Category Archives: Nature

Lavandula_angustifolia_paint

Lavandula angustifolia

Name

The genus name “Lavandula” comes from the latin verb “lavare” (to wash) because ancient romans used to scent washing waters and baths. The specific name “angustifolia” is Latin for “narrow leaf”. Previously, it was known as “Lavandula officinalis” meaning that it was the official medicinal lavender.

Also Known as

  • common lavender
  • true lavender
  • narrow-leaved lavender
  • english lavender
  • Lavandula spica
  • Lavandula vera
  • Lavandula officinalis

Identification Keys

  • bushy evergreen herb
  • square stalk
  • height: 1-2 m
  • opposite leaves
  • narrow leaves, 2-6 cm long, 4-6 mm broad
  • pinkish-purple (lavender color) flowers
  • 2-lipped flowers
  • flowers grow on narrowly cylindrical spikes 2–8 cm long at the top of slender, leafless stems 10–30 cm long
  • strongly scented

Bloom Time

  • June-August

Habitat

  • prefers a sunny place and light, dry, well-drained soil
  • grows up to 1500 m

Look-alikes

You can confuse Lavandula angustifolia with other plants of the same genus Lavandula.


Medicine Uses

Parts Used

Flowers

Actions

carminative, diuretic, antispasmodic, nerve tonic, analgesic, stimulant, digestive, sedative, antimicrobial, antiseptic, diaphoretic, expectorant, antidepressant, antioxidant

Systems

Digestion

  • releases spasm and colic
  • relieves wind
  • combats bowel problems related to tension and anxiety
  • used for infections that cause vomiting and diarrhea
  • volatile oils active against bacteria and fungi

Mental and emotional

  • wonderful for anxiety and stress-related symptoms (headaches, migraines, neuralgia, palpitations, insomnia)
  • lifts the spirits
  • restores energy in tiredness and nervous exhaustion

Respiratory system

  • increases resistance to colds, coughs, chest infections, flu tonsillitis and laryngitis
  • clears phlegm
  • relieves asthma

Immune system

  • volatile oils are antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic
  • reduces fevers taken as hot tea
  • help to remove toxins via the skin and urine, taken as hot tea

Reproductive system

  • reduces pain after childbirth and speeds healing (used in baths)

Externally

  • antiseptic for inflammatory and infective skin problems such as eczema, acne, varicose ulcers and nappy rash
  • stimulates tissue repair
  • minimizes scar formation applying oil to burns, cuts, wounds, sores and ulcers
  • repels insects
  • relieves bites and stings
  • soothes pain of bruises, sprains, gout, arthritis and muscle tension

Harvesting

  • gathering lavender when the flowers are full in color and they start to open
  • cut flowers on a dry and sunny day. The dew needs to be off of the plants before you harvest to allow a quickly healing
  • tie bundles of lavender upside down in a dark dry area with good air circulation. When dry, place in a jar and store out of light

aesculus_hippocastanum_paint

Aesculus hippocastanum

Name

The name “Aesculus” (from esca, food) is the latin name for tree with edible acorns. The specific name “Hippocastanum” is compound from greek “hippo” (horse) and latin “castanea” (chestnut) because in old times the fruit was used to feed horses and other domestic animals or, more probably, it was used to cure short-winded horses.

Also Known as

  • horse-chestnut
  • conker tree
  • buckeye
  • seven leaves tree

 


 

Identification Keys

  • large deciduous tree
  • opposite leaves
  • leaves is palmately compound with 5-9 leaflets
  • leaflets spread like the fingers of a hand
  • leaflet is 10-30 cm long
  • leaf scars left on twigs after the leaves have fallen have a distinctive horseshoe shape, complete with seven “nails”
  • leaflet has darker shades of green on their upper surface than on his underside
  • height: up to 35 m
  • erect racemes of flowers with a yellow or reddish spot at the base of the white petals. height: 30 cm width: 13 cm
  • fruit is a green pod with sort bumpy spikes containing up to three shiny, reddish-brown seeds with a light-colored scar at the bottom
  • bark is smooth with a grayish-green color
  • large winter buds up to 35 mm; extremely sticky

Bloom Time

  • May

Habitat

  • temperate zones
  • grows at altitudes up to 1200 m
  • prefers shady, moist sites
  • streets, parks

Look-alikes

You can confuse horse-chestnut with other trees:

  • Castanea vesca (sweet chestnut)
  • Fagus spp. (beech)

 


 

Medicine Uses

Parts Used

Seeds, bark, leaves and flowers

Actions

astringent, anti-inflammatory, febrifuge, anticoagulant, expectorant

Systems

Digestion

  • bark is useful for treating diarrhea, because rich in astringent tannins

Circulation

  • strengthens blood vessels and enhances their elasticity
  • improves blood flow and venous  return
  • prevents pooling of blood causing piles and varicose veins
  • reduces oedema, cramps and pain and tension in the legs
  • reduces inflammation in blood vessels
  • relieves pressure on the heart and high blood pressure
  • anticoagulant properties reduce blood clotting

