Herb & Plant Profiles
LOQUAT, OR ERIOBOTRYA JAPONICA
Loquat is an evergreen flowering tree or shrub that belongs to the Rosaceae family and is native to China. It has a short trunk, a rounded crown and lanate twigs. The height of the plant can vary from 3 to 10 m. The leaves are alternately arranged, about 10-25 cm long, dark green, tenacious, coriaceous, with serrated edges and hairy underside.
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DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARAWAY SEEDS?
Caraway is one of the most ancient spices known to people. The seeds of the plant have a powerful healing effect. The useful properties of caraway are widely used in folk medicine and healthy eating. The range of diseases that are cured with the help of caraway is huge. Regular consumption of this spice in food is an excellent prevention and support to the body.
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CLOVES: AN AROMATIC SPICE
The pungent and savory aroma of cloves makes any dish more appetizing and attractive. In fact, cloves are not only an important ingredient of many east Asian dishes but also a cure for a number of health disorders. Despite their small size, cloves have a rich chemical composition and a great health-giving power.
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PLANTAIN HERB
Plantain, or Plantago major, is a perennial, herbaceous, flowering herb in the Plantaginaceae family. The plant is native to Europe and Asia, but nowadays is widespread throughout the world. The oval smooth-edged leaves are usually 5-20 cm long and 4-9 cm wide. They are arranged in a rosette which is about 15-30 cm across.
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ELDERBERRIES
Elderberry, or Sambucus nigra, is a deciduous bush or small tree in the Adoxaceae family. It can reach up to 6 m in height. The plant can be found in temperate and subtropical areas of the Northern Hemisphere. The pinnate leaves grow in opposite pairs and are about 10-30 cm long. They consist of about 5-7 serrated leaflets (5-12 cm long and 3-5 cm wide).
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YARROW USES AND FACTS
Yarrow, or Achillea millefolium, is a herbaceous, perennial, flowering plant that can be found in most parts of Eurasia and North America. The Latin name of the plant ‘Achillea’ traces its origin to the famous Greek hero Achilles who utilized yarrow in order to treat the wounds of his soldiers after battles.
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AMAZING ELECAMPANE ROOT
Elecampane is a tall, perennial, rhizomatous plant that can grow up to 90-150 cm in height. It originates from Europe and Asia but now is also naturalized in North America. The herb usually grows along roads, on the river banks and forest edges. The leaves are green, serrated, covered with thin pubescence on the upper side and with velvet hairs on the underside.
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WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HORSETAIL?
Horsetail is a perennial plant that belongs to the only living genus Equisetum in the Equisetaceae family. The herb dates back to the Palaeozoic era and is often considered a living fossil. It usually grows in the temperate climatic zones and prefers damp and moist areas. The plant is referred to as ‘horsetail’ due to the fact that it resembles the tail of a horse in appearance.
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MOTHERWORT
Motherwort is a perennial herbaceous plant that is native to southeastern Europe and central Asia. The plant can reach up to 60-100 cm in height. The purplish stem is covered with short pubescence. The leaves are oppositely arranged and palmatilobate with long petioles. They have jagged edges. The basal leaves are wedged with three points, the upper leaves have five points.
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PARSLEY
Parsley, or Petroselinum crispum, is a biennial flowering plant in the Apiaceae family that originates from the central Mediterranean region. In the first year, it produces deep green, curly, tripinnate leaves that are about 10–25 cm long with numerous 1–3 cm leaflets. In the second year, it forms a flowering stem that can reach up to 75 cm in height and has sparse leaves and flat-topped umbels (3–10 cm in diameter) with many little yellow or yellowish green flowers.
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