Featured Herb « Cottage Hill Herb Farm

Meet the new darling of mature skincare!

On October 29, 2018 / Featured Herb, Herbal Medicine and Health / Leave a comment

Chicory root. It’s not just a good alternative for coffee…it’s also the new big herb in skincare for mature and aging skin. It has major restructuring benefits which enables mature and or dehydrated skin to recover its epidermal (outer) barrier, allowing it to revitalise and repair its ability to hold moisture within the cellular structure. Chicory is a rich source of anti-oxidant compounds (phenolics), plus the Organic root contains Oligosaccharides, which when delivered to the skin either by oil or hydrosol, increases collagen synthesis, creating a tightening and skin lifting/firming effect quite quickly. When used daily, the skin responds by […]

Featured Herb – Melissa Lemon Balm!

On August 17, 2016 / Featured Herb, Herbal Medicine and Health / Comments Off

Listed by the American Herb Society as “The 2007 Herb of the Year”, this dreamy herb is one that you cannot have enough of! Lemon balm is one of the most important herbs to have in the garden and perhaps the easiest to grow. Lemon balm will grow almost anywhere; in sun, shade or a combination. It is an excellent companion and bee attracting herb that is amazingly hardy. It will also grow in a pot, but don’t plant it with anything else in the pot. This herb has been grown for more than 2,000 years. It was very popular […]

Featured Herb – Aloe Vera!

On July 7, 2016 / Featured Herb, Herbal Medicine and Health, Natural Skincare and Beauty / Comments Off

This extraordinary herb contains more than 75 nutritional compounds in approximately 1% of the plant. It has the ability to penetrate body tissue, up to seven layers deep. It cleanses and anaesthetizes and promotes wound healing and the growth of new healthy cells. It is anti-inflammatory, cools the skin and reduces scarring. May be added to sun creams for protection against UV rays and has shown anti-cancer activity. Taken internally, it cleans out the intestines and detoxifies the body. It stimulates and supports immune function. Used in creams, it soothes, heals and moisturizes the skin and carries other ingredients used […]

Featured Herb – Cayenne

On April 14, 2016 / Featured Herb, Herbal Medicine and Health / Comments Off

Cayenne – yes that’s right!! Dried, uncooked Cayenne pepper, the common kitchen spice is our featured herb this week! You may not know this, but Cayenne is a wonder herb with a huge list of attributes and applications. I once saved my dog’s life using this miraculous spice – so lets look at just a few of the things that Cayenne can help with. Bleeding: Stops external bleeding in its tracks – simply sprinkle a light coating into and over cuts and wounds to stop bleeding and take the shock out of the wound. Heart Attack/Emergency Situations: Obviously one must seek medical help […]

Did you hear the joke about the peach?

On March 14, 2016 / Featured Herb / Comments Off

Peach leaves are a relaxant and an anti-inflammatory that are particularly helpful for the urinary tract, kidney and for problems like cystitis. The leaf is also cooling and soothing to hot, red, itching skin conditions, allergies, scalp irritation and also stomach upsets such as nausea and cramping pain. It is a simple remedy for nervous, restless and over stimulated types with tangled nerves – I’m sure you know someone who applies here! It will also work for over-excitable children. I recently started drinking peach leaf tea before bed, and I have to say I am hooked! I am loving the […]

Featured Herb: Olive Leaf Extract

On February 5, 2016 / Featured Herb / Comments Off

Olive Leaf! I always tell my students that olive is the one herb that they need in their garden. It has saved the lives of my animals in emergency situations, it has helped my patients with ongoing care and it is just incredibly powerful; the tree of life! And you don’t just have to take my word for it – there are a lot of studies being done and many doctors already successfully employing Olive Leaf extract as therapy for patients who suffer from medically puzzling diseases such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, polymyalgia, arthritic inflammation and much more. Just take a […]

It’s thyme for a herbal highlight!

On January 14, 2016 / Featured Herb / Comments Off

It’s been a challenging few months here at the herb farm, what with the bridge going out and having to close the shop to the public until further notice. The future of the bridge is still uncertain but, as they say, better thymes are ahead…or only thyme will tell…or some other thyme pun that will segue us nicely into our featured herb this week; thyme. Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris) is one of the easiest of all herbs to grow, whether grown from seed or from bundles of store bought plants. However you grow it, plant heaps of it because it’s simply […]

Feverfew – The Migraine Herb

On December 30, 2015 / Featured Herb / Comments Off

It’s a beautiful day here at Cottage Hill Herb Farm, and there is lots happening out in the garden. Right now the roses are nearly finished their bloom, but the Feverfew is putting out a stunning display right outside of my patio door, so I thought it was a good time to share some information about this wonderful, easy-to-grow herb before I get to harvesting it. Easy to grow and totally beautiful in full flower with its masses of daisy flowers, Feverfew grows readily in poor soils, creating a very attractive ornamental for your garden. It […]

Rose – The Mother of All Plants

On December 17, 2015 / Featured Herb, Herbal Medicine and Health / Comments Off

Roses engender a soothing, calming “Rescue Remedy” like impact on our whole being. Roses comfort and purify our emotional being, calming our mindset and heart, bringing in peace, joy, tranquility and harmony along with a new sense of acceptance and contentment. Roses re-channel our energies to our true soul purpose and universal direction. To use: Make a cup of tea from a whole organic rose and drink slowly or make a tea of dried organic roses. You may also take 4 drops x 4 times daily of our organic rose flower essence (take regularly). Organic dried rose petals and […]

Herbal Butters

On September 24, 2015 / Featured Herb, Recipes / Comments Off

New vibrant spring grown herbs are perfect for making herb butters. These are delicious in sauces or on steak, fish or other meats. The also give wonderful instant flavour to a myriad of vegetables or pasta dishes and or scones, pikelets etc. A basic recipe is: 50 gm butter (creamed) 1 tbsp. fresh and finely chopped herbs Salt and pepper to taste (optional) Once well combined, shape into any of the following and freeze till needed: Rolled into a sausage shape, wrap in grease-proof paper or aluminium foil and freeze (slice pieces off as required). Roll into balls and freeze, […]

Cold sores a problem?

On September 10, 2015 / Featured Herb, Natural Skincare and Beauty / Comments Off

Try Lemon Balm (also known as Melissa). A fresh leaf rubbed on the affected area as soon as the tingle starts will often alleviate the problem. Lemon Balm is a powerful anti-viral herb and may be used as a fresh leaf at no cost or use the pure essential oil called Melissa. This is a costly essential oil with powerful but gentle properties. The essential oil is also very effective at relieving period pain & cramping when applied to area directly. An uplifting fresh rich lemon scented herb that is one of the easiest of all herbs to grow […]

BURDOCK (Weekly Skincare and Healing Herbs: Some herbs to use in natural skincare or healing products)

On August 13, 2015 / Featured Herb, Natural Skincare and Beauty / Comments Off

This is the herb for acne especially when used both internally and externally. Burdock has a profound effect on skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, dandruff and skin generally. It improves the liver and lymphatic flow, cleanses environmental and other toxins from the system, softening and rejuvenating the skin by improving circulation, micro-circulation and lymph flow to the skin. Burdock cleanses the blood, aids fat metabolism, is anti-fungal, anti-septic and anti-inflammatory and also helps with dandruff, hair loss and excessive oilyness.

Featured Herb