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| |align=center|[[File:Mint (Yerba Buena) 2.jpg|300px]]<br>Mint (Yerba Buena) in half wine barrel | | |align=center|[[File:Mint (Yerba Buena) 2.jpg|300px]]<br>Mint (Yerba Buena) in half wine barrel |
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| ==News About Yerba Buena / Mint== | | ==News About Yerba Buena / Mint== |
| '''Medicinal and Edible Plants of the California Redwood Understory''' | | '''Plants as medicine''' |
| *Source:http://www.ecologicalconcerns.com/medicinal-and-edible-plants-of-the-california-redwood-understory/ | | *Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-lifestyle/2016/08/22/1616083/plants-medicine |
| :(Ecological Concerns Admin) | | :By Brent Montecillo (The Freeman) |
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| There is a plethora of medicinal and edible plants living in the foggy shadows of the California Redwoods.
| | CEBU, Philippines - Herbal medicines have lately become a significant industry. People have high trust in ‘herbal’ stuff. They take the word to mean either safe or inexpensive or effective, or all three. |
| Below is a short list of great natives to use in your shade garden or observe in their natural environment. *
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| Madrone / Arbutus menziesii - Both the fruits and the flowers are edible, although the fruits are high in tannins and therefore are sometimes made into cider. Long known as bee plants, madrones provide honeybees with ample nectar and pollen and are important tree species for commercial beekeepers. Madrone wood is dense and durable, making it popular as a flooring material and an efficient fuel source. The bark has also been used to tan leather and the wood to make charcoal for gunpowder.
| | For centuries, natural remedies have been used to fight common ailments. In fact, medicinal drugs are said to be simply synthetic formulations of substances found in nature. In short, today’s medicines are proof of humankind’s continuing trust in nature. |
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| California Hazelnut / Corylus cornuta - People have utilized them as a rich food source for centuries, and the nuts are still grown commercially in some places. In the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas, indigenous Californians in the Muwekma Ohlone, Rumsien Ohlone, Amah Mutsun, and Ohlone/Costanoan/Esselen Nations did, and still do, eat the nuts whole or boil them to extract the flavorful oil. Hazelnut wood is used for arrows, hooks, utensils, baskets, and fishing traps.
| | In a study, nearly four out of 10 adults say they have used some form of alternative remedy. ‘Alternative’ refers to medication or procedure without the use of synthetic drugs or modern medical technology. Of the alternative or natural remedies, perhaps plants are the most commonly resorted to for alleviating physical discomforts. |
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| Huckleberry / Vaccinium ovatum - Huckleberries are some of the tastiest of California’s native berries and can be eaten fresh, dried, or preserved. They are a close relative of the blueberry and have a high Vitamin C content.
| | As appealing as the notion of natural remedies is for some, however, not all such remedies are safe or effective. In fact, herbal supplements have to be regulated by government – just like its drug or pharmaceutical counterparts – to ensure that required safety standards are met. And, generally, herbal products are not allowed to make claims of medicinal value. |
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| Salal / Gaultheria shallon - The berries grow sweeter with autumn frosts, and can be eaten fresh or made into jams, preserves, pie fillings, or even wine. Native Americans utilized them as a regular food source, often drying them into cakes and mixing them with bear fat. The leaves can be used to flavor soups, and also have medicinal value as anti-inflammatory teas, tinctures, and poultices.
| | Herbal supplements are considered as food products. And so the manufacturers that produce these products aren’t required to perform clinical trials or follow the strict manufacturing and labeling regulations required for pharmaceutical drugs. What’s more, some herbal remedies may interact with over-the-counter or prescription medications. |
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| Wood Rose / Rosa gymnocarpa – The hips contain high levels of Vitamin C, as well as calcium, phosphorous, and iron. They can be eaten raw or cooked; however, it is important to first remove the seed hairs as they can cause irritation to the mouth and throat. Shoots and petals can also be eaten raw, and the seeds (hairs removed) are high in Vitamin E, good as a nutritional supplement, ground and added to flours. There are many medicinal uses for the wood rose: chewed leaves can be applied to reduce localized pain and swelling, as well as to make teas. The pliable woody stems can be bent into hoops or used to make arrows.
| | Experts recommend consulting a doctor before trying herbal supplements. But such recommendation often goes unheeded. Again, people think these are safe, and so there is no need to consult a doctor. They argue that the ingredients of these herbal supplements are plants that have been traditionally used, anyway. |
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| California Grape / Vitis californica – The grapes, enjoyed by wildlife and humans alike, can be eaten raw or made into jams and jellies. Young tendrils are also edible either raw or cooked, and tender leaves can be wrapped around other foods and baked to enhance the flavor. Native Americans use the roots and vines in basket and rope making and obtain a yellow dye from the leaves. Wild California grapes are also credited as the saviors of the European wine industry, when most of Europe’s wine grapes succumbed to a pest outbreak in the late nineteenth century. California grapes were resistant, and since then almost all commercial wine grapes produced globally have been grafted onto California grape rootstock.
| | In the Philippines, the so-called traditional medicine is heavily reliant on plants, and is necessarily influenced by religion, mysticism, magic, superstition, and folkloric herbalism. Local traditional-medicine practitioners – the arbularyo, the tambalan, and the faith healer – prescribe various herbs for various ailments. Curiously, patients often report of getting healed. |
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| Black Cap Raspberry / Rubus leucodermis - The berries are great for eating raw and for making jam (if you can get enough). The flavor is subtle, not as sweet as commercial varieties. Medicinally it is used as an astringent to stop bleeding and treat dysentery. Also the roots and leaves may act as a mild sedative.
| | Traditional medicine is so widespread in the country, prompting the Department of Health to launch, in 1992, the Traditional Medicine Program, which aims to promote an effective and safe use of traditional medicine. There is now the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care, tasked to promote and advocate the use of traditional and alternative health care modalities through scientific research and product development. |
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| Thimble Berry / Rubus parviflorus – The sweet and tangy fruits ripen to a deep red in summer, and can be eaten fresh, dried, or as preserves. Shoots can be peeled and eaten as a vegetable or made into a tonic herbal tea. The bark can be used to make soap, and dried and powdered leaves can be used to prevent scarring from burns.
| | The government’s Traditional Medicine Program has since endorsed ten medicinal plants to be used as herbal medicine in Philippines due to their health benefits. |
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| Woodland Strawberry / Fragaria vesca - In addition to being a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants, both the berries and the leaves of the woodland strawberry act as natural bleach, whitening tooth enamel as well as preventing the buildup of tartar. The leaves and roots were used as far back as the Middle Ages for tooth and gum health. All parts of the plant have been used medicinally, as digestive aids (roots, stalks), astringents (leaves), and antibacterial salves (leaves, juice).
| | Akapulko (Cassia alata) is a medicinal plant called “ringworm bush or scrub” and “acapulco” in English. It is a herbal medicine for treating tinea infections, insect bites, ringworms, eczema, scabies and itchiness. |
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| Yerba Buena / Satureja douglasii / Clinopodium douglasii - The small, shiny green aromatic leaves have been used in soothing teas, as a cooking herb, or in potpourris and perfumes. Yerba Buena – the common name of related plants found on several continents – has long been used medicinally by Native American, Mexican, and European peoples for a variety of digestive ailments.
| | Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) is also called “bitter melon” or “bitter gourd” in English. It has been found to be effective in the treatment of diabetes, hemorrhoids, coughs, burns and scalds, and is presently being studied for anti-cancer properties. |
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| California Spikenard /Aralia californica - Spikenard berries can be harvested and eaten fresh, cooked, or dried. Like its ginseng relatives, is used medicinally as a tonic. The roots are used as an anti-inflammatory remedy and as a cough suppressant and expectorant.
| | Bawang (Allium sativum) is “garlic” in English. Also known as “ahos” in other parts of the country, it is a used to treat infection with its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-hypertensive properties. It is also widely used to reduce cholesterol level in blood. |
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| * Please do not harvest plants on public lands without checking local and state regulations first.
| | Bayabas (Psidium guajava), or “guava” in English, is commonly used as antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, antioxidant hepato-protective, anti-allergy, antimicrobial, anti-plasmodial, anti-cough, anti-diabetic, and anti-genotoxic in folkloric medicine. |
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| '''Browne’s Savory: Clinopodium Browneii'''
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| *Source:http://www.eattheweeds.com/brownes-savory-clinopodium-browneii/
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| :By Green Deane
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| :The Mighty Minty Micromeria Brownei
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| Sometimes in central Florida you will drive past a car accident on the interstate, or another road, and smell mint. You’re not having sensory crossover: That’s Micromeria Brownei, aka Clinopodium Brownei. (klin-oh-POH-dee-um brown-ee-eye)
| | Lagundi (Vitex negundo), known as “five-leaved chaste tree” in English, is used for treating cough, colds and fever. It is also used as a relief for asthma and pharyngitis, rheumatism, dyspepsia, boils, and diarrhea. |
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| Micromeria Brownei (my-kro-MARE-ri-a) is a minuscule mint that likes swales and other wet places. It blooms all year and prefers its feet damp most of the time, hence its reference as the “aquatic mint.” Some botanists say M. Brownei var. pilosiuscula (pye-loh-see-USK-yew-lus) can be found only in central and northern Florida, others place it in southern Georgia as well and around the Gulf of Mexico into Central America. Native flower books don’t list it as a native and Micromerias are found around the world, even in wet spots of desert countries.
| | Niyog-niyogan (Quisqualis indica L.) is a vine known as “Chinese honey suckle” in English. It is used for eliminating intestinal parasites. |
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| This writer remembers many car accidents on Interstate 4 at State Road 46 in Sanford, Florida. Though the area has been re-engineered, that interstate’s intersection was a common spot of accidents and the median at the time was low. For about a half a mile to the south the entire center median was nothing but Micromeria brownei and a few other wet-footed plants. Any car that skidded or drove through that area threw up a hint of mint that lasted for days.
