Tag Archives: St. John’s wort

Adapt and Thrive

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As I look back over 2017, it was without a doubt an atypical year for our world, our country, and our home. The saying, “adapt or die,” comes to mind but it makes more sense to me if I reword it “adapt and thrive.” It tends to resonate better for me, although I do indeed respect the original saying.

There is no way I can digest and respond to what has been going on in our world right now, it is too over whelming to tackle but I can focus on a small piece of our lives. This year, I’ve had very little time to focus on the natural world and harvesting herbs except for a couple of moments I stole here and there. With that said, Mike created a wonderful little nursery at our new home for some of my plant allies to move into.  Although, they had a very late start, they do appear to be adapting to their new home and thriving beyond my expectations. Some are even to starting to flower in mid-October!

After I transplanted Arnica (Arnica spp.), it appeared to wither, so I decided to cut off the tops, hoping it would help it concentrate on establishing its roots. For a month, it looked dead, except for a little leaf here or there emerging from the soil. Now it appears that it has settled in and enjoys its new home. It is leafing out nicely, I would be surprised if it flowers this year, but I’m looking forward to it spreading out in 2018.

Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) seemed to make itself at home instantaneously. I didn’t have to provide much support except water during our dry periods.

Three years ago, I transplanted St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatumin) to my old garden. It didn’t come back until this spring, and it did robustly. I collected flowers daily until I moved some of it to our new nursery. It continued to send out flowers but I did not harvest any, allowing it to get acclimated to its new home. Well, it must like its new home, because it is now sending out fresh new aerial parts. I am mentally prepared to wait a couple of seasons before it revisits the nursery but hopeful that it will return next year.

When I moved to a little cottage in the woods in 1998, I became enamored with Spearmint (Mentha spicata). It was growing right outside my front door. After a summer of adding it to my water, sun tea and random dishes, I couldn’t imagine life without it. It really brightens up the day and I have been planting a little stem at each new home since. Spearmint is a rather vigorous plant, and you really don’t need much for it to get established. Perhaps it was not prudent to put it into our nursery as our little plant is really thriving, but we can always find it a new home on the land next year.

A dear friend gifted me Calendula (Calendula officinalis) seeds and although they had a very slow start, they are now sending out lots of lovely orange blossoms. I am hoping they self-seed next year.

Although the new house’s gardens had Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) already, I needed to bring some with me. I cut the aerial parts so it could concentrate on establishing roots. I am overwhelmed that it is already sending out flowers.

Mike was planting Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) seeds for his orchard garden, so I took a couple seedlings for the nursery. Besides its medicinal qualities, it’s a great asset to any garden, as its root secretions will activate the disease resistance of nearby plants; and it intensifies the medicinal actions of other herbs.

Mike also planted some Tulsi, a.k.a Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) seedlings that I transplanted into the garden, which has started to flower. I love how the bees’ pollen sacs are bright red from visiting the Tulsi.

Although, I didn’t have much time to spend with herbs this year, I am overwhelmed with their ability to thrive in our little nursery. I cannot wait to spend more time with them in 2018.

Making healing salves

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This past summer was a fabulous year for St. John’s Wort. Not only was it abundant, it kept blooming throughout the summer. So of course, I made St. John’s Wort infused oil. Today, I made St. John’s Wort healing salve. It is one of my favorite salves. It brings relief from nerve pain and has anti-inflammatory properties, which help cells regenerate.  After massaging the salve into a painful area, you feel relief within 10 minutes. I’ve used it on backaches, sore muscles, bruises, shingles and my son’s growing pains with wonderful results, it even reduces the pain my Mom experiences from neuropathy. I just love it!

Making a salve is very easy. All you need is herb infused oil, beeswax, vitamin e, Mason jar, saucepan, and a chopstick.wax melting in oil

Ingredients

6oz. Infused oil

1oz. Bees wax

Vitamin E capsule

  1. In a mason jar, add infused oil and beeswax. To facilitate wax melting, it is best to break into little pieces or grate it.

  2. Put jar in a saucepan with about 2 inches of water. Boil water. (double boiler method)

  3. Stir oil/wax as it is melting with chopstick.

  4. Once the wax has melted completely, check consistency by dipping a teaspoon into the mixture and place it in the freezer for one minute. If it is too soft, add more beeswax or too hard, add more oil.wax on spoon

  5. Once you have the right consistency remove from heat and add the contents of a vitamin e capsule (it helps preserve the salve) and stir into the oil/beeswax mixture.

  6. Immediately pour into small jar.jars of salve

  7. Label jar with plant name, oil, beeswax, vitamin e, date and uses.

Now you are all set when a sore muscle or strain presents itself.

All information is shared for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.