Hi'iaka's Healing Herb Garden

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This Year's Top 10 Medicinal Crops for Hawai`i

Every year for the past three years I have put together a "Top 10" list of the medicinal crops that I believe can and should be grown commercially in Hawai`i. Well, it's time for the 2004 edition! To refresh your memory (or for our "malihini," or newcomers to the island), here is last year's list:

10. The mints

9. Chamomile

8. Lemon Balm

7. Stevia

6. Mugwort

5. Valerian

4. Fo-ti

3. Soybeans

2. Siberian motherwort

1. Green tea

I've replaced number 5, valerian, and number 3, soybeans, this year. Here's why:

Valerian did not continue to grow successfully in my hot lowland location. Perhaps it would do better at a higher elevation, and I certainly encourage farmers above 500 feet in elevation to experiment with valerian, because it is a wonderful sedative herb that helps to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety and helps to give a restful night's sleep.

Soybeans are a major agribusiness crop in the farm belt on the mainland. After his talk about growing medicinals in Hawai`i back in January, Dr. Dennis McKenna persuaded me that it's pretty pointless for "small potatoes" farmers to think about competing with the large farms that are already producing tons and tons of soybeans. I agree.

The herbal supplement industry continues to grow as more people are trying alternative medical practices. The mainland companies that make herbal teas and sell bulk dried herbs need growers of many plants in their catalogs. And the beauty of the medicinals that I'm suggesting Hawaiian farmers consider growing is that they're easy to grow and thrive in poor soil and neglectful conditions for the most part. Why spend a lot of money creating an environment that is conducive for a particular plant (like a greenhouse) when there are plenty of plants that need no special care? Here are the traits that I believe medicinal cash crops should have:

*    They require very little fertilization and irrigation.

*    They will not escape cultivation and become yet another invasive species in
      our already-fragile environment.

*    They have no significant insect pests.

*    They have a short harvest so you can realize a quick return on your
      investment.

*    They have a good market in the herbal supplement industry.

Which Medicinal Plants Should Be Grown in Hawai`i?

What if you could grow a crop that required very little fertilizer, irrigation and insect controls? And what if that crop matured and gave you a harvest within the first year of planting? Here's my 2004 Top 10 list of the plants I've had success growing that fit these criteria:

10. The mints (Mentha spp., peppermint, spearmint, etc.)

Used by companies such as Celestial Seasonings in many of their tea blends.

9. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita and Chamaemelum nobile)

Calming herb used in tea blends such as "Sleepytime."

8. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Delicious lemony herb used in tea blends. It's mildly sedative, good for stomach aches, and helpful when you have a cold.

7. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)

A natural sweetener, this plant makes a product that is increasing in popularity as health-conscious consumers discover this delicious substitute for sugar and calorie-laden honey.

6. Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris)

This is the exact species used in Chinese medicine for nervous conditions and the lungs.

5. Kamani (Calophyllum inophyllum)

The oil from kamani nuts (called Tamanu in Tahiti) is said to be a miraculous skin healer.

4. Fo-ti (Polygonum multiflorum)

Known as He-shou-wu in Chinese medicine, the root of this attractive, spreading plant is a "rejuvenating tonic that will restore energy, increase fertility and maintain strength and vigor," according to Michael Tierra in his book, The Way of Herbs.

3. Red Zinger Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

This delicious, nutritious edible hibiscus is used in many commercial tea blends such as Red Zinger and Lemon Zinger, both made by Celestial Seasonings.

2. Siberian motherwort (Leonurus Sibericus)

This is used in Chinese medicine. It's an excellent heart tonic and is helpful for women's health concerns such as pre-menstrual syndrome and menopausal symptoms. It's also used in the Chinese practice of moxibustion.

1. Green tea (Camellia sinensis)

Sales continue to increase, partly due to studies that have demonstrated that it's effective against the formation of certain types of cancerous cells. It's delicious and refreshing and is a staple of life in Asian countries. It should become a staple of life in the United States as well.

Green tea belongs to the camellia family and has pretty white flowers. It's a shrub that thrives in very little soil on my pahoehoe. I sometimes toss a shovelfull of compost at the base of my single plant, but have never fertilized. Chinese rose beetles like to munch on the leaves, but the new growth is unaffected, which is fine because the medicinal part is the young leaves. When it doesn't rain for two weeks or more, I water it if I remember. I consider it to be a hardy survivor and a good candidate for commercial production.

According to Michael Tierra in The Way of Herbs, green tea is a stimulant (it has caffeine), diuretic (increases urination), and an astringent (constricts or binds, meaning that it's useful for stopping hemorrhages and secretions). It also halts diarrhea. Green tea mouthwash inhibits the growth of cavity-associated bacteria. Most importantly, several clinical studies have proven that green tea helps to prevent certain types of cancer, especially cancers of the pancreas, colon, small intestine, stomach, breast and lung. (Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines) Recent research shows that green tea may also be useful in preventing osteoarthritis by blocking the body's enzyme that destroys cartilage. (American Botanical Council, www.herbalgram.org)

Where to Buy Seeds

I get most of my medicinal herb seeds from two companies, both certified organic, and both in Oregon:

Horizon Herbs: www.horizonherbs.com; 541-846-6704.

The Thyme Garden: www.thymegarden.com; 541-487-8671.

Idea for Selling Medicinal Crops

Frontier Natural Products Co-op, located in Iowa, contracts with growers and buys bulk herbs for their large catalog. Call them at 1-800-669-3275 or visit their web site: www.frontiercoop.com.