HERB - Top Ten (LONG!)

[C. Everett-Baskett]

>  What would be the top
>> ten herbs that you would keep for medicinal purposes and why??


Don't forget Thyme,  a wonderful healing herb!  Here's a quote from
PREVENTION'S Healthy Ideas:

Thyme: ace antiseptic

Fast facts: kills bacteria and fungi, loosens phlegm, relieves coughs

Thyme has a centuries-long history of use, in both the pharmacy and
kitchen. This fragrant, ground-hugging shrub was grown in monastery gardens
in southern France and in Spain and Italy during the Middle Ages for use as
a cough remedy, digestive aid and  treatment for intestinal parasites.

These days sprigs of its pungent, minty leaves are mandatory in a bouquet
garni -- the mixture of seasonings used to spice up just about every French
food from soup to salad. And it's still being used medicinally. A solution
of thyme's most active ingredient, thymol, is used in such over-the-counter
products as Listerine mouthwash and Vicks VapoRub. "Thymol is added to
these products because of its well-known antibacterial and antifungal
properties," explains Brian M. Lawrence, Ph.D., a research scientist and
editor of the Journal of Essential Oil Research.  Thymol apparently also
has a therapeutic effect on the lungs. "The oil from the leaves of this
plant, when ingested or inhaled, helps to loosen phlegm and relax the
muscles in the respiratory tract," explains Norman R. Farnsworth, Ph.D.,
director of the Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical
Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

In Germany, where herbal medicine is considerably more mainstream than it
is in the United States, concoctions of thyme are frequently prescribed for
coughs, including those resulting from whooping cough, bronchitis and
emphysema. In the United States, thyme extract was included in a popular
cough syrup, Pertussin, that is no longer on the market. "These days, you
are most likely to find thyme in 'cold formula' herbal teas or  remedies
for coughs that are distributed by small companies and sold at health food
stores," Dr. Farnsworth says.

Taking thyme
To use thyme safely and effectively, brew a tea or infusion. Use two
teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water and steep for ten minutes.
The Food and Drug Administration includes thyme on its list of herbs
generally regarded as safe.  As with many herbs, though, too large a dose
may produce intestinal problems. If you experience diarrhea or bloating,
cut back on the amount you're using or discontinue use altogether. And make
sure you take thyme as tea, not as oil. Undiluted thyme oil can be toxic,
causing headache, nausea, vomiting and weakness, as well as thyroid, heart
and lung problems.

This is one of my favorite herbs, can't you tell!
In service,
Gwynneth



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