Wild in Southern Europe but has naturalised in many places across the world.

Aromatic perennial grows up to 1.5m

Harvest the seeds in the Autumn\early Winter. Leaf Spring.\early Summer. Flowers in the Summer.

Known as a Spice. All parts of the plant are edible.

Whole plant including the seed is Green and represents the Heart.
The flowers are Yellow representing Solar Plexus.

Sweet warming nourishing taste. ​

Key Constituents:
Volatile Oils: 10-30% Fenchone 6%Anethol, limonene, pinene,
Flavonoids incl rutin, quercetin and sterols.

Key Actions:
Sweet Bitter Aromatic. Carminative, antispasmodic and eases pain. Soothing, diuretic(soothing cleanse&heal to bladder and kidneys), Galactagogue (stimulates milk production),
Anti-inflammatory. Anti microbial.
Anti rheumatic. Expectorant. Anti venomous (snake, dog, scorpions).

​Foeniculum is linked to the Latin for Hay, which links with the smell that links to the Coumarins  which work as a Tonic to the Venus circulation and has anticoagulant action which helps to prevent blood clots and strokes. Fennel also helps build the blood and and is a Heart Protector.

Traditionally\Folklore

Fennel has been a part of celebratory welcoming rituals for the birth of a child and a new stage for the woman. Often fennel was brought to a new mother to drink and to hang over the crib to keep the flies away.

Dioscorides writes The whole plant was juiced and dropped in the eyes for improved eyesight. Also for any eye infection. Maybe this was inspired by folk observing snakes rubbing their eyes against the Fennel plant to possibly improve eyesight. Also Fennel to help with snake bite.
Dioscorides also writes of applying drops to infected ears and for worms.

Often Fennel seeds found in many recipes for menstrual pains.

Protective energy and was often put in doorways to protect against evil spirits.

Old Chinese remedy for cholera.

Fennel seeds were found amongst the personal belongings of Egyptian rulers excavated from tombs.

Fennel seed is classed as a Superfood also contains: Calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, manganese, copper, Vitamin A (beta carotene), B1, B2 &B3.

Opens up blockages and obstructions in the liver, spleen, gall bladder. Also Kidneys\Bladder.

Digestive. Stimulates digestive enzymes. Indigestion, bloating, pains, Constipation, Flatulence, colic, trapped wind. Reduce bloating after meals. Irritable bowels. Delicate stomachs. Sour stomach. Nausea. Gastritis. Jaundice. Tummy bugs. Colitis. Sweeten the breath. Reduces toxic effects of alcohol. Breaks down fatty foods.

For under and over eaters. Loss of appetite esp where there one has lost taste for food. \also helps the body lose weight.

Helps to clear cold damp conditions anywhere in the body. Includes Polyarthritis.

Antimicrobial- All our culinary spices are! Also helps you manage a Fever.

Fennel has been shown to support the body in fighting off all of the following (this is just a few!)
Aerobacter aerogenes, Bacillus subtiles, Escherichia coli, Listeria, Mycobacterium avian, Proteus vulgaris esp cause UTI’s and Skin wounds. Salmonella enteritis, Staphylococcus albus & aureus.

Any lung condition where the need to clear cold stuck phlegm. Includes bronchitis & asthma. Soothing to harsh irritating chronic coughs. Pharyngitis. Tight chest. Gargle for sore throats.

Eyewash for red eye and blepharitis. Conjunctivitis. Fennel face wash for all ages esp older skin

Fennel is great for UTI’s, cystitis, kidney stones. Bladder pains.

Helps milk production. Great for babies and all ages.
Drinking fennel seed tea will help mum to produce great nourishing milk, and through this milk helps windy colic symptoms in the baby. Helps build the bond between Mother & Child and supports the flow of mutual nourishment. Fennel also good for teething babies.

Oestrogen and Aphrodisiac effect.
Fennel fabulous for premenstrual stuff. Regulate periods.
Also in a Fertility & Menopause.

For thousands of years Fennel seed taken in early pregnancy for nausea, sickness and to ground oneself in this new environment. Nowadays it has been said not to take in pregnancy……

Rich bone building mineral content also helps the gut to absorb needed minerals.
High nutrient content and good ratio of calcium and phytoestrogens Bone protector & Builds Bone.

Calming soothing to the nerves. Deep internal hug. Tonic to the brain. Improves Memory.
Especially good for people who have been frightened in their lives. Those who may not have received love & nourishment. Helps us to nourish and take care of ourselves. Loosens up the tissue including loosening up our fears especially over how we look. Or fears around sensuality.

