A Yellow Harvest Festival

Yellow Sweet Clover by dowcet on Flickr

This time of summer is so exciting!  Everything is blooming and it's hard to keep up with posting about it all.  I noticed today that nearly everything I harvested today is yellow or creamy white!!

New to my herb basket this year is sweet clover.  Both yellow and white varieties are blooming here right now.  For this herb, you harvest the ariel parts of the plant (flowers, stems and leaves).  This plant grows nearly 7 feet tall right into my driveway!  Needless to say, those plants are getting harvested first so they are out of the way! (no, of course I wouldn't let DH chop em down before they bloomed! LOL!)  Not only does this plant have medicinal value for increasing circulation, reducing varicose veins and healing hemorrhoids but it is also a suitable cover crop for increasing nitrogen in the soil.

St. John's Wort by gmayfield10 on Flickr

Just coming into bloom is the ever delicate and fabulously yellow Saint John's Wort.  Take the time to hold one of the leaves up to the light and discover why its latin name is Hypericum Perforatum - a fun discover for the whole family!  Included in this great article, is a blurb about making Saint John's Wort oil (great for sunburns, shingles flareups and other skin disorders).  Saint John's Wort has been heavily studied and there is a lot of information available about its benefits as a naturally uplifting herbal supplement.  It is important to read a few resources about this herb and make sure that you have current information - and be aware of drug interactions if you are already on medications.

Linden Blossom
by American College of Healthcare Sciences on Flickr

Another naturally uplifting herb comes to us from another blossom - the Linden Tree blossom.  It was a treat just to stand under these majestic trees today and inhale deeply.  Their sweet scent is intoxicating - uplifting all on its own!  Use a tea that includes these incredible blossoms to bring a lift to any dull day.  These blossoms reduce inflammation and are astringent and  have been used to help break fevers and treat colds, coughs and stuffy noses.  Truly one of my favorite to harvest and add to any tea for a hint of sweetness and a beautiful aroma.

Linden Tree
by American College of Healthcare Sciences on Flickr

Be sure to keep an eye out for other beautiful yellow blossoms!  In my yard there is also Hop Clover and Evening Primrose... what else do you have in your area?

Yellow blessings,
Val :)

Flowers as Medicine

I'm finally getting back to the herbs I suggested for trying in your herbal beverages. Let's start with the flowers. I thought I'd try to provide one well known medicinal use for each one, but as it turns out, each herb has so many uses that I couldn't choose just one!.


FLOWERS

Linden - treatment of colds, cough, bronchitis, infectious diseases, and headache (particularly migraine); linden is diuretic (increases urine production), antispasmodic (reduces spasm), and sedative

Red clover - blood purifier, improves circulation, promotes the production of mucus, stimulates the secretion of bile, alleviates symptoms of menopause, slows down bone loss, encourages bone density, increases levels of good cholesterol

Calendula - The flavenoids present in the calendula flower and its inherent anti-inflammatory, astringent, antifungal, and antiseptic properties result in an ideal topical agent; poultices: bruises, impetigo, vericose veins, minor burns; ointments: chapped lips, bedsores, shingles; tea: gently promotes perspiration (good for fevers).

Chamomile - bitter properties make it a good aperitif to promote good digestion or a good after dinner tea to settle the stomach and reduce gas; commonly know for its gentle sedative qualities

If you would like more information any of these herbs and other ways of using them, please feel free to comment on this post.

Cheers,
Val :)