| div id="body"> | | | | pleasant, slightly lemony flavour. It's also useful in |
| You can design your own herb garden plans using | | | | the kitchen and works well in salads or stir-fries or |
| common sense and a little herbal knowledge. | | | | when cooked with chicken or fish. |
| Growing herbs is immensely rewarding, especially | | | | - Sage: As well as being strongly aromatic and |
| when you select herbs with the medicinal and | | | | having small, pretty white flowers that attract |
| culinary properties that best suit your needs. | | | | bees, sage has strong medicinal and culinary |
| Here's how to choose the right herbs for your | | | | applications. It has antiseptic and sedative effects, |
| garden. | | | | combating colds and flus, headaches and muscular |
| When browsing the internet for recipes or | | | | tension. Sage is well-known for enhancing the |
| remedies do you often come across | | | | flavour of meat dishes, but a handful of fresh |
| requirements for herbal ingredients? Do you reach | | | | sage also turns hastily prepared scrambled eggs |
| for the fridge door or the cupboard shelf? Or do | | | | or omelette into something special. |
| you make use of herbs picked fresh from your | | | | - Marjoram & Oregano: These two closely related |
| garden? You might be surprised to realise how | | | | herbs - so similar it's hard to tell them apart |
| easy it is to grow some of these herbs yourself. | | | | sometimes - pack a hefty amount of medicinal |
| There are several reasons to go to the effort of | | | | cures into their gorgeously green, oval-shaped little |
| growing your own herbs. Firstly, the convenience | | | | leaves. They contain powerful antioxidants that |
| of having fresh herbs on hand when you need | | | | can help relieve pain and stimulate the immune |
| them. Secondly, fresh ingredients have added | | | | system. The chemicals in these herbs provide |
| potency and flavour. Last but not least there's the | | | | relief for sore muscles, painful spasms or cramps, |
| pride and pleasure of self-sufficiency. | | | | sore stomach or indigestion and pain associated |
| It seems sensible to grow the herbs you most | | | | with arthritis or rheumatism. Marjoram and |
| commonly use. When choosing the best herbs for | | | | oregano can be used to flavour just about any |
| your own garden, think first of the recipes and | | | | kind of food, from breads and pastas to soups |
| remedies you most employ. | | | | and roasts. |
| For example, if you cook a lot of Mediterranean | | | | - Lavender: When you think of lavender, you |
| dishes then fresh basil and oregano will enliven the | | | | probably think first of the ornamental and |
| plate. Asian dishes taste much more authentic | | | | aromatic value of its beautiful purple flowers. As |
| when you use fresh coriander and lemongrass | | | | well as providing aesthetic pleasure, lavender tea |
| rather than the dried or bottled variety. If you | | | | can lighten depression, aid sleep and prove useful |
| have children, lemon balm and marjoram are | | | | for treating coughs and colds. Rub lavender oil |
| handy in the middle of the night as remedies for | | | | onto your skin to treat headaches, muscular |
| restlessness and coughs. If you're a person who | | | | tension and soreness. Experiment with lavender in |
| needs help soothing your anxieties or settling your | | | | soups, stews and sauces - and even in desserts. |
| mind for sleep then you'll find catnip and sage | | | | If you're new to the idea of using herbal remedies |
| useful additions to your garden. | | | | at home, then research the herbs that will provide |
| Herb garden plans can be focused on a particular | | | | solutions to your specific medical problems. |
| purpose; culinary, medicinal, aromatic or | | | | Information is readily available on the internet but |
| ornamental. Go one step better and plan your | | | | it's worth investing in an excellent herbal |
| selection of herbs so that you include plants that | | | | guidebook. A good guide should list herbs and their |
| have multiple uses. The herbs listed below are | | | | distinct culinary and medicinal uses in separate, |
| some of the stand-outs in the multi-purpose | | | | easy to read tables. Also look for a guide that |
| category, but you'll find that herbs are often quite | | | | provides you with basic growing information about |
| versatile. | | | | each herb. |
| - Basil: Did you know this tasty herb also has | | | | Designing your own herb garden plans requires |
| strong medicinal properties? Apart from being | | | | thought and research. If you follow through and |
| useful as a last minute herbal sleep remedy, basil | | | | grow your own herbs at home you'll receive a |
| can be used to treat headaches, reduce anxiety | | | | great deal of benefit and pleasure from your |
| and tension and soothe nausea and indigestion. | | | | plants. |
| - Lemon balm: Lemon balm is a gentle sleepytime | | | | Of course, please use caution regarding the safe |
| herb that also reduces anxiety and relieves stress. | | | | use of herbs. Some herbs are unsafe to give to |
| It's gentle enough to use for children and has a | | | | young children. |