| | Sambong (Blumea balsamifera), whose English name is “Ngai camphor” or “Blumea camphor,” is used for treating kidney stones, wounds and cuts, rheumatism, anti-diarrhea, anti spasms, colds and coughs and hypertension. |
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| M. brownei has many common names. Browne’s Savory seems to be an old standby whereas Creeping Charlie is a favorite with the aquarium, build-a-pond crowd. St. John’s Mint is a recent and becoming popular name (the river that flows through the peninsula of Florida is the St. John’s.) Micromera means little parts, or in this case little leaves and flowers. It is also called Clinopodium brownei, which means “slope footed.” Thanks to a reader I learned it was named after Patrick Browne (1720-1790), who first desribed it as “THYMUS i. Minimus herbaceus, foliis orbiculatis crenatis, floribus singularibus ad alas.” Quite a lot for such a little mint. Browne’s major work was The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica (1756). Pilosiuscula means somewhat hairy but as I write these words I have a living specimen with me and it is nearly hairless. Some references say the mint is very hairy. But even under magnification 30x the M.Brownei I have is not hairy. If it is hairy the hair is extremely small, and “somewhat hairy” is an overstatement… or is it statemint?
| | Tsaang Gubat (Ehretia microphylla Lam.), “wild tea” in English, is taken as tea to treat skin allergies including eczema, scabies and itchiness wounds in child birth. |
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| If you live in the west coast states of the United States, you can use Clinopodium douglasii, or Yerba Buena, which was also the original name of San Francisco until 1847. It is slightly more tolerant of dry conditions. It can be found as far east as western Montana. Again, making tea is a matter of taste when it comes to amounts, and again, it should be avoided by pregnant women
| | Ulasimang Bato or Pansit-Pansitan (Peperomia pellucida) is known for its efficacy in treating arthritis and gout. |
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| :Green Deane’s “Itemized” Plant Profile
| | Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii), known as “peppermint” in English, is used as analgesic to relieve body aches and pains due to rheumatism and gout. It is also used to treat coughs, colds and insect bites. |
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| •IDENTIFICATION: A very sprawling, creeping and erect perennial with square stems and opposite leaves. Stems are nearly hairless, flowers have purple splotches on petals and in throat. Entire plant fragrant
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| •TIME OF YEAR: Available year round, blossoms year round.
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| •ENVIRONMENT: Grows in all kinds of soil as long as it is constantly damp, full sun to partial shade.
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| •METHOD OF PREPARATION: Use fresh or dried, make a very nice tea or flavoring.
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| '''Yerba Buena Traditional uses of the Good Herb''' | | '''Yerba buena, herbal medicine - Health Benefits ''' |
| *Source:http://www.pitlanemagazine.com/cultures/yerba-buena-traditional-uses-of-the-good-herb.html | | *Source:http://healthydessert4us.blogspot.com/2013/04/yerba-buena-herbal-medicine-health.html |
| :(Pitlane Magazine) | | :(Healthy Food) |
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| Traditionally used worldwide for its medicinal properties and culinary value, Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii), known by the Spanish as Hierba Buena or Good Herb, is a rambling, aromatic perennial herb from the mint family. Native to western and northwestern North America, Yerba Buena, introduced by the Spaniards to the eastern world, is now cultivated from North America to Asia. Growing up to 1 meter in height with oblong shaped leaves, Yerba Buena’s sprawling, mat-forming plant with flowers ranging in color from whitish to bluish to purplish is also traditionally grown in gardens or planters for ornamental and aromatic appeal as well as for close proximity when in need of its precious leaves and stems.
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| The Good Herb, scientifically named Mentha arvensis Linn., is also known by many other names including Minta, Mint, Peppermint, Ablebana, and Po-ho. Its traditional use in salads, as a plating garnish, as a breath freshener, as a flavorful and aromatic herb for food preparation, and as a tea, are perhaps the most popularly known ways of enjoying Yerba Buena’s bounty. However, in 1992, this herb’s centuries old medicinal properties landed it on a list of top 10 medicinal plants for common health problems, published by the Department of Health of the Philippines, in the form of a brochure.
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| Yerba Buena, used worldwide, yields a volatile oil at 0.22%, containing pulegone, menthol, menthene, menthenone and limonene. Other oils include terpinoline and a-phellandrene. According to Stuart at www.stuartxchange.org, studies have shown that the shoot leaf of this plant gives the highest yield of oil at 0.62% and menthol is present as a major component of all of the oils. Traditional properties are numerous and are as follow:
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| Carminative (agent used to relieve or prevent formation of gas in the alimentary tract and to ease the passing of this gas)
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| Stimulant (agent that temporarily quickens some vital process)
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| Stomachic (agent used in relieving gastric or stomach issues)
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| Aromatic (having a strong pleasant, order)
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| Antiseptic (agent that destroys micro-organisms that carry germs and diseases without harming body tissues)
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| Analgesic (agent used to relieve pain)
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| Expectorant (agent that promotes coughing up and spitting out)
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| Antispasmodic (agent used to prevent or soothe spasms especially of the smooth muscles)
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| Sudorific (agent that induces or increases sweating/perspiration)
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| Emmenagogue (agent that promotes menstrual discharge)
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| Anti-nauseant (agent used to soothe dizziness and nausea)
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| Anti-inflammatory (agent used to reduce inflammation)
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| Antipruritic (agent that relieves or prevents itching)
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| Dentifrice (agent used to clean your teeth)
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| It is easy to see why the Spanish named this plant the Good Herb. Mexican, Native, and European Americans have used this plant for centuries in folk medicine and continue to do so today. Below you will find common ailments and complaints and the traditional uses of Yerba Buena to treat them.
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| Nausea, Dizziness, and Fainting: Crush or bruise fresh leaves and apply at nostrils to relieve nausea and dizziness and to refresh someone who has fainted.
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| Insect Bites: To relieve the itch, crush leaves and apply juice to the area that is affected or pound leaves until paste-like and rub on the area that is affected.
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| Pruritis (intense itching): Apply to the affected area as a wash, the decoction in Cough and Colds.
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| Cough and Colds: Boil 6 tablespoons of chopped leaves in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes; cool and strain. Divide the decoction into three parts; take 1 part 3 times a day.
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| Arthritis, Rheumatism, and other Inflammatory conditions: Warm fresh leaves over low flame then pound. Apply pounded leaves while still warm on the painful joints or muscles. Crush fresh leaves, squeeze out the sap and massage on painful parts with or without eucalyptus as an alternative.
| | Yerba buena is also know for its medicinal properties. Yerba buena is used as herbal medicine for the treatment of many ailments which has been traditionally used since ancient times. |
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| Headaches and Fever: Crush fresh leaves and apply to the forehead and temples. The decoction recipe in Cough and Colds is also very effective on headaches and in reducing fevers. Divide into 2 parts and take every 3 hours.
| | Studies have shown that Yerba buena contains pulegone, menthol, menthene, menthenone and limonene. |
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| Stomach Ache and Indigestion: The decoction recipe in Cough and Colds is effective here as well. Divide into 2 parts and take every 3 hours. To aid with digestion drink this tea after eating.
| | Common Health benefits from Yerba buena are as follows: |
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| Menstrual Pain: Drink an infusion of a handful of leaves soaked in a glass of boiling water. It induces menstrual flow and relieves painful spasms and cramps.
| | Yerba Buena tea used as body pain reliever . Good for headache, stomach ache and tooth ache. |
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| Flatulence, Colic, Griping, Diarrhea, Constipation: For excessive gas in the alimentary tract boil 4 tablespoons of chopped leaves in 1 cup of water for five minutes then strain, waiting to drink the decoction until it is lukewarm. The infusion mentioned in Menstrual Pain also aids in relieving gas pain.
| | Yerba Buena poultice used for Rheumatism, arthritis and headache – crush the fresh leaves squeeze sap. Massage sap on painful parts with eucalyptus. |
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| Toothaches: Soak a piece of cotton in the squeezed out sap of either a freshly cut stem or freshly crushed leaves. Insert the cotton directly into or onto affected tooth. The decoction mentioned in Cough and Colds is useful here as well. Divide the decoction into 2 parts and drink every 3 to 4 hours.
| | Yerba Buena tea for cough and colds –. Drink as tea. Acts as an expectorant. |
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| Swollen Gums: In 1 cup of boiling water, steep 6 grams of fresh leaves for 30 minutes. Gargle with this infusion.
| | Yerba Buena as mouth wash for swollen gums and tooth aches – steep 6 grams of fresh plant in a glass of boiling water for 30 minutes. Use solution as gargle. |
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| Mouthwash: In 1 cup of hot water, soak 2 tablespoons of chopped leaves for 30 minutes then strain. Gargle with this solution.
| | Yerba Buena tea for menstrual and gas pain –. Drink infusion. It induces menstrual flow and sweating. |
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| Dentifrice: Apply dried, powdered plant with a toothbrush as an alternative to toothpaste.
| | Yerba Buena minty scent for nausea and fainting – crush leaves and apply at nostrils of patients. |
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| This fascinating, beautiful, aromatic and highly useful herb is a wonderful addition to any garden, kitchen, medicine cabinet and first aid kit.
| | Yerba Buena leaves for Insect bites – crush leaves and apply juice on affected part or pound leaves until paste-like. Then rub this on affected part. |
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| '''Quezon province plants seeds of medicinal agro-industries''' | | '''Smelly Plant of the Month: Yerba Buena ''' |
| *Source:http://business.inquirer.net/209814/quezon-province-plants-seeds-of-medicinal-agro-industries | | *Source:http://mylifeamongthelithops.blogspot.com/2013/11/smelly-plant-of-month-yerba-buena.html |
| :By Delfin T. Mallari Jr. (Inquirer Southern Luzon) | | :By Maria Robb (My Life Among The Lithops) |
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| ‘We are now shifting to a healthier lifestyle. We are more conscious of what we eat and drink’
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| LUCENA CITY—For Romulo Ayag, an organic farming advocate in Barangay Pili in Sariaya town of Quezon province, herbal plant agriculture offers farmers a bright promise.
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| “Farming nowadays can reap millions of pesos if one hits the jackpot,” Ayag says.
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| A son of a farmer couple from Lobo, Batangas, the 58-year-old Ayag has four children—three of them working abroad while the youngest had just returned from an overseas job to join him in the farming business.
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| Half of the family’s two-hectare farm is planted with “pinakbet” (an IIocano dish) vegetables while the remaining half is devoted to turmeric (yellow ginger) and siling labuyo (chili pepper), which are not only popular as a food additives but known for their healing properties.
