With the increasing interest in medicinal herbs of all kinds, many Internet sites are springing up to take advantage of consumer demand. You will be able to purchase Chinese herbs safely online, as long as you remember some basic cautions. It is important that before you discontinue or begin a medication, that you consult your doctor. Second, since herbal remedies are usually marketed as "dietary supplements," be aware that they are not subject to the same regulation and testing as over-the-counter or prescribed medications overseen by the Food and Drug Administration. This means that potency and purity can vary widely among manufacturers, and also that foreign substances may be present, to a greater or lesser degree, in your herbal mixture. If you seem to have any ill effects, you have to stop using it immediately and do not go back to taking it until you have found out that no harmful substances are present and that no adverse interactions are possible with other medications you may be taking.

Finding Online Sources for Chinese Herbs

A quick Internet search for "Chinese herbs" reveals a host of web sites advertising herb garden information to herbal supplements for everything from weight loss to menopause. Many of these formulations are based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which includes herbal remedies, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and other subdisciplines and techniques. Some of these herbal formulations have been in use for hundreds of years. Many of the online sites that offer Chinese organic herbs also promote other TCM techniques, such as those mentioned above, along with links to provide further information. Most sites, such as HolisticChineseHerbs.com and DrShen.com also feature secure online ordering, shopping carts, and shipping, for a more convenient online shopping experience.

TCM, Balance, and Health

Traditional Chinese medicine views health as the state occurring when the body is in proper balance. This means that herbal remedies are approached with the view of restoring balance rather than treating a condition. For this reason, Chinese herbal remedies available online are most often found in combinations intended to promote imbalances typically found in people with certain conditions. Thus, all weight loss formulations may not be made up of the same components, depending on the reason for the weight gain. Similarly, in the TCM view, headaches can be caused by a number of different types of imbalances, so the herbal remedy would change, depending on the reason for the imbalance.

It is simple to grow one herb plant in one pot. You can let your imagination go and try several herbs in the same pot. This adds more interest to your containers, such as pops of color and texture.

If you want to try this, you would choose herb plants that have similar sod and watering needs and then purchase those that will look good together or have similar uses—like putting all your culinary herbs together.

Cultivate these herbs that will do well in your pots:

• Sage: With nearly 750 varieties, hopefully you find at least 1 sage herb for your herb garden that you will like, because it comes in a variety of colors and sizes. Sage does well from seeds, which can give you a head start on the growing season if you start early indoors. Cultivate your sage in nice, big pot that has nice drainage and put it where it can get lots of sunshine. This is one of those that I plant for the leaves, so I snip off the flowers as soon as they bud to help the herb focus on the leaves, which I then clip off at the stem whenever I’m cooking.

• Scented geraniums: I enjoy the bright, vibrant colors and scents of the scented geranium. I have an unnatural attachment to red geraniums, so I’m not the correct one to ask, but I’m positive that the other kinds are nice too. Although they look very similar to floral (non-herbal) variety, these also grow well in containers that you can pick up at any nursery, home improvement or discount store. They can take full sun and well-drained sod. You can harvest the stems and leaves for cakes and teas. The petals are lovely in pressings.

• Cardamom: Cardamom is a great herb for you if bad breath is an issue for you. This large houseplant-like plant will get big in the summer and will need to be brought indoors during winter months to persist, so use a large pot. Not only will the seeds add a hint of India to your rice and chicken meals, you can also add it to soups and stews. In addition to taking care of your bad breath, cardamom can assist with your flatulence (not that you have flatulence) or least make your clothes smell nice.

• Lemon verbena: There are so many wonderful ways to use lemon verbena that I would call it indispensable in my plant garden. Don’t worry with seeds. I suggest that you get your lemon verbena and get it established in a pot with a wide brim that will support its stem development. This plant likes full sun and well-drained earth. Do not let your herb get too dry. The leaves are often the first part of the herb to suffer and these are the parts that you will use.

There are plenty of other herb plants that you can plant in your container plant garden, including thyme, mints, lavender, goldenrod, fennel and carrot.

Good luck with your plant gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Growing Herbs in Pots. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

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When it goes right, you can’t beat it! Some herbs are just like that. All you need to do is put them out and make sure that your plants get sunlight and plenty of water and your herbs will do the rest.

