Hello Amanda,

You grow Frankincense ... that is fascinating. Please tell me more!

No, I don't grow frankincense, at least at the moment, but know of several people in the US and other countries that have plants, and I am trying to get some plants or seeds imported.
Boswellia (Frankincense) seeds are very hard to find and have a very short (3 or so weeks) viable period and also a very low germination rate (usually less than 1%).
One nursery that I know of, here in Australia, may have some Indian Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) plants in a few years (fingers crossed), although this is not the "official" frankincense or the one mentioned in the bible, it's still useful for medicine and incense.

Amunda, you'll have to tell us more about these plants....this aspect of herb growing I find fascinating and I like to read about these plants and their uses. I recently bought a plant of Codonopsis from Austral Herbs however not for medicinal purposes.

I take Boswellia complex for rheumatoid Arthritus,it has boswellia serrata,zingiber officiale, curcuma longa, in it,and along with other things is fantastic. But I never realised that I might be able to grow boswellia. Judie

Can you recommend a good book? I once had a thick really great paperback, (US of course), with what seemed to be almost every herb and uses, and a section at the back with specific recipes. It got lost during one of my moves. Is codonopsis that yellow daisy like perennial?

Annabel, codonopsis is a climber with blue or white bell-shaped flowers. The yellow flower you are thinking of is Coreopsis (I think).

my favourite herb book is 'The Herb Book' by John B. Lust
(US of course) Originally published in 1974. It has been very helpful to me. I am a just a wanna-be herbal know it all... I love to just sit down and thumb through this book and see all the interesting things about differant plants... even those considered weeds by the common gardener. I find it interesting that when common lettuce is allowed to go to seed it produces a milky substance that has a narcotic effect. (yet cannabis is still illegal despite it numerous beneficial properties :-) )

Hello,
Well i can't say i am that obsessed as some of you guys but i can say that i do love my herbs. I would love to swap some seeds with you because i am in the process of expanding my herb gardens even more. So i would like to get hold of some. What i think would be great is to start up a herb swap chain or something of the sort.
Anyways i would love to make a few swaps, but i've got to update my trade list.

I am trying to track down boswellia seeds, seedlings, whatever I can get my hands on. I really really want to grow one of my own. Can any one help me with finding somewhere to get the seeds etc? I'd be terribly gratefull for any help. Ta.

hi Im not quite that obsesive either, but I am a bit odd.
I hope to study herbal medicine in animals and would love to source all my plants from home( one day!!) My sheep already does self treatment lol
I dont have many different herbs but am enjoying sourcing them. I also dont have much experience in propogation so suggestions would b nice

Cally Lilly - As far as I know, no Boswellia spp are avaliable in Australia.

whoami5108 - for finding plants I recommend 'The Aussie Plantfinder' by Margaret Hibbert and many nurseries mailorder.

Cheers

I've always been fascinated by herbs, and would love to learn more. I swear by mint tea for stomach ailments, but don't really use herbs for much else besides cooking. Mmmm... sage!

Could anyone recommend any good herb sites?

How about chinese herbs. Anyone tell me the best for n.qld.

My grandfather used to use the milky substance from cut dandelions on my palms. I had severe dermatitis on them (still do but not so severe) and it alleviated the itching and stopped my skin from swelling.

My partners mother swears by Sage tea with lemon for sore throats and for loosening phlegm.

Frankincense and Lavender essential oil in a vaporiser are supposed to have a calming and alleviating effect. I tend to burn this combo 2 drops of each before I go to sleep, if I'm feeling particularly restless. Else I use Bergamot and Lavender or Bergamot and Lemon or Sweet Orange when I get home to pep me up before I cook dinner.

I like the smell of Thyme and oregano and have that in my garden.

I only wish I could remember what my grandmother used to rub on my bruises when I knocked myself. I can't remember, I think it's dill. Yet I have a vague recollection of someone mentioning hickory leaves for this purpose.

A lot of the recipes for herbs can be found in aromatherapy books. Some aromatherapy books, have a break down not only of the essential oil derived from herbs but culinary and medicinal uses for the useful parts of the plant. I tend to find these books in second hand book stores are a lot cheaper than Angus & Robertson or Collins or specialist stores selling oils. Another place is newsagent clearance stands.

Add me to the list of herb crazy people. I don't grow many, but I'm a keen amature aromatherpist and I love using them in my cooking.

