My son suffered a severe TBI (traumatic brain injury) and due to multiple surgeries, the scar tissue causes seizures. He is taking Keppra (levetiracetam) which seems to be working. I am looking for a natural way to help his liver while he is on these drugs but want to be careful that it doesn’t cancel out the effects of the keppra since it is keeping the seizures away. What would be safe for him to take for his liver? Maria 1/11/19

Maria, thank you for posting your question. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a challenging area for both the patient and the care-giver. My sister is a brain tumor survivor, where the surgery to remove a benign meningioma left her with TBI status. One organization, Brain Injury Association of America (reference #1), was very helpful to our family for care-giver and patient training as well as advocacy. This organization addresses both traumatic brain injury and brain tumor survival.

Based on your question, your son is on a single anti-seizure medication, this is good. Keep in mind, the management of brain injury is a delicate medical specialty. I can provide insights based on information you provide, available prescribing information and personal experience with TBI case studies. I have provided reference links below for your review. It is important to be open with your physician about any and all herbal supplements.

The mechanism of action (6) for several anti-seizure medications are based on sodium, potassium or calcium channel blockers, it is important to maintain a diet that provides continuous levels and balanced supply of these electrolytes. Other anti-seizure medications act specifically on the nerve receptors with the intent to quiet over-firing nerves. In the case of Kappra (3) or Levetiracetam (4), the prescribing information states that they do not know the mechanism of action; however studies show the drug binds to pre-synaptic calcium channels (5).

In the prescribing information the list side effects include sleepiness, decreased energy, dizziness, mood swings and coordination difficulties. These can be expected with most of the anti-seizure medications. Work with your physician to optimize the best dose for your son. Establish a routine that permits time for naps and work on building core muscle stregnth to improve/maintain good balance and to maintain good circulation.

The most common side-effect with this medication seem to be kidney injury with some mention of liver injury. I would recommend burdock root as a kidney tonic and dandelion root as liver tonic. There is quite a bit of literature on the benefits of these herbs and your neurologist should be able to support this without concern of them impacting effective dose.

To take the herbs, I would suggest avoiding alcohol tinctures as this is challenging for the liver and is contra-indicated with many anti-seizure medications. Focus instead on teas and capsules as source of herb. In fact, there are several teas on the market that can be consumed hot or iced. One of my favorites is made by Might Leaf, Detox Tea that contains burdock root, peppermint, dandelion root, licorice, spearmint, basil, red clover (7).

Another very important area to complement anti-seizure medication will be to take magnesium supplements. This is a ‘sister mineral’ to calcium (same elemental charge). Ask the doctor for red blood cell (RBC) or other magnesium level blood tests. Maintaining good magnesium levels helps to control minor tremors, leg cramps and potentially seizures. Investigate the best mode of administration that your son will be compliant with. In powder form, it can be taken as an effervescent beverage (Natural Vitality, Natural Calm Magnesium Powder, magnesium citrate). Alternatively, it may be easier to administer in topical lotions (Ancient Minerals, Magnesium Lotion, magnesium chloride).

Again, be sure to work with your son’s neurologist in managing treatment as the balance of the minerals are the basis of the anti-seizure medication.

References:

Brain Injury Association of America. https://www.biausa.org/ tel:1-800-444-6443Keppra Monograph, https://www.drugs.com/monograph/keppra.htmlLevetiracetam reference on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LevetiracetamChemical synapse reference on Wikipedia (pre-synaptic calcium channels are on the axon terminal) , https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_synapseCook & Owen, Mechanisms of action of antiepileptic drugs, 2011 https://www.openaccessjournals.com/articles/mechanisms-of-action-of-antiepileptic-drugs.pdf

I read that valerian is only considered safe for short term use, but I haven’t been able to find a good answer about what that really means. Would it be okay to use over an extended period of time if I use a low dose and combine it with other herbs like lemon balm and passionflower?

Thanks for your question!

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is often used for insomnia, anxiety and muscular tension. The clinical trials that have been done on this herb have all been relatively short, ranging from a few days up through about a month in duration. Because it hasn’t been officially studied for longer periods of time, some sources will advise against “long-term” use. Do keep in mind, however, that it has a history of use in traditional medicine over longer periods.

I personally am comfortable recommending valerian in the long term, particularly at lower doses. The studies have typically used 500 – 1000 mg a few hours before bed for insomnia, although many herbalists find that higher doses of up to 5 g per day are necessary to experience its full effects. In combination with other herbs, 500 mg seems like a great place to start for longer-term use. I tend to rotate herbs in and out of formulas so that each herb isn’t being taken for more than 2 or 3 months at a time.

