Star Anise

Fun Facts Botanical name: Star Anise, chakra phool,   Constituents/ Nutrition   Uses/ Benefits high in antioxidants and vitamin A and C; treats cough and flu, improve digestion, alleviate cramps and reduce nausea, bloating, gas, indigestion and constipation, a spice in masala chai, crushed seeds of star anise can increase sex drive¹ Types     Growing    Products…

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Turmeric

Fun Facts Botanical name: Constituents/ Nutrition   Uses/ Benefits   Types     Growing    Products Photo: HERBarn.com Personal Experience    References    

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Snow Peas

Photo: HERBarn.com Fun Facts Botanical name: Pisum staivum var. marcrocarpon.  Can be eaten raw.  Peak seasons are spring and fall.  Select the ones that can crisply snap in half with small seeds.  You can buy dried snow peas or its hybrid, snaps peas, at Target or HEB.  A couple of brands are Saya,  and Harvestsnaps , both are owned by…

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Bell Peppers

Fun Facts Botanical name: Capsicum annuum.  Can be eaten raw.  Peak seasons is July to September.  Technically a fruit since they have seeds and forms out of flowering plants.  Red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are just different stages of ripeness of the fruit, with Red being fulling mature.   Nutrition 1 medium size = 31…

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Wood Ear

Photo: HERBarn.com Fun Facts Botanical name: Constituents/ Nutrition   Uses/ Benefits   Types     Growing    Products Photo: HERBarn.com Personal Experience    References    

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Euryale Seeds, Qian Shi

FUN FACTS Botanical name:  Euryale Ferox, Euryales Semen.  AKA 芡实 Qian Shi, gordon euryale seed, fox nut, gorgon nut or makhana CONSTITUENTS   USES/ BENEFITS   TYPES     GROWING   PRODUCTS EDITOR NOTES   TCM NOTES This information is for education purposes only.  Seek the advice of your physician before taking any home remedies, herbs, or supplements. PropertiesTreatmentsUsageCautionsFormulas Temp…

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Hawthorn Berry, Shan zha

FUN FACTS Botanical name: Crataegus,  AKA 山楂  (Shan zha), thorn Apple, May-tree, whitethorn, or hawberry CONSTITUENTS Berries, leaves, and flowers have similar phytochemicals with different ratios of flavonoids and procyanidins. Berries are rich in hyperoside, while leaves have higher levels of vitexin-2-rhamnoside. 1 Phenolic compounds, aglycones, procyanidins.   Triterpenic acids (ursolic, oleanolic, and crataegolic acids) and phenol carboxylic acids…

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Basil, Lou Le

FUN FACTS BN: Ocimum basilicum.  罗勒  Luólè. Both Flower and leaves are edible, but leaves are more widely used.  Different types basil has different aroma. Sweet basil smells like cloves, cinnamon basil smells like cinnamon and lemon bas, lemon basil smells like lemon.   It can    CONSTITUENTS volatile oil – mostly methylchavicol and linalool, methyl cinnamate, cineole, and terpenes….

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Peppermint

FUN FACTS Botanical name:Mentha piperita or Balsamea Willd.  It is a cross between spearmint and watermint CONSTITUENTS/NUTRITION volatile oil -menthol, flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenes.   USES/BENEFITS (Disclaimer) Indigestion, nausea, digestive headaches, gas, bloating, cramps, irritated bowel.  The menthol in peppermint is an effective decongestant.¹  It thins mucus and is a good expectorant.   It’s also useful for coughs, sore throats, and…

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