Herb Journal: Ultimate Guides to Herbs





I am going to be taking you on some new adventures.  I will be going over one particular herb each week or so and posting all about that herb--its uses, meanings, lore and anything else interesting I can find about it to share with you.








This is a rewrite of my original post on rosemary.  I have added a bunch of new information, as well as adding some graphics and more photos.  It is now a very long and extensive post that covers just about everything you would ever want to know about this wonderful plant. Now it really is "The Ultimate Guide to Rosemary"!
Rosemary Bush
This time for the herb journal, I will discuss ROSEMARY.  This is one of my personal favorite herbs.  I love its form, scent and flavor.  There are many amazing things you can do with rosemary and I will share some of them with you.


Rosmarinus officinalis, or rosemary, is a woody, perennial evergreen shrub with aromatic needle-like leaves that range from light green to almost black on top, depending on the cultivar variety.  All cultivars' leaves are white or gray underneath.  The leaves are about 1/3 to 1 1/2 inches long, and slightly hairy.  There is a prominent vein down the center of each leaf and the margins of them turn downward slightly. 
White Undersides of Rosemary Leaves

Rosemary flowers are white ('Albus'), pink ('Majorca pink'), purple ('officinalis'), pale blue ('Gray'), or deep blue ('Tuscan Blue').  The flowers are two-lipped and usually appear in spring or early summer, but in some cases, they will be visible from December until June. The flowers are generally about 1/2 inch long and edible.  They have 2 upper lobes and 3 lower ones, with 4 stamens.
Rosemary Flowers Extreme Close up

Rosemary Carpet--"Dew of the Sea"

It is said that all rosemary flowers were once white, but only turned blue when the Virgin Mary hung her cloak on a bush of it.  She did this as she was fleeing Herod's soldiers with the Christ child.   Another name for rosemary is "Dew of the Sea" because of the dew-like appearance of its flowers from a distance.  Rosemary branches have been strewn over courtroom floors to prevent "jail fever" (typhus).  It is also an emblem of fidelity for lovers and has been carried in funerals to symbolize that the dead person has not been forgotten. As a dye, rosemary produces shades of yellow-green on wool.
Woody Stem of Rosemary

Rosemary stems are squarish in shape and covered with a scaly bark.  The stems usually turn woody after about their second year.  Rosemary seeds are tan, oily, small and spherical.  Rosemary is a member of the mint family (Labiatae), which gives it its strong aroma and slightly minty/piny taste.  
Rosemary Seeds

One cultivar, called 'Sawyer's Selection', has mauve or pale blue flowers that can reach a height of 8 feet after only three years.  Typical height is usually around 4 feet, but it does grow very quickly. Another cultivar, 'Arp', was discovered in 1972, in Texas near the town of Arp, which lends its name to the plant.  This cultivar is purported to be the hardiest cultivar of rosemary available.  It has an open growing habit, with thick, gray-green, resinous leaves that are lemon-scented.  It attains a height of about 5 feet at maturity and is hardy in zones 7 - 10, to a temperature of -10 degrees F.  This cultivar has some of the strongest rosemary flavor available.  You can even use its woody stems as meat skewers and they will infuse the food with their flavor.
'Arp' Rosemary

 Rosemary is easy to grow from cuttings or purchased plants, but difficult if you try to grow it from seed.  Packaged seeds don't do well at all.  I have had the best luck with growing rosemary from cuttings in water.  They take about 2 months to start any roots, but if you are patient, you will be pleasantly surprised.  
My Baby Rosemary
The photo above is taken of one of my "baby" rosemary plants.  This rosemary is one of the first sprigs I cut from a new plant that had some tall branches. I only clipped it to shape the new plant, but I couldn't bring myself to throw the little tips away.  I stuck them in a vase just to see what would happen.  That was back in early May.  It is now October.  The sprig didn't start any roots until around late June or early July, but as soon as the roots appeared, so did new growth on the top of the sprig.  I have already pinched the new growth off once.  New growth started again within a few days. If you look closely at the picture, just under the water line in the vase, there are new lower branches forming, too.  But that is 6 months worth of growing!  My basil and mint sprigs sent down roots after only two or three days in water.  No one will ever accuse rosemary of being a proliferate grower, that is certain!

Rosemary is an excellent candidate for propagation by layering.  Layering is a method of propagation used on woody-stemmed herbs like upright thyme, lavender, sage, rosemary, winter savory, tarragon, and southernwoods.  Do this in the spring so that by the end of summer you have new plants to plant in the garden that will establish themselves during the fall and winter.  To layer a plant, take a healthy outside stem and bend it away from the parent plant.  Make sure soil is enriched.  "Wound" the stem by making a notch or rubbing the bark and under-bark off with a dull knife.  Anchor the stem in the ground with a piece of heavy wire that has been bent in half or use a clothespin.  Make sure you leave at least 6 inches of the branch exposed to the air.  Cover with soil and then place a brick or heavy stone on top.  After two or three months, the branch will have rooted, creating a new plant that can be cut from the parent and planted.



Another method of layering is known as stooling, mounding, or stool layering.  This type of layering is great for reviving unpruned lavender bushes, aging lavenders, or any other bushy, woody herb that has become leggy and rough-looking.  Mound up the soil around the center of the plant, burying the center branches.  If rain washes the soil away, replace it right away.  Leave it this way for about two or three months.  At the end of the time period, dig up the parent plant.  Roots will have formed all over the buried branches.  Any pieces with a few leaves and healthy roots can be cut off to be replanted into pots or directly into beds. 
Rosemary Sprouts

Whatever method of propagation you use for starting new rosemary plants, just remember that when you plant it in your garden, make sure you put it in its permanent spot.  It doesn't transplant well.  I know this from experience as I have killed several perfectly beautiful rosemary bushes by trying to move them to another spot in my own garden.
Rosemary by Fence
Rosemary is not bothered by heat or reflected heat, such as that radiated by sunny walls, so it is great on patios and terraces in planters or pots.  
Rosemary Farm Field

Harvesting of rosemary can be done at any time.  Like I said above, I bought the new plant and trimmed some of the tops to shape it.  Harvest only the top two or three inches from the plant and it will keep growing, unbothered by the mild pruning.  However, if you cut too much at one time, it can damage or kill the plant.  
Rosemary Sprigs

To dry the cut rosemary sprigs, weave them into a wreath.  Follow the directions HERE for how to make this lovely and aromatic decoration for your home.  Otherwise, simply bind the rosemary sprigs into bundles and hang them up to dry.  As they dry, them stems will drop their leaves, so you may want to tie small brown paper bags over them to catch all the leaves that fall as the bundle dries.
Hanging to Dry Rosemary

Rosemary is native to the hills along the Mediterranean, mostly in Portugal and Spain, and mainly on dry, rocky, warm cliffs and slopes, but today is widely grown due to its ease of cultivation.  Rosemary will grow just about anywhere, except where it gets very cold in the winter.  In the North, it is a tender perennial and must be taken in during the winter months. I love it because I live in the desert, and rosemary is one plant that will flourish in a desert setting or xeriscape garden.  It will withstand drought and has survived in my garden when all other plants around it have been burned to a crisp by the hot desert sun.  In formal herb gardens, rosemary also does very well, as long as the soil is alkaline, light, dry, and chalky, as well as a bit sandy and well-drained.  One of the fun properties of rosemary is that it is woody and so very sturdy, which allows it to be pruned into various topiary shapes in a formal garden setting.
Rosemary Topiary
Rosemary Tree

If your soil is acidic, apply lime to it to make it more alkaline.  Wood ashes, crushed eggshells, or crushed seashells added to the soil every two to three years will also increase the alkalinity of your soil.  Rosemary roots can easily develop root rot, so well-drained soil is essential.  Just be sure not to underwater rosemary, as it will dry out very easily, too.  This is especially true with potted rosemary plants.  With all rosemaries, mist the leaves regularly.  Most rosemary is best grown outdoors in the garden in zones 8 - 10.  In general, it prefers temperatures to not dip below +10 degrees F.
Very Tall Old Rosemary

The plants will live for decades and grow quite tall and large.  Average size is between 5 and 6 feet tall, if left to grow for many years.  Some have even grown to 10 feet tall in some instances.  They have pest-control properties for the plants around them due to the oils produced by their leaves.  The plants themselves are very pest-resistant.  The only insects, I have ever found on mine was spider mites.  I used an insect repellent spray and eliminated them.  The plant recovered beautifully.  Rosemary also is an effective deer-repellent, so it is good to grow if your garden is regularly visited by these critters.
Reaching for the Sky

The rosemary plant produces several volatile oils in its leaves that are responsible for all the superstitions and medicinal claims that have been made about the plant over the last 2,000+ years.  It has not been until just recently, though, that many of the stories about the power of rosemary have actually been tested medically.



One of the properties of the oils in rosemary is that it gets blood flowing under the skin.  A bath of rosemary can stimulate a worn and sluggish body because of this property.  It has been reputed to improve circulation and warm cold arms and legs, as well as the appearance of hair and skin.  You can make a steam facial with the herb to perk up your face and to get rid of dark under eye circles and bags.  This herb has all-around energetic qualities of clarification, purification and rejuvenation.
Rosemary Oil

Quick Recipe:
If you are a brunette, rosemary will brighten your hair:  Infuse 1 ounce of both rosemary and sage in a pint of water for 24 hours.  Or, steep a sprig of rosemary in 1 cup of boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes.  Either way, work the rinse into your hair after shampooing.



Old Herbal Book Plate of Rosemary

Rosemary has been used as a treatment for depression, headaches, and muscle spasms. When applied externally, it benefits sufferers of rheumatism, sores, eczema, bruises and wounds.  Rosemary has been reported to have antibacterial properties and during the Middle Ages, it was burned in homes to ward off the spread of the Plague.  It was somewhat effective in doing this, as well as lessening the strength and duration of the disease if someone came down with it.
Rosemary Tea

Traditionally, rosemary has been used to relieve pain, increase perspiration, stimulate the liver and gall bladder, relieve gout, improve digestion, and to control many pathogenic organisms.  It may even treat toxic shock syndrome, although more research is necessary to substantiate this claim.


The wood of the rosemary bush was used in historical times to make musical instruments. Twine or braid rosemary sprigs into your hair to improve your memory.  Ancient Greek students wore rosemary garlands around their heads while studying for exams.  Brides wore wreaths made from the branches to promote the success of their marriage, and because it is a traditional symbol of remembrance, friendship and love.  Ancient Egyptians used the herb in embalming the dead.  You can scatter rosemary stems on a barbecue to discourage insects as it is a natural mosquito repellent.  It is also said that if rosemary grows lush in a family's garden, it means a woman runs the household.  Maybe that's why I have so much success growing rosemary--because we are all girls here (even our pets are female)!

The people of the Victorian Era developed an entire language of flowers and plants in which they assigned various meanings and characteristics to those plants.  These meanings were based on lore and tradition. Through this language, they were able to develop a type of system where bouquets made up of many different flowers conveyed a message from the sender to the receiver.  The floral meanings were common knowledge, and so were easily understood by all parties.  Rosemary was a symbol of remembrance, fidelity and loyalty. Due to these meanings, it was carried in bridal bouquets to promote the success of the marriage.  It was also carried in funerals and used in funeral bouquets for the same reasons.  Rosemary was given to a new love to say, "your presence revives me."

In Wicca and Witchcraft, rosemary is used in love and lust spells and to promote restful sleep.  Magical workings for rosemary make use of its purifying properties, particularly for eliminating negative vibrations from a physical space or one's own person.  Burning rosemary before spell work is highly recommended to rid the home of negativity, as is using an infusion of rosemary in a ritual bath prior to any magical work.  Practitioners of magic may also simply wash their hands in a sacred water before magic or use rosemary water to purify and bless their ritual tools.  They may also combine the rosemary with juniper to create a smudge for healing and clearing out any residual energies of disease in a room where someone has been ill.
Rosemary Bunch with a Bow

Rosemary can be hung in a doorway or on the porch posts of a business or home to keep thieves away.  If you carry a sprig of rosemary with you, you will remain healthy.   Wearing a chaplet of rosemary will aid memory.  The leaves can be powdered, wrapped in a linen cloth, and then bound to the right arm to dispel depression and make emotions light and merry.  To receive knowledge, or have a question answered, burn rosemary on charcoal and smell the smoke.  
Halloween! Rosemary
Rosemary is said to attract elves and other good spirits, and it is a common belief that young fairies take the form of snakes and live amongst its branches.  Tapping your lover with a sprig of rosemary is said to ensure the constancy and fidelity of that lover.
Rosemary Covered with a Snowy Spider Web ( Kinda looks magical to me!)

Other magical uses for rosemary include protection, retaining youth, combating jealousy, and strengthening mental clarity and focus.  The wood should be smelled often to promote youthful vitality.  Magic practitioners recommend stuffing rosemary into poppets or sachets to draw new suitors or placing a fresh sprig of rosemary by your pillow to promote a solid night's sleep, which is a key component to retaining one's youthful vitality.  This is also said to drive away nightmares, demons, and evil spirits.  Laid under the bed, it protects the sleeper from all harm.

According to Medical News Today, many of the medicinal claims about rosemary have recently been taken to task by the medical and scientific communities.  So far, a lot of them have been proven to contain much truth.  Rosemary is a good source of iron, calcium, and vitamin B6, as well as a valuable antioxidant that can improve brain performance and prevent brain aging.  It produces carnosic acid that prevents free radical damage to the mind and body.  This substance is one of the volatile oils the rosemary plant produces. Carnosic acid can reduce macular degeneration and significantly promotes eye health.  
Rosemary and Other Herbal Creations

Rosemary oil has also been proven effective as an anti-tumor agent and has anti-proliferative properties against human leukemia and in breast cancer patients.  This means that the oil can keep these particular, and most likely other types of cancer, from spreading throughout the body.  It has been shown to actively reduce cancer-causing agents that can develop during cooking and may also help to manage Type II Diabetes as effectively as many current medications.


