By Heidi Hoke, BS, NC, MH, HHP
As spring approaches, many of us have an inclination to dig around in the garden, but yet to limit the challenge to a few nice plants for summer harvest. An herb garden is an ideal choice, for not only culinary use, but effective natural therapies, as well. Here are some suggestions and gardening tips for medicinal and culinary herb usage.
Mint
Mint of all species thrives beautifully in east Texas. These perennials should be contained if you do not want them to take over the bed they grow in, otherwise, they will spread and flourish. The green leaves of mint can be harvested when they mature, then cut or crushed for teas, remedies, salads, soups, sauces, jelly, and garnish for desserts.
Mint can be used as an herbal remedy for different ailments. When eaten, it can sooth ailments such as nausea, headaches, digestive disorders, colic, and motion sickness. If you are suffering from flu or fever, mint can be used to help promote sweating to break the illness. A hot tea can be made, as this is the easiest way to ingest mint. For quick response to morning sickness during pregnancy, keep peppermint candies in your purse or bedside. Peppermint essential oil is known for its analgesic, calming, and cooling affect on your body, considered antibacterial in nature, which is great for using on minor infections.
Basil
Basil is a culinary herb typically used in cooking, but has many other more uncommonly known uses. It is an ideal herb to grow in east Texas because of the warm, sunny climate. Basil leaves tend to have mildew if they are allowed to stay wet, so take care that they are planted in an area where they can dry out between watering. Place the basil plants where there is direct sunlight, and well-drained, acidic soil. Used coffee grounds to a few drops of limejuice can be mixed into the soil at planting to increase the acidic content.
The therapeutic use of basil was adopted by the English and brought from India during the 19th century. Therapeutic use of basil ranges from relief of colds and coughs, high blood pressure, digestive discomforts, female disorders, fever and flu, indigestion, itching, kidney function, and migraines. Basil leaf teas are an astringent and excellent tonic for the skin, relieving itching. Like most herbs, the easiest way to use it for therapeutic use, is to make a tea of hot water over crushed fresh leaves and allowed to steep.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a well-known culinary herb popular for seasoning, soups, stews, meat, and fish.
It is ideal to grow in east Texas, as this perennial withstands all elements of summer heat, direct sun, and winter frost. The rosemary shrub blooms with flowers in the summer and will stay as an evergreen in the winter. In east Texas, rosemary shrubs can last for up to thirty years, as the temperature is ideal for its growth. Rosemary herbs have many uses such as for holiday decoration, cooking, cosmetics, and cancer prevention.
It has been used for many hundreds of years to treat such ailments as digestive disorders and headaches. Recent research has revealed additional benefits, including the prevention of cancer, age-related skin damage, healthy liver function, and as a mild diuretic and anti-inflammatory to help reduce swelling.
Scientists from the department of Mutagenesis and Carcinogenesis, Cancer Research Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences have found that rosemary extract can significantly help to protect DNA against free radical damage. Two of the most important ingredients in rosemary, caffeic acid and rosemarinic acid, are both potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents, which may contribute to the prevention of asthma, liver disease and heart disease. Theses antioxidants, monoterpenes, phenolic diterpenes, and flavonoids, in rosemary help to protect the body’s cells from damage by free radicals, slowing down the production of cancer-causing free radicals. Rosemary is also a rich source of vitamin E, another potent antioxidant, which contributes to its enhanced free radical fighting qualities. According to Dr Zhu and colleagues from the Department of Chemical Biology, rosemary helps prevent breast cancer by blocking oestrogen hormones in women that can contribute to breast cancer.
Oregano
Oregano, belonging to the mint family, is another herb that likes the heat of east Texas. Often mistaken for Marjoram, oregano thrives in warm temperatures and offers a stronger the flavor as the heat increases. Oregano is an excellent food spice, as well as being good to use for landscaping the garden.
Oregano is also extremely rich in antioxidants, higher than in fruits and vegetables. The leaves and flowering stems are antiseptic, antispasmodic, and act as a mild relaxant. Because of its sedative properties, it is helpful to promote deeper, quality sleep. An exceptional use for oregano is muscular pain relief, as the thymol and carvacrol in oregano work as muscle relaxers on the uterus, thus providing relief of menstrual cramps. It is superb for easing indigestion and other stomach upsets, and is helpful in the prevention of toxic bacteria build-up in the digestive track. Oregano also contains Omega3 fatty acids, which supports brain health and fights cancer causing free radicals within the DNA. An adequate dosage is 2 tsp. daily during the duration of discomfort.
There are endless options for fresh herbs, but if you chose not the grow your own, these herbs are readily available in your health food store in the form of extracts for equally effective preventative health use.
Disclaimer: This information is not meant to replace the advice of any physician. Do not rely upon any information to replace consultations or advice received by qualified health professionals regarding your own specific situation.
Heidi Hoke has earned a BS degree in Holistic Health as a Nutritional Consultant, Master Herbalist, and Holistic Health Practitioner, in addition to earning required qualifications as a Dementia Care Specialist from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA). She presently continues her graduate work toward a MS degree in Homeopathy followed by a Ph.D in Naturopathy. For more information, please visit her website at www.life-balanced.org
Herbal Gardening Tips
Compiled by Heidi Hoke, BS, NC, MH, HHP
- Choose a gardening space that gets at least six hours of full sunlight per day, as recommended by the National Gardening Association.
- Choosing a garden location that is easily accessible from the home kitchen, to make it easy to run outside and pick some herbs while cooking.
- Herbs prefer rich soil, so add in organic compost to the planting site. This will improve the texture of soil and add nutrients that will slowly release over time.
- Plant the herbs as deep in the ground as they are in their starter pots.
- Water the herbs immediately after planting with organic fertilized water mixture.
- Apply a layer of mulch over the surface of the soil to help hold moisture in the soil and to keep weeds from sprouting up and competing with the herbs for soil nutrients and moisture.
- Water the herbs regularly with good drainage until thoroughly soaked, then allow to dry out before watering again. Daily watering may be required in very hot weather.
- Fertilize the herbs lightly with organic, vegetable/herb fertilizer in mid-summer.
To learn more visit her website: https://heidihoke.com/