Planning a Vegetable Garden for Beginners: The 5 Golden Rules 🏆
💛 📖 See the GrowVeg book here: https://www.growveg.com/growveg-the-b…
Planning a vegetable garden can feel overwhelming because there are so many options to consider. It needn’t be tricky though – follow our 5 easy steps to help you decide what’s best to grow and where to place it for maximum success.
In this short video we share with you the rules of garden planning to help you to avoid some of the pitfalls and grow your most productive garden yet!
If you love growing your own food, why not take a look at our online Garden Planner which is available from several major websites and seed suppliers:
Growing Peas From Sowing to Harvest 💚💚💚💚 and Butterfly Peas
How to Grow and Care for Butterfly Peas in your Garden
The Butterfly Pea is fast growing climber is a fairly common tender perennial species that produces two inch, pinkish blue flowers in mid to late summer.
They provide quick covers for lattice, trellis, arbor and chain-link fence, and are a favorite food source for butterflies.
Read in Full 👇
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/clitoria.htm
Blue Tea: Unbelievable Health Benefits Of This Butterfly Pea Flower Infusion
The impressive nutritional profile of blue tea makes it a wonderful weight loss beverage, as well as a refreshing drink to cool the body, when served chilled. Being naturally caffeine-free and a completely herbal concoction, blue tea just like Green Tea is also a powerhouse of antioxidants. It contains significant amounts of the catechin EGCG – epigallocatechin gallate, as well as a host of anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting components such as flavonoids, tannins and polyphenols.
Read in Full to Learn More
Get Your Soil Ready for Spring 🌱🌱 3 Steps to Hit the Ground Running!
Related
Composting ~ How to make your own Compost Bins
https://auntiedogmasgardenspot.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/compostingandbins/
Permaculture: A Healthy Sustainable Alternative to Big-Agri
March 12, 2014 ~ David Ring –LocalOrg Permaculture is a combination of two words, permanent culture, which evolved from a previous and narrower definition, Permanent agriculture. It is a way of life which nurtures and propagates a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, guided by its three tenets: earth care, people care, and fair share.
Permaculture, according to one of its founders, Bill Mollison, is:
“…a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labor; and of looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single product system.”
Read in Full Here!
http://localorg.blogspot.com/2014/03/permaculture-healthy-sustainable.html
Pruning Perennial Herbs ~ Spring
P. Allen Smith explains how to prune perennial herbs on the brink of spring.
Green Patch: Perennial Pruning
http://www.motherearthliving.com/gardening/green-patch-perennial-pruning.aspx
Soil as Carbon Storehouse: New Weapon in Climate Fight? By Judith D. Schwartz
By Judith D. Schwartz
Yale Environment 360, March 4, 2014
Straight to the Source
For Related Articles and More Information, Please Visit OCA’s Environment and Climate Resource Center Page and our Organic Transitions Page.
In the 19th century, as land-hungry pioneers steered their wagon trains westward across the United States, they encountered a vast landscape of towering grasses that nurtured deep, fertile soils.
Today, just three percent of North America’s tallgrass prairie remains. Its disappearance has had a dramatic impact on the landscape and ecology of the U.S., but a key consequence of that transformation has largely been overlooked: a massive loss of soil carbon into the atmosphere. The importance of soil carbon – how it is leached from the earth and how that process can be reversed – is the subject of intensifying scientific investigation, with important implications for the effort to slow the rapid rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
According to Rattan Lal, director of Ohio State University’s Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, the world’s cultivated soils have lost between 50 and 70 percent of their original carbon stock, much of which has oxidized upon exposure to air to become CO2. Now, armed with rapidly expanding knowledge about carbon sequestration in soils, researchers are studying how land restoration programs in places like the former North American prairie, the North China Plain, and even the parched interior of Australia might help put carbon back into the soil.
Absent carbon and critical microbes, soil becomes mere dirt, a process of deterioration that’s been rampant around the globe. Many scientists say that regenerative agricultural practices can turn back the carbon clock, reducing atmospheric CO2 while also boosting soil productivity and increasing resilience to floods and drought. Such regenerative techniques include planting fields year-round in crops or other cover, and agroforestry that combines crops, trees, and animal husbandry.
