The Essential Medicine Garden
So my mom and I have channeled the great shaman of the Pacific Northwest and performed blood rituals over sacred holes in the ground filled with arnica powder while singing the ancient songs of seamen*...all to aid us in coming up with a list of the essential medicinal plants everyone should have in their garden, you know, in case some apocalyptic need should arise.This list includes only herbs whose beneficial properties are easily obtained by everyone by drinking them as teas or eating them as food. I will produce a second list of medicinal herbs that are great herbs to have on hand but that may require a greater degree of effort to process.
Garlic- you saw this one coming a mile away, right?
- why you should grow it: (I almost don't have to say this) garlic is excellent at fighting infection. Maybe even better than echinacea. Garlic is great for easing the symptoms of colds and is used for improving circulatory health.
Feverfew- this is not a well known herb to most people, in addition to it's herbal uses, it's quite pretty in the garden and the good bugs love it.
- why you should grow it: other than pleasing the good insects? (sheesh, it's always all about us, isn't it?) As you may have gathered from it's common name, it has traditionally been used to reduce fevers. It is also used to ease headaches, reduce the severity of migraine headaches and also the nausea and vomiting that accompany them.
Comfrey- also known as "knitbone" and "boneset". That says a lot right there.
- why you should grow it: this herb has chemical components that promote new cell growth, which is what you need to treat sprains, bruises, and wounds. Comfrey is great for a lot of ailments but it should never be taken internally without very specific directions on amounts from a reputable herbal doctor or herbal medicine book. The reason it is so great to have is that not only is it effective as a poultice for sprains and bruises, it can be used in baths to soften skin. It is also great as compost in the garden.
Sage- be sure you're planting salvia officinalis
- why you should plant it: I have a personal affinity for sage as my mother made me drink sage tea with lemon and honey to ease my sore throats when I was a kid. Is it effective? As with all herbs, it's action is gentle and doesn't make the sore throat vanish (you'll notice that modern medicine can't do that either) but it does seem to ease the discomfort and shorten the duration of the sore throat. It has antibacterial properties. Plus, it tastes fantastic in Butternut squash soup with roasted garlic.
Thyme- don't think this culinary herb lacks medicinal punch.
- why you should grow it: this herb has proven antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti fungal properties to it. We have always included it in our favorite tea bath. It's also my number one favorite herb to cook with. It's also used for upset stomachs and throat and chest infections. I suggest growing a ton of thyme. It looks beautiful in the garden, doesn't take up lots of room and is very easy to dry.
Lemon Balm- the bees love it, need I say more to convince you to grow it?
- why you should grow it: (you didn't sound convinced) lemon balm is used as an anti-spasmodic. I love that word anti-spasmodic...it's the yin to my yang. Or vice versa. Anyway, lemon balm is prescribed for difficulty in falling asleep, for spasms in the digestive tract, and is now being used to help treat dementia with relation to Alzheimer's. Plus, it smells great as you brush past it or step on it in the garden. And don't worry about stepping on it. This herb grows like a weed and if you don't want it to spread you may wish to impose some sort of containment on it.
Borage- I love growing this one just because it looks so happy.
- why you should grow it too: borage can be eaten in salads if you're one of those fruity people who like to eat flowers just to be different. I don't personally go in for much flower eating. Borage is used for relieving fevers, bronchial infections, and is a mild sedative. I happen to know the bees love this one too because every time I grow it they come. No one should need a better reason to plant borage at this time in our natural history.
Peppermint- the best of the mints
- why you should grow it: it's great for relieving indigestion and bloating due to excess gas. I have always found it very soothing when I have a cold and have been known to put a little peppermint in my sage tea when sick. It is also good for easing tension headaches.
If you would like to read more about these herbs, I highly recommend the National Geographic Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine. This is where I have gotten most of my information for the purposes of this post. Between my mom and I, we've gotten our information from a number of great books in the past, but this is comprehensive and includes some herb lore, history, modern uses, and scientific studies.
The USDA would like you to be very scared to use herbs willy nilly from the garden. It's true that some herbs can be dangerous to use for long periods of time or in large quantities. I think every person should have a book of herbal remedies in their library for reference. I don't have a favorite for this purpose yet but when I do I will let you know what I recommend if you don't already have a favorite yourself. Don't be scared of using herbs. It's good to remember a couple of things about herbal remedies: 1) using herbs is almost always gentler than using pharmaceutical preparations 2) most pharmaceutical preparations are based on herbs 3) there is no such thing as a panacea.
*This is just a whole string of lies said to impress you.