascara sagrada,
castor bean.
69
eucal\ptus. 186
36
borage. 53
broom. 55
dandelion. 141.286
cardamom. 65
catnip. ~2
definition of.
chicor\'.
chamomile. 81
chenil. 83
cinnamon. 90
clar>. 92
coriander. 125
dandelion. 1 4 1 286
echinacea. 1~6
horseradish. 289.
289
jimsonweed, 346
peppermint. 291
rose.
339
onion, 290
291,408
1
292
rosemar\. 292
148
262. 265
Ebers pap\Tus. 3 1
Echinacea. 1"6-"". 177,
205. 274, 286
Eansigs. 13.
-'-/".
Eclmuicea angustifolia.
1"6--". 177, 205,274,
286
Eczema, herbs to
treat
rosehips,
423
soapwort, 469
chenil. 83
comfrc). IO4
southernwood, 4~0
sweet woodruff, 4
u\Ti-ursi, 293
echinacea. 1"6
goldenrod. 230
laMender 35
Oregon grape. 405
\iolet,
498
roseman. 429
Dizziness
sweet woodruff,
4-8
29
penn\To\ul. 4
difficult)'
knage, 369
marsh mallow. 290
pipsisscwa, 4
horseradish,
parsley
455
34
288
ginger 223
hops, 288
13~
I>.Tntcr\.
290
elecampane. 183
ephedra. 184
fennel. 188
goldenrod, 230
elecampane, 183
8"
horsetail,
117.269
138. 138
Duck's foot. 5ee .Marapple
Dwale .See Deadh nightshade
r>ie garden. 205-8
Ches. from herbs. l63-"5.
163,167-70, /64-66.
Diuretic(s)
ba\.
39-40
520
car3wa\; 63
parsle\,
68
and.
chenil. 83
la\
Perspiration
rahimbe
calendula.
ender 350
lemon \T:rbena, 358
licorice, 362
mint, 383
mu.stard. 394
m\Trh, 396
oregano, 402
281
101, 112, 160-61, 161,
306. 375
Disea.scs of herbs. 266-6". 268
in pharmaccutic"al.s,
Dill,
Diuresis,
Drowsiness, 239
Drving of herbs, 116-1",
misidentified as
14-15
basil. 22. 24
calendula. 61
gentian,
periwinkle,
colonial st>le.
Drops\. 83. 19"
sa\or\-.
trf)pic-al
448
anise.
wormwood. 510
arnica.
423
SL-John's-wort.
'
Dried arrangements.
medicinal garden,
205
20
283
borage. 53
cayenne peppec " 5
horsetail. 34
149
198
betony. 43,
angelica.
Dogs. 16
198
IMgitalis purpurea. 19~-98,
barberr)'.
herbs causing
Dog fennel, 82
Digitalis lanata.
herbs to treat
Dermatitis
448
292. 488
220
493
wahoo. I5~
229
rosemary; 429
girLseng.
St.-John's-wTort.
tropical periwinkle.
herbs to treat
borage. S2-S3
Dock, 162
Doctrine of Signatures, 225
Dodoens, Rembert, 325
434
292
sage,
senna. I44
x'alcrian.
rue,
goldenseal. 233
hellebore. 9, 1-48
488
\alcrian, 496
soapwort. 469
Edema. 229. ,362 See also
Swelling(s)
Eggplant. 121
Eggs. 121. 124
ancient
herbs
th>Tne,
Eg\pt.
Virginia snakeroot,
318
Elderbem. 170, 1"8-81,
179, 376
501
).
in.
531
1 11
Elecampane, 182-83,183,
of 290
eucalyptus, 186
e)'ebright, 151
fenugreek, 191,287
definition
Cardamomum, 65
Eleuthemcoccus senticosus.
228
Elfdock. See Elecampane
Elfsvort. See Elecampane
Emesis. 5ee Vomiting
Emetic, definition of, 290
289
hwsop, 289. 342
licorice, 290
mj-rrh, 290, 396
onion, 290
parsley, 291
rosemary', 429
soapwort. 469
\ioIet. 498
Extremities. See Limbs
horseradish,
Menstruation, herbs
aiding
290
Emollient(s),3(SS
of 290
Endurance, 228
Ephedra, 184,281
Ephedraceae
Ephedm spp., 184,281
Ephedra major, 184
Ephedra nefodeiisis. 184
Ephedra sinica, 184
Ephedra spp., 184, 281
Ephedra trifurca. 184
Epilepsy-, 159,390
definition
Ericaceae
Arctostaphylos UiKitirsi.
Gaultheriaprocumbens,
506
Erythema, from
155
439
Eucahptus. 185-86, 186, 286
rue,
502
Eupatoriumperfoliatum, 50
Euphorbiaceae
Ricimis communis,
69-^0, 70, 280
Euphrasia officinalis, 187
Expectorant( s
angelica,
anise, 15
bloodroot, 48
532
Fish. 121.
2^5
angelica,
290
351
herbs to treat
American hellebore, 9
1
autumn crocus,
barbern; 283
boneset, 283
borage, 53
calendula, 61
cayenne pepper, 76
coffee.
95
echinacea, 286
ephedra. 184
fenugreek. 191
hj-ssop.
indigo,
289
344
American hellebore. 9
boneset. 283
calendula, 61
15
elderbern;
124
herb entries
Flower structure, 296-9''.
296, 297
91
190, 286-87
Fenugreek, 191,28"'
Weakness,
herbs causing
from yohimbe, 520
138
edible, 124,
herbs to treat
365-66
149. 351
Facials, herbal.
angelica,
137-38, 137
dr\ing powders for,
of 290
bay 36
beebalm. 39
caraway. 63
cardamom. 65
catnip. 284
cayenne pepper,
284
chamomile. 285
cinnamon, 90
clarv; 91
coriander 125
dandelion, 285
dill, 160
Fever,
dningof
herbs to treat
definition
400
anise,
VChiteflies
carrot. 110.
Flu
123
Eyebright, 187
Feet, sore,
44 1 5ee also
Flatulence
138,
Febrifuge, definition of
415
395.481.515
Flies,
205
Faintness. 9,
in medicinal garden.
110
Flea beetles.
287
in healing,
194-96. 196
Flax.
211
inflammation of 362
medications for, 69
protection of 7
in e\'erlasting garden.
