Watercress is an aquatic herb that came initially from Eurasia, but you can now find it growing all over North America. It belongs to the Brassicaceae family to which cabbage and mustard also belong. Watercress is believed to be one of the first leafy vegetables consumed by humans. The Ancient Egyptians used watercress along with […]
Pineapple Sage: Sage With A Hint Of Tropical Fruit
Pineapple sage is known by other various names, including its botanical name Salvia elegans. It is called tangerine sage in some places. It has been cultivated since 1870 and was given the name Salvia rutilansas in 1873, a name which has now been largely forgotten. The herb is native to Central America where it grows […]
Thankuni: The Longevity Herb
Thankuni is a creeping perennial that belongs to the Apiaceae family, and that goes by several other names. It is a relative of various other better-known herbs such as parsley and cilantro. Its aliases include its botanical name, Centella asiatica as well as pennywort. While it has been naturalized to other parts of the world, […]
Milk Thistle: A Liver-Friendly Herb
Milk thistle is a member of the Asteraceae family and comes from the Mediterranean region; you can also find it growing in parts of Russia, North Africa and in Asia Minor. Other parts of the world to which it has been exported include the New World and Australia. Greek physician and philosopher Galen praised milk […]
Garlic Chives: The Herb For A Milder Garlic Flavor
Garlic chives are native to East Asia. This herb can be found all over the continent from Mongolia to the Philippines. Garlic chives have been cultivated in China for more than 3,000 years. This herb was also documented as having health benefits in ancient Chinese medical texts written during the Ming Dynasty. Garlic chives were […]
Arugula: Italy’s Favorite Salad Green
In Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome, arugula was well known and cultivated for its leaves and seeds. Virgil considered it to be an aphrodisiac for drowsy people. The leaves formed a part of a first-century Roman salad that featured other vegetables and herbs still in use today, including romaine and lavender. At the time, arugula […]
Bergamot: A Native American Herb
The term bergamot typically refers to either an extract from a citrus fruit (Citrus bergamia) and the fruit itself, or to a North American herb (Monarda didyma). The herb is a member of the mint family with leaves that look similar to those of spearmint, while the fruit has the appearance of a lime. The […]
Nasturtium: Much More Than An Edible Flower
The origin of nasturtium is in Central and South America. It is native to Peru and to Chile. The Inca people consumed nasturtium in much the same way that it is used today, which is mostly in salads. The plant was brought to Spain in the 16th century by Nicolas Monardes, a Spanish physician and […]
Butterbur: The Migraine Herb
Butterbur is a herb belonging to the Asteraceae family, which makes it a relative of the dandelion, arnica, and of feverfew. It originated in Asia and can be found growing there as well as in parts of Europe and North America. It has a preference for wet ground and is typically found growing in marshes […]
Arnica: A Homeopathic Herb
Arnica is an herb in the dandelion family that originated in Central Europe and Siberia. You can also find it in the US and in Canada. Arnica has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. Both Europeans and Native Americans discovered the value of the plant independently of each other. Native Americans used to […]