HSA Webinar: Fictional Detectives in the Herb Garden

Our aim goes far beyond delving into recipes and teaching culinary techniques; we intend to promote sustainable eating as an essential part of preserving humans’ relationship with nature. As such, we invite anyone who shares this same conviction or has a secret family recipe they would like to share with the rest of us to visit us online or contact us at [email protected] for all collaborations and submissions. Let’s show appreciation for those that dedicate their lives using natural deliciousness to establish meaningful human bonds through cuisine!

For now, love yourself and enjoy this one ... 

by Marta McDowell

As with most murder mysteries, those based on horticultural themes require at least one detective. Criminal investigation is a profession that requires many of the skills needed for horticulture. As a gardener and a detective both require a high level of observance and diligence.

Agatha Christie introduced her character Jane Marple with a collection of short stories that were published towards the end of 1927. Miss Marple plants a lot of flowers around her cottage, which is located in the fictional village St. Mary Mead. She grows more flowers than vegetables but also includes useful plants in her perennials.

Jane serves her guests a variety home-made garden tonics throughout the Miss Marple mystery series. The soothing infusion of chamomile calms guests who are restless. Tansy plays a major role in her grandmother's tea. She steeps her damson gin in a mixture of sugar and alcohol macerated with plums. Primula veris blooms in fields and meadows all around the village. It's a good thing, because every batch would need several pecks.

Eight centuries before Miss Marple tended an imaginary herb garden in the British Isles, another gardener and sleuth tended to a fictional garden. Brother Cadfael was created by Ellis Peters. This is one of many pseudonyms of British writer Edith Pargeter. She wrote dozens of novels from the 1930s to the 1990s. Twenty of these featured her famous detective of the fabric. Cadfael was a Welsh monk from the Benedictine Abbey in Shrewsbury, dating back to early 12th century. Cadfael, a middle-aged monk, was given a late calling after a lifetime of experience in warfare, with women and with life.

As the abbey's herbalist Brother Cadfael spends most of his time in the herb gardens or the adjoining workshop drying, storing and extracting essences. He is an expert gardener and curious, in the old Latin sense, such as cura, which means "care", and curiosus, meaning "careful". The pharmacist of today, he spends time with plants and people to make tinctures and salves. He also solves many crimes.

Ellis Peters was an avid researcher, even though she didn't have her own herb garden. She once told a Mother Earth Living interviewer that she only had a few plants that could be classified as herbs in her garden. These included rosemary. Her background research was based on an old English herb. In a 1993 interview, she stated that "I draw much on Culpeper". Nicholas Culpeper, a 17th century London physician who was also an apothecary and astrologist at the time of his career, is a good example. The Cadfael Series is a fun and informative way to learn about the practices and plantings of a medieval herbal garden.

Susan Wittig Albert has a long-running, savvy series with China Bayles as the protagonist. In Thyme Of Death (1992), Bayles leaves a stressful job as a criminal defense lawyer in a large city and reinvents herself. She has relocated to Pecan Springs from Houston, where she was a criminal defense attorney. Now, she owns Thyme & Seasons, an herb business that sells herbs in all forms: potted, fresh, dried and for potions. Pecan Springs, a rural town, has seen more than its fair share of murders, just like St. Mary Mead in 12th century Shrewsbury.

Each of the 21 China Bayles mysteries focuses on a different plant species. You can expect to learn about rue's history, cultivation and uses in Rueful Death.

Horticulture is a common theme in crime fiction, even beyond the trio of detectives shown here. Why? It could be due to a gardener's natural animosity towards weeds and rodents. It is rare to find a gardener who will approach a snail without any homicidal intentions. It could be the chaos that is waiting to overtake any garden. Let's be honest, gardening is murder.

Marta will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, 14th November at 1pm Eastern. Our webinars are $7.50 per guest and free for The Herb Society of America Members. Join today and get access to our library of over fifty webinar titles. To register, visit https://www.herbsociety.org/hsa-learn/herb-education/hsa-webinars/

Photo credit:1) Tea Tanacetum; 2) Brother Cadfael, 3) Detectives searching for clues. All photos (c) Yolanda V. Fundora

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make medicinal herbs?

There are many different methods to make herbs into medicinal products. The most common method is to dry the herbs in a warm, dark location before grinding them into a powder or extracting their essential oils. This can be accomplished by hanging herbs upside down in bunches, laying herbs on a drying screen, or using a food dehydrator.

Once dried and ground, herbs can be stored in airtight containers for future use. Other herbs may require special preparation, such as infusing herbs into oil or vinegar, making tinctures with alcohol, or distilling herbs to create essential oils.

