Herbal Remedies for Stress

I've been working on my 'Herb Bed Harvest' data so I can keep track of when to harvest my medicinal and culinary herbs. As I read and write, I keep running across herbs that are good for anxiety, nervousness and stress. This makes me think of the things happening in the world that are adding to our uneasiness. So, even though I have not tried these remedies, I wanted to share this information with you.

In no particular order, here are some herbs you may find of interest.

• Catnip - infusion from dried leaves can be used for a digestive aid, tonic, sleeping aid, a mild nightcap; not for pregnant women
• Chamomile - infusion for insomnia
• Basil - infusion of dried leaves for nervous headaches, anxiety
• Hops - make a sachet of dried herbs and put inside your pillowcase or infusion before bedtime for stress, anxiety, tension and headaches
• Lemon Balm -  infusion for anxiety, depression, tension, restlessness, irritability
• Valerian - roots used for chronic anxiety, insomnia, nervous exhaustion, premenstrual tension
• Oats - have many benefits and are good for depression, stress, nervous disorders
• Pumpkin seeds - high quantities of zinc, iron, calcium, B vitamins, proteins which help with brain functions and help deal with stress
  

There are many other herbal remedies that are indicated for stress, nervous tension and insomnia, but I wanted to stick with some basic, mostly familiar choices. I find if I try to branch out too far, I don't get anywhere. If you try to do too much at one time, you can get overwhelmed real quick. So, here is some very basic information that can form a foundation for further research and experimentation.

Planting chamomile

Catnip

Out of the plants I have listed, we have recently planted catnip and chamomile. We have used chamomile tea for years, but now we hope to grow our own. Catnip will be a new herb on our shelf.

Basil 2013

Lemon Balm 2014

We started basil and lemon balm last year. This will be our first year to harvest the lemon balm and the basil has yet to come up again.

Cushaw squash 2013

We don't grow oats or pumpkins, but we do grow other winter squashes. I know the goats and chickens will eat the seeds and we have roasted pumpkin seeds before. I haven't really thought of them as something I should consciously keep. This year I will share them with the animals, but keep some for us as well.

I started growing hops a couple of years ago. Then when we tore down the old shed, it had to move into a pot on the porch for a while. I have decided where it's new home will be, but it hasn't moved there yet. Most folks ask why I grow it, to make beer? No, for it's sedative properties. I know that times will get hard, and would like to have something available to help us weather those times a little easier.

I hope this gives you something to think about. What can you do naturally to decrease the stress of your family? What can you provide that is sustainable? When life becomes a matter of survival, having a few things on hand to help everyone relax a little may be a life saver. I don't think any of these remedies will come anywhere close to replacing prescription medications some folks take on a regular basis. But if a time comes where prescription medications are no longer available, or there is a long-term disruption of availability, some of these simple herbs may help in some small way.

Before you use any herbal remedies, you need to do your own research and form your own conclusions. This information is in no way a replacement for needed medical attention. Peaches are very good for you, but the pit can kill you. If you choose to add herbs to your medicine chest, do so with good common sense and a solid base of information. It's something to think about.

Until next time - Fern

September Garden Update

By this time of year the garden usually looks rather sad. Most of the hot weather plants are starting to wind down and none of them are getting the attention they got in the spring when the excitement of planting and growing is at it's peak for me. I find it easy in August and September to let some things go in the garden because it is so hot. This is the first year we have actually gotten a few fall crops planted even though we have talked about it for years. 

Shortly after we started the seedlings, the temperatures inched up into triple digits and made it difficult to keep them going. The winter squashes are happy with all of the heat, but the carrots, broccoli, cabbage, beets and snap peas aren't at all happy. 

 

 

Only the pumpkins,                                                winter squash, 

                                                    beets 

Snap peas

and snap peas made it into the garden. It was cooler when I planted the snap peas and they were happy, started growing and even started blooming. Then we made it up to 105 degrees and they put the brakes on and started drooping. Maybe the fall temperatures will bring them back around. 

Mangel beets

The beets started growing as well, but the grasshoppers really liked the small seedlings, then along came the dog and dug up a few, then the kittens thought it would be fun to dig up a few more.

Pretty Girl

Our small row of sugar beets dwindled to only a few plants. If they continue to grow we can at least see how they do and see if we can grow a much larger patch next year.

Potatoes among the weeds

The potatoes we experimented with are few and far between, and the weeds are prolific, but maybe we will get enough to use as seed potatoes for spring. 




 

Melons

The melons won't be big enough to produce before fall. I should have started them much, much earlier. I just thought I would give a few a try while I was planting the winter squash. 

Cushaw

Buttercup

Acorn

Winter squashes

Besides a few squash vine borers which I think the assassin bugs took care of, the cushaw, acorn and buttercup winter squashes are going great guns. I am hopeful that we will get a good harvest to store and experiment with canning. 

Pumpkins

I'm not too sure about the pumpkins. They are much slower than the winter squashes to produce even though we put them in a much more fertile area than the others. Maybe that is the problem, I don't know.

We are still picking some okra,  

green beans, (even though the grasshoppers have really taken a liking to the vines)

peppers 

 











and tomatoes.

The yellow summer squashes have pretty much died down. 

 
The lima beans, once again, have beautiful vines but only 
a few flat pods with no beans. This is the third year I have planted lima beans - all in different locations with varying amounts of nitrogen, and three different varieties. So I have come to the conclusion that lima beans just don't produce here and will go on to other vegetables that I know produce well. 

 





We are still getting some purple hull peas, but they have been rather neglected too. 

It will be interesting to see how the sweet potatoes have done when we  dig them up. I think I will try digging up a few plants in a couple of weeks. The books say 100-140 days, and I figure the end of September will be about 120 days. Besides that, I am curious to see what's under all those vines.

The first average frost date here is October 31st, so we still have about 6 more weeks of growing season left. I think when the first frost comes I will experiment with my frost cloth again and see if I can keep some of the garden going, especially the winter squashes. We like them and the chickens and goats do too. We are ready for cooler weather. It was still 98 degrees today. 

It will be interesting to see how much more we can harvest this year. We have learned so much and gotten to eat some really good food. And one of the best parts is yet to come - winter. When we can go look on the shelf at all of the things we have put up, and eat some more really good food.

Until next time - Fern