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Startiing Your Own Herb Garden

published on April 9th, 2008 . by admin

It can be easy an fun to grow your own herbs. This is true for urban dwellers as well as those in rural regions. Herbs are also aesthetically pleasing additions to any home or garden.

We all know how incredibly beneficial and healthy herbs can be for us, but many people do not want to have to go out and buy their herbs, which is where the idea of growing your own herb garden comes so perfectly into play. Starting your own herb garden certainly does not have to be difficult, but there are a few things that you are going to want to know before you get started so that you can have the most success with your garden.

Getting Started

The first step in starting an herb garden is to determine the site that you are going to have your garden in. Location is very important and this is because most herbs require specific conditions in order to grow to their tasty best. There are some herbs that require full days of sunlight to strive while others prefer filtered sunlight and moist growing conditions.

The next step is to decide what herbs are going to be best for you to plant. Whether you are using them for health purposes which is quite common these days, or just for cooking, take a few minutes and make out a list of the different herbs that you want to include in your garden. Make sure not to include too many, especially if this is your very first herb garden, because the last thing you want to do is take on too much all at once and overwhelm yourself.

Starting off small is always the best idea and then you can work up from here, adding to and increasing the size of your herb garden as you become more skilled and feel more comfortable.

Planting

Once you have decided on the herbs that you want to include in your garden and are ready to go, planting is going to be the next step. Make sure that you prepare the ground well in advance and remove any weeds from the area. Then you want to fork in some organic matter such as compost, making sure that the bed is level and ready to be planted in.

If you are using potted herbs then you want to make sure you are very careful when removing them from their container, as they are usually quite small and you do not want to break their stems or roots. If you are using seeds you will not have to worry so much but either way you need to make sure that you have the soil compacted snugly but not too tightly around each planting.

Starting a herb garden can be lots of fun, and not only that but you will be saving money by growing your own herbs as you will no longer have to worry about going out and buying them.

Proper Planting of Herb Seeds

published on April 7th, 2008 . by admin

Herbal medicine is quickly becoming incredibly popular around the world, and it is really no wonder why. After all, herbs are not only great for cooking but as well for medicinal purposes, and can either be used to treat a specific condition or ailment or just to improve one

Planning An Indoor Herb Garden Layout

published on April 4th, 2008 . by admin

General guidelines for planning an indoor herb garden are outlined in this article.

A herb garden is ideally suited to liven up the home and so you would do well to consider what it takes to create your own herb garden, and do what the rest of humanity has been doing for many thousands of years: use herbs to protect against germs, heal the self, use as perfumes, flavor food and act as disinfectant, and even use it as currency.

So, to reap all, or some of these benefits, you should consider growing them at home and thus should be aware of what an herb garden layout must incorporate. In fact, with a proper herb garden layout, you can grow fresh medicinal plants and if need be, also grow the herbs in an indoor herb garden. Such indoor herb gardens suit those who are constrained for space, or those who just want some greenery within their homes, and that too all year round.

Transform The Garden And The Home

A proper herb garden layout can transform your garden and also the interiors of the home, making them more vibrant, while at the same time not causing too much dirt or clutter. In addition, with an indoor herb garden, you get clean air within the home though you need to be committed to providing water and feed so that they can do their job which includes being a front line of defense against allergens and also dust.

All that a proper indoor herb garden layout needs is have a bit of space, and you can even use your kitchen

Peace and Health Through Herb Gardening

published on April 2nd, 2008 . by admin

Gardening in all its forms has long been reverd as a place for finding peaceful refuge. Herb gardening has the added benefit of producing beneficial medicinal plants for your own consumption.

Herb gardening is a very satisfactory pastime and can also promote better health for you and your family. You not only have a form of exercise and relaxation but you also manage to provide yourself with a healthy herbal alternative to unhealthy food and health remedies. You also have the satisfaction of knowing that the herbs you have are all home grown and organic.

Herbs are commonly used as health remedies and food additives to make food taste or smell better. Herbs are sometimes the leaves, flowers, stems, roots, bark and any other parts of the herbal plant that may be used. Herb gardening is a great way to start your past time as a gardener.

Tips For Herb Gardening

Having your very own compost heap or bin is a good way to start your herb gardening. Biodegradable dirt and other carbon based matter which can be used in the compost bin are usually added to several layers or soil. In a few weeks time, you will have yourself a nutrient rich compost pile which you can use during herb gardening. Herbs and the people who will use them will benefit greatly from organic compost and other organic ways to grow them.