Here’s a list of herbs that once you plant them and get’em going, they will take care of themselves:

• Borage: Boil the leaves to reduce the chewy texture, because without this, the long, wooly and prickly leaves are not easily digestible. If you cultivate your borage plant in dry, dark soil and give full sun, you’ll have blue or purple star-shaped blossoms in no time at all. Start your seeds in early summer and by Independence Day your herb will have grown to up to two feet tall.

• Caraway: The leaves of this biennial are a lot like the foliage of a carrot during the first year. When the second year comes around, white or pink flowers that sit in umbrella-shaped clusters replace the carrot-like leaves on one to three foot stems. Give your caraway plant full-sunlight and also make sure it has well-drained earth for the best outcome. Since this is a biennial, you can sow seeds outdoors in spring or fall. Since caraway is a self-seeder, you can let the dead blooms fall to the ground and you will not have to reseed it for the next growing season.

• Dill: This fast-growing herb with thin, fern-like leaves loves well-drained soil and full sun. Don’t let your herb get more than 3 feet tall before you begin using it in your meals; you can start harvesting once your dill reaches a foot. Dill is great for bouquets because of its pretty, yellow umbrella-like heads, which can also be used as a seasoning. These will thrive well from seed and because this plant grow fast you will not need to start the germination process in advance.

• Fennel: The adult version of fennel looks a lot like dill, but its licorice taste is nothing like dill. If you sow your seeds in early summer, you’ll have a full-grown, 4-foot-tall plant in just a few weeks. Your plant will do best if you plant it so that it will get full-sun with well-drained soil. Don’t forget to harvest the delicious seeds! You will want to harvest them before they go fully brown. Dry the seeds and use in baked goods, soups and stews.

• Lemon Balm: If you like the sweet, lemony aroma of lemon balm, you will be happy to know that this perennial appreciates light, shady, well-drained soil. I like its heart-shaped leaves. Seeds take too long, instead start with a market-bought lemon balm and set it out in a pot or in your flower bed. Before you know it, you will be able to divide your lemon balm herb and replant the divided section in another spot. As a self-sower, lemon balm will quickly spread so give your plants plenty of space. If you want to stop self –sowing, pinch off all the dead flowers.

• Sweet Cicely: This perennial likes light shade as long as you give it loose, rich soil. Add in organic compost and mulch to support sweet cicely’s development. Since sweet cicely is a self-sowing herb you will only need to buy the first couple of plants and it will take over from there.

If these herbs are not enough to get you going, you should try German chamomile and chicory.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Home Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.  

Next time you’re a little upset or on edge, experiment with some chamomile tea. The soothing starts as soon as you drink the delicate taste, and the chemical compounds within the tea will have you feeling better by the end of your first cup.

When you are ready to buy your chamomile, you can find two main kinds. These 2 kinds share similar functions, but because the appearance is different you should find it simple to select the right type for your needs.

German chamomile has a number of functions, including teas and fragrances (like in lotions). The combination of this herb's woody, apple smell and daisy-like appearance will cheer up any room.

A good benefit of German chamomile is that it is self-seeding, which is great since it is an annual and this way you do not have to replant it annually. You can even collect the seeds to try somewhere else in your garden or give some to a friend.

It prefers dry conditions and a lot of direct or full light. It will grow straight up, unlike Roman chamomile, and your German chamomile herb should grow to a height of nearly 3 feet.

To propagate German chamomile, begin with seeds in a container inside or sprinkle the seeds on the ground. The seeds are so fine, there is no need to cover with earth. The sod should be kept moist (not wet) and if you potted your German chamomile be sure you do not transplant the seedlings until they are at least 4 inches high. If you are raising it outdoors, every four weeks throughout the growing season sow more seeds so that your harvest will be even greater. German chamomile produces only a few flowers, so the more you grow the better.

I read about that one awesome variety of German chamomile is double-flowered, which I would love to have.

Roman chamomile, which is often called “true chamomile” or “English chamomile” is also nice in teas to ease nervous tension. This variety is a ground cover or creeper, unlike the German chamomile which is a bushy herb; however, both types share the woody, apple-like aroma.

This plant will only grow to about 10 inches high as it creeps along the ground. The Roman chamomile can get a little taller in the summer as well as grow pretty white and yellow flowers that are similar to German chamomile but more pungent.

