Herbal Medicine: Some Favorite Herbs to Grow

Burdock (Arctium lappa)

This plant is a biennial; that is, it requires two years to reach maturity. Harvest the seeds of the mature plant in summer and dig the root in late summer.

Medicinal Uses:

The seeds may be used to brew a tea that is cleansing and diuret­ic. Fresh burdock root is a strengthening nutritive tonic when sliced into soups and stir-fries; the Japan­ese use it often and call it gobo. Tea and tincture of the dried root cool and calm the liver while stimulating the flow of bile and other digestive enzymes.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Harvest "pot marigold" flowers just before they burst into bloom and remove any that are spent to encourage even more prolific production. Calendula will readily reseed itself.

Medicinal Uses:

Infuse the carefully-dried flower heads in olive oil or sweet almond oil. Calendula oil, or a salve made with the oil and added grated beeswax is a classic and effective remedy for healing burns, rashes, and other injuries.

Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens)

Once established, cayenne pepper plants revel in heat and tolerate drought. Harvest the ripe red peppers with the stems on. To dry them in a traditional way, thread a large, sharp needle with string or fishing line. Pierce the pepper stems with the needle, string them up, and dry in well-ventilated shade.

Medicinal Uses:

Always remove the seeds from the peppers when using them medicinally. Taken inter­nally, cayenne protects the heart and blood vessels by invigorating and warming the circulation. It improves digestion and acts as a decongestant. Applied exter­nally in an infused oil, it makes a good liniment for aching muscles.

Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita)

Chamomile isn't a fussy plant. Early summer blooming signals the be­ginning of harvest; removing the tiny flowers just prior to bloom stimulates more blossoms.

Medicinal Uses:

The tea of both Roman and German chamomile is antispasmodic and calming; it soothes bowel cramps and eases nausea and indigestion. Oil in­fused with chamomile and applied directly to the skin reduces inflammation. In tincture, chamomile flowers are useful against irritable bowel syndrome. Chamomile is safe for both adults and children.

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)

Wildcrafted nearly to extinction in some areas, this hardy, drought-tolerant, native perennial thrives in the garden. Given a boost of fertilizer now and then, it's spectacular. Harvest the blooms as they open, the leaves as needed, and the root the third or fourth year.

Medicinal Uses:

Water- or alcohol-based prepara­tions of the flowers, leaves, and roots stimulate the im­mune system and reduce symptoms of colds, flu, and infection. Tea of the flowers, leaves, or roots is benefi­cial, but the root is most powerful in E. angustifolia.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Tall, sweet-smelling fennel grows easily in temperate zones but requires at­tentive watering. It is best started from small plants. Seeds are harvested in the fall. The feathery leaves can be used as a culinary herb, and Mediterranean cuisine often features the bulb as a vegetable.

Medicinal Uses:

Fennel seeds help the digestive sys­tem by easing gas pains and cramping. A gargled infu­sion of the seeds will help a sore throat. Fennel tea in­creases breast-milk production.

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Grown nearly worldwide, garlic is easy to cultivate. The clove, planted in the fall or early spring, produces a bulb that is pulled up late in the summer.

Medicinal Uses:

Before the discovery of modern antibiotics, garlic was often used to treat infections and wounds, both internal and external. The infused oil or fresh clove can be applied to skin injuries for its antibiotic and antiviral effects. Taken internally, garlic supports the heart and blood vessels and lowers serum cholesterol and blood pressure. It acts against lung and bronchial infections.

Lavender (Lavandula offlcinalis)

Adaptable in tem­perate zones, lavender requires a sunny spot for best growth. The flower spikes are collected in midmorning just at bloom and dried.

Medicinal Uses:

Most people agree that the scent of lavender is soothing, and it has long been used to lighten the spirits. A tea of the flowering tops, added to the bath, relaxes the muscles and improves the mood. A sleep pillow that includes lavender along with hops and other calming herbs contributes to restful sleep.

Lemon balm (Melissa offlcinalis)

Capable of grow­ing three to four feet tall if given adequate space and sun, lemon balm is a hardy perennial. Once estab­lished, the plant is care-free. Tender leaves can be reg­ularly harvested as the plant fills out and becomes a de­lightful addition to any garden. The above-ground parts are harvested for medicinal purposes.

Medicinal Uses:

Safe even for very young children or during pregnancy, lemon balm has long been culti­vated for its calming properties, but recent research has focused on its antiviral uses. Tea or cream prepared with the herb aids healing when applied directly to cold sores or other herpes lesions such as shingles.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

For the gardener, the challenge of peppermint is not growing it—that's easy—but containing its growth. Easily established in most soils, this mint tolerates shade and drought and spreads aggressively by both underground and above-ground runners, so cut it back severely in spring, fall, and as needed during the summer.

Medicinal Uses:

Peppermint-leaf tea settles the stomach and helps reduce gas and bloating. It relieves intestinal cramps, especially when combined with other herbs such as chamomile that also aid diges­tion. Peppermint tea is also used to help reduce fevers and calm digestion in flu.

Plantain (Plantago major; P. laceolata)

This tough perennial is usually harvested from the wild, but giv­ing it a place in the garden assures that its first-aid help will be available when needed. It is widely natu­ralized in temperate zones; sown in the garden, it requires little attention and readily self-seeds. The leaves are harvested as needed.

Medicinal Uses:

Plantain leaves, applied fresh or as a dried-leaf poultice to a wound, speed healing and reduce inflammation of cuts, burns, bites, stings, and other external injuries. Internally, a tea is useful for lung problems, infection, and bowel and urinary tract irritation or inflammation. While the plantain leaves have a strong antibiotic effect, other parts of the plants do not.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Originally a Mediterranean plant, rosemary likes sun, well-drained soil, and protection from harsh winds or ex­treme cold. It is hardy and drought tolerant, but doesn't mind sitting in water. Harvest the tender new sprigs as needed.

Medicinal Uses:

Rosemary is an excellent tonic that can be used regularly to invigorate circulation and the nervous system. For those recovering from chronic illness or surgery, it lifts the spirits and en­courages healing. A tea or tincture of the plant, taken internally, can help start the menstrual flow. The tea, added to the bath, aids sore muscles and arthritic pain while stimulating circulation.

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Seeding or root division result in hardy perennial plants that typ­ically bloom about St. John's Day, June 24. Harvest the top 12" of the plant as the flowers open.

Medicinal Uses:

St. John's wort is well recognized as effective against mild to moderate depression when taken as a tincture or powdered extract. Less well known are its effectiveness against ulcers when the in­fused oil is taken internally and its antiviral effects; its anti-inflammatory properties make the infused oil ef­fective in treating external wounds, bruises, and irrita­tions as well. The oil, massaged into a sore area, aids in healing damaged nerves.