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7 Medicinal Herbs to Grow in Your Garden

My list of favorite medicinal herbs to grow is long. The longer I study herbs, the longer my list grows. Herbs have been used traditionally for their medicinal properties for hundreds of years. When you grow herbs yourself, you can make your own medicine for almost free!

Herb Garden
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Medicinal plants can be grown and made into oils, infusions, salves, poultices, tinctures, syrups, teas, and more, depending on which herb you are using.

Medicinal Herbs to Grow In Your Garden

Here are 7 medicinal herbs to grow in your garden that will give you a good start for your family’s health:

Echinacea

Medicinal Herb to grow Echinacea
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This “purple coneflower” is not just a favorite because of its beauty, but it is also one of the herbs I use most often when illness strikes.  Echinacea is well-known as a powerful natural antibiotic.

Growing echinacea: Echinacea purpurea needs rich soil, regular watering, and full sun.

Peppermint

medicinal herbs to grow peppermint
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Peppermint is very useful for the entire body.  It helps fevers, headaches, the respiratory tract {opens up airways}, digestion, muscular system, and offers pain relief. Peppermint also deters spiders and mice, which is another beneficial way to use it!

Growing Peppermint:  Has no special soil needs.  Can be grown in full sun, shade, or partial shade.  Grows great in a pot.  Grows well with yarrow and wormwood.

NOTE: Peppermint will spread everywhere if you plant it in the ground! If you don’t want that to happen, be sure to plant it in a pot.

Lavender

Lavender2
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Lavender works great for the nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety.  It also offers pain relief, treats acne and burns, and moisturizes the skin.

Growing Lavender:  Lavender needs full sun or afternoon shade.  Well-drained soil is mandatory.  It grows well with yarrow, echinacea, and hyssop.

Lemon Balm

Medicinal Herbs to Grow Lemon Balm
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I honestly like growing lemon balm because it smells so wonderful and has a great flavor!  It can be used to make sweet things like candy, cookies, and ice cream, as well as yummy teas and lip balms.  Besides the tasty benefits of this herb, lemon balm has medicinal benefits as well.  It works well for the digestive tract, immune system, pain relief, and stress.

Growing lemon balm:  Grow in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soil.  Grows well in a container or with nasturtiums, angelica, and hollyhock.

Chamomile

Medicinal Herbs to Grow chamomile
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If you like the smell of apples, chamomile is an herb you will enjoy.  It is often given to babies for its ability to calm, soothe, help digestion, and aid in sleep.  It also has anti-inflammatory properties.


Growing chamomile:   Grow in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soil.  Grows well with hyssop, rosemary, and lavender; loves to grow in a container.

Yarrow

Medicinal Herbs to Grow Yarrow
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One of my favorite ways to use yarrow is for fevers.  It can also be used for kidney and bladder infections, colds, muscle aches, circulation, and respiratory conditions.

Growing yarrow:  Grow in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil.

Mullein

Medicinal Herbs to Grow Mullein
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Mullein is not as well known as other herbs, but it is a favorite herb of mine to use for respiratory ailments.

Growing mullein:  Mullein is easy to grow from seed by sowing them directly in the ground.  It needs full sun and well-drained soil.  Grows well with echinacea, mugwort, and feverfew.

Here are other articles that you may be interested in:

10 Herbs that Repel Garden Pests    Plants that Can Help Improve Your Health
Choose Heirloom Seeds when planting your garden   

What medicinal herbs to grow are you planting in your garden this spring?

FDA disclaimer for posts with info about supplements Oct 2014

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6 Comments

  1. I love to grow herbs, but I am often at a loss as to how to use them. Can you give some tips on how to administer the herbs, perhaps for a fever? I can’t imagine you just eat the leaves (and I doubt my kids would if you could). Thanks!

  2. Kristen, one way is by making a tea with the herb. For dried herbs, use 1-2 tsp. per cup of water; for fresh herbs, use 2 tsp. per cup of water. Bring the water to a boil and add the herbs. Remove from heat, cover and steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain the herbs and use the liquid only. The typical dose is 1 cup 3 times a day for adults, and half the amount for children. For my kids, I mix the tea with juice so they readily drink it. Thanks for the question!

  3. Jill,
    I grew all the herbs you mention in this article except Mullien . Sorry to say, I baby my lavender every year and I lost it again. I lived way up north in Pa and can’t figure out why… I’m also growing oregano for the first time in a raised bed and it survive the winter ! Yeah!!! Dill comes up every year here and I love using it on eggs or sauerkraut. I can’t get enough Dill weed. Garlic, I have to have garlic here, along with dandelions waiting for that Spring salad. Last but the least Calendula is grown here and it’s a hardy annual.

    1. What a bummer about the Lavender, Monica! That happens to all of us. I really do enjoy growing especially herbs, and am so thrilled when they do well – that’s not always the case though. :/

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