Water Irrigation in the Garden ~ Repurposing Milk Jugs as Olla’s ~ Water Conservation
An olla is a ceramic jar, often unglazed, used for cooking stews or soups, for the storage of water or dry foods, or for other purposes. Ollas have a short wide neck and a wider belly, resembling beanpots or handis.
Because water seeps through the walls of an unglazed olla, these vessels can be used to irrigate plants. The olla is buried in the ground next to the roots of the plant to be irrigated, with the neck of the olla extending above the soil. The olla is filled with water, which gradually seeps into the soil to water the roots of the plant. It is an efficient method, since no water is lost to evaporation or run-off.
This irrigation technique was introduced to the Americas by Spanish settlers in colonial times. Agriculture and gardening specialists are teaching it, and olla use is making a comeback in New Mexico and the American West. The state’s master gardening program is spreading the word. An olla factory has been founded in Albuquerque at Growing Awareness Urban Farm to produce the pots. It can be effective for homeowners to use in the desert climate. It has also been put to use by the Global Buckets project.
In their September 2013 newsletter, Ecology Action (www.growbiointensive.org/) describes using five 5-gallon ollas for a 100-square-foot garden plot. The test plot is using 1.25 gallons per olla every four days. The ollas are fitted with caps that reduce evaporation and collect rain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olla#Use_in_irrigation
Make a “poor man’s” olla!
This should help water my veggies this summer. I especially want to put them next to my melons and cucumbers so they can get the water needed (more than some of my other plants).
I water my garden with a watering can, so this little creation should help direct the water to the plant roots, instead of running off into mulch and pathways.
Health benefits of Borage ~ Plant Care Guide
Borage is a beautiful flowering plant that grows in the wild in the Mediterranean. It is cultivated and used widely throughout Europe for its healing properties and for a nice addition to a salad. Borage is also cultivated in the US, where it is more popular as an herbal supplement rather than a food product. The leaves are robust and have medicinal properties and the topper of the plant is a striking blue star shaped flower. The flowers are edible as well and are often found candied for cake decorations or made into sweet syrups. In Italy it is served as a side dish much like a serving of vegetables.
Borage is from the Boraginaaceae family and has the proper name of Borago officinalis. Borage is also known as the Bee plant and Bee Bread because the blue purplish star shaped flower attracts bees all summer long. Throughout history Borage has been used to treat a multitude of ailments and to improve overall health. The Romans would mix Borage tea and wine prior to combat, most likely to fortify themselves for the battle.
There are multiple health benefits one can get from taking Borage as a herbal supplement. One of the most important nutrients in Borage is essential fatty acids, something our body needs for good health. Essential fatty acids must be ingested from diet. An essential fatty acid deficiency can directly affect mood, internal inflammation and various cellular functions. In order for metabolic processes such as cardiovascular functions to work properly, they depend on the proper levels of essential fatty acids in the body. EFA’s also improve hair and nail growth and appearance. Specifically, Borage has very high levels of GLA, gamma linolenic acid, an important essential fatty acid. Borage is often used to boost GLA deficiencies in children as well to ensure proper growth.
Borage is also packed with other healthy nutrients that are great for the body. Borage is a good herbal supplement for women because it contains high levels of calcium and iron, nutrients many women are deficient in. Potassium, Zinc, B and C Vitamins, and beta carotene are packed into the Borage plant making it very nutritional.
The adrenal glands in our body work very hard all day to prepare our body for fight or flight situations, constantly releasing adrenalin into the body. Adrenal fatigue can occur when the body is overstressed. Borage is used to restore the adrenal glands to their natural balance, which in turn creates a calmer body and mind.
Borage is well known for its soothing qualities and has been used to treat nervous conditions. Its natural sedative effects have been used for lifting the spirits and softening the nervous edge some people experience. Borage works well to ease the depression and mood swings often associated with menopause and menstrual cycles as well and is a nice alternative to traditional prescription medications.
