Lavender

Scientific name: Lavandula angustifolia Growing process:

 How(harvest) Harvest lavender stems at any time by cutting them from the plant. However, avoid clipping more than every third stem to keep the plant looking full. Flowers will keep their perfume for months when you harvest just before they are entirely open. To dry flowers, gather a bunch of stems and hang them upsidedown in a dark, well-ventilated place to preserve color and keep the stems from molding Where: These plants require a sunny planting location with good air circulation. Do not plant them next to your house where it is shady and damp. Humidity is not a friend of Lavender. Consider planting Lavender on sun drenched banks and other landscape problem areas as the flower display is quite attractive. This plant can withstand a good soaking rain but they need to be able to dry off afterward. This is why good air circulation is a must which means allow adequate spacing between plants. Here is how I care for my Lavender plants in extended rain.

How to take care of it

Plant lavender in full sun and well-drained soil (add organic matter to improve heavy soils). Water plants deeply but infrequently, when the soil is almost dry.

The two basic requirements for successful lavender growing are full sun and good drainage. Lavender is a very hardy plant and will tolerate some neglect but for best results try to follow our plant care guidelines.

Properties: (nutrients and vitamins)

Benefits: Medicinal Uses for Lavender: Lavender essential oils and lavender flowers have numerous uses in traditional folk medicine. These include; for the treatment of rheumatism, colic, flatulence, headaches and to treat stings, sprains and cuts. Never consume lavender essential oil, especially in large amounts over a prolonged period. Lavender essential oil has poisonous narcotic effects and has been known to cause death. Instead use the herb itself to prepare lavender tea. Lavender tea is known to have sedative effects that aid rest and sleep.

Dieffenbachia
Scientific name: Dieffenbachia bowmannii Growing process: With a minimum temperature of 5 C (41 F), dieffenbachia must be grown indoors in temperate areas. They need light, but filtered sunlight through a window is usually sufficient. They also need moderately moist soil, which should be regularly fertilized with a proprietary houseplant fertilizer. Leaves will periodically roll up and fall off to make way for new leaves. Properties: he cells of the Dieffenbachia plant contain needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals called raphides. If a leaf is chewed, these crystals can cause a temporary burning sensation and erythema. In rare cases, edema of tissues exposed to the plant has been reported. Mastication and ingestion generally result in only mild symptoms. Benefits: in Brazil the plant is said to ward against "negative energies" and "evil eye", etc. Because of this, it is commonly placed on a "seven lucky herbs" vase, along with common rue, Capsicum annuum, snake plant, basil, rosemary and Petiveria alliacea.

Coleus
Scientific name: Solenostemon scutellarioides Growing process: The plants grow well in moist well-drained soil, and typically grow 0.51 m tall, though some may grow as tall as 2 meters. Coleus are typically grown as ornamental plants. They are heat-tolerant, but they do less well in full sun in subtropical areas than in the shade. Properties: It has been reported to have very mild relaxing and/or hallucinogenic effects when
consumed. The effects of the Coleus plant have not been explored very much by modern scientists but the plant has been known to have been used by the Mazatec Indians of southern Mexico who have a history of consuming this plant for its mind-altering effects.

Benefits: Lowering of blood pressure, Forskolin is thought to also help with inhibition of allergic reactions, Increased production of the thyroid hormone, Forskolin is also thought to reduce the pro-inflammatory substance also known as platelet-activating factor 6, Increased insulin production and metabolism is also linked to forskolin, Forskolin is becoming even more popular for the use of weight loss.

Aloe vera
Common name: Aloe vera Scientific name:
Aloe barbadensis

Growing process: How:

Aloe species there are more than 300 of them

Aloe Vera is a popular plant, thought to have originated in Northern Africa. It thrives in dry climates and produces budded, succulent leaves full of slimy gel. This inner gel, obtained by breaking the leaves, is medicinal in nature and popular in herbal medicine circles. To plant Aloe Vera, youll need a few things. First, you need a place to plant your crop. An open-air garden works well, though if you live in an inhospitable climate or are currently in a season not friendly to gardening, planting inside is also acceptable. A plant holder or simple pot with room enough for soil works. Other useful tools or ingredients you need for growing aloe vera include the following: Aloe seeds Spade Soil Manure or soil enrichment products (Should be organic) Watering can

Where:Australia, Mexico,India,the Salvador,Kenya, Jamaica.

