When thinking about creating your own medicinal garden you do not have to have a lot of gardening knowledge or space. You can grow a lot of herbs that you can use as herbal oil infusions or make your own tinctures from herbs that you can start in your own home. It is important to know that if you are growing your own herbs and using them alongside homeopathic remedies for your health then the herbs with camphor (most of the time they are in the mint family, but not all the time) will cancel out most homeopathic remedies.
Just something to consider when growing your own things and using them alongside other wellness products.
Calendula (calendula officinalis)
A very useful herb in any household and suitable in everyday applications. It is a great one to have with the plant giving you an abundance of flowers that you can use for herb infused oils, salves and tinctures. Soothes chapped skin, speeds up healing time, reduces infection and quiets irritation. It is valuable and soothing to the mucous membranes.
Tulsi, Holy Basil (ocium sanctum)
This is an warm member of the mint family. It gives in abundance and since it is part of the mint family, pinching off the top sets of leaves sends out twice as many leaves and flower spikes. You can harvest it as many times as you’d like throughout the growing season and pluck out the tops daily to mix in with your water during the hot summer months. For your apothecary, tulsi is a plant that is used mainly as an uplifter. Applied to the skin helps relive insect bites and tinctures can be used for respiratory conditions. It has a tendency to lower blood sugar and may also alter insulin effects. (1)
Rosemary (salvia rosmarinus)
This is a multifunctional plant to have in the garden. Not only can it be used in cooking, but it is also great for medicinal purposes in your home. The leaves themselves are traditionally used for cooking purposes but many herbalist use rosemary for its mood elevating qualities. Rosemary infused oil is a great base for people that are using it as a massage oil for people that are feeling sore, achy or foggy minded.
It also acts as a great attractor for pollinators and beneficial insects. This plant does not like the cold, so when the weather gets cold in your area bring the plant indoors to grow as a perennial or get cold-hardy varieties.
Thyme (thyme vulgaris)
This is another herb that can be used medicinally and culinary. Pollinators love this herb as well! The tea is made with dry leaves and are a potential support for our immune system. The plant grows big when planted in good soil, so make sure you have a bit pot giving it plenty of room to grow. There are some people that use this plant to make essential oils in their home, and just as a safety note, thyme vulgaris is not to be used with children or ingestion as an essential oil instead thyme linalool is the go-to one for kids as an essential oil.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
The lemon scented member of the mint family has been used for over 2,000 years to soothe the nervous system and aid with insomnia. (2) A cream has been shown in studies to decrease the amount it takes herpes simplex lesions to heal (3) The leaves of the plant makes summertime water taste amazing. The tea and the tincture is used as a mood uplifter in many cases and it has been my personal uplifter during many postpartum times. The plant produces multiple harvests throughout the growing season.
Peppermint (mentha x piperita)
This one is a great one for beginners and it is fairly easy to maintain. It will speed like wildfire so be mindful of where you plant it. If you do not want to have it all over your garden then a large pot or a raised bed dedicated to just this plant will be just fine. They will be happy when you leave them alone and water them when the soil feels dry to the touch.
Throughout the season trim the plant back regularly to keep it growing and producing abundantly. It also produces abundant rooted cuttings to share with friends or other gardeners if you wish.
Medicinally, this plant is mainly used with coughs or respiratory issues. Also some people find that the cooling effects of this plant can be used as a compress in headaches and to aid with fevers.
Have you noticed that Peppermint and Lemon Balm look very similar? Make sure you are buying the right plant and not mistake one for the other when mixing them in with teas or making tinctures.
Chamomile (matricaria recutita)
This plant blooms late spring and it very easy to grow, as well as very beautiful. Chamomile flowers of both German and Roman plants have been used for centuries as a digestive tonic. (4) When harvesting chamomile flowers it is best to harvest them in the evenings before sundown so the bees get a chance to feast on the flowers throughout the day before heading home for the night.
The flowers dry quickly and it makes it easy to load up on your tea stash for the fall and winter. In the apothecary of part of the home, chamomile is an antispasmodic and calming nerving herb.
Yarrow (achillea millefolium)
Yarrow has been a major wound remedy throughout history. The history of this plant goes back to the Greek Myths and the warrior Achilles using this herb to treat wounds in the Trojan war. (5) In folktales this plant was called “nosebleed” for its ability to stop bleeding.
Aside from being helpful in healing the skin, yarrow is a great diaphoretic plant. It can be combines with peppermint to make tea to help over a fever.
Sage (salvia officinalis)
This is a well known garden herb that can be used as a spice. It it a very popular herb now in Europe and North America. People have been using it internally and externally for over 2,000 years. (6) Fresh leaves can be used for and sort of inflammation with joints or sprains or even used as a gargle. I am using it this year for salves mainly and culinary purposes when I need to calm any digestive inflammation down.
Plant this one in full sun with soil that drains well. In the garden you can plant it right alongside Rosemary, which is another easy plant. (7)
Other plants that you can look into growing that are fairly easy in the garden with medicinal properties are:
- Plantain (plantago sp.)
- Skullcap (scutellaria lateriflora)
- Motherwort (leonurus cardiaca)
- Elderberry (sambucus spp.)
If these all seem like too much then I would recommend starting small and choose one plant to use and know and work with that you think that you can use and your family will benefit from. Small wins will help you gain confidence and continue to move forward on your journey. Happy gardening!