In cooking is where rosemary may be most comfortable for you to experiment with.  Its flavor is both strong and subtle.  It is pungent, somewhat piny, mint-like, yet sweeter, with a slight ginger finale. 
Rosemary and Lemons
You can freeze fresh rosemary and use it as needed by taking out a sprig and sliding your thumb and forefinger down the stem to take off the amount of leaves that you need.  Just be wary and adjust your recipes as frozen rosemary is much stronger than fresh as its oils have been concentrated during the freezing process.  Dried rosemary is also much more potent than fresh.  As a general rule, use about 1/2 as much frozen or dried rosemary as you would for fresh.


Grinding Rosemary in a Mortar and Pestle

Culinary Quick Recipes:
    1. When baking bread, add rosemary to the bread dough, using 1 Tablespoon for each loaf.
    2. Create an herb butter by combining 2 teaspoons of rosemary with 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter.
    3. Enhance the sweetness of fruit salads without sugar by adding rosemary.
    4. For extra aromatics when grilling, add a handful of rosemary to the coals during the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking.
    5. Substitute rosemary for mint in a mint jelly recipe.  Use it with roast meats and poultry.
Rustic Loaf Rosemary Bread

As you can see, rosemary is quite versatile in its uses.  Many of the myths and lore regarding it are now being proven as scientifically true.  Not only that, but it smells fresh and clean, looks beautiful and striking in your garden, and tastes great, too!
Rosemary and Daisies

See my "Recipes" page for how to use rosemary in cooking.  There are several ideas for homemade cosmetics using rosemary under "DIY Herbal Cosmetics", and you will find several potpourri ideas for rosemary on the "Potpourri" page.  Under "Projects", follow the instructions to make a beautiful and aromatic wreath from fresh rosemary sprigs.
Rosemary Bouquet

Check back again soon for more information about other herbs.  Be sure to leave a comment below to let me know different ways you use rosemary in your home!  See you soon!

Peace and love always,












Pale Blue Butterfly on Rosemary

Sources:
Bremness, Leslie. RD Home Handbook: Herbs. Pleasantville: Reader's Digest Association, 1990. Print.

Brown, Deni. The Herb Society of America Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1995. Print.

Clevely, Andi, and Katherine Richmond. The Complete Book of Herbs. New York: Smithmark, 1994. Print.

Cunnningham, Scott. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1992. Print.

Ehrlich, Steven D. "Rosemary." University of Maryland Medical Center. University of Maryland Medical Center, 6 July 2014. Web. 2 Oct. 2016.

Gips, Kathleen. Flora's Dictionary: The Victorian Language of Herbs and Flowers . Chagrin Falls: TM Publications, 1995. Print.

Grieve, M. "Rosemary." Botanical.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2016.

Kowalchik, Claire, and William H. Hylton, eds. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs . Emmaus: Rodale, 1987. Print.

Kruger, Anna. An Illustrated Guide to Herbs. Stamford: Longmeadow, 1993. Print.

Nordqvist, Joseph. "Rosemary: Health Benefits, Precautions, Drug Interactions." Http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/. Medical News Today, 15 Sept. 2015. Web. 2 Oct. 2016. 

"Rosemary." Web MD. Ed. Therapeutic Research Faculty. Therapeutic Research Faculty, 2009. Web. 2 Oct. 2016.

Shaudys, Phyllis. The Pleasure of Herbs. Pownal: Storey Communications, 1986. Print.

Shaudys, Phyllis V. Herbal Treasures. Pownal: Storey Communications, 1990. Print.




Photo Credits:
Rosemary Carpet:   Photo credit: johnlichtenstein via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Rosemary in a Tan Pot:   Photo credit: cathyse97 via Visual hunt / CC BY-ND

Rosemary Wreath:  Photo Credit:  Angela Fox-Thompson

Rosemary Sprigs:  Photo Credit:  ginsnob via VisualHunt.com/CC BY-SA

Rosemary Topiary:   Photo credit: elixir b via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Rosemary Tip with Words:   Photo credit: Muffet via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Rosemary Bush:   Photo credit: intheburg via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Rosemary for Graphic:   Photo credit: StephenMitchell via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

White Undersides of Rosemary:   Photo credit: craigles75 via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Rosemary Flower Extreme Close up:   Photo credit: fturmog via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Rosemary Carpet:   Photo credit: johnlichtenstein via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Woody Stem of Rosemary:   Photo credit: strangejourney via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND



"Baby" Rosemary:  Photo Credit:  Angela Fox-Thompson

Layering Drawings:  Angela Fox-Thompson

Rosemary Sprouts:   Photo credit: ccharmon via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-ND

Rosemary by Fence:   Photo credit: NatalieMaynor via VisualHunt / CC BY

Rosemary Field:   Photo credit: rmburnes via Visual hunt / CC BY

Rosemary Sprigs:  Photo Credit:  ginsnob via VisualHunt.com/CC BY-SA

Hanging to Dry Rosemary:   Photo credit: Nefi via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Rosemary Topiary:   Photo credit: elixir b via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Rosemary Tree:   Photo credit: holycalamity via Visual Hunt / CC BY-SA

Very Tall Old Rosemary:   Photo credit: azmichelle via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Reaching for the Sky:   Photo credit: jeremytarling via VisualHunt / CC BY-SA


Old Herbal Book Plate of Rosemary:  Photo credit: Internet Archive Book Images via Visualhunt.com / No known copyright restrictions


Rosemary in a Square Pot:  Photo credit: Nefi via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Rosemary Bunch with a Bow:   Photo credit: jamieanne via Visualhunt / CC BY-ND

Halloween Rosemary:   Photo credit: Hella Delicious via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Rosemary Covered with Snowy Spiderweb:  Photo credit: Mark A. Bryant via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Rosemary and Other Herbal Creations:  Photo credit: naiaraback1 via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Rosemary Sprig:   Photo credit: HealthGauge via Visual hunt / CC BY

Roast Chicken with Rosemary:   Photo credit: jules:stonesoup via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Herb Butter with Bread:   Photo credit: Cascadian Farm via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC

Rosemary Roast Beef and Vegetables:   Photo credit: jeffreyw via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Rosemary Tart:   Photo credit: jules:stonesoup via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Rosemary and Lemons:   Photo credit: beckycaudill via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Rosemary with Mortar and Pestle:  Photo via VisualHunt

Rustic Loaf Rosemary Bread:   Photo credit: Terry.Tyson via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Rosemary and Daisies:   Photo via Visualhunt

Rosemary Bouquet:  Photo credit: 3liz4 via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Pale Blue Butterfly on Rosemary:   Photo credit: j_arlecchino via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC








Lavender Field

I love lavender!  It is one of my favorite herbs, so I can't wait to let you in on some of the wonders of this incredibly versatile and useful plant!  This is a new and improved post from my original one on lavender.  It is a long post and it is very exhaustive.  I have tried to cover all the possible aspects of lavender for you and I have drawn from a huge number of sources to compile this article. There is just so much information available on this beautiful herb!  It really is "The Ultimate Guide to Lavender"!



Lavender is a bushy, very fragrant, evergreen perennial with short woody stems.  It is quite dense with long, narrow, linear gray-green leaves that are covered with a downy layer of soft white hairs.  It has a branching habit that is encouraged by pruning, and can cause the shrub to become around 3 feet in diameter.  It produces whorls of intensely fragrant blue-mauve or pale lilac flowers in spikes at the ends of long stalks in midsummer.  
Lavender Seeds

Lavender is a member of the mint family, Labiatae.  The name Lavender comes from the Latin verb "lavare", which means "to wash", most likely after the practice of scenting bath and washing water with lavender.  It is still often used in scented soaps and bathwater.  It is originally native to Mediterranean hillsides.



References to lavender abound in the Christian Bible.  According to legend, lavender gets its scent from the newly washed clothes of the infant Jesus that were hung over a lavender bush to dry.  Additionally, the Bible says that when Jesus met Mary, sister of Lazarus, she washed his feet and anointed them with lavender perfume.  It is referred to in that instance as "nard", one of the common names for lavender in use at the time.


Lavender came to the New World with the Pilgrims as it is one of the garden flowers they brought with them when they settled in America. 



The people of the Victorian Era developed an entire language of flowers and plants in which they assigned various meanings and characteristics to those plants.  These meanings were based on lore and tradition. Through this language, they were able to develop a type of system where bouquets made up of many different flowers conveyed a message from the sender to the receiver.  The floral meanings were common knowledge, and so were easily understood by all parties. 

"Tussie-Mussies":  Floral Language Bouquets


Lavender was very popular, and had several meanings.  It was a romantic time period and lavender had many romantic meanings, such as acknowledgement, devotion, constant personal attention, and loyalty.  It also conveyed a wish of luck (perhaps in love) to its receiver.  Oddly, lavender also conveyed the ideas of suspicion and distrust, too.  It refers to the romantic notions of suspicion and distrust, though, as in "I am suspicious of your intentions", or "I distrust you with my heart."  These ideas stem from the ancient belief that asps dwell under lavender bushes, so one should always approach a lavender plant with distrust and wariness.



Growing lavender is possible for just about everyone.  Lavender flourishes in hardiness zones 5 - 8 and likes a well-drained soil with a pH of about 7.1.  Grow lavender in full sun--the hotter the better!


Lavender Against the Sky

Of course, the easiest way to start lavender on your own is to buy young plants and plant them yourself.  However, there are many different varieties of lavender that have similar, but differing characteristics.  When buying lavender plants, be aware that the cultivar names "angustifolia", "officinalis", "delphinensis", "Spica", and "vera" all refer to basic lavender and are interchangeable.  Lavandula angustifolia is generally considered "true" or English Lavender.  It yields an exquisite oil that is used in aromatherapy and high-quality perfumes.

Bee in Lavender Field

Lavandula latifolia is known as spike lavender or Spanish lavender.  It is a coarser plant than English lavender.  It is not generally grown as a garden plant, but is grown commercially in Spain for its oil.  Its oil yields a pungent, camphoraceous scent that is mainly used in cleaning products, as an insect repellent, and as a dressing for wounds.  The oil is also used in lacquers and varnishes, especially those used on porcelain.  It dilutes the more delicate colors used in china painting.

Lavender Sprouts

Lavender is rarely started from seed, due to a very long germination time.  Additionally, lavender plants don't always produce seeds because some hybrids are "mules", or sterile.  Your best bet for propagating lavender is instead, through cuttings.  These cuttings, measuring 2 to 3 inches long, are taken in the summertime from side shoots.  These shoots should be from the growth of one season and may include some older wood at the base.  To take a cutting, grasp a healthy shoot and pull it downward so that a piece of the older wood comes with it.  Then place these cuttings 3 to 4 inches apart in moist sandy soil.  When these cuttings have been growing for a year, they can be planted out 4 to 6 feet apart in dry, light, stony or gravelly soil that is not subject to frost.



Lavender is also a good candidate for propagation by layering.  Layering is a method of propagation used on woody-stemmed herbs like upright thyme, lavender, sage, rosemary, winter savory, tarragon, and southernwoods.  Do this in the spring so that by the end of summer you have new plants to plant in the garden that will establish themselves during the fall and winter.  To layer a plant, take a healthy outside stem and bend it away from the parent plant.  Make sure soil is enriched.  "Wound" the stem by making a notch or rubbing the bark and under-bark off with a dull knife.  Anchor the stem in the ground with a piece of heavy wire that has been bent in half or use a clothespin.  Make sure you leave at least 6 inches of the branch exposed to the air.  Cover with soil and then place a brick or heavy stone on top.  After two or three months, the branch will have rooted, creating a new plant that can be cut from the parent and planted.




Another method of layering is known as stooling, mounding, or stool layering.  This type of layering is great for reviving unpruned lavender bushes, aging lavenders, or any other bushy, woody herb that has become leggy and rough-looking.  Mound up the soil around the center of the plant, burying the center branches.  If rain washes the soil away, replace it right away.  Leave it this way for about two or three months.  At the end of the time period, dig up the parent plant.  Roots will have formed all over the buried branches.  Any pieces with a few leaves and healthy roots can be cut off to be replanted into pots or directly into beds.  This method is great to use on lavenders that are over five years old that may need to be replaced.  This gives you a bunch of new plants so you won't miss the original one!

Stool Layering

During the first year after planting in the garden, plants should be clipped to encourage branching into lateral shoots.  Protect the plants from both summer and winter winds, as flower spikes are easily broken in storms.  Full pickings of lavender are possible in the second to fifth years.  After the fifth year, some growers replace the plants, but others insist that the plants will do well in the same place for thirty years.  Just make sure the soil has enough lime and that if you are not going to use the flowers, that you cut the spent blooms off to keep the plants flourishing.  Routine care of lavender is minimal, as once established, it essentially takes care of itself.

Hot and Dry Summer Lavender

Temperature for lavender plants is crucial from May through August.  The weather should be hot and dry.  The best oil is harvested after a hot, dry season with much sun.  To harvest lavender, cut the flower spikes off at least 6 inches below the spike, but avoid cutting back into old wood as this will damage the plant.  For dry storage, harvest the flowers either when they are first open or when they are fully open.  Once harvested, you can lay the flower spikes out on mats to dry and cover them to prevent sun scorch.  Otherwise, tie them in bunches and hang them upside down from the rafters in an attic or shed.  I tie a paper lunch bag over the flower ends of the stalks to capture all the flowers that fall off as the spikes dry. 

My Lavender Drying

Prune and shape the bushes either after the flowering and harvest are over, or in early spring.

Potted "Stoechas" Lavender

Lavender can be trained into pots to be grown indoors or on patios, if you intend to bring them inside to over-winter.  In pots, the plants will take a symmetrical or somewhat tortured bonsai form.  Just use very coarse, rocky soil that is very porous and well-drained.  Do not let roots stand in water.  Water the plants infrequently.  Remember, they like it hot and dry.

