When is National Herb Week?
National Herb Week is the 1st week of May!
August 29th is More Herbs, Less Salt day!
Are there other related Holidays? Yes!
The 4th week of July is always National Salad Week
April: National Garden week.
June 13 - Weed your Garden Day.
July is National Horseradish Month.
September is National Organic Harvest Month.
May 19-25-National Vegetarian week
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National Herb Week is the 1st week of May
In 1991, the International Herb Association established "National Herb Week" to be celebrated every year during the week leading to and culminating with Mother's Day. Listed in Chase's, the registry of national events, the purpose of National Herb Week is to develop and coordinate national attention on herbs, herb businesses, and the IHA.
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Herb of the Year:
Every year since 1995, the International Herb Association has chosen an Herb of the Year to highlight. The Horticultural Committee evaluates possible choices based on their being outstanding in at least two of the three major categories: medicinal, culinary, or decorative." Herb societies, groups, and organizations, from around the world, work together to educate the public about these important herbs throughout the year.
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What is a Garden Herb?
A(n) herb is a plant that is valued for qualities such as medicinal properties, flavor, scent, or the like.
Herbs have a variety of uses
Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, or in some cases even spiritual usage. The green, leafy part of the plant is often used, but herbal medicine makes use of the roots, flowers, seeds, root bark, inner bark (cambium), berries and sometimes the pericarp or other portions. General usage differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs. A medicinal herb may be a shrub or other woody plant, whereas a culinary herb is a non-woody plant, typically using the leaves. Any of the parts of the plant, as well as any edible fruits or vegetables, might be considered "herbs" in medicinal or spiritual use.
Culinary use of the term "Herb"
Culinary use of the term "herb" is much more specific and narrow. Culinary use typically distinguishes between herbs, the leafy green parts of the plant, and spices, all the other parts of the plant, including seeds, berries, bark, root, fruit, and even occasionally leaves. Culinary herbs are distinguished from vegetables in that they are used in small amounts and provide flavor (similar to spices) rather than substance to food.
Any plant contains numerous phytochemicals that have varying effects on the body. Even when consumed in the small levels that typify culinary "spicing", there may be some effects, and some herbs are toxic in larger quantities. For instance, some types of herbal extract, such as the extract of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort), or the Piper methysticum (kava plant) can be used for medical purposes to relieve depression and stress. But high amounts of these herbs may lead to poisoning, and should be used with caution.
Herbs encourage the body to heal itself
Herbs have been part of our lives for generations, in every country and for many different reasons. Herbs have been used for potions, lotions, salves, ceremonies and for healing for centuries. Our history books tell us of how healers used herbs from Indian medicine men to the modern herbalist who studies holistic medicine. Today because of the cost of medicines from our family doctor, many people are researching other ways to stay healthy through the use of herbs. Herbal medicine works best when practiced holistically. What that means is you want to think about good health for the whole body and work to heal the whole body as a whole. This is called having a balance both emotionally and physically, instead of just treating the symptom itself. You find this also referred to "holistic balance." Herbs are not just for cooking and eating ya know. Herbs encourage the body to heal itself!
Also See Herbal Remedies / Recipes
Cooking Herbs
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Herbs & Healing Usage
- Black pepper has a sharp and spicy aroma. Common uses include stimulating the circulation and for muscular aches and pains. Skin application is useful for bruises, since it stimulates the circulation.
- Catnip Tea, brewed from the leaves and flowers, may be taken for coughs and colds or as a bedtime calmative. See short Catnip information video.
- Cayenne pepper (considered the miracle herb by many herbalists) sprinkled in food, broth or tea also promotes sweating to break a fever. Cayenne acts as a catalyst, carrying all other herbs and supplements quickly to the place in the body where they are needed and increasing their effectiveness. It is also high in vitamin C and useful in the treatment of colds, sinus problems and respiratory ailments. 1 teaspoon of cayenne in a cup of hot water is often given to people to drink when a heart attack is taking place.
- Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica/Urtica urens): Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat rheumatism (disorders of the muscles and joints), eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia, urinary tract infections, for kidney stones, for hay fever, or in compresses or creams for treating joint pain, sprains and strains, tendonitis, and insect bites.......... Stinging nettle may act as an expectorant (meaning that it can loosen and break up a cough). In folk medicine, the dried herb and fresh plant juice have been used as diuretics, astringents and blood builders, and to treat anemia. The powdered leaves or fresh leaf juice have been applied to cuts to stop bleeding or taken in tea to reduce excessive menstrual flow, as well as to treat nosebleeds and hemorrhoids. Nettle tea has been used to stimulate blood circulation and as a spring tonic for chronic skin ailments. See Stinging Nettle
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Ginkgo
Clinical studies have shown that the four Gs—ginkgo, ginseng, Siberian ginseng and gotu kola—enhance mental abilities, including concentration, aptitude, behavior, alertness and even intelligence. Ginkgo is the best known for improving memory and it boosts the brain's ability to use oxygen.
Memory Tincture
1 teaspoon each tinctures of ginkgo leaves and Siberian ginseng root-
½ teaspoon each tinctures of ginseng root and gotu kola leaves-
Combine ingredients. Take half a dropperful a few times a day. Take extra tincture an hour or so before an exam or an important office meeting, or at any time you need extra focus.
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The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.
