LEMON - LEMON VERBENA 

LEMON / Citrus limon. Actions: Anti - Septic, Exfoliant.  Used to Treat: Bath: mix Lemon Juice with Apple Cider Vinegar in warm bath water or hang a bath bag containing 1 x Tablespoon each of crushed dried Lemon Peel and fresh or Dried Rosemary Leaves under the running tap water. Bleeding: the Pulp is used to staunch. Coughs and Colds: Deodorant: use the Juice due to it's mild properties. Face: if it becomes oilier due to daily high temperature squeeze the Juice of half a Lemon  into a cup of water and saturate cotton balls and chill and apply to the Forehead and Nose. Fever: to reduce as it has a mild Sedative effect. Hair / Dandruff: use the Juice as an anti - Bacterial. Hair Rinse: apply the Juice as a natural Cosmetic. Health: by eating or Juice for natural health and beauty benefit for it's Toning effects. Indigestion: to promote Bile activity and ease. Menstruation: combined with other Female Tonic herbs to reduce excessive flow. Pregnancy: used to stay flux and vomit. Scurvy: as a rich source of Vitamin C and Bioflavonoids to maintain the Skin's Collagen content and strengthen the tiny Capillaries near the surface. Skin: by applying directly to use as an Exfoliant, Deodoriser and Toner or in a bath to whiten or bleach Freckles. Skin / Sunburn: as a Lotion for the Nose or Shoulders. Skin / Tan / Blotched: with the use of 1 Lemon with a 1/4 cup of whole Milk and spread liberally over the tanned areas and leave it on for 20 minutes then rinse well with cool water. Teeth: use the Juice to refresh. Throat / Sore: the Juice is used as a Gargle. Varicose Veins: 

LEMON BALM / Balm / Bee Balm / Common Balm / Melissa / Sweet Balm /  Mellisa Officinalis. Lamiaceae. Wild. Europe. Loved by Bees. N.B: Do not use if Pregnant or Breast Feeding except under professional advice. Main Use: Indigestion, Flatulence and for inducing copious Perspiration. Actions - Leaves: Anti - Septic, anti - Spasmodic, Carminative, Cordial, Digestive, Emmenagogue, Febrifuge, Nervine, Stimulant, Stomachic and Tonic. Oil: Anodyne, anti - Spasmodic and Sedative. Constituents: Citral, Citronella, Copper, Geraniol, Mucilage, Resin and Tannin. Cultivation: An easy to grow spreading Perennial plant to 80 cm high with Lemon - Honey scented ovate regularly toothed green Leaves and tiny white flowers on upright square stems. Thrives in most soils in a sunny to partly shaded position and in containers. Prune back regularly for healthy, compact new growth. Harvest Leaves 2 or 3 times a year during Summer and Autumn. Sow the Seed in Spring and Autumn or by Cuttings or Division in Spring and will grow all year round but cut off the young Shoots when 30 cm in length. Dry in the shade below 35 degrees. Product: Use the whole herb above the ground. Medicinal - the Leaves, Flowers and Oil. N.B: Does not keep it's flavour if dried so use fresh daily. A drink for every day - hot in Winter, and iced in Summer. If keeping for Winter use, then pick in early Summer and freeze it in a plastic container. Used to flavour desserts, herbal Teas & Fruit Salads. Combines with Chamomile. Spirit of Balm: 1 x Cup of packed Lemon Balm Leaves, 3 x Cups of Alcohol and 3 Cups of water and leave in a warm place for 2 days then strain and bottle. Dosage: 1 x teaspoon in a glass of water and take 2 - 3 x times a day or Children 15 drops in water or on Sugar 3 times a day. Tea: Pour 1 x cup of boiling water onto 2 teaspoons of dried herb and Infuse for 10 - 15 minutes and drink 3 x times a day. Tincture: 1 - 2ml x 3 times a day. Used to Treat: Amenorrhoea / Scanty Menstruation: as an Infusion. Arthritis: Bath: to relax tie a handful of fresh or dried Lemon Balm in a handkerchief and tie to the hot water tap and run it through to release the Aroma. Blood Pressure: as an Infusion for lowering. Bruising: rub the Spirit into the effected areas. Chonic Fatigue Syndrome: Cold and Flu: as a Tea last thing at night to create Sleep and good for Feverish Conditions. Digestive Conditions: as a Tea to smooth out as it supports and relaxes the Smooth Muscle Tissue and relieves Spasms and Flatulent Dyspepsia when a sensitive Digestion exhibits as Anxiety, Depression, Irritable Bowel and Nervous Indigestion. Fainting: Spirit of Balm is used. Fever: Flatulence: Gastro - Intestinal Tract Conditions: Graves' Disease: Head: as a Tea to clear and is useful if studying. Head - Ache: Heart / Palpitations: as an Infusion. Herpes Virus: Hypothyroidism: Indigestion: Influenza: good for Feverish Conditions. Insomnia: Menstrual Pain: as a Tea. Migraines: as an Infusion of a Nervous origin. Muscles: combine the Flowers and Leaves with Marigold / Calendula - as a bath bag to relax if tense and overworked. Nausea: as a Tea, especially for Children. Nervous Conditions / Melancholy: combined with Wine as it contains Volatile Citrus Oils that have a calming effect on the Central Nervous System and good for Nerves because of it's Copper content. Nervous Tension: as a Tea. Rheumatism / Pains: Spirit of Balm is used, rub the Spirit into the painful areas. Shingles: Sick Feelings: Spirit of Balm is used. Sleep: as a bedtime drink to promote and relax. Stomach Upsets: Spirit of Balm is used. Stress: the Sedative Oil relieves reactions reducing the Depression. Tooth - Ache: as a Tea especially for Children. Viral Infections:  