There are many current ongoing studies involving the health benefits of Borage. Borage is currently being researched as a possible treatment for rheumatoid arthritis because of it’s anti inflammatory properties. Because of research like this, Borage is now known to reduce itch and dryness associated with certain skin disorders such as eczema and dermatitis.
Borage can be found in a caplet form, or as a liquid extract of the plant. Borage oil is distilled from the seeds of the plant and used topically or taken internally. It is not recommended to be taken long term internally due to the concentration of alkaloids in Borage that can damage the liver. A typical dose of the caplet or extract form is one to two grams per day. The dried leaves can be brewed into a tea, which has been said to have a refreshing cucumber like flavor.
It is not recommended that Borage be taken long term internally because of the concentration of alkaloids in Borage that can damage the liver. Do not take Borage if you are taking anti-coagulants without discussing it with your doctor first. Nausea, cramping, bloating and headache are side effects that Borage can cause, although they are relatively mild.
See Also
Borage Herbal Medicine ~ Borage Uses, Health Benefits And Side Effects
Borage nutrition facts
Borage Alchemy works
Borage Magick
Ruler: Jupiter and Leo
Type: Herb
Other Names: “Barrach” (Celtic for “man of courage”), tailwort, bee’s bread, andstarflower
Magickal Form: Blossoms, dried leaves
Borage is legendary for its spirit-lifting and courage-inducing properties. Celtic warriors drank wine flavored with borage to give them courage in battle, borage leaves and flowers were eaten for courage by Roman soldiers before they went into battle. Medieval knights wore scraves embroidered with the flowers for the same reason.
For courage, tuck a borage blossom in the pocket before any stressful situation, or drink a tea or glass of wine flavored with borage leaves.
Drinking borage tea is said to increase psychic powers and relieve symptoms of depression. Many of the most noted herbalists throughout history have considered it a very effective anti-depressant for the feeling of elation it induces.
Pliny said that borage-flavored wine was the Nepenthe of Homer, which when drunk brings forgiveness. In Elizabethan England, it was considered to lift melancholy; according to Culpeper, borage expells pensiveness and melancholy, and the candied or jellied flowers comfort the heart and spirits of those who are sick from consumption or from the passions of the heart. Gerard recommended eating this herb in a salad for joy and said that a syrup made of the flowers “purgeth melancholy and quieteth the phreneticke and lunaticke person.”
Place the fresh blossoms on an altar to bring luck and power to your spells. Sprinkle crushed dried leaves around the workplace for inspiration and business expansion. Drink the tea to increase psychic abilities.
Eating the flowers in salads aids courage and cheerfulness and ends melancholy. The flowers sprinkled in the bath are good for courage or for Jovian protection, and a cup of borage tea can help with feelings of vulnerability and disjointedness.
In Hoodoo, borage flowers in the house help bring about domestic tranquility. Borage flowers may be used alone or mixed with blue-flowered Corn Flowers, Periwinkle, Rosemary, or Forget-Me-Not. Steep the flowers to make a tea. You can also add this tea to a floor wash for a peaceful home.
You can also sprinkle it at the 4 corners of the property, the 4 corners of the house, the 4 corners of each room, and the 4 corners of the kitchen table, to restore harmony and love to the family.
Place a pinch of dried Borage flowers in each corner of a room where family fights have occurred, with a fifth pinch under the rug at the center of the room.
Because of its connections to Jupiter, this herb is associated with the Hierophant in the tarot deck.
From: Encyclopedia of Magickal Ingredients
Starflower ~ Borage Plant Care Guide @ Auntie Dogma’s
Tip! Borage can be planted now in Northern Hemisphere 🙂
Growing Healthy: Spaghetti Squash
The spaghetti squash (Cucurbita pepo var. fastigata) (also called vegetable spaghetti, noodle squash, vegetable marrow, spaghetti marrow, and squaghetti) is an oblong seed-bearing variety of winter squash. The fruit can range either from ivory to yellow or orange in color. The orange varieties have a higher carotene content. Its center contains many large seeds. Its flesh is bright yellow or orange. When raw, the flesh is solid and similar to other raw squash; when cooked, the flesh falls away from the fruit in ribbons or strands like spaghetti.
