BAGS OF GIFTS Herb sachets make charming gifts, particularly if you decorate them yourself with embroidery silks or fabric paints. You can also slip them inside a needlepoint bag. Such gifts are not only for Great Aunt Maude. They make thoughtful presents for anyone who has just moved house, and an unusual gift for men. You can put your sachet mix into anything made of fabric that will hold it. Use your imagination. Here are a few of my favorite gift ideas. Just for Men I love making herb sachets for men. It is a very personal gift that only you can give a father, son, friend or lover. Men tend to prefer spicy scents to flowery ones, such as: Thyme, nutmeg and clove Lemon balm and cardamom A selection of mint leaves Tie Refreshers Men’s neck ties are hollow. If you tie a knot so the tie looks like it has just been loosened and taken off you can pour some sachet mixture into the wide end and sew it up. Hang it from a tie rack (but just make sure he doesn’t mistake the sachet for a tie and try to wear it). Car Maintenance Rather than buying an air freshener for the car, try filling a pair of driving gloves with sachet mix, sew them shut and leave them in the glove compartment. This is a real bonus on hot days when cars can smell and feel very stale. Shoe Fresheners Put your sachet mix into a triangular bag, or even a pair of cotton socks and sew them up. You can then slip your sachets into pairs of shoes to protect those you don’t often wear, and to freshen those you wear to work each day. They will even to sweeten a teenager’s old trainers. Scented Correspondence You can even put tiny herb sachets into boxes of note paper and envelopes to lightly scent the paper. Sometimes I even scent the ink too. Make a very strong tea of the herb of your choice and add 2 teaspoons of it to a bottle of ink.

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The classic definition of a herb is a non-woody plant which dies down to its roots each winter. This definition is far too limiting. It was probably made up by 19th Century European botanists who had never seen the rainforest in which, of course there is no winter to die back in. Neither had they ever heard of woody trees and shrubs such as hawthorn and ginko and elder which are some of the best selling herbs on the market these days. I define a herb as a medicinal plant. It can come from any climate and be a leaf, a bark, a flower or a root. It can be home-grown or wild, a weed, a spice, a plant which is used for its healing or culinary or beautifying properties. Once you discover the power of herbs it is easy to become so enthusiastic about them you go overboard trying to use them for everything. It is not wise to take lots of different plants all at the same time. Or you might start to think that since a small amount of something is good for you, taking twice or three times that amount will be even better. It isn’t. If you want safe and sane herbal help here are a few guidelines to follow: Herbs occasionally interact with conventional drugs. Be sure to tell your doctor that you intend to try a herbal remedy. If you want to use herbs to treat a serious medical condition, find yourself a good medical herbalist to work with. Don’t do it yourself. Take no more than recommended dosages of a herb or combination. If you notice any adverse reaction, stop right away. Use only the very best herbs whether they be fresh, dried, teas, tinctures, extracts, or capsules. Give plants enough time to work. Many herbs, such as St John’s Wort and Wild Yam, are slow to build beneficial effects on the body. Look to six weeks for results.   Herbs This Week Archives

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