Versatile herbs can't be beat. Without their pungent flavor, food would be bland; medicinally they do wonders for the body; they're a source of natural dyes; and as ornamentals in the landscape, they're attractive and practically carefree. Pretty impressive credentials for a group of generally easy-going plants, I'd say.
I talked with two herb enthusiasts, and each provided helpful information about various herbs.
Medicinal uses
of herbs
Wallace Rosa grows herbs, fruit trees and forest on his south-facing hillside property near Morton, and practices Chinese herbal medicine.
His interest in herbal medicines started after he developed serious health problems from a toxic waste dump about 15 years ago, and Western treatments just weren't helping. In desperation, he went for Chinese medical treatments in Seattle and became a believer.
"It turned my health around," says the tall, genial man with a slight Southern accent, disclosing his Alabama roots.
He doesn't put down Western medicine, but believes strongly that both types of medicine have different strengths.
For instance, for treating cancer, both types of treatment work well together. Rosa says, "Herbal therapy increases sensitivity to chemical agents and treats the side effects of chemotherapy."
Chinese methods help chronically debilitating diseases, such as arthritis.
He studied Chinese medicine in Colorado and later China, and earned certification for treating with traditional Chinese medicines.
A good beginner book on Chinese medicine is "The Web that has no Weaver" by Ted Kaptchuk, suggests Rosa. He explains it gives a diagnostic system and basis for using local herbs.
Rosa has many interests, including ballroom dancing (where I met him), gardening, poetry, travel ("I park myself in a backwater part of the world and see how the people live,") and is currently writing a novel, described as a romantic adventure set in Latin America.
He is a director and officer of the Native American Medicine Church in Washington state, and enjoys creating traditional Indian art, such as pounded copper and ceremonial screens.
Herbal cupboard
A fascinating array of some 150 dried medicinal herbs and minerals are lined up in canning jars that fill a cupboard in his rustic cabin, each labeled in Chinese as well as English. Seed pods, shredded bark, dried leaves and roots make an interesting display in this herb room, including such historic substances as frankincense and myrrh.
One beautiful plant easily grown here is echinacea. Rosa says it generally is thought of medicinally as an immune system stimulant. He advises using it just prior to the onset and during a cold, but not all the time. He says it depletes the immune system if taken continuously.
Rosa explains, "As I was told, echinacea has five different substances in it. It deactivates enzymes that dissolve cell walls, it stimulates repair of all cell walls, it stimulates production of white blood cells as well as their activity, and it is toxic to bacteria."
Catnip, when made into a tea, has a mild calming effect and helps eliminate flatulence. Your cat may love the nice landscape plant also, to the point of making it a challenge to grow it, while other cats couldn't care less about catnip.
Two plants that are great fresh, but that lose their punch when dried, are bay and basil, says Rosa.
The true bay, Laurus nobilis, is an evergreen, slow growing and well-mannered tree. While planting this great tree for its beauty, you can pick a few fresh aromatic leaves anytime for adding to stews and strong-flavored meat dishes.
Basil, the annual herb that thrives in sun, is pungent fresh and not as flavorful dried. Rosa saves his fresh culinary herbs by clipping bunches of each type and wrapping tightly in clear plastic wrap, forming cylinder shapes. In freezer bags, he packs several of these sticks together and freezes them. Then he just chops off a piece when he wants fresh tasting herbs.
Open house talks
Hear more about herbs during the Master Gardeners' open house at their Providence Place demonstration garden from 1 to 4 p.m. July 17. The garden is located 350 S.E. Washington Ave. in Chehalis. Providence Place is a HUD-supported residential home.
"Parsley, Chives, Rosemary and Thyme" is the subject of C.J. Hussey's herb talk at 2:15 p.m.
"These four varieties are easy to grow and find at local nurseries as starts," says Hussey.
She will discuss their culinary and ornamental uses, as well as show examples of the plants.
Listen to two other talks during the open house. "Edibles in the Landscape" will be the topic by Mary Fran Fryer at 1:15 p.m., and Shirley Nelson will lead a tour of the raised beds cared for by Providence Place residents at 3:15 p.m.
Enjoy refreshments, take home a free plant and get answers to your gardening questions at the on-site plant clinic by Washington State University Master Gardeners of Lewis County.
To get there from Interstate 5 exit 77 at Chehalis, drive east on Main Street; turn right on Market and then turn left at Fourth Street, and Washington is one block further. In addition to curbside parking, there is a lot across the street at the corner of Fourth and Adams.
Mary Fran Fryer is a Lewis County Master Gardener, and invites reader comments and suggestions. Contact her by e-mail at maryfran@sysmatrix.net, by mail at 1491 S. Scheuber Road, Centralia, Wash. 98531, or by telephone at 807-0775.