Hanging Lavender for Drying

Well-dried lavender flowers will remain aromatic for a long time.  I made some lavender and rose petal potpourri in the mid '90's and my mother stuck a sachet of it in with our Christmas tree to keep away insects and to keep the tree fresh during storage.  We got rid of that tree last year (2015), and the potpourri was still just as fresh as it had been when we first made the sachets 20 years earlier!



The substance in lavender that gives it this staying power is the volatile oil that is produced by the plant, especially by its flowers.  The plant's oil glands are embedded among the tiny star-shaped hairs that cover the flowers, leaves, and stems of the lavender.  The oil varies in quality, depending on when the plants are harvested.  The oil from early flowers is pale and contains more valuable esthers than the darker oil of later flowers.  Lavender oil is the most often used essential oil in the world.

Microscopic Image of a Lavender Leaf, showing oil glands and tiny hairs

This oil is also what gives lavender its many applications for medicinal use.  The oil was traditionally inhaled, or applied directly to the skin.  If the oil is diluted somewhat, it is much safer to use, as the undiluted oil can irritate the skin.  You can also take it internally.  It is safe, but should be used in moderation.  It should not, however, be used by pregnant women.



The oil was applied to the temples to prevent faintness and "giddiness or turning of the brain," according to Culpeper, an early herbalist.  It has strong antiseptic actions capable of killing the bacteria that carry diphtheria and typhoid.  An antiseptic lotion of the oil may be applied to cuts to speed healing.  It was used to disinfect wounds up until World War I.  It is particularly recommended for burns, sunburn, and scalds and can, if applied directly, prevent blistering of the skin.



Traditional uses for lavender oil include embalming corpses, curing animals (and people) of lice, taming lions and tigers, repelling mosquitoes, moths and other insects, and as a flavoring for snuff.  It is said to relax muscle spasms, benefit digestion, stimulate the peripheral circulatory system and uterus, and lower fevers.  It also has antidepressant effects and has long been used to freshen sickrooms after the illness has passed. 

Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender oil can be taken internally for exhaustion, irritability, tension and migraine headaches, and bronchial complaints. It has been used as a medicine for hysteria, nervous palpitations, hoarseness, palsy, toothaches, sore joints, apoplexy, and colic.  It quiets coughs and rumbling tummies.  It promotes healing and has mild sedative effects on the nervous system.  It has also been used to alleviate nausea.  In China, lavender is used in a cure-all medicinal oil called White Flower Oil.

White Flower Oil

The oil is applied externally for rheumatism, muscular pain, neuralgia, skin complaints, cold and canker sores, insect and snake bites, halitosis (bad breath), vaginal discharge, and anal fissures.  Lavender also stimulates and cleanses the skin.  Washing your face with lavender vinegar is reported to be good for oily skin.  



Lavender flowers are used in sachets and potpourris to freshen homes, both today and in the past.  In herb pillows, it is said to promote sleep and pleasant dreams.  The flowers can also be added to baths to encourage relaxation of the body and mind.  Lavender was thought to be an aphrodisiac, due to its associations with love and romance.  Interestingly, it is said, though, that a sprinkle of lavender water on the head of your spouse or lover will keep him or her chaste and loyal to you.

Lavender Bath

One teaspoon of lavender flowers to a pint of water will produce mild sedative effects, while a few drops of the oil in a hot bath will ease aching muscles and sore feet.  Warm lavender tea can be applied as a compress for the relief of chest congestion.  Yet today, bruises and bites are treated with lavender compresses in France and Spain. 


Lavender Compress on Injury
Chinese Compresses for Massage

Medicinal cordials have been made by combining lavender oil, rosemary oil, cinnamon bark, nutmeg and sandalwood with wine and letting it steep for seven days.  The dose is a teaspoon after an "indigestible" meal, followed by a second dose a half-hour later, "if needed."



The insect repellent properties of lavender are well-known.  Sachets and potpourris are still used for perfuming drawers and closets, but simply placing oil of lavender on a wad of cotton and hanging it up will freshen the room and keep moths away.  You can also soak a cotton ball with diluted lavender oil and rub it on your skin to repel mosquitoes.  People carried lavender during the Middle Ages to ward off the Plague.  Even though lavender has powerful antibacterial and antiviral abilities, the fact is that the lavender didn't kill the Plague.  Instead, it simply repelled the fleas that carried this deadly disease!  Interestingly, these claims are some that modern science has tested, but found inconclusive.  Yet generations will swear by the repellent properties this herb possesses.



Many of the claims of medicinal prowess that lavender stakes have been recently taken to task by the medical and scientific communities.  The vast majority of claims have been proven accurate by various studies.  Today we know that lavender really has lots of "anti-" properties.  As mentioned earlier, it has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.  It also has been proven to be an effective antidepressant and anti-anxiety substance.  In fact, there is a new anti-anxiety medication called Silexan that is presently in the testing phases.  It is simply 80mg of lavender oil in a gelatin capsule.  It has been shown effective in reducing anxiety as well as reducing the symptoms that accompany it, like disturbed sleep or insomnia, and muscular and joint complaints.

Lavender Remedies
  
Through modern scientific studies, we know that lavender is effective in healing burns, wounds, cuts, bruises, dry skin, cold and canker sores, age spots, sun spots, hives, and bites faster than treatment of these issues without it.  It has also been proven effective at reducing hair loss and promoting hair regrowth.  Science has shown that the inhaling of lavender essential oil will reduce fear of going to the dentist.  Lavender has been proven to reduce post-surgical pain in many instances and to reduce the various symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome.  Use for digestive issues has also been shown effective.  Studies show that using lavender will improve anyone's quality of sleep by about 60%.  It is useful in treating headaches and migraines, as well as in preventing strokes by causing a reduction in blood pressure.  



Other scientific evidence shows that lavender slows the activity of the central nervous system which promotes relaxation and lifts the mood of those suffering from sleep, anxiety, and depressive disorders.  This results in a better overall quality of life for those with these afflictions.  In studies where lavender oil was used with massage therapy, people reported improved sleep, more stable mood, and better concentration than with massage alone.  Several small studies suggest that lavender aromatherapy may help reduce agitation in people with dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.  Lavender has also been proven to reduce the dry, scaly skin lesions of eczema.  

Lavender Preparations for Diabetes

Studies have shown lavender to effectively treat many of the symptoms of Diabetes, including causing an increase in blood glucose levels, reduction in weight gain, control of metabolic disorders, preventing liver and kidney antioxidant depletion, and reducing liver and kidney dysfunction.  Lavender reduces the symptoms and development of Alzheimer's Disease, as well as the mood-involved symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Further studies have demonstrated that attaching a pad soaked in lavender oil onto the neckline of clothing reduces falls in nursing home patients. Additionally, lavender has proven to be as effective at treating ear infections as equally as using a skin-numbing agent with the antibiotic medication amoxicillin.



One of the most promising areas of lavender research is in the field of cancer prevention.  Studies have shown that lavender provides our bodies with excellent antioxidant protection--even better than Vitamin C.  Antioxidants protect us from free radical damage.  Free radicals are what cause cell death in our bodies, which in turn, causes aging.  But the damage free radicals cause can also lead to cancer. 

Antioxidant Action
Because lavender protects us from this damage, it can prevent the development of cancer cells, too.  Where cancer cells have been detected, lavender has shown significant cytotoxic (cancer cell killing) activity against epithelial ovarian and cervical cancer cells.  It has an inhibitory effect on human melanoma cells and has been shown to decrease the viability of Hodgkin's lymphoma cells.  Lavender has a weak hormonal activity, as well, which may be beneficial against hormonal cancers.  

The lavender ribbon is the symbol for general cancer awareness and support.

Lavender also provides some hope for present cancer patients, too, by significantly decreasing tumor weight in many situations.  It has also shown to be an effective treatment for some patients who previously hadn't responded to standard cancer therapies.  Further, it has been effective for palliative care in brain tumor patients.  The antibacterial properties of lavender promote immune system function in addition to preventing golden staph infections in immuno-compromised cancer patients.  These findings in cancer research are certainly encouraging, although further testing and study is warranted.



In addition to its significant medicinal actions, lavender is purported to have many magical uses, as well.  According to Scott Cunningham, in his book, Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, clothing rubbed with lavender flowers, or placing lavender in a drawer with clothes, attracts love.  A piece of paper on which you've rubbed lavender is great for writing love notes.  The scent supposedly attracts men, so prostitutes used to wear lavender oil or lavender water to advertise their profession and to attract customers.  Lavender is said to protect against cruel treatment at the hands of a spouse, if worn.  Interestingly, if lavender is worn with rosemary, it is said that it will preserve a woman's chastity.

Lavender Sleep Pillows

Flowers can be burned or smoldered to induce sleep or rest and are scattered about the home to maintain its peacefulness.  When you are depressed, it is said that just gazing upon the plant will cause all sorrow to depart and a joyous feeling will settle upon you, the observer.  The odor of lavender is conducive to long life and so should be smelled often if this is a concern.  Lavender is used in healing mixtures, carried to see ghosts, worn to protect from the "evil eye", and used in purification baths.

Lavender and Towels

For wish divination, you should place lavender under your pillow while thinking of your wish.  Do this just before retiring for the night.  In the morning, if you have dreamt about anything pertaining to your wish, it will come true.  However, if you did not dream or if your dreams had nothing to do with your wish, it will not manifest.

Lavender Under Pillows

I find it rather fascinating how much these "magical" uses for lavender have in common with the medical issues it has traditionally been used to address.  Even more incredible is how much lore and tradition have been shown to be quite accurate in light of modern scientific and medical testing!



When purchasing lavender for cooking, it is important that you seek out "culinary lavender".  Do not use lavender from a flower shop or garden center.  Buy from a grocery store, natural foods market, or health food store.  This guarantees that the lavender you are cooking with is truly safe to eat and has been raised without pesticides or other harsh chemicals. 
Lavender in a Measuring Spoon

Of course, the best way to ensure the safety of your lavender is to grow it yourself.  If you are going to grow lavender specifically for cooking, there are certain varieties that are more suited to this than others.  Lavandula dentata (French lavender) and Lavandula stoechas (Spanish lavender) are not really suited for this as the flowers they yield have a strong, bitter flavor that is more camphor-pine flavored than sweet.  
Lavandula stoechas (Spanish Lavender)

Any of the Lavandula angustifolia varieties are much better for cooking than these.  The best angustifolia to use is that from the cultivar called "Munstead".  It is a smaller, dwarf variety that is fairly low-growing.  It only gets to be about one-and-a-half feet tall, but it has fatter, more open blooms than taller lavenders.  It has the sweetest fragrance of all the lavenders, which creates a much sweeter, fruity-er flavor for cooking.  Another cooking variety that is good to use is Lavandula angustifolia "Hidcote".  It, too, is a smaller variety, that grows to between 1 1/2 and 2 feet tall.  Its flower spikes are a very deep violet blue and its fragrance is more richly fruity than some of the other varieties which produce a spicy-sweet flavor.
Lavender "Munstead"

Lavender "Hidcote"

Culinary lavender should have a sweet, floral flavor with lemon and citrus notes.  These flavor characteristics are what makes lavender an excellent pairing with other citrus flavors like lemon, or other sweet flavors like honey or ordinary sugar.  Lavender is wonderful in baking because of its natural sweetness.  See my recipes for Heart-Shaped Lavender Cookies, Lavender Baking Powder Biscuits, and Frosted Lavender Cookies for some ideas.  Click HERE for those recipes and others. 
Lavender Sugar

You can also make lavender sugar by combining the flowers of 6 lavender stalks with 4 cups of granulated sugar in a coffee mill, food processor, or blender to create Lavender Sugar.  This should be stored in a Ziploc bag in the freezer until you are ready to use it.  Use the same way you would use regular sugar.  Use it in baking, to add flavor to teas and other drinks, or just to add some sweetness to your morning coffee.
Lavender and Honey Roasted Chicken

Lavender is also great with meats, especially lamb and chicken.  See my recipe HERE for Lavender and Honey Roasted Chicken.  Lavender is also one of the "Herbes de Provence" used in many recipes.  This herbal mixture is usually made up of several pungent herbs in various quantities, like marjoram, oregano, thyme, rosemary, basil, sage and fennel.  This works great as a rub for most meats, pork, and poultry.  My favorite way to eat lavender is to use it in Lavender Rice.  Click HERE for this recipe.  You may have to scroll around a little to find these specific recipes, but they are really wonderful examples of how to incorporate lavender into daily meals.  
Lavender Tea

My first exposure to lavender in cooking was through a Victorian Tea Room in my home town.  They served afternoon teas that my mom and I would attend occasionally.  The first time we went, they served lavender cookies and lavender tea.  They even had lavender butter to put on biscuits!  (Click HERE for my Honey-Lavender Butter recipe.)  It was a totally incredible experience.  The lavender was so rich and sweet that I think I fell in love with herbal baking right then and there!
Lavender Cupcakes

No matter how you use lavender in your cooking, just be aware that the herb's potency increases as it dries.  So if you are using dried lavender, use only about 1/3 as much as you would of fresh lavender.  Additionally, with lavender, a little goes a long way.  If there is too much of it, it will taste like you are eating soap or perfume and it will make the dish very bitter. 

Dried Lavender
The leaves and stems are flavorful, too, and can be used in cooking, but the flowers give dishes that subtly sweet, citrus flavor you will appreciate most.  Whenever you use lavender, whether fresh or dried, be sure to grind it first using a coffee mill, food processor, or blender.  You can also pulverize it in a mortar and pestle, if you prefer.  This process breaks apart the flower buds and releases their essential oils which creates the proper flavor.  Besides, no one wants to bite into a cookie to get a mouthful of crunchy leaves or dried flowers!  It would be like eating potpourri!
Butterfly on Lavender

The versatility and usefulness of lavender has never been disputed, and I hope that you are now able to envision some of the wonders this lovely plant can produce.  I scent my pillows with lavender to help me sleep better and to give myself an overall feeling of well-being.  It is relaxing, fresh, and clean-smelling.  I use it in cooking because I love the fruity sweetness it imparts to my recipes.  I can't imagine where the world would be without the joys of lavender and I hope you can't either!
Lavender and Books

Send me a message below and let me know how you feel about lavender and the different ways you use it in your own home!  I look forward to hearing from you!

