IT’s that time of year when there is not much growing outdoors to harvest, so I’m sending you to forage in your kitchen cupboards, to the greengrocer or the supermarket. The following herbs are often used in making stuffings, soups, sprinkled on roasted vegetables and of course as a side garnish. If you enjoy the flavour you can use a sprig in hot water as a herb tea on their own or mixed with other herbs.

Parsley – Petroselenium species

Parsley falls with many other herbs in the culinary group which can be called a nutraceutical, a highly medicinal food. In fact it could be said that all vegetables, fruit, herbs and spices used in food are medicinal in some way or another. It’s now becoming clear from scientific evidence and studies that the more plant based foods in your diet, minimally processed wholefoods, the better your health will be. Parsley plants can be bought to grow on your windowsill all year round, though may grow more slowly in the lower light levels of winter.
Parsley is exceptionally high in calcium, (120mg per 10g herb), potassium (380mg per 10g of herb), also good amounts of iron, vitamin C and magnesium. Strictly speaking it is unlikely to be found growing wild in this country, but it is very easy to grow indoors, or out in summer. It is also easily available dried.
Medicinal effects apart from the nutritional values are that it has a diuretic effect, so can help with fluid retention. High amounts are not needed, and should be avoided if on anti-coagulant medication (except for moderate amounts in food) as it does have a mild influence on coagulation of the blood.
The oils in the plant make it a very useful digestive, helping disperse trapped wind and colic and improving digestion generally which will improve absorption of nutrients from all your food.

Thyme – Thymus species

This herb is another that falls into the medicinal food category, and can be easily bought as a fresh herb most of the year, or as a windowsill pot herb or can be used dry. It is evergreen in the garden in sheltered spots, though does stop growing in winter outdoors, so don’t harvest too much or the plant may not recover. It does grow in the wild but usually in very small patches making harvesting questionable ethically.
Thyme contains 150mg of calcium per 10g of herb and good amounts of iron, magnesium and vitamin C.
This herb is highly antimicrobial and often used in a herbal dispensary within a cough medicine, or a tea for any respiratory complaints. Those benefits are also translated to the digestive system, and urinary system where the volatile oils have a beneficial effect on the gut microbiome and bladder, encouraging the healthy flora and inhibiting the pathogenic ones.
Externally it is useful for skin complaints such as fungal conditions, and can be used as our native replacement for tea-tree essential oil mixed in a cream or carrier oil to be applied to the skin (never neat) at a ratio of approximately 3 drops per teaspoon worth of cream or carrier oil such as grapeseed oil.
The winter solstice is on the 21st December with celebrations of the return of the light as the days will begin to lengthen again. Next issue we will be outdoors looking at the early spring plants.

Find out more about herbalism and Dawn at www.torbay-herbalist.co.uk

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SPRING is in full flow, a lovely time of year when there is hope and promise from the natural world.

Meadowsweet – Filipendula ulmaria
The creamy frothy flowers of Meadowsweet, with the sweet almond like fragrance are scenting the air and delighting the bees and other insects. According to history books, Meadowsweet was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth the first, as a strewing herb for its perfume, it would be used with other scented plants to scatter on the floors to help repel insects and hide unpleasant smells. This plant does prefer to grow with its roots in damp ground, but in fact will pretty much survive and grow in any wild area. As a herbal remedy, Meadowsweet is invaluable as an antacid for soothing the stomach. The leaves and/or flowers can be used to make a tea and sipped as needed. It has some pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties too, so is of particular help if someone has a headache alongside digestive complaints for instance. One of the constituents is salicin, the material origins (along with Willow bark) for modern synthesised aspirin. Care should be taken with this herb with any bleeding disorders, or anticoagulant medication. There are differing expert views on interactions with medication, but there is little doubt from studies that it does have some influence on platelet activating factor in the blood. Caution is always best.