Learning the correct techniques for preparing herbs can help ensure that they retain their medicinal properties and potency for optimal health benefits. Using fresh herbs is usually best, but herbs can also be grown in a pot or garden and harvested when they are mature. Herbs can be purchased at health food stores, online retailers, and specialty shops.

No matter where herbs come from, the preparation techniques remain the same; drying herbs in a warm location followed by grinding or extracting the essential oils. You can make your medicinal herbs with the right herbs and preparation techniques.

When making herbal preparations, it is essential to remember that herbs can vary in potency, so always dilute herbs before use or follow the directions on any product label. Additionally, herbs are best used fresh, as many of their beneficial components degrade over time.

Following safety guidelines and paying attention to the potency of herbs can help ensure that you get the most benefit from your herbs. With a bit of practice and preparation, anyone can make therapeutic herbs with medicinal properties. Remember that herbs should never replace any medical advice or treatments prescribed by a doctor. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before using herbs medicinally.

Which herbs are healing herbs?

If you look for healing herbs, you won’t find them in the supermarket. There isn’t any place to buy them. There is no store selling them.

You haven’t been able to find healing herbs because they aren’t sold anywhere. They are grown right here in our backyard.

Healing herbs are plants that grow naturally in North America. Like many common household items, these herbs grow throughout the United States and Canada.

These herbs treat minor ailments such as colds, flu, sore throats, coughs, and headaches. Many of these herbs have been used for centuries to help heal wounds and promote overall health.

Of course, when we say “heal,” we mean more than simply treating an illness. We also refer to the ability of these herbs to restore balance and harmony within ourselves and the world around us.

For example, the chamomile herb helps relieve stress. This means that if you feel stressed out, you may benefit from taking chamomile tea. Chamomile tea has been shown to reduce anxiety and nervous tension.

In addition, chamomile tea has been proven effective in relieving insomnia.

Chamomile tea has many other benefits, including its ability to ease stomach aches and gas pains and even improve digestion.

Another popular healing herb is Echinacea. Echinacea is known for helping to fight infections and boosting the immune system.

Echinacea is commonly taken internally and externally to fight infection, prevent viral diseases, and boost immunity. It is safe to use during pregnancy and lactation.

Echinacea also helps reduce muscle pain and inflammation. You can take echinacea orally or topically (as an ointment).

This herb is available in both liquid and capsule form. Liquid echinacea is often mixed with honey and lemon juice. The mixture is then strained and consumed.

Capsules are usually made of freeze-dried plant material. They contain standardized amounts of active ingredients. To use capsules, swallow one or two a day.

The third type of herbal remedy is called tincture. Tinctures are alcoholic extracts of herbs. They are typically used to treat internal problems. Tinctures are generally diluted before being ingested.

Tinctures can be taken orally or applied topically. For oral consumption, dilute tinctures with water. Some people prefer to mix tinctures with food.

Tinctures are easy to prepare. Put about one tablespoon of dried herb into a bottle containing enough alcohol to cover the herb completely. Allow the mixture to sit for several weeks. Then strain and consume.

You may want to try some of these natural remedies to see which ones work best.

What herbs should you take daily?

Depending on your health and wellness needs, many herbs can be taken daily to help improve your overall health.

Popular herbs for daily consumption include ashwagandha, turmeric, ginger, holy basil, chamomile, lavender, peppermint, and cayenne pepper. Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that can help the body resist stress and anxiety. Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, while ginger has been shown to aid digestion and boost immunity. Holy basil may help with managing blood sugar levels, as well as providing a calming effect. Chamomile can promote relaxation, while lavender is used in aromatherapy for its calming properties. Peppermint can help aid digestion and reduce nausea, while cayenne pepper has antibacterial properties that may boost your immunity.

As always, you must consult your doctor before taking herbs daily to ensure they are safe for you and do not interact with any other medications or herbs you may be taking.

There is no shortage of information on what foods we should eat and how much exercise we should do. But when it comes to what supplements we should take, there is a dearth of knowledge.

This is because most of us aren’t sure which ones work or which are junk. So we go online and look up whatever we can find.

But often, these articles are written by companies trying to promote their products. Which means they're usually biased toward their product.

So instead of finding unbiased advice, we end up reading marketing hype.

This makes sense since marketers make more money selling stuff than doctors.

The medical industry isn’t even allowed to advertise directly to consumers anymore. The best way to learn about natural remedies is to read independent reviews.

This is where you'll find real users sharing their experiences with each supplement. These sites give you an honest opinion of whether or not a particular herb helps.

