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People everywhere are hungry for clear, practical, scientifically-validated information about how to make safe and simple use of herbs in their day to day lives. I too was once hungry for this kind of information. I discovered that working (and playing) with herbs did not need to be complex and confusing. It could be sheer pleasure. For me it was like walking down a path where a wonderful surprise is revealed at every turn. |
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Introduce herbs into the lives of your pets and they too will share in the cleansing, enhancing and sanctifying nature of plants...
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ANIMAL FRIENDS We share our homes with the best of creatures cats and dogs. Dogs have always been the great protectors of the home. Cats bring us a sense of mystery and enchantment. They never forget that they were worshipped in Ancient Egypt and that they honor your home with their sacred presence. |
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CAT NAPS Cats' saintly heritage makes them rather sensitive to strong smells, or anything that might dent their superior composure. Herbs like rue and pennyroyal which repel fleas also repel cats. I have found that some cats don’t mind chamomile so I put a little in my cats’ pillows and mix in some catmint or valerian. Just about every cat I have ever met goes mad for valerian. To my nose it smells like the socks of soldiers who have been marching for two days. But, out of love for "Chino" and "Choffie", as they are rather disrespectfully known, I make a few extra herb sachets with this mixture and scatter them in my linen cupboard where they love to laze the day away. A note about catmint. There is an old saying that cats take little notice of the plants that grow from seeds sown straight into the garden. But when you raise the seed indoors, or buy some plants, and them transplant them into the garden the cats will literally love it to death. I have never tested this theory scientifically. I find that my cats chew the plant no matter how I grow it. Herb Pillow for Cats As these pillows are smaller than dog pillows I suggest crumbling up the dried herbs. Use a mixture of chamomile and catmint, or chamomile and valerian. Cat Deterrent Spray
If you want to keep your cats off the furniture or from marking the curtains, use a strong room spray – it deters the animals but pleases the humans! I use a spray bottle that holds a pint of water, and add a couple of drops of washing up liquid and ½ teaspoon of a powerful essential oil such as thyme. You need to shake the bottle well so the washing up liquid helps the oil mix with the water. You can then spray this anywhere you want to keep cat-free – but test a small area first to make sure the room spray won’t mark. |
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TROUBLED EARS Ear mites are a very common problem in cats and irritating for them and you. Dribbling a few drops of garlic oil (peel a whole bulb of garlic, steep it for a week in 2 pints of olive oil, strain, bottle the oil and keep it in the fridge – and don’t try to use essential oil of garlic, it’s much too strong) into the ear twice a day will help enormously. Stop if your cat is made unhappy by the smell. If, however, you have a young female being courted by the local tom cat and you don’t want kittens, try putting a few drops of essential oil of garlic or squeeze a garlic capsule on the back of the female’s neck. Her suitor is likely to be put right off his stride. |
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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:
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