By Vicki Abrams Motz People have had a relationship with herbs for thousands of years. They are consumed as food or flavoring and act as normalizers supporting natural health.  They are also consumed or used topically as medicines. Plants like echinacea have many chemicals which work synergistically to support the immune system and help fight infections. Plants like foxglove have specific constituents which act intensely and are used specifically (in this case for the effect of digoxin in treating heart conditions). In all parts of the world, indigenous populations take advantage of the l ..read more

By Taylor Cammack I first saw Eryngium yuccifolium Michx.—a.k.a rattlesnake master, button eryngo, or button snakeroot—planted at the Gene Leahy Mall, a park in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. A unique pollinator plant that really stands out in the bed, this native medicinal plant is a great addition to any herb garden. Historically, rattlesnake master has been used as a diuretic, diaphoretic (inducing sweating), expectorant, and, in large doses, an emetic (inducing vomiting) (King, 1905). This perennial grows in midwestern prairies, savannas, swamps, and open woods across 23 states, from Florida to ..read more

By Maryann Readal Dill, Anethum graveolens, has been grown and used for thousands of years. Dill is a native of the Mediterranean area and is an important part of northern European cuisines. It is an annual herb that will reseed if it likes where it is growing, and is one of the first herbs to appear in the spring garden. The foliage, often referred to as “dillweed,” is a tasty addition to fish, chicken, eggs, cucumber, and potato dishes. The yellow flowers that form on top of 2-3 foot stems appear in clusters which then become the seeds. The seeds are ready to harvest when brown and are used ..read more

By Chrissy Moore A few years ago, the National Herb Garden installed a display called “Beer Garden: Beer Like You’ve Never Seen It Before.” This seasonal planting highlighted many plants used in the entire beer-making industry, not just for the beer itself. One of the plants we included was Quercus suber, the cork oak. This fascinating evergreen tree, though widely used around the world, is rarely mentioned in the herb world. So, I decided it was time to pop open the story of this arboricultural workhorse. Cork oak is a western Mediterranean staple, not just because that’s its native range, bu ..read more

by Joe Hughes Many are familiar with the myriad of health benefits of using tea tree oil, but have you ever thought about how and why this Australian herb has ended up in small glass bottles on drug store shelves across the country? With benefits ranging from antifungal properties to aromatherapy, tea tree oil has become a staple of skincare, haircare, and naturopathic medicine in the 21st century. Despite its ubiquity in Walgreens and CVS, tea tree oil has a long, and sometimes murky, backstory of production and distribution that begins in its native ranges of Australia.  There are many ..read more

By Maria Noël Groves, RH(AHG) Quality, regular sleep forms the foundation of our health and wellbeing, but what do you do if you’re trying to prioritize bedtime yet can’t get quality sleep? At least one third of Americans don’t get enough sleep – double that if you’re pregnant, postpartum, the parent of a young child or are going through perimenopause or surgical menopause. So many things can disrupt our sleep including blood sugar roller coasters, reproductive hormone fluctuations, stress, and sleep apnea. Many of these situations trigger a surge of cortisol or other stress hormone that wakes ..read more

By Maryann Readal Cilantro (Coriandrum sativuum) is an herb that elicits strong feelings of like or dislike. Those who like the herb appreciate its sagey-lemony flavor. Those who do not like it say that it tastes like soap or chemicals. Dr. Vyas of the Cleveland Clinic explains that “those who dislike cilantro tend to have a gene that detects the aldehyde part of cilantro as a soapy smell and taste” (Cleveland Clinic, 2020). These are the people who do not relish the taste of cilantro in their food. There appears to be little middle ground for appreciating the taste of cilantro. The ..read more

By Henry Flowers Capsicum frutescens ‘Tabasco’ As someone with a love of horticulture, I wish that I had studied Latin in high school. It is such an integral part of knowing plants well. Instead, I studied Spanish, which has been useful as I work in the landscape industry in the South and am able to put it to use on a daily basis. Yet, it is never too late to learn something new. I’ll probably never get into Latin conjugations or reading texts in Latin, but learning a bit of the vocabulary is very helpful and, to me, very interesting. Thus, I’m writing a series of articles on Latin words and ..read more

By Beth Schreibman Gehring In the heart of midwinter, when the world outside is hushed and still, a unique and enchanting rhythm emerges as we gently transition towards spring. It’s a time to draw our loved ones close, relish the warmth and comfort of home, and eagerly anticipate the bloom of a new season. Inspired by the indoor gardening adventures I’m sharing with my new grandson, I invite you to experience the essence of this magical season as we explore cozy traditions and heartwarming moments that make it truly special. Last week, our garden expedition revealed shoots of snowdrops and daf ..read more

Janice Cox  Yarrow is a popular perennial herb that can be found in many gardens, mine included. It is known as a powerful “healing” herb. It’s also a fantastic landscape plant, culinary ingredient, and can be a key ingredient in anti-aging and healing body care products.  I have my yarrow planted along my driveway. I call it my “protector” plant as it keeps deer and rabbits out of my yard. They do not like the scent or bitter tasting leaves. It also helps as a ground cover, keeping weeds out and my yard in bloom. Yarrow comes in a wide range of colors from creamy ..read more