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Writer's pictureHeidi Kohl

Two plants that everyone should have in the garden


Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)



The nasturtium came to Europe from South America as an ornamental plant but its healing effects were soon discovered. It is also called lettuce flower because it is a popular decoration for green salads. It is a herbaceous annual plant of the nasturtium family. The leaves are round and the flowers have five petals and are bright red or yellow in color. You can use the leaves, flowers and fruits. The nasturtium should not be missing in any garden, because it is a very important medicinal plant and also an enrichment in the daily raw food.


Mode of action:


All parts of the plant contain antiseptic substances that act like antibiotics and destroy pathogenic germs.


Ingredients:


Nasturtium contains a lot of vitamin C and a sulphurous glycoside that is released when crushed. This essential oil develops an antibiotic effect. When the plant is eaten, this active ingredient enters the blood and acts particularly on the respiratory and urinary tracts.

It is used mainly for infections of the respiratory tract, sinus infections, colds, bronchitis, colds with inflammation of the throat and urinary tract. It can be used for bladder and renal pelvic infections.

The nasturtium (herb and flowers) is eaten fresh on salads or dried for the winter. It is particularly suitable as an addition to the homemade herb salt or as a topping.



Garden and Meadow sage (Salvia pratensis)



The meadow sage grows on dry-warm fat meadows and it is a deep rooter and calcareous raw soil pioneer. It comes originally from the Mediterranean region, but also thrives here. It blooms from April to August and it is a perennial that grows 30-60 cm tall. The dark green leaves are wrinkled and hairy. The meadow sage blooms violet-blue in false whorls. There is the garden, meadow and clary sage, whereby the meadow sage has the same characteristics as the garden sage in terms of its mode of action. Clary sage is mainly used for the perfume industry because it contains a strong essential oil and has a very pleasant scent.


Ingredients of the meadow and garden sage:


It has 2.5% of an essential oil with antiseptic, antifungal, antiperspirant and menstrual stimulating effect, "d-camphor, salviol, betulin, asparagine, bitter substance, borneol, carnosic acid, cineole, flavonoid, funnaric acid, tannin, tannic acid, resin, ledol, limonene, menthol, estrogen-like substances, oleanolic acid, pinene, sabinol, salicylic acid, saponins, terpineol, thujone, thymol, zinc, vitamins.” [1]

The phenolic acids have a bile-forming and antispasmodic effect. Estrogen-like substances, similar to those produced by the ovary, lead to improved fertility and that's why sage is very good for ladies.


Meadow and garden sage are used:


  • For gynecological disorders (see above), relieves menstrual pain and menopausal symptoms, in case of excessive milk flow and when weaning.

  • For the nervous system – against depression, fatigue and low blood pressure, vegetative instability.

  • Against heavy sweating, especially night sweats. (the effect remains even hours after ingestion).

  • To reduce fever

  • For indigestion, it counteracts flatulence and helps with colic.

  • For canker sores, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, gingivitis (gargle or tincture)

  • For skin symptoms – it has a disinfecting and wound-healing effect.

  • As a spice in the kitchen


Preparations:


  • infusion and tea: Pour half a liter of boiling water over 15g leaves, let it steep for 10 minutes and strain it. Drink 3-4 cups throughout the day.

  • gargling water from the infusion (see above)

  • Sage compresses and rinses: Pour 1 liter of boiling hot water over 100 g leaves, let it steep for 10 minutes, then cool it down a bit. Dip a cloth in the infusion, wring it out and place it on the affected area of skin (wounds, boils, abscesses). Apply cold compresses to insect bites. Vaginal douching for white discharge or inflammation of the vagina.

  • Sage foot baths for sweaty feet (add the infusion to the bath water) [2]

  • Fresh sage leaves can be chewed against bad breath and periodontal disease, it is a "probiotic" in the oral cavity.

  • Sage bath for skin problems or to calm the nerves: Boil 200g sage leaves with 4 liters of water, let it steep for 10 minutes, strain and pour it into the bath water.

  • Tea mixture for blemishes: 1 part sage leaves, 1 part yarrow, 1 part rosemary. Pour ¼ liter of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of this mixture of herbs, let it steep for 10 minutes, then strain it. Drink 1 cup 2-3 times a day.

  • Tea mixture for colds or bronchitis: 2 parts sage, 2 parts yarrow, 1 part linden flowers, 1 part chamomile, 1 part elderberry. 1 teaspoon of this mixture of herbs to 1 cup of water. Pour boiling water over it, let it steep and strain it.




Heidi Kohl is a herbalist, lifestyle trainer and author of the book „Gesund werden, gesund bleiben“. She lives in Austria, in the countryside, loves gardening and healthy food and she has shared her recipes with many people. (http://www.hoffnungsvoll-leben.at). She has been training people to be medical missionaries for 22 years. She offers a one-year online course with two weeks of practice. Around 30 people complete every year this training, which is conducted in German.



 

[1] www.heilkräuter.de, 4.2.2015. [2] Dr. Jorge D. Pamplona Roger, Heilkräfte der Pflanzen, Band II, 2002. pg. 238-239.

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