381,492
Equhetum spp., 34
Eye(s)
Equisetaceae
Equisetum an<ense, 34
Equisetum hy'ertuile, 34
Equisetum spp., 34
Ergot, 322
239
grindelia,
definition of,
borage. 53
chenil, 83
204,331,378
Elettaria
1''9
286
95
288
coffee,
ginger,
goldenrod, 230
mint, 384
292
rose,
Foeniculum
188-90
officinale,
Rienicutiim iidgare,
188-90, 190,
286-87
Foetid chamomile, 82
Folklore, herbs
in.
Magic, herbs
in;
herbs
in;
oIogN',
See also
M\th-
Witchcraft, herbs in
angelica, 10
287
ginger 223, 288
goldenrod. 230
juniper, 153
22
bay 35
betony. 42
feverfew.
basil,
lavender 351
lo\-age,
black hellebore, 47
borage, 52
calendula, 60
mint, 383,
chervil.
parsley 291
coriander 125
costmar); 128
dandelion. 141
369
384
m>Trh. 290, 396
peppermint. 291
429
4^4
th\Tne. 292! 488
wormwood. 510
j-arrow 293
rosemary. 292.
sweet
cicely.
83
dcadU nightshade.
158
160
dill.
elderberry-.
'
flax,
194
178
'
garlic, 2
Fungal diseases
and hawthorn, 275
ginseng, 224
goldenrod, 230
hawthorn, 275
la^tnder,
Fungus, agents to
410
416
420
422
428
rue, 433-34
sage, 439
St.-Johns-wort,
447
Gardens
207
e\'erlasting,
210-1
1,
209
318-20
517
Food and Drug Administration, 146, 22^, 380
Food preserNatives, 429,
442, 448, 482
in histor);
medicinal, 204-5,
237
204
period, 200-1
29
public,
213-14
theme, 201-2
Garlic, 215-19, 217, 273
205
in healing,
28^
as insect repellent,
misidentified as
1 1
time
remedies, 216
comfrey, 143
in pharmaceuticals, 28
Fragrance garden, 208-9
Garlic breath,
Fragrant herbs,
29
117
121
ofherbs, 297-98. 5ee
also specific herb
Fruit,
entries
268
in old
Gas
218
434
396
See Stomach
Gastritis.
inflammation
Gaultheria ptx>cum-
506
Genitals, tingling
in,
157
245
for,
and soil
240-41
79-82, 80
site
\'egetativie
243
for,
propagation
243-44
in winter 270
Grubs, 112,265
Gumplant. See Grindelia
in,
360
Golden marguerite, 206
Golden melissa. See
Beebalm
Gums
Gumweed.
diseases of
290
396
spong}', 38
sore,
See Grindelia
Burdock
Gonorrhea, 415
Gotu kola, 144
Gout, 18. 29, 58, 83
Grains, 124
Grasshoppers, 112, 196,
253, 388
Great scarlet poppi,, 281
Grecian foxglove, 28
Greece (ancient), herbs
tified as
herb entries
causing
aconite,
in,
320
Green hellebore, misiden-
Green
241-43,
for,
242
wild onions,
143
Gastric secretions,
bens,
spp.,
377
244
212
311-15
230-31,231
kitchen, 212-13,
120-21
and
indoors, 305-6,
Glycyrrhiza Missouriensis,
dye. 205-8,
fragrance, 208-9,
herb entries
in shade, 241,
j'arrow,
and storage
and, 268--'0
220-21,221,288
German chamomile,
wormwood, 509
specific
harN'CSting
planting
210
376, 513
in medicinal garden,
246-61
495
verv-ain, 497
woad, 508
for,
\'alerian,
Footbaths, herbs
244
spp., 204,
Pelargonium
serpenrwood, 468
sweet woodruff, 477
Gentiana
268
Geraniaceae
Valerian
rosemar}',
320
Galium odoratum,
Galen's Theriac,
potentilla,
rose,
See
Galium
passionflower,
plantain,
fight.
Antifungals
107
Gentianaceae
220-21,221,288
parsley,
255
horehound, 335
jimsonweed, 3-i5
350
marjoram, 373
mint, 382
mistletoe, 389
mugwort, 392
mjTrh, 396
onion, 399
Gentiana calycosa. 22
Gentiana Catesbaei, 221
y^
.(
148
346
juniper 153
mistletoe,
santolina,
Grindelia,
203
239
390
tropical periwinkle,
493
Hamamelidaceae
Hamatnelis lirginiana,
50Hamamelis femalis, 507
Grow ing
Hamamelis
herbs, 240-''0.
288
Gentiana Andreivsii. 221
Gentiana autufnnalis. 221
entries
268
yohimbe, 520
lirginiana,
293. 507
Hanging Gardens of
Babylon, 318
Hangovers, 76
533
91 1
INDEX-
continued
'iJC'X^
hellebore. 8.
bloodroot. 49
154
148.
488
Heart disease
herbs to fight
broom, 150
foxglo\, 151
hemlock, 152
^:ty-^.V^;
herb entries
potency of 145
purit) of 284
303, 304
in butters, 118-19, 119
of 302-4
classification
interest in,
331
36^
110
companion planting
with, 106-13. 108
284
114, 120
J66
storage of
16-17
th>-me,
hawthorn,
stimulating,
licorice,
95
garlic, 217-18
ginseng, 228
484
143, 148-5''
diseases of, 266-67.
268. See also specific
herb entries
distinguished from
1 1
36
488
pipsissewa,
493
winkle,
American
helle-
bore, 9
angelica,
22
betony, 43
catnip, 284
chamomile, 285
coflfee, 95
basil,
286
192, 287
echinacea,
fe\'erfew,
goldenrod, 230
350
369
mint, 384
onion, 290
oregano, 402
lavender,
429
276
of,
282
287-93
homemade medicines
for,
2^^-82
arnica,
362
mandrake, 154
ma>-apple, 154
sassafras, 156
licorice, 153.
390
from boneset, 5
treat, 4, 6, 38.
492
Hemorrhoids.
1''6.