If you don’t mind the smelly-sock odor, it combines nicely with lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and/or passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) in a tea or tincture. Do keep in mind that a small percentage of people – including me! – will experience valerian as stimulating rather than relaxing. For these folks, of course, it is not the best remedy for insomnia :).

Camille Freeman, LDN, RH is a professor in in the Nutrition department at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, where she teaches physiology and pathophysiology online. She’s a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild and is also a licensed nutritionist specializing in preconception weight loss. In addition to wrangling two small children, Camille enjoys yoga, gardening and tracking down deals at thrift stores and garage sales.

Do you have a question? Would you enjoy getting expert herbal information in your inbox? Ask the Herbalists! We are passionate about providing quality herbal information online. All of our herbalists are professionals, with advanced degrees, and loads of experience with herbs….and we answer your questions, for free!

…Make violet jelly (or syrup, or tea!).

The common, sweet violet (Viola odorata, which is but one of hundreds of species), is native to Europe. Naturalized in North America, it’s clearly taken over backyards across the continent! Every spring my yard becomes an “ocean of violets in bloom” (Prince, “When Doves Cry”, 1984). While some people spend an awful lot of time, energy, and (unfortunately) chemicals to eradicate these boldly invasive plants to have pristinely, golf-course-like lawns, I revel in the waves of purple and variegated purple/white that take over the yard for just a few weeks in April.

As it turns out, these perky little 5-petaled purple (violet?) flowers with bright green, heart-shaped leaves have a slew of medicinal properties AND provide tasty flavoring to jellies, syrups, or just a simple tea infusion. For an extensive biography of this anything but common herb, see my Viola odorata monograph that was published in the Journal of the American Herbalists’ Guild a few years back (scroll down to the SILVER JUBILEE SPECIAL issue – it’s in there!). But to summarize, traditionally herbal preparations of violet leaves and flowers have been used to soothe respiratory afflictions such as coughs, sore throat, and tightness in the chest. It was also used for various liver and kidney afflictions. To date there have been no human clinical trials on whole violet herb preparations, but in vitro (cellular) and in vivo (animal) research showed various extract preparations of Viola odorata demonstrated anti-pyretic (lowers a fever), diuretic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive and anti-dyslipidemic effects in the context of the particular study.

How about the tasty stuff I mentioned? It’s so much fun to go outside and ‘harvest’ the plants and make my own foods and medicine from them like I did this past weekend. The easiest thing to do for a medicinal tea is to pick a handful of healthy leaves and/or flowers – being sure that the area of harvest is free of chemicals. Rinse them off as needed, then chop them up and steep in about 2-3 cups of boiling water for about 20 minutes. Strain and enjoy ‘straight’ or with a little honey. The tea can also be used to saturate a cloth and used as an antiseptic compress to soothe wounds.

Slightly more complicated is to make a simple syrup from the flowers. I just used this recipefrom Henriette’s Herbal webpage (scroll down to ‘Violet syrup’). In short, dissolve sugar in water over a double boiler, then add violet blossoms and simmer for 10 minutes before straining. The delicious, and beautiful, syrup can be used to sweeten tea, and also to soothe a sore throat (it’s particularly nice for the little ones).

Less medicinal thanks to the sugar, but no less satisfying, is to make violet jelly from an infusion of the flowers. Here again I started from a recipeI found on Henriette’s Herbal (“Violet flower jelly”), but check out my latest blog post to see how I modified it to make a ‘low sugar’ version.

These are but a few things that you can do with the lowly and sometimes (unjustly) reviled backyard weed. The next time you consider ‘total annihilation’, turn around and make peace (or tea, or syrup, or jelly!) with the violet.

BIO:

Donna Koczaja, M.S., RH(AHG) graduated from Maryland University of Integrative Health (formerly Tai Sophia Institute) with a Master of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Clinical Herbalism. She earned Registered Herbalist status from the American Herbalists’ Guild in 2018. Originally educated as a mechanical engineer, she combines the rigor of her original scientific training with the traditional healing art of herbal medicine to partner with her clients to uncover the root cause of their underlying health issues. Also a Master Gardener since 2008, her primary interest is in inspiring others to improve their health and sense of wellbeing through the joys of gardening and the power of natural medicine.

