incorporating medicinal herbs into the garden introductions why herbal medicine? medicinal herbs...

Incorporating medicinal herbs into the garden

IntroductionsWhy herbal medicine?Medicinal herbs already in your gardenEasy-to-grow medicinal herbsHarvesting and processingQuestions

Plants have powerful healing properties

It deepens our relationship with plants

Community-based

It's easy to grow and wildcraft medicinal plants

It's part of our cultures and histories

Medicinal uses of culinary herbs

Examples: rosemary,

thyme, sage, garlic, onions

● Explore new uses of the herbs you

already have on on hand

● Safe, gentle herbs

Common medicinal weeds

Examples: plantain, dandelion, burdock, ground ivy, ragweed, chickweed, yellow dock

● No effort to grow!● Weeding becomes harvesting

Easy-to-grow medicinal herbs: annuals

Examples: Holy basil, oats, ashwagandha, chamomile, spilanthes

● Can be planted as row crops or scattered throughout the garden

● Many are self-seeding and can be harvested by weeding them out of unwanted places

Easy-to-grow medicinal herbs: perennials

● Examples: yarrow, comfrey,

elecampane, hyssop, echinacea, peppermint, california poppy

● Root crops and long-term producers

● Place carefully since these will be in your garden for a long time.

Medicine for your garden

Medicinal herbs can also help nourish your garden:

•Attract pollinators (CA poppy, chamomile, elecampane)•Source of mulch (comfrey, leaves left over from root crops•Prevent soil erosion (perennials)•Aerate soil (ashwagandha)

Infusion or Decoction (water extract)Tincture (alcohol extract)VinegarTinctureHoneyOil/salveSyrup

Matthew Woods: The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism

Leslie Braun and Mark Cohen: Herbs and Natural Supplements- An Evidence-Based Guide

Rosemary Gladstar: Herbal Healing for Women 

Michael Moore: various books including Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West

Timothy Scott: Invasive Plant Medicine

Websiteswww.herbcraft.org/articleindex.comwww.swsbm.comMaryland Native Plant Society: www. mdflora.orgBotanical Society of Washington:

www.botsoc.orgHenriette’s Herbal:

www.henriettesherbal.comAmerican Herbalist Guild:

www.americanherbalistguild.com

My contact information:Holly Poole-Kavanalittleredbirdbotanicals@gmail.comwww.redbirdbotanicals.wordpress.com