18 Medicinal Perennial Herbs for Your Garden

There are many benefits of having a garden in your house. You can build your own little oasis and decorate it with plants of your choice — flowers, trees, bushes etc. To have a personal piece of Mother Nature in your backyard. A place where you can relax, feel comfortable and relieve stress.

Barbecue party with neighbours will help you socialise and get to know them, make friends and even show off your gardening skills and imagination.

You can make a playground for your children where they can call their buddies and have fun. This is a safe option because they will be around you and you can watch them.

But have you ever thought about this before — to make your garden your personal pharmacy? Yes, a place where you can grow your own natural herbs with no toxic chemicals involved. It is possible and the following list of plants used in the preparation of meals, teas, homoeopathic remedies and medicine will prove it. Even Bear Grylls would agree with this statement.

Bergamot

Also called Bee Balm, is a herb used by the Indian tribes to treat cold and bronchial diseases. It has an orange-lemon scent and can be used to make a citrus flavoured tea or an addition to good quality black tea. Bergamot was used as a substitute for Earl Grey and became popular in New England after the Boston Tea Party in 1773.

The medicinal uses of this herb include antiseptic properties, nerve relaxation and relieves stress and rheumatic aches. As a tea it helps calm flatulence, nausea, insomnia and menstrual pain. Steam inhalation eases catarrh and sore throat.

Tips:

• Likes sunny or partial shade spots
• Rich and moist soil
• Begins to flower in early summer
• Every 2 years, split the plants and replant the outer shoots of the original plant

Lovage

This herb is famous for its leaves which can be crushed and added to whiskey. It’s a member of the carrot family and has a wonderful celery aroma. Lovage makes a great cordial.

The magical powers of Lovage can treat upset stomachs, menstrual pain, skin irritation and cystitis. The roots can cure ulcers, bronchitis and can boost alertness. On top of that it can increase your appetite and treat coughs and loosen phlegm.

Tips:

• Prefers shade
• Likes deep and rich soil
• Grow outdoors
• Flowers in July

Rosemary

A member of the mint family and a remarkable seasoning herb. It’s used for flavouring food and decorating gardens, but has also medicinal values with its antibacterial properties.

Rosemary can treat rheumatism and circulation complications. It relieves exhaustion, headaches and water retention. This herb helps fat digestion, stimulates and tones skin. Other functions include alertness increasing and and easing podagra.

Tips:

• Likes warm and well drained sunny spots
• Protect from wind
• Lime soil

Lemon Balm

An easy to grow lemon-scented plant known to slow down and help relieve the onset of “Alzheimer” disease. It’s good for people suffering from stress as they feel well when drinking it.

Lemon Balm tea calms tension, chronic bronchial catarrh, headaches and fevers. It’s perfect for people suffering from insomnia and bad dreams. Fresh leaves will help you with insect bites and sores. Lemon Balm eases gout, morning sickness and can be effective for an overactive thyroid.

Tips:

• Prefers light shade
• Can grow in any moist and fertile soil
• Grow in a pot

Angelica

This is a very versatile herb, member of the carrot family, used in salads, cake decoration and medicine. There are about 60 different species of Angelica.

Its medicinal uses include treatment of digestion problems usage as an oil for rheumatism and aching muscles. Crushed Angelica leaves serve as an air freshener for your car and reduce travel sickness. You can also make tea from this herb which is a tonic for colds and reduces flatulence.

Tips:

• Flowers in July
• Likes moist and deep soil
• Best to be grown in sunlight or partial shade
• Selfseeds

Catgrass

That’s right. Your kitties also need your help.

As the name of this herb indicates, it’s favoured by all cats because it contains folic acid, minerals and vitamins. Your pet needs to eat grass every once and awhile to be well and fit. It is also said that Catgrass helps remove furballs.

Tips:

• Partial shade
• Careful, leaves cut

Catnip

Another plant which attracts cats. Sensing it is followed by strange behaviours like sleepiness, meowing, purring, anxiety, drooling and rolling on the ground.

As for how Catnip can contribute to your well-being — it’s a mild sedative and helps you sleep. Rich in Vitamin C, it relieves cold, fever, flu symptoms and colic in children. Catnip aids digestion, rheumatism and arthritis and is good for bruises, irritated scalp and hemorrhoid treatment.

Chives

This is a beautiful looking herb that everybody must have in their garden for its aphid repellent properties. It’s the smallest edible species of the onion family. Perfect for salads and home cheese.

Chives has not many medicinal uses except for being a source of vitamin A and C, calcium, iron and mild antibiotics. It can stimulate appetite just like onions, leek and garlic. Some homeopaths use this herb to treat colds and bronchitis. This herb also has beneficial effects on the circulatory system.

Tips:

• Cut regularly
• Can be grown in- and outdoors
• Can survive all climates
• Likes both sun and shade

Mint

A herb used by the Romans for flavouring wines and sauces and a symbol of hospitality. It’s a necessary ingredient for Touareg tea popular in Arab and northern African countries. Alcoholic cocktails use Mint to flavour or garnish them. It’s also a great to spice your lamb and potato dishes.

