Your Guide To Herbs And Fruits Of Summer Pt. 1

Merry Friday All!

A few days ago I posted about fruits and herbs for Spring, today I am going to start herbs and fruits for Summer...Enjoy!

~Peace~

Summer Herbs And Fruits



Rasberry (rubus idaeus)

Description: Prickly deciduous shrub with white flowers and hairy red fruits.

Habitat: Native to Europe and Asia

Part Used: Leaves and fruit

Preparations: Infusion and decoction of leaves. Syrup and lotion of fruit

Medicinal Action: Infusion of leaves harmonizes uterine function, and syrup of fruit is antiviral

Active Ingredients: Polypeptides, flavonoids, tannins

***Safety Note: Do not take during early pregnancy****

Feverfew (tanacetum parthenium)

Description: Herbaceous perennial member of the daisy family with pale green flat leaves and yellow and white flowers

Habitat: Native to southern Europe and dry grasslands in temperate regions

Part Used: Aerial parts when in flower

Preparations: Fresh leaves eaten, tincture or infusion

Medicinal Action: Analgesic and fever-reducing for shivery colds and flu. Soothing for headaches, migrain and period pains. Remedy for arthritis

Active Ingredients: Sequisterpenes, lactones and volatile oils

****Safety Note: Do not take in conjunction with blood-thinning drugs****

Wild Strawberry (fragaria vesca)

Description: Low-growing creeping perennial, member of the rose family. Small four-petalled white flowers with red berries

Habitat: Grass banks in Alpine meadows

Part Used: Leaves, fruit and roots

Preparation: Poultice of berries and infusion of leaves

Medicinal Action: Aids digestion and soothes sunburn

Active Ingredients: Tannins, mucilagem sugars, fruit acids, salicylates

****Safety Note: Can cause skin rashes****

Rose Flowers (rosa gallica)

Description: Thorny shrub with pink flowers, followed by scarlet berries (hips)

Habitat: Cultivated for thousands of years in the Middle East area

Part Used: Flower petals, harvested in full bloom in dry weather

Preparations: Lotions and creams, distilled in alcohol, flower water and infusions

Medicinal Action: Taken internally, an infusion of rose flowers will cool fevers and relieve cold and flu infection. Decongestant to the female reproductive system, easing heavy, painful periods. Used externally to repair tissue and reduce inflammation and skin blemishes

Active Ingredients: Volatile oils

****Safety Note: Avoid when pregnant****

European Honeysuckle (lonicera periclymenum)

Description: Climbing plant with oval leaves and tubular flowers with red berries

Habitat: Native to European forests. Grows wild in hedgerows and on walls

Part Used: Flowers

Preparations: Infusions and syrups

Medicinal Action: Diuretic, antispasmodic, expectorant. Soothing for chesty coughs and asthma

Active Ingredients: Iridoids, tannins, flavonoids and mucilage

****Safety Note: Berries contain poison****