What could be better than having your own fresh herbs close to your kitchen? No preservatives, no artificial colorings - just fresh, aromatic, natural flavor!

Herbs have long been recognized as having medicinal properties, and are becoming increasingly more popular all the time in this age of chemicals and drugs. Personally, when I have a headache, I would much prefer a nice pot of herbal tea instead of an over-used chemically-manufactured pill; and the flavor of fresh oregano or basil in an Italian spaghetti sauce is unbeatable!

For people with small gardens, herbs can easily be grown in containers on your deck. Be creative - try growing smaller herbs in one of those clay strawberry pots - you'd be amazed how well they do!

Below are listed a few of my favorite herbs, and some ideas to what they can and have been used for in the past. Those are just a few of hundreds of herbs that are available out there. Check your local bookstore for a variety of herb books, and visit your local garden center or specialty herb grower for a really good selection.

 

ALOE:   An evergreen, succulent herb that has long been renowed for its healing qualities. It is rumored that Cleopatra used aloe to keep her skin clear and soft! Try rubbing a little of the aloe juice onto a cut or scratch, and see how quickly it heals!

BURDOCK:   A wild plant found growing in woods, waste land and along roadsides. My grandmother was a great believer in the qualities of burdock, and in one respect she was totally correct - burdock is a wonderful cure for anyone who gets too close to stinging nettles. Simply rub the burdock leaf on the affected area, and the pain goes away almost instantly! This one was a life-saver for me for many of my younger "tomboy" years!

CHAMOMILE:   For me, chamomile is the very best herb for making tea! This well-known herbal drink is great for an upset stomach or indigestion.

DILL:   Dill is an attractive plant in the garden as well as being wonderful in pickling! This tall annual herb has long straight stems with clusters of tiny yellow flowers in mid to late summer.

GARLIC:   In addition to being recommended for discouraging vampires (yes, that was humor!), garlic is one of the best herbs for the kitchen. This strong-smelling member of the onion family has unlimited uses in meat and vegetable dishes, salads and sauces.

HOPS:   I love this plant for its appearance - not just for the fact that it is one of the main ingredients in beer! In actual fact, hops have long been known as a tonic herb to help improve the appetite and the digestive system. Try making hop tea to cure sleeplessness!

LAVENDER:   My very favorite herb! While lavender can be used for teas - I find the aroma too overpowering for that - but I adore collecting the flowers, drying them, and making little sachets to place in drawers to keep that wonderful spring-like fragrance around!

LEMON BALM:   So easy to grow, lemon balm will actually seed itself everywhere if you let it! My first thought the very first time I smelled this plant was "lemon furniture polish!" The heavy lemon fragrance is said to relieve stress, tension and stomach upsets when made into a tea. Lemon balm can also be boiled, strained and the infusion used in the bath water for a soothing relaxing soak!

MINT:   There are so many varieties of mints available today! I have a wonderful clay pot of apple mint growing on the back deck that has just filled the pot over the last three years. Winter comes and goes and that mint comes back every time! A few leaves boiled in the water with potatos adds a really different flavor to a meal!

PARSLEY:   Still one of the worlds favorite garnishes - I enjoy this more as a garden plant. The curly dark green leaves make a wonderful border to a perennial garden.

ROSEMARY:   Once again - fragrance, fragrance, fragrance! I have a variety of rosemary in a pot outside, that in mid November is still in full bloom and looking great! Rosemary also adds wonderful flavor to roasted meats and poultry.

SAGE:   Another strong-smelling evergreen shrub that is best known for its use in stuffings! Sage is also a good aid to digestion and sage tea is reputed to be helpful for those going through menopause, as it reduces excessive perspiration from sweating and hot flashes.