Treasures of the Greek Nature
Rosemary (by Harry Pap)Rosemary is an endemic herb of the Mediterranean. It was widely known in the ancient times. More specifically, ancient Greeks used it in religious celebrations, in decoration of buildings and they also burned it in censers. Morphologically, it is a leafy bush and its flowers are purple, blue or white. It doesn’t need watering and it can grow in rocky, mountainous areas. Sprouts and leaves of rosemary are often used as flavoring in cooking. A liquid from its leaves can be used in preparation of medicaments for rheumatisms. In addition, an essence extracted by its sprouts is useful for making perfumes, soaps or insecticides.
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Sideritis(Dimitris P.)Sideritis, also known as ironwort, mountain tea and shepherd's tea, is a genus of flowering plants well known for their use as herbal medicine, commonly as an herbal tea. They are abundant in Mediterranean regions, the Balkans, the Iberian Peninsula and Macaronesia. Very popular in Greece, Albania, Kosovo, Bulgaria and Macedonia,
Ironwort has been traditionally used to aid digestion, strengthen the immune system and suppress common cold, the flu and other viruses, allergies and shortness of breath, sinus congestion, even pain and mild anxiety. |
The Achilles the chiliofyli ( Agisilaos L.)The Achilles the chiliofyli (Achillea millefolium) Yarrow or belongs to a family of 85 flowering plants (Asteraceae family). H Achilaia grows throughout the Northern Hemisphere and all parts of the plant is useful.In classical times was known as herba militaris. For many years it was used as a tonic and bitter tonic and all kinds of bitter alcoholic drinks (bitters) was produced from it. The Achillaia considered since ancient times an effective healing. The name and fame have come from this property - according to mythology the herb was given to Achilles by the Centaur Chiron. Legend has it that Achilles grows from rust fell to earth from the spear of Achilles to heal many comrades in the Trojan war. A legend says that when Achilles was wounded in the heel by the poisoned arrow of Paris, Venus goddess weeping advised him to get the Achilles is the best herb for wounds. From this legend the Achilles takes its name and other names such as "Teardrop of Venus", the "Aphrodite's smile.
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Aloe vera (Maria K.)Aloe vera is a plantspecies of the genus Aloe. It grows wild in tropical climates around the world and is cultivated for agricultural and medicinal uses. Aloe is also used for decorative purposes and grows successfully indoors as a potted plant. Products including beverages, skin lotion, or ointments for minor burns and sunburns. There is little scientific evidence of the effectiveness or safety of Aloe vera extracts for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes. Studies finding positive evidence are frequently contradicted by other studies.
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Origanum dictamnus
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Chamomile
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Sour cherries(Alexis P.)
Sour cherries (also called tart cherries) are loaded with important nutrients, including phytochemicals (disease-fighting plant compounds), antioxidants and vitamin C. This tiny red fruit is beneficial for cancer prevention, reduces inflammation, enhances heart health and provides other health benefits.
In addition to vitamin C and anthocyanins, sour cherries are loaded with three disease-fighting chemicals that have been shown to stop cell transformation (leading to cancer) in numerous research studies. These powerful chemicals include perillyl alcohol, limonene and ellagic acid. Only cherries contain all three chemicals. They are particularly protective against breast, lung, liver, skin and colon cancers. In fact, findings from an experiment designed to test the potential of sour/tart cherry anthocyanins to inhibit intestinal tumor development in mice was published in "Cancer Letters" in May 2003. Researchers found that mice consuming the cherry diet had significantly fewer and smaller adenomas than mice consuming the control diet. Cherry anthocyanins also reduced cell growth of certain human colon cancer cell lines in vitro. These results strongly suggest that sour cherry anthocyanins may reduce the risk of colon cancer. Cardiovascular and Anti-Inflammatory Benefits: Sour cherries contain quercetin, one of the most powerful antioxidants. Among other functions, quercetin prevents oxidative damage, via free radicals, from damaging low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol). When LDL cholesterol is oxidized, it is more likely to adhere to artery walls, forming plaque, which contributes to heart attack and stroke. In a study published in the "American Journal of Physiology" in Sept 2006, sour cherry seed kernel extract (10 and 30 mg/kg) significantly improved the recovery of cardiac function (including blood flow and blood pressure) in rats after an induced heart attack. Because sourA cherries are rich in two anti-inflammatory compounds, anthocyanins and quercetin, they may be beneficial in alleviating asthma symptoms and other respiratory conditions and offer relief for gout sufferers (gout is a painful form of arthritis). According to an article published in "Science Daily" in February 1999, the anthocyanins and other compounds found in tart cherries inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes called cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 nearly as well as ibuprofen and other nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs. Urtica by Nikos
Urtica is a genus of flowering plants in the family Urticaceae. Many species have stinging hairs and may be called nettles or stinging nettles, although the latter name applies particularly to Urtica dioica.
