How To Start a Medicinal Garden

For the last several years, I’ve been very into herbs and medicinal plants. I’ve been making my own salves, making my own teas and so on. I have found real results when using certain plants for certain medicinal needs.

Not all plants are going to provide instant results nor will they provide the same results for everyone. Every person responds differently to different things. Be cautious when trying something new and don’t go too hard, too fast. You might be allergic, it might simply be ineffective.

Learn the plant, learn which parts are usable for medicinal purposes and most importantly, learn how to properly process the plant for the greatest effect. Every plant will provide something different in terms of medicinal uses, as well as how it’s used; rubbed on the wound, consumed, etc.

How to start your own medicinal garden

Step 1: Decide where you’re going to grow the plants

Many herbs and plants can even be grown indoors. Be sure to read the growing instructions carefully to make sure they have enough water and light. If you can’t offer natural light, artificial grow lights will need to be supplied.

Step 2: Decide which plants you want to grow

Make a list of the types of medicinal plants you want to grow based on the amount of space you have available. If you’re exclusively going to be growing indoors, then small potted herbs for everyday eating might be best. If you’re planning to grow outdoors, you may have more room for different types of plants. The best way to figure out which plants you want to grow is to ask other people, do an internet search, head to your local nursery or purchase a book on medicinal plants.

Step 3: Buy the seeds

It’s time to purchase your seeds. There are many places to buy seeds. If you can’t find them at a nursery, home improvement stores, try to find them online. I’d recommend buying seeds from a reputable website with plenty of good reviews.

Step 4: Plant the seeds

Follow the instructions on the seed packet for best growing practices. You’ll also want to pay attention to the time of year and your gardening zone. If you’re planting indoors, the zone won’t be such an issue, but do make sure they have good soil, proper water and proper light. If the seed packets don’t have instructions, do a search online to find the best growing method for that particular plant.

Here are some recommended medicinal plants for your garden:

There are so many medicinal plants and I’m not going to name every single one of them. Here are some of my favorites and what they can offer in terms of medicinal uses.

Lemon Balm – lemon balm is used as a sleep aid and digestive tonic. It can be consumed as a tea, taken as a supplement or extract, or applied to the skin in balms and lotion. 

Garlic Chives – The whole plant is antibacterial, cardiac, depurative, digestive, stimulant, stomachic and tonic. It is an anti-emetic herb that improves kidney function. It is used internally to treat urinary incontinence, kidney and bladder weaknesses etc.

Sage – Sage is used as a wash for mouth sores, gum problems, sore throats, and tonsillitis. Sage makes a good addition to cold and flu formulas. 

Yarrow – Yarrow is a well-known diaphoretic herb which has long been used to reduce fevers and clear up congestion colds, flu, and other upper respiratory infections.

Mullein – Not just for natural toilet paper! Mullein leaf is a highly-regarded, safe lung tonic of particular use for respiratory ailments, such as asthma, laryngitis, chronic bronchitis, and dry coughs. This is one herb recommended for children and adults to add to nearly all respiratory formulas. 

Lavender – Used to cure everything from headaches to sunburns, the soothing scent of its oil relaxes the mind, while collagen regenerating agents in the plant renew your skin.

Stinging Nettle – Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia.

Lemon Grass – Lemongrass is used for treating digestive tract spasms, stomachache, high blood pressure, cholesterol control, convulsions, pain, vomiting, cough, achy joints, fever, the common cold, and exhaustion. It can also be used to kill germs and as a mild astringent and antiseptic. Also as a strong reputation as an insect repellent.

Chamomile – Chamomile tea is commonly used in many parts of Europe, South America, and Mexico for children with colic and other digestive disturbances, fever, insomnia, and the restlessness and irritability commonly associated with teething. Women have long used chamomile for PMS and menstrual cramps.

Plantain – It contains a high percentage of mucilage, which gives it its soothing properties; allantoin, to speed wound healing; and aucubin, a strong antimicrobial substance, to help prevent infections.

Toothache Plant – Spilanthes works in a similar fashion to echinacea in treating painful canker sores. Spilanthes has antibacterial and antifungal properties making it a good purifying herb used for disinfecting wounds and curing ringworm infections. 

Calendula – Calendula is popular in ointments, salves, or creams for various skin problems, such as eczema, skin rashes, bed sores, diaper rash, varicose veins, bruises, burns, and sore breasts. The tea is used locally for sore throats, slow-healing wounds, or leukorrea and internally for fever and swollen lymph glands. 

Aloe – Aloe vera is often used to treat burns, though it has many other benefits such as consuming it for better digestive health. It can also help to clear up acne.

Garlic – Garlic is known for its antibacterial abilities. It helps reduce inflammation and reduces risk of hypertension and stroke.

Ginger – Adding some ginger to tea and food is known to prevent and reduce the time required for common cold to disappear. It also relieves sore throats and chest paints. When mixed with honey, it is a powerful herb to treat flu and reducing sore throat.

Mint – Mint offers a wide variety of antibacterial benefits. The mint family consists of thyme, sage, rosemary, lavender, basil, peppermint and spearmint. Create a tea with any mixture of the above herbs.

Oregano – Oregano’s most active ingredient, carvacol, has been shown to be stronger than streptomycin, penicillin and one of the most powerful synthetic antibiotics, vancomycin. Oregano is a broad use antibiotic, it will destroy any bacteria that approaches.

This list has only scratched the surface of medicinal plants. If you haven’t considered adding a medicinal garden to your preps, I would highly recommend it.

Make your own teas, salves, cook with them, make your own tinctures or get wild and make your own essential oils. There are so many ways to incorporate medicinal plants into our everyday lives. Having them available and around will allow us to have an all natural pharmacy right in your own backyard!

What other medicinal plants would you recommend?