### plant | tracheophyte:

Herb
* All herbs are in the form of tinctures, extracts, ointments, and creams.
* All herbs are organic, no dyes or additives used in processing
  - dyes, oils or additives used in processing
  - have the capacity to be toxic
* Any herb can cause an allergic side effect in some individuals.
* Every herb has a characteristic mineral content and a corresponding typical ash content
  - is said to have the property of being either cool, cold, warm, or hot
* MOST herbs are moderately or drastically impaired when forced into such a small volume.
* Many Herbs are toxic or poisonous, and therefore extremely dangerous
  - herbs also can increase the chance of bleeding
* Many herbs are adaptogenic, enhancing the body s self-regulatory capacities
  - both a food and a drug
  - decorative and make beautiful ornamental plants
  - edible from flower to root
  - either annual or biennial and are therefore grown from seed each year
  - hardy and adaptable
  - in fact toxic to babies
  - prolific growers
  - safe to use with babies, children and adults of all ages
  - slightly diuretic
  - strong medicines in and of themselves
  - toxic, can cause liver damage, and are unregulated
  - useful in treating colds, usually due to their immune enhancing effects
  - well adapted to container cultivation
  - are, by nature, self-seeding and can shed their seeds in a matter of days
* Many herbs can be addictive after long term improper use
  - keep for a year if stored properly
  - interact with prescription medications and cause unwanted or dangerous reactions
  - contain high amounts of flavonoids
* Many herbs contain powerful ingredients that can help heal the body if used correctly
  - that, if used correctly, can help heal the body
* Many herbs grow in abandoned lots, parks, the cracks in sidewalks, and along roads
  - very quickly and can be eaten as soon as they are full grown
* Many herbs have beautiful flowers that can be used in soups or garnishes
  - health benefits
  - medicinal properties
  - significant antibiotic action against bacteria, viruses and fungi
  - the ability to cleanse the body of worms
  - lend themselves to growing in containers
* Many herbs lose much of their original scent when dried
  - their activity when purified
  - make delicious or beneficial teas
  - produce lovely flowers that add spectacular color to the various shades of green
  - provide the basis for medicinal potions and herbal remedies
  - require little care and thrive under less than perfect conditions
  - show remarkable effects in stimulating our own immune mechanisms
  - stimulate digestive enzymes and encourage efficient intestinal activity
  - work slowly, helping the body to adjust and to rebuild itself
* Most herbs add flavor.
* Most herbs are as easy to grow as any other annual or perennial
  - fairly low-maintenance, but they still require care and attention
  - insect-pollinated so that many are acceptable
  - only medicinally viable for about a year from harvest
  - perennials
  - ready to be harvested just as the flower buds first appear
* Most herbs are very safe if used appropriately in recommended doses
  - versatile, and grow well in the ground or in containers
  - well suited to growing in containers
  - attract bees
* Most herbs can have calm effects
* Most herbs contain medicine
  - more than one active ingredient
  - nutrients
* Most herbs do best in full sun
  - well with a little higher pH than our natural soil contains
  - enjoy full sun, but a few tolerate shade
* Most herbs grow best in a well-drained, moderately rich garden soil
  - easily in a variety of soils and require minimal attention
* Most herbs grow from bulbs
* Most herbs grow in areas
  - gardens
  - shady areas
  - on plants
* Most herbs have a better flavour when used fresh
  - amaze heal effects
  - antimicrobial effects
  - beneficial properties
  - better flavour when fresh
  - concentration
  - few, usually mild, side effects that affect a small minority of people
  - functions
  - leaves
  - narrow leaves
  - odor
  - other health benefits
  - oval leaves
  - roots
  - same effects
  - such qualities, e.g. mint, fennel and rosemary, and flowers like marigold
* Most herbs have toxic effects
  - like to grow in a lot of sunlight
  - make up diets
  - occur in habitats
* Most herbs originate from sources
  - in regions
