
                                    CARAWAY  1/2
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                                    CULTIVATION:
     Caraway  is a biennial herb with an  erect, slender, and branched stem. It
     grows to about 2 feet in height, bearing parsley like feathery leaves, and
     small white umbrella-like clusters of tiny white flowers.

     Caraway  needs full sun or light shade, and a rich soil. Sow seeds outside
     in  late  spring or in early autumn. Seed  should be put in a shallow hole
     and  in  permanent position. Germination time  is about 14 days, and plant
     matures  in about 70 days. Grows in zone 3-10. Thin to 8 inches apart when
     large  enough  to  handle. Caraway can be  grown  indoors so long as it is
     placed in a sunny position.

     Gather leaves when young, and pick seed heads in late summer or when seeds
     are  brown. Dig up roots during the second year. Dry seeds by hanging seed
     heads upside down over open container.



                                  CULINARY  USES:
     Caraway  seeds  can be added to  flavor soups, bread, cake, cookies, apple
     pie,  baked apples, and cheese. Sprinkle  over rich meats, pork, goose and
     Hungarian beef stew to aid the digestion.

     Add  seeds  to  cabbage water to reduce  the  cooking  smell. Roots can be
     boiled as vegetable.

     If  you  buying seeds in the store  look  for the dark seeds from northern
     Europe, especially from Holland, there said to be the best.

     Chop  young  leaves  into salads and soups,  and  roots can be cooked as a
     vegetable.



                                   MEDICAL  USES:
     A  pinch  (  about  1/2 teaspoon )  of  caraway  seeds can help settle the
     stomach  and  relieve  flatulence. Because it  is  the volatile oil in the
     seeds  that give you the desired  effect, eating the seeds themselves will
     give you the greater amount of the oil.

     Researchers  have discovered that two  chemicals called Carvol and Carvene
     in caraway seeds sooth the smooth muscle tissue of the digestive tract and
     help expel gas.

     Caraway  is also a powerful appetite stimulant and a standard infusion can
     be drunk half an hour before a meal.

     For a pleasant-tasting infusion that might help aid digestion, relieve gas
     or  menstrual  cramping, use 2-3 teaspoons of bruised or crushed seeds per
     cup  of  boiling water. Steep for 10-20 minutes,  and drink up to 3 cups a
     day. Caraway appears to have anti spasmodic properties and might relax the
     uterus.  Pregnant  women  should be careful  and  not  use the herb
     medicinally.
     


                                    CARAWAY  2/2
                                    ============


                                      WARNING:
     Pregnant women should be careful and not use the herb medicinally.



                                    OTHER  USES:
     Planted in your garden, it will attract bees. Use well dried lemon balm in
     potpourris and pillows. It is used frequently in French liqueurs.


                                  COSMETIC  USES:
     When  crushed,  the  leaves smell and taste  like  lemon, and from them is
     produced a volatile oil used in perfumes and cosmetics.

     Lemon  balm  can  be  used for an  aromatic  and  stimulating  bath, or to
     condition  greasy hair. Tie 1/4 cup of crushed balm leaves into a bag. Let
     the water run through the bag until the tub is filled.

     HERBAL BATH INFUSION : Infuse 10 ounces of the dried herb, or a handful of
     fresh  herbs  to 2 1/2 cups of  boiling  water. Leave for 10 minutes, then
     strain and pour into the tub.
     