286,
390
Herb"
294-95
pronunciation of, 295
definition of,
Herb(s)
269
dyes from, 163-75,
163, 167-70, 164-66,
gardening with,
199-214, 199,202,
204, 207, 209, 210,
16
growing of See
Growing herbs
harming other plants.
of. 1
239
282
dock and,
62
339
Hodgkin's disease, 492
Hog apple. See Mawpple
290
333
Horehound, 205, 289,
335-3~. 336
106-13, 108
history of See Histon;
of herbs
as houseplants, 305-6,
Horsetail,
339
of,
123
241
labeling of 284
maintaining freshness
of, 115
34
311,315
Htimuliis japoniciis
311-15,311,315
im;Lsi\'e,
grindelia,
Hornets, 112
108
increased sales
111-12
increasing
High-densir\' lipoprotein,
212
attracting beneficial
insects,
367
18,
in-18, //~
deadi)- nightshade,
water.
Hi\es,
367
astringent, 366
151
779
antiseptic,
159
36-7
465-66, -766
grinding
18, 118.
399
368
frozen,
1-3-^5
broom, 150
coffee, 96
foxglo\'e,
in vinegars,
Herb
emollient,
Herpes, 405
in flavored oils,
412-14, 414
Hellehonis niger 47
Hematuria, 153
Hemorrhages. See also
Bleeding
herbs to
295
spices,
dried, in cooking.
115-1^
149
Hedeoma piilegioicles.
tansy -i80
bathing.
150.
peppermint, 291
rosemar)', 292,
477-^8
yohimbe and, 520
Hean
lo\'age,
giossan-
415
sweet woodruff,
herbs to treat
poplar, 4
2''5,
288
tropical peri-
534
modern
cleansing,
coffee,
jimsonweed, ^-ib
b\-
148
Hay
.v?
A,'^'
horehound, 336
jimsonweed, 152. 346
juniper, 153
lobelia, 154
mistletoe,
A.'^
iririegatus.
\-ar
333
Mmm-.
Hygroscopic, definition
289
423
468
488
143
s>'stem, tropical
520
149. 154
irritation of,
mowment
467
herbs
serpentwood, 468
from castor
Ipecac, in pharmaceuticals,
bean, 69, 70
317-18
3"^
weed; Mayapple
Indian nettle. See Beebalm
garlic,
344
344
Indigo/em
anil.
fnetigofeni eiulecaphylki,
Incligoferci pcitens.
344
344
Indoor plants.
344
218-19
lavender 351
lemon balm. 357
pennyroyal, 412,413-14
sage, 44
southernwood, 470
tansy, 481
thyme, 487, 489
wormwood. 509, 515
House-
plants
Infection, herbs to treat. See
cayenne pepper, 76
chamomile, 8
comfrey 104
echinacea, 176
garlic, 216-17, 287
362
292
beneficial, attracted
110
herbs trapping,
Insomnia
herbs causing
coflfee,
96
licorice,
eyebright, 151
th\Tne,
wormwood, 157
herbs to treat
angelica,
catnip,
autumn crocus,
149
284
19,
boneset. 51
cayenne peppei; 77
juniper 153. 347,
Iridaceae
348
ygennanica var.
florentina, 406
Iris borers, 257 262. 265
Iris ygennanica var florentitm. 4O6
Irish daiS):
sassafi-as,
uva-ursi,
betony 42
See Dandelion
166
Irritable bowel s-\Tidrome, 68
Irritants, 149, 155
Irritations, 510
Isatis tinctoria.
garlic,
339-40
369
onion, 290
parsley 291
lo\'age,
I68, 207,
pipsissewa,
155
415
inflammation of 230,
415,293
of 408, 430
Kidney stones, 83, 293, 379
Knee swellings, 58
irritation
143-44
Labiatae
Hedeoma piilegioides.
412-14,414
458
48
Japanese mint, in
pharmaceuticals, 282
Jaundice, 38, 95, 4^7, 510
Jefferson,
218
horseradish,
508
J lapanese
265
156
494
Itching, 148,
Insects
by
herbs, 111-12, 112
and companion
planting, 106
.See
92
of 362
herbs harming
failure
Iris
herbs to treat
eucalyptus, 186
281
bay
in,
67
48, 50,
plantain, 4 16
Insect repellents
),
394, 430
of,
spasms of 50
Inula Helenitim. 182-83,
112-13
India (ancient
yarrow, 293
inflammation of 11,
Insecticides,
1-J9
288
ginger,
bajtoern; 38
comfrey 104
echinacea, 176
goldenrod, 230
mint, 384
289
autumn crocus, 18
bay 36
cayenne pepper, 77
jimsonweed, 346
mugwort, 392
Joint stiffness, 403
Josselyn, John, 329
Juniper, 347-48, 348
Junipenis communis,
347-48, 348
herbs helping
cayenne pepper 77
perfumed, 467
30
agrimony, 4
broom, 150
mandrake, 15-1
mayapple, /54
Incense,
bone.set, 5
Insanit>',
'342-43.343
Immune
poplar, 4 18
autumn crocus,
yarrow, 517
344
marsh mallow, 379
in
in
233
indigo,
rose,
serpentwood, 468
Intestines. See also Bowels
barberry and, 20
herbs harming
hops, 333
445,446
437
saflron,
chamomile, 8
fe\ertew, 192
goldenseal,
in healing,
rosemary 292
borage, 53
'
209, 447-48, 448
Hypericum perfomtiim.
209, 447-48, 448
Hypertension, 229, 362
Hypertensive toxemia, 9
Hypochondria, 468
Hypoglycemia, 492
Hypotension, /57 520
mint, 384
283
arnica, 17,
Hypeiiaim perfomtiim.
in healing,
283
aloe,
of,
291
H)perglycemia, 468
H)pericaceae
Thomas, 330
Hyssopus
officinalis.
203,289,342-43,343
LaiKindula spp. 203,
208,211,350-53,
353
535
INDEX contiiuied
Iihiat;ic (
Cinmimomiim
iiilgdtv.
Origamnn Mujcnitui.
33,211. 312.
.3^3-^4. 401
101,
113.238,272,292.
3l4. 4.39-42.^^0,
441,444,511,514
452-54,
453
SUicbys officinalis.
42-43. 43, 205. 283.
309
Teiicriiim Cbanuieritys.
222
nvmbra spicata.
