What is a medicinal plant?

 Medicinal plant is a collective name for edible plants that are found in nature or are grown and used for their nutrients and / or medicinal effects. Dear children have many names and other names that are used interchangeably are herbs, medicinal plants and edible plants.

An edible plant thus means a plant that is not toxic for humans to consume. Wild edible plants include all plants in nature which can be used both as food but also as medicine, for example from their leaves, flowers, roots, leaves and stems. Medicinal plants include these wild plants but also those grown. However, there is no clear definition of what a medicinal plant is.

The terms medicinal plant, herb, medicinal plant and edible plant are thus used interchangeably, where they refer to the same plants. Botanically, there is a difference between these concepts, but in everyday speech the terms are used interchangeably and synonymously. For example, thyme can be referred to as an herb as it is used as a spice in the kitchen but also as a medicinal or medicinal plant, among other things for its expectorant properties.

Plant in a pot

Florists and garden stores are full of beautiful summer flowers. Here are some tips on how to think about when to choose plants and then to plant.

Be creative with plantings

With the help of annual summer flowers, it is easy to try different styles in swings and pots. Here we have collected tips on how to think to get beautiful balanced plantings.

Take advantage of height differences

Get the height of the planting with a large plant in the middle or in the background. Place half-tall plants around the tallest plant and plant low and wide-growing or hanging plants at the far end. In an elongated planting box, it can be more interesting to put a taller plant closer to one end. If you want to create a feeling of depth, you can plant a lower, flowering plant behind an airy, tall grass or similar. Climbing flowers provide height and background for other plants. Hanging plants fit in tall pots, swings and balcony boxes.

The beautiful Phytonutrients

 One of my latest favorites in the medical world is Dr. Sherry Rogers. I got to read her some articles by Peter Wilhelmsson who has known her for the past 30 years.

In April, she published an article about the power of nature packaged in plants and known to us mortals as food. It's so well written that I could not help but share it here:

I feel frustrated when I am surrounded by people who are completely unaware if they have more control over their health than any doctor in the world. Not when I read my molecular biochemistry journals and see how amazing scientists must be 10 times more frustrated. For example. An article in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry was placed at the back of the publication. I have no idea how many actually read but it seemed much less understood was it. But here I'm making sure you do. Want to know what it was all about?

Herb garden - a handy house pharmacy

Herb garden is a practical way to have all your herbs and herbs on hand just when you need them. In addition, the herb garden is an almost magical place with its scents, its mild colors and the buzz of pollinating insects.

Most of our traditional herb garden herbs originate from the Mediterranean and the Middle East. There the wild ones grow on dry and rocky ground and fill the air with the warm scent of spices.

In 529, the first Catholic monastery was founded by Saint Benedict in Monte Cassino, Italy. The monks in the monastery devoted themselves to writing ancient writings and translating texts from Arabic, and so they took care of the sick. To make it easier to access all the herbs they needed, they set up an herb garden in the convent. There they harvested herbs, prepared them for medicine and also gave plants to the sick who came to the monastery for help.

Herbal tea is good

 Herbal teas are mixtures of different herbs and plants that in different ways have positive effects on our bodies. The effect of a tea depends on which herbs are included in the mixture. In this article you can read more about different types of herbal teas and what effects they have on the body.

what are the characteristics of an herbal tea?

Unlike, for example, black and green tea, herbal teas do not contain leaves from the tea bush but different mixtures of herbs, berries and spices. The lack of tea leaves means that herbal teas are decaffeinated. To be called herbal tea, the majority of the ingredients must be herbs and most teas contain only herbs. In some cases a small amount of tea leaves is added and in these cases the teas are not completely decaffeinated.

Herbs that calm you down

Several herbs have a calming and soothing effect. Some substances also seem to be able to alleviate the harmful effects of stress.

Lemon balm

Used in folk medicine as a sedative and sedative and for insomnia. The essential oil has shown soothing and soothing properties.

Hop

Has long been used as a sedative and sedative. Research shows improved sleep in sleep disorders, thanks to the plant's calming and antispasmodic effect.

Green tea

Contains the amino acid theanine, which has a relaxing effect and which can partially counteract the invigorating caffeine. Some studies show that theanine can calm anxiety and counteract certain stress reactions, such as increased heart rate. Studies in rats also show that it can raise the level of the sedative and mood-boosting neurotransmitter serotonin. The effect usually comes within an hour. Most studies have used 50–200 mg of theanine, which is equivalent to up to four cups of green tea. You can hardly drink such amounts in the evening if you want an undisturbed night's sleep, but theanine is also sold in the form of dietary supplements.

100 percent bioenergy heats herbs and lettuce in greenhouse

 About three years ago, Svegro exchanged fossil oil for bio-oil to heat 80 percent of the area in its greenhouses on Färingsö in Ekerö municipality. It was the first step towards fossil-free warming. Now Svegro has moved on to 100 percent bioenergy for heating and at the same time changed from bio-oil to pellets to reduce energy costs.

Svegro grows lettuce and fresh herbs in 50,000 square meters of greenhouses and has a heat demand of 7.5 GWh per year. Now Svegro has made one of its largest investments, a new energy center. There are several reasons why the investment has been made this year.

- We wanted to replace the last part of fossil oil for heating. Previously, we did not have the capacity to connect all greenhouses to our bio-oil-heated heating plant. What we are doing now is the right step in our sustainability work. We can state that even the last square meters in our greenhouses will be heated with fossil-free energy, says Kristin Orrestig, production manager at Svegro.

Homemade Skin Care with the goods Plants

Pack the picnic basket - or just take a walk in the neighborhood. Well-known plants around you can easily become delicious, spring-healthy skin care products!

 Making your own skin care products and selling them requires quite a lot when it comes to hygiene checks, date marking and the like - while it is free to make fresh products for direct use in treatments.

Whether you work with skin care, Spa and the like or you simply like to give yourself loving body care at home, self-made products are both cheap, exclusive and sensual. And why not give away beautiful glass jars with colorful bath salts, ointments and oils as gifts?

Here you get some spring-beautiful skin care recipes with plants you often find around the corner, no matter where you live.