Lemon Balm
Not just a plant to attract bees to the garden, it can be very useful for our well being too. A lemon balm infusion made with 6g of fresh leaves, chopped and 250ml of boiling water in a teapot and steep for 5 minutes before drinking, makes a relaxing tonic to soothe panics and nervousness.
It has a calming effect on the digestive system so helps with problems such as indigestion and IBS.
The infusion, when cold can be dabbed on cold sores to promote healing and reduce the chance of further outbreaks. It can also be used to calm insect stings, bites and shingles or chicken pox blisters.
By Andrea_44 from Leamington, Ontario , Canada
Thyme
I love the flavour of thyme, it makes an onion or mushroom soup extra special. Beef dishes are enhanced by the addition of this herb. But it has many health benefits too. It was traditionally used for helping get rid of whooping cough in children, but thank goodness for the vaccine these days.
It makes a brilliant gargle for sore throats, steep 5 g of finely chopped leaves in 100 ml boiling water. Allow to cool completely then sieve into a small clean jug and use to gargle with 3 times a day. The ingredient thymol in the throat medication glycerine and thymol, comes of course from this wonderful herb. This will also help if the chest is affected. This mixture may also be used to soothe and clean insect bites.
If you suffer from athletes foot, add the infusion to three litres of warm water and soak your feet for 10 minutes or add 10 drops of the essential oil to the water instead.
For backache, particularly after stretching over in jobs like gardening, steep 25g of thyme leaves in 1 litre of boiling water stir well and cover, leave for 30 minutes then add this to a arm bath and soak your body for 20 minutes.