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How to take care of it: Poor Aloe Vera plant care shows in the leaves. Heres how you can tell what is happening with your plant: 1. Aloe leaves should grow upward, away from the base of the plant. If the leaves are lying flat, your Aloe probably has insufficient light. Although it will turn brown with too much light, it still needs a good amount of sunshine. 2. If the leaves are thin and curled, you probably are not watering your Aloe enough. The plant is using up its own liquid to keep itself nourished. Give it some water! 3. When the leaves are brown, as I mentioned before, your plant should be taken to a place with less direct sunshine. 4. If the plant is growing very slowly, the soil or water might be too alkaline. It could also mean that the plant was too damp for too long, needs more light, or has too much fertilizer. It might also like a bigger pot. Properties: (nutrients and vitamins)

Zinnia
Scientific name: Zinnia is a genus of 20 species of annual and perennial plants of the family Asteraceae. The 20 species of zinnias include single and double blossoms on plants from 18 to 36 inches tall. Growing process: Planting Zinnias are grown from seed; they grow very quickly in the right conditions. Zinnias do not like to be transplanted. Full sun is essential wiht a minimum daylight temperature of 60 degrees F. Zinnias are adaptable but prefer fertile, humus-rich, well drained soil at pH preference 5.5 - 7.5. If soil is amended with compost, the flowers will grow more quickly. Sow seeds 1/4-inch deep. Space plants 4 to 24 inches apart depending on variety. (Many common varieties are 6 inches within the row and 2 feet in between rows.) See back of seed package. Germination occurs at 74 to 80 degrees F in 5 to 76 days. Sow in succession for a longer flowering display.

 How(harvest) You can grow them anywhere that ample water and sun are available. Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow. Nurseries and home improvement stores often have zinnias available for transplant, but you can grow them easily from seed. Sow them from four to six weeks before the last expected frost in fertile well-drained soil. Pinching spent blossoms encourages new blooms. Zinnias make beautiful border plants and cut flowers. Where? They are native to scrub and dry grassland in an area stretching from the Southwestern United States to South America, with a centre of diversity in Mexico. Members of the genus are notable for their solitary long-stemmed flowers that come in a variety of bright colors. Today zinnias bloom throughout the world. How to take care of it They are mostly resistant to insects and disease. They also don't need much care, just simple weeding. Care : Deadhead to prolong flowering. Maintain moderate soil moisture and fertilize lightly. Zinnias will die with the first frost. Properties: (nutrients and vitamins) Nada xD.. Solo la medicina de abajo e_e Benefits: Zinnias attract and benefit pollinators. Zinnias themselves are pollinated by insects, typically bees and butterflies. Their bright colors draw pollinators to a garden. Monarch butterflies, in particular, love zinnias and pollinate them and use them for food and egg-laying habitat. Insect ecologist Chip Taylor, of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, suggests planting zinnias at Monarch butterfly way stations along the Monarch's migration route. At these way stations, the butterflies can get the nectar they need for their long journey from North American to Mexico and back. Honeybees also benefit from zinnia pollen and nectar. Normally we think of flower beds and vegetable beds as being separate. Zinnias, however, are good companion plants for vegetables and deserve a place in your vegetable garden. Zinnias deter cucumber beetles and tomato worms. They attract predatory wasps and hover flies, which eat insects that would destroy garden plants. They attract hummingbirds, which eat whiteflies before those flies can damage tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes. Medicine. Flower Essemce Services - Zinnia Flower Essence -0.25 oz. (7.5ml) Flower Essence Services Zinnia Flower Essence is a herbal infusion or decoction, made from the flowering part of the plant, which uniquely address emotional and mental aspects of wellness. The first 38 flower remedies were formulated by a British physician, Dr. Edward Bach, in the 1930's, although new remedies from other plant species are now available. Positive qualities: Childlike playfulness and curiosity, detached perspective on Self, sense of humor Patterns of imbalance: Over-serious and dull, lack of spontaneity or humor; overly somber self-identity; workaholic tendencies Frquently Asked Questions What are flower essences? Flower essences are herbal infusions or decoctions, made from the flowering part of the plant, which uniquely address emotional and mental aspects of wellness. The first 38 flower remedies were formulated by a British physician, Dr. Edward Bach, in the 1930's, although new remedies from other plant species are now available. How do flower essences work?To understand how flower essences work requires a recognition that the human

being is more than a physical body, but also incorporates a "body" of life energy, a "body" of sensitivity and feelings, and a spiritual essence or Self. Flower essences are energetic imprints of the life force of plants which interact with these subtle bodies of the human being, and evoke specific qualities within us. We can say that they work in a similar way to inspirational music or art, which carry meaning through the vehicle of sound or light, while the flower essences work through the medium of water.