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| Ayag is one of several partners or “cooperators” of the Quezon Herbal Industry Program (QHIP), which the provincial government launched in 2014. The program aims to explore the business potential of growing herbal plants, possibly an emergent industry in the country.
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| Walter Dapla, QHIP coordinator, says the provincial agriculture office introduced the program as an alternative livelihood program to residents during a rehabilitation caravan, which the provincial government led in areas devastated by Typhoon “Glenda” (international name: Rammasun) in 2014.
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| “The response was very positive. Many were interested, especially local government officials,” Dapla says.
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| The provincial agriculture office chose six towns—Sariaya, Tayabas, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Agdangan and General Luna—as pilot areas for the program where planting materials like lemongrass (tanglad), turmeric, chili pepper, moringa (malunggay) and lagundi (Vitex negundo) were distributed. | |
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| A farmer who wants to be a cooperator should own an easily accessible farm land with an adequate water source. “But most importantly, the farmer is willing to learn,” Dapla says.
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| The program will provide cooperators with training, seminar and technical support from agricultural technicians and experts.
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| After harvest, the cooperators are not obliged to pay back the provincial government from their earnings. Instead, QHIP will help farmers sell their harvest.
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| “All earnings will remain with the cooperator so they can shoulder the cost of the next planting season,” he says.
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| Further, the provincial government aims to establish a processing facility in Pagbilao to serve as drying and grounding area for medicinal plants.
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| Quezon Gov. David Suarez, in an executive order, created the QHIP committee composed of different government agencies, academic institutions and representatives from the private sector that drew up an Herbal Industry Development Program.
| | Yerba Buena, or "good herb", is common in gardens all over the New World, from Chile to Alaska. I have a big pot of it in my front yard. Unfortunately, when I photographed it, we were having our usual 70kph winds and I couldn't get a good focus. But you can see it's green and minty! |
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| The program has five major components—research and development, enhancement of herbal production, information and education, promotion and marketing, and agro-enterprise development.
| | Yerba Buena refers to different species of mint or mint-like aromatic plants. Each region has its own. In the US and Philippines, Yerba Buena usually refers to Clinopodium douglasii. It's used in tisanes for headaches, stomach-aches, and coughs and colds. In parts of Central America, it is Mentha citrata, a true mint. Good old spearmint, Mentha spicata, is often labeled Yerba Buena as well. In Cuba, it's Mentha nemorosa, or apple mint. All Yerba Buenas can be used in cooking, and medicinally, though obviously the Clinopodium has slightly different properties than the Menthas. |
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| Provincial agriculturist Roberto Gajo, remembers Celso Diaz, former director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau, as saying that herbal plants are sleeping treasures due to their [still to be] fully realized potential.
| | But the most famous use of Yerba Buena is for the traditional Cuban Mojito! |
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| “QHIP, in some way, provides a response to Dr. Diaz’s challenge of using herbal plants not only [to] address health-related issues, but also contribute to poverty alleviation and the promotion of a healthy environment,” says Gajo.
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| He adds that hundreds of hectares of farm lands in the province have been planted with medicinal plants.
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| QHIP has also partnered with the Department of Education’s vegetable garden program in encouraging the cultivation of medicinal plants.
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| “Through this, students become aware of the uses and importance of medicinal plants,” Gajo says.
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| Jaime Galvez-Tan, former secretary of the Department of Health and proponent of traditional and natural medicine, says Quezon has the potential to be the Philippines’ center for medicinal plants and to be the first province with agro-industries in medicinal herbs.
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| Galvez-Tan, a QHIP consultant, noted that with over 1,500 indigenous herbs and plants across the country, herbal medicine could be a multibillion-peso industry, just like in Thailand and Singapore.
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| The World Health Organization estimates that eight of 10 people across the globe use herbal medicine because it is cheaper and more available than pharmaceutical drugs.
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| The Philippines’ natural and organic products have an estimated total export value of about $153 million in 2011, government data show.
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| The major contributors to the sector’s growth are the medicinal plants, and food and personal care segments.
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| Also, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the therapeutic use of 10 Philippine medicinal plant species. These include lagundi for cough and asthma; sambong, kidney stones; ampalaya, lowering of blood sugar and anti-diabetes; garlic, against cholesterol; guava, oral/skin antiseptic; tsaang-gubat, mouthwash; yerba buena, for pain and fever; niyog-niyogan, parasitic worms; acapulco, antifungal; and ulasimang bato, for uric acid in the blood.
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| Last year, the provincial government started the construction of the Quezon Adventure Park-Quezon Protected Landscape Herbal Pavilion at the Quezon Protected Landscape (formerly Quezon National Park), along the popular zigzag road in Atimonan town.
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| The facility will have a QHIP showcase, where various herbal plants will be found. It will also serve as a display center for products produced by different organizations, cooperatives and individuals involved in the herbal medicines program.
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| “We are now shifting to a healthier lifestyle. We are more conscious of what we eat and drink,” says Suarez, the governor. “I want Quezon province to spearhead and to capitalize on that movement.”
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| He called on local officials to develop and propagate herbal and medicinal plants and turn this activity into a vibrant industry.
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| “We will not only earn from it; it will also make our community a lot healthier,” Suarez says.
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| '''A Gift From The Garden; Native Groundcover Makes a Perfect Drink'''
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| *Source:https://perjoy.wordpress.com/2015/11/27/a-gift-from-the-garden-native-groundcover-makes-a-perfect-drink/
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| :(PerJoy)
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| Soothing and refreshing, all at the same time, a cup of tea centers me and gives a pleasant pause. The heady scent, of mint in particular, brings both comfort and focus. Sipping something warm and fragrant provides a meditative moment that can warm the body and soothe the soul.
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| Technically a flavorful herb or leaf that is steeped in liquid is a tisane. Only the leaves of Camellia sinensis are properly referred to as “tea”. Although I am experimenting with growing genuine tea in my garden, my current rant refers to the tisanes that can be made from plants easily grown in a low-water, California garden. It’s such a treat to step outside and snip a few leaves for brewing or to harvest more for drying and to gift to friends.
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| There are many herbs and leaves that make a delicious infusion or beverage but members of the mint family are some of the best known and appreciated. Classic spearmint and peppermint, although lovely, need lots of moisture to be happy. In California, we have a versatile native plant that can be abundant in forests and chaparral and is an easy addition to pots or shady places in a garden design as well.
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| Yerba Buena is the common name of one of my favorite tisane-making plants. Yerba Buena, or “good herb” in Spanish, can also refer to many plants in the mint family, depending on where you live. The latin name of this little plant can be somewhat confusing as well, as there are several synonyms and older names by which it is still sometimes known. So, to be clear, I am talking about Clinopodium douglasii, aka Micromeria douglasii aka Satureja douglasii, which is native to the West Coast of North America.
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| In the garden; Yerba Buena is generally a well-behaved groundcover that does particularly well in the dry-shade of oak trees. It’s slender stems with small, paired leaves gently rest on the thick duff of fallen oak leaves and can wait out water-less periods for amazing amounts of time. It stays very low and sends out long runners that can root at the nodes when they have a little moisture and accommodating soil.
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| The plants look very nice as additions to pots where the long runners can cascade down the sides. Dry periods tend to make the leaves a little darker and sparse, but quite fragrant, while more moisture or tip pruning keeps them brighter and fuller and generally more lush-looking.
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| In the kitchen. Yerba Buena can be used the way you would use any mint. But I think the best way to appreciate it’s bright citrus-woodsy mint flavor is a simple infusion. Snip some leaves and gently rinse them in cool water, then simply add to a cup and pour good, heated water over the leaves, steep for 1-2 minutes and drink the result. You can brew the drink in a tea pot or glass jar as well. For extra flavor the leaves can be bruised or lightly crushed to release extra amounts of the fragrant oil. The resulting beverage is delicious plain or sweetened, hot or iced.
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| If you’re ready for something with an extra kick, use Yerba Buena as the mint component for a mint julep. Yes, that classic drink is generally used to cool down in a hot southern summer but for a wintry day serve the whole thing warm and think of it as a Cali-Julep or “January Julep”…talk about soothing…
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| If you want to store it or gift it, let the leaves of Yerba Buena air dry, with or without the stems. Then use the dried leaves whole or crushed as you would fresh, or choose a beautiful container to give as a gift. The slender but sturdy stems have a good consistency for tying or knotting, so you can embellish or wrap the container with a strand of the plant itself.
| | '''Using herbs in cooking and healing''' |
| | *Source:http://www.mercurynews.com/2015/08/12/using-herbs-in-cooking-and-healing/ |
| | :(The Mercury News) |
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| More inspiration; Judith Larner Lowry notes in her book “California Foraging”, that “Spanish senoritas in Old California used to drape the hems of their ball gowns with swags of Yerba Buena..” to create a lovely fragrance for an evening of dancing. What a delightful image.
| | Long before we started adding herbs to our soups and spaghetti sauce, our distant ancestors were using plants to treatment ailments of the body and the heart. |
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| This got me thinking that the flexible stems might make a nice, but temporary, bracelet. Wrap a wrist with a single strand or add to a stack of bangles, they will give off their scent as they lightly bruise against the wrist. Make them for little take home favors at your next tea party, they can make sweet little sachets as well. Either way, enjoy the gentle release of that refreshing fragrance, with the dancing being optional.
| | Horticulturist and herb specialist Patrice Hanlon told the crowd at Our Garden’s free weekly class that herbs have a long and fascinating history in both the kitchen and the medicine cabinet. Here are some of her observations: |
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| Yerba Buena; Grow it, use it, share it, gift it.
| | • Almost all herbs are from the five Mediterranean climate zones, which includes California. |
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| '''Zone for the Yerba Buena Plant'''
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| *Source:http://homeguides.sfgate.com/zone-yerba-buena-plant-73142.html
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| :By Michelle Wishhart (Demand Media)
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| Also known as Oregon-tea, yerba buena (Clinopodium douglasii) is a low-growing, perennial member of the mint (Lamiaceae) family that may grow up to 6 feet long. The plant's common name "yerba buena" is Spanish for "good herb." Yerba buena is suitable for U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 10, where it requires little maintenance and care.