Cheers
Desi

Hi Annabel, you ask about Codonopsis. The root of Codonopsis Tangshen (a bell-flowered plant) is used by the poor in China as a substitute for Ginseng. Does this have any relevance for you growing it?

The milk from dandelion is also good to get ride of wart!
Leyla

Annabel, I have done a little more research for the Codonopsis and hubby has a beaut book called 'Herbs' (funny that) published in 1994 by HarperCollinsPublishers and lists more than 700 herb species. In it the Codonopsis is the local name for Dang Shen and as mentioned the roots are used as a substitute for Ginseng. Supposedly great in reducing stress and purports to increase red and white blood cell counts. Given for breast cancer, asthma, diabetes, heart palpitations, memory or appetite loss and insomnia. The book is by Lesley Bremness. Good luck. Bronwen

mmm..I'm in the process of finding new and interesting herbs ..I have many and I enjoy researching their healing qualities in my spare time...
I was looking through this list of strange people...lol
when I noticed that Desi wanted to know what herb was used on her bruises as a child ...
Burdock Arcticum lappa - give relief from bruises and inflamed swellings- including gout.
Lavender Lavandula officinalis -helps ease the aches of bruises
Marsh Mallow Althaea officinalis
The roots ot the mallow crushed and mixed with Slippery Elm in a poultice will ease bruises, sprains and inflammations.
Comfrey (knitbone, bruise-wort, knitback, slippery root, consolida) Symphytum officinale - use leaves as a poultice to help in the healing of cuts, ulcers and abcesses, and to reduce swelling, sprains and bruises.
Sage (garden sage, red sage, sawge) Savia officinalis can also be used.
I hope one of them rings a bell.
I have many plants and would very much like to swap some seeds etc.
Hope it was help, sorry but I can't remember where I orginally found the information...I created a database for myself a little while ago and in the beginning I forgot to reference..
cheers Lisa

People out there interested in herbal medicine check out:

Here is a link that might be useful: www.herbmed.org

Amunda, We are keen collectors of unusually plants. I'll email you a list of things we have to swap, see if there's anything you're interested in. I've been trying to grow codonopsis from seed. They havn't germinated yet. Is there a trick or is it just luck?

Hi
I am interested in growing some Codonopsis but do not know how to propagate the seeds
can you help me
cheers
Peter

Hey,

I am finishing year 12 at the moment live in qld, love my herbs especially medicinal ones and am beginning to learn the herbs, botanical names, uses and applications etc etc and I would love someone to chat too about herbs as I have an avid love for these plants and am looking to expand and cultivate medicinal and culinary herbs so I have enough to use but alot to grow as well. I will read alot of these postings ahead of me so far but am interested to keep in touch.

cheers and have fun everyone jc

g'day,
just wondering if anybody has any herb seeds or plants they'd like to sell, i'm starting a herb garden but have nothing to put in it yet, so any help would be much appreciated. i'm in south brisbane near logan. cheers!

Hi all, I read the posts about good herb books and just thought I'd mention one of my faves. Pest Repellent Plants by Penny Woodward. She has written others also. There is quite a comprehensive list of pests and the herbs used to get rid of them.

Cheers, Jules

Penny Woodward writes some great books. I have herb Tropical Herbs and Vegetables which is a great little book.

Amunda are you still following this post? I think I definitely qualify as one of your strange herb people. Particularly when it comes to ethnobotanicals. :) I do grow a few varieties of Thyme, HOWEVER... that's because they are essential in my cooking. They mingle nicely with the less mainstream plants in the garden... Check out the (incomplete) list below...

Here is a link that might be useful: herb list - incomplete

I've always been interested in herbs and the weird chemistry that plants do. I think I got interested as a child when I heard about the tree-of-life. That was a fascinating idea that a plant could make you live forever. Haven't found that, but I have seen lots of medicinal plants over the years. I'm planning to plant more ambitiously this year (my new wife has a farm) so I'm kind of a kid in a candy store! And her brother has an herb store online oddherb.com. So Im psyched! Oh and Ive planted buddleia and some other things for the butterflies - the place is full of them! (I welcome any ideas for that, most sites seem to recommend buddleia davidii, but I didnt see at all when I visited the butterfly room at Callaway Gardens. I did see Lantana)

Hi Amunda, I came across your thread in my search for a piece of frankincense tree/plant. I know you started this conversation ages ago, but is there any chance you are growing frankincense today? You're in Australia right? Thanks.