Self-Sufficiency: Natural Home Remedies. Melissa Corkhill

      This is a type of heat exhaustion resulting from prolonged exposure to sun, often accompanied by headache, shivering, nausea and dizziness. Rescue remedy* will help the patient to recover. Take five drops in a glass of water and sip slowly.

      Food poisoning

      Warm water mixed with the juice of half a lemon will help to cleanse the system.

      Honey can be dissolved in a glass of warm water and sipped frequently to increase strength and boost the immune system.

      Bio live yogurt can be eaten after the vomiting has subsided to help repopulate the stomach with beneficial bacteria.

      Camomile tea can be calming and soothing for the digestive system.

      A tonic can be made using herbs from the kitchen cupboard, which will help to cleanse the system.

      * = recommended for portable first aid kit

      Cleansing tonic

      ▸ 1 tsp black pepper

      ▸ 2 cloves garlic, crushed

      ▸ 1 tbsp cumin seeds

      ▸ pinch salt

      ▸ 600 ml (1 pint) water

      1. Place the ingredients into a pan and boil until the liquid is reduced by half.

      2. Drink twice a day to help cleanse the system and to treat diarrhoea.

      Growing your own medicine

      Herbs have been used by humans throughout history as medicines, perfumes, insect repellents and, of course, in food. In most cases, herbs are perennial and are tough wild plants which, when introduced to the luxurious conditions of a garden, will thrive. Planting your own medicine garden is a simple, pleasurable activity that will benefit you and your family for many years to come. It is a good idea to plant a small herb garden near the house that you can use as a medicine chest. Apothecary gardens have been grown for centuries full of the healing powers of plants.

      Positioning your herb bed as close to the house as possible will make tending and harvesting easier. When planning an apothecary garden remember that not all herbs like full sun; divide the area into sun, partial shade and full shade and plant accordingly. I recommend selecting a circular plot and making a herb spiral.

      Creating a herb spiral

      A herb spiral is as simple as it sounds: a large spiral structure, typically measuring one and a half to two meters/yards wide diameter at the base, spiralling up to a height of around one meter, with a planting path running up it. A herb spiral of these proportions is big enough to accommodate at least all of the basic herbs included here, and a few slightly more exotic ones too.

      There are many advantages of creating a herb spiral. First, by making use of both the vertical and the horizontal space, it allows you to make maximum use of a small growing area. This is particularly beneficial to those with little or no garden. The curved nature of the planting beds also increases the growing area available, compared to more traditional straight-edged gardens. Due to its design, the herb spiral offers a variety of different microclimates and aspects that are all easily accessible.

      The benefits of this diversity of habitats are obvious – the gardener is able to plant a wide range of plants, all with differing needs and uses, in a very small area. Oil-rich herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and sage, can be grown on the dry and sunny top southerly side, whereas the moist and sheltered base on the northerly side is perfect for green foliage herbs such as mint, parsley and coriander. There is even the potential to create a small pond or bog area at the base of the spiral for plants such as watercress and watermint.

      Virtually any building materials can be used to construct the herb spiral, as long as they’re reasonably long-lived and not likely to rot away as untreated wood is liable to do. Anything from wooden stakes to large slates, bricks, stones, bottles stacked on their side, or even scrap tyres can be used to create the walls of the spiral. If you are building directly onto earth, it’s advisable to mulch the area beforehand, to prevent weed problems whilst the herbs are establishing themselves. You can use anything water permeable, such as cardboard or old carpet. If you are building onto concrete, break it up to ensure adequate drainage. You can choose one of two methods of construction. The simplest and possibly less stable method, at least while the herbs are becoming established, is to pile the soil into a large heap and insert stones, slates, etc. to create a spiral shape. Because there is a danger of the soil washing away in rain or blowing away in wind before the plants are established, it is best to use pot-grown plants if you choose this method.

      The second method is more permanent and more involved. First, stake out the spiral shape using sticks or bamboo. The base should be between one and a half to two metres/yards in diameter. Next, construct the walls using bricks or stones, starting from the outside and moving inwards. Add more layers, gradually increasing the height as you move into the centre. If you are using bricks and mortar, add the soil at the end. If you are using a ‘dry stone’ technique (just stacking the stones on top of one another), add the soil as you go to give more support and stability.

      Try and use relatively weed-free soil. If soil or well-rotted compost is in short supply, you can try using a base layer of fresh manure or unrotted organic waste with a 10 cm (4 in) layer of soil on top, but be wary of the spiral settling as your base layer breaks down. You may need to add more soil at this stage if this is the case.

      Some herbs may require different soil conditions from others, however most will do well in good soil or compost. With careful planning, you can provide the optimum conditions for each by, for example, adding sand to the soil for Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary.

      To build a pond or bog at the base, first put down a layer of sand or old carpet to prevent stones or other sharp objects from puncturing the liner. Next, install a plastic liner and smooth a thin layer of mud around its surface to enable pond fauna and flora to establish quicker. Bury the edge of the lining under rocks and soil to prevent it from slipping. To build the bog area, use a perforated liner.

      Herbs for your herb spiral

      Calendula

      This sunny annual has beautiful yellow/orange flowers that bloom from mid-spring to early summer. It is one of the most widely used and effective medicinal plants. The flowers are loaded with healing properties including essential oils, saponins, carotenoid and flavonoids. It can be used to heal wounds, reduce inflammations and treat bruises, burns and cuts. In skincare, it is used to treat acne, eczema, rosacea and irritated or inflamed skin.

      Grow Sow seeds under cover in early spring – germination takes 5 to 14 days – or sow direct into soil on the southern side of the herb spiral in late spring when risk of frost has passed.

      Harvest Pick flowers as soon as they open in early summer. Young leaves can be eaten in salads.

      Uses Good for nappy (diaper) rash and skin complaints including cuts, grazes, minor burns, wounds and fungal conditions. Sap from the stem has traditionally been used to treat warts, corns and calluses.

      Lavender

      A woody perennial shrub with purple/bluish flowers that grow upwards on tall stems. It originated in the Mediterranean but now grows all over Europe and North America. The list of healing benefits of the lavender plant seems never ending – it is anti-inflammatory,