Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Basil is a plant native to India but has also grown in the Mediterranean for thousands of years. Famous for its culinary uses, basil is grown in pots placed outside houses all over southern Europe. A popular outdoor adornment, basil also repels flies. In India it is sacred to the Hindu gods Krishna and Vishnu. Basil contains many antiviral compounds and is a common folk remedy for warts. This aromatic annual herb can be used against acne, bug bites, gas, wounds, parasitic infections and dental problems. To use as a natural insect repellant, simply rub some crushed leaves onto your skin.

Clove (Eugenia aromatica)
The clove tree is commonly found in the North Moluccas of Indonesia, although most of production today is on the island of Pembra in the state of Tanzania. Cloves are dried flower buds of the clove tree, reportedly used in China as early as 266 BCE. This herb enjoys much culinary fame in North Africa and the Middle East where it is generally used in meat dishes and for aromatizing rice. Clove is a strong stimulant and carminative (stops the formation of intestinal gas and helps expel gas that has already formed) used to treat nausea, indigestion and dyspepsia (upset stomach). Clove has long been used as a remedy for toothache.

Creative hint: For a lovers' massage oil, combine 40 drops of clove essential oil with four tablespoons sweet almond oil.

German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Chamomile is known as the “physician plant” because when planted next to sick plants, it helps them revive. The sedative qualities of tea made from chamomile's fresh or dry flowers relieves travel sickness, hyper-activity in children, digestive disorders and insomnia. A hair rinse made with chamomile flowers lightens fair hair.

Helpful hint: A chamomile infusion has many uses – a gargle for mouth ulcers or as a compress to sooth infected eyes or burns.

Garlic (Allium sativum)
In Greek mythology, garlic helped Ulysses escape from being turned into a pig. Also, according to Mohammedean legend, it sprang up from Satan's left footprint as he stepped out of the Garden of Eden. European folklore gives garlic the ability to ward off the “evil eye.” Roman soldiers ate garlic to give them courage, and Egyptian slaves were fed garlic to keep their strength levels high. In current herbal medicine, it is said that a clove a day can lower the risk of stomach cancers, reduce harmful LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, lower blood pressure slightly and boost the body's immunity to infections. Garlic may also reduce blood clotting, and it has antiseptic qualities.

Helpful hint: Cooked garlic is every bit as effective as fresh garlic.

Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)
One of the most glorious of aromatic herbs, lavender, or its oil, is one of the best remedies for burns and stings, and it helps prevent scarring. It has sedative properties and is excellent for soothing anxiety and tension. A few drops of lavender oil in a massage oil helps relax muscles and ease neuralgic and rheumatic pain.

Creative hint: Sprinkle a few sprigs of fresh lavender next to the bathtub and place a cotton mat on top to stand on. The gently crushed lavender will fill the bathroom and permeate nearby rooms.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
The ancient Egyptians left sprigs of mint in the tombs of the pharaohs, and Roman legion-naires carried it throughout the world to use as a tonic and mental stimulant. Externally, pepper-mint oil, or menthol, is used in pain-relieving balms, massage oils and liniments. When applied to the skin, menthol has a cooling effect and increases blood flow to the area. Its oil also provides excellent relief for headaches when inhaled or massaged into the temples. Peppermint is also useful to increase concentration.

Creative Hint: Place a bar of herbal soap on a bed of fresh mint. An uplifting aroma is released when the leaves are crushed.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia, E. purpura, E. pallida)
An herb valued by North American Indians, Echinacea became famous as a remedy for snakebite and healing wounds. Today it is regarded as an effective blood cleanser, especially for skin problems such as boils and abscesses. It has a well deserved reputation for enhancing the immune system, as research shows that it stimulates the production of infection-fighting white blood cells.

Helpful hint: Whenever you feel a cold or flu coming on, sip Echinacea tea. Its preventative cold and flu properties are quite effective.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Centuries ago, rosemary was valued more for its rituals than for its culinary uses. “Coronaria,” another name for it, arises from its uses in the weaving of crowns and ceremonial garlands. The quote from Shakespeare, “There's rosemary, that's for remem-brance,” alludes to a tradition dating back to Grecian times when students wore garlands of rosemary while taking examinations to improve their memory. Elizabethan couples carried it on their wedding day as a sign of fidelity. Rosemary also symbolizes friendship, loyalty and love. It is an effective remedy for headaches, poor circulation and indigestion.

Helpful hint: Rosemary is believed to protect any house near which it is grown. Plant it in the garden or in a flower pot to ensure your family's well being.

Sage (Salvia officinalis)
“How shall a man die, who has sage in his garden?” advises an Arabic proverb. Sage has been grown as a medicinal and culinary plant since ancient times. It was believed to cure nervous disorders, stop bleeding, mend broken bones, aid in conception and extend life. Its origins lie in the northern shores of the Mediterranean, and it grows in profusion on the mountains and hills of Croatia and Dalmatia. The name Salvia comes from the Latin word salvere meaning to heal or save. Today, the largest demand for the herb is in cooking, but its uses are still vast. This evergreen aids in fighting indigestion, sore throat, hyper-perspiration, rhinitis, oral inflammation and lack of appetite.

Helpful hint: Italian peasants eat sage as a preservative of health, and many other country people eat the leaves with bread and olive oil, which has been said to be the most wholesome way of eating it.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
A perennial, native to the Mediterranean, thyme was grown in the gardens of monasteries in southern France, Spain and Italy during the Middle Ages for use as a cough remedy, digestive aid and treatment for intestinal parasites. Thyme is famous for its antibacterial and antifungal properties and is frequently prescribed in Germany for coughs, bronchitis and emphysema. Its antifungal properties can be used to combat athlete's foot.