Knowing which plants are great companion plants for your garden can also help your herb gardening experience and yield. Some plants get along well with each other while others do not. Some herbs and plants even grow better with specific companion plants beside them. It is better to first find out which plants go well with the herbs that you have chosen.

You can use containers to hold your herbs if you have limited space. Herb gardening need not be concentrated on wide open spaces and can be effectively done using pots and plant boxes within the house.

It is also a good idea to test the pH of your soil before you start herb gardening. You might need to add a little something to your soil to balance it out or you might really need to get a new kind of soil if you find out that the spoil you currently have is not suitable for planting herbs.

Setting Up Your Garden

If you have enough space to make a garden plot for herb gardening, you would be wise to start planning where the herbs you wish to grow would go. Some plants prefer direct sunlight and more water than others while others prefer sandy soil, etc. Consider the conditions of the area you want to do your herb gardening before starting.

How to Grow Your Own Herb Gardens

published on March 30th, 2008 . by admin

Sure you can head out to the supermarket every time you need to purchase herbs, but regardless of whether you are looking for herbs for cooking or medicinal purposes, you will find it a lot easier to grow your own herb gardens. Not only is planting herb gardens easy but you will end up saving yourself a great deal of money and hassle as a result.

If you are interested in starting your own herb gardens, there are a few basics that you will want to understand first.

General Information

Light is one of the most important aspects to any type of gardening, including herb gardens. Most herbs love to get full days of sunshine, eight hours or more if possible, and this is important because only with enough sunshine are the essential oils able to develop in the plants. It is these oils that enhance the flavor and the medicinal properties of the plants.

Using the proper soil in your herb gardens is also vital, and you need to make sure that the soil you are using is neither too acidic nor too alkaline. To prepare the soil before planting, you should cultivate it to a depth of about twelve inches and remove any shallow layers of topsoil before breaking up the subsoil.

The best idea here is to add peat moss and compost to the subsoil so that you will be supplying it with as many nutrients as possible, and then put back the topsoil that you previously removed, which you should also then combine with organic matter.

Drainage is critical in all herb gardens, as if your herbs are kept too dry or too moist they will not turn out right. If the soil in your gardens is not well drained then you may want to lay down underground drain tiles, especially if you are looking to go into major herb production.

Remember

Growing your own herb garden can really be a lot of fun and not only that but it is a reason to get outdoors and be active, and you will save money and time by growing and using your own herbs rather than having to go out to the supermarket and purchase them all the time.

If you use organic materials to grow your herbs then you will be doing yourself even more of a favor and can feel safe taking the herbs knowing that no harsh chemicals or byproducts were involved in their planting.

Guide to Herb Plants

published on March 28th, 2008 . by admin

Most herb plants come from Mediterranean regions and thrive in the heat and sun of summertime. Whether you are interested in growing herb plants or using them for cooking or health purposes, it is important to learn about the different herb plants and how they should be used.

Growing Herbs

If your goal is to grow herbs then there are a few tips you will want to take into consideration. For one herbs should always be given well drained soil and full sun, and you need to water them frequently in order to make sure that they get well established which usually only takes a few weeks. Once they are established you can water less frequently and regular pruning is also important.

Buying Herbs

If you are more interested in buying herb plants, for medicinal purposes for instance, then you want to know about the different herbs and what their primary uses are. St. John

Your Guide to Herbal Supplements

published on March 26th, 2008 . by admin

Herbal supplements have been used for ages but are now more popular than ever. People are constantly looking for new and more natural ways to improve their health, and turning to herbal supplements for this has shown to be incredibly effective. By using these supplements people are able to treat diseases and ailments and feel more generally healthy without having to turn to more conventional methods of treatment, namely pharmaceutical drugs.

Types of Herbs

When it comes to herbal supplements, there are literally hundreds of different herbs that you can choose to use, but a few in particular which are especially popular and which have proven to be incredibly effective.

One herb that is very commonly used in these herbal supplements is aloe vera. It is an herb which is grown in the southwestern region of the United States and is a member of the lily family. It offers a variety of benefits, including the treatment of wounds and burns, fighting infection, alleviating skin problems, and is great for healing the skin and reducing redness and itching.

Aloe vera herbal supplements are great because they are formulated under strict GMP compliance meaning that they contain only the highest quality, purest ingredients. They also contain synergistic blends of standardized herbal extract along with vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

Another popular herb used in herbal supplements is Ginkgo Biloba, which helps to improve memory and overall alertness, and research has also shown that the herb contains powerful antioxidants that help to fight the dangerous free radicals that may otherwise end up damaging cells and body tissues.

Ginkgo Biloba is also effective for lowering blood pressure and helping to improve circulation throughout the body. It can even help to dilate arteries, thereby reducing blood pressure.

