Eleuthero

AKA: Eleuthero, Siberian Ginseng, syn. Acanthopanax Senticosus

Planting: Well drained rich moist soil in sun or partial shade, fully hardy deciduous suckering shrub, 8’-22’.

Harvest: Roots are lifted in autumn and dried whole or decorticated. Both roots and root bark are used in decoctions, powders, tablets, teas, and tinctures.

Culinary: Young leaves are cooked as a pot-herb or dried for making tea.

Medicinal: An adaptogen, belonging to the same family as true ginsengs, but differs in the form of its saponin glycosides, which are eleutherosides, rather than ginsenosides. A pungenta, bitter sweet warming herb that stimulates the immune and circulatory systems, regulates blood pressure, lowers blood sugar, and reduces inflammation. It is adaptogenic, having a tonic effect on all organs. Do not use with caffeine.

Third Eye Vision:

Seeded: 2008, in B1

Links: Wiki

Sources:
The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses (RHS)

Leuzea Rhapontica

AKA: Maral Root, Leuzea Carthamoides, Rhaponticum Carthamoides

Planting: Rich moist soil in sun, fully hardy perennial, 2’-3’.

Harvest:

Medicinal: An adaptogen which has traditionally used for fatigue, impotence, and recovery from long illness.

Research indicates that maral root may have a beneficial effect on impotence, memory and learning, increasing working capacity of tired skeletal muscles, as well as anabolic and adaptogenic processes.

Third Eye Vision:

Seeded: Spring 2009 in A5

Links: Wiki

Sources:

Glycyrrhiza Glabra

AKA: Liquorice

Planting: Deep rich sandy soil in sun, fully hardy perennial, 3’-4’.

Harvest: Roots and stolons are lifted in early autumn, 3-4 years after planting, and dried for decoctions extracts, pastilles, and powder, or crushed and boiled to produce juice.

Culinary: Roots are chewed as sweets, used as flavoring. Also used in herb tea.

Medicinal: An adaptogen. A sweet, soothing herb that is anti inflammatory and expectorant, controls coughing, and has hormonal and laxative effects. It detoxifies and protects the liver.

Third Eye Vision:

Seeded: Spring 2009 in B6

Links: Wiki

Sources:
The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses (RHS)

Withania Somnifera

AKA: Ashwagandha, Winter Cherry

Planting: Dry stony soil in sun or partial shade, hardy annual/tender perennial and reseeding, 24”-72”.

Harvest: All parts of the plant are used, but roots are most common.

Medicinal: An Adaptogen. Important in Ayurvedic medicine, similar to Panax Ginseng. Roots, fruits, leaves are used, but toxic if eaten. A bitter-sweet astringent warming herb with a horse-like smell. It acts on the reproductive and nervous systems. In A. medicine given as a milk decoction with sugar, honey, rice. Powdered roots are used as an ingredient in a variety of tonic formulas and Raja’s Cup coffee substitute. Of the nightshade family (solanaceae), Ashwaganda is rich in alkaloids and should be regarded as poisonous. Internally for debility, convalescence, nervous exhaustion, insomnia, geriatric complaints, wasting diseases, impotence, infertility, joint and nerve pains, epilepsy, rheumatic pains, and the roots are used for multiple sclerosis. . Externally as poultice for swellings, wounds, burns, stings and snake bites (leaves).

Third Eye Vision: Plant in front of the beehive. Bees snacking on the flowers receive adaptogenic benefits.

Seeded: 2008-B6, 2009 D6

Links: Wiki

Sources:
The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses (RHS)