• Complain

Editors at Readers Digest - The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs

Here you can read online Editors at Readers Digest - The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs full text of the book (entire story) in english for free. Download pdf and epub, get meaning, cover and reviews about this ebook. year: 2018, genre: Home and family. Description of the work, (preface) as well as reviews are available. Best literature library LitArk.com created for fans of good reading and offers a wide selection of genres:

Romance novel Science fiction Adventure Detective Science History Home and family Prose Art Politics Computer Non-fiction Religion Business Children Humor

Choose a favorite category and find really read worthwhile books. Enjoy immersion in the world of imagination, feel the emotions of the characters or learn something new for yourself, make an fascinating discovery.

No cover

The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs: summary, description and annotation

We offer to read an annotation, description, summary or preface (depends on what the author of the book "The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs" wrote himself). If you haven't found the necessary information about the book — write in the comments, we will try to find it.

Editors at Readers Digest: author's other books


Who wrote The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs? Find out the surname, the name of the author of the book and a list of all author's works by series.

The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs — read online for free the complete book (whole text) full work

Below is the text of the book, divided by pages. System saving the place of the last page read, allows you to conveniently read the book "The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs" online for free, without having to search again every time where you left off. Put a bookmark, and you can go to the page where you finished reading at any time.

Light

Font size:

Reset

Interval:

Bookmark:

Make

sorry something went wrong loading your content. Check the table of contents or try paging forward. Or contact us at support@bookshout.com

Contents

An A-to-Z guide to more than 100 herbs and the various ways to use them

Information on growing herbs successfully, from backyard to windowsill

Herbal remedies to boost general health and well-being and treat common ailments

Body and beauty treatments to cleanse and pamper, using herbs and essential oils

From kitchens to bathrooms, from clothes to petsthe herbal solutions that work best

Contemporary and traditional projects that are easy to do and lovely to look at

Delicious, simple recipes that showcase herbs and spices from around the world

sorry something went wrong loading your content. Check the table of contents or try paging forward. Or contact us at support@bookshout.com

sorry something went wrong loading your content. Check the table of contents or try paging forward. Or contact us at support@bookshout.com

sorry something went wrong loading your content. Check the table of contents or try paging forward. Or contact us at support@bookshout.com

Introduction

Herbs have been used for thousands of years to flavor and preserve food, treat ailments, ward off pests and diseases, freshen the air, and decorate and enhance our lives. Over the centuries they have also become associated with fascinating myths, legends, and folklore.

In general terms, an herb is a plant that is valued for its flavor, aroma, or medicinal properties, and different parts of an herb such as the stalks, flowers, fruits, seeds, roots, or leaves may have important applications. From small herbs growing beside our highways to bushy shrubs in mountain areas to tall trees in lush tropical rain forests, there are literally thousands of plants all over the world that belong to the herb family.

In The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs we have combined traditional knowledge and herbal wisdom with up-to-date advice from gardening experts, herbalists, natural therapists, cleaning specialists, craft experts, and cooks to show you how to grow herbs successfully and make the best use of them in your daily life. The comprehensive information on more than 100 herbs in the A-to-Z directory, together with the chapters on how to use them, will enable you to improve your health, save money, and use fewer chemicals in your home.

With gardening know-how, safe herbal remedies, natural beauty products, innovative craft ideas, herbal cleaning items, and delicious recipes, this practical reference guide to herbs is packed with information and illustrated with beautiful photographs. We hope you will find it a source of inspiration.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR OUR READERS

Growing herbs Some herbs can become invasive and may be toxic to livestock. This information has been given where possible, but regulations do change from time to time. Readers are advised to consult local plant services if they have any concerns.

Herbal medicine While the creators of this book have made every effort to be as accurate and up to date as possible, medical and pharmacological knowledge is constantly changing. Readers are advised to consult a qualified medical specialist for individual advice. Moreover, even though they are natural, herbs contain chemical substances that can sometimes have marked side effects. If used unwisely, they can be toxic. The writers, researchers, editors, and publishers of this book cannot be held liable for any errors, omissions, or actions that may be taken as a consequence of information contained in this book.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera

Aloe vera syn. A. barbadensis, A. vulgaris Aloeaceae

The ancient Egyptians called it the plant of immortality, and Cleopatra used its juices to help preserve her beauty. The clear gel from the cut leaves has soothing and healing properties. Aloe vera is suitable for large pots and rockeries and as an indoor plant.


