Carlina acanthifolia French common name: cardabelle If you have ever visited the villages of Saint Guilhem-le-Désert or La Couvertoirade you may have noticed the above dried flowerhead nailed to many …

Cardabelle door charm for good luck, protection against evil and a weather forecast

Peppermint or Spearmint so many minty teas
Mentha sp. I have written several articles which have included mints but have not, as yet written a profile solely on mint. There are so many different mints and so …

Milk Thistle not more of your dam thistles…
Carduus (or Silybum) marianus Family: Asteraceae First of all… Outlander… Well I have been avidly watching Outlander Season 3 waiting for some of my medicinal friends to arrive. I know …

Artemisia medicinal herbs from a busy lady !
Artemisia spp. And the name The scientific name Artemisia is often ascribed from the name of the goddess Artemis. You may see Artemis listed as the goddess of the hunt …

Dandelion teeth of the lion – for kidney, liver and digestive function
Taraxacum officinale Family: Asteraceae So why dandelion? I have sat down to write this post for a friend. Ian is a fantastic photographer. Frequently his stunning photographs include trees, squirrels …

Marigold my favourite drop of golden sun
Calendula officinalis Family: Asteraceae French common name: souci Regular readers will no doubt have guessed Calendula officinalis (marigold) is a particular personal favourite. I have mentioned this medicinal ally so many times. …
Tummy Trouble? Using Natural Therapies
Using Natural Therapies for Digestive Problems This is an article I wrote and had published back in August 2010. Although some years have passed since publication the information is just as …

Purslane for a cooling, healing salad
Portulaca oleracea Family: Portulacaceae Barker describes purslane as a creeping annual which can spread from 10-30 cm. The end of the stems are much leafier. Here you may find a few …

Elecampane for coughs and chest complaints
Inula helenium Family: Asteraceae The name is thought to derive from Greek ‘helenion’ meaning ‘Helen’ possibly from Helen of Troy. One story describes the plants growth from her tears. The …

Self-Heal or All-Heal, a little plant with appropriate name!
Prunella vulgaris Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) You will find self-heal flowering virtually continuously from June through to October. The tight cluster of crowded purplish sepals and bracts have been described as resembling a …