Mint is used as a medicinal herb to treat stomach ache and chest pains. Its oil is essential for many cosmetics, and some perfumes and aromatherapy. Mint leaves can treat chapped hands and heavy colds. It’s also used in oils needed to massage affected areas for muscular and rheumatic aches, migraines and facial neuralgia.

Marjoram and Oregano

Members of the mint family and citrus flavoured herbs which are a symbol of happiness for Greeks and Romans. They’re great culinary additions to pizzas, pasta, stews, soups etc. Their miraculous power even helps you sleep.

The medicinal uses of these herbs are numerous. Marjoram helps deal with nervous disorders, flatulence and tension. It can ease colds, coughs, headaches and asthma, stomach bloating and rheumatic pains. Some homeopaths use it to treat female sex disorders.

Oregano can help with nervous headaches, intestinal problems, diarrhea, exhaustion and irritability. It helps gall bladder problems, seas sickness, swelling, rheumatism and toothache.

Tips:

• Like sun
• Prefer dry, rocky and free draining soil
• Good for container growing

Thyme

Another mint family representative adored by the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians. They used it in baths and to make massage oil. Greeks believed thyme to be a symbol of courage. The herb was the first to be listed in the Holy Herb Charm in the Middle Ages.

Thyme has antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties. It is good to prevent dandruff and spots. It can ease bronchial catarrh, asthma and chest infections. People used it in massage oils. Thyme stimulates circulation, is good for hangovers and can relieve spasms and insomnia.

Tips:

• Grow in full sun
• Alkaline well drained soil\
• When in bloom, the leaves’ flavour is best

Sage

An ingredient primarily used as an addition to forcemeat and poultry. In ancient times Sage is said to prolong life and better health.

Medicinal uses indicate that this herb can fortify your nervous system, soothe tired muscles, coughs, colds and rheumatism. It has antifungal and disinfectant properties. Sage can whiten your teeth and is used as a mouthwash.

Other uses of this herb : helps you digest fatty foods, can serve as a blood tonic, helps fight diarrhea, suppresses sweating and improves your memory.

Hyssop

This is a lovely plant with blue flowers that attract bees like no other. it’s a member of the mint family once again.

You can use this herb to calm your nervous system if you drink it as a tonic. If you gargle it it will help your sore throat. It can help loosen your catarrh by soothing your lungs and chest.

Tips:

• Can grow in most soils
• Prefers full sun or partial shade

Fennel

An aromatic herb with rich culinary and medicinal uses. Curious fact about Fennel is that it’s one of the primary ingredients of the alcoholic drink “Absinthe”.

This was one of the sacred herbs used by the pagan Anglo-Saxons to fight the forces of evil.

The Fennel’s seeds can reduce inflammation and relieve hunger. The plant itself can lower the toxic effect of alcohol in your body because it’s a liver tonic. It can help digestion, colic, wind and constipation. You can treat conjunctivitis and urinary disorders with this herb too. Breast feeding mothers should mind that it increases milk flow and can cure sore or swollen breasts.

Winter Savory

One of the oldest herbs used in flavouring, this one is used mainly to spice up your dishes. It has charming white flowers too.

Winter Savory can help you deal with oily skin. It has antiseptic properties and can be used as a tonic after fever. It aids digestion, eases flatulence and helps you combat diarrhea. This herb also stimulates appetite and relieves pain from insect bites.

Wormwood

This herb has an interesting story.

Wormwood is a great repellent for moths, ants and insects. It’s used to expel worms from the human body. Also used in the making of Vermouth.

Chinese use the leaves of this herb to stop nosebleeds. It treats colds, bronchitis, fevers, bruises, sprains, epilepsy and nervous disorders, digestive disorders, liver and gallbladder problems. Wormwood is also a appetite and cardiac stimulant, spasm and pain reliever.

Tips:

• Do not plant near other plants
• Cut regularly
• Light and well drained soil
• Grow outdoors
• Likes full sun

Russian Comfrey

Organic growers value this herb because it can help fertilise tomatoes and potatoes. Cut its leaves and put them in a tub filled with water to create a nutritious feed for all your garden plants. This herb is not edible. Its purpose is to help you with garden care.

Comfrey has anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. It can help stimulate new cell growth, repair tissue and cartilage. The herb heals cuts, sores, sprains and bruises. It will also help stomach ulcers and calm rheumatism, bronchial diseases and hemorrhoids.

Garlic Chives

This is a delicious herb which is great for cooking. Not as pungent as the real garlic but still it gives a nice scent to your dish. It’s easy to grow but needs regular cutting.

Garlic Chives are a good source of Vitamin C. It contains mild antibiotics and some iron, betters your digestion and helps intestinal problems.

Other medicinal uses of this herb involve reducing blood pressure, cleansing blood and clearing catarrh. It also protects you from colds, worms, dysentery and typhoid.