Spaghetti squash can be baked, boiled, steamed, and/or microwaved.[1] It can be served with or without sauce, as a substitute for pasta. The seeds can be roasted, similar to pumpkin seeds.[1]
Nutrition
Spaghetti squash contains many nutrients, including folic acid, potassium, vitamin A, and beta carotene. It is low in calories, averaging 42 calories per 1-cup (155 grams) serving.[2]
Cultivation
Spaghetti squash are relatively easy to grow, thriving in gardens or in containers.[3]
The plants are monoecious, with male and female flowers on the same plant.[4] Male flowers have long, thin stems that extend upwards from the vine. Female flowers are shorter, with a small round growth underneath the petals. This round growth turns into the squash if the flower is successfully pollinated.
Spaghetti squash plants may cross-pollinate with zucchini plants.
Spaghetti Squash Planting Guide @sfgate.com
by Sara Ipatenco, Demand Media
Squash & Zucchini Planting @ Old farmer’s
How to Grow Spaghetti Squash on a Trellis
How to ~ Raised Bed Ideas ~ Part Two … and why
Make your own raised beds in less than an hour and save big bucks @ almanac.com
Every time I open a plant catalog or see a television commercial for sale-priced $99 raised bed gardening kits, I cringe! You don’t need to spend that kind of money to build your own four-by-four-foot bed or even a 20-foot-long one.
My husband builds mine. He buys two 1 x 8-inch cedar boards, which don’t rot with age. They come in 8-foot lengths, which is perfect for 4 x 4-foot beds. Cut each plank in half, so that it is 4-feet long. Or, you can have a home improvement/lumber store make the cuts. Many places will do it for free.
Husband also buys a 3-foot length of a 1 x 1-inch pine stake; he cuts it into four pieces and uses them to nail the cedar boards to at corners for bracing. That’s all!
Grouping together several raised beds makes a substantial vegetable garden that is easy to maintain, with no weeding and crops that mature fast
I place the boxes on cleared ground. We cut and roll up our turf, but many gardeners do not think it is necessary. The added 6 inches of soil will bury most of the grass and weeds beneath. After I situate the boxes (four or five grouped together makes a good sized garden), I put down three layers of newspaper to suppress errant weed or grass seeds that might sprout. Paper degrades fully within weeks and feeds the soil.
Another fast, cheap method of building raised beds is to use concrete construction blocks. They have a big bonus. Their holes can be filled with soil mix and planted with herbs or strawberries.
The extra gathered heat from concrete is perfect for Mediterranean-type herbs such as rosemary and lavender. Strawberry plants grow huge and fruit fast in the holes. Each block is 16 inches long by 8 inches high; I purchase mine at big box stores as find the price most reasonable. Beds of 13 feet or longer by 4 feet wide are cheaper to build using blocks than with cedar boards..jpg)
Cement construction blocks are a cheap method of building raised beds.
You will be planting seeds and transplants close, because the beds are smaller and the soil is richer. But, plants grown close together in raised beds mature faster, because they compete for nutrients and sunlight. Each plant senses the distance of others and adjusts its metabolism to compete. Several university studies have proven this competition syndrome by identifying how plants perceive others nearby using the green light spectrum.
This 4 x 4-foot bed is crowded with productive peppers, cucumbers, a tomato plant and insect-repelling flowers that are edible.
Raised Bed Soil Mix
The more organic matter there is in soil, the better. Soil microbes are fed, oxygen and water
readily reach roots and plants thrive. Here’s the recipe I’ve developed in the last decade that
works best for my garden.
For one 4 x 4-foot raised bed. (Multiply amounts to fill larger beds.)
2 bags (2-cubic-feet each) top soil
1 pail (3-cubic-feet) peat moss
1 bag (2 to 3-cubic feet) compost or composted cow manure
2-inch layer of shredded leaves or grass clipping.
If you use grass, make sure the clippings are not from a lawn that has been sprayed with herbicides or been fertilized with a food that contains granular herbicides to kill weeds. Both persist and will kill plants beds up to three years after the initial application.