99,
521
48^-91.489,49/
Licewings, 111. 112
Ijd s \o\e. 5ee Southcrrmood
Ijd\-bugs, 112
Ijdys bedstraw. 206. 349
mantle. 30
Ijmb. best herbs with. 121
L;id\ s
ears.
35
351
Lavandula angiistifolia.
350-53, 353
in
l.ai (Dicliila
delpbinensis.
351. 352
211
in fragrance garden.
208
.species of.
512
lavender
353
292,314,
439-42, 440. 441,
444, 511, 514
Landscaping. See Gardening
290-91, 399-400,
parslc\. 4()^
pokeweed. 155
ro.se. 292. 423
soapwort, 469
violet, 498
wahoo, 15'^. 502
Leaf blight. 62
Leafhoppers. 62. 110. 112.
426
285-86
Leaf smut.
Leaf spot.
19.24Z267
26~
and calendula. 62
and echinacea. 177.
251
and
and
and
and
and
Lea\ncs.
22
of herbs. 298-300.
ca.sciira
Rwnum-
356, 446
sagrada.
ciLstor bean.
361
Indigofina spp. 344
graecuni. 191. 28''
Lemon balm. 209. 355-5^,
broom. 5S
burdock. 5~
66-68
69
chicon; 8"
dandelion. l4l. 286
deadly nightshade. 1 59
Lemon
Lemon
Colchicum autumnale,
18-19.19,205,
2^9
Vetatnim viride. 8-9.
204. 2^9
Limbs
blood flow in, 8-9
coldness and pain in, 19
paralysis of 362
480
of
sore.
sAvelling
th)Tne,
Linum
usitatissimum.
194-96. 196
Linen, flax
for.
Liniments.
''7.
195-96
159
359, +46
Leukemia, 492
nsiUitissinuim,
194-96, 196
Lippia graveolens. 402
l.i\cr
4-8
tnipical periwinkle,
208
\erbena, 358-59,
Letharg\, 361
/5,}
Linaceae
Trigonella
boncset. 283
2^9. 283
Linum
autumn crocus. 19
harhern; 283
255
nasturtium. 25"
Oregon grape. 405
\iolet. 261
la\ender.
148
aloe. 6.
Clycynhiza glabra.
Ijxative(s)
ba.sil.
heri) entries
352
l.iliaceae
400
360-63
361
goldenrod, 230
351
369-^0, 370
Licorice, 282, 290,
garlic. 28''
plantain. 4 16
garden, 208
Levisticuni officinale.
195
fla.\.
dock. 162
elderbern; 178
Eun)pe;in mandrake. 154
fenugreek. 191
horehound. 336
licorice. 290. 361
36, .305
I.ax'andin,
L;i\ender wands.
238
loimiaceae
536
451
in e\erlasting
Tfntniis vulgaris,
Lamb's
211
430,^5/
Sattireja. spp..
in fragrance
Rosnuiritms offlcimilis.
32,100, 111.209.
292. 314. 428-32.
nfficiiialis.
90
iciim.
zcylan-
in everlasting garden,
Salfia
biuraceae
cnntiiiiied )
Mtimthium
493
yohimbe, 15~. 520
herbs helping
agrimony, 4
dandelion, l4l
y^?-'?.
344
Oregon grape.
405
sweet woodindigo,
408
364
Lobelia Cat-clinalis. 364
swelling
of,
Lobelia, 205,
Lobcliaceac
Lobelia spp. 205, 364
Lobelia Erimis. 364
Lobelia inflata. 205, 364
389-91,391
Visatm ulbiim. 389-9 1
391
Lotions from herbs, 282,
365-68
Lox-age, 369-70, 370
tiiiiim.
botanicals
St.John's-wort.
447
2"8,
herbal, 276-93,
276
28'-93
homemade. 2^7.82
law and. 285-86
glo.ssan'of.
self- administered,
l45, I46
histoPi of herbsin
Southernwood
324-28, 326,
327
95
gt)ldenrod.
Eg>pt.316-18
decline of. 330-31
Greco- Arabic.
230
Virginia snakeroot,
50
Malx-aceae
322-24. 323
3.
New World,
328-30
330
Mediterranean to er 18
205, .380
Greco-Roman, 320
in
patent,
206
355-57,356,446
3^3-"'4,
Mamibiiim
Lunaria,
69
335-.S".
33
Lutuirin atimia,
298
congestion
372
'tilgare.
289,
336
80, 273
in
calendula, 60-6
chives,
88
194
1
ginseng, 224
hawthorn, 2''5
horehound. 335
jimsonweed. 345
mayapple. 380
389
mugwort. 392
mistletoe.
potentilla.
12
420
112
business of, 387
as houseplant, 3 1
Mentha siiai'eolens.
Mexican
j-ams, in
1 1
pharma-
282
110
Mice, l4,
Middle Ages, herbs in, 32
Migraines, feverfew and, 287
Mildew, 266
and calendula, 249
and coriander, 25
and germander 253
and onion, 4()0
powdery. 5ee Powder)'
Penmroyal; Peppermint;
Spearmint
business
of,
38"
312
83
myrrh. 396
th)Tne. 488
in
tropic;il
113
periwinkle,
angelica,
^2
elecampane, 183
licorice,
madder, 372
marjoram, 373
oregano, 402
36
413
rosemary, 429
rue, 434
pennyroj-al,
southernwood. 470
\er\-ain.
49"
492
of,
386
catnip,
253
382-88,
blue cohosh. 50
in medicinal garden,
and passionflower, 41
and ro.semary. 259
Measles. 9. 230
Medicinal garden, 204-5
3.
cher\'il.
bay 36
381
Mayblossom. See Hawthorn
Mayweed. 5ee Chamomile
Mealybugs, 1 1 \.263. 265
and aloe, "'
and foxglove, 198,
as houseplant,
to treat
285
look-alikes, 82
in healing,
205
.361
Amenorrhea
flax,
spp.. 2
3S6
mildew
pressure. See
385,
ceuticals,
eucalyptus, 185
.Mentha
as insect repellent,
in age of herbals,
coffee,
in.
279-83
Mahotiia Ac/iiifolium.
404-5.405
Mahoiiia Bealei. 4()5
Mahotiia nermsa. 405
angelica.
Medicine(s)
433
.f.*!rak':^i^r.;:-A7,rw
40
Mamibium incanum. 205
Lubricants,
r^,--,;.?"-V2Ti^;^^J^^-S:
428
rixseman.
rue.
