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Growing Herbs for a First-Aid Kit
By Flower | February 6, 2010
Did you know that many of the drugs that you buy in the pharmacy have herbs in them? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier and cheaper if you grew your own medicinal herbs? By using herbs from my garden to stock my medicine cabinet, I have saved a lot of money.
Do you have any of these problems? Try herbs!
- Coriander, chervil and thyme all help fabulous for aching joints. Lavender, marjoram, lovage, peppermint and oregano can be used as an antibacterial.
- No one likes bad breath. Anise, mint, parsley and sweet cicely can do you a world of wonder.
- Constipation can be serious. Get the kinks out with fennel or dandelion.
- It is amazing how many herbs will help with flatulence, including peppermint, summer savory, lemon balm, ginger, caraway, coriander, beebalm and lovage.
- By the end of a hard day I can usually go for a cup of chamomile tea for my frazzled nerves. Some other herbs that could help include dill, goldenrod, lavender and lemon balm.
- Nothing beats thyme for helping with your Saturday morning hangover. It works better than the raw egg/tomato juice concoction some folks might tell you to drink.
- Cannot get rid of your hiccups? Dill can take care of them. It not only has a wonderful flavor; it also works like a charm.
- To take care of your insect stings, including mosquito bites, experiment with aloe, goldenrod, hens-and-chicks and summer savory.
- Can’t sleep? Your best bet for some shut eye is chamomile or dill, but any of the herbs that calm your nerves will assist.
- For your seasonal allergies and those other nasal congestions, try horseradish, sage and violet. The horseradish will clear your nasal passages in no time at all.
- Peppermint is great for indigestion and stomachache, but dill, lovage and fennel are also helpful.
Please do not be alarmed with all these treatments—they is not snake oil! If you are unsure, you can always test them out to see if they work.
- Aloe Vera: I torture both of my poor aloe plants by breaking off bits every couple of days to take care of bug bites and burns, even sunburns Be careful not to over-water it. It is a succulent and does not need much water or any other special treatment. If you have planted your aloe vera in a pot, but sure it has well-drained sod and plenty of sun. You will also want to ensure that it stays firmly rooted by packing the soil around the stem.
- Chamomile: You may already be familiar with chamomile because it is well-known as a healing herb that can assist with both mental and physical ailments. Chamomile comes in 2 types (German and true or Roman chamomile), and if you allow them, both of them can grow themselves next year in a process called self-sowing.
- Horseradish: If you need to clean out your sinuses, just take a smell of horseradish. Believe it or not, even though it has a peppery flavor, the horseradish herb is a member of the mustard family. 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.
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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