Other common names Barbados aloe, bitter aloe, Curacao aloe

Part used Leaves

Gardening

Aloe vera is a succulent plant with very fleshy light green leaves that create a fan from the stemless base. In warm climates it produces narrow tubular yellow flowers. Cape aloe ( A. fero x ) is a tall single-stemmed species that has long, grayish, spiny succulent leaves and tall, handsome spikes of tawny orange flowers.

Position Aloe requires a sunny position and a very well-drained soil.

Propagation Aloe vera can be raised from seed, but it rarely sets seed in other than warm climates. Propagate it from offsets that form at the base of the plant. Allow these plantlets to dry for two days before planting them into small pots filled with a gritty free-draining potting mix. Once they are well established, transfer them to their permanent position.

Plant the dried-out plantlets into small pots filled with gritty free-draining potting mix.

Maintenance Aloe is affected by even light frosts, and in areas where winter temperatures fall below 40F (5C), it is best grown in pots and brought indoors in cool weather. It makes an excellent indoor plant in good light.

Pests and diseases Mealybug may prove a problem for plants grown indoors, although it rarely occurs on those grown in the garden. Spray with insecticidal soap, which is nontoxic to animals and leaves no residue. Apply it late in the afternoon, because it can burn sensitive plants in full sun or at high temperatures.

Harvesting and storing Harvest leaves as needed, using only as much of the leaf as required. Cut the used end back to undamaged tissue, then wrap in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for further use.

Herbal medicine

Aloe sp., including Aloe vera syn . A. barbadensis and A. ferox. Part used: leaves. The clear mucilaginous gel from the center of the aloe vera leaf has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Probably best known for its ability to encourage the healing of burns, aloe vera gel can also be applied to wounds, abrasions, eczema, psoriasis, and ulcers.

The exudate from the cut aloe vera leaf acts as an extremely cathartic laxative, and consequently, homemade preparations of aloe vera should not be consumed. Commercial preparations (without the laxative constituents) are available, and preliminary research indicates that they may be beneficial in a range of conditions, including non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and high blood lipid levels.

For the safe and appropriate use of aloe vera, see First aid, . Do not take aloe vera internally if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Topical application is considered safe during these times.

Natural beauty

Ultra-soothing and nourishing for even the most parched and dehydrated skin, aloe vera is also a mild exfoliant, gently removing dead skin cells and stimulating cell regeneration, helping to prevent scarring and diminish wrinkles. For specific treatments, see Sunburn, .

Angelica ( Angelica archangelica )

Angelica

Angelica archangelica Apiaceae

A showy, aromatic herb, angelica has both medicinal and culinary uses. Angelicas name honors the archangel Raphael, who is said to have revealed to a monk that the plant could cure the plague.


Other common name Archangel

Parts used Leaves, stems, seeds, roots

Gardening

Native to northern Europe, Angelica archangelica grows to 4 ft. (1.2 m) and has ribbed hollow stems, compound leaves and a flowering stem that can reach 6 ft. (1.8 m), although it often does not appear until the third year.

Ornamental angelica ( A. pachycarpa ) grows to about 3.5 ft. (1 m) high and has shiny dark green leaves. It is mostly grown for its ornamental value. Purple-stem angelica ( A. atropurpurea ) has similar uses to A. archangelica . It grows to about 6 ft. (1.8 m), has stems suffused with purple, and pale green to white flowers. The most striking species is the beautiful A. gigas , which grows to 6 ft. (1.8 m), with deep garnet buds opening to large wine red to rich purple flowers.

Next page
Light

Font size:

Reset

Interval:

Bookmark:

Make

Similar books «The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs»

Look at similar books to The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs. We have selected literature similar in name and meaning in the hope of providing readers with more options to find new, interesting, not yet read works.


Reviews about «The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs»

Discussion, reviews of the book The Complete Illustrated Book of Herbs and just readers' own opinions. Leave your comments, write what you think about the work, its meaning or the main characters. Specify what exactly you liked and what you didn't like, and why you think so.