| | • With few exceptions, herbs love full sun and lean soil, making them perfect plants for our summer dry, winter wet climate. |
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| :Location
| | • When harvesting herbs, pick early in the morning and before the plants have flowered to get the most potency. |
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| A native of the United States and British Columbia, yerba buena occurs naturally as an understory plant in forests below 3,000 feet in elevation. It may also be found alongside seasonal creeks. Yerba buena is associated with trees such as bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) and a variety of oaks (Quercus spp.). The herb is tolerant of temperatures as low as 5 to 0 degrees F. Yerba buena prefers partially shaded conditions in the home garden.
| | • The shelf life of herbs is about six months, so you’re better off growing your own or buying in small quantities. |
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| :Culture
| | • Learning the botanical name of a herb can reveal a lot about the plant. Herbs that have “officinalis” in their name once were sold by apothecaries for medicinal use. “Tinctoria” means the herb was used a tincture, or a dye. “Satureja” identifies the plant as one of a large family of savory herbs. |
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| Yerba buena will grow in most soil types with a pH between 6.0 and 8.0, including sandy soils and clay soils. It requires regular watering to look its best, though Las Pilitas Nursery reports that it will survive on as little as 15 inches of rain annually. The plant thrives in misty, foggy conditions. Yerba buena will grow well in a container as long as there is a hole for drainage. Container plants dry out more quickly and will need more frequent watering than plants in the ground.
| | • Many herbs, including sage, oregano and thyme, contain a natural compound called thymol, which is known to be an antiseptic and digestive aid. In Europe, bitters, an alcoholic blend of herbs, often is served as an after-dinner drink to settle the stomach. |
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| :Features
| | • Herbs are a drug, of a sort, Hanlon says, so it pays to learn about them. Some may have adverse affects. Lemon balm, for example, is not to be used by people with thyroid issues. |
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| Yerba buena boasts mint-scented leaves that can be plucked and steeped with hot water to make a soothing tea. The minty fragrance that makes yerba buena appealing to humans is a deterrent to garden pests such as deer. Yerba buena is an attractive ground cover for a moist, shady area, offering bright green, velvety leaves and small, charming white flowers. The leaves can be placed inside clothing to act as a perfume.
| | :Sages (salvias) |
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| :Propagation
| | • There are more than 900 species of salvias (sages). |
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| Yerba buena may be propagated by seed, sown in the spring in a greenhouse and moved into individual pots for its first year. Seeds can then be planted in the garden as soon as spring frosts have passed. Yerba buena may also be propagated by division, done in the spring, or by cuttings taken in the early summer. Cuttings should be kept in a lightly shaded greenhouse until they produce roots.
| | • They love hot, dry climates and grow well in our clay soils. |
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| | • Sage is good for sore throats and can be used for a mouth wash. |
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| | • Salvias are easy to grow and they are so drought tolerant they want absolutely no summer water. |
| '''Four native teas of the Pacific Northwest '''
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| *Source:http://www.examiner.com/article/four-native-teas-of-the-pacific-northwest
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| :By Angela Dorsey (Victoria Nature Examiner)
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| To brew an aromatic, medicinal tea, you may not need to go far beyond your back door. Here are four tasty teas you can brew from native plants in the Pacific Northwest region:
| | :Savories |
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| Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii)
| | • Savories are one of the oldest cultivated herbs known. Savory has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. |
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| Yerba Buena (‘good herb’) may be used on its own or combined with spearmint, lemon balm, or chamomile to make a refreshing tea, and is also used to flavour less palatable teas. Gather the runners from April to September and hang together to dry. Once dry, strip the leaves and flowers (if any) and store. To prepare, put a few leaves in a cup, pour boiling water over the leaves, and steep for ten minutes. Yerba Buena can be consumed as a diaphoretic if you have a mild fever. It has also been used as a skin wash for rashes and prickly heat, but as many other herbs can be used for this purpose, it is better to save your Yerba Buena for drinking.
| | • Winter savory, also known as the bean herb because Italians use it to season all sorts of beans, is used in many stew and lamb recipes. It can be used as an anti-bacterial and anti-inflamatory. |
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| Labrador Tea (Ledum glandulosum, Ledum groenlandicum)
| | • Lemon savory is a small annual that is a great seasoning for chicken and makes a great tea. It also used in bitters as an aid to digestion. |
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| These aromatic leaves, and occasionally their flowers, have been widely used for making tea. Gather the leaves after seeding in the summer and fall, break off the leaf tips, and dry loosely in a paper bag. This tea was commonly used by native peoples to treat colds, sore throats, and allergies. Also, though it is a mild laxative, it soothes diarrheaand upset stomachs. Glandular Labrador Tea (L. Glandulosum), also known as Trapper’s Tea, can also be used as a relaxant. A warning however: large amounts of Labrador Tea can produce drowsiness, increased urination, and intestinal disturbance, plus it is not to be used during pregnancy.
| | • Pink savory is a small shrub that often is mixed with other herbs for a marinade or seasoning. |
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| Wild Mint (Mentha arvensis)
| | • Conehead thyme is another small shrub often used with other herbs, such as pink savory, to create a za’atar, a blend of seasonings. |
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| This versatile plant has many uses. Native peoples used Wild Mint tea for treating colds, coughs, fevers, upset stomachs, gas, vomiting, kidney problems, and headaches. Again a word of caution: though some domestic mints can be used at any time, Wild Mint is high in pulegone, which stimulates the uterus, and should not be used during pregnancy.
| | • Za’atar is the Arabic name for the herb Origanum syriacum, and shouldn’t be confused with the blend of seasonings that goes by the same name. It is a wonderful herb on its own, and it produces a beautiful flower. |
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| Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica, Urtica urens)
| | :Other herbs |
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| Stinging Nettle is a plant with many uses, the greatest today being the use of nettle root for the enlarged prostrate. However, the tea too has much value. Harvest the leaves with caution; wear gloves and long sleeves! If harvesting for medicinal purposes, the leaves must be collected before the flowers form in May. Native peoples used nettle tea as a diuretic and to treat urinary ailments. The leaf tea is also rich in iron, and is said to aid coagulation and the formation of haemoglobin. In addition, it is high in boron, which improves short-term memory. This plant has much more to offer as well, as greens, juiced, and as dried herbs or powdered leaves.
| | • Yerba Buena is a minty plant that is native to California. When the Spanish explorers arrived in San Francisco, they found the plant growing abundantly on the island that would be named Yerba Buena, which translates to “good herb.” Yerba Buena is no longer classified as a savory, but it is good for the digestion. |
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| So the next time you want a cup of refreshing, healthy tea, take a walk in the forest rather than to your grocery store.
| | • Mexican oregano has a flavor that is different from the more common Italian oregano. It can be used fresh or dried. This woody perennial grows to about 3½ feet tall. |
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| | • Cat thyme is not used for culinary or medicinal purposes, but your cats will love it and it attracts pollinators in the garden. |
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| | • Althea officinalis, also known as marsh mallow, produces a gooey concoction that can be used to combat congestion. The French used the plant’s root and sugar to create a sweet confectionary that we later would know as the marshmallow. |
| '''How to Grow Yerba Buena'''
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| *Source:http://homeguides.sfgate.com/grow-yerba-buena-72906.html
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| :By Karen Carter (Demand Media)
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| Yerba buena (Clinopodium douglasii) is also known as Indian mint or Oregon-tea. This Pacific coast native stretches inland as far as Montana in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 10. White tubular-shaped flowers appear in summer. The glossy evergreen leaves smell and taste of mint. This creeping perennial reaches less than 6 inches tall and spreads 6 feet wide. This is an easy-care ground cover with low fertilizer needs and few pests. Grow yerba buena in areas where other plants find it difficult to thrive.
| | • Lovage is a leafy herb that can be used in salads in the summer and soups in the winter. It’s good for the digestive system and is a favorite plant for the swallowtail butterfly. |
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| 1. Remove the weeds from an area with full to partial shade exposure. Dig the soil with a shovel to the depth of 6 inches and break up large dirt clumps. The best time to transplant young yerba buena plants is in the spring after all danger of frost is past.
| | • Hops, important in the brewing of beer, is a beautiful plant in the garden and makes a tasty tea. Hanlon says the herb is supposed to have properties that help you relax. |
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| 2. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Plant the young plant in the hole so the root ball is level with the ground. Space the plants 4 to 6 feet apart.
| | • Lemon balm has a lemony flavor and can be used in cooking and as a medicinal aid to digestion, but it’s not for those with thyroid disease. |
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| 3. Water the plant once a week during the summer when there is no rain. Just an inch of water each week will give this plant plenty of moisture. Once established, this perennial can survive off natural rainfall except during extremely dry and hot weather.
| | • Lemon verbena is an extremely popular herb used in cooking and for tea. The plant is deciduous and grows into a large shrub that can be trained into a small tree. The herb is a favorite of bees, too. |
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| 4. Spray the leaves whenever they become dusty during the summer. This waters the plant and makes the leaves look better. Rinse the leaves off in the morning so that they have time to dry before cool nighttime temperatures occur.
| | • Basils are well known and used in the culinary world. Some varieties also have been used as a skin toner and is said to reduce stress, increase stamina and help against the aging process. In addition to making great pesto and seasonings, basil can be used in tea, oils and vinegars. |
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| 5. Trim the stems with pruning shears whenever they start to grow out-of-bounds like into neighboring flower beds. Cut the upper parts of the stems right before the plant blooms if harvesting the leaves for tea. Dry and store the leaves in an airtight container.
| | Next time in the Garden, starting a winter vegetable garden. |
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| Things You Will Need
| | :Our Garden |
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| :• Shovel
| | • Our Garden offers free classes at 10 a.m. every Wednesday from April through October. Master Gardeners are available to answer questions and a large selection of seedling are available. All produce grown at the garden is donated to the Monument Crisis Center in Concord. The garden is at Wiget Lane and Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek. |
| :• Pruning shears
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| :• Airtight container (optional)
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| '''Edible and medicinal native plants''' | | '''4 Plants that Heal — And How to Use Them!''' |
| *Source:http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/article/ZZ/20121203/NEWS/121209229 | | *Source:https://blog.treepeople.org/sustainablesolutions/2016/05/4-plants-heal-them |
| :By Linda Richards (Correspondent) | | :(Tree People Blog) |
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| My husband and I often test berries from native plants that we know are safe, especially after seeing birds and other wildlife eat them. Some of the past grazings have included native currant berries or holly- leaf cherry berries - both bright red and pretty good tasting.
