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The world of herbs is huge and wildly popular these days. Which herbs are the best for growing indoors? Which grow the fastest outdoors? Which give the highest yield? Which are the healthiest? Most flavorful? Most fragrant? There are culinary and therapeutic benefits to herbs, and people are increasingly turning to herbs for alternative healing. For example, some people believe adaptogenic substances in herbs help support adrenal function by balancing hormones and counteracting stress, eliminating toxic byproducts, and adapting to what you body needs on any given day. There is a staggering amount of information out there. To learn more about the medicinal and culinary uses of herbs, come to the “Growing and Using Herbs” workshop at Rodgers Ranch on March 21, 10am – 12pm. For more information and to register, click on THIS. Our expert, Anna Marie Beauchemin, founder of East Bay Herbals, an apothecary in Martinez, will inform us of herbal medicine and its connections to pollinator-friendly gardens and the kitchen.
Herbs are a treasure trove of health benefits and every herb has unique properties. Having an herb garden is like having your own apothecary within arm’s reach! If you’d like to start out with just a few medicinal herbs you can easily grow indoors, begin with the ABCs: A for aloe vera, B for basil, and C for chives. All herbs grown indoors should get at least six hours of natural sunlight, so putting them in south or southwest facing windows is best.
ALOE VERA
Many people crack open a stem of their aloe vera plant and apply the gel topically on superficial cuts and burns, but aloe vera has been used for centuries for an even wider variety of purposes, from allergies to alcoholism. Current day scientific research indicates aloe vera is effective treatment for cavity prevention; constipation and IBS; sunburns, 2nddegree burns, radiation therapy; and even managing depression. For “9 Health Benefits and Medical Uses of Aloe Vera,” visit HERE
BASIL
Basil is one of the most popular herbs. It’s flavor and fragrance is well known in Italian, Thai, Indonesian, Indian, Vietnamese, and other cuisines. For a “Best Pesto” recipe from Bon Appetit, click on THIS. Basil is known for anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. It is especially known for stomach issues, including gas, constipation, and loss of appetite. Scientific research may be limited, but many people swear by basil’s medicinal uses. For entertainment purposes on how to use basil, visit HERE.
CHIVES
Many consider chives a must-have for the kitchen windowsill herb garden. Chives are the smallest member of the onion genus, Allium, and are similar to garlic but milder. They are high in vitamins A and C and are good for the immune system.They are so easy to grow that you will want to snip them off frequently to prevent overgrowth. They can be used in all meals of the day and are delicious in eggs, salads, side dishes, soups, and entrees. Because of their delicate texture, they are often sprinkled on top of dishes or added at the end of cooking. Chives contain allicin, which lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) and plaque in arteries, so they’re good for the heart.
For “Chives: Health Benefits and Uses,” visit HERE.
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