MANDRAKE    EuropeanMandragora Officinalis
     Likes a sheltered site. Purple-white flowers followed by yellow fruits.
Uses All the parts are now considered poisonous although in the past the mandrake had various medical uses and in Pliny’s time was used as an anaesthetic for operations. There are many superstitutions regarding the root of the mandrake which was supposed to resemble the human form as they sometime fork out like leg

 MARIGOLD CALENDULA   Pot marigold Calendula officinalis
    Grow in the sun in any soil. Self seeds. Large orange flower from the spring onwards. Named calendula as it can flower in every month of the calendar.
Uses As a tea it is a cooling anti-inflammatory drink. A key healing herb both internally and externally. It has a cleansing effect on the body and is good to drink when recovering after illness as it stimulates lymph flow. As an ointment or cream it is very good on cuts, grazes or bites.

 MARJORAM   Sweet Origanum marjorana
     All mine seem to have been killed by the frost, but I hope to have some new ones shortly. It likes fully sun and likes some protection in winter. Grows 10 inchs and flowers late summer.
Uses Was a popular strewing herb in ancient times used for warding off disease and infection.
Warming and relaxing.

 MARSHMALLOW   Althea officinalis
     A tall perennial with velvety leaves and soft pink flowers.
Likes damp salt marshes but will grow anywhere.
Uses A very soothing plant both internally and externally.
Abundant in mucilage, especially.

 MEADOWSWEET    Filipendula ulmaria
     Grows in damp meadows with a frothy creamy white flower that was used inthe past in bride's bouquets. Meadowsweet is natures aspirin. It is good for all digestive problems. A hot tea will help with colds and flu and relieve head aches. A cool tea is soothing on inflamed skin or tired eyes.

 MILK THISLE   Silybum marianus
     An attractive planat with glossy green leaves with milk white veins. Grows from 1 foot to 5 foot and flowers late summer. Very prickly
Uses One of the best liver remedies, it increases the flow of the bile. All part of the plant can be used in particular the seeds. A tea can be made using less than half a teaspoonful to a cup of boiling water. Helps the flow of mothers’ milk and can prevent travel sickness

 MINT    Spearmint Mentha picata
     An invasive plant that is prone to rust.
Uses The most commonly used culinary mint. It could be added to an invigorating, heating massage oil.

 Applemint   Mentha suaveolens
    Soft, rounded leaves. Slightly fruity fragrance

 Pineapple   Mentha suaveolens variegata
    Similar to applemint with pretty little varieagated leaves and a
richer fragrance

 Morrocan    Mentha spicata Moroccan tea
     White flowers.Used in Moroccan tea.

 Eau de Cologne    
     

 Peppermint    Black Mentha Piperita
     Black Long purple leaves with strong peppermint scent. Uses Makes a soothing tea for indigestion, nausea and headaches. Peppermint oil is antiseptic. Chew on leaves to relieve toothache.

 Chocolate    Mentha x piperita Citrata chocolate
     Dark leaves. Smells of After Eights

 Corsian Mint   Mentha requienii
    Tiny leaved creeping plant with strong peppermint scent. Can be walked on or used on a seat

 Penny Royal    Mentah pulegium
     

Creeping mint with small round leaves. Strong peppermint scent.
Erect stems with small mauve flowers.
Uses. Insect repellent including ants. Dried leaves purify water.

 MOTHERWORT    Leonurus cardiaca
     Bushy perennial that can grow to 3 – 5 foot.Likes chalk and gravel but will grow anywhere. Likes sun.
Uses Has an affinity with the heart and will raise the spirits.
Has a relaxing and toning effect on the uterus and can be taken a week or two before childbirth. Calming effect on palpitations and irregular heart beat. Will help lower blood pressure and is particularly useful during the menopause.

 
   OLIVE

 OREGANO   Oregano vulgare
    A strong flavouring in cooking. Anti-septic, used to help bronchitis sufferers and asthma sufferers.
 PARSLEY    Petroselium Crispum
     A great digestive aid, full of nutrients and vitamin C so a good addition to a salad. Helps the body assimilate iron so good for anaemia sufferers.
 COUNTRY CREAM    
     Pretty flower growing to 2 foot maximum. Likes sun and stony ground. Cut back to encourage growth.
Uses The leaves and flowering tops make a good infused tea. Aid digestion, good for colds, flu, mild antiseptic mouthwash and gargle. Anti-stress. Small plant Country Cream Pretty flower growing to 2 foot maximum. Likes sun and stony ground. Cut back to encourage growth.
Uses The leaves and flowering tops make a good infused tea. Aid digestion, good for colds, flu, mild antiseptic mouthwash and gargle. Anti-stress.

 PARSLEY    Petroselium Crispum
     A great digestive aid, full of nutrients and vitamin C so a good addition to a salad. Helps the body assimilate iron so good for anaemia sufferers.

 PASQUE FLOWER    Pulsatilla Vulgaris
     One of our prettiest wild flowers but uncommon in the wild. A delicate but resilient plant with silky purple flowers.
Uses A relaxant and nerve tonic. Use the leaves and the flowers internally to relieve spasm and reduce pain. Helps those suffering from nervous exhaustion, depression or insomnia. Also a remedy for colds, coughs, catarrh and ear and eye problems.

 RASPBERRY WILD   Rubus
   

Tea made from the leaves act as a muscle toner for the uterus and so help women with excessive menstrual bleeding and with contractions in labour.

 ROSEMARY   Rosmarinus officinalis
    Evergreen bush. Has pretty blue flowers. Numerous varieties. Likes sun and does not like its roots standing in water.
Uses: A tea or tincture made from rosemary helps the memory. Burning a sprig of rosemary will freshen the room and also freshen the mind. Increases circulation to the brain. Rosemary is antiseptic and makes a good hair rinse.