Mix all materials with a hoe or cultivator and water well. Be sure to mulch well with organic Matter such as more leaves or clippings or straw.
Related Articles
Garden Raised Beds and Small Plots
Raised Garden Beds: How to Build
Benefits And Construction of Raised Beds For Vegetable Gardening @ Homstead Revival
For several years, I’ve grown a portion, if not all, of my vegetables in raised beds. It wasn’t until I ran out of space trying to grow enough food for 8 people that I started planting directly into the ground for my tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and squash. But if volume is not an issue, consider some of the benefits of raised bed gardening.
Raised Bed Gardening @ Organic gardening
Crops grow better in the deep, loose, fertile soil of raised beds.
For space efficiency and high yields, it’s hard to beat a vegetable garden grown in raised beds. Raised beds can improve production as well as save space, time, and money. They also are the perfect solution for dealing with difficult soils such as heavy clay. In addition, raised beds improve your garden’s appearance and accessibility.
Have a Lawn and Eat Too – The Edible Backyard Barrel Garden
How to ~ Raised Beds Ideas ~ part One
Making the Most of Your Thyme: The Herb’s Amazing Health Benefits and How to Grow
By Antonia
Thyme, a popular herb used to add flavor to a variety of foods, also boasts a range of health benefits. Whether you use it in salads or as a tea, its powerful effects can keep your body and mind going strong. Adding it to your diet is a surefire way to stay in great shape both mentally and physically.
5 Incredible Benefits of Adding Thyme to Your Diet
Improves Respiratory Function
Thyme is one of the best natural ways to improve respiratory problems. In fact, according to The University of Maryland Medical Center, enjoying a cup of thyme tea can help relieve coughs and even shorten the duration of a cold. In Germany, the German Commission E, a group that examines herbal safety and efficacy in the country, has approved thyme as a bronchitis treatment.
Powerful Anti-Microbial Properties
Not only can thyme help preserve foods naturally, but thanks to its essential oil, it can also decontaminate a variety of bacteria. From Staphylococcus aureus to Escherichia coli, research shows that thyme has powerful antimicrobial properties. Studies published in Food Microbiology explain that thyme’s essential oil decontaminated lettuce that had Shigella, which causes diarrhea and other stomach ailments. Even a very small concentration (just 1%) of the oil dropped Shigella’s bacterial levels so low that they could not be detected.
High in Antioxidants
Thyme’s volatile oil, thymol is brimming with antioxidant benefits. Researchers discovered its ability to protect brain cells, paving the way for its role in possible Alzheimer’s disease prevention. Furthermore,thymol (aff link) has also been found to boost the amount of the body’s health fats, specifically omega-3 fatty acids. In turn, problems with brain, kidney and heart cell membranes are lessened.
Rich in Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Thyme is loaded with vitamins and minerals. It’s rich in potassium, iron and calcium, all of which contribute to blood pressure regulation, proper red blood cell formation and distribution of antioxidants in the body. That’s just for starters. The flavorful herb is high in B-complex vitamins, vitamin A, C and folic acid, to name just a few. As such, thyme plays a role in getting rid of free radicals in the body, improving our vision and even protecting us from certain lung and oral cavity cancers.
Helps Relieve Gas and Bloating
It’s often embarrassing and sometimes painful, especially if excess gas is an ongoing issue. Thyme tea to the rescue! Once again, the essential oil in thyme has gas-relieving properties that also help get rid of cramping and bloating.
Did You Know . . .
- Since ancient times, thyme has been enjoyed for culinary, aromatic and medicinal reasons.
- Thyme’s aroma was pleasing to those in ancient Greece, where people burned it as incense in temples.
- “The smell of thyme” was a phrase often used to describe a person or situation that involved courage and admiration, designed to convey utmost praise.
Sources for this article include:
http://blogs.naturalnews.com/making-the-most-of-your-thyme-the-herbs-amazing-health-benefits/
Thyme: Planting, Growing, Harvesting ~ Varieties Here
Turn your Porch into a Garden
This is what i plan on doing this winter as project, converting my porch into solarium for all seasons and growing year round.