| | People have been using plants for our health and well-being for thousands of years–even to this day. For instance, we consume super foods like avocados or goji berries to strengthen and nourish our bodies. But how often do we overlook these plants when we’re sick? |
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| Sometimes it's non-natives, such as strawberries from a neighbor's 40-foot row of strawberry trees (the Arbutus unedo version have the best fruit), although the plan backfired a bit when our 3-year-old granddaughter threw herself into the fun with a little too much gusto and threw up after eating too many of them.
| | Some plants–even those abundant in our landscapes–have been known for their healing properties by people around the world for centuries. Incorporate them into your garden this year and improve your wellness! |
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| This summer I attended a very interesting walk at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, led by William Broen, an ethnobotanist who has studied medicinal and edible plants and other folklore about native plants.
| | :Rose |
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| I can get overwhelmed with too many examples, but he kept his discussion to 28 plants that the group came across on our walk. I'll focus on the better-tasting and more common ones. All these were used by Native Americans and early settlers.
| | Roses offer us all kinds of relief–whether sipping rose hip tea or spritzing rose water. Did you know that rose petals are full of vitamins and minerals? It’s true! Their anti-inflammatory properties relieve nausea, ulcers and menstrual cramps. |
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| Edible plants
| | Roses come in a wide variety from all over the world. However, consider planting native roses in your garden (Rosa californica, Rosa woodsii, etc.) to enjoy their simplicity, climate appropriateness and wonderful medicinal benefits. |
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| I would hope to remember these if I was lost:
| | When blooms start to open in spring head out to your garden to collect petals for a delicious rose petal butter. |
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| Manzanita (Archostaphylos) - In January and February the flowers are edible, as are the later berries (some say not too many).
| | To make rose petal butter: |
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| Desert wolfberry (Lycium brevipes) or Baja desert thorn - Its red berries are edible. I love this plant for habitat value; there are always so many birds on them, using for food or shelter.
| | Gather one cup of freshly blossoming rose petals. Remove petals from the flower and add into a mixing bowl. Add a stick of softened butter and mix. Place into a glass jar and allow to infuse for 24 hours before enjoying on toast or crackers. |
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| California bay - It is usually found around moister areas and streams. The nuts, when roasted, taste good, according to Broen.
| | :Mint |
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| Currants (Ribes) - The red berries are good-tasting and high in antioxidants and vitamin C.
| | The fresh scent of mint alone can awaken your mind and clear your senses. This hardy and easy to grow herb is mostly known for its culinary uses. The most commonly known varieties are peppermint (Mentha x piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata). Shake things up and grow something unique! Try out mountain mint (Pycnanthemum sp.), yerba buena (Satureja douglasii) or pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) to enjoy a full variety of flavors. |
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| Pinyon pine - The nuts and inner bark are edible and nutritious. The tips of the branches, if soaked, make a pine water that is high in vitamin C.
| | Want a new addition to your culinary adventures that has a variety of health benefits, too? Try making a mint vinegar. Herbal-infused vinegar is tasty and simple to make, while also helping your body absorb vitamins and minerals. |
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| Chia (Salvia columbariae) - It is usually found in higher elevations, but there was one growing in the shade at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. It's a very popular seed these days, high in omega 3 fatty acids.
| | To make mint vinegar: |
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| Nice teas
| | Harvest enough mint to fill a glass jar. Finely chop the mint and fill the jar, cover with pasteurized apple cider vinegar and seal with a lid. Place in your cupboard for 6 weeks before use. It will add a nice kick to any salad, or dilute it with water to create a refreshing tonic! |
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| Yerba buena (Satureja douglasii) - "Yerba buena" means "good herb," and it was named by the Spanish missionaries after they discovered its many properties from the native people. Broen said it was common in pharmacopeia until the 1940s and '50s, when "it was knocked out by modern medicine practitioners." He cites a relaxing, uplifting effect, good for headaches. It has many other medicinal uses (including for infections and as a poison oak remedy).
| | :Blackberry |
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| Hummingbird sage - The leaves or flowers make a pleasing tea. It also has decongestant, antimicrobial properties, and is good for sore throats, according to Broen.
| | The wild and thorny canes of this plant produce a hedge with beautiful white flowers in spring. Everyone knows that blackberries have a number of benefits–but did you know that their leaves are healthy, too? Blackberry leaves are great for for sore throats or to clean a wound. |
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| Wooly blue curls (Trichostema Lanatum) - The leaves, flowers and stems make a nice tea that supposedly has a positive effect on mood, stomachache and memory.
| | To make blackberry leaf tea: |
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| Other medicinal plants
| | Gather leafed branches and hang upside down in a well-ventilated area until leaves are dried. (Ensure plenty of air circulation to avoid mold growth.) Infuse 1 oz of dried leaves in a pint of boiling water. |
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| Gumweed (Grindelia) - I like this one; you can put white sap on cuts for antibacterial and soothing effect. It will also dry them up. "You can rub directly on poisonous oak and it's an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antispasmodic," Broen said.
| | :Sage |
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| Common yarrow (the native has the white flowers) - The flower is the strongest part and has many uses as a tea or tincture, such as for mild pain, toothache or headache. It can also be put on wounds.
| | If there is one thing we should all have in our cupboards, it’s sage. Sages (Salvia) grow all over the world’s Mediterranean climates. While the most common sage (Salvia officinalis) is mostly used as a culinary herb in roasts, it also makes a tasty cleansing tea with anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial qualities–plus it’s full of antioxidants! Some varieties, like black sage (Salvia mellifera) are even used as a pain reliever. |
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| White sage (Salvia apiana) - It is sometimes called the "Native American Clorox" because of its wide use for many purposes. A tea of the leaves offers antibacterial and antifungal properties. The high-nutrient seeds are edible.
| | To make a sage foot bath: |
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| Willow (Salix) - We didn't come across this as it's found more in riparian areas, but the salycilic acid the willow family produces is the basis of aspirin. One common remedy was chewing the leaves or inner bark for pain, such as toothaches.
| | Place a handful of black sage leaves and stems in a foot bath and steep for 5 – 10 minutes before placing feet into the bath. |
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| Others include Oregon grape and Nevin's barberry, which have antimicrobial and antiamoebic properties. Of course, people need to be careful with medicinal uses, and it's best to consult someone with expertise for proper use.
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| '''Yerba buena used in garden, kitchen''' | | '''Health Benefits of Yerba Buena''' |
| *Source:http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/pickoftheweek/article/Yerba-buena-used-in-garden-kitchen-4506249.php | | *Source:http://phealth-care.blogspot.com/2010/08/health-benefits-of-yerba-buena.html |
| :By Erle Nickel | | :(Health Tips - Kalusugan mo) |
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| It is fun to write about a plant that is at once so common and yet unknown to many in the gardening community. Such is the case for Satureja douglasii, better known as yerba buena.
| | Yerba Buena is a herb from the mint family. Its scientific name is Clinopodium Douglasii from the kingdom Plantae and takes the form of mat-forming perennial with elongated leaves and in summer, it bears small whitish or purplish flowers. |
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| For those whose Spanish is a little rusty, this translates as "good herb." Long used by American Indians as a remedy for indigestion, colds, even arthritic pain, this wonderfully useful herb can also be enjoyed simply as a refreshing tea. In the Philippines, yerba buena is one of 10 herbs endorsed by the Department of Health as an effective alternative medicine for aches and pains.
| | In Spanish speaking countries, the term “yerba buena” refers to the particular local species of mint. The term has been and is currently used to cover a number of aromatic mint relatives of the Clinopodium. The word Yerba Buena is Spanish for "good herb" and was the former name of the California city of San Francisco. All plants so named have medicinal properties and some have culinary value as teas or seasonings. |
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| It features rich green, scalloped leaves to 2 inches that appear oppositely on trailing stems. It wants some shade but will tolerate, even thrive, in a variety of soils, and once established is drought tolerant. A single plant can cover up to a 6-foot area, whether used as an aromatic ground cover or to spill over a rock wall. It roots along the stems, not by rhizomes, and thus is easy to control. You can even grow this attractive herb in a hanging basket, where it will provide a waterfall of verdant green. Tiny tubular white to purple flowers appear summer through fall.
| | Yerba Buena has been known as a medicinal plant worldwide. Yerba Buena has been consumed for centuries as tea and herbal medicine as a pain reliever (analgesic). Today, this folk medicine's efficacy has been validated by scientific research. In the Philippines, Yerba Buena is one of the 10 herbs endorsed by the Department of Health (DOH) as an effective alternative medicine for aches and pains. |
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| Before its medicinal value was discovered, Yerba Buena was used in cooking, where its distinctive, spearmint-like flavor made it ideal for salads. The leaves may also be employed wherever cooks want to use its flavor, be it in raw or cooked dishes. It is particularly in the world of cuisine where yerba buena has seen its popularity soar.
| | As an herbal medicine, a decoction (boil leaves then strain) of Yerba Buena is effective for minor ailments such as headaches, toothaches and joint pains. It can also relive stomach aches due to gas buildup and indigestion. The fresh and dried leaves can both be used for the decoction. And because Yerba Buena belongs to the mint family, soaking fresh leaves in a glass of water (30 to 45 minutes) makes for a good mouth wash for a clean, fresh smelling breath. |
| Did you know?
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| The name "yerba buena" has traditionally referred to a variety of aromatic true mints and mint relatives of the genera satureja or mentha, depending on which species grew in the local landscape. It is native to the Western states. Here's a good item for your next trivia contest: Yerba Buena was the former name of San Francisco.
| | Benefits & Treatment of : |
| Colorful cousin
| | :• Arthritis |
| | | :• Head aches |
| Satureja douglasii has a species cousin, S. mimuloides, that features the same minty foliage but much showier flowers. Known as monkey flower savory, this California native relative of culinary savory (S. hortensis) features 1- to 2-inch lipped coral-orange flowers that appear in summer in great numbers. The downy foliage makes a spreading clump 12 to 24 inches tall and is incredibly tough. Unlike yerba buena, it loves the sun.
| | :• Tooth aches |
| Cultivation
| | :• Mouth wash |
| | | :• Relief of intestinal gas |
| Grow in bright shade or filtered morning sun in fertile, well-drained soil. It needs some water to get established but then is drought tolerant. Can be used as a low ground cover or to cascade over a wall. Easily controlled by pinching it back. Hardy and easy to grow. Evergreen in USDA zones 10 & 11.
| | :• Stomach aches |
| Pests & diseases
| | :• Indigestion |
| | | :• Drink as tea for general good health. |
| This is a tough plant, including being deer resistant. Slugs and snails may be an occasional problem.
