Health News

Basil is easy to grow in frost-free places, needing only open sun and protection from wind for its brittle stems. Sow the round blue-black seeds in early to late spring, and the strong bright leaves should be through in 4 to 10 days. A light blue gelatinous film forms over the seed when it is touched by moisture before germinating, but the seeds, if kept dry, will keep their viability for many years. The young seedlings are easy to transplant, but keep a watch for snails and slugs. Basil grows quickly, and soon you will have enough leaves to use whenever required. Pinch out the centre stem as the plant grows, and let the side stems grow to keep it bushy. Water in the heat of the day: basil thrives only if its leaves as well as its roots have moisture.

Strictly speaking, both varieties are annuals; but if you live in a warm, frost-free area, you may be able to cut the bushes back hard in late autumn and have them come again the next spring. Try growing basil in a courtyard, it loves the reflected heat from stone or brick: and its perfume will be at its best. In India, it is grown as a true perennial; the frost-free, warm climate of the plains and the abundant water keep it in ideal condition. However, it is so easy to raise from seed and so quick to grow that it is advisable usually to sow fresh seed or buy new plants each spring.

Sweet Basil has large (2 to 2|-inch) leaves, and is most suitable for outdoors. Bush Basil will also grow just as well outside, but its small (i inch) leaves and more compact growth make it an ideal herb to grow in a pot. The Sweet Basil has a slightly stronger flavour, but both are delicious.

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Nearly all the commonly-grown herbs need an alkaline soil. For soils that tend to be acid and are somewhat deficient in magnesium, dolomite, a natural mixture of magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate, is preferable to lime (calcium carbonate only), to give the necessary alkalinity. A sure-fire test for soil acidity is this: If your garden grows camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons to perfection, or if it grows in its natural state a fine array of bush plants, it will need lime or dolomite added to the section where you wish to plant herbs.

A light scattering of dolomite can be put through the loose topsoil before planting, together with any manures or blood and bone. This is contrary to accepted gardening practice, but was recommended to me by the Department of Agriculture in New South Wales. Their booklet, Building up Fertility in the Garden, is invaluable. No doubt the Agriculture Departments in other states and countries will have similar material available.

WATERING. Herbs must have regular water for their best growth (in conjunction with the good drainage mentioned previously), even though many of them can still thrive in dry conditions. Water seems to be necessary for the production of a high oil content.

The herbs can all be watered even in the heat of a bright summer’s day, particularly basil, whose brittle leaves and stems need moisture when the sun is at its hottest. In cooler weather it is advisable to water them in mid-morning so the soil will not be too damp and cold overnight.

So now your herbs are ready to set out in their permanent positions. Keep a section for annuals, another separate one for perennials, or if planting them amongst the flower beds and shrubs remember their individual likes and dislikes and they will give you beauty and usefulness from season to season.

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Wormwood and southernwood will also grow well in the sooty grimy atmosphere of the cities, especially in industrial towns where the chemically-saturated air seems almost beneficial to these plants. Our ecologists might soon be handing out free plants of southernwood to provide a green barrier for the people who have to live in such areas. Seriously though, these Artemisias may hold the key to establishing a more breathable air in such conditions, as they absorb, recycle and purify the chemical-laden atmosphere.

Poor, crusted soil, and even rocky conditions, will not deter southernwood. It will withstand dryness, but naturally grows more green and thick with sufficient water. In very cold or frosty areas it may drop some of its leaves in the winter, but will shoot again with fresh young green when the warm weather returns.

Germination from seed can be difficult. I have never yet found just which sowing conditions it does like, trying many different approaches and seed from various sources: but the germination rate was always so low as to be quite disheartening. Woody stem cuttings are a far easier way to gain new plants. Take them in late spring or early summer, with a “heel” of the old stem attached.

Wormwood and southernwood are recommended to be grown in poultry runs for shade. The birds will not scratch at them and their insect-repelling oils will keep lice and other vermin away from the enclosure.

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Lovage is a close relative of the ginseng family, and has a long history of use in Asian cultures. In India it is used extensively as an antiseptic in times of cholera outbreaks, the blanched stems being chewed raw. In cold climates the tops may die down during the worst winter months, but in warmer areas it should continue green and useful all the year.

It needs careful watching in the early seedling stage: caterpillars, slugs and snails, and aphis too, love the new leaves as they uncurl. Use one of the “safe” sprays to keep them away. Give the young plant a rich, deep soil with plenty of compost and blood and bone well under where the young roots are to lie, and then give moisture continuously; they need this to keep their slow spreading roots growing strongly. Good drainage is particularly necessary for this herb.

A tea made from lovage leaves and stems is very helpful in rheumatic conditions, to free the body of waste materials and stimulate the kidneys. A small handful of the herb to a half-pint of boiling water makes a pleasant drink, needing a pinch of salt rather than a teaspoon of honey, since it has the taste of a broth or stock.

