The History, Use and Cultivation of Agrimony

Agrimony is a perennial herb that been used in many ways for many years. The stem of this herb is round, rough, dark green, and covered with hairs. The flowers are yellow and only about a half an inch across. This herb has five petals on its flowers, they are egg shaped, and they grow along a spike in an up and down manner. The leaves of the agrimony plant are quite big. These leaves are soft and usually vary in size from 8 inches to 4 inches. These plants grow to about 5 feet in height and the flower from the middle to the end of the summer. This plant is originally native to Europe, but it is "now common in the United States and in parts of Asia" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.3).

Agrimony has been used for many purposes, and it had medicinal qualities that should be noted, but in the past it has been used in ways that may seem absurd. Agrimony was used in an old remedy for "internal hemorrhages" where they would combine the herb with "pounded frogs and a little human blood" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.3). This method seems strange, and I am unaware of its actual healing ability. In ancient Greece this herb was used for eye problems, and up until the late 1800's agrimony was used to treat fever, rheumatism, digestive problems, coughs, and soar throats. (Kowalchik, 1987)It was also rumored to help with sleeping problems, but it seems that agrimony does not have any sedative properties.

This herb is taken commonly as a tea. Agrimony has "astringent properties" which are known to help internal bleeding, sore throats, and skin problems (Kowalchik, 1987,p 4). It can be gargled with or made into a poultice for external skin problems. It is helpful for those who have the flu or a cold, and it is a good additive to lotions for the skin. This plant is safe and very useful.

Agrimony can be started form seed, and it is a plant that will reseed itself once it has become strong. It likes light shade, and dry soil. It is not a very showy plant, but it does make a nice addition to a fence or a rock garden. Its high growing spikes give dimension to many gardens, and its medicinal properties make it relevant to grow. Agrimony can also be used to make a bright yellow dye. Its leaves and stems are best for dying if harvested in the fall.

This plant has lovely flowers and medicinal properties, and it deserves a place in your garden.

Reference:

Kowalchik, C. (Ed.). (1987). Rodale's encyclopedia of herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale.

The History, Use and Cultivation of Aconite

 

Aconite is a beautiful flower with a strong history. It is a perennial with a "smooth, round, and leafy stem" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.1). The flowers of the aconite are a purplish blue in color, and it bears 5 petals in the late summer and fall. The flowers are slightly bell shaped. This plant is located in "the mountains of France, Switzerland, and Germany," and it is "widely cultivated in Europe and North America" (Kowalchick, 1987, p.1). These plants are lovely, but they are also poisonous.

Aconite is very prevalent in Greek mythology. It is said that the plant became poisonous because it "grew on the hill of Aconitus," and this hill is where "Cerberus, the three headed dog that guards the gates to hell" fought with Hercules; it is said that saliva fell from the dogs mouth onto the plant causing it to be deadly (Kowalchik, 1987, p.1). Aconite seems to have been a choice plant for poisoning people in Greek mythology as well. "Hectate" was said to have used this plant to poison her father, and "Medea" also poisoned "Theseus" with this deadly plant (Kowalchik, 1987, p.1). This plants poison is very toxic.

This plant is harmful, and has been used by many different groups for medicinal purposes, but I believe this plant is best left for show. Witches in the middle ages would mix the poison from this plant with belladonna, which is another poisonous plant, to create a potion for flying. I believe that their reaction to this mixture made them hallucinate and believe they were flying, but too much would surely kill them.

Aconite is a powerful plant, and although Chinese herbalists believe in the benefits of this plant, I believe it is too dangerous to be meddled with. This plant will cause "the heart to slow, decrease in blood pressure, and sweating;" it is also used topically as a pain reliever because when applied it is "absorbed into the skin and produces a warm and tingling sensation followed by numbness" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.2). This is dangerous because such a tiny amount of this plant will cause poisoning.

Although this plant is deadly it does make a beautiful addition to your garden It can be grown from seed and sown in April. It is a hardy plant, but it takes 2 to 3 years to flower. The best method of propagation for Aconite is through the roots. Every four years dig up the plant and break off the small roots that have grown around the old root. Plant these baby roots about a foot and a half away from the mother.

This plant is lovely, but be aware of its chemical properties. It can harm and even kill you if absorbed internally or by the skin.

