Wellness garden: Plants!

Don’t know which plants are perfect for you garden? Pick the ones right for your health.

In the past article, we showed you the importance of cultivating your own garden in order to improve your health. Now it is time to start choosing the best plants for you and your wellness. Here are some possible options that may suit you well. And of course, check other ways to keep up with your wellbeing here.

Many people I work with are recovering from health issues and want to grow plants that heal and support their wellness journey. One of the most empowering ways we can take care of ourselves to prevent illness and treat everyday ailments is to use some of our culinary herbs for their medicinal value. There are so many plants you can grow for a healing garden to support your health and wellbeing. These are a few of my favorite easy-to-grow herbs that perform multiple functions and are a great place to start in pots.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

This pretty lemon-flavored and scented herb is top of the list. It has been used widely for its natural antidepressant properties, helping relieve stress and anxiety, and uplift the spirits. It’s incredibly fast-acting. I’ve found the easiest way to get the benefits from this herb is to pick a few fresh leaves and make a tea, brewed for a few minutes. Lemon balm helps improve sleep and can relieve indigestion; drink it hot or chilled as a refreshing beverage. This perennial herb prefers moist, well-drained compost-rich soil in sun or partial shade. The pretty flowers are also edible.

Mint (Mentha sp.)

Mint is another fragrant, attractive, perennial and moisture-loving herb for a large pot. It’s not only refreshing to use in salads, drinks, and meals but contains powerful antioxidants, helpful for building a strong immune system. Because mint leaves have anesthetic, antiviral, and antiseptic compounds, it’s beneficial for all sorts of ailments like sore throats and as a natural breath freshener. Mint comes in many flavors, including spearmint, peppermint, and my favorite, chocolate mint. One to tempt the tastebuds. Picking fresh leaves just before using and chopping or bruising them releases the volatile essential oils. Mint enjoys the same growing conditions as lemon balm.

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

The dried flowers from this pretty annual herb have been used for centuries to make a delicious herbal tea. Chamomile has a gentle calming sedative effect that can improve mood, aid sleep, relaxation, stress, nausea and anxiety. This herb offers a wide range of health benefits including antibiotic, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiseptic properties. Chamomile grows best in well-drained, compost-rich soil in a sunny location to encourage flowering.

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

This annual herb has so many uses that I am never without it in our home pharmacy garden. Nasturtiums are not fussy whether they live in the sun or shade but will flower profusely in a sunny, moist location. While many gardeners grow this plant for its stunning flowers and intoxicating fragrance which lift the spirit, the nasturtium is far more than just a pretty face to put in a vase! The highest value is in the leaves, which contain potent antibiotic properties, backed by considerable scientific research.

Nasturtiums contain tromalyt, a fast-acting antibiotic compound that helps boost the immune system in just an hour without the usual side-effects on gut flora. Leaves, seeds, and flowers are eaten raw and are high in vitamin C and B vitamins, also supporting immune health. At the start of a cold, flu or respiratory ailment, we always eat three leaves several times a day, and it quickly abates. Powerful plant medicine indeed and another fantastic addition to your wellness garden.

Growing medicinal plants like herbs to use for simple remedies is a sustainable and economical way to support health. Plants can be harvested just before you need them when they are freshest. Being able to step out onto your balcony or wander in the garden to pick herbs for a tea and minutes later cure an ailment is incredibly empowering. Learning to take care of ourselves by growing a wellness garden, even a small one, can help us relieve stress, find peace with a rewarding hobby, and ultimately improve our health and wellbeing.