Peace and Love (and Lavender!) Always,











Lavender with Pale Purple Butterfly

Sources:
Axe, Dr. Josh, MD. "7 Lavender Oil Benefits for Healing." Dr. Axe Food and Medicine. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.

Bremness, Leslie. RD Home Handbook: Herbs. Pleasantville: Reader's Digest Association, 1990. Print.

Brown, Deni. The Herb Society of America Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1995. Print.

Clark, Marnie. "Lavender Essential Oil Uses and Its Benefits for Cancer Patients." The Truth about Cancer. thetruthaboutcancer.com, n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.

Clevely, Andi, and Katherine Richmond. The Complete Book of Herbs. New York: Smithmark, 1994. Print.

Cunnningham, Scott. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1992. Print.

Ehrlich, Steven D., NMD. "Lavender." University of Maryland Medical Center. University of Maryland Medical Center, 2 Jan. 2015. Web. 18 Sept. 2016. Published date is actually most recent review date. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

Gips, Kathleen. Flora's Dictionary: The Victorian Language of Herbs and Flowers . Chagrin Falls: TM Publications, 1995. Print.

Kowalchik, Claire, and William H. Hylton, eds. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs . Emmaus: Rodale, 1987. Print.

Kruger, Anna. An Illustrated Guide to Herbs. Stamford: Longmeadow, 1993. Print.

"Lavender." Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 21 Sept. 2015. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.

"Lavender." WebMD. Ed. Therapeutic Research Faculty. WebMD Therapeutic Research Faculty, 2009. Web. 18 Sept. 2016. Material for article provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version.

Nordqvist, Joseph. "What Are the Benefits of Lavender?" Medical Today. Medical News Today, 9 Sept. 2014. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.

Shaudys, Phyllis. The Pleasure of Herbs. Pownal: Storey Communications, 1986. Print.

Shaudys, Phyllis V. Herbal Treasures. Pownal: Storey Communications, 1990. Print.




Photo Credits:

Butterfly in Lavender Field:   Photo via Visual hunt

Lavender and Towels:   Photo credit: ZenKitty /Babushka via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC



Hanging Lavender:   Photo credit: One Day Closer via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Lavender Field:   Photo via VisualHunt.com

Lavender for Graphic:   Photo credit: kellies_love2001 via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND


Tussie-Mussies:   Photo credit: Katsunojiri via Visualhunt.com / CC BY

Lavender Against Sky:   Photo credit: Jake Wild! via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Bee in Lavender Field:   Photo via Visual hunt

Lavender Sprouts:   Photo credit: HorsePunchKid via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Layering Drawings:  Angela Fox-Thompson


Hot and Dry Summer Lavender:   Photo credit: @AdeRussell via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

My Lavender Drying:  Photo Credit:  Angela Fox-Thompson

Potted Stoechas Lavender:   Photo credit: marneejill via Visual Hunt / CC BY-SA

Hanging Lavender:   Photo credit: One Day Closer via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Microscopic Lavender Leaf:   Photo credit: wellcome images via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND



Lavender Bath:   Photo credit: wiccked via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Compress on Injury:  Photo Credit:  www.fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net  








Lavender and Towels:   Photo credit: ZenKitty /Babushka via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC


Dried Lavender in a Measuring Spoon:  Photo credit: mindwhisperings via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Lavandula Stoechas:   Photo via Visual hunt


Lavender Sugar:   Photo credit: zenra via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Lavender and Honey Roasted Chicken:  Photo credit: jypsygen via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Lavender Tea:   Photo credit: aspros via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Lavender Cupcakes:   Photo credit: kathryn in stereo via Visual hunt / CC BY-SA

Dried Lavender:   Photo credit: vanessa lollipop via VisualHunt / CC BY-SA

Butterfly on Lavender:   Photo via Visual hunt

Lavender and Books:   Photo credit: sheshakes via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC

Lavender with Pale Purple Butterfly:   Photo via Visual Hunt






This is a rewrite of my original post on mint.  I have added a bunch of new information, as well as adding some graphics and more photos.  It is now very long and extensive and covers just about everything you ever wanted to know about this wonderful, and tasty(!), plant.  Now it really is "The Ultimate Guide to Mint."
Mint

This time around for the herb journal I will be looking at Mint.  It is another of my favorite herbs and has a variety of uses for cooking, medicine and baking.


Mint is a plant from the Labiatae family.  It has wide-spreading underground and over-ground stolons, which if allowed to grow unchecked can turn it into an invasive weed.  Mint will attain a height, depending on the cultivar, of 1 inch to 3 feet.  The smaller species make a very good ground cover and can be used in place of a lawn where conditions permit.  In large, natural areas, where hardy ground cover is needed, let any of the tougher mints, such as peppermint take over.  Just mow it off as it comes into flower and you will have a lush and lovely thick carpet that smells wonderful.

Mint Top Close Up

Mint has erect, square branching stems.  The leaves are arranged in pairs and are oblong to lanceolate in shape.  They are occasionally downy, with a serrated margin.  Leaf colors, depending on the cultivar, can range from dark green and gray-green to purple, blue and sometimes, pale yellow.  The leaves are oval, pointed, and toothed.  They are aromatic and deeply wrinkled due to deep veins on them.  


Mint Leaf Close Up

Mint flowers are white to purple and produced in false whorls called verticillasters.  These appear on terminal spikes and have 4 stamens and a 5-toothed tubular calyx.  Each flower produces four smooth ovoid nutlets or seeds.  These are dark brown and small.
Mint Flowers Close Up

In Greek mythology, Minthe was a nymph with whom Pluto fell in love.  His wife, Persephone, was very upset by this and turned Minthe into a lowly plant.  Pluto couldn't undo the spell, but he was able to soften it a little so that the more she was tread upon, the sweeter would be her smell.  We take the name "mint" from the name of this nymph. 
Mint plays a prominent part in another Greek myth.  Two strangers walking through Asia Minor were snubbed by the residents of the villages they passed through.  They were offered neither food nor drink by the villagers.  Eventually the two strangers came to the home of an elderly couple, Philemon and Baucis, who prepared a meal for them.  Before they served the meal, they rubbed down their table with mint leaves to clean and freshen it. The two strangers turned out to be Zeus and Hermes in disguise.  Because of their hospitality, the elderly couple was richly rewarded and their humble home was turned into a temple.  It is for this reason that mint is a traditional symbol of hospitality.
Mint in a Pot

The Pharisees in ancient times collected tithes of mint, dill and cumin as these were considered to be very valuable for their flavoring.  Ancient Hebrews laid mint on synagogue floors and Italians laid it on their church floors centuries later.  Bunches of mint are still hung in houses in hot countries to freshen the air and add a feeling of coolness.
Growing Mint Plants

Most mints are native to Europe and Asia, but some types are indigenous to South Africa, the Americas, and Australia.  Today, mints grow just about everywhere and have become naturalized throughout North America from southern Canada to Mexico.  Mint is a common flavoring in Greek, Arabic, North African, Middle Eastern and Indian cuisines.


Due to their rampant growth habit, hybridization of mints is quite easy, and actually occurs naturally.  So, it is difficult to get a "pure" hybrid of mint.  Even the mints we so commonly identify (Peppermint and Spearmint) are actually due to ancient efforts at hybridization. Because of this, it is often difficult to tell exact which cultivar you have.
Red Damselfly on Mint

Mints grow in a wide range of growing conditions and can be grown in full sun or partial shade.  They like moist spots, but will grow in more arid regions, as well.  Mint grows all year round, making an excellent plant for an indoor herb garden.  It thrives in a partly shady spot with plenty of moisture.  You should allow 1 or 1 1/2 feet between plants.  Don't dress your soil with manure or too much organic material as this will encourage rust.
Mint in the Ground in a Pot--Fill around pot and bury it so it is not visible

Mint Runners

If mints are planted in the garden, you need to place some sort of barrier around the plant so that it doesn't escape and go wild.  To control them, plant the mints in deep bottomless containers sunk in the ground.  Their roots don't go very deep and they prefer to send their shoots running just below the surface or on top of the ground, so this method is usually effective.  As long as your barrier is 10 inches deep, it should keep the roots from spreading. I plant all my mint in pots or bury pots containing the mint plants to prevent them from leaving the spot where they were planted.  You can cut the bottoms off plastic pots, or break the bottoms off clay pots.  One year I did not do this and spent the next several years digging mint runners out of the entire raised bed where it had gone crazy.  
Mint Sprouts

Some mints can be propagated by seed, but growth from seed can be difficult as the seeds are highly variable--you may not end up with what you thought you were planting.  Other types of mint, such as peppermint, are sterile hybrids that don't produce seed.  These can only be propagated from plant cuttings or by planting the runners dug up from healthy mints. I have a large old pot of mint that I regularly take pieces from and plant in other areas of my garden.  I have dug out large chunks and within a week or two, the original plant naturally fills in the area where the pieces I removed were growing.  So the pot is always full!
My Big Mint Plant

Mints can also be easily propagated by taking a cutting and putting it in a small vase of water.  Within a couple of weeks, the cutting will send out roots into the water.  It will be ready for replanting in a couple of months.  I have propagated several types of herbs this way and always have good luck.  Due to their speedy growth habits, mints provide some of the quickest gratification for hydroponically growing plants.  Sometimes roots will form in a matter of days, depending on the species.
Mint Roots

Frequent cutting of mint, or mowing it, if it is used in a lawn setting, keeps the plants looking their prettiest.  Every time you cut mint, it encourages it to branch out at the cuts, so you will get lusher, healthier plants.  You can divide established plants in the fall.  Division is a good way to keep these plants in check, as after a few years they can become woody and weedy if not pruned back often. 
Mint Gone Wild!





Harvesting of mint leaves can be done at any time.  Simply snip off the tips of the plant, leaving a couple of inches of the stem.  Fresh leaves should be used immediately or stored for up to a few days in a plastic bag.  They can also be frozen in ice cube trays for later use. The young, tender leaves and stems have better flavor than the older ones.  Dried leaves retain their flavor well.
Hanging Mint for Drying--Really not the best spot for drying (in front of open window).  You will get the best results if your drying room is very dry, still and dark.

To dry mint leaves, bind together bunches of the mint and hang to dry in a dry, dark place.  It will dry completely in about three weeks.  Then remove the leaves from the stems and store them in an airtight container for use during the next year.  Be sure to label and date the container.  The leaves should maintain their optimum quality for about a year.




The leaf, fresh or dried, is the culinary and medicinal source of mint.  Menthol, found only in Japanese mint and peppermint leaves, is the primary flavoring and medicinal agent produced by the plant.  It gives mint its distinctive flavor and aroma.  The compound responsible for the flavoring and aroma of spearmint is  L-carvone.  It produces some of the characteristics of menthol, but on a lesser scale.  This makes spearmint better for culinary and craft usage, but peppermint contains the most active medicinal properties of the herb.
Green Dried Mint

There are many health benefits associated with mint.  Probably the most common use for it is in aiding digestion.  Mint stimulates the flow of bile to the stomach, which promotes digestion.  Mint has antispasmodic properties that are especially calming to stomach muscles.  So it relieves upset stomachs and possibly menstrual cramps. 
Watermelon Feta Mint Appetizers

If you feel sick to your stomach, drinking a cup of mint tea can give you relief.  The menthol oil derived from mint is also great for the nausea or motion sickness that can occur when traveling long distances by plane or boat.  The aroma of mint stimulates the salivary glands in our mouths, as well as the glands that secrete digestive enzymes, thereby facilitating digestion.  This is why mint is so often used in appetizers or as a palate cleanser.  It is eaten before the main course so the food will digest comfortably.  Additionally, the market is full of products like toothpaste, chewing gum, breath fresheners, candy and inhalers which have mint as their base element.  However, the medicinal implications of mint are much more far reaching than just as a flavoring agent.
Peppermint Candies

Mint is useful in the treatment of headaches and migraines.  A balm with a mint base, or basic mint oil, can be rubbed on the forehead and outside of the nose for quick relief of these.  Mint is a naturally soothing substance, so it can alleviate the inflammation and temperature rise that is often associated with headaches and migraines.  
Mint Oil

Mint cools and soothes the throat, nose, lungs and bronchial tubes, so it is great for coughs and colds.  It relieves the irritation that causes chronic coughing and the problems arising from asthma and the common cold, too.  Mint is an excellent relaxant for the respiratory system and relieves congestion, which aids in asthma treatment.  Inhalers that have mint as their fundamental component tend to be more effective than those based on aerosols.  They are much more eco-friendly, as well.  However, using too much mint can irritate the nose and throat, so use with caution.  
Inhaler

Although mint oil can relieve the nipple cracking and pain associated with breast-feeding, mint should not be used by pregnant women.  Pennyroyal oil is especially dangerous in pregnancy as it has been used as an abortifacent in the past.  Pennyroyal is a species of mint having excellent insect control properties.
Pennyroyal

Mint is a natural stimulant and has excellent rejuvenative properties.  If you are feeling sluggish, anxious, depressed, or simply exhausted, the smell of it alone can be enough to charge your batteries and get your brain functioning at a high level again.  It can be ingested, applied topically in a salve form, or inhaled as a vapor to give you a much-needed boost.  A popular way to get good results is to place a few drops of mint essential oil or menthol oil on your pillow at night and let it work on your body or mind while you sleep.
Mint and Coconut Body Scrub

Mint juice is an excellent skin cleanser.  It soothes skin, helps to cure infections and itchiness, and can reduce pimples.  It will even reduce the symptoms of acne.  Its anti-pruritic properties can be used for treating insect bites.  The cooling sensation will relieve you of the irritating sensation to scratch, while the anti-inflammatory nature of the herb will reduce the swelling caused by the bite.  Mint oil is a powerful insect repellent, too, as the strong aroma is unappealing to most bugs.
Mosquito

A recent study explored the effects that mint has on alertness, mental retention and cognitive function.  The study found that people who frequently use chewing gum, whose major active ingredient is mint, had higher levels of retention and mental alertness than those who did not.  Apparently my daughter's assertion that she needs to chew gum continuously during school because it keeps her awake and focused is accurate and has a basis is scientific fact!