* Most herbs possess creep roots
* Most herbs prefer near neutral soil conditions
  - to stay evenly moist and are sensitive to overwatering or soggy soils
* Most herbs produce flowers
  - yellow flowers
  - promote good health in more than one area
  - provide flavor
* Most herbs reach height
  - tree height
  - reduce inflammation
* Most herbs require full sun
  - respond poorly to overfeeding
* Most herbs take over gardens
  - two to three days to dry except in sand, where they can take as long as three weeks
  - taste best if grown in full sun
* Most herbs thrive in a neutral to slightly alkaline soil
  - common garden soil in a sunny spot
  - tolerate dry conditions quite well
  - use for flavour
  - used in Chinese medicine are safe at a wide range of dosages
* Some herbs affect blood pressure
  - also dry well
* Some herbs are actually toxic to the liver
  - annuals, while others are perennial or come up year after year
  - attractive to butterflies
  - better suited to use in a wreath than others
  - biennials, producing flowers and seeds their second year of growth
* Some herbs are fragrant and have flowers that can be cut
  - bloomers with interesting foliage, and many have decorative seed heads
  - harmless while others can be dangerous if consumed
  - picked once, while others have several harvests depending on plant condition
  - preventative, while others work to support the body's own healing system
  - prone to adulteration, substitution, or both
  - quicker and easier to start from cuttings than from seeds
  - safe and effective
  - strong pain relievers, often working best against pains of specific causes
  - used in cooking to flavor foods
* Some herbs arise from rhizomes
  - short rhizomes
  - bear fruit
  - become toxic if taken with certain drugs, and fatal herb-drug interactions can occur
* Some herbs can be dangerous alone when taken in excess
  - harmful if used incorrectly
  - toxic if taken at an above recommended dose
  - cause medications to be ineffective
  - ease the discomfort of cancer treatments
  - have serious adverse reactions when improperly mixed with prescription drugs
  - interact with medications to produce dangerous side effects
  - lower blood levels of antiviral drugs
  - produce serious side effects, or react dangerously with conventional medicines
  - raise blood pressure or interact negatively with other medications
  - come in powdered form
* Some herbs contain acid
  - iodine
  - vitamins
  - don t mix well with certain prescription medicines
  - even improve the flavor or growth rate of their companion vegetables
  - get a bitter taste after they flower and lose a lot of their flavor
  - grow at homes
* Some herbs grow in rich woodlands
  - well in pots
* Some herbs have a catalyst effect
  - cooling effect, while others have a warming effect
  - an anticoagulant effect
* Some herbs have high enough levels
  - nutritional properties and others medicinal properties and some have both
  - oils that help repel pests
  - pale flowers
  - potentially serious side effects
  - purple flowers
  - rosemaries
  - such strength that they have toxic or poisonous side effects themselves
  - values
  - violet flowers
  - heal the skin and soothe inflammation and itching
* Some herbs help health
  - overall health
  - reduce pain
  - the body to rebuild the blood and immunity
  - urination
* Some herbs improve ability
  - liver functions
  - increase urination
  - interact with prescription drugs by increasing or decreasing their effects
  - irritate skin
  - listed below can treat complications of pregnancy
  - live for years
  - lose significant medicinal potency when dried, while others gain potency after drying
* Some herbs reduce blood pressure
* Some herbs relax intestinal muscles
  - valves
  - require harvesting in the morning dew and others in the afternoon sun
  - taste good when smoked
* Some herbs use for fevers
  - purposes
* Take cuttings of herbs, such as sage and thyme.
* Used in foods and for health, herbs can be an important tool for maintaining our bodies.
* actually have a rich tradition in cancer treatment.
* add distinctive taste
  - flavor to foods without adding calories or fat
  - nourishment and medicinal properties
  - pleasing flavors to food
  - refresh flavor
  - zest to life
* also contribute to a healthy garden plot by repelling pests.