See Also …
71 Breezy Porches and Patios Here
How to Make a Greenhouse on a Screen Porch ~ By Michelle Powell-Smith, eHow Contributor
Turn your screened porch into a greenhouse for the winter. You can opt for a year-round permanent greenhouse or a temporary one to use in the winter, depending upon how you normally use your screen porch. Your greenhouse can let you start seeds while there is still snow on the ground, winter over delicate plants and continue your gardening through the winter months.
How to Build a Patio Greenhouse ~ By Cheryl Munson, eHow Contributor
Many homes have gardens — but not every home has a greenhouse. A gardener makes a clear and obvious statement about just how seriously they take gardening and caring for their plantings when they install a greenhouse. It doesn’t take a major investment to have a greenhouse. You can build a “mini” greenhouse to protect your plants through all sorts of weather, and protect your wallet from having to repurchase plants after a frost, drought or rainstorm.
93,622 enclosed porch Home Design Photos
Make Your Patio a Perfect Retreat
How to Make a Four Season Room from a Porch
What to grow in a greenhouse in winter
With the right growing techniques, an unheated greenhouse can be a productive, pollution-free garden asset all through the year.
The Health Benefits of Cloves
Cloves are the dried, flower bud of the evergreen tree, Eugenia aromatica. While the tree is indigenous to the Maluka Islands of Indonesia, cloves also grow naturally in India, the West Indies, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Madagascar. For over 2,000 years, Indian and Chinese traditional medicine has made extensive use of cloves and clove oil. Arabic traders brought the buds to Europe in the 4th century. During the 7th and 8th centuries in Europe, cloves became popular as a food preservative. Today, cloves are in the spice rack of most homes and evidence supporting their use as a therapeutic remedy against harmful organisms continues to grow.
What Makes Cloves Effective?
Cloves are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber. However, the component responsible for clove’s powerful effects and odor is a substance called eugenol. Eugenol is toxic against harmful organisms, including fungus, and may even relieve discomfort. [1] [2]
Cloves and Harmful Organisms
Research has repeatedly shown that cloves and eugenol are effective at establishing an environment that is not friendly to harmful organisms. When Portuguese researchers evaluated eugenol against giardia, they observed it inhibited giardia growth and may offer potential as a natural therapy against giardiasis. [3]
Clove, wintergreen, cinnamon, and peppermint are just some of the many essential oils that have demonstrated action against bacteria, fungus, and yeast, including candida. [4] [5] An interesting practical application for this has been evaluated in Japan where researchers believe that spices like clove may offer seafood a level of protection against certain harmful organisms. [6]
More than just an annoyance, insects like mosquitoes can be carriers of diseases. Many bug repellant sprays contain chemical toxins, such as DEET. According to Duke University School of Nursing, clove oil can be a natural insect repellant for persons who want to avoid conventional, toxic options. [7] Research conducted by Thailand’s Mahidol University also found clove oil to be extremely effective at repelling mosquitoes. [8]
Other Benefits of Cloves
Many diseases are caused by free radicals and oxidative damage. Antioxidants defend against oxidative damage and plants are often among the best sources of antioxidants. Along with sage and oregano, cloves contain highly beneficial, health-promoting antioxidants. [9]
Clove oil offers a powerful action against gas and bloating. It reduces gas pressure in the stomach, aiding in the proper elimination of food and toxins. It also relieves the discomfort of peptic ulcers and is effective against nausea, hiccups, motion sickness and vomiting.
Clove oil, which encourages healthy teeth and gums, is a traditional remedy for relieving toothache, sore gums and oral ulcers. [10]
In Asia, the incidence of some diseases is lower than in western nations. The culinary styles in Asia also use a heavy amount of spices such as turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and clove. Why does this matter? According to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, these spices, which are resistant to swelling, may provide hope against brain diseases which are, at least partially, attributable to chronic redness. [11]
Supplementing With Cloves
Cloves have a strong flavor and tough texture that doesn’t really make them the best stand alone snack food, which can make it tough to consume cloves on a daily basis. There are a few ways around this though. Ground cloves, or oil, can be inserted into empty capsules and swallowed with ease. Some people also like to add clove (and cinnamon) to smoothies. Aside from the health benefits, this can add a real flavor punch.