Reference:
Kowalchik, C. (Ed.). (1987). Rodale's encyclopedia of herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale.

The History, Use and Cultivation of Aloe

 

Aloe is a well known plant with many well known uses, but many people do not know the history of this plant or the cultivation methods required to grow this plant. In this article I will discuss the history, uses and methods of cultivation of the widely known and used Aloe plant

Aloe has been used for thousands of years. In fact the "Greek historian Dioscorides recorded the use of alo as a healing herb 2,000 years ago" ( Kowalchik, 1987, p.5). Even thousands of years ago this plant was used to help heal wounds, and the gel was applied externally for healing purposes. It is also historically said that "Alexander the Great conquered Madagascar so that his army would have a good supply of the herb for healing their wounds" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.5). Cleopatra was said to have "massaged fresh aloe gel into her skin everyday to preserve her beauty", and the wife of Napoleon "used a lotion prepared from milk and aloe gel for her complexion" (Kowalchik, 1987,p.7). Aloe has been known for along time as a healing plant.

Aloe is a miracle skin healing plant, and both doctors and folklorists agree on its powers. It is a major component in many lotions and skin care creams. It is a healing agent for burns, wounds, insect bites, and poison ivy. It is also scientifically said to " have anesthetic, antibacterial, and tissue restorative properities, " and if applied soon enough most wounds will heal without a scar or loss of pigmentation (Kowalchik, 1987, p.5). Aloe is also used for oily skin and dandruff. This amazing plant is used for the gel contained inside its leaves, and although it is added to may products its properties are best used fresh because they wear off with storage.

Aloe is a great herb to have on hand at all times, and it is a perennial, but due to its need for warmth many people grow it in a container so it can be brought inside for the winter. Aloe enjoys soil that contains "limestone", and it loves drainage so add some rocks or "coarse material" to your soil (Kowalchik, 1987, p.7). Aloe enjoys full sun, but they can also take some partial shade, but remember if the plant is in full sun all day it may need extra water to compensate. In the winter allow the dirt to become very dry before watering the aloe plant. Aloe plants also like crowded roots so repotting them is not necessary. Remember that the older leaves grow on the outside of the plant so when harvesting the gel leave the middle leaves alone.

This plant is a necessary herb, and it will help you in many ways. It is easy to take care of and grows hardily.

Reference:

Kowalchik, C. (Ed.). (1987). Rodale's encyclopedia of herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale.

Have it all: Organizing Clothes for Success and Quick Everyday Use

So in life's quest to have my cake and eat it too, there are a lot of challenges, triumphs, and missteps. One of the challenges I am faced with is getting rid of stuff, cleaning, and organizing.  In order to cut down on my clutter and chaos I have been weeding through my clothes.

I am not a shopper, but I am that person that people give big bags of clothes to. I am also the person who holds on to clothes that have been in need of disregard for way too long and has a problem keeping paint and glue off of my everyday wardrobe.

After reading a couple articles about how successful people wear the same outfit  or suit to work everyday,I had an idea. I don't want to wear the same thing to work everyday; I love color and fashion, but I don't want to think about what to wear either.

So I decided to bring some order to my wardrobe while also making things less complicated with this system.

1 drawer for work clothes; so pretty much anything with paint, glue, or glitter stains go in that drawer. 1

1 drawer for good clothes, anything presentable enough to not get a frown from my mom when she sees it =) (love you mom).

3 small drawers sectioned off with cardboard for undies, bras, socks,and other random girly stuff.

This way I do not thrown on a good shirt and then go paint a unicorn horn, and I do not have to do more than pick a top and bottom out of the appropriate drawer and be on my way.

This has helped me weed out a lot of things I don't wear by leaving me with some stuff that are not appropriate for either drawer. The things that ended up in this pile are things that don't fit, things that are ripped or stained, and things that just need to go in the trash.

So I tossed the garbage, donated and gave away the stuff that didn't fit, and separated the ripped and stained stuff into 2 piles. One for tie dyeing and one for making reconstructed clothing with. So I can get rid of stuff, but still give myself an excuse to be crafty and keep some stuff too.

Speaking of being crafty check out this post about recycling your stained clothes with tie dye and the 2 reason rule!

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