Herb

Herbs have long been an acceptable way to fight common ailments and while they should not take the place of medical advice, can be a great supplement to your current medical care. There are many common herbs that have healing properties which you may not even know about.

Some of the herbs like garlic, parsley, rosemary and cayenne you may associate more with cooking, but these plants also have medicinal properties that you can easily put to use by using them in teas, compresses and even as spices in your meals!

Some common healing herbs include:

Aloe Vera

The gel within this plant is reputed to heal wounds and other skin problems such as sunburn. It is also a strong laxative. The plant can be grown in your garden in tropical climates or on your window sill. Slit open the leaves and use the juice inside.

Cayenne

Cayenne is great for the circulation and it’s no wonder with it’s spicy bite! You can use it in your food, or if you are really brave, in a tea. You can also take it in a capsule. It is said that Cayenne will help to expedite the healing effects of other herbs.

Chamomile

This herb has many uses. In a tea, it has a relaxing effect and can sooth the digestive system. It is also excellent for the skin when applied topically in a cream or lotion. Many herbal soaps, shampoos and lotions include this herb which has been used since ancient times.

Echinacea

This much publicized herb can help stabilize the immune system. It can be taken as a pill or tincture or pulled out of the ground an eaten as a snack! You may have some of these purple daisy like flowers growing near you and not even realize that they have medicinal properties.

Garlic

You thought it was just a tasty root to put on bread but this herb has been used since ancient Egypt and has properties that strengthen the immune system. It is used as a treatment for infections, coughs and colds.

Ginger

Our herb guide likes ginger as it can be used in so many dishes. It is reputed to aid in circulation.

Parsley

Rich in potassium, this herb is often used as a garnish and left uneaten. I suggest you put it right in your salad and eat it up – it has many vitamins and is reputed to strengthen the kidneys and help with waste removal.

Rosemary

This herb stimulates circulation and aids in memory.

St. John’s Wort

No herb guide would be complete without mention of this herb which is used to treat mild depression and elevate mood.

The secret of success is knowing how to deal with your body to maintain peak health condition. The dictum Health is Wealth hold more truth in the modern context than ever before.

While medical science has progressed what one could ever imagine, in treating disorders and disease, the real challenge lies in prevention. Modern medicine has succeeded in treating major disease it has not found a perfect system for prevention of dreaded diseases like cancer and HIV.

The answer lies in looking to a system which is natural sustainable and adaptable for all conditions and all body systems.

This has now led to extensive research in Herbs as the primary preventive source and healthy herbal and organic food products now take the lead in preventive systems.

The king of Herbs as it is known in China and Celestial Herb in Japan is Ganoderma. It is also known as Lingzhi in China and Reishi in Japan.

Lingzhi is now widely researched across the globe by many universities and research institutions and sterling work has been done by China and Japan.

Revered for thousands of years and shrouded in mystery, Lingzhi however was difficult to grow. After much research in 1970 a breakthrough was achieved in commercial cultivation. Still it remains rare and cultivated in few countries like China, Japan, Malaysia and Korea to name a few.

DXN a company from Malaysia remains in the forefront of bringing the benefits of the Lingzhi to the common man. More details at http://globalhealthnetwork.tripod.com

The Magic Effects of Ganoderma

Research is still going on and scientists have discovered 252 active components beneficial and essential to the human body. It is an adaptogen which brings immense benefits to human body without any side effect.

Analysis and experiments done by various universities and pharmaceutical manufacturers have attested to its being a hemocatharsis, detoxificant,diuretic, liver protector, intestine regulator, cardiotonic, blood pressure adjuster, a cold tonic, expectorant, a tranquilizer and inhibits tumour and cancerous growth.