Donna currently practices as the professional herbalist at the MUIH Natural Care Center (410-888-9048×6614) in Laurel, Maryland. Read more about her, what she does, and why she does it at www.greenhavenliving.com, or contact her directly at greenhavenliving@gmail.com or 240-353-8754.

Spring is springing and there’s no better time to embrace food as medicine. Get in the seasonal eating groove now, and you can follow it naturally through the growing season.

Very few clients make it in and out of an herbal consultation without being advised to eat more vegetables. Sure there are nuances and individualized recommendations but the truth is that eating more plants is simply an easy, delicious and healthful goal for almost anyone.

Here’s how to kickstart a delicious and nutritious habit this spring:

1. Treat yourself to a farmer’s market trip, THIS WEEK.

At last count, there were 8,720 farmer’s markets in the U.S. Find one near you, with this practical National Farmer’s Market Directory from the USDA, where you can search by zipcode. You can also see there which markets accept SNAP, WIC and Senior benefits — in some states, like Kansas, Missouri,Louisiana,Washington,Maine, and others, you can when buying fresh produce at the market.

2. Hunt for a new-to-you produce item, THIS WEEK.

Wandering a market, have you ever wondered what people actually do with radishes, fava beans, ramps or asparagus? Curious, but intimidated by morel mushrooms? Don’t overthink it! It might be new to you, and feel strange or intimidating, but if it’s beautiful and fresh, BUY IT and figure out how to make it into something yummy later. Worst case scenario… you don’t love it, but more likely, it will expand your palate and add a little delight to your day.

3. Ramps and rhubarb in hand…now what?

You’ve come home with some unusual items and need to figure out the next step to YUM. Time to prep, cook and create. I love this beautiful and inspiring seasonal veggie guide from Saveur. You can also keep it really simple. Many veggies are truly amazing with just a quick saute and salt and pepper, to taste. And some require no cooking at all, like colorful radishes and microgreens. Have you tried microgreens? Even my veggie-suspicious kids can’t resist the color, interesting flavors and just the enticing mini-ness of them.

4. Up your seasonal IQ with this cool Local Foods Wheel

These interactive, Local Foods Wheels are super fun, little gizmos to have in your kitchen and can really inspire a little experimentation or extra effort in determining what is in season each month. Thanks to the folks at locavores.com who put these adorable and helpful guides together for so many regions of the U.S.: Northeast, Upper Midwest, Northwest, Southern California and San Francisco Bay Area.

5. Ready to commit to more seasonal eating? Join a CSA!

When you are part of a CSA —Community Supported Agriculture— program, each week you’ll get a box of exactly what is in season. You may not know what to do with baby turnips or dandelion greens but often growers will make it really easy on you by providing recipes and tips. Our family gets food weekly from a nearby farm and they even have recipes on their website, with a brilliant dropdown menu to search by veggie. So easy. To learn more about CSA’s and to find one near you, props to Local Harvest, who has put together this CSA guide, searchable by zip code!

6. Repeat 1-3 every week! And, since by now, you are probably having fun with it, and maybe even feeling the benefits…

7. Share the love – post your market pictures, host a meal, preach about your new favorite recipe. Seasonal, market fresh food is beautiful and you might just inspire someone else to embrace more local veggies and all of the healthful, as well as community and environment supporting impacts that come with it. Plus sharing meals is important to your and your loved ones’ well being, no matter the season!

Tara Thomas, MS Botanical Medicine, Clinical Herbalist and Certified Nutrition Specialist. She practices in Seattle, WA and is a regular contributor at Ask The Herbalists.

I’ve been trying to find out medicinal properties for the plants ‘Kalanchoe thyrsiflora (flap jack)’ and ‘Kalanchoe tomentosa baker (chocolate soldier)’. Any possible medicinal uses would be appreciated! Mark H.

Hi Mark,

I have not been able to find medicinal properties for either of the two species that you mentioned. However, I did find some information on the medicinal use of Kalanchoe pinnata. Here is what I’ve been able to find. Please let me know if your search has unearthed more information on the two species you mentioned. I have tried to link the articles but if that doesn’t work, just copy and paste into your browser.

“Review of Traditional Herbal Medicines Used to Treat Malaria”

Willcox M, Bodeker G. Traditional herbs for malaria BMJ. 2004;329:1156-1159.

Here is a b

The International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy wrote an article on the properties of Kalanchoe pinnata which I’ve attached here.

