Medicinal Herb Gardening

Natural medicine is a big industry today, now that people distrust the prescription drug market. But, are herbs used for medicinal purposes really effective? Not all herbs work, but some do and have been used to treat many ailments for thousands of years which is why medicinal herb gardening is becoming so popular today. Here are some plants you might want to include in your homeopathic medicinal herb garden:

Chamomile

Most people have heard of chamomile, which is an herb derived from the dried chamomile flower. It’s well-known for the tasty tea that it makes. Chamomile tea is a soothing drink with gentle sedative powers. Some people claim that it reduces inflammation and fever, but that remains unsubstantiated. Other studies suggest that chamomile inhibits bacteria involved in stomach ulcers, but that remains unsubstantiated as well.

Some people are allergic to chamomile’s pollen, but it is safe for the majority of people - despite it not quite being a “miracle cure” as certain claims state.

Echinacea

Echinacea is one of the herbs used for medicinal purposes that is rather well studied.  It is a perennial plant with a whole host of ingredients that have been studied thoroughly. It is believed to aid the immune system in its natural functions, and is often employed in treating upper respiratory issues triggered by colds. However, more evidence is still needed before proving its immune system properties conclusively.

There have been some studies on Echinacea that suggest that it can ease the symptoms and length of the common cold. Other studies also showed that it can help reduce the chances of catching a cold.  Since there are so many factors that go into someone actually getting a cold these statements are very hard to prove. At the very least this herb is generally thought to be safe for people to take. If this herb amounts to nothing else it could be used as a decent placebo.

A trained physician is the only person who should be sought out to learn whether or not medicinal herbs are safe or not for individuals with certain ailments, such as diabetes.

Feverfew

Anyone familiar with medicinal herb gardening probably knows about Feverfew,  a lush perennial that has ingredients like parthenolide and glycosides, believed to aid in treating inflammation and migraine headaches. Though it isn’t conclusive, there is something to this idea. Feverfew is known to reduce the incidence of blood clots.

There are many uses for this homeopathic medicinal herb, but some of the potential side effects include, skin inflammation, mouth ulcers and high blood pressure. Another side effect may be the reduction of iron absorbed into your body.

Ginseng

This ancient herb was utilized by people in China and India for thousands of years. It comes from the ginseng plant and can take many forms. Research has shown that it may lower blood sugar and increase ‘good’ cholesterol.

It has never been proven that it will enhance sexual performance. It may have a placebo effect on the user, and that might be just as helpful in this particular situation. There are compounds that act like estrogen in ginseng, so woman who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take it. If a person takes a lot of ginseng, they might induce an asthma attack or lower their blood sugar to an unhealthy level.

It’s important to research any herbs used for medicinal purposes, because they can be a health risk in some cases. People have shown that some herbs have very helpful benefits, but it’s nearly impossible to be objective about anecdotes, so be careful.

Medicinal herb gardening can be done in any home garden, in pots or in the soil.  It’s not any harder than growing any other type of perennial and you will have fresh homeopathic medicinal herb plants that you can use for what ails you!