Lemon Balm

[Serial_Apologist]

Ever tried St John's Wort jlw? I use it to keep tolerably un-depressed. Thought I'd been on it a bit long a while back and gave up taking it. OK for some weeks then, once I'd forgotten what I'd done, started feeling dreadful. OK, there were things in my life which kinda justified feeling pretty cr*p so I hoped it would go away. It didn't and eventually I had the wit to resume the SJW. Bliss!

Only snag with it is that it's far more than doubled in price in the last year: something to do with gov't-imposed tests/ certification of traditional medicines I believe. No doubt it'll save lotsa lives...

We have plentiful amounts of that in the garden here to offer great supplies of golden flowers. Not sure it's possible to harvest it for medicinal purposes, though.

[LeMartinPecheur]

We have plentiful amounts of that in the garden here to offer great supplies of golden flowers. Not sure it's possible to harvest it for medicinal purposes, though.

My jar says the active ingredient is ethanol-extracted.

So how about St Johns Wort gin, a la sloe gin??

This http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_John's_wort says more about its effects.

[jayne lee wilson]

Ever tried St John's Wort jlw? I use it to keep tolerably un-depressed. Thought I'd been on it a bit long a while back and gave up taking it. OK for some weeks then, once I'd forgotten what I'd done, started feeling dreadful. OK, there were things in my life which kinda justified feeling pretty cr*p so I hoped it would go away. It didn't and eventually I had the wit to resume the SJW. Bliss!

Only snag with it is that it's far more than doubled in price in the last year: something to do with gov't-imposed tests/ certification of traditional medicines I believe. No doubt it'll save lotsa lives...

I found St Johns Wort very odd to take - I could never really feel any effect apart from a slight increase in tension. Possibly because, like SSRI/SNRIs, it's an "upper" and I tend to need "downers" like Valerian and Lemon Balm (which seems to lift mood, but by relaxing, rather than enlivening you). And Valerian is dearer now too, selfmedication isn't cheap.

(There's always wine of course... especially warm Italian reds on summer nights...)

[Pabmusic]

I have a large bush of this. Is it possible to dry the leaves to make a moth deterrent

or pot pourri sort of thing. And can it be used in drinks?? It's just by the back door and smells lovely at the moment

Lemon balm doesn't retain its essential oils well, so it's a poor 'dry' herb.

[Pabmusic]

Ever tried Lemon Verbena a much stronger sherbet-lemon sort of smell and would I imagine make a stronger infusion/flavouring than Lemon Balm which can, I find, be a bit invasive in the garden

Lemon verbena is very good - you can use it as a very good flavouring and it's more intense that lemon balm. Likewise lemon thyme.

[teamsaint]

There was an interesting and rather bad tempered(not on my part !) discussion on the board about natural remedies when the new EU controls came in.

I might dig it out.
Interesting thoughts re lemon balm from JLW.
Didn't know that SJW had shot up in price. At least its still available.

[salymap]

A friend told me yesterday she took Valerian to help her sleep and fell over next day asshe felt unsteady.

i feel unsteady without it, so don't know whether to risk it.

[MrGongGong]

There was an interesting and rather bad tempered(not on my part !) discussion on the board about natural remedies when the new EU controls came in.

I think it's important to make a distinction between things which have an active ingredient and fairy woo nonsense.
Some "natural" remedies can be very dangerous indeed when combined with other substances
Some other things are simply fairy dust designed to fool the idiot woomongers of Totnes

[teamsaint]

and it is important that the distinctions are not just made by those with an interest in supporting drugs companies.
Its also important to remember that our species has probably "lost" a huge amount of knowledge over time.

What is the active ingredient in raw coconut oil? I don't know, but it cures my eczema, without the rather unpleasant side effects of the steroids that usually get prescribed.

Some legal drugs authorised by NICE are a disaster, many are excellent
Some natural remedies work, some may be worthless.

Big money leads to wrongdoing, on all sides.

[Nick Armstrong]

fairy woo nonsense....

... the idiot woomongers of Totnes