What is the Healing Principle of Ganoderma

Many clinical trials and experiments by doctors, especially Dr. Shigeru Yuji’s experiments has established the reasons Ganoderma is effective because of its basic functions

* Lowers cholesterol in the blood and the amount of free fat
* Reduces blood sugar levels and helps pancreatic functions
* Lowers blood lipids and stabilizes red cell membrane
* Improves the function of the cortex of the adrenal glands to maintain endocrine balance
* Elevates the natural healing ability of the body, allows the body to establish strong immune system
* Prevents tissue cell degeneration
* Prevents senility, maintaining a youthful constitution
* Lowers the side effects of antihypertensive drugs
* Prevents organ degenetation
* Prevents allergy caused by antigens, because it inhibits the histamine release by mastcells
* Relieves pain caused by cancer

While plenty of medical terminology is used to describe various effects on the body, we have avoided such references as the article is not meant as a medical prescription but mainly for use by the common man as an effective health giving food supplement.

Main Health Giving Components

While the Linghzhi mushrooms are said to contain 252 active medicinal compounds, the two main components are:

1. Germanium: Germanium can promote blood circulation, can increase oxygen absorbing capability of the body and keep sufficient oxygen in the body, improve metabolism and prevent functional degeneration. Based on research germanium is the major component of Lingzhi. The germanium contained in Lingzhi is 4-6 times more than ginseng.
2. Poly-saccharides: The poly saccharides can increase antibody count which strengthens immunity. Poly saccharides are the most active health enhancing ingredient for the body.

No wonder the Lingzhi mushrooms are called the ‘Celestial Herb’ by the Japanese for its health giving properties. Modern science and cultivation methods have made this difficult to grow herb available for the past decade or two for everyone to derive the benefits.

While there are thousands of research papers available on the medicinal aspects of the Lingzhi this article primarily is to highlight the health giving aspects of this wonderful herbal remedy for ills of the modern living like stress, pollution and imbalances in food habits.

Once you plan on having a patch for your herb garden make sure that it is well weeded and doesn’t get lost amidst the other greenery. Put this into your landscaping plans too and make sure that it has a prominent place in your garden.

1. Landscaping for your herb garden
Before you plant your herbs make sure that the soil is prepared well. You will have to make sure that it is properly edged in and that there are no weeds in the patch. This is not an easy job, and will take you at least a day to complete if done properly. To make the soil ready for planting you would have to add some nutrients to it. Once the soil is well prepared then you can start planning your landscaping and planting your herbs here.

2. Different kinds of herbs
To get the herbs that you want to plant you can get them from your local nursery. There are two kinds of hers, cooking herbs and ornamental ones. The latter are only for the aesthetic value that they add to your garden. So decide on which ones you want and incorporate this into your landscaping plans. It would benefit you to have both kinds now that you are planning a herb garden. This way you can enjoy both the beauty and the health benefits from the herbs.

3. Keep the herbs separated
Herbs should not be grown nest to each other as they can grow into each other and become hybrids. So to keep them apart you should make fencing with wire or wood and cordon off the areas of each kind of herb. This way each herb will remain in the space allotted to it and not grow into the other patch. This herb garden should be in your back yard landscaping and made a focal point of the garden. Protect it from animals and make sure that it has the right amount of shade and sunlight that it requires.

4. Expand your herb garden
If you have a fairly large garden then you can expand the area of your herb garden and add accessories to the patch to beautify it further. A garden path between the herbs and a waterfall will do wonders for this patch and your garden.

To get more ideas you can ask the local nursery for ideas or get professional landscapers to help you. Landscaping is something that has a lot of websites on the internet and you could find out a lot about it and get new ideas. Once you get started you can be very innovative yourself and not really need anyone’s assistance to make your herb garden the best in the neighborhood.

From the olive-sized berries of the saw palmetto tree comes the best prostate herb according to many Naturopaths, herbalists, and other like-minded professionals. Indeed, saw palmetto is often referred to as an incredible herb for the natural treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), also known as prostate enlargement. BPH is a common and annoying condition that affects men over the age of 50, causing symptoms that wreak havoc in a man’s life. Symptoms of BPH include the inability to empty the bladder, dribbling, difficulty starting urination, reduced force of the stream, and the need to urinate more frequently, especially at night.