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| '''How to Use Spearmint: An Aromatic, Medicinal Herb'''
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| *Source:http://www.golocalworcester.com/food/how-to-use-spearmint-an-aromatic-medicinal-herb
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| :By Linda Dalal Sawaya (GoLocal Contributor)
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| "As for the garden of mint, the very smell of it alone recovers and refreshes our spirits, as the taste stirs up our appetite for meat."—Pliny the Elder
| | '''Yerba Buena Tea ''' |
| | *Source:http://judithlarnerlowry.blogspot.com/2012/09/yerba-buena-tea.html |
| | :By Judith Larner Lowry |
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| Whether you are vegan or carnivorous, aromatic spearmint adds fresh, nourishing flavor and brightness to innumerable foods, while filling your kitchen with its fragrance by its mere presence. Beyond being a throw-away garnish, a color accent, or a minor player, spearmint can be a star in the kitchen.
| | Last week, we served Yerba Buena Tea to attendees at the Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa, and I was impressed anew by the subtly pleasing qualities of this easy-to-make tea from the California native groundcover called Satureja douglasii. This wonderful little plant from the mint family grows under oak trees, where it is said to be difficult to find plants that survive, especially if you follow the rule to avoid watering out of season under oak trees. This rule is important because some diseases attacking oaks come from the unCalifornian combination of moisture and heat, which is not normally occurring in a Mediterranean climate like ours in California. Actually, I think it's easy to garden or plant under oak trees, but that's another topic. |
| See Slides Below: Cooking With Spearmint and Other Greens
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| | | Yerba buena also can be found thriving at the edge of chaparral and coastal scrub, making a lovely neat chartreuse edging along paths and trails. In the early days of our 30-year-old Larner Seeds Demonstration Garden in Bolinas, I couldn't get yerba buena to do well. Now that "things," and by "things," I mean the many qualities of shade and sun and soil that have developed through the years, have changed, it takes off and seems to do well everywhere we put it, except where outcompeted by native blackberry. |
| Native to the Mediterranean, mint leaves have long been utilized in medicinal and culinary ways. In Spanish, spearmint is called yerba buena, meaning the good herb, a nod to its overall usefulness and nobility. On a visit to Guanajuato, Mexico, a vegetarian burger I ordered in a little cafe pleasantly surprised me with spearmint mellowing out the fresh minced jalapeño peppers. Those are the only ingredients I remember and inspire my homemade vegan burgers.
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| When mint is mentioned in culinary speak—unless specified otherwise like peppermint—spearmint is the herb called for. Simple to grow—in fact difficult to hold back—it is best planted near the kitchen in the a contained bed rather than a pot, for easy snipping. Another advantage to growing it easily from a slip, if you live out of the urban center, it's immune to our hungry suburban deer population who abhor aromatics. So it's safe to plant along with rosemary, lavender, and other fragrant herbs. My Moroccan mint (a varietal sister to spearmint) is almost two feet high—time to harvest and dry for tea and winter salads. Cutting it back prevents it from flowering and seeding, allowing it to produce fresh mint leaves throughout the summer and fall.
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| For me, the aroma of spearmint stirs my appetite for salads! Notorious Middle Eastern salads created with mint as a star include our basic salad dressed with lemon, garlic, and olive oil, tabbouli, fattoush, yogurt and cucumber salad, my father's tomato and garlic salad, and the Lebanese cabbage and coleslaw featured in my Italian parsley article two weeks ago. It is part of the filling in stuffed chard rolls, summer grape leaves, Lebanese summer squash, and in vegan spinach pies. My favorite falafel sandwich in Beirut was packed with fresh spearmint and Italian parsley, along with tomatoes, liffit (pickled turnips), and tahini sauce. The fantastic yalangi (a Turkish word for vegetarian grape leaves) I tasted in Beirut were made of eggplants whose filling included spearmint, and served cold at restaurant Ta Marbouta in Hamra.
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| In Arabic, the word for spearmint is na'na'. Lebanese omelets, ijhee, are made with Italian parsley, mint, and green onions—a noble culinary trio. A reference to spearmint in a research paper I found was written 10 years ago about Lebanese in New England with a quote framing the essential relationship of na'na with the Lebanese by a Lebanese couple who were house hunting: "…that was when I first noticed the mint growing everywhere. It was running through the flowerbeds and even through the cracks in the foundation of the house, through the concrete! We knew immediately this must have been a Lebanese house at some point. Who else would have large plots of mint around here? We laughed at the hearty nature of the herb—it is so resilient! It will keep on growing despite having no Lebanese owners tending it." These words are a cautionary note to planting it! Yet, It is easy to pull up and you can give the rooted starts to your friends, even if they're not Lebanese!
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| My old friend, Gus Haddad, who opened Portland's Al-Amir restaurant in the 1980s and is from my family village of Douma, Lebanon, served the best baba ghannouj, seasoned with the secret addition of dried mint. I adapted my mother's baba ghannouj recipe in Alice's Kitchen adding just a bit of dried mint. It is superb.
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| Other typical Eastern Mediterranean uses are in sweet tea, such as Moroccan mint tea; my summer favorite Lebanese beverage is fresh squeezed, homemade lemonade with a sprig of fresh mint truly adding an unmistakably refreshing flavor and festive (think nonalcoholic mojito).
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| Mojitos, mint julep (from the Arabic beverage jallab), and creme de menthe are alcoholic mint beverages that can be digestifs, made with spearmint. With summer approaching, I will try my hand at mojitos!
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| Bring on the menthe spicata for vegans and carnivores alike! Plant it in your kitchen garden and use it in your kitchen now!
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| —Linda Dalal Sawaya is an artist, cook, Master Gardener, and author of Alice's Kitchen: Traditional Lebanese Cooking.
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| Remember, as my mother Alice said, "If you make it with love, it will be delicious!"
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| '''Get to Know Savory, for Coughs, Sore Throat, and Indigestion'''
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| *Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1926873-get-to-know-savory-for-coughs-sore-throat-and-indigestion/
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| :By Conan Milner (Epoch Times)
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| Savory is a wonderful herb that is tragically underutilized. As the name suggests, it has a rich, satisfying flavor, but it also has a wide range of healing applications too. To bring more attention to this useful plant, the International Herb Association made savory the 2015 Herb of the Year.
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| In Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, France, Greece, and other European countries, savory has been a staple seasoning for centuries. Not only because of its spicy, woodsy taste, but also because it helps with digestion. It is often compared to thyme, but savory has a character all its own.
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| Savory helps prevent gas and bloating, so it is often paired with beans. In Germany, savory is known as Bohnenkraut (bean herb). Savory also compliments meat (it is the starring herb in salami), as well as eggs, mushrooms, vegetables—pretty much anything except for desserts. The taste of savory is so versatile that in ancient Rome, savory infused vinegar was a popular condiment.
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| Savory is used to treat a variety of digestive problems, such as diarrhea, intestinal cramps, nausea, and candida yeast overgrowth. One study found that savory was effective against H. pylori infection. Throughout Europe, savory is used to quell the excessive thirst of diabetes.
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| Adding savory to your recipes may also protect against food borne infections. One study published in a 2013 issue of Journal of Chemistry found that savory guards against various Salmonella species.
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| :Summer, Winter, and Yerba Buena
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| There are several types of savory, but the best known are the summer and winter savories, which both originate from Mediterranean Europe. Both varieties have similar properties and flavors, the difference is that delicate summer savory has tender leaves that wither and die in the frost. Winter savory (also known as mountain savory) is stronger tasting with tougher leaves that can survive the cold.
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| Early American settlers brought European savory to the New World, but there is also a close relative native to the Pacific coast known as Yerba Buena, which means “good herb.” The name is a reference to its taste and its reputation for treating a variety of health issues. To the early settlers of California, Yerba Buena (sometimes known as wild savory) was considered a remarkable cure all. Yerba Buena was held in such high regard that it was the original name for San Francisco.
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| Other types include pink savory (a sweeter variety popular throughout North Africa and Spain), Jamaican mint bush (a minty version), and lemon savory which features a sour note.
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| All savories are rich in essential oils that have antibiotic and antifungal properties. This makes savory a good choice for soothing a sore throat, quieting a cough, and strengthening immunity. Savory can also be applied topically and used to treat insect bites.
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| Savory is a warming herb that improves circulation, and is believed to sharpen eyesight over time. In addition to treating digestive complaints, 17th century herbalist/astrologer Nicolas Culpeper recommended savory for asthma, hearing loss, and to tonify the reproductive system. He added that “it is much commended for pregnant women to take inwardly and to smell often unto.”
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| :Satyr’s Herb
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| Further insights into savory come from its botanical name, Satureja. This is a reference to the satyr, a man-goat hybrid from ancient Greek mythology. According to legend, satyrs had hooves, horns, and lots of charm. They were known for wooing human women into the wilderness with their sultry pan flute music.
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| Likewise, savory has also long held a reputation for arousing libidinous desires. In ancient Egypt, savory was a main ingredient in love potions. In Italian traditions, brides to be were often fed savory on a daily basis at least a month before the wedding.
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| Some ancient aphrodisiac claims should be taken with a grain of salt, but there may actually be something to savory’s effect on the reproductive system. One animal study has shown that winter savory may treat premature ejaculation. Another study suggests it may protect against testicular trauma.
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| Savory may also help in degenerative memory loss. Another animal study using a savory native to Iran suggests that the herb may prevent the oxidative stress and beta-amyloid induced memory impairment found in Alzheimer’s disease.
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| How To Use
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| The delicate annual varieties like summer savory can be added raw to salads or you can let it sit in apple cider vinegar for a few days to extract its flavor. The tougher winter savory is better in cooked applications Add a few springs to a pot of soup or beans (lentils or navy beans) and let it simmer.
