Medicinal and aromatic herbs and plants

Herbs are great plants, as they have so many uses.

Although most herbs are aromatic they can easy be used for cooking and medicinal purposes, but sometimes the aroma is all you need. All of aromatic herbs have essential oils that are used in aromatherapy, but sometimes just having a walk through the garden, inhaling all of the fresh scents from your own aromatic garden is therapy too! We can grow some of these  herbs in our yard or in pots and use them when it needs. 

Since antiquity, Greeks were using aromatic plants for their healing attributes and for their nutritional value.

Nowadays, international industry are using the aromatic plants for the production of cosmetics, medicines and foods. Greeks, throughout the country enjoy the therapeutic benefits of a variety of herbs: Chamomile, lime, sage, mountain tea, mint, spearmint, thyme, fennel, aniseed, lavender and oregano existed- and still exist until our days. 

                               Herbs in our life !

Since antiquity, Greeks were using aromatic plants for their healing attributes and for their nutritional value. 

Hippocrates, the Greek physician and “father of medicine”, advocated that the  use of herbs, fresh air, exercise, and good diet could restore the balance of an ill health .

Nowadays,  herbs are still part of the healing tradition of Europe and North America. Despite the use of sophisticated drugs to cure disease, many people still make use of traditional plant remedies.

The international industry are using the aromatic plants for the production of cosmetics, medicines and foods and people in all  countries enjoy the therapeutic benefits of a variety of herbs: Chamomile,  sage, mountain tea, mint, spearmint, thyme, fennel, aniseed, lavender ,oregano and lot of other herbs .

With a return to traditional values, more and more people are reverting to natural products in their daily lives and rediscovering therapies that spring from the depths of time.

                                by Ann Magkiosi 

                                                 Project coordinator

 Discussing on what people were dealing with (sickness, poverty, war, climatic conditions more wild winter, etc.

Children learned  that in the past people used lot of herbs because there had not so many medicines like today.

People in the past used the herbs for many types of sickness and grandmothers still can give some useful advises !

Today we still use herbs, so let's learn what have inside the  grandmother's cupboard and what kind of advices can she give us!

Levander!

            Lavender is considered the best "medicine" for:

                  insect bites, insomnia and headaches.

Its healing properties are due to the fact that lavender is a powerful antiseptic and has a strong soothing effect.

Grandma's tips

For insect bites, dissolve a few drops of lavender essential oil 

in a little water and apply on the skin. 

To relax and sleep, dissolve a few drops of lavender essential oil

 in warm water and inhale the steam.

Do you have a headache? Gently massage to your temples with lavender essential oil and you will be relieved immediately.

     Thyme

The best "medicine" for: indigestion, cough and skin diseases.

Thyme contains plenty of thymol, a substance that helps a lot in the digestion of fatty foods. It is also considered a powerful antispasmodic, so it fights whooping cough and softens the throat. Finally, it has a strong antiseptic and bactericidal action, so it is particularly effective in skin diseases and especially in the "athlete's foot"

How to use it: To "sweeten" your sore throat, the best solution is to chew a little Thyme to gargle with its decoction. To "break" the dandelion, add 2-3 tablespoons of honey. If you want to enjoy a sober sleep, place 2-3 Thyme branches under your pillow.

                                      Chamomile

 A cup of chamomile before a meal to whet the appetite. It helps to sleep and calms headaches, aching teeth and ribs.

Fights colds and soothes sore throat and stomach pain.

The extract of chamomile makes a perfect lotion for facial cleansing and the sensitive  skin of babies ,and gives vivid highlights in blond hair.

Also compresses with chamomile, soothes the inflammation of the eyelids.

Salvia 

La Salvia

Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties.

Due to its balsamic qualities it is also used to counteract all diseases of the respiratory system, especially coughs.

Sage in a curative way can be taken as an infusion or herbal tea.

Melissa

Lemon balm falls into the category of healing herbs and is famous for its calming and relaxing properties.

It mainly germinates in meadows, especially on damp soils. The leaves of lemon balm are the edible part and are mainly used in omelettes, salads or fruit salads. Lemon balm is known to be an effective anti viral due to the polysaccharides present in it.

It is useful against stress and in those suffering from sleep disorders. In addition, this plant is also recommended for people who somatise gastrointestinal anxiety.

                                                      Rosemary

truly remarkable aromatic plant, with its small needles rich in beneficial essential oils.The active ingredients of rosemary have a very high antioxidant power and are able to block many types of harmful free radicals. As an infusion or decoction it is excellent for purifying the liver, and as an herbal tea it is an excellent tonic and digestive.It can also be used to calm abdominal spasms and bloating; thanks to a powerful balsamic it is indicated to counter cough, cold and fever; therefore very useful in winter against seasonal ailments.

Rosemary essential oil restores strength and energy to the body and according to some "old grandmother's remedies" the infusion would also have a certain aphrodisiac power. Used on the hair, it stimulates its regrowth and prevents premature baldness and alopecia.

Wild Rose

Wilde Rose 

 Fruit of a wild rose are used medicinally. Vitamin wealth makes rose hips as a great resource of strengthening. It contains vitamin C that is better absorbed in contrast to that in a synthetic form. Processed fruits of wild rose beneficially affect  liver, digestion, heart accelerate, wound healing and enhance the appearance of the skin, act slightly diuretic and cholagogue.

Grandmother's tips: 

We can use them in the kitchen for the production of jams,  confitures, teas, even wine.

Wild Rose jam

 Use: the same quantities of fruit and water. Boil for 1-2h. When the fruit are soft add 300 g of sugar and 2 table spoons of lemon juice . Boil for more 2-3 h constantly mixing. 

Elderberry

Elderberry 

Elderberry is a medicinal plant. Its valuable properties were used in ancient times. In natural medicine fruits and flowers are used. The flowers revealed the presence of flavonoids, contain essential oils, minerals, tannins, organic acids and compounds napotnych and the fruit large amounts of vitamins (B, C), carotenoids, anthocyanins. 

Grandmother's tip:

From flowers we can make very tasty and effective caugh syrup.

Use: 1kg of sugar, 1l of boiling water, 4 lemons with skin, 20-40 bunches of flowers.  

Ewerything mix and boil all together. Leave for 3 days to cool. Strain the liquid and pour to small jars. Pasteurise for 15 minutes.

 After cooling is ready to drink!

Mint

Mint 

Peppermint and mint have a number of properties which help us with specific medical illnesses. Mint contains essential oil, whit menthol, menthone, tannins, flavonoids, pinene, bitter, mineral salts. It is used for the symptoms associated with digestive problems. Peppermint also has a beneficial effect on the liver.

Mint is used in the kichen for tea  and addition to cool drinks. It can be also added as herbs in diffrent tropical dishes. 

Grondmather's tips:

Tea from mint has calming effect on our gastric problems.

Use:

2 tea spoons of dry leaves of mint, boiling water. Pour dry leaves with hot water, cover with a small plate, wait 15-30 minutes. 

Drink warm. 

Dandelion Honey Recipe:

Remove the petals from the dandelion flowers

Put the petals into a saucepan with the water and lemon and bring to the boil

Simmer on a low heat for 30 minutes

Remove from the heat and leave to steep for 6 hours

Strain and discard all but the liquid

Bring to the boil again and then add the sugar gradually, stirring until it dissolves

Once sugar has dissolved, leave to simmer until it reaches a honey-like consistency

Pour your dandelion honey into sterilised jars, seal and store