So, how does this best prostate herb work?

In truth, medical science doesn’t know exactly why saw palmetto works to alleviate the symptoms of BPH. However, it is thought to have an anti-inflammatory action and an ability to reduce the availability of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to the prostate tissue, the hormone that some experts claim fuels prostate overgrowth.

In addition, saw palmetto is thought to have a number of other possible mechanisms of action, including blocking the activity of estrogen receptors in the prostate and easing swelling by regulating hormones.

Whatever the reason for its effectiveness, it’s considered nature’s best prostate herb.

However, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention some other powerful nutrients that help promote men’s prostate health. Let’s take a peek at some of these now.

Beta-sitosterol- Beta-sitosterol is one of several plant sterols found in many edible plants. In fact, saw palmetto’s active constituents are sterols and fatty acids. Nevertheless, beta-sitosterol has also been found to be helpful for men with BPH and some experts even claim that it is actually more potent than saw palmetto.

Lycopene- Lycopene is a member of the carotenoid family found primarily in tomatoes. More specifically, it is the pigment that gives tomatoes their deep and vibrant red color. It is also found in other fruits and vegetables, including watermelon, pink grapefruit, apricots, papaya, and guava. Indeed, it’s not the best prostrate herb, but this pigment is believed to offer prostate cancer protection and it may even offer protection against cardiovascular disease. Sadly, prostate cancer is now one of the deadliest diseases amongst men and while the exact cause is unknown, we believe that it’s important to do as much as you can to try to prevent it. While to date, research has not conclusively substantiated these effects, it does not hurt to eat more tomatoes. In addition, it is found in some high quality comprehensive prostate health supplements.

Zinc – Do you know that the prostate gland contains more of this trace mineral than any organ in the body and a deficiency of zinc has been linked to BPH, prostatitis, and even prostate cancer?

What’s prostatitis? It’s the inflammation of the prostate gland. However, prostatitis is really a general term that encompasses four forms: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, and prostadynia. Prostatitis is often caused by the following:

* Infectious agents such as viruses, fungi, or mycoplasma.
* A urinary tract infection and usually from the E. coli bacteria.
* A partial blockage of the male urinary tract leading to the promulgation of bacteria.

Symptoms include frequent, difficult urination, pain or burning when urinating, pain in lower back, and pain in the genital area and the pelvis.

Now, let’s return back to zinc. In addition, zinc has been shown to help shrink an enlarged prostate.

Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre’s Opinion on Saw Palmetto – The Best Prostate Herb

First, it’s important to note that some, if not many, experts recommend that men consider a supplement that contains saw palmetto combined with other herbs that are noted to help beat BPH.

Why?

Put simply, it’s because it can offer more therapeutic benefits, often better than taking a single herb or nutrient on its own.

For example, nettle, which is an extract of stinging nettle, may enhance the action and effectiveness of saw palmetto when combined. Nettle is an herb that has shown to provide some relief of BHP symptoms. In fact, pygeum is yet another herb noted to help reduce the symptoms of BHP and it’s commonly sold in combination with other herbs such as saw palmetto and nettle.

Therefore, we believe that perhaps the best prostate herb supplement consists of saw palmetto and other herbs that can help beat BPH.

Since we’re on the topic of the best prostate herb, let’s go one step further.

Get acquainted and befriend the power of comprehensive prostate health formulas. We also believe in prevention. Nowadays, there are some very highly sophisticated comprehensive formulas that consist of herbs, including the best prostate herb saw palmetto along with vitamins, minerals, and other natural substances such as lycopene that are designed to give you preventative help against prostate cancer and other male health conditions such as BPH and prostatitis. Although not life-threatening, general loss of libido and sexual desire is also experienced by men through their 40s, 50s and beyond and, as such, some comprehensive formulas include ingredients that may improve libido and sexual desire as well.

In addition, there are also highly sophisticated men’s comprehensive formulas that are designed to support optimal whole health, including nutrients that support prostate health.

