PARSLEY SAGE ROSEMARY AND THYME
Using Culinary Herbs as Medicine
Written by Linda Rose Artwork by Anna Silverstein
Forth Edition copyright March 2013
We offer Herb Walks and Classes and Wilderness Experiences throughout the seasons. More information can be found on our website. You are also welcome to join our data base and be kept informed about ongoing classes and other events. We also offer Consultations, Remedies from Local Plants and Powerful Bodywork with a Shamanic approach “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom” Anais Nin A lovely set of line drawings, of the plants are produced here by Anna Silverstein, the featured artist.
Linda Rose 416*469*5907
COPYRIGHT BLACK RIVER GATEHOUSE 2013 The company BLACK RIVER GATEHOUSE is based in Toronto. We offer Medicinal Herbs, Teas, Plants, Seeds and Remedies from our Local Plants. The Herbs are lovingly and sustainably wild crafted from our property in a Wilderness area outside of Orillia, Ontario. The Teas are harvested, processed naturally and packaged by hand. The owner Linda Rose is a Teacher and Holistic Practitioner a Medicine Woman in the Wise Woman and Twisted Hair Traditions. Linda has a reputation as a knowledgeable and fascinating Teacher specializing in the Native Medicinal Plants of Ontario’s bio-region and their use as Medicine. Early Saturday mornings, we are found with the Farmers on the North side of the St Lawrence Market in Toronto, Ontario
blackrivergatehouse@gmail.com WWW.BLACK RIVER GATEHOUSE.COM
PARSLEY, SAGE, ROSEMARY, AND THYME An Introduction to Using Culinary Herbs as Medicine Herbs are the original remedies of all cultures, the Traditional Medicine of all our Ancestors. The Herbs growing around us remain a living, vital force, used around the globe for Medicine today. Perhaps even more relevant with their potential for Healing us now. Using Herbs for Healing can prove beneficial in many ways. They offer the potential for a more relaxed mind and body, the easing of digestive problems, a stronger Heart, cleansing, boosting energy or hormone balancing, to suggest a few. Most people are familiar with the culinary Herbs and spices used in cooking. Herbs like black pepper, garlic, ginger or basil are used daily by millions around the globe. Their long term uses and benefits have been studied and recorded over time. Many of the Herbs used in cooking also have Medicinal benefits and are often ones we have easy access to in the Market place. Sold at minimal cost these Herbs can become tools for our well being. As well, Herbs like coriander, dill, mint or thyme are easily grown in the backyard or on an apartment balcony.
PARSLEY
The goal is to maintain long term Health and wellness, in the physical body, in the mind, in the emotions and in the Spirit. Using Herbs as a tool in the healing process can be a simple, natural way to bring balance through deep, lasting healing.
SAGE OREGANO Origanum vulgare
Contains antibiotic, anti-microbial properties, especially in concentrated doses; used for colds and flu, combined with thyme as an anti-inflammatory. Oregano’s calming effect may be used to relieve sinus headaches, congestion, indigestion, gas, bloating and menstrual cramps. The essential Oil is much stronger and is used differently.
PARSLEY Petroselinum crispum
Common parsley is high in minerals and vitamin C, has soothing, diuretic properties. Commonly used for urinary inflammations; the root can help dissolve kidney stones; all plant parts are good for digestive weakness, bronchial and lung congestion.
ROSEMARY Rosmarinus officinalis
In ancient times Rosemary was known as the Herb of Remembrance. Has warming, dry, pungent, properties; a hot Tea can be lovely for colds, flu, rheumatic pains or indigestion; stimulant, anti-depressant properties make it ideal for depression and mental fatigue. New information suggests Rosemary may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
SAGE Salvia officinalis
Sage has a particular affinity for the mouth and throat; with a pungent, bitter, cooling character, the Tea is a gargle for sore throats, mouth ulcers; it’s astringent, anti-spasmodic character may help night sweats; digestive issues, bladder infections or the early stages of sinus, lung congestion, colds and flu.
SAVORY Satureja Montana/ hortensis
Savory is a lovely green Herb to use in cooking. As well, both summer and winter savory may be helpful for gas and digestive upsets like colic, diarrhea and indigestion. Savory can be used in a soup or as a ‘green’ Tea.
THYME Thymus vulgaris
Thyme is often used for respiratory ailments like whooping cough, bronchitis or laryngitis to help expectorate mucus from the lungs. Warming properties may make it useful for stomach chills, diarrhea or irritable bowel; use the Herb
as a Tea or as a Tincture, a more intense version of the Tea, made with alcohol. The essential oil is very strong and must be used with caution.
Using Herbs for Tea Herbs can be used fresh or dried. Purchasing fresh Herbs from your local Farmer’s Market is one way to bring Herbs into your home. Another way is to harvest from your own backyard garden or balcony space. To harvest, you trim ‘the Aerial parts (the stems, leaves and flowers) taking about one third of the available plant material. To dry, bunch the Herbs in small groups of four to five stems and hang in a place with good air flow, out of direct sunlight. Most Herbs will dry in three to seven days, depending on the weather. Use what you need and store the rest of the Herbs in paper bags to ensure longevity. They should last up to two years this way.
Making Herbal Tea The easiest way to access the benefits of Herbs is to make a simple cup of Tea. A cup of Tea offers a safe, soothing and relaxing way of bringing the healing agents from the Herbs into our bodies. Make the Tea in a Teapot or dish with a lid. First bring the water to a gentle boil. Pour a little hot water in the Teapot to ‘Hot the Pot’ Let the rest of the water cool to below the boil; nutrients like Vitamin C are destroyed at the boiling point; you want these properties in your Tea. When the Teapot is warmed pour the water out, add the Herb and then the rest of the hot water. Use one spoonful of Herb / cup of water. To give the water time to draw the Medicine from the Herb into the Tea, you let the Tea sit in the pot or ‘steep’ for a while. This could be ten minutes or several hours, depending on the Herb. Generally, you drink the Tea when you see colour in the water or the smell of the Herbs wafts your way.