 SAGE    Salvia officinalis
     A Mediterranean plant that likes the sun. Greyish leaves and purple blue flowers.
Uses : the leaves dry well and it is useful in cooking. An infusion of the leaves makes an excellent tonic with antiseptic, digestive and cleansing action. A good gargle for sore throats and mouth ulcers. Rub the leaves on the gums and teeth to maintain health. Sage is helpful with menopausal symptoms and as a hair rinse however it is generally drying and can cause a dry scalp
Salvia officinalis tricolor
A variety with some pink and grey in the leaves. .

 SALAD BURNET   Sanguisorba Minor
    Hardy perennial. Likes limestone.
Uses Put in salads. Good for the digestion

 SKULLCAP VIRGINIA    Scutellaria
    Hardy perennial that will grow to 30 inchs. Curious blue hooded flowers from midsummer.
Uses Now considered unsafe to self administer skullcap is a useful remedy for a whole range of nervous conditions but it would be better to consult a herbalist before using. It was even considered a cure for hydrophobia and rabies.
It is a good remedy for those feeling overwrought and run down with sleepless nights and nervous headaches. A good substitute for orthodox tranquillisers or antidepressants.

 SELFHEAL   Prunella vulgaris
    Ornamental, hardy. Grow in sun or light shade.
Uses: use on injuries and wounds with bleeding. For conjunctivitis put squeeze 5 – 10 drops into eye bath half filled with milk. Make ointment for bleeding piles. Use the whole plant. Used in western medicine for haemorrhage and excessive bleeding during menstruation. Many other uses in Chinese medicine.

 SORREL    Buckler Leaf Rumex scutatus
     Likes a well drained soil. Small leaves with a sharp acidic taste. Used by the French for sorrel soup. The juice can be used as a bleach for rust, mould and ink stains on linen, wicker and silver.
Medicinally the tea has been used to treat kidney and liver ailments Can help mouth ulcers.

 ST JOHN'S WORT    Hypericum perforatum
     Hardy perennial common in woodland and on verges. Pretty yellow flower with black dotted oil glands.
Uses an infused oil made from St. John’s Wort is a pretty red colour and offers a strong astringent, antibiotic, healing treatment for wounds, inflammations and aching joints.
The tea is good for coughs and insomnia. St.John’s Wort is prescribed for depression but do not take if you are using other antidepressants. St. John’s wort is also recommended for migraine sufferers but should not be mixed withother prescribed drugs for migraine. It effects the levels of serotonin in the body a chemical which effects anxiety, depression and migraine.


 STAR OF BETHLEHEM    Ornithogalunm Umbellatum
     .A Bach Flower Remedy for shock. As a herbal treatment do not self administer.

 TANSY    Tanacetum vulgare
     .A strong hardy perennial with yellow button flowers that bloom fro mid to late summer and can be dried for decoration.
Uses Very bitter. Was once used as a strewing herb and to rid the gut of worms. Now the leaves are used as an insecticide, either bruised, dried or infused.

 THYME   Thymus Vulgare
Citrodorus Silver Queen
Serpyllum Rainbow Falls
Vulgaris silver posie
Vulgaris citriodorus
    Archers GoldThyme is a very good antiseptic. Good for coughs and colds etc.

 TEA TREE    Melaleuca alternifolia
    A bushy shrub from Australia that grows well in my tunnel if kept well watered. The essential oil is very popular as an antiseptic.

 VERVAIN   Vervain Verbena officinalis
     Hardy perennial growing wild in barren places. Cultivated extensively in Europe where the tea is popular. A pretty lilac flower on slender spikes.
Uses A sacred plant to the druids, vervain has a tradition of magical uses. Today it is used to treat most stress induced conditions and nervous exhaustion. The bitters stimulate the liver and will help with headaches.
Taken hot it reduces fevers and cold it is diuretic and detoxicant.

 VIOLA HEATEASE    Wild Pansy Viola Tricolor
     Parent to the cultivated pansy it is a native plant that grows in fields and open wasteland. A short-lived perennial or annual.
Uses A tonic that will bring down fevers. Externally can be used on wounds and ulcers.

 WINTER SAVORY   Sautureja Montana
    Hardy evergreen perennial with woody stem and white or lilac flowers in late summer.
Uses Rub leaves on insect bites to relieve the pain
Used in cooking

 WINTER GREEN    Gaultheria Procumbens
     .

 WITCH HAZEL   Hamamellis virginiana
    Small deciduous tree. Grow in moist light shade.
Uses Decoction of bark and leaves is highly astringent. Distilled extract produced commercially

 WOOD BETONY   Stachy officinalis
    A wild native plant found in woods and waysides but was also prominent in mediaeval herb gardens where it was considered good for almost everything.
In Roman times it was credited with 47 different healing properties.
Today it is given for headaches due to poor circulation, sluggish liver, or tension. Tonic that can relieve tension anxiety, depression and lethargy. Soothes sciatica and joint pain. Hellps digeston and liver and relieves indigestion wind colic and diarrhoea. Decongestant. Lowers blood sugar.

 

 YARROW  

Achillea millefolium
    An attractive perennial with numerous feathery leaves with small white or pink flowers. Common wild flower.
Uses A good first aid plant. Leaves or flowers pressed on a cut will rapidly staunch bleeding. Chew them in your mouth and press on the wound.
Good internally for digestive problems. Regulates menstrual cycle, and is tonic for nervous system. A hot tea promotes perspiration and so good for fevers, flu and childhood infections. Helps with poor circulation and high blood pressure.

     
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