Marigold,
Southernwood
Low blood
'
ff-.cJ--i->^??-.-,>^ir.' "^.T-^
388
Mint julep, 383
Mint rust, 257 388
Mint water, 383
233
389-91,391
Miscarriage,
Mistletoe,
367
Monarila
citrioclota.
4/
40, 208
-/
537
Origanum hemcleoticum,
-102,
403
211,312,
Parsnips. 121
eyebright, 151
Partridgeberry, 132
ginger,
29 1
horseradish,
403
Origanum rulgare, 373,
401,402,403
Passiflora lutea. 4
peppermint, 291
Ornamental
Pausi>t\'Stalia jotmnbe.
211.
312,313,3^3-^4,401-3.
Pa.ssionflower,
406
283
birch, 44-45
chamomile, 285
arnica,
7,
448
St. -Johns-wort,
Peas,
Pancreatitis,
324
Paral^is
herbs causing
American
helle-
455-58.456,457
457
2- 1 4, 414. See
also Mint
Pepper, 123
cayenne, 75-78,
in healing,
291-92
as insect repellent,
in
hemlock, 152
.362
217
Pareira, in pharmaceuticals,
282-83
in,
350
ver\-ain,
Peristalsis,
327
29
as houseplant,
313
kitchen garden, 2 1
497
Plantaginaceae
Pests
yarrow,
293
herb entries
herbs repelling, 109, 110
herbs trapping, 1 1
and houseplants, 3 1
Petroselinuni crispum.
407-9, 409
291
1
in kitchen garden, 2
Pharmacognos)', 277
Phlebitis,
493
Ptjoradendron serotinum.
.389-91,391
Phj-sic, definition of 29
Phytolacca americana, 417
Ph)tolaccaceae
Phytolacca americana.
417
di.sea.se, 230
mjTrh and, 396
Personality' changes,
348
betony stopping, 42
herbs causing
aconite,
angelica,
Pipsissewa, 4
Plague, herbs
and
angelica, 10
20
bumet, 449
rue, 434
sweet cicely, 474
barberry,
bloodroot, 48
boneset, 283
burdock, 57, 58
calendula, 61
catnip,
16
Perspiration
th)Tne,
chamomile, 285
elderberry, 179
487
284
ca>'enne pepper,
76
466-67
bay 36
in healing,
Periodontal
364
parsley, 408
yohimbe, 520
of limbs, from licorice,
lobelia,
1 1
kitchen garden, 2 1
of,
302
as houseplant, 3
broom, 150
names
477
in healing,
77
bore, 9
bloodroot, 149
deadly nightshade,
151. 159
flax, 195
429
501
Penn>TO)-al, 4
279-83
302-4
structure of 296-302,
in medicine, 278,
"Virginia snakeroot,
Pelargonium tomentosum,
209
159
insecticides from,
112-13
289
154
rosemar)', 292,
520
best herbs with, 121
456,
("apaveraceac
289
sweet woodruff,
208-9
species and varieties of
Panax cjuim/uefolius,
224-29, 226, 272
{"ancreas, cancer of, 96
Parsley
291,410-11,
in fragrance garden,
in
Dandelion
45
Pain relievers
Parslc),
lobelia,
Osteoarthritis,
Paracelsus,
hN'ssop,
411
use, of herbs.
108
horehound. 289
410-11,411
Passiflora incamata. 291,
410-11,411
Origanum Onites,
Origanum spp., 33, 99,
107,
108. 109
goldenrod, 230
Pa.ssifloraceae
Passiflora spp.,
.^'^S-^^,
harmed by herbs,
288
botany aiut
Plasters, in herbal
281
damage, 493
83, 95
Pneumonia, 9, 48
Podophyllaceae
R)dophyllum spp., 282,
,380-81,381
Pfydoplnllum emodi. 381
R)dopln'llum hexandnim.
381
Ridophyllumpeltatum. 282,
380-81.381
Poison antidote, deadly
nightshade as, 1 59
Platelet
Pleuris>',
"
related entries
as drugs,
245
Planting
144
362
539
99
11 1
INDEX continued
Psychoactive drug, catnip
Potatoes, 121
Potenti'lla.
420-21,421
Potetitilla alha.
Puflfball.
Potentilla atrosanguinea,
See Dandelion
PotetitilUi eix'cUi. 4 20
F^tentilla nihni.
420
42
spp 420-2
Potentillti
148
390
parsley 408
tans); 156. 480
421
420
42
421
Potentilla Tbrmentilla.
Potentillti lillosci.
449-50, 450
hellebore,
459-6
Purple conetlower
parsley,
408
155
Prostration, 149.
in,
290
Quaking grass, 33
Quatre epices, 1 19
herbs to treat
burdock, 5"', 284
comfrey, 104
lavender, 351
grape.
Rabbits, 70,
Raccoon
berr\-.
Ps\chiatric disorders,
/57
tropical periwinkle,
493
501
mucous membranes
angelica,
in.
15Z 291
Retinal degeneration,
398
Rhamniis spp.. 66-68,
67
R/ximni<s ai/ifomica. 66, 68
Rhamniis cathartica. 68
Rbamniis cntcea. 66
Rhamniis fningiila. 68
Rhciinmis piimila. 68
67
),
herbs
in,
320
herbs to treat
""O
Rome (ancient
Ceanothiis americantis.
419
155
80, 205
96
Respirator) piussages,
Rhamnaceac
rue,
Virginia snakeroot,
poplar,
492
69-''0,
Rodents,
Restlessness,
69
communis.
70, 280
498
Hydrastis catuuiensis.
'
232-34, 233, 377
jimsonweed, 346
159, 468.5een/:so
Delirium; Hallucinations,
herbs causing
herb entries
Ranunculaceae
Aconitiim Napelliis.
1-2,2,205
Hellebonis niger. 47
Riciniis
violet,
hemlock, 152
specific
goldenseal, 233
217, 28^
broom, 150
228
wormwood,
Rice, 121. 124
garlic,
caffeine and.