Urtica species are food for the caterpillars of numerous Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).There is historical evidence of use of Urtica species (or nettles in general) being used in medicine, folk remedies, cooking and fiber production. Urtica dioica is the main species used for these purposes, but a fair amount also refers to the use of Urtica urens, the small nettle. Arthritic joints were traditionally treated by whipping the joint with a branch of stinging nettles, a process called urtication. Nettles can also be used to make a herbal tea known as nettle tea. Fabric woven of nettle fiber has been found in burial sites dating back to the Bronze Age. |
Thyme (by Sotoris K.)Thyme (/ˈtaɪm/) is an evergreen herb with culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses. The most common variety is Thymus vulgaris. Thyme is of the genus Thymus of the mint family (Lamiaceae), and a relative of the oregano genus Origanum.
Contents History Edit Ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming.[1] The ancient Greeks used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples, believing it was a source of courage. The spread of thyme throughout Europe was thought to be due to the Romans, as they used it to purify their rooms and to "give an aromatic flavour to cheese and liqueurs".[2] In the European Middle Ages, the herb was placed beneath pillows to aid sleep and ward off nightmares.[3] In this period, women also often gave knights and warriors gifts that included thyme leaves, as it was believed to bring courage to the bearer. Thyme was also used as incense and placed on coffins during funerals, as it was supposed to assure passage into the next life.[4] The name of the genus of fish Thymallus, first given to the grayling (T. thymallus described in the 1758 edition of Systema Naturae by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus) originates from the faint smell of the herb thyme, which emanates from the flesh.[5] Cultivation Edit Thyme is best cultivated in a hot, sunny location with well-drained soil. It is generally planted in the spring, and thereafter grows as a perennial. It can be propagated by seed, cuttings, or dividing rooted sections of the plant. It tolerates drought well.[6] The plants can take deep freezes and are found growing wild on mountain highlands. Medicinal use Oil of thyme, the essential oil of common thyme (Thymus vulgaris), contains 20–54% thymol.[8] Thyme essential oil also contains a range of additional compounds, such as p-cymene, myrcene, borneol, and linalool.[9] Thymol, an antiseptic, is an active ingredient in various commercially produced mouthwashes such as Listerine.[10] Before the advent of modern antibiotics, oil of thyme was used to medicate bandages.[2] It has also been shown to be effective against various fungi that commonly infect toenails.[11][non-primary source needed] Thymol can also be found as the active ingredient in some all-natural, alcohol-free hand sanitizers. A tisane made by infusing the herb in water can be used for coughs and bronchitis.[8] Important species and cultivars Edit For a longer list of species, see Thymus (plant). Variegated lemon thyme Thymus citriodorus – various lemon thymes, orange thymes, lime thyme Thymus herba-barona (caraway thyme) is used both as a culinary herb and a ground cover, and has a very strong caraway scent due to the chemical carvone. Thymus praecox (mother of thyme, wild thyme), is cultivated as an ornamental. Thymus pseudolanuginosus (woolly thyme) is not a culinary herb, but is grown as a ground cover. Thymus serpyllum (wild thyme, creeping thyme) is an important nectar source plant for honeybees. All thyme species are nectar sources, but wild thyme covers large areas of droughty, rocky soils in southern Europe (both Greece and Malta are especially famous for wild thyme honey) and North Africa, as well as in similar landscapes in the Berkshire and Catskill Mountains of the northeastern US. The lowest growing of the widely used thyme is good for walkways.It is also an important caterpillar food plant for large and common blue butterflies. [12] Thymus vulgaris (common thyme, English thyme, summer thyme, winter thyme, French thyme,[13] or garden thyme)[14] is a commonly used culinary herb. It also has medicinal uses. Common thyme is a Mediterranean perennial which is best suited to well-drained soils and full sun. |
Spearmint (by Nancy T.)
