ALSTONIA BARK - ANISEED MYRTLE
ALSTONIA BARK / Australian Quinine / Fever Bark / Alstonia constricta. Wild / Australia.
Product: Thick chocolate coloured spongy bark stripped from a moderate sized tree that grows in dry upland areas. Used to Treat: Malaria: to prevent the recurrence of bouts. Rheumatism: for quick relief.
AMARANTH / Love Lies Bleeding / Red Cockscomb / Velvet Flower / Amaranthus hypochrondracus. Wild / Europe.
Cultivation: A delicate plant with finely divided foliage and crimson flowers from 4' - 5' / 1-2 metres high. Product: the Flowers are used.
Used to Treat: Diarrhoea: Eczema: Hives: Psoriasis: used as a Wash made from the Seeds with 2 x teaspoons of the Seeds to 3 x cups of boiling Water and steep for 10 - 20 minutes.
Menorrhagia: Sores: by sponging. Ulcers: by sponging.
AMERICAN GINSENG / Panax quinquefolius. Used to Treat: Aging: as a Tonic to Tone the Skin and Muscles. Appetite: to improve. Digestion: to improve. Impotence: to restore.
AMERICAN PENNY ROYAL / Hedeoma pulegioides. Used to Treat: Scabies:
AMMONIACUM / Gum Ammoniacum / Dorema ammoniacum. Wild Persia / Turkey.
Cultivation: Small rounded lumps, pale yellow and browning with age. Product: the Gum Resin is used.
Used to Treat: Asthma: to relieve. Bronchitis: to relieve. Catarrh: to relieve. Energy: to Stimulate. Respiratory Conditions: to relieve.
ANGELICA / Garden Angelic / Archangel - Angelica archangelica - Apiaceae / Carrot Umbelliferae. Northern Europe / Wild. N.B: Do not take large doses of this herb as it can be Carcogenic - if any Irritation occurs stop using.
Actions: Anti - Spasmodic, Carminative, Diuretic and Diaphoretic, Digestive, Demulcent, Expectorant, Stimulant and Stomachic.
Culinary: Use boiled or steamed it has a bitter sweet and musky taste / and or blanch young shoots for salads or leaves and stalks in marinades for sea food and or Leaves can be added to tart fruits, such as Rhubarb, to cut Acidity to reduce the amount of Sugar.
Cultivation: A stately garden frost hardy Biennial plant with ribbed, hollow stems and compound leaves with small light green flowering stem up to 6 ' - 1. 8 metres high in the third year and 1 metre wide when in Flower, loves moisture in a well drained soil and can survive in low light and needs moderate fertilizer and slightly acid conditions with compost added.
Product: the unique flavour and odour in the Leaves, Seeds, Roots and Stem are used and Roots for herbal medicine. Harvest the Leaves and Stalks in the second Year and dig up the Root at the end of the second year and wash and dry. Collect the Leaves in the Summer and the Roots are dug in early Autumn with both containing Essential Oils. The large Flower heads attract insect predators such as Lady Birds and Hoverflies. Cut stems before flowering and the plant will persist for several years or it will die after seeding. (Collect the Seeds when dry and brown.) Sow the seeds Spring to mid - Summer soon after collecting, in punnets, and transplant when 7 - 10cm tall about 1 metre apart or mix the seed with slightly damp Vermiculite in place in a sealed plastic bag and store in the crisper in a refrigerator for 6 to 8 weeks, and then plant in punnets. Cover seeds lightly and and keep moist when the 5th leaf emerges. Will die back in Winter and re-grow in Spring. keep moist. Fairly Pest and Disease free and the flowers attract many beneficial insects including Lacewings and Wasps. Leaves, Seeds, Stems and Roots. Fresh Leaves can be used in Salads, Stems added to stewed Fruits or Puddings. All parts can be made into a Tea. The Seeds and Oil are made from the Stalks and Roots are used as flavouring in beverages including Liqueurs. Confectionary: Used as a food in green sugared confectionery to decorate Cakes and Desserts and as a flavouring for some Liqueurs. Decoction: 1 x teaspoon of the Root per cup, simmer for a few minutes and leave to Infuse. Food Partners: Fruit - Cake, Salads and stewed Fruit. Salads: the young Leaves have a warm, spicy flavour - add sparingly to Salads. Stems - Stalks: are eaten like Celery or candied for Cake decoration or added to stewed Fruit. Candied Stems are sweet and do have benefit. Tincture: 2 to 5ml x 3 times a day. Tea: the dried Leaves are a delicate Tea substitute.