* also have a life force and constitution
  - the very unique capacity to nourish and bring about greater levels of nourishment
  - help to clear the toxins out of the body post treatment
  - nourish, regulate, cleanse and help the body heal itself
  - thrive on humid air
  - work well in pressed flower arrangements
* always have more flavor when they are fresh
  - work better with food
  - work, they work because they are only feeding the body
* are a blessed source of what is missing from stale processed food
  - crucial part of cooking, especially rosemary and basil
  - food to help build the body back to health
  - gentle way to promote healing
  - gradual and safe way to build and maintain health
  - natural way to find pain relief
  - slow, safe way to build and maintain health
  - variety of naturally found products that have medicinal properties
  - vital component of potpourri and scented crafts and other products for the home
  - way to strengthen and tone the body's systems
  - wholesome, natural food for the health of our bodies
* are also good for horses and occur naturally in the wild
  - great ways to enhance immune system activity
  - important in detoxification
  - incredibly easy to grow
  - rich in chromium
  - sun-lovers because their aromatic oils are developed through exposure to heat
  - useful in strengthening the body to prevent or avoid illness in the first place
  - very effective in treating menstrual pain and disorders
* are among the easiest plants to grow
  - most satisfying and useful plants to grow
  - an excellent way to cut down on salt in cooking, because they bring out flavors of food
  - annual, bennial and perennial plants that die back each year after blossoming
  - any plant that anyone has a use for
* are aromatic plants whose leaves, stems and flowers are used as flavoring
  - plants, parts of which have very pleasing odors and tastes
  - at the heart of Mediterranean cooking
  - beneficial in maintaining good animal health
  - by definition the leaves of plants and spices are the aromatic parts of plants
  - chemically complex - several elements work synergistically
  - compact foods that cleanse, nourish, stimulate, enhance, strengthen, and speed healing
  - comparatively safe and healthy, and have been used since long a colouring agents
* are concentrated foods that have been used by man for centuries
  - foods, many of which are known to help the body heal itself
  - different from spices
* are dry when they crack and break into bits and powder
  - crumble off the stem
* are easy to grow and use
  - as compared to other plants
  - grow, and resist pests and diseases
  - essentially manifestations of light
  - extremely complex and incapable of being reproduced in a laboratory
  - fairly easy to grow and many come back year after year
  - first and foremost foodstuffs that nourish the body in precise and well-defined ways
* are food and help build the body naturally
  - from mother earth
  - which feed the body to help the body heal itself
  - fragrant plants grown for use as flavor in cooking and for medicinal purposes
  - full of vitamins and minerals
  - generally very safe and mild compared to drugs
  - great because they are calorie free and enhance, rather than hide the flavor of food
  - herbs, but with the h pronounced
  - high in vitamins and minerals and other nutrients that nourish and build the body
  - important supplements to nutrition
  - in their whole form
* are less regulated than drugs
  - toxic than prescription drugs
  - located in forests
  - medicines and aids
* are more effective when used in a formula
  - yin in the sense that they work from the inside out
  - most beneficial as nutrients
  - names
  - nature s way of helping our bodies to come into balance
* are nature's cleansers, rich in food-source vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes
  - insecticides
  - nutritional bounty
  - natures best aproach to natural well being and health
  - non-woody annual, bennial and perennial plants that die back each year after blossoming
  - often the first things planted, and the first things ready for harvest
* are one means for regaining and maintaining our inner balance
  - of the many plants that grow great in containers
  - perrenials
  - plants, plants that have special properties for animals
* are powerful healers, but they can also be very toxic if used incorrectly
  - natural foods
  - primarily plants, but also can be derived from animals and minerals
  - rich in trace minerals which are the foundation of life
  - simple to grow
  - simply botanicals that are consumed to treat an illness
  - small plants that have a fleshy or juicy stem when they are young
  - soft succulent plants which usually grow in the temperate zone
  - some of the easiest plants to grow
  - spices' green, leafy counterparts
  - sufficiently dry when they are brittle and crumble easily
  - supposedly most effective when taken in tincture form
  - the easiest plants to grow for any gardener
* are the fragrant leaves of plants like marjoram, mint, rosemary, and thyme
  - such plants as marjoram, mint, rosemary, and thyme
  - functional ingredients in most medications
  - leafy parts of plants
* are the leaves of fresh or dried plants
  - temperate-zone plants
  - most nutritious of all foods
  - world's most interesting plants
  - to eaten by one's mouth, if the herbs are palatable
  - used in many religions
  - useful and pleasurable to grow, thriving easily in many situations
  - vascular plants
* are very easy plants to grow and can even be grown indoors
  - powerful medicinal foods when grown, harvested and processed properly
  - tough plants, seeming to thrive on neglect
  - welcome because they add nutrients as well as flavor to food
  - well known for their ability to combat coughs
* are, for the most part, a safe and effective way of increasing health
  - in fact, medicines in smaller dosages
* associated with liver toxicity include chaparral, comfrey and coltsfoot.