Daisy – Bellis perennis
The common lawn daisy is much overlooked as a herbal remedy in modern times. The old English name for it was Bruisewort which lends a good description for its use. Some modern studies have shown it to be almost as effective as Arnica for relief of pain and bruise discomfort when used on the skin. To use daisies you can gather leaves, roots and/or flowers and either make a tea, with a handful of plant material to a pint of hot water. Leave to steep for at least ten minutes, covering the container to stop steam escaping. After straining, this liquid can be used as a wash for scrapes and grazes, or a plaster used by dipping a clean cloth in the liquid and placing on the area whilst still warm, cover with an old towel and keep in place for an hour or so. For preservation to enable availability out of season, you can make a tincture using either alcohol such as vodka, or cider vinegar, soaking the plant material for a couple of weeks, then straining and keeping the liquid in a sealed container out of sunlight. This will last until the next season at least. You can then dilute a tablespoon of this in warm water for use. Or you can include in a cream by mixing a teaspoon into a dessertspoon worth of cream. For information on making herbal salves, creams and lotions in depth information, I have written a book which is available soon. Details in the next issue. As always, take care, and if symptoms persist consult a professional. Be certain of your plant identification and mindful of our precious natural resources and only harvest a little, with the land owners permission

Find out more about herbalism and Dawn at www.torbay-herbalist.co.uk

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WHATEVER upheaval goes on in the human world, the seasons change and nature continues its own rhythms, which can be a great comfort when not much else around us feels normal.

Ranunculus ficaria – Lesser Celandine

As spring begins to show its first signs, hopeful shoots of green appear, and one of the first is the Lesser Celandine with its glorious shining bright yellow star shaped flowers. Its cheery presence rivals the dandelion in the fields and hedgerows and just seeing it lifts the mood in the knowledge spring is around the corner. The petals are glossy in the same way Buttercup (a close relative) petals are, but narrower and more pointed.

An old country name of this unassuming plant is Pilewort. The cluster of roots said to resemble haemorrhoids. This plant should not be taken internally. Traditionally the leaves and flowers were made into a poultice to treat piles. The astringent nature of the plant helps shrink tissues and is cooling to irritated skin, therefore also useful for varicose veins. Culpeper says in his Herbal that ‘the leaves bruised and boiled in hogs lard until they become crisp, then strained, afford a cooling ointment’. Herbal pharmacy methods are a little different today, but the principle remains the same. The whole plant including roots can be used for external use. After cleaning and drying well, the plant should be chopped and infused in any vegetable oil, this can be gently warmed for a couple of hours, or left cool to soak for a couple of days ensuring the plant matter is pressed down underneath the surface of the oil to avoid moulding. After straining off, this herbal oil can be used directly on the skin or blended into an ointment.

Urtica dioica – Nettle

This plant needs little introduction in our corner of the world. In Spring it is one of the first leafy plants to push up fresh green growth. The top 4 to 6 leaves make a very good herb tea, either fresh or can be gathered to dry for use later on. To dry nettle leaves, remove from the stalk and lay the leaves on paper in a warm airy place until crisp. Early Spring is a great time to gather nettles before they begin to get aphids. One of the most beneficial uses is to provide iron, vitamins A & C, calcium, magnesium, selenium, silica, zinc, and many other minerals.

Another common use is to reduce hayfever symptoms, best taken a couple of times daily starting a few weeks before the hayfever season, and throughout. Mild symptoms can be reduced very well, though other herbs might be needed if symptoms are more severe. (such as Elderflower and Plantago).

Nettle leaf commonly forms part of herbal treatment for chronic degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis. The minerals provide some nutrients, and there is an antiinflammatory benefit. A tea taken with food promotes digestion and calms irritation and bloating.

Easiest way to pick nettles without being stung? Get someone else to do it for you (wink) otherwise, use a bag or basket held open, long scissors and snip the top off to fall into the bag untouched.

• Find out more about herbalism and Dawn at www.torbay-herbalist. co.uk

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