National Herb Day 2025 is on Saturday, April 26, 2025: national herb of india?

Saturday, April 26, 2025 is National Herb Day 2025. Events at Richters Herb Day May 5, 2013

Turmeric (Haldi).

Could be Neem too.

Have a Good Day.

$200 of food for 30 days?

I usually spend $35-40 a week for food. That does not include eating out. When you are conserving money or on food assistance - eating out is not a good use of your limited resources.

I think the best thing about being on a food budget is to do it well - you end up eating better food, because you can't afford to eat a lot of processes and pre-packaged food.

Typically the first thing I do is figure out how much protein I need for the week. I figure this is the most expensive part of the week, so I figure out how many portions I need - and then I buy what is on sale that week.

Same goes for fruits and vegetables - i buy what is on sale. There is ALWAYS foods in both the meat and produce department that are on sale - never buy at full price if you can avoid it.

I buy white potatoes and sweet potatoes - they are inexpensive and filling. Diced white potatoes are great roasted in the oven with some seasoning and it tastes "gourmet." Make oven fries if you miss fast food French fries.

If root vegetables are on sale that week, (especially in the winter) then I make root vegetable stew. If i have any left over meat - it goes in as well. Some bouillon cubes, root veggies, extra meat and barley makes for a very inexpensive and filling meal and I usually make enough for two days. Since it is mainly left overs and water - it is like getting free meals.

Winter squash are inexpensive and filling.

Do you like rice porridge? (Congee, jook, etc) that is another great way to use up leftover veggies and meat. Congee is good for any meal.

Miss fried foods like chicken nuggets, fish sticks, etc? Then learn how to bread using cheap bread crumbs and egg wash and fry on the stove. It is fast and simple to do.

I don't do a lot of dried beans - as you can get them canned as much the same price. They are good in soups, salads and of course - hummus. All very cheap to put together.

Want something sweet? Buy flour and sugar from the bulk food aisle - and get the recipe for "brownies in a cup" or any of the "cake in a cup" it is just a few ingredients (flour, sugar, oil, water, salt, egg, vanilla extract or cinnamon) and you can whip up an individual serving of cake in the microwave, in a coffee mug in under 2 minutes. The recipes are in on the Internet.

Ramen noodles - buy them when they are on sale and stock up. You don't have to use all the seasoning packet if you don't want to - and add veggies to it. Pasta is very cheap - if not available in the bulk foods aisle, get it from the dollar store. Canned sauce is cheaper than sauce in jars - and spaghetti sauce is only cheap to make when you grow your own tomatoes so just stick to canned sauce. Alternately - make spaghetti with olive oil and garlic (plus a little salt and any dried green herbs you have) for an authentic Italian meal.

Another trick with the Ramen noodles is to save the seasoning packet and put it in the water for white rice. This makes great fried rice the next day, too.

Every town has a bread outlet run by the local bakery - get day old stuff here for less than half of retail - or cheaper! Buy a few loaves at a time and freeze what you aren't going to use right away.

You can do it - it does take some planning, but many people eat on less money that $200 a month.

Another option - unless you have health issues, consider fasting one day out of the week and drink only water that day. It is great for your health and your budget.

Hey - suffering from insomnia. What herbs work for it?

The following 9 herbs for insomnia can be used during the day, or try using 20-30 minutes before bedtime.

Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)

Chamomile is a time-honored sedative herb which can be safely used by children and adults alike. Chamomile tea is commonly used in Europe, South America, and Mexico for insomnia and restlessness combined with irritability, particularly in children. Chamomile oil can also be put in bath water (5-6 drops) to soothe overwrought nerves, diluted to 2% to make an excellent massage oil, or used as an inhalant.

Dose: Tea, 1 cup 2-3 x daily; Tincture, 30 drops 3 x daily.