LEMON GRASS: Cymbopogon citratus. Poaceae. Thailand. Actions: Anti - Septic, Astringent, Mild Diuretic, Refreshing and Mild Stomachic. N.B: Do not use in greater then Culinary amounts if Pregnant or Breast Feeding. Cultivation: A vegetable that is a tender Perennial that grows to 1.5m high x 0.75m wide that needs generous fertiliser and reasonable moist conditions, Sun to part Sun. Product: Stems. Lemon Grass / Takrai used in Curries, Soups and Teas by using the lower half of the blade and remove the tough outer layers. Tea: makes a refreshing Tea after pouring boiling water on it. Adds a delicate Lemon flavour to Savoury dishes instead of Lemon. Oil: fragrant Essential Oil. Used to Treat: Abdominal Pain:  Aches: to ease. Aged: as it has retardant properties being rich in Vitamin A the Skin Vitamin. Aches and Pains: to ease. Athlete's Foot: Blood Pressure / High: Body: used in all - over Saunas. Burns: to heal. Coughs: Depression: Digestive Conditions: Exhaustion: Face: used in steams. Fevers: Fungal Infections: Head - Aches: Insect Repellent: Joints / Aching: Insomnia: Muscles / Aching: Neuralgia: Pain: to ease. Skin / Blemished / Oily / Sensitive: Stomach - Ache: to alleviate. Wounds: to heal. Stomach / Cramps: Vomiting:

LEMON THYME / see Thyme /   

LEMON VERBENA / Herb Luisa / Lemon Bee Brush / Aloysia triphylla / Lippia citriodora  / Verbenaceae. Argentina / Peru. N.B: Do not use if Pregnant or Breast Feeding. Cultivation: Perennial, deciduous shrub or small tree 2 - 4m with arching branching, woody stems that bear whorls of three or four, narrow leaves along their length with terminal spikes of white or lilac flowers produced in Summer. Light to medium, well drained, moderately rich neutral soil and full Sun and requires protection from winds, and is susceptible to severe cold and frosts. Grown by taking a pencil - thick, hardwood stem cutting 15cm long in Winter when the tree is dormant. Product: The dried, lemon scented Leaves and Flowers / Aerial parts are used for fragrance in Potpourri and the dried and fresh Leaves are used to flavour Milk Puddings or as a garnish for fruit drinks and as a herbal Tea. The Leaves are used to give a lemon flavour to Desserts, Drinks and Fruit Salad . Used to Treat: Colic: Digestive Conditions:  Feverish Conditions: Flatulence: Insomnia: Nervous Conditions:

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