ROSEMARY
Then find a comfortable spot, sit down and enjoy the Tea. Connect with the Medicine of the Herbs; connect to the plant itself, savour the taste, smell the aroma, notice how the Tea feels in your Body . . .
And recognize, the Herbs are giving us their life essence, so we can be stronger or healthier, in some way.
THYME LEMON BALM Melissa officinalis Commonly used as tea for depression, melancholy, nervous tension, indigestion, gas, colic or the early stages of a cold; a calming, soothing, safe herb commonly used to relieve stress, anxiety, fevers, bringing sleep. Harvest often to prevent seed dispersal! LEMON VERBENA Aloysia citriodora As with Lemon Balm this Herb can be helpful to sooth stomach cramps, calm nerves and reduce fevers; it also has a pungent lemon flavor that is truly divine in Tea. On a hot summer day, combine Lemon Verbena with mint for a cooling effect. LOVAGE Levisticum officinale Warming digestive tonic, promotes sweating, reduces phlegm, has diuretic, expectorant, carminative actions; known by the Europeans especially to reduce the gas in soups and bean dishes, while bringing the flavour of both celery and parsley; it is really easy to grow from seed!
MARJORAM Origanum majorana This member of the Oregano family has a calming effect, which may be useful for upset stomachs, headaches and colic, abdominal cramps, nausea; it is also a lovely Herb to cook with, offering a gentle ‘green’ flavor in soups and stir fries. MINT Mentha This favorite Herb is easy to grow and useful in cooking and as medicine; Mint has cooling, stimulant properties; is known to relax the digestive muscles, bring bile flow. Mint may be helpful for minor indigestion, gas, easing digestion after eating or to sooth a fever; serious stomach irritations or ulcers need other Herbs. Young children would respond better to Fennel, Dill or Lemon Balm for digestive upsets.
ANISE HYSSOP Agastache Foeniculum
On the Canadian Prairies, this plant grows wild on the edge of the roads, like our Goldenrod does here in Ontario. An important bee plant with a strong licorice, mint flavor this Herb has expectorant qualities and may help relieve the pain caused by bronchial coughs. It is easy to grow here in Ontario.
BASIL Ocimum basilicum
Our favorite kitchen Herb can be made into a Tea for indigestion, nausea and other digestive issues; basil settles the stomach and stimulates the kidney and bladder. As a restorative and tonic for the nerves, Basil’s gentle, uplifting quality may also help ease nervous conditions like melancholy, headaches or depression and the cooling properties can be used to ease fevers and colds.
BLACK PEPPER Piper Nigrum
Black Pepper corns act as an appetite stimulant and digestive support. Pepper is also considered useful for obstinate constipation, nausea and gas. Pepper is often used in conjunction with other herbs to increase their effectiveness.
CINNAMON Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Cinnamon is considered a stimulating herb and is used to warm the organs, stimulate the appetite, improves circulation, and may be helpful to treat heartburn, chronic diarrhea and abdominal cramps. New research shows that cinnamon may help insulin work more effectively in the body.
CORIANDER/CILANTRO Corlandrum sativum
Cilantro is the fresh green leafy plant and coriander is the dried seeds from the same plant. It may be helpful for nausea, settling the stomach and relieving gas. Cilantro has a cooling effect on the system and may be useful in dealing with thirst in the heat; use abundantly in salads and stir fries
DILL Anethum graveolleus
LEMON BALM
A spicy warming herb affecting the stomach spleen & liver; used as tea for children's colicky stomach aches; for adults with stomach aches or insomnia for relieving gas, bloating, colic and indigestion.
FENNEL Foeniculum vulgare The Tea is made with the seeds alone or with the green leafy plant parts. Fennel works as a digestive aid to relieve abdominal cramps, gas, bloating, colic and indigestion. Fennel tea has a calming, antispasmodic effect on coughs, bronchitis and asthma, acting as an expectorant to clear mucus from the lungs. The Tea before eating can help take the edge of the appetite, reducing a tendency to overeat.
FENUGREEK Trigonella foenumgraecum
One of the oldest recorded Medicinal Plants; a decoction (strong tea) is used for ulcers and inflammation, in the stomach or intestines; also used in diabetes and gout to regulate/lower the blood sugars; effects liver and pancreas; an aphrodisiac and a rejuvenator; promotes cell growth/ repair.
GARLIC Allium Sativum
Garlic is known in every culture world wide as a wonderful cure all. Commonly used for lung congestion, high and low blood pressure, headaches and nervous disorders; onion has similar properties and can be used with garlic. Garlic can be used raw, in food or in a simple olive oil mixture.
GINGER Zingiber officinale
I once owned a little cookbook, called “Ginger Tea Makes Friends�. I found Ginger both a great Tea to share with friends and of great benefit to digestion. The Tea aids the absorption of food and can be helpful for nausea, gas and cramps. Externally, ginger is applied with cloths and hot Tea or as an oil to relieve pain and inflammation. Wild Ontario ginger has similar Medicinal properties, although it is part of a different Plant family.
LAVENDER Lavandula officinalis
Lavender is used in Tea as an antidepressant to calm nervous tension, anxiety and stress; it nourishes the nervous system; may also help to relieve muscle spasms, aches and pains, headaches, depression, sleeplessness and even high blood pressure. Lavender has an intriguing taste when used in cooking; is soothing added to a relaxing bath and may also be useful as an insect and moth repellant or in Herb mixtures, like Smudge or potpourri.
DILL