Hops (Humulus lupulus)

In the early 1900s, Eclectic physicians used hops as a sedative specifically for insomnia due to worry or nerve weakness (Bell, 1925; Ellingwood, 1983). Hops, a major flavoring component of beer, has a long history of use for sleeplessness, nervousness, and restlessness. Hops pillows are sometimes used for mild insomnia.

Dose: Tea, 1 cup 2-3 x daily; Tincture, 30-40 drops 2-3 x daily.

Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)

Lavender is a gentle strengthening tonic for the nervous system. A few drops of lavender oil added to a bath before bedtime are recommended for persons with sleep disorders. Additionally, the oil may be used as a compress or massage oil or simply inhaled to alleviate insomnia.

Dose: Tea, 1 cup 2-3 x daily; Essential oil--oil may be inhaled, massaged into the skin (use 10 drops essential oil per ounce of vegetable oil), or added to baths (3-10 drops).

Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata)

Herbalists consider passion flower an important herb for insomnia caused by mental worry, overwork, or nervous exhaustion. In England it is an ingredient in forty different commonly-sold sedative preparations. Passion flower is used for minor sleep problems in both children and adults (Bruneton, 1995). It is an excellent sedative with no side effects even when used in large doses (Spaick, 1978).

Dose: Tea, 1 cup 3 x daily; Tincture, 30-60 drops 3-4 x daily.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

In the United States, herbalists use valerian extensively for its sedative action against insomnia, nervousness, and restlessness. It is recommended for those type of people who have a hard time falling asleep, because it shortens sleep latency. It also reduces nighttime waking. Valerian is an excellent herbal sedative that has none of the negative side effects of Valium and other synthetic sedatives. It works well in combination with other sedative herbs, such as California poppy, skullcap, hops, and passion flower.

Dose: Tea, 1 cup as needed; Tincture, 2-5 droppersful 2-3 x daily.

Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa)

Wild lettuce is a mild sedative and nervine used for restlessness and insomnia. It may be found in a variety of formulas for the treatment of acute and chronic insomnia. It is used homeopathically for restlessness and insomnia (Boericke, 1927). Because of its safety of use and calming effects, wild lettuce is a good children’s remedy.

Dose: Tincture, 2-3 drpfls 3-4 x daily.

California poppy (Escholtzschia californica)

California poppy is my favorite sedative and sleep-promoting herb which can currently be found in a variety of herbal remedies sold in the United States for promoting sleep, helping one to relax, and easing mild anxiety. Because of its mild sedative and analgesic properties, it can be given safely to children. Clinical and laboratory work on California poppy has clearly demonstrated the plant's sedative and anti-anxiety properties; it has been shown to improve both sleep latency and quality (Bruneton, 1995).

Dose: Tea, 1 cup 2-3 x daily; Tincture, 30-40 drops 2-3 x daily.

Note: Since the tea is mild, a tincture is recommended when a stronger dose is desired.

Kava kava (Piper methysticum)

Kava is the national drink of Fiji and is popular throughout the South Seas. It imparts a calm feeling, relaxes the body, and sometimes enhances communication and dreaming. This sedative herb is often used for sleeplessness and fatigue.

Dose: Tea, 1 cup 2-3 x daily; Tincture, 3-4 droppersful 2-3 x daily.

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

This common yellow-flowered weedy herb from Europe is quickly becoming an important part of modern herbal therapeutics. It has a long history of use dating back to ancient Greek times. Modern scientific studies show that it can help relieve chronic insomnia and mild depression when related to certain brain chemistry imbalances. Because this herb can sensitize the skin to sunlight, if you are taking a full dose, avoid direct skin exposure to bright sunlight.

Dose: Tincture, 1/2 to 1 teaspoon 2-3 x daily; powdered extract, 1-2 tablets or capsules 2-3 x daily. Allow 2-3 weeks for the full therapeutic effect to develop. If you experience light sensitivity or other unpleasant symptoms, reduce or discontinue the St. John’s wort and consult a qualified herbalist for a total program.

Herbal Formulas for Insomn