Chewing Gum

Other studies have shown that the stimulating properties of mint can help with weight loss. As mentioned earlier, mint stimulates the digestive enzymes in our bodies.  These regulate the absorption of nutrients from food.  These enzymes are also responsible for the consumption of fat and turning it into energy that is usable by the body.  By adding mint to your diet, you are increasing the amount of fat that is being consumed and put to use, rather than allowing your body to store it as fat reserves and contributing to weight gain.
Scale--LOL!!!

Some research has been done into the effects of mint on female sterility and male potency. The abortive properties of pennyroyal oil are well-documented, but it has been noted that prolonged use of ordinary mint may actually reduce a woman's ability to conceive by interfering with the production of ova.  This is due to the germicidal and insecticidal properties of mint.  Other research has claimed that men who smoke menthol cigarettes are more likely to suffer from impotency than those who smoke normal cigarettes.  It is not known if this is due to the tobacco itself used in production of these cigarettes, or the mentholation of that tobacco.  Another group of researchers suggest that mint may actually be used to treat sterility in females.  Further research into these claims is obviously quite necessary.
Mints

The improvement of oral health is a well-known benefit of mint.  Because it has germicidal qualities and quickly freshens breath, mint adds to oral health by inhibiting harmful bacterial growth inside the mouth and by cleaning the tongue and the teeth.  Traditionally, mint was rubbed directly on the teeth and gums to refresh the mouth and eliminate dangerous bacteria.  In modern times, it is why mint is one of the most common elements of the majority of toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other dental hygiene products.  The easiest way to get these benefits is to simply chew on a few mint leaves fresh from your garden.
Loose Mint Leaves

Seasonal allergies and hay fever affect millions of people each year.  Extracts from mint leaves have been shown to inhibit the release of certain chemicals that aggravate the severe nasal symptoms that are associated with hay fever and seasonal allergies.  
Fresh mint with Mortar and Pestle

Certain enzymes found in mint may also help prevent or treat some forms of cancer.  This claim is presently under research.
Cancer Ribbons

Despite the fact that mint has significant cooling and soothing effects for the most part, if consumed during a fever, mint will cause sweating and actually break the fever and speed recovery.  Other uses for mint include the healing and soothing of burns and as a treatment for rheumatism.  


There are several magical uses for mint.  Its magical powers include money, lust, healing, travel, exorcism, and protection.  If you rub the leaves against your forehead, it will banish your headache.  Wearing mint at your wrist ensures that you will not be sick and will have good health.  Stuffing a green-colored poppet with mint and healing oils alleviates stomach problems.  It is also used in travel spells and to promote lust.  
Supplies for Magic

The bright green leaves and crisp scent of mint make it a natural to use in money spells to increase wealth and prosperity.  To increase your wealth with mint, place a few leaves in your wallet or purse.  You can also rub mint leaves where your money is kept to achieve the same effects.  Mint can be used to rid a place of evil by sprinkling water infused with the herb, marjoram, and rosemary over the area.  Fresh mint laid on your altar will call good spirits and aid you in magic.  You can keep mint in your home for protection from evil spirits.


As mentioned earlier, mint is a symbol of hospitality.  In the Victorian language of flowers, mint has a number of meanings.  In Victorian times, and earlier, people would construct little bouquets of flowers, called tussie-mussies.  In constructing these bouquets, the maker would select specific plants and flowers to convey certain messages to the bouquet's intended recipient.  Mint's principal meanings include grief, homeliness, homely virtue, wisdom, remembrance, and eternal refreshment.  These meanings are some of the reasons for some of the uses for mint in the past.  
Tweedia, Geranium, and Mint Wedding Bouquet
This bouquet would represent cordial feelings (Geranium) and wisdom and eternal refreshment (Mint),
along with providing "something blue" for the bride to carry.

Mint can also be used to say, "Find someone of your own age, background, and status to marry."  Another meaning is "Don't make such a to-do about small things."  Pennyroyal is a type of mint that means "flee away!" or escape.  Pennyroyal is, incidentally, the best form of mint to use as "flea-away", or bug repellent, too.  Peppermint means cordiality and wisdom, while Spearmint means warmth of sentiment and friendliness.  Catnip is another form of mint and carries the meaning of intoxication with love, probably because of the way cats react to it.


The best known use for mint is in the culinary arts.  It is used in the flavoring of many sweets as it blends particularly well with sugar and the flavors of chocolate, vanilla, milk and cream. Think Thin Mints Girl Scout Cookies!!! It can also be used with meats, poultry, and vegetable dishes, although a little goes a long way.  Mint is a common ingredient in several alcoholic drinks, too, such as the mojito, mint julep, and as the primary constituent in the liqueur creme de menthe. 
Thin Mints Girl Scout Cookies

Peppermint straight from the garden tends to be too strong for cooking.  If you want to cook with peppermint, harvest only the youngest leaves, as older ones tend to be bitter. Spearmint and curly mint are better for cooking.  They are milder than peppermint as they do not produce menthol.  These mints enhance the flavor of meat and fish.  They are especially good with veal, eggplant, white beans, black beans, lentils, cracked wheat salads, fruit salads, fruit beverages, and creamy vegetable soups.  Corsican mint is a very low-growing tiny variety that is great for cooking.  Some say this is the "true-blue" mint flavor. Like peppermint, Corsican mint has high levels of volatile oils.  Several mint recipes can be found on this blog on the RECIPES page.
Thin Mints Girl Scout Cookies

Be sure to leave your comments below or send me an email at angelasblogemail@gmail.com .  Let me know what you love about mint and how you use it in your home!  I can't wait to hear from you!

Peace and Love Always,











Too Much Cat Mint

Sources:
Bremness, Leslie. RD Home Handbook: Herbs. Pleasantville: Reader's Digest Association, 1990. Print.

Brown, Deni. The Herb Society of America Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1995. Print.

Clevely, Andi, and Katherine Richmond. The Complete Book of Herbs. New York: Smithmark, 1994. Print.

Cunnningham, Scott. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1992. Print.

Gips, Kathleen. Flora's Dictionary: The Victorian Language of Herbs and Flowers . Chagrin Falls: TM Publications, 1995. Print.

Kowalchik, Claire, and William H. Hylton, eds. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs . Emmaus: Rodale, 1987. Print.

Kruger, Anna. An Illustrated Guide to Herbs. Stamford: Longmeadow, 1993. Print.

Shaudys, Phyllis. The Pleasure of Herbs. Pownal: Storey Communications, 1986. Print.

Shaudys, Phyllis V. Herbal Treasures. Pownal: Storey Communications, 1990. Print.

Ware, Megan. "Mint: Health Benefits, Uses and Risks." Medical News Today. Ed. Helen Webberly. Medical News Today, 16 Feb. 2016. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.




Photo Credits:
Mint Background--Harvesting and Drying Mint:  Photo credit: sarahbest via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Mint in Rectangular Pot:  Photo credit: Fluffymuppet via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Hanging Mint to Dry:  Photo credit: wayneandwax via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Green Dried Mint:  Photo credit: realblades via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA


Mint Julep and Hat:   Photo credit: cizauskas via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Mint in a Bottle:   Photo credit: melderomero.com via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Thin Mints Boxes 2:  Photo credit: MikeOliveri via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Mint:   Photo credit: everydaygrowingcultures via Visualhunt.com / CC BY

Mint for Description Graphic 2   Photo credit: matsuyuki via Visual hunt / CC BY-SA

Mint top Close up:  Photo credit: stevendepolo via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Mint Leaf Close Up 2:   Photo credit: Matty Ring via Visualhunt.com / CC BY

Mint Flowers Close up:  Photo credit: miknx via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC

Mint in a Pot:  Photo credit: John and Anni via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Growing Mint Plants:   Photo credit: jenn2d2 via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Red Damselfly on Mint:   Photo credit: Sprogz via Visual hunt / CC BY

Mint in Ground in a Pot:  Photo Credit:  http://wildgreen.weebly.com/blog/overwintering-mint-in-a-container

Mint Runners:  Photo credit: sarae via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-ND

Mint Sprouts:   Photo credit: yoppy via Visualhunt / CC BY

My Big Mint Plant:  Photo Credit:  Angela Fox-Thompson


Mint Gone Wild:   Photo credit: swanksalot via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Hanging Mint to Dry:  Photo credit: wayneandwax via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Mint Green Paper:  Photo credit: pareeerica via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC

Green Dried Mint:  Photo credit: realblades via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Watermelon Feta Mint Appetizers:  Photo Credit: http://feastingnotfasting.com/watermelon-feta-mint-skewers-balsamic-glaze/

Peppermint Candies:  Photo credit: sea turtle via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Mint Oil:  Photo credit: Nohchi Oda via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-ND




Mosquito:   Photo credit: Johan J.Ingles-Le Nobel via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Chewing Gum:  Photo credit: canonsnapper via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Scale:   Photo credit: jeff_golden via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-SA

Mints:  Photo credit: renaissancechambara via VisualHunt / CC BY

Loose Mint Leaves:  Photo credit: SummerTomato via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Fresh Mint with Mortar and Pestle:  Photo Credit: http://drlisawatson.com/doctors-know-little-about-herbs

Cancer Ribbons:  Photo Credit: http://suzou.net/


Cracked Mint Green Texture:  Photo credit: webtreats via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Mint on Black:   Photo credit: Nick Kenrick. via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA





Tweedia, Geranium and Mint Bouquet:  Photo Credit: http://www.brides.com/wedding-flowers/2000000002049093

Thin Mints:  Photo credit: Brian Legate via Visual hunt / CC BY-ND

Thin Mints Boxes:  Photo credit: MikeOliveri via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Too Much Cat Mint:  Photo credit: "T"eresa via Visual Hunt / CC BY













Basil is a commonly grown herb in nearly all parts of the world.  It has much lore attached to it, and some fear, as well as numerous medical claims.  Mostly, though, basil is renowned as a culinary herb.



Basil is a member of the mint family, Labiatae.   It is an annual plant with leafy stems that give it a bushy appearance.  Its stems are slightly hairy, finely ridged and square.  They have many branching stems and the stems range in color from a bright light green to reddish at the base. 

Baby Basil

The leaves of basil grow in sets of two, opposite each other.  They are generally large, slightly toothed, oval, and somewhat pointed.  They curve inward slightly along the midrib and are generally about 2 to 3 inches long.  For the most part, basil leaves are bright green in color.  Leaf color on some basil ranges from yellow-green to dark green, depending on soil fertility.  On some varieties, such as Dark Opal Basil, the leaves are dark reddish-purple. On Holy Basil, the leaves graduate from bright green at the bottom to a deep purple-pink near the flower stalks.  The leaves also possess the highest concentration of volatile oils and have a warm yet fresh, strong, clove-like scent.

My Sweet Basil Flower

Basil flowers are quite pretty and are edible.  Generally, they are white and about 1/2 inch long.  They are two-lipped and the upper lip has 4 lobes and 4 stamens in racemes at the tops of stems.  Basil usually flowers in July and August, and can extend into September and October in warmer climates.  These flowers produce seeds that are dark brown, faceted and tear-shaped, that are about 1/16 of an inch long.
Basil Seeds

Typical height of a basil plant is around 18 inches, but the ones in my garden are about 2 feet tall right now (early September, 2016).  

My Purple Basil Plant

Basil has been known by many names through history.  These names include Saint Joseph's Wort, American Dittany, Albahaca, "Our Herb", the Witches Herb, and Sweet Basil. The plant's native range is believed to be India, Africa and Asia.  It is now cultivated extensively for commercial use in France, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Morocco, Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Italy and to some extent in other temperate countries of the world. It is also much cultivated in the United States, especially in California.


Early Greek and Roman physicians believed that to grow a good crop of basil, one had to shout and curse while planting it. From this practice was born the French idiom "semer le basilic", or "sowing the basil".  It means someone is "raving" for virtually no reason, like a lunatic. 
Classic Basil

Why all the noise?  Who knows?  Basil actually is very simple to grow.    It grows from seeds easily.  Seeds should be planted about 1/8 inch deep when the soil has warmed to about 50 degrees F and the danger of frost has certainly passed.  When seedlings appear, thin plants to leave about 1 foot of space between them. 



Basil seeds can be started indoors and then transplanted outside after the final frost of the year.  The seeds germinate readily in a moist medium when soil temperatures are between 75 and 85 degrees.  About a week after germination, seedlings can be transplanted into 2-inch pots or flats.  When the weather warms up, plant them outside.  You can also propagate basil reliably from softwood cuttings.  Suspend the stems of short cuttings in water for about two weeks or so until roots develop.  Once these roots have developed, plant into small pots or flats.  When new growth appears on top, then new plants are ready to be moved outside, as long as the danger of frost has passed.
Basil Rooted in Water

Basil likes well-drained to dry rich soil with a soil pH between 5 - 8.  It does best if well-rotted manure or manure compost is mixed with the soil before planting.  Mulching the area after the seedlings have shot up helps to keep the ground moist and warm and discourages weeds.  Just don't mulch until the soil has warmed up.  Basil roots need heat.
My Sweet Basil Plant
Plant basil in full sun, but protect it from wind, frost and from scorching midday sun.  Avoid over-watering seedlings as they are prone to "damping off", a fungal root disease.  Unlike many herbs, basil likes to be watered at midday instead of in the morning or evening. Cooler evening temperatures can retain too much moisture and contribute to damping off and other root diseases.  Spray or mist leaves in hot weather.
Basil After Misting

The most important consideration when growing basil is remembering to prune it frequently. To encourage a bushy plant, keep pruning basil.  Before it flowers, cut the main stem from the top, leaving at least one node with two young shoots.  Thereafter, cut the branches every two weeks or so.  Basil tends to go to seed quickly if not pruned this often.  I usually prune mine about every week while I water.  If you keep an eye on basil, you should have several harvests of fresh leaves.