See if a lovage bath will do for you what it did for the village maidens of the Middle Ages. The herb was freely used for its deodorizing properties, a handful or two of leaves being added (bruised, of course) to hot bath water. It was also worn in a cloth bag around the neck when going on a medieval “date” with the boyfriend, not as a superstitious love-charm or in order to weave a magic spell, but in the very prosaic role of a body-deodorant.

Compost in the soil is a must for lovage. Its roots spread and forage deeply, and its slow growth means that initial feeding and working of the ground is necessary to provide its needs for at least four years or more. So take time and care in preparation to get better results.

Persevere with those difficult seeds. The fresher they are the better they will germinate. The end result will be a magnificent plant for the back row in your herb garden. Use its leaves in many savoury dishes, in soups and stews, and fresh in salads.

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Comfrey was placed by the astrologers under the dominion of Saturn, the sign of service in helping others—a very apt placing in the light of all the bounty it has to give. The large clumps will grow 3 to 4 feet high, and with a breadth of about 3 feet. The bright green leaves, growing to about 18 inches long, curve back towards the earth, and in spring several flowering stems will appear, bearing downward-drooping clusters of small, bell-shaped trumpets. The flowers on individual plants may be mauve, bluish, or even yellow, but most are a soft plum colour. Like all herbs, the plant grows better and stronger if not allowed to flower: so nip off the flowering stems unless you want them for seed. Sow the seeds in the early spring.

Once you have even one plant, you will never be without comfrey. A perennial, it can also be increased by lifting the clump (and a mature plant can be quite a lift) and dividing it into root pieces. This is best done in late summer. Set each piece of about 3 inches in length at a slight angle into the ground (or small pot, so you can plant out in the following spring), and cover to within about 1 inch from the top of the root. In the warmer weather, within a week or so new small leaves will be showing through. You can also chop off some of the outside offsets from the clump and transplant these, to avoid lifting the whole plant.

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Itching and Rashes

For itching and rashes:

Chickweed herb

Poultice, compress or ointment: apply regularly to affected areas

Aloe Vera leaves

Apply fresh gel expressed from leaves to affected areas

For eruptive conditions and inflamed skin lesions, acute or chronic:

1 part Burdock root

1 part Marigold flowers

1 part Stinging Nettle

Infusion: 3 cups per day

1 part Burdock root or leaves

1 part Marigold flowers

1 part Chickweed herb

1 part St John’s Wort herb

Poultice, compress or ointment: apply to affected areas, renewing 2-4 times daily

Aloe Vera leaves

Apply fresh gel to affected areas

Psoriasis

4 parts Burdock root

4 parts Dandelion root

2 parts Red Clover flowers

2 parts Lemon Balm leaves

1 part Yellow Dock root

1 part Liquorice root

Combined decoction and infusion: 3 cups per day — may be continued for an extended period of time with suitable breaks in treatment

For external application:

2 parts Burdock root or leaves

1 part Chickweed herb

1 part Marigold flowers

1 part Marshmallow root

Ointment or infusion applied as a compress or lotion: apply to affected areas as required

Skin Parasites and Infections

Thyme has powerful parasiticide and fungicide properties which will destroy fungal infections such as athlete’s foot and skin parasites such as scabies, crabs and lice.

For these purposes the tincture is applied locally as a lotion, usually on a daily basis. Lacking the tincture, an extra-strong infusion or olive oil preparation, though not normally as powerful, may be used instead.

Splinters

For drawing out splinters or foreign objects embedded in flesh:

10 parts Plantain leaves

1 part Cayenne Pepper

Poultice or ointment: apply over area and cover with a dressing (renew 2 or 3 times per day)

Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), Hawthorn, Comfrey or Marsh-mallow can all be used in the same way.

Sunburn

Any of the remedies given for Burns will be useful. Note that the same principle applies: treat the sunburned area as quickly as possible with cool water, then apply further treatment.

For quick on-the spot relief, apply fresh gel from the leaf of an Aloe Vera plant. Vitamin E oil is also highly effective. Apply the oil directly to the skin. It can also be added to any soothing skin ointment.

Ulcers, Skin

To promote the healing of indolent skin ulcers, suppurating wounds, bed sores or chronic varicose ulcers:

1 part Comfrey root or leaves

1 part Marigold flowers

Poultice, compress or ointment prepared from the fresh herbs: apply 2-4 times daily

Aloe Vera leaves

Apply fresh gel expressed from the leaves

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Hair and Scalp Problems

To eliminate dandruff and to arrest or prevent falling hair:

1 part Burdock root

1 part Stinging Nettle root or leaves

Infusion of fresh plants: apply daily as a lotion, massaging into the scalp

The following herbs all have a tonic effect on the hair and scalp. To prevent falling hair or to eliminate dandruff, or simply to impart softness and lustre to the hair:

Stinging Nettle herb

Rosemary leaves

Burdock root

Sage leaves

Thyme herb

Infusion of any of the above, alone or in combination: comb through the hair daily as a lotion — or massage into the hair and scalp for several minutes after normal shampooing, then rinse out

A strong infusion of Chamomile or Yarrow is used as a regular rinse to impart tone and colour to blonde or fair hair. Rosemary and Sage are used for dark hair.

