Two More Plant Profiles & Their (Medicinal) Uses
In my quest to have one of the best (medicinal) herb and flower gardens I have ever planted, cultivated and harvested, I wanted to share two more flowers I am adding this coming year.
Two that I am thrilled to add are St John's Wort and Angelica; both for their medicinal uses as well as their vibrant flowers which will add just the right amount of color to my overly green herb garden area. Mixed in between the sage, oregano and spinach, I believe the St John's Wort bright yellow petals and the sweet delicate white of the Angelica will be just what I want and need in certain areas.
My Uses For St John's Wort & Angelica
St John's Wort- I will use in dehydrated (powder) form to add to my herbal teas and once I find a safe recipe I may add to my homemade soaps and lotions. It has properties good for eczema and dry skin.
Angelica- (commonly called wild celery) The same as St John's Wort, I will use in my teas and homemade soaps and lotion after finding a safe recipe. Leaves can be made into a tea which is good for acne and a refreshing face wash when applied directly to the face.
St John's Wort For Medicinal Uses
Uses For St John's Wort
Common Uses:
- Natural remedy for depression
- Anxiety
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia
- Relief of some PMS symptoms
- Helps with OCD symptoms
St John's Wort comes in these forms:
- Capsules
- Tablets
- Tinctures
- Teas
- Oil-based skin lotions
- Chopped & powdered
Warning - St John's Wort
According to Dr. Axe's website there are some concerns when wanting to start using St John's Wort:
... it does interact with a number of medications, so it should be taken only under the guidance of a health care provider, especially if you already take medications for depression
Angelica Medicinal & Culinary Uses
Uses For Angelica
Common Uses:
- Heartburn
- Intestinal gas (ie. flatulence)
- Loss of appetite (ie. anorexia)
- Arthritis & anti-inflammatory
- Circulation problems
- Runny nose (ie. respiratory catarrh)
- Insomnia (use in bath for relaxation)
- PMS symptoms
- Mouth sores (use as a gargle with warm water)
It's recommended to harvest the flowers and plant in mid-June through July for its culinary and medicinal uses.
Culinary Uses
One day last year another steemian had mentioned to me that she was harvesting angelica and highly recommended the plant. She had said it was great in salads and added a nice flavor when cooking. I remember thinking angelica would be nice to have on hand, just like summer savory, and use in some Mediterranean style dinners and even as an added flavor and flair in some soups. We don't care for celery so when I'm cooking I will toss in some celery seeds just for a hint of the flavor; so I'm hoping that angelica can replace using celery seed.
Warning- According to Mother Earth News:
...use moderation when ingesting angelica. In large doses it may affect blood pressure, heart action, and respiration.
And incidentally, unless you're an herb expert, stick with the cultivated variety (which has a better flavor than its wild sister, anyway). Wild angelica may be confused with water hemlock, a highly poisonous plant.
