Herbal Medical Kit

Growing herbs organically is a great way to have some natural remedies at hand for a number of complaints and you will be amazed at how well they can work.

As with everything herbal apply common sense and always consult a medical practitioner when necessary.

Basil

(Ocimum basilicum) How to grow it: Basil is an annual herb, which means it needs to be planted anew every year. Grow it in direct sunlight and a night temperature of 60 degrees. In the garden give basil at least a foot of room and remove flower stalks as they grow.

Benefits: Basil is a natural antiseptic and great for soothing insect bites as well as the leaf providing a powerful antioxidant agent in your food. It is also believe to have mild anti-depressant properties.

Chamomile

(Chamomilla recutita syn. Matricaria recutita) How to grow it: Another annual that can be grown from seed in a sunny location. Harvest the flower heads and dry for use. Benefits: Wonderful painkiller. Soak the dried flower heads in warm water over night then use to bathe sties. Make infusions to sip to ease digestive problems.

Parsley

(Petroselenium crispum) How to grow it: Very easily, perfect for window boxes as well as the garden. Make sure it gets plenty of sunlight and is well watered. Benefits: Good antioxidant as well as digestive aid and diuretic. Helps eliminate toxins from the body.

Sage

(Salvia officinalis) How to grow it: Grow from cuttings, likes lots of sun and good drainage. It's an outdoor plant growing to about 3 feet. Benefits: A strong antiseptic and astringent. Make an infusion of sage leaves to gargle to ease bleeding gums, combat bad breath, and sooth sore throats. Sage tea is good for the nervous and digestive systems.

Echinacea

(Echinacea angustifloia & E. purpurea) How to grow it: This is a perennial plant that needs to be planted in well-drained soil in a sunny location. Harvest in autumn. Benefits: Great immune system stimulator, can also be used as an anti-inflammatory and as an antibiotic using a tincture of the roots (must be at least four years old to do this).

Horseradish

(Armoracia rusticana syn. Cochlearia armoracia) How to grow it: Grow from root divisions in partial sunlight. Needs to be grown outdoors. Harvest roots in the Autumn. Benefits: Brilliant for treating colds and fevers, sinus and chest problems as it acts as an expectorant.

Rosemary

(Rosmarinus officinalis) How to grow: indoors and outdoors. Rosemary is a quite a hardly little perennial. However, it does not like dry forced heat and does like lots of moisture and good drainage. Dry branches during the winter. Benefits: Excellent tonic, good for stimulating circulation and the lymphatic system. Bathe in it to relieve muscle aches or rub it on your templates to ease headaches.

Calendula

(Calendula officinalis) How to grow it: Like Basil, Calendula is an annual herb. You can grow it from seed outside in a sunny, protected spot, it can also be grown in doors but be warned it can grow to over two feet high. Benefits: Calendula petals have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that are excellent for mild burns, dry skin, rashes and varicous veins. Use an infusion as a douche for yeast infections.

Common Sense with herbs

Herbal medicines are very safe when used correctly, yet can have powerful effects. Each person is different, and the way someone reacts to a particular herb may be significantly different from another. You should always seek the advice of a healthcare practitioner before taking any dietary, nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, and inform your pharmacy of its use if you are taking other medicines.