Alvita

Used as a common remedy at the time of Hippocrates in the 4th and 5th centuries B.C., Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is native to Europe and Asia. Valerian derives its name from the Latin valere, “to be strong,” referring to both the health benefits of the plant and its distinct odor. It is often used for its soothing, relaxing healthful properties. Peppermint (Mentha X piperita) is a universally-loved and widely-used flavoring. Peppermint’s value comes from the mint’s volatile oil, which contains menthol, and is added to many formulas for its therapeutic properties. So highly thought of, Peppermint was included in a list of plants being taken to the New World. Together, Valerian and Peppermint make a calming, relaxing tea.

An erect shrub with small pink or white flowers, Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is native to North America and is now harvested throughout Europe. It bears large, smooth-skinned berries that turn a deep purple as they mature. Apart from their size and preferred sweet taste, the berries are distinguishable from other species of the same botanical family because of their colorless juice. Blueberry fruits grow in clusters and are available from July to September. They are often used in jam, juice, compote and are also suitable for fruit salads and pastry fillings. The leaves have historical use for their health benefits and are often enjoyed as a refreshing tea.

It would be hard to guess how long cats have known about Catnip (Nepeta cataria) but people have appreciated it for at least 2000 years. The plant was familiar to early Roman cooks and physicians and has long been part of people’s gardens and health repertoires. The plant was introduced to North America from Europe, where it quickly escaped from gardens and spread across the continent, to be used as native Indians and included in their inventory of useful plants. There is a good reason for its common name. The bruised foliage, whose odor has a strong mint-like aroma, stimulates cats and makes them “full of life”. It is often enjoyed as a tea for its soothing, relaxing benefits.

Known for their tangy, refreshing taste, Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) were supposedly part of the first Thanksgiving in 1621, but did not become a national tradition until after until after the Civil War. A small evergreen shrub, which grows in mountain forests and damp bogs from Alaska to Tennessee, the Cranberry bush produces pink or purple flowers in spring and bright red berries in the fall. Cranberries make flavorful jams and preserves and are used in a variety of beverages. It was 19th-century German chemists who researched and defined many of Cranberry’s valuable health benefits.

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is among the oldest of all plants, having dominated the plant world for 100 million years. In ancient times, it was a giant fernlike tree. The twenty species surviving today are miniature versions of their ancestors. Horsetail is known for its abrasive texture. In fact, Horsetail can be used to sand wood or scour and shine metal. This remarkable quality is due to its high silica content. Silica, a vital element of health, is found in all tissues and organs of the body, including the skin, hair, nails, teeth, bones, tendons and ligaments. Horsetail yields a deep green color when used for dying fabric. The cut stems also make an interesting addition to herb and flower arrangements.

Because of its strong smell, Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) has a history of use as a cleansing herb. The earliest reference to the plant dates back to the 7th century when it was used to clean and improve the smell of kitchens and sickrooms. Native to central and southern Europe and western Asia, it is also now found in temperate regions of North America. Hyssop's minty leaves and flowers can be used sparingly to flavor green salads, chicken soup, liqueurs, lamb stew and poultry stuffing. Hyssop is easy to grow and is rarely bothered by pests or disease. If it is kept clipped, Hyssop makes a good low hedge. Today herbalists continue to recommend the herb for its health benefits.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a perennial herb indigenous to Greece, Italy, Spain, Syria, Iraq and southern China. The root penetrates deeply into the ground and is the part of the herb that contains an abundance of valuable properties. The word Licorice comes from the Greek glykys (sweet) and rhiza (root), meaning sweet root. The root yields a substance known as glycyrrhizin or glycyrrhizic acid which is 50 times as sweet as sugar cane. The use of Licorice dates back to ancient times. Archaeologists found great quantities of Licorice stored among the fabulous jewelry and art treasures in the 3000 year-old tomb of King Tut. This was done to enable the departed spirit to prepare a sweet drink called Mai sus in the next world. It is still a favorite beverage among the Egyptians today.