10 healing herbs that have been used for centuries and you can grow in your survival garden Time has come to plan our summer gardens, in this article we will show 10 superhealers you’ll want to add to your garden. These herbs possess amazing powers that have been used for centuries to soothe and heal, and with usage dating as far back as the first century CE and before, so it´s undeniable including them in your diet can yield big benefits.
Basil: Traditionally called the “king of herbs”. Thought to have mild antiseptic functions and used medicinally as a natural anti-inflammatory. Some healing uses are for flatulence, lack of appetite, nausea and cuts and scrapes.
It´s a great herb to add to spaghetti and in pesto too. Basil will have to be renewed on a yearly basis as it´s an annual plant that completes its life cycle, from germination to the production of seed, within one year.
German Chamomile: Chamomile´s flower heads are commonly used for infusions, teas and salves. It´s also used in herbal medicine for a sore stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, and as a gentle sleep aid. It´s normally taken as an herbal tea, two teaspoons of dried flower per cup of tea, and mouthwash against oral mucositis.
Feverfew: This perennial, member of the sunflower family has been used for centuries in European folk medicine as a treatment to treat headaches, arthritis and to reduce fever. Its many uses include easing headache pains, especially migraines. Feverfew should not be taken by pregnant women.
Lemon Balm: Lemon balm is a member of the mint family. Considered a calming herb, it has been used for centuries to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion. You can also crush the leaves and rub them onto the skin as a mosquito repellent.
Lemon balm has an exceptionally high antioxidant activity, and promotes the sense of calm.
Parsley: This biennial plant when brewed as a tea, helps supplement iron in a person’s diet, particularly for those who are anemic. Drinking parsley tea also helps boost energy and circulation of the body, and helps fight fatigue in anemic people. Other uses? Parsley tea fights gas and flatulence in the belly, kidney infections, and bladder infections, this herb should be avoided by pregnant women, as it is known to have uterotonic effects in high doses.
Sage: Named “Salvia” which means “to heal”. Native to the Mediterranean region, this plant is used in traditional medicine internally (as tea or directly chewed) for treatment of disorders of the respiratory tract, mouth, gastrointestinal tract, and skin, due to its excellent antibacterial and astringent properties.
Thyme: Thyme is used to relieve coughs, congestion, indigestion and gas. This perennial is rich in thymol, a strong antiseptic, making it highly desirable in the treatment of wounds and even fungus infections. This plant can do well in cooler climates.
Rosemary: Rosemary is known to help sharpen mental clarity and stimulate brain function. The needles of the fragrant rosemary plant can be used in a tea to treat digestive problems. The same tea can also be used as an expectorant and as a relaxing beverage that is helpful for headaches. Other healing uses include improving memory, relieving muscle pain and spasms, stimulating hair growth, and supporting the circulatory and nervous systems.
Peppermint: Peppermint has a long tradition of medicinal use. It is commonly used to soothe or treat symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion, irritable bowel, and bloating.
The leaves and stems contain menthol which in addition to use medicinally, is used as a flavoring in food, and a fragrance in cosmetics. The plant is prolific and grows well in almost all locations. The roots of this plant emit runners that quickly overtake gardens so they are best planted in a pot.
Lavender: This plant is a strong antiseptic, lavender tea, when applied topically, can help heal cuts, wounds and sores. It can also be used to mitigate bad breath.
A tea made from lavender has many uses with one of the foremost being its ability to have a calming effect on a person’s mind and body. Lavender can promote a sense of well-being and alleviate stress. Another excellent use is to dry them and seal them in pouches and place them among stored items of clothing to give a fresh fragrance and to deter moths. To get started with your garden will depend on the amount of space you have, the climate, and the availability of seeds, starts, or cuttings. A good recommendation is that to start with three or four herbs that appeal to you from a healing perspective. Most of these plants can be grown in pots on a porch or deck so if space is your problem, you can start modestly. If you would like to learn more about the healing properties of herbs, the University of Maryland Medical Center has a web site with a lot of useful information about herbs and other alternative medicine topics. Please share with your family and friends, so they can start their own healing garden!
Thanks to Natural Cures not Medicine for this very informative article.
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