I’ve attached a link to the USDA’s Conservation Resources Plant database: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=kapi

Finally, Also, there is a book by Leslie Taylor entitled “The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs: A Guide to Understanding and Using Herbal Medicinals”. The book includes methods of preparing herbal remedies and recipes, properties and actions of rainforest plants, herbal treatment of specific diseases and disorders, and more. In the book she talks about Kalanchoepinnata).

Jayne Tamburello

Jayne Tamburello has a master’s degree in Herbal Medicine from MUIH and is founder of Invibe Herbal– where organic herbal teas are created based on your specific needs. Please visit our website at: www.invibeherbal.com. Jayne is also a licensed nutritionist (LDN), a certified nutritionist (CNS) and a registered herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild, RH(AHG). She can be reached at customercare@invibeherbal.com

Forest writes in asking: “Hello, I have recently made a tincture using everclear, adding water to get to the recommended 1:5 menstruum. My question is this: I would like to reduce (evaporate off) the tincture to increase its potency. if I take the lid off of the jar and put a fan on low over it, will I be evaporating the alcohol off, and not the water? thereby making my tincture less stable for long-term storage? Thank you for you input.”

First of all, bravo for making your own tinctures! It’s wonderful to be empowered with the knowledge and skills to make your own medicine.

You ask some excellent questions. For those readers who do not know how to make an herbal tincture, I highly recommend thisinstructional article and video by Mountain Rose Herbs.

Now, back to Forest’s question…Yes, the alcohol is going to evaporate off before the water, thus reducing the shelf life of your tincture. However, simply removing the lid and letting it sit with a fan over it is likely going to result in a very slow evaporation process. Another option is to carefully apply gentle heat, but, again you’ll end up with a less stable product. I don’t recommend this method unless you have the tools (i.e. a hydrometer) test the alcohol content of the final product, to be sure it is at least 25% to ensure a shelf stable product.

Since your goal is to create a stronger product, what I recommend is macerating (aka infusing) more freshly dried herb into the tincture. So, essentially re-tincturing using new herb and the tincture you’ve made as a the menstruum (for readers who aren’t familiar with this term, the menstruum is the liquid portion of the tincture when it is infusing) for a minimum of 2 weeks and then pressing it again. This method will result in a very saturated menstruum and concentrated tincture.

In the future, when you make a tincture, see if you can reduce the weight to volume ratio to less than a 1:5 to produce the strongest extract possible. Some herbs absorb a lot more liquid than others and require a 1:5 ratio, whereas others can be made as a 1:3 or even a 1:2 on occassion. Here are a few additional tips for making the most potent extracts:

Your finished product is only as good as your starting material so be sure to begin with high quality herbs. In general, freshly dried plants produce the strongest medicine since they are fresh & vital and contain very little water. Use the correct alcohol strength to ensure you are extracting the medicinal constituents from the plants. Allow the tincture to sit for several weeks, or longer, since it takes time to extract the constituents.

If you’re inspired to make your own herbal preparations, check out two of my favorite medicine – making books: The Medicine Makers Handbookby James Greenand The Modern Herbal Dispensatoryby Thomas Easley.

I hope this helps. Thank you for reaching out to us at Ask The Herbalists.

Salut, Amy

Have a question of your own? Ask-the-herbalists! It’s free to

Pam is preparing to start her first medicinal herb garden, and inquired about which plants were ‘must-haves’ to start from seed. Great idea! But before we get to specific herbs, a little planning and site preparation is in order.

Survey the land that you have. What are the characteristics you have to work with? Do you have full sun? Full or part shade? What hardiness zone do you live in? What type of soil do you have and how about the drainage? Is your land flat or hilly? Visit ATH’s own Judith Fox Smith in her recent discussion about frost dates, seeds vs. transplants, and other considerations.

In VERY general terms, commonly grown medicinal herbs are not fussy – they thrive in the wild and have adapted to less-than-optimal conditions. In fact, if you pamper them too much you risk reducing their medicinal value because many of the desirable phytochemicals are produced as a response to stressful conditions (e.g., if you want ‘really hot’ hot peppers, deprive them of water to get a higher capsaicin content). All that to say is that you don’t need to go overboard with fertilization once you get things going.

From Pam’s list of herbs, let’s categorize them as follows and discuss as groups:

Again in general, mint-family herbs tend to ‘grow like weeds’ (invasively, in fact), so are easy to get going. Seeds of these plants are very small, and as Judy mentions in her post, may be hard to get started that way. But if you seed heavily, you should be able to get at least a couple of plants going in no time, and then they will multiply and propagate from there. Most of these are annuals, but they will tend to self-seed and come up year after year in the right climate. Provide them full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.

