Growing Herbs for a First-Aid Kit

Herbs are commonly used in many of the medicines you have in your medicine cabinet. Wouldn’t it be a lot easier and cheaper if you grew your own medicinal herbs? I know I’ve saved a lot of money by raising my own little first aid kit in the garden.

Do you have any of these problems? Try herbs!

• Coriander, chervil and thyme all work great for aching joints. Lavender, marjoram, lovage, peppermint and oregano can be used as an antibacterial.

• Got bad breath? Parsley, mint, anise and sweet cicely can help everyone breathe easier.

• Constipation is no fun. Both dandelion and fennel can help in getting things moving again.

• It is amazing how many herb plants can help with flatulence, including peppermint, summer savory, lemon balm, ginger, caraway, coriander, beebalm and lovage.

• There’s not much more soothing to your frazzled nerves than a warm cup of chamomile tea at the end of the day. Some other herb plants that I find soothing are goldenrod, lavender, dill and lemon balm.

• Nothing beats thyme for helping with your Saturday morning hangover. It is much more appealing than mixing a raw egg with tomato juice and trying to drink it.

• Cannot cure your hiccups? Try dill. Dill not only has a fantastic flavor; it also works like a charm.

• To treat your insect stings, including mosquito bites, use aloe, goldenrod, hens-and-chicks and summer savory.

• Can’t sleep? A lot of those herb plants that can calm your nerves will help here too, but chamomile and dill are most likely to assist you with your insomnia.

• For the seasonal allergies and other nasal congestions, experiment with horseradish, sage and violet. To clear your nasal passages out in a hurry, try a little horseradish.

• Peppermint is the best thing for indigestion and stomachache, but dill, lovage and fennel are also beneficial.

Please don’t be alarmed with all these treatments—it is not snake oil! You don’t believe me? Try it for yourself!

• Aloe Vera: I torture both of my poor aloe herbs by breaking off bits every few days to treat bug bites and burns, even sunburns Be careful not to over-water your aloe vera plant. It is a succulent and doesn’t need much water or any other special treatment. If you’ve planted your aloe vera in a container, but sure it has well-drained sod and lots of natural light. You’ll also want to make sure that it stays firmly rooted by packing the dirt around the stem.
• Chamomile: As one of the more popular medicinal herb plants, chamomile is helpful for both mental and physical maladies.. Chamomile comes in 2 types (German and true or Roman chamomile), and if you allow them, both of these plants can raise themselves next season in a process called self-sowing.
• Horseradish: If you need to clean out your sinuses, just take a sniff of horseradish. Believe it or not, even though it has a peppery flavor, the horseradish herb is a member of the mustard family. Although the leaves can grow to 2 feet long, it is the root that is important for the herb gardener.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Herb Garden Kits. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

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