Easy to Grow Herbs and Traditional Uses

by Dr Katherine Aaron

Let me start off by qualifying that subtitle; in most parts of North America and Europe these herbs will be easy to grow. If you live in an extreme environment or anytime you're in doubt always check with your local nursery or if you live in the US you can call your local county agent for the Department of Agriculture. Your county agent helps commercial growers but they're also a service provided by your tax dollars to help local gardeners, too.

Don't be surprised to find growing conditions varying dramatically within a few mile radius. For example carrots grown where I lived in Santa Fe were so flavorful and hearty that the locals dubbed them cosmic carrots. My current house is only about 50 miles away as the crow flies and you just can't grow a decent carrot here. All because the soil and weather is slightly differant here on top of a mesa instead of the foothills of a mountain. If you live in an extreme climate, it’ll always save some time and energy to find out if these herbs are easy to grow in your location.

These herbs were chosen because they're easy to grow and each one offers several medicinal uses and many of them can also be used for seasonings as well.

Must-Grow Herbs List:

Bee Balm, Bergamot, Horsemint, or Oswego: I've grouped these together because they all have similar properties and are closely related, all of them are in the Monarda family. Topically and orally these plants are used for throat, skin, and gum infections. The active ingredient is thymol a well-researched disinfectant. The tea is also used to treat gas and bloating and as a stimulant. Closely related to oregano, it can also be used for culinary uses. Bergamont flowers can be added to green tea to make a healthier version of Earl Grey Tea.

Borage: This is a gorgeous addition to your garden that always reseeds itself in abundance. Traditionally its flowers are used to regulate and stabilize the endocrine (hormone) system, which helps with PMS and reduces hot flashes. The flowers contain high levels of Omega-6 and is the highest plant source of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). This means it has properties that support the cardiovascular system. The pretty purple tea made from the flowers also has a calming affect. The flowers are also quite tasty when eaten raw as a salad topper. The rest of the plant is an anti-inflammatory and helps to stabilize the respiratory system. Teas from the leaves are used to relieve colds symptoms and respiratory infections including bronchitis. Although the leaves have tiny spiky hairs they have a slightly cucumber taste and the young leaves are quite good in salads.

Calendula: Crush a few of these sunny flowers and put them in a warm tub with epsom salt for the best cure for sore, overworked and achy muscles. Topically used to reduce muscle pain and to speed up healing wounds.

Echinacea: Enhances the immune system and is most effective when taken at the first sign of a cold or flu. This is one of the most common herbs used traditionally by both Europeans and Native Americans because of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immune stimulating properties. It can be used topically for athletes foot and slow-healing wounds and also taken internally for infections. There are many varieties of echinacea so be careful when buying your plants. The best three for medicinal use are: Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea purpurea.

Garlic: Garlic can be grown as a border around the garden since it's natural insect repellent. It lowers cholesterol, reduces blood pressure, thins and purifies the blood, simulates the immune system, detoxifies the body and supports the liver by stimulating glutathione production. It's a powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial. When used medicinally it's best to crush the clove then use it in 10-15 minutes. This is number 3 on my list of must-grow herbs.

Lavender: Just smelling lavender is calming and relaxing but when taken as a tea the effects are much more pronounced. Toss a few sprigs into a warm bath for a relaxing soak. Taken internally it's also used for depression, insomnia, anxiety, alopecia, and pain reduction. It's also an antimicrobial and can be used topically to treat skin, gum and throat infections. I use diluted lavender tinctures and essential oil as a natural disinfectant to clean the bathroom. It’s used in French cooking as a seasoning.

Lemon Balm: This prolific grower is in the mint family, so it does best when grown separately. Its main use is as a mild sedative but it is also an anti-viral that’s especially effective against the herpes virus. It’s also a mild to moderate anti-bacterial. Because it tastes good, many people like to drink this tea for stress reduction and to help them sleep. The extract can be used topically as a mosquito repellent.

Lemon Grass: If you live in warm climates plant these in a separate area or it'll take over your garden. In the tropics and some subtropical areas they can grow 6 feet tall. Topically it’s an antibacterial and antifungal and is also used to cleanse oily skin. Internally it’s used for depression, to sooth tension and/or nervous conditions and also to lower fevers. Unless you have dry skin, this is another wonderful herb to crush and add to a warm bath for a relaxing way to soak away tension. Its light lemony flavor makes a tasty bedtime tea and is often used in Asian cooking.

Mint: All varieties are best planted by itself since it can quickly take over your garden. Medicinally speaking, peppermint is the strongest. Mint is the best all-purpose herb for the digestive system. It’s uses include but is not limited to: nausea, eating too much, general upset stomachs, gas and bloating, stomach flu, and breathing the steam from hot tea opens sinuses and clears up nasal congestion. It’s also a useful stimulant that won’t affect your nervous system like caffeine. Drop a few sprigs in tepid bathwater and it’ll cool you down. You can grind it up with water or make a tincture with vinegar to make a potent insect repellant. It works great for all types of ants. And of course it’s wonderful for cooking and to use as garnishes.

Oregano: A tincture made with vinegar makes a highly effective disinfectant to use throughout your entire home and is especially good to use to clean the refrigerator or on surfaces when someone has a cold in the house. Oregano is a potent antimicrobial that can be used both internally and externally. Traditional uses are too numerous to list but it's commonly used to treat bacterial, yeast, fungal and viral infections as well as a sedative, tonic, immune system stimulant, digestive aid, stimulant, and expectorant (clears mucus). For culinary purposes try some of the old heirloom varieties of Mexican, Greek and Italian varieties as each one has a distinctive flavor. All varieties of oregano contain the medicinal properties. If you could only grow one herb, oregano would be your best bet since it's like a little medicine chest all on its own. It's number 1 on my list of must-grow herbs.

Rosemary: In many cultures and traditions rosemary is used in ceremonies and herbal remedies as a purifier for body and spirit. European traditions used rosemary as a symbol of remembering departed loved ones. These hardy plants grow in just about any soil condition. It's a natural treatment for head lice and is traditionally used to improve memory, treat senility and neuromuscular problems. Newer studies show that rosemary is an antioxidant that the casmosic acid found in rosemary is particularly effective in sweeping away the free radicals in the brain making it a useful conjunctive treatment for Alzheimer.

Thyme: The high content of thymol makes this a highly effective antimicrobial. It's number 2 on my list of must-grow herbs. Good topically for treating infected wounds, yeast and fungal infections, also dandruff; gargled for gum, mouth and throat infections; eye wash for eye infections; and taken internally for headaches, coughs, gas, sciatica, depression, epilepsy, nervousness, anxiety, gas, bloating, colds and flu. There are many varieties of thyme and it’s used for the same purposes in Curanderisimo, Native American, Aurvedic, Eastern (far and middle east) and in traditional western herbal medicine.