My Fresh Cut Sweet Basil

Pinching out the growing tips of basil encourages bushiness (more harvests) and delays flowering.  This is key as once a stem produces flowers, foliage production stops on that stem.  The stem becomes woody and essential oil production declines.  To prevent this, pinch off any flower stems before they fully mature.  Only the blooming stem is affected this way, so some stems can be pinched to encourage leaf production, while others are left to bloom for decoration or seeds.
Huge Harvest

Once the plant is allowed to flower, it may produce seed pods containing the small black seeds.  These can be saved for planting the following year.  Picking the leaves off the plant helps promote growth, largely because the plant responds by converting pairs of leaflets next to the topmost leaves into new stems.  When I prune my basil back each week--that is how often it produces new flowers--I make sure to cut back to the first node that has two leaves growing from it.  The new growth starts from these points with a branch sprouting on either side of the place where I pruned it back.
My Purple Basil Flowers and Leaves
Basil is wonderful as a companion plant to many garden staples.  Plant it near tomatoes and peppers to enhance their growth.  It is also helpful to other plants because it is said to repel aphids, asparagus beetles, mites, and tomato hornworms.  It also slows the growth of milkweed bugs.  

Aphid

Although basil is generally grown in herb gardens, it can also be grown as an ornamental plant in flower gardens.  The bright green foliage is gorgeous against brightly colored flowers and the fragrance is lovely.  Plant opal basil with marigolds for a striking contrast. Grow sweet basil and opal basil together in a window box.  Both are excellent for growing in pots indoors, too.  Try the varieties "Green Ruffles" or "Purple Ruffles" for their beautiful ruffly textures.  Regardless of the look you are after for your garden, there is a basil cultivar that will help you to achieve those goals.
My Unopened Basil Buds

To harvest basil, cut sprigs when flower buds form and before they have opened.  You can harvest basil continuously until the first frost.  Once picked, wash it in cold water for a few minutes to remove any dirt or pesticide residues.  Store fresh basil in the refrigerator to maintain humidity. 
Chopped Basil

For longer-term storage, basil is best stored in oil, vinegar, or in a frozen paste, or it can be dried and sealed tightly in containers.  Basil is somewhat difficult to dry as it turns dark, but if you separate the leaves before you dry them and stir them often, they will stay green. Speedy drying also retains the bright green coloring.  
Ready to Freeze
To effectively dry basil and retain its color, try this method:  Warm your oven to 140 degrees. Place a single layer of leaves on a baking sheet.  When oven is warm, turn it off and put your pan in for about 20 minutes.  (You don't want them to actually bake.)  Remove the pan, cool the leaves, and store immediately in an airtight container, or in Ziploc bags away from sunlight.  Keep in mind, though, that basil is best when fresh and that drying causes it to lose much of its flavor and many of its vitamins and other beneficial properties.  What little flavor that remains after drying makes it taste a little like hay.
Drying Basil

A few better ways to store basil exist.  One of these is to paint both sides of each leaf with olive oil before drying.  This preserves the flavor better than just drying the leaves without treatment.  You can also freeze the leaves of basil after painting each side with olive oil. Freezing is a more effective preservation method than drying.  Whole leaves can also be stored in olive oil with salt, or simply dry-packed with salt acting as a desiccant (drying medium).  You can also infuse the leaves in oil or vinegar to store.



Basil has a long history and records of its use date back thousands of years. In India, where it most likely originated, it is a sacred herb dedicated to the gods Vishnu and Krishna and is worshiped more highly than kings.  Holy basil is the supposed original variety of the plant and takes its name from the importance placed upon it by the Hindu religion.  Sprigs of it were at one time laid on the chests of the dead to protect them from evil in the next world and to offer them entrance to paradise.  Basil was traditionally used in India courts for witnesses to swear upon, much as we swear on the Bible here in the US.  It is one of the most sacred plants of India, second in importance only to the lotus.  It is grown in or around most Hindu households and around temples for its protective influence.  
Big Old Basil
This basil grew roots right out the bottom of the pot it was planted in and rooted itself into the ground.  It cannot be moved!
Other countries of the world have strong connections to basil, as do other religions.  Basil was supposedly found growing around Christ's tomb after the resurrection, and around the trees used to construct the cross upon which he was crucified.  Due to this, many churches, such as the Greek Orthodox Church, use basil to prepare their Holy Water and pots of basil are set below church altars. 
Pot of Basil
In other countries and regions, traditional views of basil are anything but "religious".  Basil seems to have been associated with scorpions throughout history.  These creatures supposedly live under basil plants and in Africa, the plant is reputed to protect against them. European folklore also shows an association with these creatures, and it is said that if you smell basil too much that it will breed a nest of scorpions in your brain. 

Scorpion

Basil represented hatred in ancient Greece, and European lore sometimes claims that it is a symbol of Satan.  Basil is still used in exorcism rituals in many parts of the world to expel demons.  It is traditional to strew basil on the floor of your home because where there is basil, it is said that no evil can live.  For this reason, it is used in purification baths and rituals and often small amounts of it are placed in each room in a house to bring protection from evil spirits.  Given as a housewarming gift, basil brings good luck to a new home.
Tiny Basil Pot Housewarming Gift
In central regions of Mexico, basil is used to draw fortune to a business.  The owner can hang a bunch of it in the doorway or window of the shop.  The plant's growth reflects the wealth of the business by showing how dutifully the owner cares for his shop and the herb. Witchcraft, paganism, and magical uses for the herb also reflect this.  Basil is said to bring wealth to those who carry it in their pockets and is used to attract customers to a business by placing a sprig of it in the cash register drawer or in the doorway of the shop.
Big Basil Bouquet

The name basil may derive from the ancient Greek word "basilikohn", meaning royal.  Used in this way, basil reflects an attitude of nobility and a desire to extend hospitality, friendship, and honor wherever it was served.  The French call basil "l'herbe royale", or the "royal herb".  Whenever basil is used, it is for the purpose of providing your guests with the "royal treatment."
Ruffled Basil

The people of the Victorian era enjoyed assigning special meanings to all the plants they came into contact with.  Most of the meanings are associated with uses of basil and lore regarding it through history.  The Victorians used flowers and plants to send messages to others based on these assigned meanings.  Cinnamon Basil indicates a love of learning and education.  Common basil means hate or is used to indicate that "an enemy is near."  Sweet basil is used to communicate good wishes, or best wishes, as well as to indicate that one has serious intentions in a love relationship.  Additionally, when a woman places a pot of basil on her windowsill, it means she is ready to receive her suitor.



Basil is a sacred herb in witchcraft and pagan rituals, so it has many properties and magical uses.  Its magical powers include love, exorcism, wealth, flying, and protection.  The primary power basil has in ritual is toward love.  Its scent is said to cause sympathy between two people and to soothe tempers between lovers.  It is added to love incenses and sachets, and the fresh leaves can be rubbed against the skin as a kind of natural love perfume.  It was once thought that a young man would love any woman from whom he accepted a sprig of basil.  Likewise, it was said that if a man gave a woman a sprig, she would fall in love with him and never leave. 

 
Basil Growing in Water

Basil can be used in love divination.  To determine the success of a marriage or relationship, place two basil leaves, representing the two parties to the marriage, on a live coal.  If the leaves lie where you put them and burn quickly to ashes, the marriage or relationship will be harmonious.  If there is a certain amount of crackling, the life of the pair will be disturbed by quarrels.  If the leaves fly apart with fierce crackling, the relationship or marriage will be equally as noisy and combustible, and therefore deemed undesirable.
Basil Love Potion?
To determine if someone is chaste or promiscuous, lay a sprig of fresh basil in their hand.  It will immediately wither if that person is "light of love", or prone to promiscuity.  If it remains fresh for a little while, then you can safely assume your mate will remain true to you.  To ensure your lover stays true, sprinkle basil powder over your body thoroughly while your lover sleeps, especially over your heart.  This will bless your relationship with fidelity.
Bowl of Basil in the Grass

Basil can be used to diet, but only by a second party's help and without the dieter's knowledge.  According to an ancient spell, a person will not be able to eat a bite from any dish if, secretly, basil has been placed beneath it.
Basil Leaves on Dark Background

Other magical uses for basil include keeping goats away from your property, attracting scorpions, and preventing inebriation or drunkenness.  Additionally, witches were said to drink about a 1/2 cup of basil juice before they flew off into the air!



The principal use for basil is culinary.  Basil has a rich and spicy, mildly peppery flavor with a trace of mint and clove.  Its flavor is quite unique and can vary significantly between cultivars.  This is due to the huge number of volatile oils produced by the plant.  More than 20 of them have been isolated and identified, but the concentrations in each plant vary. Each of the individual cultivars of the plant has different concentrations of these oils, as well, and concentrations differ among cultivars based on the region of nativity or origin of the plant.  These oils are found, not only in basil, but in many other plants, as indicated by their names.  Some of the oils include anise, cinnamon, clove, lemon, rose, lilac/orange blossom, thyme and camphor.  The oils give the herbs bearing their names flavors unique to that plant, but combine in basil to create its own, almost indescribable, flavor.
A Classic Culinary Combination

When using basil in cooking, it is best to add the herb in only the last moments of cooking as it loses its flavor quickly when heated.  To use the herb, pound it with oil or tear it into pieces with your fingers rather than chopping it.  This keeps the oils and flavors trapped in the leaves.  For best flavor, use fresh leaves.  Fresh frozen leaves are the second best choice for cooking.  Use the dried leaves only if fresh or frozen are unavailable. 
Chicken with Basil
Pesto and tomato sauce are the main dishes made from basil.  Add basil leaves to a salad or use them to garnish just about anything.  Because the flowers are edible, they make a lovely and delicious garnish, too.  Basil is traditionally used in Italian, Mediterranean, and Thai cookery.  It is also superb with veal, lamb, fish, poultry, white beans, pasta, rice, tomatoes, cheese, and eggs.  It blends well with garlic, thyme, and lemon.  Basil adds snap to mild vegetables like zucchini, summer squash, eggplant, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, and spinach, as well as to the soups, sauces and stews in which these vegetables appear.  Make basil vinegar using white vinegar.  Dark opal basil makes an attractive purple vinegar that is very tasty.
Pizza with Fresh Basil

Basil has a powerful enough flavor to stand up to garlic and together they make classic pesto sauce.  You can create an easy pesto by combining 1 cup of fresh basil leaves, 3 Tablespoons of pine nuts or walnuts, 3 Tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese and 2 or 3 cloves of garlic.  Puree them all in a food processor or blender, adding just enough olive oil to make a smooth paste.  Use with pasta, rice, fish, vegetables, or in soup.  If you want to freeze your pesto sauce for later use, leave out the garlic as it may become bitter after a short while.  Simply thaw the pesto and add the pureed garlic before serving.

Pesto

An interesting fact about basil is that it is the primary ingredient in the liqueur Chartreuse. Basil gives this liqueur its almost neon, yellow-green color, but the liqueur gives the bright yellow-green color its name:  chartreuse!
Chartreuse Liqueur Ad Celebrating 250 Years

Here are a few chef tips for you to utilize basil in your own cooking.
  1. Add several large basil leaves to the liquid when poaching fish, shellfish, or chicken.
  2. Cut a 10 x 10 inch square piece of aluminum foil and set it shiny side down.  Arrange slices of zucchini, onion, and tomato in the middle of the square and toss in several basil leaves.  Fold the square around the vegetables to make a tight packet.  Bake in a 350 degree oven, or grill, for about 20 minutes.
  3. Add a handful of basil when making beef stock.
  4. When making tomato or pizza sauce, substitute basil for the oregano.
  5. Whatever you do with basil, remember that its flavor intensifies with cooking and it can get very pungent very quickly, so only add it during the last few minutes of cooking.
Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Salad


Adding basil to foods, especially to uncooked foods, such as salads, acts as a natural preservative and can eliminate Shigella, an infectious bacterium that triggers diarrhea and may cause intestinal damage.  Basil provides many essential nutrients and vitamins, too. Some of these include vitamin A, vitamin K, iron, calcium, manganese, copper, magnesium, vitamin C, and potassium.  It also has anti-bacterial properties and contains DNA-protecting flavonoids.



