The astragalus Chinese is a perennial herbaceous and it grows well in zones 4 - 11. In the traditional Chinese medicine it is used as an important tonic herb. It is getting to be more popular here in the western medicine because the ability to support the immune system.
This plants grows to be three to four feet tall. This plant has pretty, pale yellow, pea flower-shaped blooms that will be from midsummer until frost comes to the area. Astragalus, Chinese is a native to northeastern China, it seems to prefer sun to partial shade. It likes to grow in sun to partial shade. It grows in open areas or it likes to grow along the margins of treed places, often dry sandy soils.
The propagation of this herb is the seeds has to be stratify for at least three weeks before sowing. Then they have to be scarify and soak in warm water for one hour before, the seeds are planted. The seeds need to be sow directly into the ground in early spring or they can be started indoors early and transplant them outdoors at the last frost date. The plants need to be space fifteen inches apart and the plants need to be water moderately. The astragalus grows as a single plant, but it has a tendency to sprawl a bit as it gets older. The astragalus likes to be planted in partial shade to full well-worked soil to grow in. Roots of the astragalus are harvested in the fall after the plants are two years old. The average harvesting time is between the third and fifth year of their growth, but it can vary on where you live and how much growth has annually. The taproots will require a needle-nose spade or a fork to dig them fully and easily. The medicinal benefits of astragalus is its ability to offer deep immune system support.
The parts of the astragalus that is used is the roots and the roots can be used either fresh or dried. The home pharmacy uses of the astragalus are medicinal food, syrup, elixir, decoration, traditional tincture, cider, vinegar tincture, honey and powder. Medicinal Food Use There is one way that the astragalus root is use for immune system support and this is done by adding a small amount [about 1/4 cup of dried cut and sifted root to the soup kettle and let it simmer over low heat, for several hours. It just becomes another ingredient in the soup and doing this regularly will keep the immune system at its best.
Plantain is a herb that has many different benefits in growing it yourself or having it where you can get it when you need it. Plantain has a plant cycle of a perennial and a type of growth which is herbaceous. This herb can grow in the zones 3-9.
Plantain can be found in many different climates and it is always found in disturbed soil. It is not unusually to find plantain growing alongside a mountain hiking trail. You can also find plantain growing intermixed with the grass at a local park or maybe out in your pasture especially if you live out in the country like I do. Plantain has a bloom traits which are tiny white flowers that grace a stalk that will later forms tan seeds. Plantains grows from eight to twenty inches in height.
It is easy to grow plantains from seeds and if you stratify the seeds before you plant them, this will increase your germination rate to about seventy percent. Sprouting takes one to two weeks. You can start indoors in mid-spring and have them ready to transplant out in late spring, or start directly outdoors in early to mid-spring. Because of plantain, growing in clumps they should be spaced twelve inches apart and it should be water moderately. This herb does not require any special soil needs. Plantain has to have full sun and partial shade to grow. When you are harvesting plantain, you will harvest the whole plant and you can do this with a garden fork or a needle-nose spade. Plantain is harvest in spring though fall. The day that your plantain is going to be harvests, the soil needs to be moist, but not soggy. If you only want to use the roots only, then trim off the aerial parts with a pair of snips. Leaves may be handpicked or snipped at any point during the growing season. You can harvest the seeds by waiting into maturity and then rub them from the stalks and husks. The parts that you can use are whole plant, roots, seeds, and leaves. You can used them either fresh or dried. Plantain has many different medicinal benefits and they are skin problem, gastrointestinal conditions, the urinary tract, and children's health. It is also good for stopping minor bleeding and for relieving insect bites and stings. Plantain is good to have with you if you happen to have a problem that require some first aid. If you have a problem all you need to do is to lay a leaf directly over the effected place or skin place and secure it with first-aid tap. The leaf will soothe the irritation and promote healing of the affected tissue.
