Colic

Passiflora or passion flower is a popular climbing vine with gardeners as it is adorned with beautiful purple flowers. It is native to South, Central and North America, but varieties of this vigorous plant now grow almost everywhere. The plant acquired its name from the 16th-century Spanish missionaries, who believed the flower represented the crucifixion: [...]

Continue Reading Herb Passiflora (Passiflora incarnata)

Is native to the Molucca Islands and New Guinea, but is now also found in Sri Lanka and the West Indies. The large oval seed kernel is used as a culinary spice and in herbal medicine. The husk (known as mace) is also used as a spice. Medicinal Properties of Nutmeg It contains around 10% [...]

Continue Reading Herb Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)

Caraway is an aromatic biennial plant native to Europe, Asia and North Africa. It has been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians and is now cultivated world-wide. It is used as a spice in cooking and the seeds and fruit are important both as a food and in herbal medicine. Medicinal Properties of [...]

Continue Reading Herb Caraway (Carum carvi)

This is a strongly aromatic annual herb that grows about a metre in height. It is native to Europe and Western Asia, but is now naturalised in North America and cultivated all around the world. The Persians grew this herb over 3,000 years ago and used it to add fragrance to the Hanging Gardens of [...]

Continue Reading Herb Coriander (Coriandrum sativa)

Fennel is native to Europe, but is now grown all over the world as a food, spice and a medicinal plant. It has a long history of use dating back to ancient Greeks and Romans. The seeds are used in herbal medicine and Aromatherapy and they have an aniseed smell and taste. Medicinal Properties of [...]

Continue Reading Herb Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Also known as colic root or Chinese ginger, this is a reed-like plant that is native to south east China, especially in the island of Hainan. It is now cultivated in China, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan. It is closely related to ginger (Zingiber officinale) and to the large Galanga (Galanga officinalis). The root and rhizome [...]

Continue Reading Herb Galangal (Alpinia officinarum)

Valerian is an attractive perennial with pretty pink flowers. It grows throughout Europe and is now established in North America. The root has been used medicinally as far back as the 1st century AD. Valerian was used to treat soldiers with ‘shell shock’ during World War II. Medicinal Properties of Valerian Valerian contains many active [...]

Continue Reading Herb Valerian (Valerian officinalis)

Bergamot, bee balm or red bergamot was originally grown in Italy and used in folklore medicine. The whole plant is used in herbal medicine and its distinctive flavour is used to make earl grey tea. Bergamot in aromatherapy comes from the plant citrus bergamia. Action of Bergamot This herb contains a variety of compounds that [...]

Continue Reading Herb Bergamot (Monardo didyma)

Several types of savory (a small shrubby plant) exist. The main ones are summer savory (S. hortensis), a herbaceous annual, and winter savory (S. Montana), a perennial woody shrub. Both species are native to Southern Europe and N Africa, but now grow world-wide. The whole herb is used in cooking and herbal medicine. In Germany [...]

Continue Reading Herb Savory (Satureja)