There are so many choices in medicinal herbs. The first step in choosing which ones you will grow is to decide what you would like to use them for. For example, if your family gets a lot of coughs in the winter, you may want to grow Horehound or Angelica. Deciding this first will greatly help you in the long run, especially if you only have a small place to grow your plants.
A good rule of thumb advice when purchasing your herb plants is that while you may buy several plants of the same kind of annual herbs, you should only buy one pot each of perennial herbs. Once they are established, they will spread. In just a couple short years you will be trading or selling off surplus plants.
We are going to take a look at some medicinal herbs, along with giving you a few recipes and some growing advice to make the planning of your medicinal garden a bit easier.
Barberry (Berberis Vulgaris) is a deciduous shrub that will reach six to eight feet tall and is hardy down to zone 4. It prefers average, well-drained soil and is easily propagated by planting cuttings or root suckers in the fall or sowing seed in either spring or fall. It is susceptible to rust fungi.
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi) is a creeping evergreen shrub that gets three inches high and is hardy down to zone 2. It prefers moist, peaty, acid soil that is well drained. Propagation may be done by either sowing seed or taking cuttings in the fall, or you may layer the branches during any season. Pests or diseases seldom bother it. The dried leaves of this plant are the part used medicinally. The leaves of this plant are used to make a medicinal, diuretic tea used to treat bladder infections. An infusion of Bearberry was commonly used to stop the spread of poison ivy rashes according to folklore.
Betony (Stachys Offinalis) is a perennial shrub that will reach three feet and is hardy to zone 4. It prefers average, well-drained soil. This plant can be propagated by sowing seed in early spring or by diving older plants in fall. Cuttings may also be taken in late spring or summer. It is seldom bother by either pests or diseases. Not only can this plant be used medicinally, but the leaves from this plant will also make a chartreuse dye. A pleasant tasting tea can be made to treat diarrhea. A gargle tea can also be made from the astringent leaves of this plant and is used to treat sore throats. However, use this in moderation. Excessive internal use of this plant will irritate the stomach. This plant is also used for asthma, bronchitis, heartburn, and kidney problems. The juice from the plant can be used to heal cuts and as a poultice for sprains.
Burdock (Arctium Lappa) is a biennial to zone 3 and will grow three to ten feet. It prefers to grow in deep, loose, moist soil. Propagation is done by seed in early spring. This plant is seldom bothered by either pests or diseases. The roots of this plant should be dug up at the end of the season, scrubbed, sliced and left to dry on paper in the sun in you want to use this for tea. Other uses include using the fresh root in salads or soups. Some people also saute the roots or young leaves.
A good seed diuretic is made by using one teaspoon of crushed Burdock seeds to one pint of boiling water. Steep for thirty minutes and drink. Good for the bladder and also to flush the kidneys.*
A good pet tonic made with Burdock consists of two tablespoons each Burdock root, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper along with four tablespoons of goldenseal powder. The recipe says to fill some #0 capsules with this mixture and give your pet one capsule for each ten pounds of weight every four hours and to continue treatment until capsules are gone.* However, it has been my experience that it is easier to put the correct amount of the mixture in something that they will readily eat. For example, a spoon or two of moist dog food or a piece of bread and peanut butter.
Calendula (Calendula Offinalis) is an annual that reaches one to two feet. Calendula prefers to be grown in moist, fertile soil that is neutral too slightly acidic and well drained. Propagation of this plant is done by seed. The seed should be sown in early spring in cold climates and in the fall in milder climates. Calendula is susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spot fungi, aphids, whiteflies, leafhoppers, and slugs. Dried and ground flower petals from this plant may be used as a substitute for saffron.
A good tincture to keep around is a Calendula Tincture. It is used to treat sores, chapped skin, treat wounds and cuts, and stop bleeding to name just a few of the things it will do. The recipe for making a Calendula Tincture is to add one-cup Calendula flower petals to two cups of olive oil, and allow to stand in a warm place for two weeks. Strain this mixture and add several drops of tincture of benzoin. Store in sterilized bottles.*
As you can see, herbs can be used in many different ways from dried to teas to tinctures to name just a few. A mortar and pestle is a good investment, as is a good herb book.
Again, please keep in mind that while using herbal products for health care, a licensed doctor should attend to serious or prolonged illness.
* Taken from “Jude’s Herbal Home Remedies,” by Jude C. Williams, M.H.