The natural oil from the Roman chamomile can be used to lighten or soften your hair. Chamomile is also called manzanilla in Spain and some types are used to flavor certain varieties of sherry.

This herb is not actually best if started from seeds, so I recommend you get it or begin with a division from someone else’s Roman chamomile.

Fortunately Roman chamomile is drought tolerant and able to survive for long periods of time without water, for those of you who forget this necessary task.

It is amazing that even though these two herbs have the same name, look alike and taste alike, scientists have determined that they are not even related.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Tea Herb Gardening. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

One component of the creative process when you want to start your own herb garden is to pick the array of herbs you’d like to cultivate. There are so many different herbs and many of these herbs have numerous varieties—for example, there are hundreds of kinds of thyme to choose from.

Each herb type has its own life cycle. Understanding your herb plant’s life cycle can help you make the best choices. When you go shopping for your herb plants, you will need to know their life cycle. There are three main kinds:

• Annuals: This variety of flower starts with a seed. During one life cycle they can grow, flower and die. There are several good annual herb plants: cilantro, chervil, basil, borage and dill.

• Biennials: This variety of herb can grow for 2 years and can generally bear "fruit" after the first year. Some herbs (like parsley) can produce foliage during both years but die early in the second growing season. Some biennials you should experiment with are angelica, Queen Anne’s lace and chicory.

• Perennials: Plants that tend to thrive for more than 2 growing seasons are called perennials. Whether or not they come back or for how many years they can come back depends on the location where you live. Of the many perennials available, some you may love are lemon verbena, rosemary, scented geranium, mints, thyme, yarrow and lady's mantle.

I love raising herbs with different growing seasons, but the ones that come back every year are really rewarding because I don’t have to buy them again and replant them every year. Too much cold will harm your perennials, so be careful. You can extend their growing cycle by bringing them in during winter.

These are some nice ways to extend the life of your herb plants:

• Some perennials can need for you to trim them back, dig up the bulb, roots or rhizome, and keep in your garage, basement or cellar over the winter.
• Using pots is a wonderful method for those herb plants that you need to over-winter inside your house or garage.  A few people even put their pots in the ground, covering them up to the rim with earth. This makes it a cinch to keep them during winter—just dig up the pot at the end of the season.
• Plant your biennials in middle of the summer so that you can get plenty of flowers in the second summer.
• Self-sowers are herb plants that sow their own seeds for the next year. Mustard, borage and catnip are just a few of the herb plants that are self-sowers.
• Lop off faded blossoms to lengthen the growing cycle of short-lived annuals. Depending on your area’s temperatures; your annuals may self-seed if you clip the herb back near the end of the summer.
• The frost that will result from unexpected cold weather can harm your herb plants if you don’t protect them by covering them with a towel, sheet or blanket. If you have your herb plants in pots, you can always move them under a covered porch.

I hope that these pointers can assist you with your herb garden planning. Getting it just like you envision it can be a struggle. Even I make mistakes after all these years, but just remember that you can dig up what does not work and try try again!

Here is more information on Herb Garden Information. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

When I was a kid, I lived out in a rural community and we only had clay earth once you dug about 6 or 12 inches down. When you are planning your garden, you’ve got to put sunshine and sod quality at the top of the list of things to consider. You need the right balance of both as well as the necessary water. If you can get 2 or 3 of these factors right, you are all set.

Rather than trying to fix the earth issues, I changed my garden plan and learned about rock gardening, which uses rocks and only a thin layer of good sod.

A rock garden focuses on the positive features that you may have in your yard already or those that you want to add. Usually this type of garden is found in dry, rocky areas that have poor sod. If you do not have the rocky earth and want the aesthetic of a rock garden, be sure you have got room for roots to grow and also some good drainage.

Rock gardens work toward keeping the herb compact and controlled. Another tip is to seek out herb plants with silver or gray leaves. It is not a hard-and-fast rule, but it should assist in making the best choices.

• Hen-and-Chicks: Also known as St. Patrick’s cabbage, Hen-and-Chicks is a succulent perennial that was once thought to cure warts. {I can’t imagine cutting open a hen or chick and rubbing it on a wart, but this perennial succulent herb, which is also known as St. Patrick’s cabbage, has a long history of doing just that.} Each leaf will hold enough water to make it through one day without water. Each one can grow to 4 inches across and each “hen” can grow numerous off-shoots or “chicks.” In the summer, a 9 inch spike arises from the center of each mature cabbage to show pinkish-red blooms. The plant will continue to add chicks and grow into a colony of herbs.