Bottom Line …

It’s important to understand the how and why of what makes some these comprehensive men’s health formulas useful — an important factor in making an informed choice. Moreover, mixing and matching nutrients and herbs on your own can be very dangerous to your health as well as expensive.

However, make sure that the product is professionally and scientifically formulated by a highly-credentialed scientific team that can ensure the proper blending of ingredients to maximize the health benefits.

Final note…

Whatever you decide is the best prostate herb supplement for you, whether it’s one herb, a blend of herbs, or a comprehensive formula consisting of herbs, minerals, vitamins, and other powerhouse nutrients to support male health etc., always check with a physician before taking any dietary supplements.

Cindy Amorin is the chief editor of Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre.com, information-rich site that discusses nutritional, dietary, and herbal supplements and their potential therapeutic value.

For those of you interested in learning more about how to buy a quality prostate supplement, meet us on the web at our prostate herbs web page.

Since man started civilization, certain events and conditions in society and the environment presented to be stressors to man. These conditions bring out a lot of disorder including insomnia, a sleep disorder which renders you difficult to get the desired number of hours to sleep and rest. Similarly, since man knew of this condition, it had presented a number of solutions including herbs for insomnia where some of these dated back very long, long time ago.

* Valerian roots – Promoted by British scientists and herbalists, the dried roots of this valerian herb are used to make a tea and should be taken at around 8 PM each night or at least 30 minutes before going to bed to sleep.
* Catnip – This herb has similar action or effects as the valerian herb. Aside from being an effective alternate to valerian herb, it is also good to treat anxiety and nervousness. It is also believed that catnip is a great cure for migraine. So, if you cannot sleep because of pain brought about by chronic migraine, catnip is a good herbal remedy for the job. Mix 2 to 3 teaspoon of the dried catnip to a cup of boiling water. It is emphasized to mix the herb in a cup of boiled water not boiling dried catnip with water because it may lose its curing capability.
* Chamomile – Two teaspoons of this herb put in you tea or milk is enough to put you to sleep. Chamomile is also recommended to be used for children and youngsters or teens who have difficulty sleeping
* Lavender – The flower heads of this herb are immersed in hot water just like catnip is one soothing drink before bedtime. You can also extract the oil from the flowers and some drops for your bath tub or just rubbing the oil on your skin can induce sleep. The scent of this herb is primarily used to sooth your body and promote sleep.
* Longan – This is a fruit that was introduced by the Chinese as one of its many herbal medicines that are effective with insomnia.
* Jujube seed – This is another Chinese herb that is used along with other herbs that cures insomnia.

If you would notice, all these herbs for insomnia form part either on homeopathic or aromatic treatment. This is because insomnia is always if not most of the time caused by several environmental conditions and it maybe also appropriate to seek remedy in nature. One good thing about this approach of treating insomnia is that it cannot make you dependent or it does not make you addictive which always happen when you use some of the over the counter drugs that you can find today. Also, because these are natural remedies, you can expect zero or very little side effects, again, unlike sleeping pills and other injectables used for insomnia.

Other than employing these herbs for insomnia, you also need to change some aspects of your lifestyle. If you are fond of drinking coffee or eating foods that stimulates your brain like chocolates, you have to lessen the frequency of eating these foods. Remember that these herbs alone cannot completely treat your sleeping disorder; you also have to do your part of the job.

When most people think of peppers, they think of Mexican or Italian food. Yet cayenne or red pepper has a long list of medicinal benefits. “Cayenne is possibly the single most wonderful, beneficial plant to grow and have on hand (the granulated form) in case of emergencies.” (Ingri Cassel, September Idaho Observer, 1999) So what is so good about cayenne?

First, cayenne pepper is effective as an astringent. Some even recommend powdered cayenne be kept in a first aid kit at home or in the car. Profuse bleeding from an open wound has been stopped by the count of ten, simply by sprinkling the wound liberally with cayenne. Cayenne tea has also aided in clotting. Cayenne equalizes the blood pressure and effectively stops excessive bleeding or hemorrhaging.