* begin to oxidize soon after they are ground.
* boost the immune system and stimulate specific organic functions for a short time.
* bring new health to many people.
* build, strengthen, and repair body systems naturally.
* can add interesting flavors to foods when salt and fat are reduced in a recipe.
* can also be useful in asthma management
  - cause interactions with other prescription medication
  - give children a true sense of the life-giving wonders of the earth
  - interact with each other and with prescription drugs
  - make drugs less effective
* can be an important source of minerals
  - annuals, biennials, or perennials
  - decorative, cosmetic, aromatic, medicinal and culinary
  - good for prostate problems, candida, high cholesterol, and other ailments
  - of great value when used in a program of self-care and preventive medicine
  - potent or benign
* can be very powerful and have many effects
  - supportive to the vata menstrual cycle
  - both cause and cure illness, but labels on herbal products are often unreliable
  - contribute to an iron toxicity
  - differ enormously , depending on how and where they are grown, harvested and processed
  - enhance the rebuilding of healthy tissue as well as cleanse toxic materials from the body
* can have unpredictable effects, especially when taken in combination
  - particularly if taken in combination
* can help balance the body's chemistry, helping to avoid dis-ease
  - reduce cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis
  - indeed cure people from Diabetes
  - play an essential role in finding relief
* can play an important role in aiding a deep cleansing of the skin
  - aiding the cleansing of the skin
  - potentially interact with other medications and therapies
  - range from rosemary to mints
  - really help change the environment in the gut
  - relieve asthma symptoms as well as add to the health of the lungs and respiratory tract
  - serve as landscape decorations and to give new or different tastes to cooking
  - transform dishes
  - withstand very dry conditions
* combine both beauty and function into one plant.
* come in a variety of dosages and forms, including pills, capsules, tinctures and teas
  - different forms such as teas, tinctures, tablets, capsules, powders, and poultices
* comprise a group of several thousand plants with widely varying actions.
* contain a large number of naturally occurring chemicals
  - aromatic oils that are natural insect repellents
  - hundreds or thousands of chemicals
* containing antioxidants include thyme, oregano and rosemary.
* continue to be used as an alternative to and in conjunction with Modern Western remedies
  - make inroads in health care
* cover effects on tree seedling patterns in a mature hemlock-hardwood forest.
* do best when sown directly into the soil rather than as transplants.
* feed and regulate organs and glands
  - the body and help the body to heal itself
* feed, regulate, and cleanse the body naturally.
* generally come after dietetics, which necessary foundation for any herbal work
  - have different anti-bacterial actions than chemicals
* generate more energy than meat and vegetables.
* give the body the raw material it needs to heal itself.
* go through cycles.
* grow best in an open, friable soil
  - average garden soil, with plenty of sun and occasional watering
  - with at least six hours of sunlight a day
  - everywhere and are inexpensive to collect
  - temperate regions and spices come from tropical regions
  - naturally in many different soils and climates
  - particularly well indoors
  - very well in containers and can be moved inside for winter to provide fresh seasonings
  - well in small to medium-sized pots
* hate to be grown where they have to compete for light and air.
* have a powerful effect on the body
  - variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, and in some cases, spiritual
  - wide variety of germination requirements
  - all kinds of healing and restorative powers
  - an amazingly wide range of effects in our bodies
  - best quality
  - chemical properties just as manufactured drugs do
  - complete and integrated chemical and nutrient structures
  - culinary attributes and are essential for use in the kitchen
  - descriptions
  - different ways of coming to the end result than drugs
  - hundreds of applications and can easily be grown in containers
  - medicinal qualities but are often exempt
  - multiple active ingredients, as well as vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids
  - natural healing effects on organs, blood, and various unhealthy conditions
* have other benefits
  - profound healing abilities without the evil side effects of modern synthesized drugs
  - smell
  - such a natural power, and they can transform a simple spell into a very powerful one
  - surprising effects on the skin
  - the property of flavor, energy and action
  - their place as does Western medicine
  - three major functions
* heal the spiritual body
  - subtle, vital energies of the physical body
* help bring the body more into balance, supporting proper function
  - cleanse and purify the body without side effects
  - give the body what it needs to take care of itself
  - rebuild the body, calm the nerves and make sleeping easier during withdrawal
  - the body to cleanse or build itself or both
* improves function of liver, lungs and spleen.