Plant Essence:
Graceful Shift. Change with ease. Very supportive when we are going through great changes.
A powerfully Grounding, Nurturing Vibration. Deep Love into our Heart Chakra.
Helps to calm when butterflies in the tum. Helps to reinforce the idea of playfulness.
Balances our physical energy when we are going through dimensional shifts. Sometimes the Light can be so immense that it takes some time to find our new alignment. Fennel supports this.

Preparations:

Seed chew pre & post eating.

Infusion
Leaf Fresh or dried: 3-4 teaspoon per cup boiling hot water.
Adult half-1 cup three times a day (tid).
Baby 2-3 teaspoons tid.

Seed: preferable with a little crush to release the volatile oils.
1-2teaspoons per cup boiling hot water infuse 15 mins.
Adult 3 cup a day Can take 1\2 cup before food.
Babe 2-3 teaspoons tid

Tincture Seed Max. 15ml a day Always start with drop dose. 10-15 drops can be perfect per dose esp for digestive troubles.

Hydrosol 5-20 drops tid

Powdered Seed and leaf. Can be added to a blend for Digestive and Bone health.

Essential oil esp for aches and pains. In the past a few drops applied to feet and then dance to the rhythm of life!

Lotion made using a teaspoon of seeds in 200ml cold water infuse for 1 hour. Strain and use liquid as an eye bath. Can also drop the lotion into the eyes.

Fennel Cider Vinegar.  Also can add to your Fire Cider blend.

Other foodie ways with Fennel: Seeds sprinkled over salad and many other dishes. Including bean dishes! Young shoots and roots steamed, sauté as a vegetable. Flavour soups and fish dishes.
200yr old recipe: Fennel soup with wine, sugar, ginger and almonds..

A note on the bulb that we buy in shop. It is in fact a false bulb three swollen leaves overlapping. It is still Foeniculum vulgare but different varieties specifically grown for these thicker basal leaves.
Usually either Foeniculum vulgare azoricum or
Finocchio\ Florence Fennel: Foeniculum vulgare Dulce- also known as Sweet Fennel- not as medicinal as Foeniculum vulgare.

​Helichrysum italicum also known as H. angustifolia & H.serotinum (Curry plant\Immortelle) Perennial


Algeria, Baleares, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Morocco, Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Croatia, Serbia.


Best viewed by Moonlight.


Opens the Heart to the unseen energies which affect our lives. Helps the walking wounded. Those who have lost connection with their Soul. Helps us to feel Safe as we fully expose ourselves.


Contains monoterpenes incl. pinene, camphene & limonene. Linaloo, Nerol & geraniol. Eugenol. Esters. 1.8- cineole. Sesquiterpenenes & Flavonoids.


Actions: antibacterial, antiviral. antifungal esp for excess candida, antihistamine. antiinflammatory, antispasmodic. Analgesic. Expectorant. Cleansing & Healing the liver & Gallbladder.


Increases the body’s ability to heal. Immune stimulant action


Skin healing & regeneration esp in scarring, psoriasis, eczema & allergic reactions. Bruises. Acne. Burns. Ulcers, open wounds. Bleeding wounds. Many say the deep psychological healing of the herb is equally of benefit to skin esp in Psoriasis. Skin wounds from chemotherapy.
Healthy scalp & Hair growth. Puffy & Swelling under eyes.


In cases of trauma neat essential oil can be applied or 10-50% in a carrier oil.
Very Safe oil. Sensitive skin. Baby’s skin.
Has been said to better than Arnica for bruising. Powerful anti bruising action.


Warming aromatic great for stomachache, fever, tension in the gut. Gastritis, colitis.
Liver tonic (Ceratonia Bitters). Malaria.


Colds & flu. Cough. Rhinitis, sinusitis, laryngitis, Bad breath. Asthma. Bronchitis. Whooping cough. Esp. for spasmodic cough. Cleans out the lungs. Hay fever. Cystitis. For varicose veins and good in diabetes & arthritis. Rheumatism. Muscular aches & pains.


Reduces Stress reaction in the body. Good for Weakness & Lethargy. Exhaustion. Debilitated.


For migraine headaches due to tension. Calms the nerves. Nervous depression. For insomnia.


Patience. Inner Strength and Awareness. Clarity around the obstacles that come in life and to keep going. Endurance & Courage. “Honey for the Psyche”


Essence: For those who have to think on their feet fast. Enhances new thinking, frees the mind of linear thought patterns. Can help those who lack spontaneity.
Increases self worth. Enhances the motivation to put ideas into action.