See Majapple
361
364
mustard, 394
pokeweed, 155
poplar, 419
ro.semar\-, 429
lobelia,
110
289
juniper 347
licorice,
herbs causing
castor bean,
405
tropical periwinkle,
206,
308
286
h\-ssop,
488
Respirator}- paralras
45
coriander 125
echinacea, 1''6,
112,
113
Rashes
herbs causing
agrimony, 4
434
Psoriasis,
Oregon
P\orrhea, m\Trh
286
herbs causing
flax, 195
poplar, 4 19
herbs to treat
elecampane, 183
eucal\ptus, 185-86
Echinacea
Purple sage, 213
284
364, 488
Respiraton' disorders
.See
helle-
36
birch, 44,
217
horehound, 289
lavender, 351
mustard, 394
th>Tne,
American hellebore, 9
blue cohosh, 150
catnip, 72
gentian, 220
juniper, 347, 348
licorice, 362
marjoram, 373
blue coho.sh, 50
cavenne pepper,
148
123
causing
Respirator)- congestion
ba\,
garlic,
Laxative(s)
281
angelica,
angelica,
eucalyptus,
hemlock, 152
jimsonweed, 152. 346
American
bore, 8
herbs dilating
deadly nightshade, 151.
159
Poteriiim Sanguisoii^a.
Potpourris, 445,
468
Rauivljia lomitoria. 468
Pupils,
Potentilla tridentata.
aconite, 2
Raiifoljia tetmpln'lla.
mistletoe,
421
291
of.
herbs to treat
herbs to treat
hellebore,
R>tentilUi Tahenuietnontani.
definition
468
RitetitilUi nipestris.
239
arnica,
540
grindelia,
149
autumn crocus. 1
deadh nightshade.
151
421
rue,
520
Pulmonar\ edema, 9
Pulse, herbs affecting
421
Rheumati.sm
calendula, 61
Psychosis, 493,
^2\
bay 36
as,
72-73
Root
rot,
261.
26^
302
Rosaceae
Agrimonia Etipatoria.
3-4, 4, 169
Crataegus laeiigata.
275, 288
Potentilla spp., 420-21.
421
Poteriiim Sanguisorba,
449-50, 450
372
Rubia tinctonim. 168,
206,371-72,372
Rtihia syltvstris,
421
426
292
Wichiirauiiui.
Rose, 422-27,
as in.sect repellent,
13
424
as s-jnibol of secrecy,
423
Rose beads, 464-65
Rose bugs, 426
Rose geranium, 444
Rosemary, 32, 100, 428-32,
433-35,435,444
Rata gmi'eolens. 31, 433-35,
435,444
in everlasting garden,
430,431
211
209
in knot garden,
in healing,
292
as houseplant, 3
Sachets,
13
203
of,
43!
of 429
426
Rosmarinus officinalis. 32,
100,428-32,430,^3/
slugs,
attracting insects,
1 1
in fragrance garden,
in healing,
437-38, 438
Sage, 101,213, 238,272,
439-42, 440, 441, 444,
292
as houseplant,
as insect repellent,
326
Rosslin,
E.,
Rot. See
Rubefacient, definition of
292
Rubiaceae
13
440
Anthony's Fire, 322
Gall, plan of 321,321
St.-John's-wort, 207,
447-48, 448
Salad burnet, 449-50, 450
St.
Galium
Sampson
419
148
.to/ir spp, 503-5,505
evolution of 504
Salt, eliminated from cooking with herbs, 122-24
Sali\'ation, 48,
root. .See
.Santolina
77,
in pillows,
in
in
in
Echinacea
Sanguinaria canadensis.
48-49, 49, 168
Sanguisorha minor. 449
Sanguisorha officinalis, 449
Santolina Chamaec\paris-
354
I'irens.
in
in
officinalis.
451
1 1
2.
452-54, 453
Satureja montana, 452-54,
467
461
in soaps,
spicy
woods\'/earthy 461
Schizophrenia, 520
Scrofula,
206,
465
pomanders, 463-64
potpourris, 459-6
recipes, 462-63
rose beads, 464-65
sachets, 461-62
Sciatica,
203
8
292,415
Scrophulariaceae
Digitalis purpurea.
197-98, 198
Euphrasia officinalis,
187
Scuny, 292, 405
Seasickness,
402
112
315
for,
122
Secretions,
12,
jimsonweed and,
346
Sedative(s)
barberr);
20
bay 36
453
attracting insects,
12
catnip, 72,
chicory,
284
86
315
St.
Salicaceae
236, 349,
444, 477-78, 478
Pausinystalia Johimbe.
520'
179, 376
winter, as houseplant,
431
symbolism of 429
315,452-54,453
3l4
waters,
as houseplant,
292
as houseplant,
in
181
in healing,
314
92
attracting insects,
511,514
462
462
incense, 467
in ink, 467
floral,
453
Saflron, 206,
209
466
exotic/oriental,
Samhiicus caenilea. 1 8
.Sambucus canadensis.
Sassafras,
Safet);
sjTiibolism
469
Jimsonweed
462
kitchen garden,
Saponaria
461-62
in
467
in candles,
citrusy,
sus. 203,
as insect repellent,
in fragrance garden,
entries
113
314
of 440
and beebalm, 24
and germander, 253
and Oregon grape, 405
and poplar, 419
and rose, 426
and yarrow, 26/, 5 19
Rutaceae
Riita gnweolens, 31,
113,203,211,
292
292
Rust, 26''
425
456,^57
Scents from herbs, 459-67.
See also specific herb
213
426
Stem
441,
as insect repellent,
211
in healing,
in healing,
as houseplant,
in everlasting garden,
-^-ia
514
513
in healing,
Rose
272, 439-42,
Rosa
247
30
of 292
286
goldenseal, 233
hops, 288, 332, 333
definition
fennel,
la\'ender
35
208-9
St-John's-wort,
448
541
INDEX continued
Skin rashes. See Rashes
Sedative(s) (continued)
valerian,
wormwood, 510
Sedative(s)
Sedum, 237
lad)
297-98
Seeds, of herbs,
's
after, 368
Shecpwced. See Soapwort
Sha\ing, lotions
249
and
and
77
flushed,
59,
herbal lotions to
freshen,
366-67
249. 264
365
for,
29
cofifee,
95
garlic,
218
serpentwood, 468
herbs to treat
burdock, 57, 58
comfrey 104
eucahptus, 185
fennel, 188
fenugreek, 287
lavender 351
mar.sh mallow,
Soaps, scented,
467
growing herbs,
herly entries
.Solanaceae
Atropa BelUidonmi.