Cayenne has also been used as a natural painkiller, a treatment for stomach cramps, and temporary relief of joint pain. Gargling cayenne tea can sooth a sore throat, but it is recommended for those who don’t like its spiciness, to follow it with a little sugar. Cayenne acts as a catalyst, carrying all other herbs and supplements quickly to the place in the body where they are needed and increasing their effectiveness. It is also high in vitamins A, C, B complex, calcium, and potassium and useful in the treatment of colds, sinus problems, and respiratory ailments. Other uses found across the web include treating high blood pressure, chest pain, migraines, athlete’s foot, and sinus problems. It is an effective blood thinner (so don’t take cayenne before surgery). Some even claim it puts them a good mood.

Cayenne is also effective in stimulating blood flow. “Now the healing power of nature is in the blood and to accelerate the healing power of nature I am convinced that there is nothing that will do this like cayenne pepper; you will find it applicable in all cases of sickness.” (Utah Historical Quarterly, Vol. 10, 1942, p. 207) Thus cayenne is used in treating frostbite, gangrene, and other circulatory problems. One rural doctor reported remarkable results with heart attack victim’s survival rate when he gave each one cayenne tea, one teaspoon in a cup of hot water. Try using cayenne tea in conjunction with CPR in the event of a heart attack. Further, chronic poor circulation can be countered with a drink of cayenne tea three times a day.

Cayenne may be taken as capsules but be sure the pepper is not irradiated (exposed to radiation to destroy harmful bacteria). Two ‘cayenne potions’ presented on the web include fresh lemon, cayenne, and pure water (with a little maple syrup); and, apple cider vinegar, molasses and cayenne. For quickest results, however, cayenne should be taken as a tea or as a spice in foods. Either way the cayenne will boost the digestive system since much of cayenne’s healing starts to occur in the mouth.

In the February 2008 edition of the medical journal Diabetes Care there is a report of a clinical trial of a “new” Ayurvedic herb for type-2 diabetes, Coccinia cordifolia.

Also known as koval or ivy gourd, this herb is in the same plant family as the better known bitter melon. Koval is a common plant of India and Bangladesh that grows over the Indian sub-continent like kudzu grows over the southern USA.

Koval grows enormous tubers that anchor it into the ground and then it spreads vines in all directions. Unlike kudzu, it bears trumpet-like white blossoms that produce a zucchini-shaped but purplish-red fruit. Ayurvedic medicine has used the fruit and the leaves for centuries as a treatment for diabetes, but this study is the first detailed clinical trial.

Since Ayurvedic practitioners typically recommend “a handful” of the dried leaves and chopped gourd brewed into a tea, the researchers at the St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences in Bangalore prepared a standardized extract from 15 grams of the dried herb. Then they gave the extract or a placebo to 60 newly diagnosed type-2 diabetics for 60 days.

If you’re familiar with how most prescription medications for diabetes work (many of them encourage weight gain), you’ll be impressed that the finding that people who took the herb not only did not gain weight, there was a slight trend to weight loss (less than 0.1 kilo, or one-quarter pound, per month). There was also a very slight trend to slimmer waists and tighter hips (again, a few millimeters, or tenths or an inch), all without any changes in food eaten or total calories. Body fat percentages, however, very slightly rose.

And as you may have read in other natural health headlines, the Ayurvedic herb definitely lowered blood sugars.

At the beginning of the study, the average fasting blood sugar in the test group was 132 mg/dl, and the average post-prandial (after-eating) blood sugar was 183 mg/dl.

The effects of the herb gradually increased over 90 days. By the end of the third month of the clinical trial, the average fasting blood glucose among the diabetics who got the herb had fallen to 111 mg/dl, while the diabetics who did not get the herb actually had slightly higher morning blood glucose levels. In the group of diabetics given the herb, post-prandial (after-eating) blood sugars fell to average below 150 mg/dl. The improvement in blood sugar levels was confirmed by an average drop of 0.6 per cent in HbA1C.