Although basil is reported to have significant medicinal properties, very few have actually been verified scientifically.  It is best known for its use against digestive complaints.  Try basil tea in place of an after dinner mint.  It will aid in digestion and expel gas.  You can steep a teaspoon of the dried leaves in a cup of boiled water for stomach cramps, vomiting, and constipation.  Because basil has slight sedative effects, it is sometimes recommended for nervous headaches and anxiety.  A poultice of basil can be used on sores, insect stings, and snakebites.
Basil "Boo-boo" Balm

Steep a few leaves in wine for a few hours and then drink it as a tonic.  Basil also has many uses in aromatherapy.  Other medicinal properties the herb possesses include a restorative warming sensation, muscle relaxation, fever reduction, and improvement of digestion. Clinical studies demonstrate that basil has anti-bacterial properties and is effective against bacterial infections and intestinal parasites. 
Red Rubin Basil

Basil can be taken internally for feverish illness (especially colds and flu), nausea, cramps, gastroenteritis, migraine, insomnia, low spirits, and exhaustion.  External uses include acne, loss of smell, and skin infections.  Some cultivars have stimulant properties and can be used against impotence, diarrhea, dysentery, post-partum problems and against worms in children, as well as externally being used for rheumatism and lumbago.  It can strengthen the immune system, help with sinusitis, abdominal distention and cramping, low libido and to fight negativity.
Basil and Basil Essential Oil with Mortar and Pestle
Studies on the efficacy of basil in medicinal pursuits include a trial against seriously multi-drug resistant bacteria.  In this case, the basil strongly reduced the negative effect of the bacteria.  In another study, basil was tested against tuberculosis symptoms and the results were encouraging.  The conclusion arrived at from the test was that basil may be used to formulate new and natural tuberculosis treatments.
Purple Basil Top

Basil extracts have been shown to reduce sugars and free radicals in the body, so tests were conducted in relation to its effect on the glycemic index.  The findings from these tests led researchers to believe that basil extracts may have the potential to inhibit diabetes. 
Basil Leaf on Black
Basil may prevent the harmful effects of aging.  Holy basil extract was effective at killing off harmful molecules and preventing damage caused by free radicals in the liver, brain, and heart.  It is possible that basil extracts may someday be shown to prevent heart attacks, correct cirrhosis of the liver, and potentially to prevent Alzheimer's Disease.  Much further testing needs to be done before any of these claims can be made.



In addition to its culinary and medicinal attributes, basil has a few other uses.  You can add the leaves to potpourris and sachets.  The fragrance is sweet and strong, but not overpowering. 
Basil Spray


Basil brings luster to hair.  Brunettes can add it to a rosemary rinse, while blondes can add it to a chamomile rinse.  Another cosmetic use for basil is in perfumery and in toilet waters. Use it in bath mixtures as the fragrance is invigorating.  The cosmetics industry uses basil, or essential oil of basil, in lotions, shampoos, soaps, and perfumes.
My Basil Bouquet

If you can spare a bit of basil from the kitchen, cut some sprigs of either sweet or purple basil to add to fresh flower bouquets and arrangements.  Use them for their attractive leaves and sweet, anise-clove scent.  Place a pot of basil on a windowsill to deter flies and mosquitoes.  The stems of some cultivars are cut into beads and used in making rosaries.
Basil Potpourri

Basil is truly an amazing plant.  I have always loved its color, shape, and form, but was unaware of all its possible uses.  In researching this post, I have certainly come to a new understanding and appreciation of this glorious plant and I hope that you have, too.  

Be sure to leave any comments or questions below or drop me an email at angelasblogemail@gmail.com.  I would love to hear what you think of basil and how you use it in your home!

Peace and Love Always,










My Fresh Cut Purple Basil


Sources:
Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs
The Pleasure of Herbs by Phyllis Shaudys
Herbs by Leslie Bremness
The Herb Society of America, Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses by Deni Brown
Flora's Dictionary:  The Victorian Language of Herbs and Flowers, by Kathleen Gips
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham


Photo Credits:
Baby Basil:   Photo credit: ^Ren via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND
Basil Seeds:   Photo credit: John and Anni via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Classic Basil:   Photo credit: aldenchadwick via VisualHunt.com / CC BY
Basil Rooted in Water:   Photo credit: a.pasquier via Visual hunt / CC BY-SA
Basil with Raindrops:   Photo via Visualhunt.com
Huge Harvest:   Photo credit: miladus via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA
Aphid:   Photo credit: Mick E. Talbot via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Chopped Basil:   Photo credit: jonpalmer via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA
Ready to Freeze:   Photo credit: jonpalmer via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA
Drying Basil:   Photo credit: riebschlager via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC
Big Old Basil:   Photo credit: Vineyard Adventures via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND
Pot of Basil:   Photo credit: sammydavisdog via Visual hunt / CC BY
Scorpion:   Photo credit: twm1340 via Visual hunt / CC BY-SA
Tiny Basil Pot:   Photo credit: Jared721 via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC
Big Basil Bouquet:   Photo credit: Limes & Lycopene via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND
Ruffled Basil:   Photo credit: BellaEatsBooks via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC
Rooted Basil Cuttings:   Photo credit: lorigami via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND
Basil Love Potion?:   Photo credit: arbyreed via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Bowl of Basil in Grass:   Photo credit: Derek Bridges via Visualhunt / CC BY
Basil Leaves on Dark Background:   Photo via VisualHunt.com
Tomatoes and Basil (A Classic Culinary Combination):  Photo credit: sirwiseowl via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-ND
Chicken with Basil:   Photo credit: Another Pint Please... via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA 
Pizza with Basil:   Photo credit: jeffreyw via Visual Hunt / CC BY
Pesto:   Photo via VisualHunt.com
Chartreuse Liqueur:   Photo credit: Cletus Awreetus via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC
Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Salad:   Photo via Visual Hunt
Basil "Boo-boo" Balm:   Photo credit: Blue Yonder via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Red Rubin Basil:   Photo credit: Rosa Say via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND
Basil in Mortar and Pestle:   Photo via VisualHunt
Purple Basil Top:   Photo credit: NathanGunter via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-ND
Basil Leaf on Black:   Photo credit: pianowow via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC
Basil Spray:   Photo credit: latisha (herbmother) via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND
Basil Potpourri:   Photo credit: p e e p e r via VisualHunt.com / CC BY
All other photos courtesy Angela Fox-Thompson






Basil is a commonly grown herb in nearly all parts of the world.  It has much lore attached to it, and some fear, as well as numerous medical claims.  Mostly, though, basil is renowned as a culinary herb.



Basil is a member of the mint family, Labiatae.   It is an annual plant with leafy stems that give it a bushy appearance.  Its stems are slightly hairy, finely ridged and square.  They have many branching stems and the stems range in color from a bright light green to reddish at the base. 

Baby Basil

The leaves of basil grow in sets of two, opposite each other.  They are generally large, slightly toothed, oval, and somewhat pointed.  They curve inward slightly along the midrib and are generally about 2 to 3 inches long.  For the most part, basil leaves are bright green in color.  Leaf color on some basil ranges from yellow-green to dark green, depending on soil fertility.  On some varieties, such as Dark Opal Basil, the leaves are dark reddish-purple. On Holy Basil, the leaves graduate from bright green at the bottom to a deep purple-pink near the flower stalks.  The leaves also possess the highest concentration of volatile oils and have a warm yet fresh, strong, clove-like scent.

My Sweet Basil Flower

Basil flowers are quite pretty and are edible.  Generally, they are white and about 1/2 inch long.  They are two-lipped and the upper lip has 4 lobes and 4 stamens in racemes at the tops of stems.  Basil usually flowers in July and August, and can extend into September and October in warmer climates.  These flowers produce seeds that are dark brown, faceted and tear-shaped, that are about 1/16 of an inch long.
Basil Seeds

Typical height of a basil plant is around 18 inches, but the ones in my garden are about 2 feet tall right now (early September, 2016).  

My Purple Basil Plant

Basil has been known by many names through history.  These names include Saint Joseph's Wort, American Dittany, Albahaca, "Our Herb", the Witches Herb, and Sweet Basil. The plant's native range is believed to be India, Africa and Asia.  It is now cultivated extensively for commercial use in France, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Morocco, Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Italy and to some extent in other temperate countries of the world. It is also much cultivated in the United States, especially in California.


Early Greek and Roman physicians believed that to grow a good crop of basil, one had to shout and curse while planting it. From this practice was born the French idiom "semer le basilic", or "sowing the basil".  It means someone is "raving" for virtually no reason, like a lunatic. 
Classic Basil

Why all the noise?  Who knows?  Basil actually is very simple to grow.    It grows from seeds easily.  Seeds should be planted about 1/8 inch deep when the soil has warmed to about 50 degrees F and the danger of frost has certainly passed.  When seedlings appear, thin plants to leave about 1 foot of space between them. 



Basil seeds can be started indoors and then transplanted outside after the final frost of the year.  The seeds germinate readily in a moist medium when soil temperatures are between 75 and 85 degrees.  About a week after germination, seedlings can be transplanted into 2-inch pots or flats.  When the weather warms up, plant them outside.  You can also propagate basil reliably from softwood cuttings.  Suspend the stems of short cuttings in water for about two weeks or so until roots develop.  Once these roots have developed, plant into small pots or flats.  When new growth appears on top, then new plants are ready to be moved outside, as long as the danger of frost has passed.
Basil Rooted in Water

Basil likes well-drained to dry rich soil with a soil pH between 5 - 8.  It does best if well-rotted manure or manure compost is mixed with the soil before planting.  Mulching the area after the seedlings have shot up helps to keep the ground moist and warm and discourages weeds.  Just don't mulch until the soil has warmed up.  Basil roots need heat.
My Sweet Basil Plant
Plant basil in full sun, but protect it from wind, frost and from scorching midday sun.  Avoid over-watering seedlings as they are prone to "damping off", a fungal root disease.  Unlike many herbs, basil likes to be watered at midday instead of in the morning or evening. Cooler evening temperatures can retain too much moisture and contribute to damping off and other root diseases.  Spray or mist leaves in hot weather.
Basil After Misting

The most important consideration when growing basil is remembering to prune it frequently. To encourage a bushy plant, keep pruning basil.  Before it flowers, cut the main stem from the top, leaving at least one node with two young shoots.  Thereafter, cut the branches every two weeks or so.  Basil tends to go to seed quickly if not pruned this often.  I usually prune mine about every week while I water.  If you keep an eye on basil, you should have several harvests of fresh leaves.

My Fresh Cut Sweet Basil

Pinching out the growing tips of basil encourages bushiness (more harvests) and delays flowering.  This is key as once a stem produces flowers, foliage production stops on that stem.  The stem becomes woody and essential oil production declines.  To prevent this, pinch off any flower stems before they fully mature.  Only the blooming stem is affected this way, so some stems can be pinched to encourage leaf production, while others are left to bloom for decoration or seeds.
Huge Harvest

Once the plant is allowed to flower, it may produce seed pods containing the small black seeds.  These can be saved for planting the following year.  Picking the leaves off the plant helps promote growth, largely because the plant responds by converting pairs of leaflets next to the topmost leaves into new stems.  When I prune my basil back each week--that is how often it produces new flowers--I make sure to cut back to the first node that has two leaves growing from it.  The new growth starts from these points with a branch sprouting on either side of the place where I pruned it back.
My Purple Basil Flowers and Leaves
Basil is wonderful as a companion plant to many garden staples.  Plant it near tomatoes and peppers to enhance their growth.  It is also helpful to other plants because it is said to repel aphids, asparagus beetles, mites, and tomato hornworms.  It also slows the growth of milkweed bugs.  

Aphid

Although basil is generally grown in herb gardens, it can also be grown as an ornamental plant in flower gardens.  The bright green foliage is gorgeous against brightly colored flowers and the fragrance is lovely.  Plant opal basil with marigolds for a striking contrast. Grow sweet basil and opal basil together in a window box.  Both are excellent for growing in pots indoors, too.  Try the varieties "Green Ruffles" or "Purple Ruffles" for their beautiful ruffly textures.  Regardless of the look you are after for your garden, there is a basil cultivar that will help you to achieve those goals.
My Unopened Basil Buds

To harvest basil, cut sprigs when flower buds form and before they have opened.  You can harvest basil continuously until the first frost.  Once picked, wash it in cold water for a few minutes to remove any dirt or pesticide residues.  Store fresh basil in the refrigerator to maintain humidity. 
Chopped Basil

For longer-term storage, basil is best stored in oil, vinegar, or in a frozen paste, or it can be dried and sealed tightly in containers.  Basil is somewhat difficult to dry as it turns dark, but if you separate the leaves before you dry them and stir them often, they will stay green. Speedy drying also retains the bright green coloring.  
Ready to Freeze
To effectively dry basil and retain its color, try this method:  Warm your oven to 140 degrees. Place a single layer of leaves on a baking sheet.  When oven is warm, turn it off and put your pan in for about 20 minutes.  (You don't want them to actually bake.)  Remove the pan, cool the leaves, and store immediately in an airtight container, or in Ziploc bags away from sunlight.  Keep in mind, though, that basil is best when fresh and that drying causes it to lose much of its flavor and many of its vitamins and other beneficial properties.  What little flavor that remains after drying makes it taste a little like hay.
Drying Basil

A few better ways to store basil exist.  One of these is to paint both sides of each leaf with olive oil before drying.  This preserves the flavor better than just drying the leaves without treatment.  You can also freeze the leaves of basil after painting each side with olive oil. Freezing is a more effective preservation method than drying.  Whole leaves can also be stored in olive oil with salt, or simply dry-packed with salt acting as a desiccant (drying medium).  You can also infuse the leaves in oil or vinegar to store.



Basil has a long history and records of its use date back thousands of years. In India, where it most likely originated, it is a sacred herb dedicated to the gods Vishnu and Krishna and is worshiped more highly than kings.  Holy basil is the supposed original variety of the plant and takes its name from the importance placed upon it by the Hindu religion.  Sprigs of it were at one time laid on the chests of the dead to protect them from evil in the next world and to offer them entrance to paradise.  Basil was traditionally used in India courts for witnesses to swear upon, much as we swear on the Bible here in the US.  It is one of the most sacred plants of India, second in importance only to the lotus.  It is grown in or around most Hindu households and around temples for its protective influence.  
Big Old Basil
This basil grew roots right out the bottom of the pot it was planted in and rooted itself into the ground.  It cannot be moved!
Other countries of the world have strong connections to basil, as do other religions.  Basil was supposedly found growing around Christ's tomb after the resurrection, and around the trees used to construct the cross upon which he was crucified.  Due to this, many churches, such as the Greek Orthodox Church, use basil to prepare their Holy Water and pots of basil are set below church altars. 
Pot of Basil
In other countries and regions, traditional views of basil are anything but "religious".  Basil seems to have been associated with scorpions throughout history.  These creatures supposedly live under basil plants and in Africa, the plant is reputed to protect against them. European folklore also shows an association with these creatures, and it is said that if you smell basil too much that it will breed a nest of scorpions in your brain. 