In order to determine which particular herbal supplements are going to work best for you, it is important to first figure out exactly what the problems are that you are having and from here you will be able to decide what type of supplement is going to be best suited for relieving these problems. It is always a good idea to work with a nutritionist or better yet an herbalist, who is going to be able to explain more to you about the different herbs, their uses, and which they think would best help your particular condition.

Herbs have been around almost as long as mankind and the health benefits that they offer are truly astounding. Just as with conventional medicine however you need to make sure that you are cautious when taking herbs in any form, supplements or other, and that you are not putting yourself at risk.

Weighing the Benefits of Herbal Treatments

published on March 25th, 2008 . by admin

Even though the world of today is still largely focused around conventional forms of medicine for treatment, natural and alternative methods are quickly becoming incredibly popular. Herbal treatments in particular, which are not only effective but much safer than other methods, are definitely now coming more into focus and more people are realizing the advantages that they offer.

Herbs for health can be effective for a variety of health conditions, from mild to severe, and there are even some cases where a person was struggling with a particular health condition and although no forms of conventional medicine were able to help, herbal treatments proved to be successful.

Popular Herbal Treatments

There are literally thousands of different herbal treatments that you can choose from and even more that you could concoct on your own, but there are a few in particular which you are definitely going to want to become more familiar with.

Dandelion

Dandelion is one of the most popular herbs and one that is used in a number of different treatments. Dandelion really benefits the whole body, and the therapeutic actions of dandelion are believed to be due to taraxcin, various terpenoids, insulin, and its excellent nutritional profile. Dandelion is a rich source of vitamins and minerals including copper, potassium, zinc, manganese, sodium, and silicon.

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is another herb widely used in herbal treatments, and it is a perennial plant that is a member of the buttercup family. It is most commonly used to treat symptoms of menopause but can be used for a variety of other health conditions as well. More recently it has gained popularity as being a treatment for anxiety and depression and vaginal dryness, and has also been found to effectively relieve headaches, heart problems, and sleeplessness.

There are many other herbal treatments as well that you can use but before you start on any it is best to talk with an herbalist so you can be sure of what your problem actually is and therefore what treatment is going to work best for you. Because symptoms of some health conditions can be so general and generic, many people often confuse their symptoms as being associated with the wrong ailment and then end up using the wrong type of herb.

By taking the time to make yourself more educated on herbalism and the herbal treatments that are available you will be able to make more intelligent and informed decisions and increase your health and general well-being as much as possible.

Using Herbs to Improve Thinking

published on March 23rd, 2008 . by admin

Herbs can be used to improve cognitive function. This article explores some fundamentals of using herbs to improve thinking.

Some people consider herbs to be ideal for improving their memory though they do need more information regarding how fast they work and also the effects that you can expect, and whether there are any side effects to contend with. Of course, you would also be interested in knowing the price and it would pay to compare different medicinal plants so that you can choose the best herb to help you in improving your memory.

More Than Better Memory

In many cases, the effectiveness of each herb depends on the ways that the herbs can help improve your memory, and in the case of Gingko biloba, there is enhanced flow of blood to the brain and also better circulations in the body. In addition, Gingko biloba also does not allow cholesterol to turn to plaque and it will fight free radicals, and also bring about an improvement in the mood. Thus, there little doubts that Gingko biloba is the best herb that will do a lot more than simply improve your memory, and it should thus is your first option.

It is also believed that the brain requires as much as twenty percent of the oxygen that you have inside of you, and any drop in level of oxygen in the brain results in vertigo, dizziness as well as fatigue, and finally, loss of memory. Thus, using Gingko Biloba is believed to be your best bet since this herb does wonders for your memory and also reduces your fatigue that comes about because of not having enough oxygen in the brain.

There are more benefits to using Gingko Biloba because this herb helps to make your memory better and it contains as many as more than forty active substances, and among them, terpenoids and flavonoids are very important, because these two antioxidants will provide your immune system with a much needed boost and they also help fight free radicals.

Another herb that you could consider to improve your memory is Ginseng which is a booster and makes you feel more energetic, while also aiding the lessening of stress as well as levels of depression, which otherwise would have caused you to lose your memory (partially, at least). Even the herb known as Rosemary will help to improve your memory because it helps enhance your mental processes directly.

However, before you select your best herb to aid in improving your memory, do make it a point to apprise you of the contraindications and the majority of herbs are actually anti-coagulants, and thus must never are used in excess.

Using Herbal Skin Care Products to Avoid Harsh Chemicals

published on March 21st, 2008 . by admin

all heard the saying

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