Sept 2023

The Herbal Harvest Bring back the apothecary garden If we really want to understand herbs, then we need to grow them. Only then can we witness how they flourish in mutable nature and in turn, bequeath to us the ability to flourish too, in the shifting circumstances of wherever we might find ourselves planted. In short, we care for plants that, in turn, care for us. Plants and medicine, gardening and healing have long been entwined, although the story of their entanglement is complex. For most of human history, plants have provided the basis of medicine. While chemicals isolated from...

Yarrow Achillea millefolium Yarrow has a long and rich history of medicinal and magical use and is one of the most fascinating as well as efficacious garden plants. It is a hardy perennial and member of the aster family, that is distinguished by its feathery leaves and white to pink flowers that bloom in densely arranged clusters. It grows up to 50cm high and has a characteristic herbaceous odour. Yarrow is a prolific plant that grows naturally in many regions of Europe, North America and Asia. The flowering tops are used medicinally and it is also edible with an aromatic...

October 2023

Oct 2023

Elemi Essential oil Elemi Canarium luzonicum Other Names: Canarium commune, Canarium indicum, Canarium luzonicum, Pimela luzonica, elemi oleoresin, Manila elemi, The Plant Elemi is a member of the Burseraceae family, which includes frankincense, myrrh and opopanax that all produce gum resin. The evergreen elemi tree grows up to 30 metres in height. It is found wild in tropical climates like Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and other Pacific islands. In the Philippine Islands, where elemi is cultivated, it is known as sahing or pili. The Manila elemi is the best-known and single largest source of the world's supply. Elemi belongs to an incredibly...