The researchers noted that similar percentages of diabetics getting the herb (94 per cent) and diabetics getting the placebo (93 per cent) were able to stick to their diabetic diets. The difference in blood sugars was due to the herb. It’s also important to note that the diabetics taking the herb did not take any of the medications for diabetes commonly prescribed in North America, Australia, New Zealand, or the UK, and that they did not have blood sugar levels requiring immediate use of insulin.

So how does Coccinia cordifolia work?

The researchers don’t know for sure, but it seems that some chemical in the herb is insulin-mimetic. That is, this as-yet-unidentified compound works the same way as insulin in clearing glucose out of the bloodstream, but does not work the same way as insulin in moving triglycerides into hungry fat cells.

Will a koval extract for type-2 diabetes be coming soon to a natural health products retailer near you? Just ask at any retailer specializing in Ayurvedic herbs or anywhere the proprietary extract Gencinia is sold. It’s already available. If you take the herb, use 15 g (about half an ounce) a day to make a tea, drunk warm after brewing in a closed tea pot for 15 minutes. If you use a 15:1 dried extract, use 1,000 mg (1 g) per day.

If you have relatively mild type-2 diabetes and you are taking your blood sugars every day and avoiding carbohydrates, this herb is certainly worth a try.

Let us see if Ganoderma which has been discribed as the “miracle herb” can help you with your health regime.

Ganoderma is a type of mushroom that has been know to the far east for thousands of years for its meraculous medicinal
properties.

These mushrooms are regarded as “Spirit Medicine” by the Chinese as they are among the most powerful herbs in Asia.

Chinese medicine has used Ganoderma for over 4000 years and was highly prized as an elixir of immortality.

Research has been done by both Chinese and Western scholars in recent years and with analysis and clinical experiments
done by colleges, hospitals and pharmaceutical manufacturers its potency is finally coming to light.

So how can Ganoderma help you?

Well here is a list of what Ganoderma can do for you!

* It an anti-inflammatory

* detixicant

* diuretic

* liver protector

* increases energy levels

* intestine regulator

* increases libido

* helps with sleep disorders

* cardiotonic

* blood pressure

* antitussive

* hemocatheresisis and expectorant

* tranquillizer

* helps protect against tumor activity

Ganoderma is a traditional tonic used to nourish,tonify and supplement the whole body as it removes toxins and disperses
accumulation.

It has even been know to help some people with hair regeneration!

Ganoderma has also been know to re-activate the pancreas to secrete insulin in some type 2 diabetes sufferers.

Ganoderma can also function as an insulin. Whereas taking insulin ordinarily will not do this and in fact may accelerate the
aging of the organ. Ganoderma will help retard its ageing with no adverse side affects.

Ganoderma contains a veritable pharmacy of substances which can also help with the immune system by enhancing production
of antibodies,T-cell,macrophages which are the bodies most powerful defense against cancer.

Scientific evidence shows that Ganoderma counteracts damage caused to the immune system by radiation therapy including
anti-tumor activity. It protects bone marrow cells against free radicals generatged by X-rays.

Ganoderma can be taken long term without any side effects.

So to answer the question “Can it help you?”

Without a doubt I believe it can help you as part of an overall health plan along with diet and exercise.

Bilberry is related to the Blueberry plant, in that both come from the Latin plant genus Vaccinium. Bilberry’s full Latin botanical name is Vaccinium myrtillus. Bilberry goes by several common names, including myrtle blueberry, whinberry, blaeberry and whortleberry. Like blueberries, Bilberries can be eaten, and their fruit is round, sweet and blue-colored like the blueberry, but they are smaller in circumference. The fruit makes wonderful jam and pie filling. They are commonly found in cold Northern countries including Norway, Iceland, and Britain, as well as Northern Asia and Macedonia.

