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Post by The witch on Jul 15, 2007 21:47:41 GMT 1
Found the following site while searching for Tarragon - which I thought was quite interesting. ;D I didn't realise there was more than one type of Nepeta for example  one being catmint the other being catnip. www.growherbs.com/herbs.html |
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Post by debbiem on Jul 17, 2007 16:53:19 GMT 1
Great list!  And included on it is Southernwood - I've been trying to get hold of some of that for ages - it'll happen.  |
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Post by sweetleaf on Jul 17, 2007 17:46:17 GMT 1
Thats useful The witch, thank you!  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Jul 17, 2007 21:01:34 GMT 1
There are lots of different Nepetas - the true herb is Nepeta cataria..it's a lovely plant but self seeds everywhere and, in truth, looks remarkably like a nettle to the uninformed eye....I think the origin of the name Catnep is a corruption and confusion of the fact that cats love it and the plant originates from Nepete in Italy. The garden Nepetas are much nicer to grow and cats love them just as much. They are used as sedatives mainly in herbal medicine. I grew one I had never come across before this year, Nepeta transcaucasia, quite pretty but not as nice as Nepeta mussini "Six Hills Giant" which is a lovely garden plant. Funnily enough my cats completely ignored the new one. They regularly flatten the Nepeta m. by Mum's front door.
Southernwood is a lovely plant Sweetie, but did you know it's poisonous? It's not a plant to be used by an amateur herbalist! Lots of the Artemsias are quite toxic. Actually lots of herbs are a bit dodgy if used wrongly.... an Artemsia is the basic ingredient of Absinthe.......and that's a horrendously toxic drink. (I believe Cheery has tried it.........)
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Post by sweetleaf on Jul 17, 2007 21:14:02 GMT 1
I wouldnt mess around with herbalism the doses and tinctures are so easy to get wrong! I have Aconites growing everywhere for example and use extreme care handling them, just touching 14 leaves can have some terrible effects! I wonder who does the testing to get those figures  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Jul 17, 2007 21:20:50 GMT 1
The RHS are doing a huge research programme about herbs aren't they? I think a lot of these over the counter herbal remedies are a huge con. I read about one in the Guardian the other week that, when tested, had no trace of any active ingredient of the plant it was named after! I wish I had managed to do a proper herbal medicine course - the one thing that I have always been interested in - my memory's not up to it now...... I'd be dangerous! |
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Post by sweetleaf on Jul 17, 2007 22:05:30 GMT 1
The really useful things are the best and least dangerous, mint for instance helping with the elimination of wind, parsley to get rid of garlic breath, garlic as an antibiotic for food poisoning (in a mild way) etc. Apple cider vinegar for acne... the list goes on.
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Post by 4pygmies on Jul 18, 2007 7:00:22 GMT 1
They are wonderful things. I am certain that every ailment known to Man has a cure somewhere in the plant world.......
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Post by The witch on Jul 18, 2007 8:07:27 GMT 1
They are wonderful things. I am certain that every ailment known to Man has a cure somewhere in the plant world....... I've thought that for many years too 4P |
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Post by debbiem on Jul 18, 2007 11:01:14 GMT 1
Same here! |
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one being catmint the other being catnip.