How to Grow Epazote, Gotu Kola and St. John's Wort

Epazote (Chenopodium ambrosioides) is a plant native to Mexico and South America but has naturalized throughout the world and grows freely in the southern U.S. You have probably seen it on the roadsides and in your garden. It has a distinctive odor when the sharply toothed leaves are crushed, and a big taproot that keeps it coming back if you don't pull the entire plant from the ground. It generally spreads by seeds that it produces by the millions in the fall. It is also known as wormseed, for its ability to rid the body of parasites, and skunk-weed for its strong smell. It's hard to believe that the Kofan Indians in South America tie it to their arm as a "perfumed bracelet." The green stems make a great wreath base if you gather them before late summer. Used in Mexican dishes to relieve gas.

In the Yucatan, not only are the seeds used to rid the body of worms, but for asthma and certain nervous afflictions. It's also used in other parts of the world to treat ulcers, increase breast milk production, and heal wounds. Interestingly enough, it's even being studied as a treatment for certain types of cancer. A few fresh epazote plants thrown on a fire will repel mosquitoes better than citronella. A tea made from green epazote plants soaked in water and sprayed around the garden will kill snails. The most popular use of the herb is to add a few leaves to a pot of beans to help reduce gas. I don't recommend eating or trying anything for any illness, including epazote. This column is for informational purposes only. The oil from the epazote plant can be extremely toxic.

Gotu Kola (Centelia asiatica) pictured above, is thought to increase memory functions and lessen hardening of the arteries. It's also thought to improve hair and nail growth, as well as promote healing of wounds. Unlike epazote, which will grow anywhere, gotu kola needs an area that will stay damp and shaded, much like mint. It is not invasive, but will make a great addition to your herbal or medicinal garden.

Many herbs can have their fifteen minutes of fame and St. John's Wort (Hypericum) is one of them. Once thought to be a natural cure for depression, some studies show that it is only minimally effective. It's been used to ward off evil spirits, so I figure it can't hurt to have a few plants around the house, just in case. There is a type that grows wild that you may have seen in the in open fields and ditches. It has buttery yellow ragged flowers and stands about 12 inches tall. Apparently the seed can wait a long time until the right conditions exist. The kind most commonly used in the herb garden is the ground cover, but all types are easy to grow, including the larger bushes.

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