Sweet Cicely

I read about this herb plant on one of the blogs I follow - don't remember the name right now - and the name intrigued me. So i looked it up. Its botanical name is Myrrhis odorata (Umbelliferae).

The description of the plant is thus: bushy perennial with thick taproot hollow grooved stems that grow up to five feet. Bright green and hairy sweetly scented leaves are soft and ferny. Umbels of small white flowers appear in summer followed by dark brown sharp tipped seeds. Use seeds while green or dried, roots dug up in the fall or whole green plant for medicinal purposes. Whole plant if gentle laxative and used in healing ointments.

Infusion: Used to prepare more delicate parts of plants. 3 cups of water to ounce of dry herb or 1.5 ozs. of fresh herb; p0ur the freshly boiled water over herbs in a pot and let the herbs steep for at least 10 minutes. Strain and serve. Refrigerate unused portions, lasts up to 24 hours.

Decoction: used to prepare roots, barks, and berries. Four cups of water to 1 ounce of dry herb or 2 ounces of fresh herb; finely chop herb in pot and cover with water (which should be cold). Bring this mixture to a boil, cover and simmer for about 5 minutes. Then strain the liquid off and press as much of the remaining liquid out of the herbs as possible. Refrigerate unused portions, lasts up to two weeks.

Tincture: a tincture is a good solution for long term treatment and will store for up to two years. 8 ounces of dried herb, 1.5 0unces alcohol (grain alcohol like Everclear)and 4 cups of water. Chop your herbs finely and put them in a glass jar with a good tight fitting lid. Pour the liquid over the herbs and tighten the lid. Keep the jar in a warm, dark place for 2 weeks. Shake the jar every two days. After two weeks, strain the liquid off through cheesecloth into a clean, colored glass jar and store away from heat and direct sunlight.

Medicinal Uses: gentle laxative, tonic

Used in spells relating to: Protection, Exorcism, Healing, Spirituality

This plant likes sunny, moist ravines, road banks, and the edges of riparian areas, never in standing water. This plant is widespread and can be found in mountainous areas up to 8,5000 feet - from British Columbia south into the mountains of California and throughout the Rocky Mountains. These plants are commonly found in stands of quaking aspen and moist, well-drained soil.

Sweet Cicely likes a soil that rich and on the moist side. It also does well in shaded locations.

If you are in a hot location the shade is really important, and the moisture because it doesn't do well in the heat. Sweet Cicely is difficult to germinate the seed because it needs to freeze than thaw before germinating. Also the seeds need to be fresh to get a good germination rate.

It's easiest to look for a plant.

The individual plants are short lived, but it seeds itself like crazy and can become quite invasive if it likes its conditions. The leaves are pretty mottled green and are large and fairly deeply cut.

Harvest young leaves and stems any time for culinary uses. Leaves wilt quickly, so pick them just before use. Sweet cicely leaves are best when used fresh, as they do not dry well and lose some of their flavor when frozen. The foliage has a sweet anise flavor and should be chopped quite finely over a fruit salad.

Harvest seed heads seed heads while seeds are green and unripe. Collect seed heads with a small portion of the stem still attached. Hang upside down by the stems to dry. Store dry seeds in an airtight container.