The Herbal Diary

While I will use this blog to give information about future talks, the main purpose in writing it, however, is to give a personal sketchbook diary of what’s happening with the herb garden week to week – hope you’ll enjoy it – I’m always open to suggestions on how to make it more interesting:

Before I start my little meander through the day one word of warning – I will ALWAYS give the full Latin name of the herbs with their common names – not because I’m showing off because I know them (though that too!) – but because it is incredibly important to know the full Latin name, particularly if you are planning to grow and use herbs as medicines.

Sunday, 20th July: Blustery with sneaky showers and then, suddenly, it really surprised us by breaking into warm sunshine while we were huddled under the Willow Bough against the rain – scoffing humous and quails eggs for lunch – don’t you just love the weather in this country!

Two incidents kept me out of mischief today – I managed to induce a charming little new worker, May Ling Brown, to sample her first beautiful marigold (Calendula officinalis) flower head – I’m all for eating the plants (you are duly warned). I also persuaded Fiona to chew a Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) leaf and smear it all over her shin to treat a Nettle sting (Urtica dioica) (Plantain is topically very healing and anti-histimine).

The most exciting news this week was the arrival of the new ‘babies’ – a whole batch of new organic medicinal herbs from Jekka’s. Stefan had already bedded them in when I arrived on Sunday and I can’t wait to watch them grow.

Some of the stars of the new herbal beds are St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) – I want no depression In the Garden! (although this is the main use people associate St John’s Wort with now it is also a very good herb used topically for local nerve pain, and as a topical antiseptic for cuts, ulcers, burns, bruises and inflamed joints). CAUTION: please ask a professional before using this herb, particularly if you are taking any pharmaceutical drugs.

We’ve also now got Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) which you will all know – lots of myths and mis-information surrounding the use of this herb.

Two of my favourites among the newcomers are Elecampane (Inula helenium) (traditionally used by the Greeks and Romans as a ‘miracle cure-all’ herb, we use it today for all types of respiratory conditions – for which it is superb). In the 12th Century an amazing Saint, mystic, healer, visionary, fighter and Abbess, Hildegard Von Bingen, wrote in her book ‘Physica’ on the nature of Elecampane “Let whoever suffers in the lungs drink this moderately daily before or after eating and the poisons will be removed…Drink this if you have sick lungs and no other illnesses”.

The other is Wood Betony (Stachys betonica) – a very special herb for conditions affecting the head – including nervous tension and headaches. CAUTION: Do not take high doses in pregnancy as this herb is a uterine stimulant. It is also a diuretic and “maketh a man to pisse well”!