If you have ever seen a cat roll around in catnip, you have observed the power of herbs. Also known as catmint, this herb can also be used by humans for the treatment of such conditions as anxiety, insomnia and nervousness.

From enhancing the taste of the food we eat to healing our bodies, herbs are as old as mankind. Referenced in the Bible are such examples as mustard seed, coriander seed, saffron and cinnamon.

At one time much of our medicine was derived from plants. Today 60 percent to 70 percent of modern medicines come from natural products.

With the growing emphasis on wellness and its focus on wholistic healthcare, herbs are gaining in popularity.
If you’d like to know more about herbs and how to use them, make plans to attend the 10th annual Herb Walk Saturday, May 24. Certified herbalist Matthew Wood will lead two sessions — at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. — at Don Popp’s farm north of Hutchinson near Belle Lake. Attendees will ride on a hay wagon as Wood narrates the tour.

If you go
10th annual Herb Walk and Hayride
When: 11 a.m. or 4 p.m.
Where: 20381 Belle Lake Road, Hutchinson
Cost: $5 per person
Call: Dorie Buck at (320) 587-4673

To read more, see the print edition of today's Hutchinson Leader, Thursday, May 22, 2008.

(Kay Johnson is a staff writer at the Hutchinson Leader. She can be reached at johnson@hutchinsonleader.com).