Nature to the Rescue!

5 anti-inflammatory herbs you can grow in your garden

Herbs; we use them in our cooking and we use them in our everyday products like creams, powders, tea etc. Nature has answers to problems around us. It’s just a matter of knowing and looking.

From sprained wrists to bug bites, there are herbs around us which can solve these problems. These ordinary plants and can do some extra-ordinary things.

Calendula:

Often times confused for the common Marigold, Calendula is an annual daisy-like flower that blooms during the spring. It can be used for many purposes including inflammation.

The flower head and the petals can be used when they have bloomed fully. Steep the flower head and the petals into a strong tea or turn into salves and ointments.

Click here to read more about how to prepare a herb infused oil and skin soother salve.

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Calendula — Image source[/caption]

Chamomile:

With two varieties in the offering, German and Roman; both are beneficial against inflammation. While the Roman variant grows annually, the German variant blooms from May to October.

It’s use and benefits date back to ancient times and are well-documented. Pick a dry day to harvest the flower heads when they are fully opened. The flower head and the petals are both used. Chamomile can be used both internally and externally.

Want to make your own organic Chamomile tea? Here’s how

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Chamomile — Image source[/caption]

Comfrey:

Also known as ‘Boneset’ or ‘Knitbone’, Comfrey was, in ancient times, used as a speedy remedy for fixing wounds and broken bones. It has proven beneficial for healing sores and bruises and also encourages skin growth. This wonder plant is quite easy to grow and almost impossible to get rid of. Choose your planting site carefully.

Pluck the leaves and dry them in the shade before you can use it. It is recommended that you use it externally in the form of salves, gels and ointments.

Make your own pain relieving salve. Here’s how

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Comfrey — Image source[/caption]

Stinging Nettle:

One of the most popular anti-inflammatory herbs, this tall, green, razor edge loping leaves needs a brush of your hand against it to know why it’s called the stinging nettle.

This herb helps in curing maladies ranging from arthritis and rheumatism to post-partum haemorrhaging. When ingested orally, it is said that nettle shows signs of interfering with the body’s production of inflammation-causing chemicals.

The most recommended way to collect the leaves are when they are in full bloom and then hung upside down. Do not dry or cook the leaves as it will destroy the juice in the stinging hair. Young plants are recommended if you wish to eat them. This herb can be used both internally and externally and is very healthy and nutritious.

Try preparing your own nettle soup. Click here to know more

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Stinging Nettle — Image source[/caption]

Peppermint:

A very easy-to-grow herb, Peppermint boasts of a chewy feel and gives out a menthol-like coolness and flavor. It is one of the oldest and most reliable herbal remedies, used mainly for aiding digestion and inflammation.

Harvest the leaves before it flowers and hang to dry in the shade. You can prepare a lovely mint tea by dropping a few fresh leaves in a cup of hot water. This herb can be used both internally and externally.

Enjoy the goodness of ice-cold peppermint tea. Click here to know how to prepare it

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Peppermint — Image source[/caption]

Apart from aiding in inflammation, these herbs have many other uses as well. You can grow these in your own backyard with very little effort. This way, you can try your hand at gardening as well.

By now, we are sure that you have already slipped into a relaxation mode. If you are craving something fresh and organic, you have FreshMenu to the rescue! Enjoy some wholesome goodness with our healthy offerings of salads.