1 58-59, 159
Capsicum amuitim.
75-78,77,28-1-85
Datura Stramonium,
345, 346
Solidago Goldenmosa',
290, 379
onion, 399
207,211
wintergreen, 506
attracting insects,
Oregon
grape,
405
soapwort, 469
434
93
garlic,
216-1"'
211
Solidago inrgaurea, 230
Soothing herbs, 28
292
aloe, 5
480
494
wormwood, 510
Squash. 121
Stem
301
J66
Stimulant(s), 2S.
36
bay.
in kitchen garden,
21
bloodroot, 48
292
cardamom, 65
Speech
83
cinnamon, 90
coffee. 94, 95
definition of, 292
elderberr); 179
152
cher\il,
distinguished from
herbs,
295
1 1
Spinach, 121
Spinal cord reflex,
and,
yohimbe
520
442
Spleen
disorders
of,
^,
eucal)ptus,
286
188
fe\ertew, 287
fennel,
arnica,
herbs to treat
agrimony, 4
195
315, 315
in everlasting garden,
Sores
155
1 1
goldenseal, 233
St.-John's-wort,
in
Southernwood, 470
Sowing seeds, 242
Spices
specific disorders
488
slurred, 346
Sphagnum, 130, 132
Soil, for
th\Tne,
rambling, 151
500,501
rough, 38-1
m-aursi,
paralj'sis of,
Virginia .snakeroot,
reddened, /55
comfrey 104
386,38^,512
346
105
cleanse,
from
515
herbal creams to
542
violet,
329-30
healthy, 5,
oily,
442
26/
sage, 259,
ling,
tans>-,
flax,
wormwood repel-
395
Sinus congestion, 373
Skin
chilled,
265
calendula. 61
195
goldenrod, 230
rosemary, 429
sa.s,safras, 451
Comfrey
283
Serpentwood, 283, 468
flax.
Senna, in pharmaceuticals,
24
betony 42
basil, 22,
Sleep
293
283
bay 36
289
myrrh, 290
oregano, 402
peppermint, 29
wormwood,
473
1 1
82
82
Stinking chamomile.
Stinking ma\"weed,
Stomach, burning
in,
149.
151
488
493
Stomach disorders
herbs to treat
betony, 42
ba\-,
cayenne pepper, 77
cayenne pepper, 77
36
fenugreek, 191
Stupor,
287
rose, 423
from yohimbe, 520
Stomach flmction, 429, S 10
garlic,
293
of,
Stomach inflammation
herbs causing
arnica, /-/9
mayapple, 15-i
156
tans>-,
wintergrecn, 506
herbs to treat
angelica,
deadly nightshade,
448
Sudorific,
culinary;
S^tnphytiim
foxglove, 151
hellebore, 9,
155
uva-ursi,
in healing,
494
S>phins. 61,
crocus, 18,
280
22
calendula, 6
284
284
222
Theatnim Botanicum,
326-27, 327
herbs causing
48
481
penn)TO)al, 4
453
sweet woodruff,
477
thyme, 488
227-28, 229,233
Strophanthus, in pharma-
attracting beetles,
1 1
in everlasting garden,
211
as insect repellent,
Tansy, 32,
444, 4-^9-8
1,
attracting beetles,
13
480
1 1
in everlasting garden,
as insect repellent,
13
officinale.
141-42,142,286
Tarragon, 101, 482-83,
Tarweed. See Cirindelia
483
deadly nightshade,
in healing,
151
jimsonweed, 346
as insect repellent,
454
32
Thomson, Samuel A., 330-3
Thoratic, definition of 293
Thorn apple. 5ef .|im.sonweed
Thistle,
112
208
292-93
in pharmaceuticals,
13
in kitchen garden, 2
283
of 491
4O
Vniniis dtriodorns. 208
Tli\Tiiol,
and calendula, 62
and onion, 400
and passionflower, 4 1
and rose, 426
151
48^
articiis.
112
in fragrance garden,
208
159
in healing,
sore
agrimony and, 3, 4
barbern and, 20
bayberr>' and, 38
beebalm and, 39
betonyand, 43.
283
blue cohosh and,
50
cayenne pepper
and,
211
230
horehound and,
336
hyssop and, 289
marsh mallow and,
290
mint and, 384
mvTfh and, 396
poplar and, 419
ro.se and, 423
sage and, 439
savory and, 453
Throat diseases, 290
Thymhra spicata, 99, 52
autumn crocus, 19
bloodroot, 149
castor bean, 69
mitUillii,
287
goldenrod and,
garlic and,
Thirst
peppermint, 29
478
Teucrium Chamaechys.
159
Tamicetiim
29
in, 9,
Tanacetum
121
relieving,
Testicular atrophy,
dn-, 148.
93
369
mint, 383, 384
283
Iticicla.
lovage,
ceuticals,
weed, 346
Tendon reflexes, loss of, 493
Throat
burning
Tagetes
savor)',
483
Syzygiiitn aronuiticiim,
cayenne pepper,
Stuffing,
n6
catnip,
485-86
Temperature ( body
Thrips, 113
204-5
19
Stress,
285-86
in medicinal garden,
herbs to treat
autumn
ofiiciiiale.
103-5,104
148
484-85
in medicine, 278-80,
savor\'and,
herbs causing
484
juniper,
St.-John's-wort,
basil,
496
of 293
definition of, 293
347
uva-ursi, 494
of knee, 58
of limbs, 362
painfial, 402
pulmonary, 9
from rue, 434
159
rue,
valerian,
from
Styptic, definition
76
292-93
as insect repellent,
in
in
1 1
Iliyroid gland,
stimulating,
tlnmc
488
165-66
Tinctures, in herbal
medicine, 281-82
Tingling, from aconite, 2
cloves and, 93
coltsfoot and,
Tobacco,
97-98
elecampane and,
182
fennel and, 286
Tomatoes, 121
fla\<)red
licorice,
by
363
Tomato hornworms,
113
Tongue, paralysis
of,
110.
