Garden herbs and medicinal plants

While being ill (flu) all week, first I turned to natural cures as I usually do. Normally, it works, and I do not have to go and see a doctor.

Teas and herbal infusions have been a long-standing tradition to fight the flu in Hungary. In pharmacies, it is possible to buy all kinds of herbs and medicinal plants (the loose package works much better than the filtered versions). Hungary is a major producer and exporter of these plants and many people make an extra living by picking the leaves and flowers.

In Kishegy, we also have some of the most common plants which have medicinal values, such as elderberry, rosehip, sage, dandelion, linden, thyme, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary and acacia flowers (the latter bees turn into honey).

The flower of the linden tree can be dried and crushed and used for making tea. It is a natural healer of cough and cold. 

Lemongrass is great for making teas or use in desserts (on top of ice cream...). It is often mixed with chamomile and/or mint to make a refreshing tea. I use lemongrass for making ice tea during the summer, it is truly much better than the store-bought ice teas. It is a natural healer during the flu season, and children accept its flavor easily as well.

Elderberry is abundantly available in our area. It grows wild and the bushes surround the garden. Its beautiful whitish-yellowish flowers perfume the air during spring, and early autumn, its deep-purple berries add an amazing color to the garden palette. I can hardly wait to make elderberry syrup when the flowers are in bloom. Until then, I turn to the dried flowers to fight the flu. They are great against bad coughs. 

    

Sage is a plant that we've had in the garden for years. It somehow endures harsh winter frosts and no matter what, it starts to revive in the spring. It is a strong flavored plant, I usually use it for making "saltimbocca", (I will write about food in the garden during the spring-summer season) one of my favourite dishes. Its tea is also great for lessening cough and alleviate sore throat. It has beautiful flowers.

        

All flowers and leaves described above need to be infused using hot water while rosehips would lose their vitamins and valuable substances if we poured hot water over the berries. They need to be clean, and cut in halves. I normally pour cold tap water over the berries and let it stand for hours. The outcome is a reddish-browish coloured water that I normally dring with honey and some lemon juice. Rosehips are highly concentrated with vitamin C. They have much more than citruses. If only picking the berries was easier!

I can hardly wait to get better, and to have spring again when I can go back and work more on the herb garden "boxes" we have had for many years in Kishegy. More boxes to build, more plants to try...

"30 years of work and joy - Kishegy (SmallHill) - 1983-2013