Number 29 - Aniseed

Anise, Pimpinella Anisum or Aniseed is a plentiful flavoured flower from the Apiacae family.

The smell and taste of the flower is sometimes overbearing, I know as a child I always found the taste to be very intimidating in the british sweet of aniseed balls. It is said to be a flavour similar to liquorice, fennel and tarragon. Medicinally, Anise can be used in relieving menstural cramps. It can also be used as a natural female hormone suppliment as it contains a type of estrogen. The plant has a calming effect, which could aid with stress and sleep issues. The essential oil can rid the head of headlice and clothes of mites.

When combined with blood, however, aniseed can cause high toxicity levels in the blood and possibily lead to death. Its oil can be harmful to an unborn child. Otherwise, the herb is pretty safe.

The plant is taken and eaten in many different ways around the world. It is often added to food as flavouring. As well as the popular British sweet, Aniseed can also be taken as a tea.

Yes, balls. Typical British. (Aniseed Balls are a traditional treat in the UK. These are branded Sweets 'N' Candy)

Number 28 - Abyssinian Shrivelfig

The Abyssinian Shrivelfig is a fictional plant from the Harry Potter series. It's Latin name could be Ficus Resilio, meaning 'Shrinking Fig'.

The fig holds shrinking qualities, which is why it is used in Shrinking Solutions. This potion has the ability to shrink the drinker into a infant form, and also works on animals and items. Neville's batch of Shrinking Potion also turns his toad into a tadpole, showing the age reversal techniques in animals.

The colour of the solution is important in indicating the safety of the mix: if the solution is green, it is drinkable. However, if it is orange, it is poisonous. This explains why the potion is only brewed by third years at Hogwarts.

(A successfully brewed Shrinking Potion. Image from one of the Harry Potter video games. Shrivelfigs and other content in this post is the creation of J.K. Rowling)

Number 27 - Fireweed

Also known as  Rosebay Willowherb, Epilobium angustifolium has sprung up all over the UK this summer.

The plant has also been known as bombweed, due to the sudden rise in population of the plant next to railways and in craters made by bombs in World War II. The plant is also known in Scotland as Singerweed, due to its sprouting of the plants on the bombed land of the Singer Sewing Machine Factory.

The plant's shoots can be eaten as an addition to salads, and if preserved, contain Vitamin C and Pro-Vitamin A. It's leaves can be used to make Kapoori/Kaporie/Kapor tea. In North America, Fireweed jelly, sweets and ice cream are popular treats. Rosebay is taken to ease stomach and digestion issues, such as cramps and diaherra.

However, even though the shoots of the plants can be eaten like asparagus, they are incredibly bitter, and are an aquired taste.

Rosebay can be taken as Kapoori Tea, in salads, or as pills and tinctures.

(A jar of Alaskan Fireweed Jelly. Would you eat this with PJ? Product of Alaska Pure Berry)

Number 26 - Potato

We're all accustomed to the root vegetable of the Solanum tuberosum, but we may not all know about it's benefits to our health.


The potato contains fiber, vitamin C and potassium, all which are essential to a healthy diet. The potato can also be made into a paste for First Aid treatment of sunburn, burns and scrapes, as a potatoes' starch will draw the heat out the injury.


As potatoes are a member of the same family as Deadly Nightshade, the plant itself and the plant's fruits are toxic, and potatoes do become poisonous over time and turn green. Dispose of any green potatoes and cook them well. 


The potato can be used in stews and as a meal by itself. It can also be turned to the paste to treat external injuries. Jacket potatoes contain the most vitamins compared to boiled and peeled potatoes.

The popular Russet Potatoes are also nutritiousness and can be used in first aid treatments. (Product of Green Giant)

Lectures and Plants Vs. Zombies!

Crikey its been a long time! I'm sorry my followers, after my exams finished, I went out and did a lot of partying. I've very much neglected my blog and it needs some loving.

The first thing which distracted me from doing anything constructive, such as looking for a summer job or indeed updating the blog, is the Popcap video game Plants vs. Zombies. Being a lover of all plants being useful for things, I have really enjoyed the game so far. I completed Adventure Mode and I'm trying to get my Zen Garden producing some good moolah.

Adorable plushies I need in my life. I wish these dropped coins...

- I apologise, I've deleted my notes as there was a lot of identifying information on my time at University here. As I left Uni, I would no longer like this information available online. Sorry! -

I really enjoyed my weekend in Lincoln. It is a beautiful city. Although it has a lot of swans. I am going to the university in September to study Herbal Medicine. I can't wait!

#1 - #25 Recap

I feel the need to recap all the herbs so far on the blog in order to educate any new readers on the herbs I have covered. I will provide links to each post, which goes into further detail about each.

1. Chamomile. A relaxing herb. Popular as a tea.

2. Horny Goat Weed. A natural aphrodisiac.

3. St. John's Wort. An anti-depressant.

4. Devil's Snare. A deadly plant from the Harry Potter series.

5. Deadly Nightshade. A deadly plant with a strange past use.

6. Siphilium. An ancient plant, rumoured to be the origin of the heart symbol.

7. Dandelion. A common weed with surprising uses.

8. Lily of the Valley. A common perfume with the elderly, with some potential for fertility help.

9. Green Tea. Good for the soul!

10. Marsh Mallow. The origin of the popular sweet.

11. Daffodil. Dementia destroyer!

12. Meadowsweet. Helps soothe flu symptoms.

13. Ginger. The anti-nausea herb.

14. Rosehip. Used in WW2 as a source of Vitamin C.

15. Lavender. A sweet smelling plant.

16. Arnica. Used in treating a number of skin aliments.

17. Tumeric. Popular in Indian dishes.

18. Burdock. A part of the popular drink, Dandelion & Burdock.

19. Vanilla. The tastiest of all the ice-creams!

20. Henna. Popular in skin decoration.

21. Hops. Useful outside of beer!

22. Honey. It is a herb - plant extracts!

23. Witch-Hazel. Good for many skin conditions.

24. Blueberries. A tasty treat with many benefits.

25. Kava. The 'anti-energy' herb.

My next post may be either about cranberries or Plants vs. Zombies plants. I'm obsessed with that game! I apologise once again for how less frequent posts are becoming. By the end of the month, I will have completely finished college, and so can concerntrate on the blog completely.

Number 25 - Kava

Piper methysticum, kava, or kava-kava is the plant of discussion today. The plant is often used for religious and social purposes in countries such as Fiji and Tonga.

Kava can be used for sore throats or tooth ache, as it has a numbing effect. It is also used in a cola called Kava or Lava cola, and is marketed as an 'anti-energy' drink, providing a relaxing feeling rather than the boost energy drinks give.

Plant use has been known to cause certain adverse effects such as liver damage, but it is undetermined whether this is from the plants or how extracts of the plant are taken with use of various chemicals. Overuse of the plant can also cause skin rashes.

Kava can be taken in capsules, in cola or as a tea.

Kava Cola (Source Unknown)