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What is Neem?

What Is It?
Neem is a cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine, having been used for thousands of years in India and South Asia to treat a wide range of ailments. This fast-growing evergreen tree thrives in tropical regions. Its leaves, seeds, and bark all contain healing compounds.

Why Use It?
Neem oil is high in antioxidants and essential fatty acids. In personal care products, it quickly penetrates the skin to soothe dry, itchy, or flaking areas. Herbal extracts have been shown to prevent and help heal ulcers, boost the immune system, and improve joint health. The leaves also appear effective in treating digestive disorders. And a gel made from neem leaves proved more effective than a medicinal mouthwash in reducing plaque buildup on teeth and treating gingivitis.

Good to Know
Neem is considered safe for most healthy people, but it is not recommended for infants or elderly adults.

Proven Acne Fighter
Neem oil is ideal for acne-prone skin. It reduces irritation and inflammation, and helps remove bacteria that may cause outbreaks.

References:
The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine by Brigitte Mars, AHG ($19.95, Basic Health, 2007)
“Evaluation of Antiplaque Activity of Azadirachta indica Leaf Extract Gel . . .” by M. R. Pai et al., J Ethnopharmacol, 2/04
“Neem Shows Antiplaque Activity in Clinical Study” by Heather S. Oliff, HerbClip, 1/14/05
“The Use of Neem for Controlling Gastric Hyperacidity and Ulcer” by P. Maity et al., Phtytother Res, 1/12/09

Not just to upset stomach....  now also great for Nausea

Culinary Herbs

All of us want access to fresh herbs, especially those of us that have a culinary calling.  All of these following herb plants are available at your local garden center or you may want to sprout them from seeds.  A planter like this is ideal for growing a collection of different varieties that thrive well together!

 

Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) - An indispensable herb that is at its best when freshly picked. Harvest stems before flowers open for best flavor and to maintain bushy growth.

Red-Leaf Basil (O. basilicum) - Varieties include 'Dark Opal', 'Purple Ruffles' and 'Red Rubin' - best known for usage in spicy Thai basil dishes.

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) - Pink pom-pon flowers and mounds of strappy leaves have an oniony flavor. Also try garlic chives (A. tuberosum) which have white flowers.

Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana) - The sweet-flavored leaves compliment poultry, veggies, soups and dressings.

Peppermint (Mentha xpiperita) - Harvest on a regular basis to control agressive growth. Tastes great in teas, desserts as well as in veggie salads and cheeses.

Greek Oregano (O. vulgare ssp. hurtum) - Goes great with tomato dishes, eggs and poultry. Make sure to divide every 3 to 5 years, otherwise aggressive growth may occur.

Curly Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) - anther staple for any kitchen. Tolerates some shade and must be replaned each year.  Great in soups, poultry, fish and meats.

Flat-Leaf Italian Parsley (P. crispum var. neapolitanum) - Has gentle flavor and is best when leaves are fresh. Tuck extra leaves whenever you have extra room in the planter. Tolerates some shade.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officianalis) - One of the most useful culinary herbs - goes great with vegetables adn meats. Rosemary can grow quite large - upwards of 3ft in height. Try it next time at Thanksgiving... stick a sprig or two or three into the bird...

Sage (Salvia officianals) - A classic partner for poultry.  Grows about 2ft tall so trim often.

Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) - Alwyays tastes best when fresh. Provide a well drained soil and always remove flower stems. Can be used with chicken, fish, eggs and tomatoes plus in sauces and/or rubs.

Thyme (Thymus spp.) - Comes in variety of flavors, forms, colors and uses in kitchen, and has beautiful bloos.  I will grow practically anywhere...

 

Reference: Herbs Companion

PEPPERMINT For Indigestion From Our Herb Shop 

Today's after-dinner mints are an echo of peppermint's (Mentha Xpiperita) traditional use as a stomach soother. German researchers gave 96 indigestion sufferers either a placebo or a peppermint-caraway (Carum carvi) combination. (Caraway seed is another traditional stomach soother.) Four weeks later, 21 percent of the placebo group was much improved, but in the herb group, the figure was 67 percent. "Whenever I get indigestion," the researcher says, "I go out to the garden, pick some peppermint leaves and chew them".

 

 

Dosage: A cup or two of peppermint tea usually produces relief.

Red Flags: NONE

 

Reference: Herbs For Health

Natural Bug Repellents: Ward Off Insects Safely
Authored by Rich Wallace

The swarms of mosquitoes seem particularly dense this year in New England, where I live. Hungry, too. We found an effective roll-on repellent that contains castor, citronella, cedar, lemongrass, and rosemary oils. I still get a few bites while walking the dog in the woods, but this organic repellent works quite well. And, of course, it’s devoid of chemical toxins like DEET.

DEET is common in conventional repellents, and it can be particularly harmful to kids. Herbs and their essential oils are far safer ingredients for warding off insects. You can buy ready-made repellents, or add a few drops of essential oil to a vegetable oil base and rub it into your skin. Basil, thyme, and lemongrass oils are often used as bug repellents.

Try the following essential oils as well. (Be sure to dilute them with a carrier oil, as some can cause skin irritation when applied at full strength.)

Tea tree contains natural antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, making it an ideal part of your personal first aid kit. “It acts as an insect repellent,” says Linda Miles, LAc, DOM. “Its natural solvent properties help dissolve insect toxin in existing bites to stop itching and allow the bite area to heal faster.”

Citronella keep ticks, houseflies, and mosquitoes away. You’ll often find it as an ingredient in candles.

Lemon eucalyptus and rose geranium are effective against mosquitoes. They also deter sandflies, ticks, and midges.

Pennyroyal is effective on a variety of biting insects—including chiggers, fleas, flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and ticks.

Patchouli and neem can keep the mosquitoes away. Like many of these herbs, neem has been used for thousands of years to repel insects.

If your home is being invaded by ants, peppermint oil is a safe deterrent. Spray a mix of one cup of water and two teaspoons of peppermint oil anywhere in the house that you see them. Dabbing diluted peppermint oil on the skin will repel bugs too.

1 tsp fresh chopped parsley

Cleaning with Herbs: Lemon-Mint Window Wash

Before you wash the windows, make sure to whisk away all dust and dead bugs from the casing using a small, hand-held broom. For shiny windows, use sheets of newspaper (black and white only) to scrub and shine. The newspaper ink may darken your hands, but it shines the windows without streaking.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT...
 
HORSE CHESTNUT for Varicose Veins
 

Because of genetics, aging or work that required extended standing or sitting, the walls of leg veins can weaken. As a result, blood pools in the calves and fluid leaks into surrounding tissue, causing unsightly vericose veins. Mainstream medicine treats varicose veins with support hose and surgery.  Add horse chestnut seed extract (Aesculus hippocastanum) to the list... It contains a compound (aescin) that strenghtens vein walls, decreasing fluid leakage. Several studies show that it's effective for varicose veins. German researchers gave 240 varicose vein sufferers either compresion stockings or horse chestnut (50mg aescin twice a day). After 12 weeks, both groups experienced equal relief. Horse chestnut won't eliminate every little spider vein and it may not help varicose veins you've had for years. Many herbalists take it before long plane flights.

REFRESHING AVOCADO BOATS

1 Avocado
3 Tbl spons of farmer's cheese (or sub with large curd cottage cheese)

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