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| Savory is easy to grow and dries well. You can use it to replace thyme or oregano in a recipe, or blend the herbs together for a unique taste. For example, the Herb de Provence mix of southern France consists entirely of mint relatives: savory, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and lavender.
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| For medicine or enjoyment, try a hot cup of savory tea. Steep a few fresh sprigs or a couple of teaspoons of dried herb in a cup of hot water. Keep pot covered while steeping to prevent savory’s essential oils from evaporating. At one cup per day, this herb is generally considered very safe.
| | So I have lots of material for tea-making. For a crowd, I use approximately two masses or clumps of stems and leaves that would fit in both my hands to make a 4-quart stockpot full of tea. This is always a matter of taste, but I prefer it rather mild. Rinse it off and remove oak leaves that seem to always be cau |
Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Cures for Diseases, Ailments & Illnesses that afflict Humans and Animals
Aloe Vera •
Astragalus •
Bankoro •
Bilberry •
Bitter Gourd (Ampalaya) •
Bitter Orange •
Black Cohosh •
Cat's Claw •
Chamomile •
Chasteberry •
Coconut •
Cranberry •
Dandelion •
Echinacea •
Ephedra •
European Elder Tree •
Evening Primrose •
Fenugreek •
Feverfew •
Flaxseed •
Garlic •
Ginger •
Ginkgo •
Ginseng (Asian) •
Golden Seal •
Grape Seed •
Green Tea •
Hawthorn •
Hoodia •
Horse Chestnut •
Kava •
Lavender •
Licorice •
Malunggay Moringa Oleifera •
Milk Thistle •
Mistletoe •
Passion Flower •
Peppermint Oil •
Red Clover •
Ringworm Bush (Akapulko) – Cassia alata •
Saw Palmetto •
St. John's Wort •
Tawa Tawa •
Turmeric •
Valerian •
Yohimbe •
accept the bitter to get better
Mint (Yerba Buena) in half wine barrel
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Yerba Buena is a perennial plant of the mint family that grows up to 1 meter long. Leaves are elliptic in shape, and produces small, hairy whitish, or purplish flowers. In the Philippines, Yerba Buena is grown in high elevated areas. As medicinal plant, the parts used are leaves and stem.
Medical Uses:
- Promotes good health, if taken as tea.
- Sniffing crushed fresh leaves is effective for dizziness.
- Leaves soaked in a glass of water is used as mouthwash.
- Decoction of leaves is used for migraine, headaches, fevers, toothaches, stomach aches, muscles and joint pains, and dysmenorrhea.
- Pounded or crushed leaves is used to treat insect bites.
What other websites are saying about Mint (yerba buena)
Yerba buena or hierba buena is a name of Spanish origin used for a number of aromatic plants, most of which belong to the mint family. The Spanish name hierba buena translates as "good herb". The specific plant species regarded as yerba buena varies from region to region, depending on what grows wild in the surrounding landscape, or which species is customarily grown in local gardens. Perhaps the most common variation of this plant is spearmint (Mentha spicata). The term has been (and is currently) used to cover a number of aromatic true mints and mint relatives of the genera Satureja or Micromeria. All plants so named have medicinal properties, and some have culinary value as herbal teas or seasonings as well.
Scientific Names:
Mentha arvensis Linn.
Yerba Buena is also knows as:
Hierba buena (Span.), Minta (Italy), Minze (Germany), Marsh mint (English), Mint, peppermint (Engl.), Po-ho (Chin.)
Yerba buena (Clinopodium douglasii) is a rambling aromatic herb of the mint family that is known and used as herbal medicine worldwide.
Yerba Buena is a perennial plant that grows up to 1 meter in height with oblong shaped leaves with toothed margins. Flowers are hairy and the color is bluish to purplish with axillary head like whorls.
Yerba Buena are grown throughout the world from North America to Asia. The plant takes the form of a sprawling, mat-forming perennial, and is especially abundant close to the coast.
Yerba Buena is more popular for its culinary application because of its minty flavor. Used in salads and as flavor for cooking foods. Yerba buena aroma is also used for scents and fragrances.
News About Yerba Buena / Mint
Plants as medicine
- By Brent Montecillo (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - Herbal medicines have lately become a significant industry. People have high trust in ‘herbal’ stuff. They take the word to mean either safe or inexpensive or effective, or all three.
For centuries, natural remedies have been used to fight common ailments. In fact, medicinal drugs are said to be simply synthetic formulations of substances found in nature. In short, today’s medicines are proof of humankind’s continuing trust in nature.
In a study, nearly four out of 10 adults say they have used some form of alternative remedy. ‘Alternative’ refers to medication or procedure without the use of synthetic drugs or modern medical technology. Of the alternative or natural remedies, perhaps plants are the most commonly resorted to for alleviating physical discomforts.
As appealing as the notion of natural remedies is for some, however, not all such remedies are safe or effective. In fact, herbal supplements have to be regulated by government – just like its drug or pharmaceutical counterparts – to ensure that required safety standards are met. And, generally, herbal products are not allowed to make claims of medicinal value.
Herbal supplements are considered as food products. And so the manufacturers that produce these products aren’t required to perform clinical trials or follow the strict manufacturing and labeling regulations required for pharmaceutical drugs. What’s more, some herbal remedies may interact with over-the-counter or prescription medications.
Experts recommend consulting a doctor before trying herbal supplements. But such recommendation often goes unheeded. Again, people think these are safe, and so there is no need to consult a doctor. They argue that the ingredients of these herbal supplements are plants that have been traditionally used, anyway.
In the Philippines, the so-called traditional medicine is heavily reliant on plants, and is necessarily influenced by religion, mysticism, magic, superstition, and folkloric herbalism. Local traditional-medicine practitioners – the arbularyo, the tambalan, and the faith healer – prescribe various herbs for various ailments. Curiously, patients often report of getting healed.
Traditional medicine is so widespread in the country, prompting the Department of Health to launch, in 1992, the Traditional Medicine Program, which aims to promote an effective and safe use of traditional medicine. There is now the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care, tasked to promote and advocate the use of traditional and alternative health care modalities through scientific research and product development.
The government’s Traditional Medicine Program has since endorsed ten medicinal plants to be used as herbal medicine in Philippines due to their health benefits.
Akapulko (Cassia alata) is a medicinal plant called “ringworm bush or scrub” and “acapulco” in English. It is a herbal medicine for treating tinea infections, insect bites, ringworms, eczema, scabies and itchiness.
Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) is also called “bitter melon” or “bitter gourd” in English. It has been found to be effective in the treatment of diabetes, hemorrhoids, coughs, burns and scalds, and is presently being studied for anti-cancer properties.
Bawang (Allium sativum) is “garlic” in English. Also known as “ahos” in other parts of the country, it is a used to treat infection with its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-hypertensive properties. It is also widely used to reduce cholesterol level in blood.
Bayabas (Psidium guajava), or “guava” in English, is commonly used as antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, antioxidant hepato-protective, anti-allergy, antimicrobial, anti-plasmodial, anti-cough, anti-diabetic, and anti-genotoxic in folkloric medicine.
Lagundi (Vitex negundo), known as “five-leaved chaste tree” in English, is used for treating cough, colds and fever. It is also used as a relief for asthma and pharyngitis, rheumatism, dyspepsia, boils, and diarrhea.
Niyog-niyogan (Quisqualis indica L.) is a vine known as “Chinese honey suckle” in English. It is used for eliminating intestinal parasites.
Sambong (Blumea balsamifera), whose English name is “Ngai camphor” or “Blumea camphor,” is used for treating kidney stones, wounds and cuts, rheumatism, anti-diarrhea, anti spasms, colds and coughs and hypertension.
Tsaang Gubat (Ehretia microphylla Lam.), “wild tea” in English, is taken as tea to treat skin allergies including eczema, scabies and itchiness wounds in child birth.
Ulasimang Bato or Pansit-Pansitan (Peperomia pellucida) is known for its efficacy in treating arthritis and gout.
Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii), known as “peppermint” in English, is used as analgesic to relieve body aches and pains due to rheumatism and gout. It is also used to treat coughs, colds and insect bites.
Yerba buena, herbal medicine - Health Benefits
- (Healthy Food)
Yerba buena is also know for its medicinal properties. Yerba buena is used as herbal medicine for the treatment of many ailments which has been traditionally used since ancient times.
Studies have shown that Yerba buena contains pulegone, menthol, menthene, menthenone and limonene.
Common Health benefits from Yerba buena are as follows:
Yerba Buena tea used as body pain reliever . Good for headache, stomach ache and tooth ache.
Yerba Buena poultice used for Rheumatism, arthritis and headache – crush the fresh leaves squeeze sap. Massage sap on painful parts with eucalyptus.
Yerba Buena tea for cough and colds –. Drink as tea. Acts as an expectorant.
Yerba Buena as mouth wash for swollen gums and tooth aches – steep 6 grams of fresh plant in a glass of boiling water for 30 minutes. Use solution as gargle.
Yerba Buena tea for menstrual and gas pain –. Drink infusion. It induces menstrual flow and sweating.
Yerba Buena minty scent for nausea and fainting – crush leaves and apply at nostrils of patients.
Yerba Buena leaves for Insect bites – crush leaves and apply juice on affected part or pound leaves until paste-like. Then rub this on affected part.
Smelly Plant of the Month: Yerba Buena
- By Maria Robb (My Life Among The Lithops)
Yerba Buena, or "good herb", is common in gardens all over the New World, from Chile to Alaska. I have a big pot of it in my front yard. Unfortunately, when I photographed it, we were having our usual 70kph winds and I couldn't get a good focus. But you can see it's green and minty!
Yerba Buena refers to different species of mint or mint-like aromatic plants. Each region has its own. In the US and Philippines, Yerba Buena usually refers to Clinopodium douglasii. It's used in tisanes for headaches, stomach-aches, and coughs and colds. In parts of Central America, it is Mentha citrata, a true mint. Good old spearmint, Mentha spicata, is often labeled Yerba Buena as well. In Cuba, it's Mentha nemorosa, or apple mint. All Yerba Buenas can be used in cooking, and medicinally, though obviously the Clinopodium has slightly different properties than the Menthas.
But the most famous use of Yerba Buena is for the traditional Cuban Mojito!