Bilberry is available in several different forms. Bilberry is commonly sold as bilberries whole, bilberry capsules, and bilberry leaf. The bilberry leaf is available in three forms: cut and sifted, powdered and in capsules. Organic bilberry leaf is also available.

Bilberry leaf has had several common uses in folk medicine, including treatment of the intestines. In studies done on rats, bilberries whole was used to prevent macular degeneration and cataracts. However, a full scientific study on humans has not yet been conducted. Anthocyanin pigments are abundantly found in bilberries extract and bilberry capsules. Anthocyanins are antioxidants, which help to keep cells in the human body from oxidizing and becoming damaged. As an herb containing antioxidants, bilberry capsules may help to reduce the risk for heart complications and cancer. The leaves, which go into bilberry capsules, may help as an antiseptic, may also help as an astringent, may help with kidney problems and to increase urine flow. Bilberries may also be made into a tonic to generally and slowly improve health. The leaves of the bilberry can also be used as a fabric dye, giving the fabric a green tint.

Organic bilberries have been specially grown and processed in order to achieve organic certification by the United States Department of Agriculture. The plants that reach the standard of organic must not be grown with any synthetic chemical pesticides or fertilizers; neither must either of these be used on the land on which the crop is grown. Certain bilberry products are also available that have been certified kosher.

Online herb stores stock a wide variety of medicinal herbs, including bilberry, and other types of herbs. You will find dried herbs and spices perfect for cooking up dishes in a variety of cuisines. Dried herbs also can be used in personal care products such as cosmetics and body lotions. Herbal extracts and essential oils are often added to laundry soaps and rinses to impart wonderful fragrance.

One should always take care when contemplating medicinal herbs. No herbs have been thoroughly evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and thus cannot be considered medicine by FDA standards. If you have a health concern, seek the advice of your health care provider right away.

I haven’t met one person yet, that doesn’t like Rosemary…maybe one day I will; nevertheless, many chefs around the world agree that Rosemary is an important culinary herb and should be included in every herb garden. Besides Rosemary’s many culinary and medicinal properties and its many household uses, its trusses of blue flowers nestled among pine needle-like leaves are an attractive ornamental shrub for perennial borders and beds. Let’s talk about some tips you can quickly learn on how to grow rosemary herb.

Rosemary grows tall and erect or bushy and compact depending on the variety, but it can also grow down, similar to a vine. Rosemary and its cultivars are best started from plants. When grown from seed, germination is slow with variable results and sometimes easier to get started in the less humid fall seasons. Plants, however, can be set out in the spring when the weather has warmed in zones 1 through 9, and in spring or fall in zone 10.

All Rosemary requires full sun, but in the warmer climates they will accept some light shade. They thrive in a light, well-drained, average garden soil. During the growing season, pinch back growth tips two or three inches to promote bushy plants; cut back hard only in early spring to allow the new growth time to mature.

Most Rosemary varieties are reliably hardy to only 20F; however, gardeners in cold-winter areas can successfully grow rosemary indoors in a container with a fast-draining potting soil. Bring the plants indoors at least several weeks before your area’s first frost date. Feed the potted Rosemary regularly with fish emulsion and provide good air circulation to ward off harmful mildew.

Did you know that Rosemary means: Dew of the sea? A very appropriate name for this popular garden herb, watered by the ocean mists in its native habitat along the arid coastline of the Mediterranean. Because of Rosemary’s long literary, cosmetic, culinary, and medicinal history an herb garden without rosemary is unthinkable. But this versatile evergreen needn’t be relegated only to the herb garden.

“Rosemary forms extraordinary hedges and can be clipped into fancy topiary even bonsai for those with the patience,” says Atlantan landscape designer Timothy Clark. “It’s a gleaming focal point in the perennial garden or mixed border,” he adds. Rosemary is a must in a fragrance garden, and it’s the cornerstone of a drought-tolerant garden. The prostrate forms look bountiful in containers and hanging baskets, and in the mild-winter, they create an impressive evergreen ground cover.