For those who enjoy gardening, it makes sense to add medicinal plants into the backyard or vegetable garden setting. Many medicinal plants, such as echinacea and lavender are commonly found as ornamental plants. Others, such as tomatoes and berries are usually grown as food. Finally, some plants, such as mint and sage are typical herb garden plants. Growing medicinal plants in your own garden can be a great way to have easy access to natural remedies. Here are some medicinal plants you can grow in your garden:
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a succulent plant that is easy to grow and has many medicinal properties. The gel inside the leaves can be used to soothe sunburns, heal wounds, and reduce inflammation. You can easily grow aloe vera in your house as it makes a good houseplant. Given the right conditions, it reproduces happily.
Cannabis
In some states, it is legal to grow your own cannabis. You can get weed seeds USA by ordering them online. This plant is usually easy to grow and should be located in an out-of-the-way area as it can get large quickly. Make sure you understand the laws in your area before growing this plant.
Lavender
Lavender is a fragrant herb that has been used for centuries to treat anxiety, insomnia, and headaches. It is also great for promoting relaxation and reducing stress. Growing lavender is easy in most areas of the country. It is a perennial that forms a rounded bush, covered with fragrant and beautiful flowers for part of the year. For this reason, lavender has become a popular plant.
Echinacea
Echinacea is a flowering plant that is known for its immune-boosting properties. It is commonly used to help prevent and treat colds and flu. Echinacea is a well-known flowerbed perennial also known as coneflower. It has become a popular plant in perennial beds and xeriscaped flower beds since it is beautiful and drought resistant.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a gentle herb that is often used to promote relaxation and improve sleep. It is also great for soothing digestive issues, such as indigestion and bloating. This plant can look a bit weedy when it isn’t in bloom, but it is covered with attractive small white daisy-like flowers during bloom. It is usually planted in herb gardens.
Lemon balm
Lemon balm is a fragrant herb that has a calming effect on the nervous system. It is commonly used to treat anxiety and promote relaxation. This plant is a good one for herb gardens or tucked into a corner of a vegetable garden.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a refreshing herb that is great for soothing digestive issues, such as nausea and indigestion. It is also commonly used to relieve headaches and reduce inflammation. Many of the members of the mint family are both medicinal and beautiful, as they bloom with lovely purple or blue flowers. However, they can also be aggressive and spread out of the area where you planted them. For this reason, many people keep mint in pots or give it an area of its own, where it won’t be able to crowd out any other plants.
Sage
Sage is a flavorful herb that has been used for centuries to treat sore throats, coughs, and other respiratory issues. It is also great for reducing inflammation and improving digestion. Sage forms lovely gray-green mounds of leaves. They stay relatively small and can form attractive additions to flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, and herb gardens and look nice used as border plants.
Garlic
Garlic is a vegetable that contains allicin, a compound with antimicrobial properties that can help boost the immune system and lower blood pressure. Garlic makes a good addition to herb gardens and vegetable gardens, but it needs to be planted in an area where it will be undisturbed during fall clean-up, as it is usually planted in the fall and harvested the next spring or summer.
Ginger
Ginger is a root vegetable that contains gingerol, a compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and lower the risk of chronic diseases. Ginger is often grown in pots but can also be added to vegetable gardens or herb beds.
Berries
Berries are fruits that are high in antioxidants, such as anthocyanins and vitamin C, that can help protect the body from oxidative stress and lower the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Strawberries are easy to grow and attractive. Many people plant strawberries in specialized pots or gardens. Bramble berries, including raspberries and blackberries, take longer to grow and need a designated area as they can spread and are thorny. Finally, blueberries are delicious but need special soil conditions and can’t be grown everywhere for this reason.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are high in vitamin C, which can help boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and promote healthy skin. In most areas of the country, citrus plants need to be brought indoors during the winter, so you will need to buy dwarf varieties and keep them in pots unless you live in the far south.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and collard greens are high in nutrients such as vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like iron and calcium. They can help support overall health and well-being and lower the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Leafy greens are easy to grow and some form or other can be grown throughout the season in most areas. Many of these plants are also attractive, especially kale, and look lovely along the borders of flower beds.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts contain compounds such as sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol that have anti-cancer properties and can help support liver detoxification. These plants are great additions to vegetable gardens, but they can take a long time to grow and prefer cool weather, so make sure you understand their needs for the best success.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a fruit high in lycopene, a compound that has antioxidant properties and can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Tomatoes are one of the most popular and easiest to grow of all vegetables, and many people who don’t have gardens still enjoy keeping a few tomatoes in pots. Tomatoes can be grown on porches, in flowerbeds, alongside other vegetables, and even in hanging pots. Cherry tomatoes are a favorite variety because they can be eaten as a snack, while slicing tomatoes are delicious in salads and other dishes.