• Wild Oregano: Even though this perennial comes from the warm climate of the Mediterranean Sea, it should grow to about 30 inches high in your herb garden. You can cook with its green oval leaves and be sure to take full, deep breaths of its wonderful scent. You’ll also love the purple flowers, which should come out in August. This isn’t the same type of oregano that you find in Italian dishes, but you can eat it.

• Marjoram: It is awesome when you can sculpt a lovely rock garden using culinary herb plants like Marjoram. Its oval gray-green leaves have a delicate scent that will remind you of your favorite Italian sauce and its tiny white flowers will bring a smile to your face. For marjoram to retain its shape and form, keep it snipped back (use the clippings in your Italian dinners) so that it can keep growing well—full sun and the good drainage in your rock garden can help too.

• Thyme: The shiny, small leaves of the thyme herb are clustered along woody stems that are adorned with numerous white or pink flowers and grows to a height of up to 12 inches. It appreciates the sandy soils that provide well-drainage and full sunshine. You will want to keep this plant trimmed back to maintain its shape and to help it remain hearty.

The contrast between the rocks and the herb plants will dazzle the eyes, without losing any of the other sensations, including aroma and taste.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Herb Garden Designs. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

I really love learning to cook food from other countries, especially some of the best Mexican meals. What about you? You can try your hand at planting a yummy themed kitchen herb garden.

Just about any herb you will need for your flavorful dishescan be raised in your herb garden.

A themed kitchen garden can be cultivated in the ground or you can grow your themed kitchen garden in pots.

Here are some suggestions on growing your own themed kitchen garden:

• Asian: From Thai and Vietnamese to Indian and Chinese, Asian cuisine has a lot of flavors and spices to select from. Try growing lemongrass, cayenne pepper, cardamom and anise in your Asian kitchen herb garden. Try the licorice taste of anise in your next Indian meal, or use its warm sweetness in your baked goods. You can also use it in tea and in baking a savory-sweet cookie. The growing popularity of Asian cooking has helped it fall back into favor in the US in recent years.

• Mexican: Not a week goes by when I do not chow down on a Mexican meal. I love to eat my favorite Mexican meals, such as burritos, fajitas or quesadillas at least once a week. The best Mexican recipes always include these: Cayenne pepper, Cilantro and Garlic.

• Italian: What’s your favorite Italian dish? Mine is lasagna, of course. The best I ever had was my mom’s which included all these fabulous herbs: basil, fennel, parsley, garlic, marjoram, oregano, rosemary and thyme. The oniony flavor of garlic makes it a perfect addition to most Italian dinners. Put a little of it on your roasted chicken and add it to your soups and stews. You can even toss some chopped garlic in your mashed potatoes. Be warned, the longer you cook garlic, the milder the taste becomes so don’t overcook it!

• Middle East: Foods from the Middle East and north Africa are only growing in popularity these days. The flavors are so varied and the ingredients are so out of the norm for most of what I usually have in my recipes, such as chick peas, figs and couscous. These herbs are often to be found on the ingredient lists for Middle Eastern meals: cardamom, garlic, parsley, rosemary and saffron.

• German: You do not have to wait for October to cook up an Octoberfest meal at home if you have the right herbs used in German cooking. These are a couple of my favorite and most often used in authentic German meals: chives, dill, horseradish, sage and thyme. As a relative of mustard, horseradish is a condiment herb that you can use for extra taste. It can also open up your sinuses! Horseradish is a fantastic addition to your dinners. Try it in mayonnaise and potato salad. Horseradish will also go well in cream cheese spreads or meat loaf.

One of the fabulous things about herb gardening it that herb plants are a gift that keeps on giving. If you remove a few leaves from your sage plant, it will grow back. Most herbs appreciate being cut back from time to time and will likely grow bigger and fuller as a result.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Fresh Herb Gardening. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

Adding herbs to your garden can truly enhance the beauty of your landscape. Not only are they attractive, they lend a lovely fragrance to your yard. And of course they're useful, both for adding flavor to your cooking and for their therapeutic benefits. There's an amazing selection of herbs for you to plant. Basil and oregano are a couple of the species that are well suited to cooking. Some herbs, such as lavender and chamomile, are also useful for their health benefits. When it comes to herb gardening, the choice is up to you and your tastes.

