My Top 20 Medicinal Herbs and Flowers to Grow in the Garden

Lavender is by far one of my most favorite herbs and plants to grow.  It is a water wise perennial and therefore doesn't require a lot of moisture.  However, it does require well draining soil.  I like to harvest my flowers and dry them for many purposes; teas, homemade soaps, hair rinse for dandruff and to soothe sun burns.  Google uses for lavender and enjoy all the recipes and ideas for using lavender. 

Chamomile is an annual herb and will reseed itself every year.  It is by far one of the most comforting smells and teas I have ever had!  Nothing calms my nervous system more than a cup of chamomile lavender tea!  When I have had a long stressful day I pour myself a cup and go right to sleep!  I only wish I drank it more often.  Chamomile is wonderful for digestive problems, skin irritations and even headaches!  For more info check out http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/chamomile-lavender-benefits-uses/2011/01/28/id/369825

Cayenne Pepper is not only great for adding a little spice to yummy recipes, but it is also wonderful for increasing circulation and and eliminating excess mucus in the body.  Try growing it, drying the peppers and crushing them for your own use. 

Witch Hazel is a small tree that grows from Canada to Florida in all different climates.  An astringent is made from steaming the twigs of the shrub.  If you purchase witch hazel from the store be sure to get the kind without alcohol.  It is widely used for skin problems like acne, sores, bruises and swelling.  Check out this website for more tips. http://www.wisebread.com/15-wonderful-uses-for-witch-hazel

Echinacea (Coneflower) is a wonderful perennial to grow!  If planted in rich soil you will get very large plants filled with color and texture!  A favorite of honey bees too!  Echinacea makes a wonderful immune boosting tea!  You can use the flowers, leaves and even the roots for many purposes.  Check out http://voices.yahoo.com/echinacea-growing-harvesting-using-3795734.html

 Bee Balm (Wild Bergamot) is a perennial plant and gorgeous display in the garden!  These flowers are edible and very tasty in salads and the leaves can be steeped in hot water for tea used for sore throats, menstrual cramps, gas, nausea and much more.  Google uses for bee balm and find your favorite uses!

Raspberry leaves are excellent for many purposes.  I love to drink raspberry leaf tea to alleviate menstrual cramps.  Check out this website for more tips and benefits! http://www.ehow.com/list_6031169_red-raspberry-leaf-tea-uses.html

Elderberries (not fully ripened in the picture) are an excellent source of antioxidants and have been used for centuries to shorten flu virus symptoms and boost the immune system.  It has a specific protein that inhibits the flu virus to attach onto the cell wall.  Be sure to avoid the red elderberries and cook down the purple ones, making them into juice or a thick syrup.   

Garlic has excellent anti-viral and anti-microbial properties and has been recorded for it's medicinal purposes dating back 5,000 years.  Preserved garlic is a must have in any first-aid kit.  You can apply it to any wound, preventing infections and disease. 

Yarrow is another perennial that can be used in a tea form to sweat out a fever.  Chew a fresh yarrow leaf if you have a toothache.  It can also help with menstrual irregularities.  Google yarrow benefits for more information. 

Borage flowers are edible and used for salads giving a mild cucumber flavor.  Most plants are either blue or white in color.  The leaves can also be used as a diuretic when dried and steeped into a tea.  It has been known to detoxify the blood and kidneys.  A poultice can be made and applied to sore muscles, arthritis and eczema.  

I love using Calendula flowers for tea and homemade skin salve.  This annual is easy to grow and provides many flowers the more you harvest.  Be sure to let a few flower heads go to seed for next year!  Calendula's colors range from bright yellows to bright oranges.  Calendula is known as a wound-healer and anti-inflammatory.  Great for healing cuts, scrapes, bruises, sprains, eczema and scars.  For an easy homemade salve, place 1/2 cup dried calendula flowers in 3/4 cup olive oil and allow to infuse for 14 days in a sunny window.  Strain the infused oil and add 1 oz. of melted bees wax and allow to set up in container with a lid.

St John's Wort is a beautiful shrub that produces an abundance of yellow flowers in July and August.  Used for many purposes, the main reason for using this medicinally is for depression.  For more info you can go to http://altnature.com/gallery/st.htm  

Comfrey has been known to mend tissues and wounds.  Although it does come with a warning, due to the high levels of alkaloids, it can be harmful if ingested in high levels and for long periods of time.  For more info you can go to http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/COMFREY.html

Hyssop both blue and anise are also known as hummingbird mint.  These perennial flowers are edible and the leaves can be used for many purposes that help with upper respiratory and digestion problems just to name a few.  For more info google anise or blue hyssop and find the many recipes and tips on how to use this wonderful herb.

The white flower I am holding is Valerian.  Its scent is so lovely!  It has been used as a sedative to help one sleep and calm the nervous system.  Here is a tip on how to harvest http://www.ehow.com/how_7346099_harvest-valerian.html

 

Wormwood is an excellent pest deterrent when used as a poultice.  Smash a few leaves and mix with some apple cider vinegar.  Place into a bandage or cheese clothe and rub on skin to keep mosquitoes and other pests away.  It has also been known to kill parasites within the digestive track.  For tips, recipes and more information on wormwood go to  http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_wormwood.htm

 Lemon Balm or Melissa is a wonderful perennial herb to grow and even cook with.  It can be invasive so be sure to put it in a large area you want to fill in, or put it in a pot to control the growth.  Lemon balm tea is an excellent anti-viral source to use when you are feeling under the weather.  Here is an excellent article on Lemon Balm and it's many other uses http://www.herballegacy.com/Lemon_Balm.html

 Peppermint is another wonderful perennial herb to grow.  Also invasive, so keep it in a pot or as ground cover to fill a large space.  It makes a wonderful tea to aid in digestion and helps with nausea.  Another excellent article on peppermint found here http://www.herballegacy.com/Ransom_Formulas.html

Feverfew is a perennial that is used for migraine headaches.  Although it looks very similar to chamomile it is a very different plant.  Chamomile flowers smell good and feverfew does not.  You can find more info on feverfew here http://www.gardensablaze.com/HerbFeverfewMed.htm

In conclusion, please note that there are many other plants and cautions associated with growing and using medicinal plants.  I recommend researching thoroughly all herbs and uses before "experimenting" yourself.  A wonderful resource for learning more about herbs and their uses is "The School of Natural Healing" founded by Dr. Christopher here in Utah.  You can visit their website at http://www.herballegacy.com/index.html