Used to Treat: : Angina: as it contains 15 Compounds that act as channel blockers and there are similar compounds in Carrots, Celery, Fennel, Parsley and Parsnips. Combine all in a drink with water and Spices.
Appetite - Poor: to Stimulate Gastric Juices. Bloating: to relieve. Bronchitis as a Diaphoretic to increase Toxin loss. Cardiac Arrhythmia: contains 14 x anti - Arrythmic compounds, one active as Verapamil - (Calan, Isoptin) a Calcium channel blocker.
Chest Conditions: with a Compress. Colic: to relieve. Cold Air: to Warm internally. Colds: as a Diaphoretic to increase Toxin loss. Coughs: as a Diaphoretic to increase Toxin loss.
Cystitis acts as an anti - Septic. Digestive System: As a Tonic to Stimulate Gastric Juices. Dyspepsia: to Stimulate Gastric Juices. Fever as a Diaphoretic to increase Toxin loss.
Flatulence: as it relieves. Flu: as a Diaphoretic to increase Toxin loss. Gastro - Intestinal Conditions: for recuperating after. Heart - Burn: use Oil of Angelica for Adults to soothe as it has a Carminative action on the Digestive Tract.
Heart - Disease: contains Calcium channel blockers. Indigestion: Lung - Infections: Internally combined with Coltsfoot and Horehound. Nerves: as the Oil distilled from the Roots and Seeds is restorative and soothing. Pleurisy: as a Diaphoretic to increase Toxin loss. Psoriasis: contains Psoralens and after digesting go out into Sunlight to obtain Ulta - Violet light. Rheumatic Fever: contains at least 3 anti - Inflammatory Fatty Acids. Rheumatism: reduces Infection and Pain.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: contains at least 3 anti - Inflammatory Fatty Acids. Sickness: as a Tea for small Children who cannot tolerate heavy Food after. Sleep: with the Oil to induce, by inhalation.
Stomach - Cramps: to relieve. Temperature: also used to promote Perspiration. Ulcers: contains at least 3 anti - Inflammatory Fatty Acids. Urinary: Infusions used to promote the flow of Urine. Wind: to expel.
ANGOSTURA / Angostura Bark / Cusparia Bark - Galipea officinalis. Wild / South America. Actions: Used to make an Aromatic Bitter to heighten the flavour of Gin and also used as a safe Carthartic.
Cultivation: A diminutive hardy tree. Product: the Bark is stripped annually that has a musty tobacco like odour.
ANISE / Aniseed / Common Anise / Sweet Alice / Sweet Cummin / Pimpinella anisum - Apiaceae / Carrot Umbelliferae. Wild / European Countries Mediterranean Sea / North Africa. Main Use: as a Pectoral. Actions: Anti - Spasmodic, Aromatic, Carminative, Expectorant, Weak Diuretic, Laxative, Parasiticide and Suppressant. Constituents: Anethole.
