Herb Cabinet IV 10/3/08

HORT 3440- Herb Cabinet IV 10/3/08 *Tifton Mint Study - Dr. Dean Batal, UGA Horticulture Department - Tested 8 different mint cultivars - Used 4 different soil amendment treatments - 3 cultivars had significantly higher yields - Addition of mushroom compost increased yield(biomass) * Tonics and Adaptogens -Tonic: a substance with a nourishing or restorative effect on the body, a ?revitalizer? - People value tonics for their ability to promote longevity, convalesence, and a general sense of well being - Adaptogen: helps the body respond to physical and emotional stress, a performance enhancer *Ginseng -Panax ginseng, P. quinquefolius - Herbaceous perennials - Native to east Asia and eastern North America - Part used: root - Fatigue, tonic, athletic performance - Cautions: high blood pressure, heart palpitations - ?Panax? is derived from the Greek word for panacea - Asian Ginseng (?hot?) is more stimulating physiologically than American Ginseng (?cold?) - Wild-collected Ginseng roots command a much higher price than commercially grown material. *Siberian Ginseng - Eleutherococcus senticosus - Shrub to 2 meters - Native to eastern Asia - Part used: root - Fatigue, stress, increasing stamina, tonic, memory - Cautions: high blood pressure * Gingko - Ginkgo biloba - Tree native to China, fossils 200 million years old - Part used: leaf - Improves circulation, memory, cognitive function - Cautions: may interact with MAO inhibitors, anticoagulants *Gotu Kola - Centella asiatica - Herbaceous, creeping perennial - Native to India - Part used: whole plant - Improving memory, reducing stress, wound healing, cellulite -Cautions: no known risks