"Medicinal" Plants

I don't actually grow plants for medicinal purposes but I do grow herbs.
I do very little cooking but I grow them mainly because I like their smell :)

I have in the past eaten Feverfew sandwiches because I heard it was good for migraine, which I used to get many years ago. It tasted horrible :(
I also remember putting Dock leaves on stings ....

I used to put Comfrey and Nettle leaves in water to rot down, and then give it to my plants.

I don't remember my grandparents growing herbs. My mother's parents lived in a town and were not gardeners in any way at all.
My dad's mother enjoyed her garden but I don't remember any herbs in it. It was on the side of a steep mountain (in a place you'd probably know)

Ribwort plantain works a lot better than dock leaves for nettle stings so a few plants stay in our top lawn.
I have lemon balm, which makes a very soothing tea when you're feeling frazzled.
Blackcurrant leaf tea used to be used for menstrual problems I think - never tried that one!

I have a few dotted about but only because I like the plant itself, nothing nicer than exploring a herb garden and getting the essence from the crushed leaves, although you do have to be careful as some can actually give one a headache or other sort of reaction, same a with lots of plants...

I find myself buying oregano in the winter as I never get around to drying it. I will be cutting rosemary and bay to go on my Christmas wreaths as it not only looks and smells good but you get to use it too. I rub mint on myself when I'm working in the garden in the summer to keep the horse flys away..and I'm sure it helps.

Hywel: I have heard of people taking Feverfew tablets to good effect but never heard of Feverfew sandwiches. You don't seem to recommend them.

Yes, I always applied Dock leaves to nettle stings. Don't know if it's because I am older but nettle stings seem more virulent thes edays. They don't itch : they really STING!

Steragram: Lemon Balm sounds soothing before actually trying it out.

Lincslass: Yes, herbal remedies need care. Drug companies have not helped by trying to prevent their use. They can't claim to have created these and so can't charge excessively for them. I think in the hands of a good practitioner herbal remedies have their place.

Sandra: Never thought of using Bay or Rosemary in a Christmas wreath. Duh! What a good idea. I love the smell of Rosemary and often use it after my usual shampoo. Gives a nice shine to the hair. That reminds me! Grannie used to soak Sage in hot water and use that as an after -shampoo rinse to darken her hair!

She used to tell us not to pick dandelions otherwise we would wet the bed! I can see now why she said this.

Parsley helped the kidneys; fennel tea helped one lose weight!

When we visited Bristol earlier this year we paid a special visit to the University Botanical Garden. It's brilliant! The following was particularly interesting:

QUOTE: The Chinese Medicinal Herb Garden has been developed as a collaborative project between the University of Bristol Botanic Garden and the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine. UNQUOTE

Read all about it here at:

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/botanic-garden/the-garden/plant-collections/useful-plants/chinese-herb-garden/

Thank you Eirlys - never heard of this. It's specially interesting that they are making a link with Ayurvedic medicine as well. I wonder if Brian (BJS) has been there.
(Do try the plantain for nettle stings - it really does work well. Much better than dock.)

Steragram: Well worth a visit. Would certainly visit again and take lots of images this time. Plants had labels with interesting information regarding its use.

We grow many herbs, but, mostly to eat, being rather greedy people....mint, parsley,sage, lemon balm, rosemary, thyme numerous kinds, oregano, basil,bay,marjoram, verbena, all used in the kitchen, lemon balm and verbena used in drinks.....

Oh verbena tea reminds me of a holiday in the Ardeche, where it was drunk after meals as a digestif - delicious!

I love the aroma Stera so powerful......

I love Verbena but have never thought of using it as a tea. Some herbal teas are not that pleasant!

When I felt I needed energy I used to drink a tea that had Ginseng added to it. It worked!

Must try that one Eirlys!

Yes it was very popular a few year ago....

Yes, I reckon I could do with some instant energy today.

I asked about it in my local health food shop yesterday and the very helpful lady looked it up and said people being treated for raised blood pressure shouldn't take it, so bang goes another good idea...Still I suppose its best to know.

Yes that's why I had to stop taking it!!?

Disappointing DD!

Yes, I stopped taking it for the same reason. Shame because I found it a great help.

Oh well.......old age and ....well for me it is lol

Seems most of us have the same complaint DD - and sadly no treatment for it!

Steragram: Think positive. Mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter! :O)

I have had a silly tickling cough for nearly ten days now and the only thing that seems to help is a spoonful of Manuka Hone. Anyone else take this?

I don't need an excuse Eirlys...

Steragram: Just had a thought. Wonder if Manuka would grow in the UK?

QUOTE: Leptospermum scoparium, commonly called mānuka, manuka myrtle, New Zealand teatree, broom tea-tree, or just tea tree, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, native to New Zealand and southeast Australia. UNQUOTE

Sawthis week on TV that someone is growing tea in Scotland!

Is that the same plant we get tea tree oil from I wonder?
I would think that considering the cost of the honey somebody would be growing it by now if it were possible!
Just had a look on line and there are several British nurseries advertising it bu I don't know if its the same variety.

QUOTE: Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is a yellowish colored essential oil that is made from the leaves of the plant Melaleuca alternifolia (native to Australia). UNQUOTE

Evidently not. If I were younger I'd have a go at growing Manuka Myrtle and Ginsenf, come to that! Our climate is changing!!