Cultivation: Easy to grow Aromatic Annual with a strong Taproot, An umbelliferous plant with serrated leaves, compound umbels of white flower heads and small brownish ridged grey seeds oblong, curved and 5mm long with a strong pleasant odour and a sweet spicy taste. Height 40 - 60cm, full Sun. Sow Seeds direct in clumps 30cm apart in Spring or early Autumn and thin out to the strongest seedling in enriched, light, well - drained neutral soil. (Keep weed free.) Repels Aphids and attracts beneficial insects such as parasitoid Wasps. Cut when the seeds are fully developed and tie bunches in paper bags and hang upside down to dry and retain the seed. Harvest the Leaves as required and dig up Roots in Autumn. Products: Leaf, Root and Seed used. Leaf and Seed can be made into a Tea or used in cooking. Seed used whole or crushed or grind when required to be used. Used in Bakery, Confectionary, Curries, Pickles, Soups, Stews, Tomato dishes, Sea food dishes and Vegetable dishes. Young Leaves used sparingly in Cooked Vegetables, Fish dishes , Fruit Salads and Salads. Tea: 1- 2 x teaspoons of crushed Aniseed in a cup or two of boiling Water for 10 - 15 minutes, strain and take 1 cup morning and / or night. Adds flavour to Desserts and Pastries. Use the Seeds in sauce when cooking Fish. Nibble Seeds after meals. Use the Leaves in Broths, Salads and Stews. Seeds, whole or crushed used to flavour Biscuits, Bread, Cake and Liqueur. Used in Cough Medicines and Elixirs, as it is most effective and safe for Children. Essential Oil: used Externally in Cough Lozenges and Syrups. Infusion: used as a Gargle or Mouth - Wash.
Used to Treat: Asthma: as it contains Creosol and Alpha - Pinene that loosen Bronchial secretions. Bloating: to relieve. Breast - Feeding: as it promotes Lactation. Breath - Bad: as the Liquorice flavour sweetens.
Bronchitis: Colds and Flu: as an Expectorant to get rid of Phlegm and some Anti - Viral benefits in large doses. Colic - Babies: Coughs: Expectorant and Suppressant.
Cramping: Essential Oil is used Externally or *Internally as a Tea to relieve, with a few drops in a cup of hot Water. Digestion: to aid and kill Pathogens. Flatulence: to relieve.
Impotence: contains several compounds that are Oestrogenic - a Female Hormone - that may have Androgenic effects as well and increase Male Libido. Inhibited Sexual Desire in Women: high in Anethole a compound with similar effects to Oestrogen.
Menstruation - Spasms: Essential Oil is used Externally, or *Internally as a Tea to relieve, with a few drops in a cup of hot water. Mouth - Wash: used as an Infusion or add 3 - 4 drops of the Essential Oil to 250ml of cooled boiled water.
Mucus: as an Expectorant to assist in clearing the Throat and Lungs. Throat - Sore: Tooth - Extraction: used after to reduce Bleeding and Swelling.
ANISEED HYSSOP - Anis Mint / Giant Blue Hyssop / Licorice Mint. Agastche foeniculum - A. anethiodora - Lamiaceae. Cultivation: A hardy perennial with a sweet Anise scent. In Balsamic and Peppermint - Pennyroyal scented forms. "Golden Jubilee " has golden foliage and "Alabaster" white flowers. "Heather Queen" and "Just Peachy" are fragrant varieties. Require light shade with a slightly acid to neutral soil. Sow the seed in Spring and lightly cover with soil and 6 - 8 weeks for germination and pot out when large enough. Many basal shoots appear in Spring from older plants, which may be taken as cuttings and planted out in Summer or take by root divisions and transfer to the garden in their second Spring in a cool climate or in the first Summer in a warm climate. Can be effected by leaf chewing insects.
Product: Flowers and Leaves fresh or dry by hanging upside down in small bunches away from direct Sunlight to retain their colour and scent. Infuse the dried Leaves for a cold or hot drink. Can be used to season chicken, lamb or salmon or add the seeds to cakes and muffins. The Flowers contain a large amount of nectar to produce a light aniseed flavoured honey.
ANISEED MYRTLE / Backhousia anisata - Myrtaceae. Northern New South Wales.
Cultivation: A small tree. Product: Leaves are Aromatic with a sweet Anise scent used dried or fresh to flavour desserts, marinades, preserves savoury or sweet sauces.. Essential Oil: may be anti - Microbial?
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