In general, herbs are easy to maintain and will thrive without a lot of effort on your part. Among the many kinds of herbs, you're sure to find at least one that will suit whatever location you have in mind for it. They are ideal as edging around a bed of flowers, tucked into a rock garden, or as an aromatic accent to a container garden.

And they're so versatile. They can be grown outdoors in the warm weather, and indoors during the winter. Summer is when you'll grow them outside, but if you have a nice sunny spot in your home, you can enjoy them year round indoors. Lots of people like to set their indoor herbs outside when it's warm, where they'll be even more bountiful. Others like to get a head start on their outdoor herb garden by starting seeds inside in late winter. Before you do this, though, make sure that the herbs you choose can be transplanted without doing them any harm.

You can plant herbs in most sunny locations outside. They'll grow equally well in a tiny corner of the property or in your veggie patch. You can plant them in neat rows or in a decorative pattern that will give your landscape an aromatic beauty.

Before you start planting, watch the intended location over a couple of days to be certain that it gets the right amount of sun. You also need to make sure that you don't plant in a swampy location of the yard. And keep in mind that if you plan on using your herbs for cooking, locating them near to the house will make it easier to step outdoors and snip off what you need.

Use caution, however, since not all herbs will grow in all climate zones. However, most are easy to grow and will do well in almost any zone. However, if you're uncertain about whether specific herbs are suitable for your area, check with your local nursery.

There are any number of different herbs, so it won't be hard to find one that suits the location you have in mind. So you can have the pleasure of their aroma and culinary delights throughout the year.

If you have ever wanted to get into herb gardening, you should know that herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow. Even if you don't think of yourself as having a green thumb, you can be a successful gardener if you grow the following easy herbs that can be used fresh or dried.

Parsley - Parsley is a relatively hardy annual in zones 2-11. Both flat-leaf and curly varieties are easy to care for and grow very well without a lot of extra care. It can do well in full sun to light shade, and needs rich soil that is well-drained but moist. It doesn't do particularly well in heat.

Cilantro - Another simple herb to grow is cilantro. This is an annual herb that grows well both in the shade and the sun. You'll find that it is very easy to care for and it will do pretty well in just about any type of climate.

Chives - Chives are a perennial herb. They can grow well in almost any soil, and almost any conditions. Chives have been known to be seen growing in old gardens that haven't been tended in many years! It's hardy in zones 3-9, and prefers full sun. They tend to do better in rich soils, but don't need it to survive. Chives have a rich, oniony flavor, and they taste great on baked potatoes.

Oregano - This herb is extremely popular, and it goes well with many different types of foods. It is commonly used in tomato-based pasta dishes, chicken dishes, and pork dishes. Hardy in zones 5-9, oregano does well in raised beds, rock gardens, alongside roads or pathways, or just about anywhere! It needs full sun and well-drained soil, but it actually does better in poor, rocky soil.

Thyme - This is an herb that is perennial and easy to care for. It is very hardy and grows into a plant that is much like a shrub. It prefers a lot of sun and a warm climate to grow well, along with well drained but moist soil. If you are growing thyme in the house, you should make sure that you put the plant near the window so it gets the most sunlight.

Basil - Basil is another annual herb that does well in warm weather. It grows well in many places, but for the best flavor, it needs to have conditions that are hot and dry. The soil should be very rich and a bit moist and it should be kept in full sun. It's important that you make sure that basil gets plenty of heat and light and between watering it the basil should have time to dry out.

Bay - While this is actually a shrub, bay is a great herb to start out with in your herb garden. It is a very hardy herb and does well in many zones. It needs soil that is rich and not overly wet. However, it does fairly well in most conditions. The best flavor from this herb comes when the leaves have been dried. So, you'll want to dry the leaves before you decide to use them.

When you grow these herbs, try to pay attention to the climate they like. While they may be hardy and grow in a variety of places, they'll do the best when you keep them in a climate suited to their needs. So, as long as you consider the zones they grow best in, usually you'll find these herbs will grow well in your vegetable garden, and they'll be easy for you to take care of as well.