Here are 7 easy herbs to grow at home that will bring great benefits to your overall health and wellbeing.
Herbs have been the basis of natural medicine down the ages. What’s more, many of today’s more modern treatments are based on natural sources. What if you had a ready supply of herbs easily available to boost your health and wellbeing every day?
The good news is that growing most herbs is simplicity itself, no matter what your level of gardening skill. Many herbs can be found in pots at the grocery store, and while they won’t last a lifetime, they’re great to keep on a kitchen windowsill or a sunny spot in your yard.
Others can be bought as young plants or even seeds from your local garden center. And although these take a little more effort to care for, it’s really not rocket science. Herbs are among the toughest and most forgiving plants out there, and even a total beginner can make a success of growing them.
So which types of herbs should you grow for a healthier life?
Easy herbs to grow at home
Lavender
Lavender has a centuries-old reputation as a reliever of stress and a calmer of nerves. These qualities also make it an effective treatment for insomnia. The simplest way to use it is to make a herbal tea by infusing the leaves in hot water, drinking before going to bed.
But if you don’t like the unique taste, cut and dry the flowering stems of the plant and use them to add perfume to a cushion or pillow. You’ll enjoy the calming effects every time you lie down for the night.
Chamomile
The flowers of this pretty herb make a delicious herbal tea with a wealth of health-giving properties. It calms many digestive issues, reduces nervous stress, and also helps clear colds and other minor maladies.
Garden Sage
A strongly brewed herbal tea made from garden sage is an excellent way of soothing mouth ulcers, neuralgic toothache, and sore throats. To make it even more effective, add a little apple cider vinegar to the infusion as it cools.
Basil
Basil can be turned into a sweetly fragrant tea, useful for reducing flatulence and indigestion. It will also give subdued appetites a healthy boost. Alternatively, chew a few fresh leaves for a quick pick-me-up to relieve fatigue.
Peppermint
A herbal tea made from peppermint’s dark green leaves packs a powerful punch in relieving digestive problems from heartburn to wind. When growing it, be sure to keep peppermint confined to its own pot, as it will rapidly spread throughout an open herb patch.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is an aromatic herb from the mint family and shares many of the digestive benefits of peppermint. However, lemon balm’s main asset is its ability to lighten mood and soothe anxious complaints. Simply add a few fresh or frozen leaves to a small cup of hot water, stir well, and drink the infusion.
Calendula or Marigold
The yellow or orange petals of calendula have antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties which make this a great herb for soothing irritated skin. Shred and chop the flowers into an oil base to make a thick poultice, and use it for mild sunburn, itchy rashes, and minor cuts and scrapes.
Herbal home remedies are no substitute for modern medicine if you have a serious illness. But for many of the day-to-day maladies and gripes everyone encounters, homegrown herbs make a natural and effective alternative.