Users will often share their experience with a supplement after taking it. This gives you a good idea of its effectiveness and any side effects.

You can also check out forums dedicated to herbalism. Here you can ask questions and receive answers based on personal experience.

Of course, there are plenty of other ways to learn about herbs.

There are books, websites, blogs, videos, podcasts, and classes. All of them provide valuable information about natural remedies.

Statistics

• The herbs market is highly competitive, with over 1,000 herb suppliers and over 15,000 herbs products available in the United States alone.
• The global herbs market is expected to reach more than $125 billion by the end of 2025.

External Links

[TAG17]

• Peppermint oil (Mintoil®) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial


• Curcumin reverses the effects of chronic stress on behavior, the HPA axis, BDNF expression, and phosphorylation of CREB

[TAG20]

• Health Benefits of Culinary Herbs and Spices - PubMed


• Use of echinacea in medicine - PubMed

[TAG23]

• Efficacy and Adverse Effects of Ginkgo Biloba for Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - IOS Press

[TAG25]

• Amazon.com: Starwest Botanicals Organic Bilberries Whole, 4 Ounces: Grocery & Gourmet Food

How To

How To Upcycle Herbs After Making Infusions, Oils, Tinctures, And More?

There are more ways to use herbs than you might realize. This is why it's essential to keep an open mind when learning how to make herbal infusions, oils, tinctures, and more.

You'll find that there are many methods for making these products, and even though they may seem similar, each method has its benefits.

For example, some methods include creating decoctions, boiling water or alcohol with the herb(s), and letting them simmer for a while. These infusions are solid and potent because they contain higher concentrations of active compounds.

Another type of infusion includes macerating the herb(s), which means soaking them in liquid for a few hours or even overnight. Macerations tend to produce milder results because the plant material isn't boiled.

Some cold-infused forms involve steeping herbs in cool liquids such as ice cubes or cold water. Cold infusions are gentler than hot ones, often used to treat minor ailments.

Herbal oil extraction involves heating the herb(s) to release the essential oils. You can either do this yourself or have someone help you out with it.

Finally, there are tinctures made by mixing herbs with alcohol. They're usually taken orally and are very effective for treating coughs, colds, and flu symptoms.

The best way to learn how to create infused products is to experiment with various techniques. Each technique offers a different potency and effectiveness, depending on the herb(s) you choose.

Once you've tried a few different methods, you'll begin to develop your preferences. In time, you'll be able to determine which techniques work well for you and which aren't worth pursuing.

Resources:

[TAG27] In this video we are starting out seedlings for our winter growing in the Tower Garden and we're taking you along for the journey! We'll show you just how easy

[TAG28] Hope you enjoyed this video and thank you for your support. Don’t forget to like, share and subscribe. PLEASE FOLLOW ME IN FACEBOOK https://www.facebook

[TAG29] Learn herbs from respected professional herbalists offering world-class herbalist training. The NEW Professional Herbalist Course includes courses on over 600

[TAG30] Who was the Marble Looking Man? Paul Sinclair shares his accounts of unusual and strange happenings in an around East and North Yorkshire. We now have

[TAG31] COFFEE MOANING the PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coffee-moaning/id1689250679 ON SPOTIFY:

[TAG32] Find out more about herbs and how to use them

[TAG33] Are you eating healthy bread? If so, this video is a must-watch before you take another bite of those seemingly innocent slices. Bread might be a staple, but

[TAG34] Patrick Bet-David, Adam Sosnick, Tom Ellsworth and Vincent Oshana discuss Bill Maher's appearance on Roseanne Barr's podcast where he denies knowing MK Ultra,

[TAG35] Like life, tea is what you make of it and The Cup of Life helps individuals enjoy tea in more than one way. Join me on my tea adventures through my blog!

[TAG36] Use Code THOMAS25 for 25% off Your First Order from SEED: https://www.seed.com/thomasyt Obesity Pandemic - Willpower vs Genes vs Environment This video

[TAG37] Harvesting self-grown vegetables - bursting with emotions when the old lady handed over the red book Thank you for watching my video. Wishing you good health,

[TAG38] A tea assessment platform that rates teas based on objective quality markers and a sensory evaluation resulting in a list of the best teas produced each year.

[TAG39] In This Video I'm Gonna Show You How To Find And Farm All 7 Herbs In Terraria! Enjoy ! :) #terraria #guide #tutorial

[TAG40] Former President Trump in recent remarks is now working to portray President Biden as a threat to democracy, saying Biden 'is the destroyer of American