The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies long-spiked inflorescence arrangement in upper leaves with young flowers at the pointed end. Flowers are up to 2 inches (5 cm) across. It flowers from June thru September. The 5-lobed, urn-shaped fruit is 1 inch (2.5 cm). Each fruit is packed with hundreds of tiny black seeds. The roots of henbane are whitish in color. The main taproot is stout and branched. Henbane does not tolerate waterlogged soils. It likes pastures along fencerows and roadsides.
Medicinal Use: Because the plant is poisonous, it is important that all medicines be made precisely and the strength carefully regulated. I prefer to use this plant externally, where there is no danger. The plant has strong pain-relieving qualities, and is used externally for muscle pains caused by strain or sprain. It has some good applications internally, but I do not recommend using it internally without the close supervision of a medical professional. The above ground parts are used for medicine.
effectively treated with a poultice made from fresh henbane leaves. Crush the leaves and place them directly over the painful area.
Internal Use: The plant is used to relieve irritable
leaves to reduce the swelling and pain of external hemorrhoids.
bladders and the pain of cystitis. It is a mild diuretic, hypnotic, and anti-spasmodic. The hypnotic action is the same as belladonna, but with milder effects. Use with great care or find an alternative! Use can be fatal.
Gout, Neuralgia, and Arthritis Pains: External pain from gout, neuralgia, and arthritis are
Hemorrhoids: Try a poultice of crushed henbane
Harvesting: Collect the leaves, stems and flowers from the biennial plants when in full flower at the start of summer.
Warning: Henbane is poisonous. Use with great care and do not use internally.
Holy Basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum/ Ocimum sanctum
whorls at the base of reddish or brownish-purple stems. Tiny purple flowers grow on an elongated raceme above the leaves. The flower stems are red and hairy.
Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi, is a variety of basil in the Lamiaceae (Mint) family. It is a perennial plant often cultivated for religious and medicinal use. It is not the same variety as Thai holy basil or Thai basil.
an herb, however its flavor is more bitter than other basils. It is often chewed or used in herbal teas. The dried and ground leaves can be used as a flavoring and stored for later use.
Holy basil is different from the sweet basil used as a cooking herb. Sweet basil also has medicinal properties but is a different variety of the plant.
Medicinal Use: Holy basil has many medicinal
Edible Use: Holy basil is edible and can be used as
Identification: Holy basil grows erect in shrub form up to 1 to 2 feet (0.3m-0.6m). The ovate leaves are green or purple, petioled, and up to 2 inches (5cm) long. The margin is usually, but not always, toothed. The anise scented leaves are strongly aromatic and have a spicy, slightly bitter flavor. They grow in close 86
uses, both internally and externally. It is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. In addition to treating many diseases, it can prevent disease through its immune system benefits. Holy basil can be taken as a tea, eaten as a vegetable or flavoring, or taken as a supplement. Dried and crushed holy basil is often placed in capsules for daily supplement use. For preventative use, take 300 to 2,000 mg
