Growing Medicinal Herbs
Growing Medicinal Herbs
Let’s shoot straight. Oils are so much easier. Last year I wanted to dive deeper into growing my own herbs for tinctures, teas, and salves. I’ll be honest the tinctures haven’t been used a ton because we have our oils which are so much easier to grab, roll, and diffuse. We have made a few salves which came in handy for some injuries on the homestead. I will continue to grow and harvest from this garden because it intrigues me and pushes me to learn more about herbalism. If you want to venture into growing a medicinal herb garden, here are my top faves to start with.
𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗮- The flowers are so beautiful and happy. Dry them and use them to make a healing salve for dry skin and scrapes.
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘆- use dried in capsules for muscle and tendon injury. Pairs well with tumeric to decrease inflammation and increase healing. Use fresh in an olive oil solution that can be applied topically or decanted and added to beeswax to produce a healing salve for bruising. Both are ways we used this beautiful plant in 2020.
𝗘𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆- Oh my word I cannot say enough about this bush. The flowers can be used in a tea with peppermint to bring down a fever. The berries can be used to make a tincture or syrup for prevention of viruses.
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲- a dainty fragrant flower that is a powerhouse for calming the nervous system and the respiratory system. Use dried in a tea or in a warm vapor steam to settle the lungs.
𝗘𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗮- A tru beauty in the garden that will support the immune system when used medicinally. Use the flowers to add to bouquets in fresh arrangements throughout summer. Dry the freshly opened flower buds and leaves for tea. Use fresh to make tinctures. Once the roots are mature you can use all parts of the plant to make teas and tinctures.
Tinctures are parts of the plant distilled in 100 proof vodka for 6 or more weeks. Then strained(decanted) and used medicinally.
Salves - parts of the plants soaked in organic olive oil for 6 weeks. Then strained (decanted) can be used as is or added to beeswax to make a salve.
I enjoy pairing essential oils with the salves we make to create a dynamic effect for healing.
What are your favorite medicinal herbs to grow and why?