Scorpion

Basil represented hatred in ancient Greece, and European lore sometimes claims that it is a symbol of Satan.  Basil is still used in exorcism rituals in many parts of the world to expel demons.  It is traditional to strew basil on the floor of your home because where there is basil, it is said that no evil can live.  For this reason, it is used in purification baths and rituals and often small amounts of it are placed in each room in a house to bring protection from evil spirits.  Given as a housewarming gift, basil brings good luck to a new home.
Tiny Basil Pot Housewarming Gift
In central regions of Mexico, basil is used to draw fortune to a business.  The owner can hang a bunch of it in the doorway or window of the shop.  The plant's growth reflects the wealth of the business by showing how dutifully the owner cares for his shop and the herb. Witchcraft, paganism, and magical uses for the herb also reflect this.  Basil is said to bring wealth to those who carry it in their pockets and is used to attract customers to a business by placing a sprig of it in the cash register drawer or in the doorway of the shop.
Big Basil Bouquet

The name basil may derive from the ancient Greek word "basilikohn", meaning royal.  Used in this way, basil reflects an attitude of nobility and a desire to extend hospitality, friendship, and honor wherever it was served.  The French call basil "l'herbe royale", or the "royal herb".  Whenever basil is used, it is for the purpose of providing your guests with the "royal treatment."
Ruffled Basil

The people of the Victorian era enjoyed assigning special meanings to all the plants they came into contact with.  Most of the meanings are associated with uses of basil and lore regarding it through history.  The Victorians used flowers and plants to send messages to others based on these assigned meanings.  Cinnamon Basil indicates a love of learning and education.  Common basil means hate or is used to indicate that "an enemy is near."  Sweet basil is used to communicate good wishes, or best wishes, as well as to indicate that one has serious intentions in a love relationship.  Additionally, when a woman places a pot of basil on her windowsill, it means she is ready to receive her suitor.



Basil is a sacred herb in witchcraft and pagan rituals, so it has many properties and magical uses.  Its magical powers include love, exorcism, wealth, flying, and protection.  The primary power basil has in ritual is toward love.  Its scent is said to cause sympathy between two people and to soothe tempers between lovers.  It is added to love incenses and sachets, and the fresh leaves can be rubbed against the skin as a kind of natural love perfume.  It was once thought that a young man would love any woman from whom he accepted a sprig of basil.  Likewise, it was said that if a man gave a woman a sprig, she would fall in love with him and never leave. 

 
Basil Growing in Water

Basil can be used in love divination.  To determine the success of a marriage or relationship, place two basil leaves, representing the two parties to the marriage, on a live coal.  If the leaves lie where you put them and burn quickly to ashes, the marriage or relationship will be harmonious.  If there is a certain amount of crackling, the life of the pair will be disturbed by quarrels.  If the leaves fly apart with fierce crackling, the relationship or marriage will be equally as noisy and combustible, and therefore deemed undesirable.
Basil Love Potion?
To determine if someone is chaste or promiscuous, lay a sprig of fresh basil in their hand.  It will immediately wither if that person is "light of love", or prone to promiscuity.  If it remains fresh for a little while, then you can safely assume your mate will remain true to you.  To ensure your lover stays true, sprinkle basil powder over your body thoroughly while your lover sleeps, especially over your heart.  This will bless your relationship with fidelity.
Bowl of Basil in the Grass

Basil can be used to diet, but only by a second party's help and without the dieter's knowledge.  According to an ancient spell, a person will not be able to eat a bite from any dish if, secretly, basil has been placed beneath it.
Basil Leaves on Dark Background

Other magical uses for basil include keeping goats away from your property, attracting scorpions, and preventing inebriation or drunkenness.  Additionally, witches were said to drink about a 1/2 cup of basil juice before they flew off into the air!



The principal use for basil is culinary.  Basil has a rich and spicy, mildly peppery flavor with a trace of mint and clove.  Its flavor is quite unique and can vary significantly between cultivars.  This is due to the huge number of volatile oils produced by the plant.  More than 20 of them have been isolated and identified, but the concentrations in each plant vary. Each of the individual cultivars of the plant has different concentrations of these oils, as well, and concentrations differ among cultivars based on the region of nativity or origin of the plant.  These oils are found, not only in basil, but in many other plants, as indicated by their names.  Some of the oils include anise, cinnamon, clove, lemon, rose, lilac/orange blossom, thyme and camphor.  The oils give the herbs bearing their names flavors unique to that plant, but combine in basil to create its own, almost indescribable, flavor.
A Classic Culinary Combination

When using basil in cooking, it is best to add the herb in only the last moments of cooking as it loses its flavor quickly when heated.  To use the herb, pound it with oil or tear it into pieces with your fingers rather than chopping it.  This keeps the oils and flavors trapped in the leaves.  For best flavor, use fresh leaves.  Fresh frozen leaves are the second best choice for cooking.  Use the dried leaves only if fresh or frozen are unavailable. 
Chicken with Basil
Pesto and tomato sauce are the main dishes made from basil.  Add basil leaves to a salad or use them to garnish just about anything.  Because the flowers are edible, they make a lovely and delicious garnish, too.  Basil is traditionally used in Italian, Mediterranean, and Thai cookery.  It is also superb with veal, lamb, fish, poultry, white beans, pasta, rice, tomatoes, cheese, and eggs.  It blends well with garlic, thyme, and lemon.  Basil adds snap to mild vegetables like zucchini, summer squash, eggplant, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, and spinach, as well as to the soups, sauces and stews in which these vegetables appear.  Make basil vinegar using white vinegar.  Dark opal basil makes an attractive purple vinegar that is very tasty.
Pizza with Fresh Basil

Basil has a powerful enough flavor to stand up to garlic and together they make classic pesto sauce.  You can create an easy pesto by combining 1 cup of fresh basil leaves, 3 Tablespoons of pine nuts or walnuts, 3 Tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese and 2 or 3 cloves of garlic.  Puree them all in a food processor or blender, adding just enough olive oil to make a smooth paste.  Use with pasta, rice, fish, vegetables, or in soup.  If you want to freeze your pesto sauce for later use, leave out the garlic as it may become bitter after a short while.  Simply thaw the pesto and add the pureed garlic before serving.

Pesto

An interesting fact about basil is that it is the primary ingredient in the liqueur Chartreuse. Basil gives this liqueur its almost neon, yellow-green color, but the liqueur gives the bright yellow-green color its name:  chartreuse!
Chartreuse Liqueur Ad Celebrating 250 Years

Here are a few chef tips for you to utilize basil in your own cooking.
  1. Add several large basil leaves to the liquid when poaching fish, shellfish, or chicken.
  2. Cut a 10 x 10 inch square piece of aluminum foil and set it shiny side down.  Arrange slices of zucchini, onion, and tomato in the middle of the square and toss in several basil leaves.  Fold the square around the vegetables to make a tight packet.  Bake in a 350 degree oven, or grill, for about 20 minutes.
  3. Add a handful of basil when making beef stock.
  4. When making tomato or pizza sauce, substitute basil for the oregano.
  5. Whatever you do with basil, remember that its flavor intensifies with cooking and it can get very pungent very quickly, so only add it during the last few minutes of cooking.
Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Salad


Adding basil to foods, especially to uncooked foods, such as salads, acts as a natural preservative and can eliminate Shigella, an infectious bacterium that triggers diarrhea and may cause intestinal damage.  Basil provides many essential nutrients and vitamins, too. Some of these include vitamin A, vitamin K, iron, calcium, manganese, copper, magnesium, vitamin C, and potassium.  It also has anti-bacterial properties and contains DNA-protecting flavonoids.



Although basil is reported to have significant medicinal properties, very few have actually been verified scientifically.  It is best known for its use against digestive complaints.  Try basil tea in place of an after dinner mint.  It will aid in digestion and expel gas.  You can steep a teaspoon of the dried leaves in a cup of boiled water for stomach cramps, vomiting, and constipation.  Because basil has slight sedative effects, it is sometimes recommended for nervous headaches and anxiety.  A poultice of basil can be used on sores, insect stings, and snakebites.
Basil "Boo-boo" Balm

Steep a few leaves in wine for a few hours and then drink it as a tonic.  Basil also has many uses in aromatherapy.  Other medicinal properties the herb possesses include a restorative warming sensation, muscle relaxation, fever reduction, and improvement of digestion. Clinical studies demonstrate that basil has anti-bacterial properties and is effective against bacterial infections and intestinal parasites. 
Red Rubin Basil

Basil can be taken internally for feverish illness (especially colds and flu), nausea, cramps, gastroenteritis, migraine, insomnia, low spirits, and exhaustion.  External uses include acne, loss of smell, and skin infections.  Some cultivars have stimulant properties and can be used against impotence, diarrhea, dysentery, post-partum problems and against worms in children, as well as externally being used for rheumatism and lumbago.  It can strengthen the immune system, help with sinusitis, abdominal distention and cramping, low libido and to fight negativity.
Basil and Basil Essential Oil with Mortar and Pestle
Studies on the efficacy of basil in medicinal pursuits include a trial against seriously multi-drug resistant bacteria.  In this case, the basil strongly reduced the negative effect of the bacteria.  In another study, basil was tested against tuberculosis symptoms and the results were encouraging.  The conclusion arrived at from the test was that basil may be used to formulate new and natural tuberculosis treatments.
Purple Basil Top

Basil extracts have been shown to reduce sugars and free radicals in the body, so tests were conducted in relation to its effect on the glycemic index.  The findings from these tests led researchers to believe that basil extracts may have the potential to inhibit diabetes. 
Basil Leaf on Black
Basil may prevent the harmful effects of aging.  Holy basil extract was effective at killing off harmful molecules and preventing damage caused by free radicals in the liver, brain, and heart.  It is possible that basil extracts may someday be shown to prevent heart attacks, correct cirrhosis of the liver, and potentially to prevent Alzheimer's Disease.  Much further testing needs to be done before any of these claims can be made.



In addition to its culinary and medicinal attributes, basil has a few other uses.  You can add the leaves to potpourris and sachets.  The fragrance is sweet and strong, but not overpowering. 
Basil Spray


Basil brings luster to hair.  Brunettes can add it to a rosemary rinse, while blondes can add it to a chamomile rinse.  Another cosmetic use for basil is in perfumery and in toilet waters. Use it in bath mixtures as the fragrance is invigorating.  The cosmetics industry uses basil, or essential oil of basil, in lotions, shampoos, soaps, and perfumes.
My Basil Bouquet

If you can spare a bit of basil from the kitchen, cut some sprigs of either sweet or purple basil to add to fresh flower bouquets and arrangements.  Use them for their attractive leaves and sweet, anise-clove scent.  Place a pot of basil on a windowsill to deter flies and mosquitoes.  The stems of some cultivars are cut into beads and used in making rosaries.
Basil Potpourri

Basil is truly an amazing plant.  I have always loved its color, shape, and form, but was unaware of all its possible uses.  In researching this post, I have certainly come to a new understanding and appreciation of this glorious plant and I hope that you have, too.  

Be sure to leave any comments or questions below or drop me an email at angelasblogemail@gmail.com.  I would love to hear what you think of basil and how you use it in your home!

Peace and Love Always,










My Fresh Cut Purple Basil


Sources:
Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs
The Pleasure of Herbs by Phyllis Shaudys
Herbs by Leslie Bremness
The Herb Society of America, Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses by Deni Brown
Flora's Dictionary:  The Victorian Language of Herbs and Flowers, by Kathleen Gips
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham


Photo Credits:
Baby Basil:   Photo credit: ^Ren via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND
Basil Seeds:   Photo credit: John and Anni via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Classic Basil:   Photo credit: aldenchadwick via VisualHunt.com / CC BY
Basil Rooted in Water:   Photo credit: a.pasquier via Visual hunt / CC BY-SA
Basil with Raindrops:   Photo via Visualhunt.com
Huge Harvest:   Photo credit: miladus via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA
Aphid:   Photo credit: Mick E. Talbot via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Chopped Basil:   Photo credit: jonpalmer via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA
Ready to Freeze:   Photo credit: jonpalmer via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA
Drying Basil:   Photo credit: riebschlager via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC
Big Old Basil:   Photo credit: Vineyard Adventures via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND
Pot of Basil:   Photo credit: sammydavisdog via Visual hunt / CC BY
Scorpion:   Photo credit: twm1340 via Visual hunt / CC BY-SA
Tiny Basil Pot:   Photo credit: Jared721 via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC
Big Basil Bouquet:   Photo credit: Limes & Lycopene via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND
Ruffled Basil:   Photo credit: BellaEatsBooks via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC
Rooted Basil Cuttings:   Photo credit: lorigami via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND
Basil Love Potion?:   Photo credit: arbyreed via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Bowl of Basil in Grass:   Photo credit: Derek Bridges via Visualhunt / CC BY
Basil Leaves on Dark Background:   Photo via VisualHunt.com
Tomatoes and Basil (A Classic Culinary Combination):  Photo credit: sirwiseowl via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-ND
Chicken with Basil:   Photo credit: Another Pint Please... via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA 
Pizza with Basil:   Photo credit: jeffreyw via Visual Hunt / CC BY
Pesto:   Photo via VisualHunt.com
Chartreuse Liqueur:   Photo credit: Cletus Awreetus via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC
Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Salad:   Photo via Visual Hunt
Basil "Boo-boo" Balm:   Photo credit: Blue Yonder via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Red Rubin Basil:   Photo credit: Rosa Say via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND
Basil in Mortar and Pestle:   Photo via VisualHunt
Purple Basil Top:   Photo credit: NathanGunter via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-ND
Basil Leaf on Black:   Photo credit: pianowow via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC
Basil Spray:   Photo credit: latisha (herbmother) via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND
Basil Potpourri:   Photo credit: p e e p e r via VisualHunt.com / CC BY
All other photos courtesy Angela Fox-Thompson




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