2/02/2009

Herbs And Their Amazing Properties

What actually is a herb? To a botanist the herb is just a plant that doesn't have a woody stem. It doesn't matter if it is edible or not. Gardeners on the other hand, have a different definition. To them, the herb is simply an amazing plant. with an amazing array of things that can be done with them.
Hebs can be added to food, used for medical reasons like pain herbal remedies, used in herbal remedies for anxiety, in hot water as various herbal tea remdies or simply used for fragrances or various household purposes. Some herbs are actually classified in the tree family like the bay tree. But gardeners and herbalists still value them highly and grow them for their amazing properties no matter what type or variety they are classd under.
From the botanical point of view, the herb is a plant with non-woody stems and dies down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. In the garden sense, herbs are plants that serve as an incredible source of seasoning and flavoring of food. Then, in a broader sense, herbs also include plants useful for medicinal purposes or scents for cosmetics. Then again, some of them are woody and outstep the definition of a herbaceous plant.
Most common herbs are very easy to grow, but you need to have the right location for good success. For the most part, your herbs will neeed a location in the sun and only a few, such as angelica, woodruff and sweet cicely, will flourish in partial shade. The oils, which account for the herbs flavor, are produced in the greatest quantity when plants receive six to eight hours of full sunlight each day. If a proper spot in the sun is not in the cards, many herbs will tolerate a spot in light shade, but the quality and growth of the herbs will not be as good. Any good garden soil mix will work for your herbs. The soil should not be extremely acid or alkaline; a nearly neutral soil will work best for your herds. Your pH readings should be between 6.5 and 7.0 for best results. A highly fertile soil is not a requirement for most herbs. Highly fertile soils have the tendency to produce excessive foliage with poor flavor. You should have a soil with adequate organic matter. In preparing average soils, you should have about 4 inches of good peat moss or compost into your garden to improve soil condition and help it to retain the moisture.
Try experimenting with the different types of herbs there are and use them with different foods. Try different combinations. You can also plant and grow or buy your own herbs to use in creating your own herbaceous plant remedies based on age-old information from cultures like the Chinese, Native Americans or the Egyptians. There's a great deal of information available from the library or from bookstores. But be advised that everyone, especially those under medical treatment, consult a health professional before beginning herbal cures to protect yourself.

About the Author
Check out our herbs book for herbal tea remedies and more.

No comments:

Post a Comment