Easy Herbs For A Medicinal Garden
Thyme = fast growing perennial with powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and even anti-fungal properties, it can be used to treat coughs, acne, minor fungal infections, and it can even be used as an insecticide/pest repellant, disinfectant, and to kill mold spores.
Oregano = fast growing perennial rich in antioxidants, it has strong anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties and may reduce bodily inflammation. Oregano can be used for cooking, juicing, teas, tinctures, and cough syrups
Basil = small bushy annual high in antioxidants, it may reduce inflammation has anti-bacterial properties, and can help improve mood, alleviate depression, and sharpen the memory. Basil is excellent in teas and for cooking but can also be made into tinctures and herbal syrups
Catnip/mint = a perennial member of the mint family, is well know as a relaxant (in humans) and is most often used to treat insomnia, anxiety, and nervousness, but as an anti-inflammatory can also be used to treat intestinal discomfort, arthritis, and sore gums. Catnip may also stimulate uterine contractions and can thusly be used to treat delayed menstruations. While generally considered a mild and safe herb for most people DO NOT use catnip without consulting a doctor if you are pregnant. Catnip makes lovely teas, tinctures, syrups, and scented pillow sachets.
Beebalm/Oswego/wild bergamot = an attractive antioxidant rich perennial beloved by bees and butterflies, has a multitude of uses ranging from digestive aid, treatment for colic, cure for colds and fevers, and effective bug bite remedy, as well as non-medicinal uses such as herbal jams, fragrance in soaps, and in natural hair care. the leaves and flowers are edible but the most flavor/medicinal value is in the leaves which make a fine tea for those suffering from colds and fevers, and a rinse for those with skin irritation/inflammation.
Peppermint = Is a voracious spreading perennial herb, besides being tasty it has many health benefits, a tea, extract, or oil diffusion can be used to alleviate stress and mild tension headaches, the tea can be used as a tonic for nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and is a good ingredient for soothing homemade shampoos. Note: breastfeeding women should avoid excessive peppermint as concentrations of it in breast milk can cause reactions in infants. Men should also avoid excessively consuming mint as it can significantly lower testosterone levels.
Chamomile = a beautiful flowering annual that has been used as an herbal remedy since the time of Hippocrates in 500 BC. The list of conditions for which it’s been used is extensive. It includes fever, headaches, kidney, liver, and bladder problems, digestive upset, muscle spasms, anxiety, insomnia, skin irritations, bruises, gout, ulcers, rheumatic pain, hay fever, inflammation, hemorrhoids, colic, and menstrual disorders. Some of the purported benefits of chamomile likely stem from the fact that the essential oil and flower extracts derived from chamomile contain more than 120 chemical constituents, many of which are pharmacologically active. They include chamazulene (an anti-inflammatory), bisabolol (an oil with anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties), apigenin (a phytonutrient that acts as a strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral), and luteolin (a phytonutrient with potential anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activity).
Lavender = is a fast growing perennial (in most parts of the world) with fragrant foliage and beautiful purple flowers, it is most famously used as a relaxant and for anti-inflammatory properties, the natural organic compounds in its leaves and flowers can be ground between the fingers and then rubbed onto the temples. This topical application can soothe the body and mind by relieving anxiety and balancing the mood. Apart from this topical application, you can also brew lavender tea and achieve much the same effect. The antioxidant components in it can impact the endocrine system to lower the levels of stress hormones in the body. Lavender is also useful for treating topical skin conditions like acne and eczema, is naturally ant-septic, and can be added to homemade shampoos for healthy hair.
Rosemary = a sturdy shrub like plant native to the Mediterranean (perennial in warm climates) is one of my favorite herbs for its wide variety of uses both culinary and medicinal. Rosemary is high in antioxidants and is naturally antimicrobial, as an essential oil (diluted) or tea it can be applied topically to the scalp or added as an ingredient in homemade shampoos to promote healthy hair growth. Rosemary is also a strong cognitive booster, a tea brewed from the leaves or an aerial diffusion of the oil can be clarifying to the thoughts, it is also a strong natural deterrent for lice, fleas, ticks, mosquitos and other pests.
This is hardly an exhaustive list, if you’re interested in herbal medicine I would strongly urge you to do your own research, you may be surprised at how many seemingly simple garden plants have powerful medicinal properties.
As always, I’m not a doctor, consult a herbal professional/doctor and or do thorough research before self-prescribing herbal remedies.
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