Using herbs in cooking and healing
- (The Mercury News)
Long before we started adding herbs to our soups and spaghetti sauce, our distant ancestors were using plants to treatment ailments of the body and the heart.
Horticulturist and herb specialist Patrice Hanlon told the crowd at Our Garden’s free weekly class that herbs have a long and fascinating history in both the kitchen and the medicine cabinet. Here are some of her observations:
• Almost all herbs are from the five Mediterranean climate zones, which includes California.
• With few exceptions, herbs love full sun and lean soil, making them perfect plants for our summer dry, winter wet climate.
• When harvesting herbs, pick early in the morning and before the plants have flowered to get the most potency.
• The shelf life of herbs is about six months, so you’re better off growing your own or buying in small quantities.
• Learning the botanical name of a herb can reveal a lot about the plant. Herbs that have “officinalis” in their name once were sold by apothecaries for medicinal use. “Tinctoria” means the herb was used a tincture, or a dye. “Satureja” identifies the plant as one of a large family of savory herbs.
• Many herbs, including sage, oregano and thyme, contain a natural compound called thymol, which is known to be an antiseptic and digestive aid. In Europe, bitters, an alcoholic blend of herbs, often is served as an after-dinner drink to settle the stomach.
• Herbs are a drug, of a sort, Hanlon says, so it pays to learn about them. Some may have adverse affects. Lemon balm, for example, is not to be used by people with thyroid issues.
- Sages (salvias)
• There are more than 900 species of salvias (sages).
• They love hot, dry climates and grow well in our clay soils.
• Sage is good for sore throats and can be used for a mouth wash.
• Salvias are easy to grow and they are so drought tolerant they want absolutely no summer water.
- Savories
• Savories are one of the oldest cultivated herbs known. Savory has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs.
• Winter savory, also known as the bean herb because Italians use it to season all sorts of beans, is used in many stew and lamb recipes. It can be used as an anti-bacterial and anti-inflamatory.
• Lemon savory is a small annual that is a great seasoning for chicken and makes a great tea. It also used in bitters as an aid to digestion.
• Pink savory is a small shrub that often is mixed with other herbs for a marinade or seasoning.
• Conehead thyme is another small shrub often used with other herbs, such as pink savory, to create a za’atar, a blend of seasonings.
• Za’atar is the Arabic name for the herb Origanum syriacum, and shouldn’t be confused with the blend of seasonings that goes by the same name. It is a wonderful herb on its own, and it produces a beautiful flower.
- Other herbs
• Yerba Buena is a minty plant that is native to California. When the Spanish explorers arrived in San Francisco, they found the plant growing abundantly on the island that would be named Yerba Buena, which translates to “good herb.” Yerba Buena is no longer classified as a savory, but it is good for the digestion.
• Mexican oregano has a flavor that is different from the more common Italian oregano. It can be used fresh or dried. This woody perennial grows to about 3½ feet tall.
• Cat thyme is not used for culinary or medicinal purposes, but your cats will love it and it attracts pollinators in the garden.
• Althea officinalis, also known as marsh mallow, produces a gooey concoction that can be used to combat congestion. The French used the plant’s root and sugar to create a sweet confectionary that we later would know as the marshmallow.
• Lovage is a leafy herb that can be used in salads in the summer and soups in the winter. It’s good for the digestive system and is a favorite plant for the swallowtail butterfly.
• Hops, important in the brewing of beer, is a beautiful plant in the garden and makes a tasty tea. Hanlon says the herb is supposed to have properties that help you relax.
• Lemon balm has a lemony flavor and can be used in cooking and as a medicinal aid to digestion, but it’s not for those with thyroid disease.
• Lemon verbena is an extremely popular herb used in cooking and for tea. The plant is deciduous and grows into a large shrub that can be trained into a small tree. The herb is a favorite of bees, too.
• Basils are well known and used in the culinary world. Some varieties also have been used as a skin toner and is said to reduce stress, increase stamina and help against the aging process. In addition to making great pesto and seasonings, basil can be used in tea, oils and vinegars.
Next time in the Garden, starting a winter vegetable garden.
- Our Garden
• Our Garden offers free classes at 10 a.m. every Wednesday from April through October. Master Gardeners are available to answer questions and a large selection of seedling are available. All produce grown at the garden is donated to the Monument Crisis Center in Concord. The garden is at Wiget Lane and Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek.
4 Plants that Heal — And How to Use Them!
- (Tree People Blog)
People have been using plants for our health and well-being for thousands of years–even to this day. For instance, we consume super foods like avocados or goji berries to strengthen and nourish our bodies. But how often do we overlook these plants when we’re sick?
Some plants–even those abundant in our landscapes–have been known for their healing properties by people around the world for centuries. Incorporate them into your garden this year and improve your wellness!
- Rose
Roses offer us all kinds of relief–whether sipping rose hip tea or spritzing rose water. Did you know that rose petals are full of vitamins and minerals? It’s true! Their anti-inflammatory properties relieve nausea, ulcers and menstrual cramps.
Roses come in a wide variety from all over the world. However, consider planting native roses in your garden (Rosa californica, Rosa woodsii, etc.) to enjoy their simplicity, climate appropriateness and wonderful medicinal benefits.
When blooms start to open in spring head out to your garden to collect petals for a delicious rose petal butter.
To make rose petal butter:
Gather one cup of freshly blossoming rose petals. Remove petals from the flower and add into a mixing bowl. Add a stick of softened butter and mix. Place into a glass jar and allow to infuse for 24 hours before enjoying on toast or crackers.
- Mint
The fresh scent of mint alone can awaken your mind and clear your senses. This hardy and easy to grow herb is mostly known for its culinary uses. The most commonly known varieties are peppermint (Mentha x piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata). Shake things up and grow something unique! Try out mountain mint (Pycnanthemum sp.), yerba buena (Satureja douglasii) or pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) to enjoy a full variety of flavors.
Want a new addition to your culinary adventures that has a variety of health benefits, too? Try making a mint vinegar. Herbal-infused vinegar is tasty and simple to make, while also helping your body absorb vitamins and minerals.
To make mint vinegar:
Harvest enough mint to fill a glass jar. Finely chop the mint and fill the jar, cover with pasteurized apple cider vinegar and seal with a lid. Place in your cupboard for 6 weeks before use. It will add a nice kick to any salad, or dilute it with water to create a refreshing tonic!
- Blackberry
The wild and thorny canes of this plant produce a hedge with beautiful white flowers in spring. Everyone knows that blackberries have a number of benefits–but did you know that their leaves are healthy, too? Blackberry leaves are great for for sore throats or to clean a wound.
To make blackberry leaf tea:
Gather leafed branches and hang upside down in a well-ventilated area until leaves are dried. (Ensure plenty of air circulation to avoid mold growth.) Infuse 1 oz of dried leaves in a pint of boiling water.
- Sage
If there is one thing we should all have in our cupboards, it’s sage. Sages (Salvia) grow all over the world’s Mediterranean climates. While the most common sage (Salvia officinalis) is mostly used as a culinary herb in roasts, it also makes a tasty cleansing tea with anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial qualities–plus it’s full of antioxidants! Some varieties, like black sage (Salvia mellifera) are even used as a pain reliever.
To make a sage foot bath:
Place a handful of black sage leaves and stems in a foot bath and steep for 5 – 10 minutes before placing feet into the bath.
Health Benefits of Yerba Buena
- (Health Tips - Kalusugan mo)
Yerba Buena is a herb from the mint family. Its scientific name is Clinopodium Douglasii from the kingdom Plantae and takes the form of mat-forming perennial with elongated leaves and in summer, it bears small whitish or purplish flowers.
In Spanish speaking countries, the term “yerba buena” refers to the particular local species of mint. The term has been and is currently used to cover a number of aromatic mint relatives of the Clinopodium. The word Yerba Buena is Spanish for "good herb" and was the former name of the California city of San Francisco. All plants so named have medicinal properties and some have culinary value as teas or seasonings.
Yerba Buena has been known as a medicinal plant worldwide. Yerba Buena has been consumed for centuries as tea and herbal medicine as a pain reliever (analgesic). Today, this folk medicine's efficacy has been validated by scientific research. In the Philippines, Yerba Buena is one of the 10 herbs endorsed by the Department of Health (DOH) as an effective alternative medicine for aches and pains.
As an herbal medicine, a decoction (boil leaves then strain) of Yerba Buena is effective for minor ailments such as headaches, toothaches and joint pains. It can also relive stomach aches due to gas buildup and indigestion. The fresh and dried leaves can both be used for the decoction. And because Yerba Buena belongs to the mint family, soaking fresh leaves in a glass of water (30 to 45 minutes) makes for a good mouth wash for a clean, fresh smelling breath.
Benefits & Treatment of :
- • Arthritis
- • Head aches
- • Tooth aches
- • Mouth wash
- • Relief of intestinal gas
- • Stomach aches
- • Indigestion
- • Drink as tea for general good health.
Yerba Buena Tea
- By Judith Larner Lowry
Last week, we served Yerba Buena Tea to attendees at the Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa, and I was impressed anew by the subtly pleasing qualities of this easy-to-make tea from the California native groundcover called Satureja douglasii. This wonderful little plant from the mint family grows under oak trees, where it is said to be difficult to find plants that survive, especially if you follow the rule to avoid watering out of season under oak trees. This rule is important because some diseases attacking oaks come from the unCalifornian combination of moisture and heat, which is not normally occurring in a Mediterranean climate like ours in California. Actually, I think it's easy to garden or plant under oak trees, but that's another topic.
Yerba buena also can be found thriving at the edge of chaparral and coastal scrub, making a lovely neat chartreuse edging along paths and trails. In the early days of our 30-year-old Larner Seeds Demonstration Garden in Bolinas, I couldn't get yerba buena to do well. Now that "things," and by "things," I mean the many qualities of shade and sun and soil that have developed through the years, have changed, it takes off and seems to do well everywhere we put it, except where outcompeted by native blackberry.
So I have lots of material for tea-making. For a crowd, I use approximately two masses or clumps of stems and leaves that would fit in both my hands to make a 4-quart stockpot full of tea. This is always a matter of taste, but I prefer it rather mild. Rinse it off and remove oak leaves that seem to always be cau
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