Day 12 - My Garden Medicine Chest

I just replanted a crop of white sage from a clay pot to my flower bed. I realized that I have quite a few medicinal plants--a growing medicine cabinet in my (and/or my daughter's) yard. The white sage is lovely for sacred rites and room cleansing when it's dried and burned. The fragrance is wonderfully clean, and it lifts the spirit.

 White Sage

Here are eight more absolute must-have herbs I grow (or plan to grow or snag from my daughter's garden) for my family that have healed wonderfully over the years.

 Ruta Graveolens

Ruta Graveolens is unbeatable for rubbing on sore muscles and tendons, from inflammation and overwork. I make ointment from it with almond oil and beeswax and pour it into jars or tins to harden. Rub it on every day as often as possible and over time, you will localize the injury, and then you can concentrate on rubbing on that spot. In a few days or weeks the trauma will have healed.

 Comfrey

Comfrey is one of the most soothing and healing plants for bone injuries or inflammation. I make salves and apply as above. The root is the most potent part of this plant. The leaves and root are good for internal healing.

Arnica Montana

I'm not actually growing Arnica Montana, but it's on my wishlist. There's nothing like it for bruising. Using salves and teas made from it does wonders for being over-tired or sore from over-working muscles. There are other types of Arnica, but be certain you grow the Montana variety, as it is most specific. 

Hypericum

For injuries of the nerves, nothing beats Hypericum, (you may know it better as St. Johnwort) made into salve for topical and tincture for internal applications. Limit your tincture intake to two weeks, and be sure it doesn't counteract with any pharmaceutical drugs you are taking (ask your doctor).

Mullein

Mullein, or Verbascum, is incredibly soothing for swollen tissues of all kinds. You can make a tincture to put into the ear for earaches, make a salve for hemorrhoids, drink a concoction (tea) and/or smoke the leaves in a pipe for lung problems. It grows wild in Oregon where I live.

Calendula

Calendula officinalis, or pot marigold, is excellent to make into tinctures and salves for cuts, scrapes, and open wounds. It's easy to find in any nursery supply. It works as well or better than most OTC topical products in healing wounds. I've combined calendula tincture with eyebright tincture in an eyecup with saline solution as an eyewash, and it speeds healing of injured eyes. A must-have for any medicinal herb garden! It reseeds itself every year. Cut the blossoms and dry the petals, then make a salve or tincture.

Chamomile

Chamomile is lovely for relaxation. Make a tea from it, or dry it and put it into a small sachet for sleep. Add lavender for extra wonderful-ness.

 Peppermint

Peppermint tea is wonderful for digestion after a heavy meal, and if you mix it with calendula, it makes a fine remedy for times when your stomach just feels out of sorts. Try also adding chamomile. It's delicious just by itself, too.

So these are the nine essential medicinal herbs to grow if you want a ready medicine cabinet. There are many more wonderful medicinals, but these are the basics. Dry the herbs for winter, and remember to double or triple the amount of fresh herb in ratio to dried herb for potency because the fresh herb has a lot of water in it.