You may be thinking medicinal herb garden must-haves like, “What do they need in their medicinal herb garden?”. Many people find it difficult to decide what medicinal herbs to grow and maintain in a medicinal herb garden. A large percentage of medicinal plants are perennials and some plants can also be grown as annuals or biennials depending on the climate zone that you live in. This article will cover 34 things that should always have available when gardening for medicinal purposes so you can provide your family with all the necessary herbs needed for healthy living.
- Calendula
Calendula is a medicinal herb that has many uses. It can be used as an antiseptic, to treat ear infections and eczema, soothe bug bites or skin rashes like poison ivy/oak, heal wounds (both external & internal), stop bleeding of minor cuts and scrapes (apply crushed fresh petals directly to the wound), and reduce inflammation. It can even be used on pets or livestock for medicinal purposes as well. Calendula is also edible so it makes a great addition to your herb garden if you like growing ornamental flowers too!
- Oregano Ore
Oregano is a medicinal herb that has many uses. It can help with digestive problems such as bloating, upset stomach, and flatulence by relaxing the intestinal walls to get rid of waste more quickly than normal digestion. Because oregano strengthens your immune system, it also helps prevent colds & flu symptoms from setting in if you start taking it at the first sign of a cold or flu. Oregano is also great to have on hand if you are bitten by an insect, stung by a bee, etc. because it will help numb the pain and reduce inflammation too!
- Lavender
Lavender medicinal herb has many uses in your medicinal garden including sleep aid, headache relief, nausea relief from morning sickness, or motion sickness. Lavender medicinal herb has also been used for wound healing by simply applying a clean lavender flower directly to the cut & allowing it to sit until dry before rinsing off with water and applying a natural antibiotic ointment on top of that.
- Nasturtiums
A medicinal herb garden would not be complete without medicinal nasturtiums either. They are especially helpful if you get bitten by an insect or stung by a bee because they will help reduce the pain and inflammation as lavender medicinal herb does too!
- Anise Hyssop
Having medicinal herbs in your medicinal herb garden that you can use for teas is also helpful. Anise hyssop medicinal herb has many uses but it’s especially known for helping with respiratory problems like congestion, bronchitis, cough (especially chronic or persistent), and asthma when made into a tea using the leaves & flowers of this medicinal plant.
- Rosemary
Having another medicinal herb in your medicinal garden for medicinal tea is also helpful. Rosemary medicinal herb has many uses including asthma & bronchitis, Alzheimer’s disease (for boosting memory), arthritis pain relief, urinary tract infections, dandruff treatment if you massage your scalp with rosemary oil mixed with a few drops of rosemary essential oil for 30 minutes before rinsing off, & more.
- Thyme
Thyme medicinal herb is also great for medicinal teas because of its many uses including respiratory problems like a chronic or persistent cough, bronchitis, asthma (especially when mixed with eucalyptus), and the common cold if you start drinking thyme tea at the first sign of a cold or flu. It is also helpful for digestive issues like bloating, upset stomach (especially if you’re pregnant), and flatulence. It is even an antiseptic medicinal herb that will help heal wounds of all kinds including cuts & scrapes by simply applying a few drops of the thyme essential oil directly to the wound every couple of hours until it heals completely.
- Chamomile
Another medicinal herb that is great to have on hand because you can make a medicinal tea out of it is chamomile. It has many uses including stomach or digestive problems like bloating, upset stomach (especially if you’re pregnant), and flatulence. It also helps soothe the intestinal walls when they are irritated to get rid of the waste more quickly than normal digestion. In addition, medicinal chamomile is great to have on hand if you are bitten by an insect or stung by a bee because it will help reduce inflammation & numb the pain as well!
- Echinacea
An herb that is helpful if you get sick to boost your immune system & help prevent colds & flu symptoms from setting in is medicinal echinacea. Once you feel like you are coming down with a cold or flu, start taking medicinal echinacea tea every hour until the symptoms go away completely! If it’s possible for you to take medicinal Echinacea tincture every hour until the symptoms completely go away, it will be more effective.
- Turmeric
If you get sick often & want to prevent it from happening, medicinal turmeric is the best medicinal herb for that purpose. It boosts your immune system so you can stay healthy all year long! If medicinal turmeric wasn’t helpful enough on its own, add some other medicinal herbs like ginger and lemon into a medicinal tea with medicinal turmeric to make a medicinal cold & flu fighting tea that will work wonders in less than an hour!
- Peppermint
Another medicinal herb to have on hand for medicinal tea is peppermint. It has many uses including digestive issues like nausea, indigestion (especially if you eat too much), and upset stomach as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Peppermint medicinal herb can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome.
- Mint
Since medicinal mint has so many uses, you’ll want to make sure it’s on your list of medicinal herbs for a medicinal garden. But be careful which type of mint medicinal herb you plant because some types are not safe for consumption! Make sure the one(s) you choose are safe to eat before planting medicinal mint medicinal herb because it has many uses including digestive issues like bloating, upset stomach (especially if you’re pregnant), and flatulence. It can also help with respiratory problems like congestion & coughs as well as muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps) and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Basil
An herb that is a must-have medicinal plant for a medicinal garden if you want to prevent colds, the flu & respiratory issues of all kinds including coughs and congestion are basil. Once you feel like your coming down with a cold or the flu, it’s time to start taking medicinal tea made from basil leaves every hour until symptoms go away completely, and if it’s possible to take medicinal basil tincture every hour until symptoms go away completely, it will be more effective.