Daisy-family herbs are so-called because their flowers are the ‘standard’ button-like center with petals radiating outward like a daisy. They are great additions to the herb garden, though I have personally had trouble starting chamomile from seed. Echinacea and calendula seem to be less fussy, add beautiful color to the garden, and are more likely to reseed themselves the following year (if you don’t harvest all the flowers or roots, in the case of echinacea). Yarrow is a ‘common weed’ so I encourage you to visit any nearby field to see if there is any growing around (being mindful of any potential toxic exposure of the area before you harvest).

As for ‘the rest’, all but stinging nettles are harvested for their roots, and I would recommend you try to find a root cutting to get them started versus trying to start from seed. Nettles is another ‘common weed’ that will easily propagate via both root and seed, so you may have some luck in starting the seeds (which are plentiful at the end of the season) but try to find some transplants if you can.

For more on this topic check out ATH’s Tara Thomas’ discussionon how to easily grow three common medicinal herbs and my March 23, 2019 blog post for two medicinal herb garden plans I designed. Two books I recommend for starting a backyard medicinal herb garden include: Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide, and for a slightly more advanced text, Christopher Hobbs’ and Leslie Gardner’s Grow It Heal It.

BIO:

Donna Koczaja, M.S., RH(AHG) graduated from Maryland University of Integrative Health (formerly Tai Sophia Institute) with a Master of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Clinical Herbalism. She earned Registered Herbalist status from the American Herbalists’ Guild in 2018. Originally educated as a mechanical engineer, she combines the rigor of her original scientific training with the traditional healing art of herbal medicine to partner with her clients to uncover the root cause of their underlying health issues. Also a Master Gardener since 2008, her primary interest is in inspiring others to improve their health and sense of wellbeing through the joys of gardening and the power of natural medicine.

Donna currently practices as the professional herbalist at the MUIH Natural Care Center (410-888-9048×6614) in Laurel, Maryland. Read more about her, what she does, and why she does it at www.greenhavenliving.com, or contact her directly at greenhavenliving@gmail.com or 240-353-8754.

I seem to be getting styes on my lower lid. Any herbal suggestions?

Yes. First, what is a stye (or sty)?

According to medicine.net, “a sty is a bump that forms on or in the lower or upper eyelid as the result of a blocked gland.”

Below we mention several herbal remedies, but first let’s take a moment to examine your underlying health. A sty can be a ‘canary in the coal mine’ in that it can signal that your immune system may need a boost. So let’s check in first with your immune system. Are you prone to catching colds or the flu? Are you under a lot of stress? Is your diet more sugar/carb focused than it should be? If the answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’, then it’s time to make some changes.

Be aware of stress triggers and work through them.Drink plenty of water and lower caffeine consumption.Eat more plants with colors, especially the blues, purples and red which are loaded with anthrocyanins.Supplement with vitamin D3/k if your levels are low.

In addition, always make sure you clean the eyelid well, using a gentle soap and warm water.

Okay on to herbal stye remedies.

External Eye Wash Tea

Equal parts of:

Bring water to boil and add herbs. Turn off heat, cover and let sit for 20 minutes.

Strain thoroughly. Dip clean cloth in tea, dab over infected area. Repeat 4-5 times a day until sty is gone.

To know more about eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis), click to this link: https://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/e/eyebri20.html

In addition, you can try a facial steam with rosemary, thyme, and oregano. Gently simmer the herbs and then put a towel around the back of your head so as to keep all the vapors on your face. Make sure it is not too hot! Breathe in the warm steam. These herbs will help externally with blemishes, styes, etc. along with any nasal or respiratory congestion.

Thanks! Jayne

Jayne Tamburello has a master’s degree in Herbal Medicine from MUIH and is founder of Invibe Herbal– where organic herbal teas are created based on your specific needs. Please visit our website at: www.invibeherbal.com. Jayne is also a licensed nutritionist (LDN), a certified nutritionist (CNS) and a registered herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild, RH(AHG). She can be reached at customercare@invibeherbal.com.

Anne writes: Oil of Rosemary, Eucalyptus & peppermint have done wonders when I feel a sinus infection coming on. Someone recommended Raw Apple cider vinegar “with the Mother” for my immune system. Thoughts?