152
543
boneset, 5
burdock, 283
ca\enne pepper, 284
chamomile, 285
saffron,
293
echinacea, 286
feverfew, 287
gentian, 288
Wolet,
292
sage,
angelica,
93
garlic, 218
indigo, 344
mint, 384
mustard, 394
oregano, 402
plantain, 416
yarrow, 293
of herbs, 148-5''. See
also Dangers, of
herbs and specific
herb entries
of insecticides and
repellents, 113
Tragacanth, in pharmaceu-
betony,
cascara sagrada, 68
cayenne pepper, 77
fenugreek, 191
garlic,
as,
horsetail,
juniper,
495-96
419
15Z 198
Trichogramma, 111, 113
Trigonella Foenum-graecum,
191,28^
Tropaeolaceae
Tropaeolum majus,
Tremors, 151.
209, 39^
Tropaeolum
397
majiis. 209,
St.-John's-wort,
Violaceae
Viola odorata, 208,
499
Violet, 208. 498-99.
455
Umbelliferae
Anethum gmveolens,
161,306,375
10-13,11
Anthriscus Cerefi)litim.
83-84, 84
Carum Cani. 63-64, 64
Coiiandrum sativum,
125-27,126,295
Foetiiciilum vidgare.
188-90,190,286-87
Letisticum officinale,
369-70, 370
Myrrhis odorata, 4''4
Pettx>selinum ciispum,
499
Virginia snakeroot,
500-501,501
blurred
69
496
Valeriana offlcinalis, 204,
firom foxglove.
firom
198
jimsonweed,
346
from tropical peri-
149
Veal, 121
winkle, 493
243-44
Veins, inflammation of,
liride, 8-9,
9,
49,
148, 151.Seealso\'enigo;
Eye(s)
123
Vegetati\'e propagation,
Veratnim
391
\'ision
Valeriana offlcinalis,
448
mouth, 396
peptic, 153
291,213,313,
scented geranium,
407-9, 409
18, 118,
Mosaic \irus
494
Valerianaceae
347
Angelica Archangelica,
of.
Vinegars, herbed,
20
495-96, 496
34
293
Vesicant, definition
498-99, 499
210
ginseng, 229
15''
49^
367
473
233, 468
Uterine cramps, 50
Uterine irritation, 373
Uterine stimulant, barberry
38
42
283
Verx'ain,
360, 362
Toxicity
wormwood,
See
233
ba}t)erry,
cloves,
broom, 150
hellebore, 148
herbs to treat
cayenne pepper,
bloodroot, 149
346
473
aloe,
284
of.
Ulcers
calendula, 61
75, 77,
to excrete,
Urticaceae
Urtica dioica, 471-73,
herbs to treat
544
herbs causing
Diuretic(s)
98
95
coffee and,
Urine
Vertigo
195
tract irritations,
excretion
of,
26^
inabilit>-
497
purplish, 153
132-33
)^rrow, 293
ticals,
Urinan
498
Tussie-mussies, 132-35,
Tonic baths, 29
Toothache(s)
Verticillium wilt,
429
159,293
Urethritis,
390
437
offlcinalis,
293
Unconsciousness, 152
southernwood, 470
definition of,
\^rbena
Vermifuge, definition
14-16,16
mistletoe,
comfrey, 285
dandelion, 286
rosemary; 292,
Pimpinella Anisum,
29
Tonic(s),
493
204,
2^9
Verbascitm thapstis, 204
Verbenaceae
Aloysid triplnila.
358-59, 359
dock, 162
stinging nettle, 473
Vitamins, herbs containing,
40'', 423, 498. .^eefl&o
Vitamin C. herbs
containing
aummn crocus,
9,
l-i9
ba>;
36
beebalm. 40
bloodroot. 49, 149
castor bean,
St,-John's-wort,
69
deadly nightshade,
H9
505
Weld, in dye garden, 206
Whiteflies, 1 10, 264. 265
and calendula, 62
and hou.seplants. 314
and lemon \trbena,
255. 359
eucalyptus, 186
hellebore, 9.
148
488
493
Virginia snakeroot,
500
wahoo, 15". 502
herbs to treat
basil, 22
cinnamon, 90
goidenrod, 230
N'ulneran; definition
of,
garlic, 2
293
Wahoo, 502
"VCahoo." See Cascara
sagrada
Warts, 381,399
Wasps, 111-12, 113
223.288.311
aloe,
45
birch.
198,253
fenugreek. 191
25"
garlic.
442
216
goidenrod, 230
juniper 34^
marsh mallow, 290
myrrh, 396
onion, 399
rosemary, 429
sage.
42
juniper 34''
433
420
45
angelica, 10
potentilla.
292
sassafras.
188
jimsonweed. 34S
289, 342
jimsonweed, 346
See
fennel,
341
horsetail,
hi,-ssop,
286
rue,
148
angelica.
N'erticillium wilt
betony,
scented geranium,
aconite,
509, 510
Wormwood.
458
\ierticillium.
20^-8
dandelion,
sage, 259.
288. 3
Zinnia.
488
th>Tne,
Viorms
Cardamo-
southernwood, 470
coriander 251
nasturtium.
Elettaria
Zingiber officinale.
onion, 290
266
foxglove,
Zingiberaceae
wormwood,
and
and
and
and
and
Yohimbe. 520
Zatan99, 521
mum. 65
betony 42
~
505
Wilt,
496
ver\'ain, 49"
\iolet, 498
y-alerian,
serpenmood, 468
th\-me,
163-66, 167,
171--'2
293
fawning, 151
bellow govs^n. See Dandelion
^ellow jackets. 1 12
to treat
490
sweet woodruff,
211
329
>Xilliam.
tropical periwinkle,
in healing,
259. 458
478
'
39^
344
lobelia, 364
mayapple, 154
mustard. 394
pokeweed, 755
rue, 434
indigo,
in e\'erlasting garden,
drangof
488
hemlock, 152
113
Wood.
Wool
Aconite
nasturtium repelling,
447
yarrow 517
yohimbe, 520
Wea\ing, of herb baskets,
135-.3", 135
Webworms, fall, 505
Wee\ils, 388, 409,
boneset, 283
cascara sagrada, 68
15''
wahoo,
Vomiting
herbs causing
139-40
Yams, dyeing of, 163-66.
167, i"l-~2
Yarrow, 169, 377, 5 1 6- 1 9,
519
American Indian uses
for
5/^
545
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