- Chives
Another medicinal herb to have on hand for medicinal tea is chives. It has many uses including digestive issues like bloating, upset stomach (especially if you’re pregnant), and flatulence. They can also help with respiratory problems like congestion & coughs as well as muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps) and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Parsley
Another medicinal herb to have on hand for medicinal tea is parsley. It has many uses including digestive issues like bloating, upset stomach (especially if you’re pregnant), and flatulence. They can also help with respiratory problems like congestion & coughs as well as muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps) and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Wild Bergamot
Another medicinal herb to have on hand for medicinal tea is wild bergamot. It has many uses including digestive issues like nausea, indigestion (especially if you eat too much), and upset stomach as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Wild bergamot medicinal plant can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome.
- Lemongrass
Another medicinal herb to have on hand for medicinal tea is lemongrass. It has many uses including digestive issues like bloating, upset stomach (especially if you’re pregnant), and flatulence. They can also help with respiratory problems like congestion & coughs as well as muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps) and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Lemon Balm
Another medicinal herb to have on hand for medicinal tea is lemon balm. It has many uses including digestive issues like nausea, indigestion (especially if you eat too much), and upset stomach as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Lemon’s medicinal herb can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Stinging Nettles
Stinging Nettles has many uses including digestive issues like bloating, upset stomach (especially if you’re pregnant), and flatulence. They can also help with respiratory problems like congestion & coughs as well as muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps) and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Cayenne
Cayenne medicinal plant has many uses including digestive issues like bloating, upset stomach (especially if you’re pregnant), and flatulence. They can also help with respiratory problems like congestion & coughs as well as muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps) and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Mullein
Mullein medicinal herb has many uses including digestive issues like nausea, indigestion (especially if you eat too much), and upset stomach as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Mullein medicinal plant can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome.
- Sage
Sage medicinal herb has many uses including digestive issues like bloating and flatulence. They can also help with respiratory problems like congestion & coughs as well as muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps) and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Catnip
Catnip medicinal herb has many uses including digestive issues like nausea, indigestion (especially if you eat too much), and upset stomach as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Catnip medicinal plant can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome.
- Cloves
Clove medicinal herb has many uses including digestive issues like bloating, upset stomach, and flatulence. They can also help with respiratory problems like congestion & coughs as well as muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps) and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Nutmeg
Nutmeg medicinal herb has many uses including digestive issues like nausea, indigestion (especially if you eat too much), and upset stomach as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Nutmeg medicinal plant can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Splianthes
The medicinal herb, Splianthes can be used to help with digestive issues like bloating and flatulence. They can also help with respiratory problems like congestion & coughs as well as muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps) and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Cat’s Claw
If you’re looking for a medicinal herb for immune support, Cat’s Claw is the medicinal plant you’ll want to have on hand. It has many uses including digestive issues like bloating and flatulence as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Cat’s Claw medicinal plants can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Comfrey
Comfrey medicinal plant is a must-have for your medicinal herb garden because of its skin healing properties! It has many uses including digestive issues like nausea, indigestion, and upset stomach as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Comfrey medicinal plants can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome.
- Valerian
Valerian medicinal herb is a must-have for your medicinal garden because of its sleep-inducing properties! It has many uses including digestive issues like bloating, upset stomach, and flatulence as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Valerian medicinal plants can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome.
- Sarsaparilla
If you’re looking for a medicinal herb to support your adrenals or liver health, Sarsaparilla is the medicinal plant you’ll want to have on hand! It has many uses including digestive issues like bloating and flatulence as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Sarsaparilla medicinal plants can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome too.
- Aloe Vera
Aloe medicinal plant is a must-have for your medicinal herb garden because of its amazing skin healing properties! It has many uses including digestive issues like nausea, indigestion (especially if you eat too much), and upset stomach as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Aloe medicinal plants can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome too!
- Meadowsweet
Meadowsweet medicinal herb is a must-have for your medicinal garden because of its anti-inflammatory properties! It has many uses including digestive issues like bloating, upset stomach, and flatulence as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Meadowsweet medicinal plants can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome too.
- Cardamom
If you’re looking for medicinal herbs to help with digestive issues like bloating, upset stomach, flatulence then Cardamom is the medicinal plant you’ll want to have on hand! It has many uses including respiratory problems like congestion & coughs as well as headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome too.
- Garlic
Garlic medicinal herb is a must-have for your medicinal herb garden because it has antiviral properties! It has many uses including digestive issues like bloating and flatulence as well as respiratory problems like congestion & coughs. Garlic medicinal plants can also help with headaches, muscle aches & pains (including menstrual cramps), and premenstrual syndrome too.
FAQ
Which Herbs Should Not be Planted Together?
While there are no medicinal plants that you can’t plant near each other, some medicinal plants will inhibit the growth of others. For example, if you’re planting medicinal herbs for their antioxidant properties then don’t plant Rosemary & Sage nearby because they’ll inhibit the antioxidant-producing abilities of one another!
Is it Better to Grow Herbs in Pots or Ground?
It’s preferable to grow medicinal plants in the soil but if you must plant them in pots then make sure they have good drainage.
Can Herbs Get Too Much Sun?
Yes, medicinal plants need at least part-day sun to grow. However, if you live in a hot climate then it might be best to keep medicinal plants out of the afternoon sun as they can get burned by too much heat!