Home Herb Garden Advice

Many people are looking for ways to cure the little aches and pains that ail them now a days. This can be for a variety of reasons: The inconvenience of running to the doctor for every minor ailment, the high cost of prescription medications, or even the lack of health insurance. This subject matter is not saying to count on herbs to cure all ailments. A person should not never ignore going to see their physician if symptoms appear to be serious. This article is meant to make your trips to the doctors office and drug store less frequent.

In colonial times medicinal herb gardens were much more of a necessity. People now grow them for their beauty just as much as for their healing properties. For example did you know that women used Catnip in sits baths to make them more fertile? Catnip was also used for head colds and to settle upset stomachs.

Hyssop; is a popular medicinal herb that is used in the United States. It can be brewed into a tea and used as an expectorant. Its bruised leaves in colonial times were often applied with sugar and used on wounds to help fight infection.

Parsley; is most commonly used as a garnish, but did you know that it could fight bad breath after eating strong odorous foods such as garlic or onions. Parsley roots, once boiled, help unblock liver obstructions and promote urine production.

Dill; is mostly known for it’s flavoring for pickles, stews, and other foods. Dill can also be used as a way to cure hiccups and it is believed to help strengthen the brain. Women who suffer from menstrual disorders can use dill to help maintain proper menstrual cycles. The essential oils in dill are germicidal, anti oxidant and disinfectant in nature. Thus they help stop microbial infections in the mouth as well as their anti oxidants minimize the damages caused to gums and teeth.

Dandelions; by most accounts are considered one of those pesky weeds you find in your beautifully manicured lawn. Before destroying what seems to be an unwanted weed, let us take a brief look at some of the dandelions wonderful benefits. It is a wonderful source for vitamins A, B-Complex, C and D. It also contains the minerals zinc, iron and potassium. The dandelions leave are a natural diuretic and in some parts of the world are use to treat high blood pressure. The flower of the dandelion contains the compound helenin which is use to help alleviate night blindness. The flower also contains anti oxidants to help aid the immune system. Flowers from the dandelion can be brewed into a tea by steeping several flowers into a pint of hot water. Homemade dandelion wine is also a benefit to gall bladder health. So next time you see one of these annoying little weeds popping up, you may want to think twice before spraying it with a weed killer.

Should you choose to start your herb garden from seeds, starting them indoors and growing them in pots or small containers is best. Place your plants where they will get a good amount of sunlight. If you cannot find such a place a fluorescent light will do nicely. Plant the seeds under a fine layer of soil. The seeds don’t need to be planted very deep. Remember to water your newly planted herbs sparingly. Too much water can dislodge the seeds or seedlings. Approximately about two weeks before the last scheduled frost for your area begins start hardening your plants by taking them outdoors for a couple hours per day. Should you select to move your herbs to an outdoor herb garden, Plant your herbs outdoors after the last scheduled frost has occurred for your area.

To transplant your herbs that you have purchased from you local nursery or garden center, gently tilt the pot to loosen the plant from its container. Be careful not to disturb the delicate roots of your herbs. Make sure to plant them after the last frost has taken place in your region. Cloudy days or early evening is the best time to transplant your herbs into your garden. This will help to prevent shock from the heat of the day. Make sure to water the herbs thoroughly after you have planted them.

The type of medicinal herbs you should grow will depend on what you want to deal with. Whether it is a disease you’d like to prevent or one you’d like to cure or manage, not all herbs will have the same use.

Luckily, there are three main herbs that you do not need to think over on whether you should plant them or not. They are simply MUST HAVE for every herbalist. You cannot go wrong with them.

Here they are:

Chamomile;

Thanks to the numerous commercials relating to this herb, chamomile is perhaps one of the best known of all medicinal herbs. You have probably heard of it being advertised in tea, toothpaste and every other thing that would like claim the “herbal tag.”

Well, there is some reason for this.

Chamomile is known to boost your immunity, helping your body to fight off common infections such as cold, flu and other opportunistic infections. If you are the kind of person who believes in facts and would not want to be lulled into planting chamomile, you can be comforted to know that scientific studies in England have actually highlighted the plants healing powers.

Another advantage of chamomile is that it has got wonderful calming effects. Whenever you get agitated or find it difficult to catch some sleep, take it in your tea; you’ll soon be going to bed like a well fed little baby.

Echinacea;

You have probably heard of the wonderful properties of this plant. Echinacea is one of the best herbs for growing if you are looking for something that has been acknowledged as a powerful booster to your immune system.

You should definitely give it a spot in you herbal healing garden.

Also known as the purple coneflower, the bright yellow flowered plant exists in three distinct varieties: Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallid, and Echinacea pupuea. All the three varieties have similar medicinal effects as they are a favorite among those who would like to prevent catching flu or cold during cold winter months.

Apart from the many herbalists who use this plant to treat respiratory infections, it is not uncommon for doctors in Europe to prescribe the herb to their patients for a variety of remedies.

Lavender;

Last but equally important is Lavender. Great herb. No herbal healing garden is complete without it. It is one of the best pain killers in the herbal fields.

There are other many health benefits of this herb apart from relieving pain: it is popular for its calming effects that help relieve anxiety, and its tendency to support healthy blood pressure levels. It is mainly because of this ability that some use it as a muscle relaxant as well as a “cure” to insomnia.

You may not be familiar with what the plant looks like, but it is impossible to confuse it with any other. It has needle-like foliage that’s bluish-gray in color, topped with violet-blue slender-looking flowers. You will remain impressed throughout the season for as long as you have the company of the long-blooming flowers.

Here’s to you and your families herbal health.

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Author: Paul Zeman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Duty tariff