My Gotu Kola arrived!

"2 leaves a day keep old age away!' That's what is said of Gotu Kola! I had read about the benefits of Gotu Kola in Isabell Shipard's book 'How can I use HERBS in my daily life?' so ordered some from Shipard's Herb Farm last week and they arrived via courier yesterday.

I was interested to see how plants could be sent through the mail and was pleasantly surprised to find that they were packed very securely and it took a bit of elbow grease to loosen the tape which stopped them from rolling around in the box and becoming damaged.

The packaging went straight into the recycle box.

 

 

Finally I got the tape off and checked the plants to see how they had travelled and only one leaf had come off during transit. I ordered three Gotu Kola plants, 1 Pennyroyal plant and one Soapwort plant. We have grown Pennyroyal in the past and it is said to deter flies and other insects so will plant it near the back door.

 

 

I had read about Soapwort but had never grown it. According to the accompanying literature, it has detergent properties and can be used not only to wash fabrics but also can be used in the bath as well as a shampoo for the hair and the dog. It can also be used for dandruff and rashes. To use just chop leaves or root and simmer in water for 5 minutes then strain and use.

 

 

 

The plants came with lots of printed material including a comprehensive catalogue explaining what each of the herbs is used for plus information about three very useful medicinal plants which are Herb Robert, Gotu Kola and Sheep Sorrel.

 

 

We have Herb Robert growing and it is thriving here so much so that I thought it was a weed and was pulling it out until hubby told me it was a herb. It is a valued source of germanium and helps to take oxygen to cells. It has tonic and therapeutic healing properties, helps immunity and is the most requested herb at the Shipard's Herb Farm. The leaves are eaten or used as a tea or wash.

 

Isabell shares in the brochure how she uses Herb Robert. Each morning before breakfast she visits her garden to collect 4-5 leaves and stems of Herb Robert. Then she picks 5-6 Gotu Kola leaves, several nasturtium leaves and flowers, a small handful of Sheep Sorrel and whatever else she feels like adding which may be a comfrey leaf, watercress, yarrow and lemon balm (if she is planning on having avocado on toast). In the kitchen she cuts the herbs rather coarsely with a knife and heaps them over muesli, fenugreek sprouts and kefir, toast or whatever she is having for breakfast.

 

Gotu Kola has been called the finest of all herb tonics by herbalists. The leaves appear to act as a brain food and throughout history the herb has been used for a wide range of health problems. In her book, Isabell mentions that it helps with arthritis pain which is why we bought it as hubby has arthritis here and there. However, it needs to be taken consistently or else the pain will come back.

 

There was also information included about Sheep Sorrel which apparently is one of the strongest antioxidant herbs we can use regularly to benefit our health. Antioxidants have the ability to zap out free radical damage caused by foods, pollutants and stress and provide a strong line of defence to the immune system.

 

 (All the above information is taken from the literature accompanying the plants).

 

So if you would like to learn more about these herbs have a look at Isabell's book. It is available from her Herb Farm. I actually bought it recently from our local Dymocks bookstore.

 

 

 

For the next few days my Gotu Kola, Pennyroyal and Soapwort will stay in their box and get used to our temperature here which is a little cooler than Nambour. Then I will plant them out and give them lots of TLC until they are ready for use. I am looking forward to experimenting with them.

Have you grown any of these herbs as yet?