JulyGarden-4
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As the ole saying goes, a lot of water has passed under the bridge, since the days growing up on a farm. I was a boy that was full of energy and was always getting into something and then out came the old first aid kit.

My big sister took great pleasure in torturing me with anything and anything that would cause pain. My mom on the other hand had that magic touch and used herbs to soothe me. My sister knew what to do to ease the pain and help me heal, she just liked to see how much pain I could endure without screaming.

Herbs were used instead of all the crap drugs we use so readily these days. Perhaps you didn’t know that many of the medicines that you buy in the drug store have herb plants in them? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier and cheaper if you grew your own healing herbs? By using herb plants from my herb garden to fill my medicine cabinet, I have saved a lot of money.

I am already starting an indoor herb medicine cabinet and plan to increase the number of herbs we grow in our home garden as well. Stock up on some Mother Nature’s meds for the winter months.

Home Gardening Tips: Get Your First Aid Kit Growing

Do you have any of these issues? Try herb plants!

  • Coriander, chervil and thyme all help awesome for aching joints. For a cheap antibacterial, use calendula, lavender, lovage, marjoram, oregano or peppermint.
  • Do you have bad breath? Parsley, mint, anise and sweet cicely will help everyone breathe easier.
  • Constipation is never any fun. Help get the kinks out with fennel or dandelion.
  • It’s amazing how many herb plants will help with flatulence, such as peppermint, summer savory, lemon balm, ginger, caraway, coriander, beebalm and lovage.
  • By the end of the day I can usually go for some chamomile tea for my frazzled nerves. Some other herb plants that could assist include dill, goldenrod, lavender and lemon balm.
  • Not much can is better than thyme for helping with your Saturday morning hangover. It works better than the raw egg/tomato juice drink people might tell you to drink.
  • Can’t cure your hiccups? Give dill a try It not only has a fabulous flavor; it also works like a charm.
  • To take care of your insect stings, even mosquito bites, experiment with aloe, goldenrod, hens-and-chicks and summer savory.
  • Unable to sleep? A lot of the same herbs that will calm your nerves can help here too, but chamomile and dill are most likely to help you with your insomnia.
  • If you suffer from seasonal allergies or nasal congestion, sage, horseradish and violet are good choices. To clean out your sinus passages in no time at all, experiment with a little horseradish.
  • Indigestion and stomachache respond well to dill, fennel, lovage and of course peppermint.

Please do not be alarmed with all these treatments—they isn’t snake oil! You don’t believe me? Experiment with it for yourself!

  • Aloe Vera: I have two different aloe vera plants that are always suffering from me breaking off bits to treat burns (including sunburn) and mosquito bites. As a succulent, aloe vera does not need very much in the way of creature comforts and I have to be mindful not to over-water it myself. If you’ve planted your aloe vera in a pot, but sure it has well-drained soil and lots of light. You’ll also want to make sure that it stays firmly rooted by packing the dirt around the stem.
  • Chamomile: As one of the more popular medicinal herbs, chamomile is good for both mental and physical ailments.. Chamomile comes in two types (German and true or Roman chamomile), both of these herbs will self-sow if you allow it, which can reduce the amount of time you’ll have to spend replanting these perennial herb plants.
  • Horseradish: Just a whiff of this will clean you out, and quickly. As a member of the mustard family, horseradish has a peppery flavor that does not attract horses at all. Although the leaves can grow to 2 feet long, it is the root that is important for the herb gardener.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows and be sure to leave your own home gardening tip in a comment below.

Here is more information on Herb Garden Kits. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

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