Spearmint, or spear mint (Mentha spicata) (also known as Mentha viridis)[2] is a species of mint native to much of Europe and Asia (Middle East, Himalayas, China etc.), and naturalized in parts of northern and western Africa, North America, and South America, as well as various oceanic islands. It is a herbaceous, rhizomatous, perennial plant growing 30–100 cm tall, with variably hairless to hairy stems and foliage, and a wide-spreading fleshy underground rhizome. The leaves are 5–9 cm long and 1.5–3 cm broad, with a serrated margin. The stem is square-shaped, a trademark of the mint family of herbs. Spearmint produces flowers in slender spikes, each flower pink or white, 2.5–3 mm long, and broad.[4][7] Hybrids involving spearmint include Mentha × piperita (peppermint; hybrid with Mentha aquatica), Mentha × gracilis (ginger mint, syn. M. cardiaca; hybrid with Mentha arvensis), and Mentha × villosa (large apple mint, hybrid with Mentha suaveolens). The name 'spear' mint derives from the pointed leaf tips Coriander by Babis Kar.
he coriander plant day (Coriandrum sativum), also known as Coriander, Coriander, koriantros, coriander, coriander, bedbug or koutvaras, Chinese parsley or dhania, [1] is an annual plant-herb in the Apiidon family (plus. Umbelliferae) (Apiaceae). The coriander is native to areas extending from southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a common plant that reaches a height up to 50 cm. (20 inches). The leaves are variable in shape, with wide lobes at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the flowering stems. Although sometimes eaten alone, seeds, commonly used as a seasoning or an additive ingredient in other foods
Lavender by Hara
Lavender's therapeutic properties and usages, became known with the passage of the time and is found from ancient Egypt and Greece in Europe mainly after the 6th century AD.
It's a plant belonging to the Labiatae family. The name of "lavender" is derived from the Latin word laväre which means wash or clean. The plant is a perennial shrub with a height of 40-80 centimeters. Abounds in calcareous slopes at an altitude of 400-2000 meters. It has simple unbranched stems, oblong gray leaves in opposite order and cyanamide small purple flowers with two sides which are joined. The first to use the lavender were Arabs. In ancient times the Egyptians, Phoenicians and Arabs used lavender in embalming, cosmetics -massage oils and aromatic ointments- and the remedies of the time. The ancient Libyans, the ancient Greeks and Romans used it to perfumed the water of the bath. Also put lavender essential oil in their hair to turn away from lices and even placed lavender flowers in carving their beds to remove bugs. The ancient Greeks were the first to discover that the smoke of lavender is very relaxing. For many centuries, lavender was used for headache, hysteria, nervous palpitations, arthritis, pain in the teeth, colic and colds. |
Lemon balm(μελισσόχορτο) by OlgaLemon balm,(Melissa officinalis),or balm mint, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the mint family Lamiaceae and native to south-central Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, Iran, and Central Asia, but now naturalized in the Americas and elsewhere.
It grows to a maximum height of 70–150 cm (28–59 in). The leaves have a mild lemon scent similar to mint. During summer, small white flowers full of nectar appear. It is not to be confused with bee balm (genus Monarda), although the white flowers attract bees, hence the genus Melissa (Greek for "honey bee"). The leaves are used as an herb, in teas, and also as a flavouring. The plant is used to attract bees for honey production. It is grown as an ornamental plant and for its oil (to use in perfumery). The tea of lemon balm, the essential oil, and the extract are used in traditional and alternative medicine, including aromatherapy. The plant has been cultivated at least since the 16th century, but reliable medical research is still working to establish the safety and effects of lemon balm. |
Hypericum perforatum (Σπαθόχορτο) |
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