When you’re looking to herbs, spices, and foods for health benefits (which should be always), it’s important to always choose organic whenever possible; because cloves are so appreciated, they are widely available in organic form.
How do you enjoy supplementing with cloves? What benefits have you noticed? Leave a comment and let us know!
– Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
References:
He M, Du M, Fan M, Bian Z. In vitro activity of eugenol against Candida albicans biofilms. Mycopathologia. 2007 Mar;163(3):137-43. Epub 2007 Mar 14.
Pinto E, Vale-Silva L, Cavaleiro C, Salgueiro L. Antifungal activity of the clove essential oil from Syzygium aromaticum on Candida, Aspergillus and dermatophyte species. J Med Microbiol. 2009 Nov;58(Pt 11):1454-62. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.010538-0. Epub 2009 Jul 9.
Machado M, Dinis AM, Salgueiro L, Custódio JB, Cavaleiro C, Sousa MC. Anti-Giardia activity of Syzygium aromaticum essential oil and eugenol: effects on growth, viability, adherence and ultrastructure. Exp Parasitol. 2011 Apr;127(4):732-9. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.01.011. Epub 2011 Jan 25.
Chaudhari LK, Jawale BA, Sharma S, Sharma H, Kumar CD, Kulkarni PA. Antimicrobial activity of commercially available essential oils against Streptococcus mutans. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2012 Jan 1;13(1):71-4.
Chami N, Bennis S, Chami F, Aboussekhra A, Remmal A. Study of anticandidal activity of carvacrol and eugenol in vitro and in vivo. Oral Microbiol Immunol. 2005 Apr;20(2):106-11.
Yano Y, Satomi M, Oikawa H. Antimicrobial effect of spices and herbs on Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Int J Food Microbiol. 2006 Aug 15;111(1):6-11. Epub 2006 Jun 22.
Shapiro R. Prevention of vector transmitted diseases with clove oil insect repellent. J Pediatr Nurs. 2012 Aug;27(4):346-9. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2011.03.011. Epub 2011 May 25. Review.
Trongtokit Y, Rongsriyam Y, Komalamisra N, Apiwathnasorn C. Comparative repellency of 38 essential oils against mosquito bites. Phytother Res. 2005 Apr;19(4):303-9.
Blomhoff R. [Antioxidants and oxidative stress]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2004 Jun 17;124(12):1643-5. Review. Norwegian.
Kumar P, Ansari SH, Ali J. Herbal remedies for the treatment of periodontal disease–a patent review. Recent Pat Drug Deliv Formul. 2009 Nov;3(3):221-8. Review.
Weir JB. New methods for calculating metabolic rate with special reference to protein metabolism. 1949. Nutrition. 1990 May-Jun;6(3):213-21.
Discover the wonders of tea tree oil
(NaturalNews) Among the many natural ways to treat infection, tea tree oil is one of the very best. Tea tree oil is an essential oil taken from the leaves of the melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia and New South Wales. It has a wide variety of uses with strong antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Tea tree oil’s antibacterial properties are so effective that it actively attacks and eliminates staff infections, including MRSA.
The tea tree plant has a long history of medicinal use. The aborigines in Australia used tea tree leaves to heal skin infections, wounds, and burns by crushing the leaves and holding them in place with a mud pack.
Tea tree oil effectively treats a variety of conditions. It can be used without a carrier oil, but it is good practice to do a patch test on your skin first, as undiluted tea tree oil can irritate the skin. If the skin is sensitive, then it is necessary to dilute it. A good tea tree oil solution can be made by mixing 5 parts of tea tree oil with 95 parts of water. Please note that tea tree oil should never be taken internally, even in small amounts.
Below are just some of the many ways to effectively use tea tree oil:
Acne: Tea tree oil kills the skin dwelling bacteria that causes acne. Dilute the tea tree oil as directed above and apply to lesions. Another way to apply it is by diluting it with aloe vera gel. To begin with, mix one or two drops to one ounce of the gel.
