Medicinal Herbs You Can Grow at Home!
Here are 8 of my favourite medicinal plants that you can add to your window boxes, mantelpieces and beyond.
Spearmint & Peppermint
Recommended preparation: Tea / Essential Oil Diffuser
These magical mint varieties are the perfect to have on hand in your household for all manner of digestive ailments.
The carvone and limonene in Spearmint assist in the relaxing of the digestive tract muscles, which makes it useful for alleviating common, uncomfortable digestive symptoms like gas and bloating.
Peppermint contains more Menthol than spearmint, a compound with antispasmodic properties and an effective tonic for reducing nausea. Its antispasmodic effect makes it a popular IBS support, due to its ability to calm the intestinal muscles which helps reduce cramping.
Lemon Balm
Recommended preparation: Tea / Supplement
We like to call Lemon Balm the ‘UK Ashwagandha’ due to its incredible anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects.
Its traditional use also extends to assisting sleep disorders such as insomnia.
Sage
Recommended preparation: Tea / Mouthwash / Supplement / Essential Oil Diffuser
Sage’s antimicrobial properties have been put to the test, a number of studies have demonstrated its positive impact on dental health – including one in which a sage mouthwash effectively killed Streptococcus Mutans bacteria, and another that showed a sage essential oil halting Candida Albicans.
Rosemary & Thyme
Recommended preparation: Tea / Supplement
This famous duo is perfect for more than just Sunday roasts!
Both the thymol in thyme, and the carnosic and rosmarinic acids in rosemary have powerful antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.
Rosemary’s traditional uses also extend to boosting circulation which could bring you a host of benefits from relieving sore muscles to improving cognitive function.
Aloe Vera
Recommended preparation: Topical gel
No house is complete without an Aloe Vera plant! But their quirky beauty is not the only reason why Aloe should be in your home.
The fresh gel contained within Aloe Vera leaves is an incredible topical ointment for all manner of skin complaints, from sun burn to anti-ageing.
Make sure to consult an expert guide to understand how to harvest Aloe Vera gel from your plant before attempting!
Lavender
Recommended preparation: Tea / Essential Oil Diffuser
Lavender is such a hardy plant, which makes it an ideal, low-maintenance addition to the house.
While it demands very little, it gives back a lot!
Lavender is renowned for its calming, sedative properties, and makes a wonderful addition to any bedtime tea.