Culinary: slightly cooked leaves added to rice, vegetable & egg dishes. Fresh chopped up in salads, salsa verde. Gives a slightly curry flavour. Has been used to enhance fruit flavours in foods and drinks. Incl. Sangria. H. stoechas also noted as a culinary herb.


Interestingly, when mixed with mulberry (Morus spp., Moraceae) leaves and fed to silkworms, the flower heads of H. italicum induce the production of naturally yellow silk, a material used in central Sardinia for the production of folk garments. Ancient Romans and Greeks decorated the statues of gods with wreaths of Helichrysum flowerhead. Protect clothes from moths.


Animal medicine: Coughs, wounds and joint pains in donkeys and horses.

Helichrysum stoechas Common shrubby Everlasting. annual\perennial.


Algeria, Baleares, Corse, France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Sicilia, Spain


Best seen in full Sun.


Contains constituents: Nerol acetate,, pinene, limonene, luteolin, linalool, and geraniol, in addition to other flavonoids, sesquiterpenes. 


Higher levels of polyphenols and flavonoids curcumin, kaempherol, quercetin, so powerfully antiinflammatory and antioxidant. Found to have a powerful strengthening impact on the immune system.


Expectorant. Vermifuge. Antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial. Diuretic. Anti-inflammatory. Clears blockages (deobstruent)


Skin disease. Bruises. Burns & Wounds. Herpes. Bronchitis. Asthma. Sinusitis. Flu.


Zulu medicine: Wounds. Stops Blood flow. Leaves to invoke the goodwill of our ancestors.
Transkei peoples burnt the herb as protective cleanser.


Writings by Ancient Greeks and Romans all the same indications as H. Italicum.
Ie Skin, Respiratory & Digestive. Plant often mixed with honey in ancient times.


Spending time with the plant at Ceratonia: Self healing. Calm, Focus & Clarity in the pause. Warming Solar & Heart. Beautiful. Lifts the Spirits. Yin tonic for solar plexus, Heart Love. Generous. Silk Paper. Deep Support. Peace. Gentle. Smell lovely. Soft. Comfort. Safety. Tasty aromatic. Calm and active.
Make an aromatic water and use as a face spritzer.
Ceremony Plant. Yellow Flower= Fortifying.
Protection. Elephant Medicine. Nourishing. Clearing 3rd eye. Strength. Alert. Expansive. Circulation. Head. Spine. Upper chest\opening.Muscle release. Mildly sedative.  Throat. Drying. Spicy. Oily. Silky coating. Bitter.

STUCK states. emotional, physical and spiritual. Diffusive Stimulant. Liver, Spleen, Womb, Heart. Lymph, Blood.
Eases pent up energy, intolerance, anger and impatience.

WOUND HEALER- physical and emotional. Sharp Pains. Damp wounds. Deep cuts.Tissue repair. Decongest. Pain and grief. COMFORT. SOOTHES. Abortion, miscarriage. Traumatic delivery. Any shock or trauma.
Mucus membrane regeneration Triterpenes ie Lupeopl-anti-inflammatory

Creates the right conditions. e.g. Prevents germs from growing. also energetically.
Fast acting on acute stuff. WW1 and 11 and American civil wars. flithy wounds, Amputations etc.

Powerful skin regeneration Stimulates skin cell growth. HEALING skin and mucus membranes. anti-aging ingredient, because it's been proven to stimulate the metabolism of glycoproteins, nucleoproteins and collagen during the skin's healing process.
Triterpenes ie Lupeopl also anti-inflammatory. Heals Dry chapped skin and lips.
Gum disease. Mouth ulcers. Acne. Excema. Boils. Burns. Insect bites. Sebaceous cysts. Verrucas. Warts. Pox. Measles. Any inflamed and infected skin.
Vaginal thrush. Cervical erosion. Itchy piles, vaginal douche.                                               
Maternity: boobs, vulva, bums and soothing restorative energy. New born skin. Nappy rash.


Calendula an excellent herb in clinic:

• Periods. water retention\tender breasts. PMT: irritability\anger\impatience\pent up energy\intolerance. regulating periods. Absent. Painful. heavy periods, replenish any impact to the womb. Soothing restorative incl. Abortion\miscarriage\traumatic delivery. Sexual Abuse. Tissue repair. Deep Cuts. Ovarian and skin cysts. Holding on to sadness or other emotions. Fibroids. acne. Headaches.

 

• Maternity: boobs, vulva, bums and soothing restorative energy.New Born skin

 

• Support the Menopause Journey.

