yarrow

Achillea millefolium ° yarrow (stolisnik) is a flowering plant from the Asteraceae family, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries all along Europe, Asia and North America. In some traditions it was believed to protect people from the evil forces and bring good luck. Today it is widely used for numerous indications - its anti-inflammatory properties make it a great remedy for swelling and inflamation; if applied to a fresh wound, it helps stop the bleeding and speeds up the blood coagulation process; yarrow infusion induces sweating and therefore helps lower the body temperature caused by a flu; it is also used for treating urinary infections and regulating digestion. Besides the mentioned indications, yarrow is used in treating high blood pressure, menstrual problems, heartburn and nausea. It grows abundantly on many habitats such as meadows, roadsides and fields all across the Northern Hemisphere. It blooms throughout summer and autumn, and late summer is the perfect time for harvesting and drying. 

wild blackberry (n)ice cream

wild blackberry nice cream with freshly picked berries straight from the forest, sweet edible red clover flowers and beautiful musk mallow.
/
3 frozen bananas (cut into slices)
3/4 cup wild blackberries
1/4 cup rice milk
1 small pinch ground vanilla
2 tsp lime juice
/blend everything until smooth. bon appétit!

šaltibarščiai

Find this RECIPE on my new blog - Sunberry Jam

medicinal plants of europe: valeriana

Valerian is growing so abundantly here around Kristiansand, Norway, and was in the bloom up until recently, so I harvested and dried some of the herb.

Valerian /Valeriana officinalis L./ is a perennial plant native to Europe and parts of Asia. Latin name of this genus comes from the word "valere", which means to be strong or well. It has been used in folk medicine as a natural sedative for centuries. Today it is known and officially used in treating insomnia and anxiety, along with some other indications.

Valerian root is the most potent part of the plant and is harvested in autumn when the bioactive compounds concentrations are the highest. The plant on the picture is V. officinalis ssp. sambucifolia, a polyploid subspecies that is not officially recognized, but is the most common subspecies of this area and has been widely used in folk medicine.

medicinal plants of europe: st. john's wort

Hypericum perforatum L. /st. John's wort, gospina trava in Croatian/ is a herbaceous perennial plant native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia; today it is widespread throughout temperate regions worldwide. It can be easily distinguished from other species in this genus because of its leaves that seem perforated (hence the species name) with glandular tissue which appears as small translucent dots.
Its use in traditional medicine has been known since ancient Greece. It has been used for a variety of indications, the most famous being anxiety, depression, skin burns and wounds. It was also believed to protect humans from evil spirits.
Antidepressant properties of st. John's wort have been scientifically studied and confirmed, while other medicinal properties are being researched. But even without scientific proof, the amazing effects of st. John's wort to human health are indisputable, and go much further than the above mentioned.

/How to use st. John's wort?

<herbal infusion>
Put a teaspoon of dried herb into a cup of boiling water, remove from the heat and let it sit covered for 15-30 minutes. Drink 2-3 cups a day over the course of six weeks. This infusion is used to treat depression, anxiety, neuralgia, and as a nerve tonic. It is also used to relieve symptoms of gastritis, menstrual and menopausal problems and to fight some bacterial infections. When consumed before bedtime, it helps with relaxation and better sleep.

<oil infusion>
Fill a jar with fresh flowers/plant tips, loosely and without pressing. Leave them like that for a few hours. Pour cold pressed sunflower or coconut oil to cover all the herbal material. Leave the jar in the sun for around 6 weeks (preferably shake it every day) and strain. The oil will turn deep red in colour. Finished infusion is an amazing remedy for treating burns and healing cuts and wounds more quickly and with less scar tissue.

/You should be aware that
* st. John's wort has phototoxic properties, so its consumption (either orally or through skin) should be avoided before exposure to direct sunlight.
* to get the proper concentrations of bioactive compounds, herb should be collected in summer, when in bloom.