Hi Anne! Thank you for your question. Rosemary, eucalyptus (especially E. globulus) and peppermint are all excellent choices for respiratory health. In fact, one of my all time favorite retail herbal products is Simpler’s Sinus Oil which contains 2 of these.

Respiratory infections can cause inflammation and irritation to the sinus membranes and these infections can be viral, bacterial or fungal. So, your approach of enhancing your immune system is wise since this will help your body fight off all pathogens.

Here are some tips to support your immune system and mucus membranes:

Rinse sinuses with a little saline every morning or night and follow with some hydrating oil — hydrated tissues are more resilient than dry tissues.

Of course, if home care isn’t addressing a sinus infection then it’s always a good idea to work with a local herbalist or health practitioner to get to the bottom of the issue.

Santé!

Amy

Staff writer, Amy Charnay, MS, CNS, is co-founder of the delicious medicinal mushroom coffee product ‘Reishi Roast’and founder of ‘Herban Allies’a company dedicated to helping individuals build resiliency through herbs, nutrition and mindfulness practices. Amy works as a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) and clinical herbalist via Skype and in her office in northern California. She holds a MSin Herbal Medicine from Maryland University of Integrative Health and is an avid gardener and teacher of herbal medicine.

Oh what joy I feel when I leave work and there was still daylight. That can only mean one thing: Spring is almost here! Having lived in Mexico, Texas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and now Boston the transitions of the seasons are more pronounced as I travel north.

While the calendar has spring starting on 20th of March, the last frost date is the key milestone for the gardener and comes to us on different dates (see map). Starting in January I receive 1 to 2 seed catalogs a week. All with beautiful color-glossy photos of perfect garden crops tempt me to fill so many virtual shopping carts as I dream glorious plans for my little plot of land (1/4 acre). If I were to plant all of my selections I would need 5 acres, minimum, annually. That is not practical or economical; hence my many abandoned shopping carts.

There are several things to consider before you start ordering tons of seed packets, that can get pricey. If you are building an herb garden or planning to interplant herbs among your summer vegetables and annuals, here are some things to consider before making your final selection of plants:

What plants do you want to grow? What is their growth habit?What type of soil do you have? Can the herb grow in my soil or containers?Should my herbs be started from seed or purchase plants?Where can I get an herb seeds or plants? Who do I know with this plant?

In each of my homes I have installed herb and vegetable gardens. Each time is a new experience and there is no guarantee of success. My approach is to plant many herbs with the expectation that I will need to transplant if they proliferate. There are only a few herbs that I grow from seed; mostly I purchase plants or get transplants from fellow gardeners. As for success with seed germination, my experience is that the smaller the seed, the more challenging the germination. Many herb seed packets contain between 50 and 200 seeds, even with 50% success rate, that would be way too many plants for the average garden. If you are very good at growing seedlings you may be able to sell your extra sprouts.

Even if you go the purchase plants route, there are lots of sources of plants. Keep a look-out for newspaper postings, Meet-up groups and Facebook posts for swap events. There are many community seed and plant exchanges that are gardeners ‘gold mines’. Helpful organic gardening instructions can be found on many web sites, Rodale Institute is a leader in this.

My herb garden is primarily culinary herbs and most originate in Mediterranean climates so they are not cold hardy, want as much sun as they can get in a day and well-drained soil. Therefore, with the short summers in the north, it is best if I either start plants from seed indoors or purchase seedlings or established plants from the nursery. In the table below, those herbs listed as ‘Successful’ do just fine directly sown in soil after last frost date. Direct planting of these seeds is the most economical sourcing in this category.

Herbs listed in the “Moderate” column are ones that I have had limited success from seed; these have long gestation periods or require cold snap to germinate. I am always delighted when they come up. Purchasing seeds for the herbs listed in this category are can be a gamble; you win big when the come up.

The most fun is when you find a kindred gardening spirit with whom you can share transplants. Herbs listed in this column tend to self-seed (volunteers) or proliferate by runners. These need to be thinned out on occasion and are a great way to share herbs.

There are more and more reputable merchants of heirloom, culinary and medicinal herb seeds and plants. I tend to buy from are Johnny’s Seeds, Botanical Interests, Gardens Alive, Lake Valley, Burpee, Strickly Medicinals, Horizon Herbs and Mountain Rose Herbs.

.

References:

1. Look up 1st and last Frost Dates https://morningchores.com/frost-dates/

2. Garden Plans templates https://www.mygardenlife.com/garden-plus/garden-planting-schedule

3. Rodale Institute, https://rodaleinstitute.org/