 

• Candida, orange resin-Calendulin-antifungal\antivral. Pack of flowers on oozing fungus. Also Internal support on every level.

 

• Partial bowel removal and colitis. polysaccharides protective to mucus membranes.

 

• Ovarian and sebaceous cysts, holding on to sadness. Cysts. Fibroids, lymph, blood and cervical affinity.

 

• Chronic fatigue and limb fatigue.

 

• Low self-esteem,  helps to clear negative energy-fast. Gives courage to change life.

 

• Supports the Journey of addiction. with extra Liver, gallbladder and spleen support.

 

• Low immune\ Lowered resistance. Prone to high viral infection. Resins, flavonol glycosides and polysaccharides immune stimulant.

 

• Cervical cell changes- cleared CIN 1 and have reduced a CIN3 to a 1.

 

• After orthodox Cancer treatments- including swollen lymph after breast surgery. Dioscorides writes of Calendula for cancer.

​Salvia rosmarinus, Rosemary. Alecrim
​
Lamiaceae Family

Key words: Warming, Pungent, Flow. Invigorating. Vitality and Resilience

Main element is Fire. Ruled by the Sun- Vitality and individuality.

Key actions: Analgesic, anti-depressive, astringent, brain tonic, carminative, cholagogue
(stimulates liver & gall bladder), tonic, digestive, Rubefacient (circulatory stimulant), diuretic, liver
protective, nervine, emmenagogue (brings on delayed period) and insecticide.
Circulation is a key note for Rosemary. Excellent for cold, sluggish circulation. Heavy, tired and
cold people. Cold painful joints. Protects against arteriosclerosis. Cramps. Shock held in the
muscles.

Rosemary being stimulating, warm and dry is good for any excess phlegm in the body.
A wonderful Heart Herb that lifts the spirits.
Helping to strengthen and tone the circulatory system of the heart and its muscle as needed.
A note on blood pressure. The essential oil is best avoided in high blood pressure. However
preparations with the whole herb esp culinary can help reduce high blood pressure in the some
cases. Overall the whole herb is a Heart Tonic and can help all aliments of the Heart, especially
chronic cardiac weakness.
For anaemia, low blood pressure and low energy dose with strong infusions taken internally and
foot baths.

The Stimulating & cleansing actions via blood and kidneys, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory
actions can help to ease joint and muscles pains esp in rheumatism, gout and arthritis.
14thC Hungarian queen at 72yrs. Was crippled with paralysis of the limbs, rheumatism and gout.
After taking Rosemary tincture daily she said her youth & vitality had returned and all pains gone.
The Famous Hungarian waters were inspired form this. Originally just Rosemary, then Thyme and
Lavender and today.. 3 parts Rosemary & 1 part Lavender. Tsp daily and can also use externally as
a rub for pain.

For women’s balance esp painful periods, recovery from Pill and implants. Can be a great aid in
menopause. Protects threatened miscarriage (Consult herbalist). Avoid in pregnancy.
North African tradition: powdered rosemary on the cut umbilical chord astringent, antiseptic &
Spiritual support.
Boosts milk production and health of baby.
Reduces enlarged Prostate in cold stuck, worried men.

This herb like so many in the Lamiaceae family:
Contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals, Stimulate digestive enzymes, aromatic bitter,
liver cleansing and protective, relaxants, carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant.
Has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral actions. Great in any Nip in the bud\SOS blend.
As well as supports our digestive function and immune strength. Can help many aliments
including colds & flu. Windy, bloated tummy, candida and diabetes. Gallbladder in spasm &
congested Liver esp in cold types.
Excellent gargle that can help to clear chronic lung conditions like bronchitis and then works as a
preventative. Brilliant for coughs especially where there is spasm such as in asthma. Great taken
with Thyme.

Externally Rosemary is excellent for the scalp and hair. Stimulating hair follicles, improving the
condition of the hair and in some can help with baldness and dandruff.

Rosemary supports the emotions of the heart such as joy, sadness, grief, depression and anxiety.
Fabulous brain tonic. Nourishing & reviving the mind. Enhances clarity, clears the brain of clutter,
connects you to your Courage and self confidence and thus able to speak clearly and from the
heart ie what you really want to say. Excellent for memory and concentration. Clears brain fog,
calms the monkey mind and great for folk who over think so much it is hard to make decisions.
Headaches and depression associated with exhaustion- The fire burnt out. For exhausted yang
energy, always giving out. Not only promotes blood circulation but also Qi energy. Energises the
adrenal system. Recovery from long term illness.