Insect Bites and Stings

For relief from insect bites and stings use any of the following. Crush the fresh plant and rub on the affected area.

Aloe Vera leaves (apply fresh gel)

St John’s Wort leaves

Marigold flowers

Plantain leaves

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) leaves

Insect repellents:

The essential oils of Citronella, Lavender and Pennyroyal are disliked by flies, mosquitoes, fleas and other insects. Rub a few drops on exposed areas, carefully avoiding all contact with eyes, nose, mouth and mucous membranes.

Bunches of fresh Horehound, Stinging Nettle or Elder leaves (crushed) are hung in kitchens and pantries to discourage flies and other insects.

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When the mucous lining of the membranes in the nose and throat dry out, they fail to trap invading viruses. Dry air also immobilizes the cilia which sweep trapped viruses into the stomach for destruction. Especially if your vocal cords are affected, or if you have laryngitis or a sore throat, you should try to avoid breathing very dry air.

During winter, many homes in the north are heated to high temperatures which cause the humidity to reach extremely low levels. This condition encourages viral infections.

The simplest way to raise the humidity indoors is to lower the temperature a few degrees. However, a humidifier or vaporizer provides an effective way to prevent the mucous membranes from drying out. Failing this, humidity can be restored by keeping a kettle of water simmering on a low burner. By placing a few drops of eucalyptus oil, or other essential oil, in a humidifier or vaporizer, you can create a pleasing vapor that will help soothe cold symptoms.

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In recent years, a panel of experts appointed by the FDA has reviewed the effectiveness, safety and accuracy of claims made on the labels of all OTC remedies for cough, colds and other respiratory ailments. Literally hundreds of specific products were found unsafe and ineffective and have been removed from the market. About those remaining on drugstore and pharmacy shelves, the FDA has released the following advice.

Medications consisting of a single ingredient tend to be more effective than those which attempt a shotgun approach by claiming to have “a combination of medically-active ingredients.” Many of the ingredients are often inappropriate for relief of cold symptoms. A brew of different drugs may also interact and work against each other, or cancel out each other’s benefits. They may also compound side effects. For example, large concentrations of caffeine are often included to offset the drowsiness produced by antihistamines which, in turn, offer no benefit at all to cold sufferers and are effective only against allergies. Many cold remedies contain a mix of antihistamine, pain relievers and nasal decongestants, usually in amounts too small to be effective.

If you do decide to use an OTC preparation, aim for a single-ingredient product designed specifically for the symptom you wish to relieve. Avoid a mix of many drugs, the only aim of which is to support the extravagant advertising claim on the product’s label.

Be aware, also, that many OTC nose and throat preparations may irritate the mucous membranes and prolong infection. Among the most common side effects of OTC cold, cough and hayfevcr remedies are drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, nausea, irregular heartbeat, blunted vision, skin rash, increased nervousness, mood alterations and raised blood pressure. To offset these side effects, some preparations contain aspirin substitutes.

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An antigen is also the surface receptor at which the host’s immune system directs its missile-like antibodies. Another cunning strategy developed by the rhinovirus has been to place these receptors in a deep, hard-to-reach cleft on each of its twenty facets. These subterfuges allow the rhinovirus to trick its way past the vigilantes of the body’s immune system—the powerful macrophage cells. Like sentinels eternally on watch, these large scavenger cells roam the nasal blood vessels, as well as every other blood vessel in the body, on a constant surveillance mission. Whenever they encounter an organism with a non-self antigen, they zero in for the kill.

The immune system is the body’s defense organization against infections and cancer. Essentially, it consists of one trillion white blood cells, each of which is totally dedicated to destroying all non-self cells and particles in the body, whether living or not. Once recognized as non-self, organic invaders like cold or flu viruses are immediately attacked by the full range of the immune response. Whether fungus, protozoa, bacteria, virus, multi-celled organisms or our own cancer cells (which become non-self), all are relentlessly attacked until either the immune system or the invader wins out.

As the surviving rhinoviruses fanned out and contacted the cells in human’s nasal passages, some of the viruses were recognized as non-self by roving macrophages. But the viruses so outnumbered the macrophages that only a few were caught.

Nevertheless, each macrophage within range closed in on a virus. Then, using its arm-like pseudo pods, the macrophages groped deep within the clefts on the viruses’ surfaces. Some were able to pluck out a viral antigen.

This triumphant act effectively sealed the virus’s fate. From now on, these captured antigens would serve as patterns for the manufacture of billions of antibodies. In a few days or a week hordes of antibodies would paralyze and destroy the unwelcome virus.

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