T.H.C Dictionary | Tree Hugger Clothing

Catnip, not just for cats

February 20, 2010 ed No comments

Catnip has a popular reputation for modifying feline’s brain chemistry. The herb falls into the family of Lamiaceae. Catnip has also been called catnep and catmint (for it’s minty smell). What some people don’t know about catnip is that it is not just used to intoxicate cats, humans can very well take advantage of it’s effects as well.

Catnip is a stimulant for cats, but surprisingly is a mild sedative for humans. Catnip is becoming more widely used throughout the world for many things including insomnia, colds, flu and upset stomach. When taking the herb in large quantities, it works as a mild laxative.

The herb can be prepared in a number of ways; as a tea, as a powder inside a capsule and even by steam distillation. When using the plant, it is best to use the leaves.

Catnip also has a very interesting property, insect repellent. Studies have shown that when catnip as an essential oil, repels ten times more mosquitoes than DEET. Today, more companies are incorporating catnip into their relaxant and anti-stress teas.

About 2/3 of cats are suspectible to catnip, when they smell the plant, they may roll in it, chew it, paw at it and some even eat it. It can cause a cat to be very aggressive when it is exposed to large quantities of the plant.

Aloe

February 14, 2010 Sarah No comments

Natural Aloe plants.

Both the Greeks and Egyptians knew the medical and cosmetic values of aloe juices. It is believed to be used by Cleopatra to keep her complexion clear and soft. Aloe or aloe vera, is a herbal plant that grows wild in the tropics, mostly in South America and Africa. Now a days it is grown all over the world and is a common household plant.

This is an evergreen, with a fleshy like, spiny leaves which circles a single stem up the middle. The flower, which grows on slender spikes, are yellow or red, and droop slightly when fully open. The flower blooms all year round, but only in there native habitat. The leaves are filled with a yellow juice which is very bitter-tasting. The juice is normally extracted from two to three year old plants, and then used in medicines and cosmetics.

When caring for this plant it is important to not water it to much, in the summer months the plant will need to be watered more frequently do to heat. In summer the plant can be places outside, but if it is to hot the plant will began to die. In the winter months watering is needed less, or the leaves will begin to become mush-like.

Medical Uses

Painting figure with aloe is a great way to prevent biting of the nails.
Aloe is a well known purgative, though because of it’s bitter taste it would be best to mix this other ingredients before ingesting.
Aloe is a soothing and healing gel, disinfectant and astringent when used externally. It helps to keep skin healthy by stimulating circulation and promoting the growth of new tissue.
Aloe Vera leaves are often split open and the jell-like substance is often used for instant relief for minor cuts, scrap, burns, insect bikes, and sunburns. Be sure not to use the green part or skin of the leaves which can often be an irritant to the skin.

Aloe in beauty
Aloe can remove dead skin cells and stimulate circulation of the skin, this will give the skin a younger fresher look. It will also Clear away blemishes, reduce wrinkles, and protect skin from infection. Aloe can also be used in shampoos to help dry, brittle hair.

Agrimony

February 14, 2010 Sarah 1 Comment

An Agrimony plant in wild

In the time of ancient Greece this herb was believed to have magical healing powers. Later it was added to mixtures of herbs that were used to heal wounds and even snake bites.

This herb is a perennial that grows on waste lands, country lanes and hedgerows. This herb often grows to be about three feet high with stiff spikes of yellow flowers.This herb flowers twice in a season, once in the summer and once in the autumn, after the flowers die, they drop to the ground leaving a woody burr that contains the seeds. These seeds or burrs attach themselves to clothing or the fur of passing animals in order to spread there seed across large areas. The leaves are made up of coarsely toothed leaflets growing up a thick stem, the whole plant has fine hairs covering it. This plant is not a plant that is normally grown in herbal gardens because the seeds have a bad germination rate. They are easily found int he wild however.

The flowers and leaves are mainly what is used in herbal medicine. To dry you must gather the flowers before the seeds have formed, and the leaves must be picked anytime before the flowers bloom. Fresh leaves can be used for external uses.

Medical Uses
This is a good herb to use for chest colds and coughs, though it should not be taken by anyone that has a problem with constipation.

Agrimony can also be used to treat athlete’s foot and other fungicidal infections of the feet.

A double strength infusion can also be used to help strained and sprained muscles.

Infusion

Pour 2 cups of boiling water over a handful of dried agrimony and allow to cool. Stain and take a glassful when ever needed. For external use soak body part in infusion, one to two times daily. If the use if for infected feet then be sure to take a sponge and wash each part of the foot and in between toes, as well as drying those areas well when finished. 2 handfuls of herbs are needed for sore muscles.