Immune system

  • helps in easing joint pain
  • hot decoction reduces fever
  • treats malaria and intermittent fevers

Externally

  • contracts blood vessels
  • reduces swelling around areas of trauma
  • excellent for treating varicose veins and ulcers, phlebitis and haemorrhoids, cellulite
  • relieves the pain of arthritis, neuralgia, sunburn, bruises and sprains

Caution

  • all part are toxic when raw
  • avoid in pregnancy, lactation and children
  • avoid with anticoagulants and salicylates

 

Harvesting

  • harvest seeds in autumn when the ripe fruits fall.
  • collects leaves during the flowering period, tearing or cutting off them without stem.
  • gather the flowers by cutting the entire stem.
  • dry them out of direct sunlight with a good ventilation, laying on a thin layer of paper or fabric.

 


Achillea_millefolium_paint

Achillea millefolium

Name

The name “Achillea” commemorates the greek hero Achilles who used yarrow to heal the wounds of his soldiers. The specific name “millefolium” means ‘thousand leaves’, a perfect name to describe the finely divided leaves.

Also Known as

  • yarrow
  • milfoil
  • thousand-leaf
  • bloodwort
  • old man’s pepper

 


 

Identification Keys

  • bushy perennial herb
  • leaves finely divided into narrow segments
  • thin, fern-like leaves resembling a pipe cleaner or small feathers
  • leaves arranged spirally on stem
  • dark green leaves
  • height: 8 cm – 65 cm, width: 60 cm (2 ft)
  • sap not milky
  • flower-head in flat-topped clusters
  • flower-head with flat outer florets, tubular inner florets
  • white to pinkish-white daisy-like flowers
  • flowers enclosed by bracts; no sepals; 5 petals form a tube; 5 stamens and 1 stigma
  • flower-head without collar beneath
  • fruits and floret base without a parachute
  • 1.5-2 mm long, flattened, shiny, nut-like fruit; retains the seed
  • strongly scented

Bloom Time

  • June-November

Habitat

  • fields, hedges, meadows, roadsides, gravelly areas, waste places
  • dry or poor soils but also found in moist areas
  • grows in low to high elevations

Look-alikes

You can confuse common yarrow with other plants with dissected leaves:

  • Mayweed chamomile
  • Pineapple-weed
  • Wild carrot. It tends to grow in more of a rosette with leaves that are more pinnatafid than yarrow.
  • Poison hemlock
  • Fennel

 


 

Medicine Uses

Parts Used

Aerial parts

Actions

diaphoretic, diuretic, astringent, digestive, bitter tonic, hepatic, antimicrobial, decongestant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, analgesic, antihistaminic, emmenagogic, expectorant, anticatarrhal, hemostatic, styptic, vulnerary, alterative

Systems

Digestion

  • stimulates appetite, aids digestion and absorption
  • relieves wind, spasm and indigestion
  • astringent tannins protect the gut from irritation and infection; helpful in diarrhea and inflammatory issues

Circulation

  • taken in hot tea, it promotes sweating and reduces fevers
  • lowers blood pressure, improves circulation
  • relieves leg cramps and varicose veins

Respiratory system

  • it relieves colds and congestion, taken in hot tea with mint and elderflower
  • antihistamine effect is useful in treating allergies

Immune system

  • volatile oils and luteolin have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects
  • relieves arthritis, allergies and autoimmune problems
  • stimulates blood flow to the skin and brings out the rash in eruptive infections such as measles and chickenpox
  • clears toxins by aiding elimination through the skin and kidneys

Urinary system

  • diuretic, relieves irritable bladder
  • tightens muscles, helping incontinence

Reproductive system

  • regulates menstrual cycle
  • eases menopause change
  • relieves premenstrual syndrome and heavy bleeding
  • speeds up childbirth and aids in expelling the afterbirth
  • stimulates lactose production

Externally

  • tannins and silica speed healing of cuts, wounds, ulcers, burns, varicose veins,
  • hemorrhoids and skin conditions
  • infusions used as vaginal douche, skin lotion and mouthwash for gingivitis
  • a little of yarrow tincture on a tissue, stuffed up the nostril, stops a bleeding nose

Caution

  • avoid in pregnancy and if allergic to Asteraceae
  • prolonged use can cause contact dermatitis and photosensitivity
  • avoid with anticoagulants

 


 

Harvesting

  • gather the leaves and flowers by cutting the entire stem half way down.
  • harvest after the flowers opened and when they look  vibrant.
  • tie them by their stems in small bunches and hang them out of direct sunlight.
  • when fully dry, garble them, and store in a mason jar.