Medicinal herbs in Sandhill’s Community garden:

Some of their many uses:

Catnip/catmint (Nepeta cateria)- Use leaves and flowering tops. Acts as a relaxant, sleepaid, treatment of anxiety and tension. Also a mosquito repellent. Infusion: make a tea with 2Tsp dried herb inboiling water, infuse 10-15 mins (covered). Drink 3 times daily.

Turmeric (Curcuma Ionga)- Use the root ground up in cooking. Anti-cancer, prevents tumour formation. Very strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, also used for arthritis.

Garlic (Allium sativum)- Use the bulb in cooking. Enhances the immune system. Used to treat coughs and colds.Helps you detoxify. Protects the heart. Strong antioxidant activity, anti-candida and chemo-protective.

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German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) Use the flowers. Make into a tea, calms the nerves, soothes anxiety, calms the digestive system, prepares

for sleep. Also used in skin beauty products.

Self heal (Prunella vulgaris)- is edible and medicinal, can be used in salads, soups, stews, or boiled as a pot herb. Used traditionally to heal many ailments including; fevers, diarrhoea, wounds, sore mouth and throat, internal bleeding, and weaknesses of the liver and heart.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)- Use the flowers. Topical treatment of burns and wounds, internal treatment of gastric ulcers and spasmodic conditions. Used in skin beauty products.

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Echinacea (Echinacea puporea/augistifolia)- Use root and aerial (top) parts. Very strong herb for the immune system.Used in treating and preventing infections, for eczema, bites and inflammation.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)- Use the leaves. Used in sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, fever, common cold and topically for herpes simplex (cold sores). Make a herbal tea from the leaves, cover for 10-15 mins before drinking.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)- Use the leaves and flowers. Calms the nerves, calms the heart in cardiac disorders (heart palpitations & tachycardia). Soothes the uterus, used to treat hyperthyroidism.

Brahmi (Bacopa monneria)- Use leaves and flowers. It’s the brain herb! Improves cognition, learning ability and memory! Eat small amounts of the leaves and stems (bitter). It’s a ground cover.

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Cayenne (chilli), (Capsicum annum)- Acts as a circulatory stimulant, builds up the ‘fire’ in the digestive system, used for pain relief. Eat the fruit! Spicy!

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)- Use the leaves and aerial parts. Use in cooking. Used to treat asthma, fever, respiratory tract infections and against the common cold.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)- Use the dried root. Is used to treat insomnia, depression, anxiety and nervousness. Caution if you get nightmares.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)- Use sprigs of the leaves. Is a memory and nervous system stimulant. Use in cooking or make a tea. Making a tea and pouring it (when luke warm) over the hair balances the oils in the scalp.

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Lavender (Lavendula officinalis)- Use the flowers. Has calming effects. Used to treat anxiety, nervous stomach, insomnia, insect bites (oil used topically) and for general calming.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)- Use the leaves. Digestive aid and used to treat nausea. Smell to calm headaches.

Paw Paw (Carica papaya)- Use the seeds of the fruit. Grind up and eat. Tastes like dirt. Anti-cancer action, used to help digestion (antacid) and clear intestinal parasites.

Aloe Vera (Aloe spp.)- Use the gel found in the leaves. Use topically for burns, sunburn, bites, skin conditions. Taken internally it is a laxative and soothes the intestines.

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Comfrey (Symphtum officinalis)- Leaves used externally to treat wounds, fractures, scar tissue, psoriasis and broken bones. Works very well. Bruise leaves and apply to skin. Has amazing internal healing properties though it is controversial to consume comfrey.

Ginkgo biloba- (Ginkgo biloba) Leaf used. Used to improve memory and attention, used to treat headaches, deafness, anxiety, depression, fatigue asthma and dizziness.

Anglelica (Angelia archangelica) - Use the roots and leaves medicinally. Soothes digestive system, stimulates appetite, used to treat coughs, fevers and colds. Also used in flavouring food and candies.

Herb Robert/Cranesbill (Geranium maculatum) Used for complaints of the digestive system, used for the complaints of the female reproductive system including heavy and mid cycle bleeding.

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Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)- Use the leaves and stems. Used to improve response to stress, reduce anxiety, improve mental function and memory. Improves healing of the skin, heals internal ulcers where stress is involved.

Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) Oil extracted from the seed is used medicinally. Used to treat skin disorders (acne, eczema, dermatitis..), used for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome, for women’s issues including PMS, endometriosis, migraine and breast cancer. Also used in alcohol withdrawal conditions, psychological disorders and heart conditions (high blood pressure, high cholesterol).

Globe artichoke (Cyanara scolymus) Leaf used medicinally. Used to treat liver complaints, stomach pain and irritable bowel syndrome.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Eat the root. Calms nausea, travel and morning sickness. Treats infections and colds, used in conditions of arthritis and poor circulation.

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Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) Use the above ground parts. Used to prevent the spread of infection. Treats bronchitis, asthma, coughs, colds, fever, used in cough syrups.

Purslane (Portulaca oleraceae) Use the leaves and stems. Used in salads and stir fries. Traditionally used to treat; scurvy, arthritis, skin conditions and to soothe the urinary system. Do not eat if pregnant (high oxalic acid levels).

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