* include basils.
* includes cell membranes
  - corpi
  - cytoplasm
  - fungi, ginseng, ginkgo and red dates
  - nuclei
  - plasma membranes
  - sections
  - vacuoles
* increase the natural self-healing power of the body.
* interact in complex ways with our body chemistry, and their power to heal is formidable.
* listed as abortifacients have a strong potential to cause a miscarriage
  - emmenagogues help promote and regulate mentruation, something to avoid in pregnancy
* lose their flavor pretty quickly, and are best if used up in a year or two
  - freshness much faster than ordinary tea leaves
  - intensity and fade out over time, with exposure to heat and light
* make a good insect repellent
  - great edging plants
* naturally contain vitamins and minerals that our bodies require.
* often have several different associations or symbolic correspondences
  - survive when the tender vegetables are getting eaten up during the summer
* perform different actions in the body.
* play a significant role in healing and bring good luck
  - an important role in the life cycle of butterflies
* promote good health naturally
  - healing by encouraging natural reactions such as sweating or bowel movement
  - self-healing tendencies and thus improve the immune system
* promote self-healing tendencies for rapid weight loss and thus improve the immune system
  - the body's natural good bacteria
* provide a widely accepted means of maintaining and improving one's health
  - many phytochemicals that are lacking in the modern diet
  - potentiating compounds, protective properties against toxins in some cases, etc
  - raw materials the body needs to cleanse and rebuild itself
* range in use from cooking spices and aromatics to powerful medicines.
* remain the primary source of medicine for most people on our planet.
* represent the fastest growing segment of sales in the mainstream marketplace today.
* require at least six hours of sunlight
* speed up the body s natural healing processes.
* stimulate and strengthen the immune system
  - the body functions, thereby aiding the body in healing itself
* strengthen immune function and lessen an allergic response when the system is over stimulated.
* tend to be easier to grow from seed than other plants
  - used more as a transitory treatment when horses have a specific illness or problem
  - have fewer side effects than prescription drugs
  - lose flavor more rapidly than ground pepper, ginger, cinnamon and cloves
* thrive in containers and require little care.
* usually contain more than one active ingredient
  - do well in the same environment and soil conditions as flowers
  - give better results when taken in a tea or extract form
  - grow in the temperate zone and include oregano, thyme, marjoram, and rosemary
  - have a mild flavor while spices tend to have a stronger, pungent flavor
* valued for their roots are especially vulnerable, because the entire plant is harvested.
* work a number of different ways inside the human body
  - completely differently than drugs
  - in much the same way as conventional drugs, via their chemical make-up
  - slower than drugs
  - synergistically with the body and without disturbing the natural balance of the body
  - to balance the body, so that it can create the best possible health for itself
* yield seeds.
+ Chinese herbology, Healing properties
  - Notes
  * Some herbs are prone to adulteration, substitution, or both. On the other hand, the genuine Ling Zhi tastes bitter, but few consumers would know the difference, especially if the herb is mixed in a prescription and boiled together with other herbs. The pharmacists themselves may not be aware, as some may trust their suppliers implicitly, and do not conduct regular testing.
  * Herbs are small plants that have a fleshy or juicy stem when they are young. The stems of some herbs develop hard, woody tissue when they grow old.
  * Most herbs are perennials. This means that the tops of the plants die each growing season, but the roots remain alive and produce new plants year after year.
  * Some herbs are annuals. They live for only one growing season and must be raised from seed each year
+ Herb, Uses: Plants :: Spices
  * Some herbs are used in cooking to flavor foods. Others give scents to perfumes. Still others are used for medicines. Some herbs, such as balm and sage, are valued for their leaves. Saffron is picked for its buds and flowers. Fennel seeds are valuable in relishes and seasoning.