Herb Profiles

Catnip

March 04, 2021

CATNIP

Nepeta cataria

Family: Lamiaceae

Part used: Leaves, flowering tops

Energetics: Spicy, pungent, warm, neutral

Actions: Antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, nervine, sedative (mild)

Catnip is a must on this farm, and not just to keep our four farm cats happy. Their names are Skeletor, Battlecat, Covergirl and Megababy, and they’d for sure revolt if we were to ever stop growing this tasty mint. I love using this herb for colds, flus and especially in children’s formulas. I like to add it to formulas for anxiety, sleep issues, tension headaches. PMS and menstrual cramps for its medicinal properties and for its mild mint taste. It can also be helpful for stress related digestive issues. Catnip is easy to grow from seed and transplants. I harvest the leaves and flowers throughout the growing season to dry for teas and tinctures.

Contraindications: None known.

Also in Herb Profiles

Ashwagandha

March 10, 2021

Ashwagandha, native to India, grows on our farm in Maine as an annual. I harvest the roots every fall to make into tinctures and dry for teas, soup stocks and powder. Ashwagandha is a wonderful adaptogen that can be used as a daily tonic. It is part of the nightshade family, so if you have allergies you may want to avoid this herb. Otherwise, it’s a wonderfully rejuvenating and nourishing herb that I like to use as a brain tonic and to clear up brain fog and poor memory. It helps induce sleep, relieves anxiety and stress and is great for supporting the reproductive system. Ashwagandha is a great herb for rebuilding vitality and overall strength in the body.

Astragalus

March 10, 2021

Astragalus, part of the pea family, is a perennial that we grow here on the farm. We harvest the roots in its third year to make into tincture or dry for teas, soup stocks, syrups and elixirs. Astragalus is a great herb to use when building back strength and vitality. I like to use it as immune support to help prevent colds and flu and help with allergies. Astragalus is a rejuvenative herb for when you are depleted and weak, helping restore vitality and energy. Helps improve digestion, nutrient absorption and cardiovascular function. This is a great front-line herb for immune support and preventive care.

Blue Vervain

March 09, 2021

Blue vervain is a great herb to add to any garden. When we moved to the farm, I found a couple of plants growing wild along the stream. I loved that so much. I like to use blue vervain for nervous system issues such as anxiety, especially associated with PMS and menopause and it can also be used for spasms and tics. As a diaphoretic, it’s been used for relieving fevers and other flu symptoms, such as aching muscles.