Boils: Apply undiluted (or diluted if sensitive) tea tree oil directly on the boil with a cotton swab several times a day. Because boils are infectious and can easily spread, make sure to properly dispose of the swab after use, being careful not to touch uninfected areas of your skin.
Athlete’s Foot: Every morning and evening, saturate a cotton ball with tea tree oil (you may need to dilute it) and apply to the affected and surrounding areas. You may want to also apply a tea tree oil enriched moisturizer. Results should be evident in about a week. Tea tree oil is also very effective when treating nail fungal infections.
Oral Thrush and/or Periodontal Disease: Mix one capful of tea tree oil with 12 ounces of water. Swish, gargle, and rinse three times a day. Additionally, when brushing your teeth, you can apply two to three drops to your toothbrush.
Eczema/Psoriasis: It is not advisable to apply undiluted tea tree oil directly, as the affected areas may already be sensitive. Instead, mix 10 drops to 2 tablespoons of olive oil or almond oil and apply directly to the affected areas.
Warts: If the warts are on the feet, apply full strength tea tree oil. (Skin on feet is thicker and less sensitive than other areas.) For other areas of the body, mix a 50/50 solution using water or aloe vera gel. You may need to dilute it further, depending on skin sensitivity.
Insect Bites: Apply full strength to the bite area. Tea tree oil is also an effective insect repellent.
Wound Healing: Moderately apply tea tree oil at a strength of 70 to 100% on the wound at least twice daily.
Lastly, putting a few drops of tea tree oil in bathwater has a relaxing and rejuvenating effect. It will also soothe sore muscles and eliminate persistent body odor.
These are just some of the conditions that tea tree oil treats. Tea tree oil belongs in every natural medicine cabinet.
Sources:
http://www.natural-remedies-review.com/tea-t…
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsuppleme…
http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/article…
About the author
Luella May is a natural health advocate helping people to heal naturally. Luella is in the midst of editing her ebook, “The 8 Invisible Stains of Our Souls” which will be available in the next few months. She partners with Tony Isaacs, who authors of books and articles about natural health including “Cancer’s Natural Enemy” and “Collected Remedies” Luella contributes to The Best Years in Life website for baby boomers and others wishing to avoid prescription drugs and mainstream managed illness and live longer, healthier and happier lives naturally. Luella co-moderates the CureZone “Ask Tony Isaacs” forum as well as the Yahoo Health Group “Oleander Soup” and hosts her own yahoo group focusing on the natural wellbeing of pets ”
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/033072_tea_tree_oil_remedies.html#ixzz2lQUNRnw1
See Also …
Tea Tree Oil @ webmd
Winter down under
Winter down under
by Fiona Ogilvie
The Mediterranean Garden
Winter is a wonderful time for gardeners in warm climates. It might lack the cooler climates’ carpets of multi-coloured leaves and glitter of hips and berries, but its compensations are great. Sunny, still days mean more flowers and indeed more time for gardening, rather than sitting trapped behind double-glazing looking at bare branches and wondering if it will ever stop raining. Sure, cool temperate climates produce sensational gardens: few things compare to emerald lawns, cascading roses and bosomy herbaceous borders. But never forget the endless drizzle that keeps them that way.
Wandering Jew ~ Tradescantia zebrina
Botanical name: Zebrina Pendula or Tradescantia Albiflora
Plant type: Houseplant
Sun exposure: Part Sun
Wandering Jews (Tradescantias) are valued for their stripes of white, green, silver, and purple colors in their leaves. They have trailing vines that flow from it’s base and are very easy to care for.
Planting
Grow in all-purpose potting mix in either a pot or hanging basket.
- Select a location that delivers medium to bright light.
- The room temperature should be between 55 and 75 degrees F.
Care
- Water completely and allow the soil to dry before watering again. You can water less during the winter months of its resting period.
- Provide fertilizer twice a month.
- You can re-root the long stem tips by cutting in the spring and summer. Just make sure the stems are 3 inches long and the plant will root within 3 weeks.
Pests
Aphids tend to be a problem on the stems and leaves. To rid of them, pinch off the infected stems and spray the plant with water.
Auntie Dogma's Garden Spot 
Recent Comments