Remember to have your own small herbal pharmacy growing in the garden, like those that were previously found in monasteries and in the homes of wise old women. Here are our tips for plants you can try out.
Thyme
Thyme is a common folk remedy for cough. The plant contains the essential oil thymol, which is both expectorant and antibacterial. A classic tea to help with a cold can be made by letting a couple of teaspoons of dried thyme steep in hot water for a few minutes. If you use fresh thyme, you should use a bit more. Thyme is a perennial herb, so once you have it thriving in your garden, you will have it there for a long time. In the autumn, you can trim it down and dry it in bunches, so you have it ready when the winter cold comes knocking on the door.
Marigold
Calendula contains the yellow pigment carotenoids, which in addition to essential oils are said to have a healing effect. Extracts from the flower petals can have a soothing effect on the skin and are suitable for both creams and massage oils. A simple oil can be made by letting chopped flowers stand in cold-pressed canola or olive oil for three weeks, and then straining out the flower petals. Calendulas are both beautiful and easy to grow, and they often self-seed year after year.
Chamomile
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), with its daisy-like flowers, is among the most commonly used in traditional herbal medicine and could already be found in pharmacies in the 18th century. The plant has been considered to be soothing and anti-inflammatory, but also relieving for menstrual cramps and itchy scalp. It is possible to make both ointment, tea, and infusion from the plant. Chamomile is an annual herb that grows wild, but can also be cultivated. It thrives particularly well in a meadow in full sun.
Lemon Balm
This fragrant plant contains essential oils that have traditionally been considered soothing for anxiety and sleep disturbances. It is also said to relieve migraines and upset stomach. Lemon balm can be used in tea, similar to thyme, and is a good tea for the evening. Lemon balm is easy to grow, and can also be grown indoors in a pot all year round.
Peppermint
Peppermint has been cultivated as a herbal medicine since Roman times. In addition to this plant smelling fresh and good of menthol, it is said that the essential oils can have anti-inflammatory properties. A massage with peppermint oil often feels good against muscle pain. Peppermint is also said to counteract nausea, acid reflux, and bad breath. If you are congested and coughing, you can try boiling the plant and inhaling the steam. Peppermint tea can be made from 3 to 4 tablespoons of chopped mint, preferably mixed with lemon balm.,Peppermint is easy to grow. It is perennial and tends to spread, so let it have its own corner in the garden, or limit the root system with a pot or similar. You can also grow it indoors.,In the mint family, there are several varieties said to have a healing effect, such as spearmint.
Capricorn
The beautiful capricorn which blossoms in pink in the autumn, is not only a medicinal plant, the leaves are also good to eat, both raw and fried. The texture is similar to sugar snap peas and the taste is slightly tangy, perhaps because they have quite a bit of vitamin C. Historically, the herb has been used for burns, warts, and corns, as it was believed to have antiseptic effects. The plant has also had other uses, in a much more alternative way. For example, it used to be recommended to carry a piece of the root as an amulet on your back to cure hemorrhoids – and to make a love potion from the herb, just to name a few.