Ginger
Scientific name: Zingiber officinale Growing process: Ginger produces clusters of white and pink flower buds that bloom into yellow flowers. Because of its aesthetic appeal and the adaptation of the plant to warm climates, ginger is often used as landscaping around subtropical homes. It is a perennial reedlike plant with annual leafy stems, about a meter (3 to 4 feet) tall. Traditionally, the rhizome is gathered when the stalk withers; it is immediately scalded, or washed and scraped, to kill it and prevent sprouting. The fragrant perisperm of Zingiberaceae is used as sweetmeats by Bantu, also as a condiment and sialogogue. Properties: The traditional medical form of ginger historically was called Jamaica ginger; it was classified as a stimulant and carminative and used frequently for dyspepsia, gastroparesis, slow motility symptoms, constipation, and colic. It was also frequently employed to disguise the taste of medicines. Benefits: If consumed in reasonable quantities, ginger has few negative side effects,[39] and is on the FDA's "generally recognized as safe" list, though it does interact with some medications, including warfarin.

Lantana
Scinetific name: Lantana camara Growing process: It has become naturalized in tropical and warm regions worldwide.[7] In the Kenyan highlands it grows in many areas that receive even minimal amounts of rainfall. It can be seen in the wild and along footpaths, deserted fields, and farms. Properties: Some communities have found alternate uses for West Indian Lantana, as it is
difficult to eradicate. Some household furniture, such as tables and chairs are made from the stalks, or the small branches are bundled together to make brooms.

Benefits: The methanolic extract of Lantana camara leaves shown healing of gastric ulcers and also prevents development of duodenal ulcers in rats. Extracts of the fresh leaves are antibacterial and are traditionally used in Brazil as an antipyretic, carminative and in the treatment of respiratory system infections.

Firebush (Chichipince)
Scientific name: Hamelia patens Growing process: Firebush has orangish-red tubular flowers, which recruit hummingbirds and butterflies for pollination. The corollas vary greatly in length, making them attractive to a wide range of pollinators. The fruit is a small dark red berry, turning black at maturity. Despite its somewhat scraggy appearance, this is a valuable garden tree in warmer climates and even in temperate ones, as long as the soil remains above freezing. Properties: Also, the plants are used in folk medicine against a range of ailments. A number of active compounds have been found in firebush, including maruquine, isomaruquine, pteropodine, isopteropodine, palmirine, rumberine, seneciophylline and stigmast-4-ene-3,6dione.[5] The bark contains significant amounts of tannins. No scientific study of the medical usefulness of Hamelia patens has been conducted. Benefits: In its native habitat, Firebush is known more for its herbal properties than for its ornamental value. The small black fruit is considered acidic and edible, and a fermented drink is supposedly prepared from it. The leaves and stems have been used for tanning. The crushed leaves are sometimes applied to cuts and bruises, and the crushed leaves with vinegar are applied to eruptions of the skin. The plant is also used for washes and for lotions to relieve swelling of the legs and to deodorize them. Syrup from the fruit has reportedly been used in the West Indies as a remedy for dysentery.

Mentha
Scientific name: Mentha Spicata Growing Process: Spearmint grows well in nearly all temperate climates. Gardeners often grow it in pots or planters due to its invasive spreading roots. The plant prefers partial shade, but can flourish in full sun to mostly shade. Spearmint is best suited to loamy soils with plenty of organic material.

Properties: Peppermint is a decongestant, cooling, fragrant and bitter herb that is

anti-spasmodic, diaphoretic, digestive, antiseptic and slightly anesthetic. It contains a high amount of essential oil, which contains menthol, menthone, menthyl acetate and menthofuran.

Benefit: Recent research has shown that spearmint tea may be used as a treatment for hirsutism in women. Its anti-androgenic properties reduce the level of free testosterone in the blood, while leaving total testosterone and DHEA unaffected