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Natural Medicine ram er Oregano Basil Marjo Marjoram e Oregano Marjoram & Oregano Basil Family: Labiatae Used in Egypt 4,000 years ago, Basil brown paper bag with small holes - which Varieties: Origanum marjorana (Sweet or | wasintroduced fromIndiatoEuropeoverS00 allow water to escape. Suspend the bag in a knotted Marjoram) up to 3 feet,sweet tasting. | years ago. In France it was called l’herbe _cool airy place. Or freeze Basil leaves in an O. Onites (Pot Marjoram) up to 2 feet. royale. Only the nobility could grow Basil; it ice cube tray; place the cubes in a bag and O. vulgare (Oregano or Wild Marjoram) was considered too good for the peasants. store in the freezer (this provides ‘fresh’ Basil O. heracleoticum (Greek or Winter Oregano) Family: Labiatae in winter. the strongest flavour Varieties: Propagation: Usually from seed, except O. vulgare aureum (Golden Oregano) yellow | Ocium Basilicum Mininum -Bush(orcom- Perennial Basil und Camphor Basil; tip cut- leaves with pink flowers mon) Basil. Grows up to 1.5 feet. tings can be used. Uses: Oregano tea eases indigestion, sore | O.Basilicun-Sweet Basil. Upto3feet,very In the Garden: pH 6-8 (around neutral). throats and coughs. Use as a gargle for in- | aromatic. Plant Basil seedlings 8" apart. Plants prefer fected gums. Marjoram oilis goodforsprains | O.Bas.Sanctum-SacredBasil.Indianstrain, well-drained but moist soil in a sunny, shel- and bruises. antibiotic and insect repellent. tered spot. It repels flies and mosquitoes. Action: Antiseptic, Carminative (aids diges- | O. Bas. Purpureum - Dark Opal Basil. Upto | Companion Plant: Grow 3 Basil plants with tion and relaxes stomach) 2 feet, deep purple to bronze foliage. each tomato plant to repel Fruit and White Preparation: Chop 2 cups of Marjoram | O. Bas. Crispum - Lettuce Leaf Basil. Let- _ Fly; it also improves the tomato’s quality. leaves. Infuse with boiling water for 10to15 | tuce-like leaves with sweet flavour. Antagonistic Plant: Rue, minutes. Rub into the hair and scalp after | QO. Kilimandscharicum-CamphorBasil.Not In the Kitchen: Good in any tomato dish or washing as an excellent hair conditioner. edible, but a good moth repellent. pesto sauce, Italian cooking etc. Description: Marjoram is aperennial which | OQ. Bas. Citriodorum - Lemon Basil. Strong _ Pesto Sauce: Grind Basil leaves to a pulp. grows | to 2 feet high; leaves are rounded to | lemon scent. Add garlic, olive oi] and salt, pine nuts and oval with small flowers which are usually | PerennialBasil(Greek Love Mint).Pcrennial § Parmesancheese. white. if protected from frost, good flavour. Brian Spears Oregano is a perennial growing up to2.5 | Cinnamon Basil. at — feet; the leaves are dark green, oval shaped | Licorice Basil. and up to 1.5 inches long, while the flowers | Action: Basil is an anti- are purplish red. septic (destroys patho- Harvesting: When flowers form collect the | genic bacteria), a carmi- plant for drying. native and anti-emetie Propagation: Marjoram usually grows from | (reduces nausea). secd, but also by root division and layering | Uses: Basil reduces nau- (pegging down the outside branches). sea and is good for travel Oregano usually grows from cuttings; sickness and moming also by root division and layering. Digupand | sickness in pregnant divide into several plants every 3 years-orit | women.Itstimulates and becomes woody and stops growing. aids digestion. Rub Basil Inthe Garden: Both Marjoramand Oregano | oil into the temples to require a pH of 6 (acid) to 8 (alkaline). relieve headaches. N.B.: Water is neutral (pH of 7). Both Marjo- | Preparation: To make ram and Oregano prefer full sun and a well | Basil tea, chop fresh drained soil. Keep well-watered and prune | leaves and cover with regularly to encourage new growth. Addlime | one cup of boiling water. (calcium) to the soil using either dolomite, | Infuse for 10-15 minutes. limestone or crushed egg shells. Oregano | Description: A native of flowers attract bees. India, Basil is an annual Companion Plants: Marjoram is beneficial | which grows to 1.5 feet. to most vegetables . The leaves are broad and Oregano should be grown with any Bras- | the spiky flowers are sicas (broccoli, Brussels sprout, cauliflower | white to purple (Dark and cabbage) since itrepels the CabbageBut- | Opal Basil), Basil at- terfly. Grow with cucumbers (repels the Cu- | tracts bees. cumber Beetle). Also beneficial for grapes. Harvesting: Pinch out In the Kitchen: Marjoram tastes good with | Basil regularly to en- tomato, eggs, vegetables and potatoes. Used | courage bushy growth. in mixed herbs (Thyme, Sage, Marjoram). As the flowers start to Oregano is used in Mexican, ItalianandSpan- | form, cut down to the ish cooking. Good withcheese and tomatoes. | second setof leaves (this Dried Oregano leaves and flowers repel | canusually be onctwice) moths. and dry by placing in a brown paper bag with small holes - which allow water to escape. Suspend the bag ina cool airy place. Or freeze Basil leaves in an ice cube tray; place the cubes in a bag and store in the freezer (this provides ‘fresh’ Basil in winter. Propagation: Usually from seed, except Perennial Basil and Camphor Basil; tip cut- tings can be used. In the Garden: pH 6-8 (around neutral). Plant Basil seedlings 8" apart. Plants prefer well-drained but moist soil in a sunny, shel- tered spot. It repels flies and mosquitoes. Companion Plant: Grow 3 Basil plants with each tomato plant to repel Fruit and White Fly; it also improves the tomato’s quality. Antagonistic Plant: Rue, In the Kitchen: Good in any tomato dish or pesto sauce, Italian cooking etc. Pesto Sauce: Grind Basil leaves to a pulp. Add garlic, olive oi] and salt, pine nuts and Parmesan cheese. -~ On.2... Brian Spears