Herbs are more than flavoring . . .

Oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

All easy to grow or available at farmers' markets, these herbs can be sprinkled liberally on your food. A wonderful addition to salads, meat or fish dishes and on vegetables. They are a source of analgesic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory compounds. (Oregano alone has 32 anti-inflammatories!)

Try mixing these garden herbs in your favorite proportions for a pain-relieving tea. Pour a cup of boiling water over two teaspoons of fresh herbs or a teaspoon of dried herbs. Steep 5 to 10 minutes and strain. Sit and enjoy!

Tea or Tisane . . .

The short answer: A tisane is a herbal infusion made from anything other than the leaves of the tea bush.

Ti·sane - Pronunciation: ti-'zan, -'zän, noun, an infusion (as of dried herbs) used as a beverage or for medicinal effects.

From Dictionary.com

Then . . . what is tea?

Tea is made from the leaves of the shrub, Camellia sinensis.

Tea - Pronunciation: (tē), noun, the dried and prepared leaves of a shrub, Camellia sinensis, from which a somewhat bitter, aromatic beverage is prepared by infusion in hot water.

Brew a tisane

A tisane can be made from fresh or dried plant materials.


The mint family is a good place to start experimenting. For example, collect a handful of spearmint leaves. Add them to your teapot. Pour boiling water in and let steep.

A very full-bodied brew for an afternoon respite!



A great blog post in the praise of tisanes!
Anise hyssop & cilantro blossoms

A new resident . . .

Witch Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana

We have two witch hazel plants in the 'nursery' which will go into the garden as soon as they have recuperated from the transplanting. The bark and leaves of witch hazel are high in tannins which provides the astringent properties. Make your own fresh tisane or tincture or . . .
Witch Hazel Lotion

Prune witch hazel branches in the late fall or winter, and shave off the bark with a sharp knife. Cut into smallish chunks with a knife or scissors, and place in a blender with enough vodka to cover the bark and blades of the blender. Chop as fine as possible, and transfer to a glass jar. Shake the mixture vigorously once a day and strain after five to six weeks. Combine 1 ounce of the witch hazel preparation with 1/2 ounce aloe vera gel and 1/2 ounce vitamin E oil, then bottle.

From: HowStuffWorks.com

Forked twigs of Witch Hazel are used as divining rods. An extract of the plant is used in the astringent witch hazel. The bark and leaves were used by native Americans in the treatment of external inflammations. Pond's Extract was a popular distillation of the bark in dilute alcohol.

The original formulation of Pond’s Cold Cream was developed by T.T. Pond in 1846 using a witch hazel extract. Pond learned about the extract from Native Americans living around New York.

From: IrishTimes.com

References:
Botanical.com: Medicinal Action and Uses
Virginia Tech
Herbs2000.com