Transform Your Garden into a Healing Retreat with Medicinal Plants

*Collaborative Post

Wounds, diseases, and troubled minds have always existed (clearly not in such a significant number as they do exist nowadays). However, our earliest human ancestors didn’t let these challenges pass unnoticed. For example:

• Egyptians documented their knowledge of specific illnesses and cures on their temple walls, leaving as a legacy the Ebers Papyrus, a valuable herbal book containing over 700 medicinal formulas.
• Hippocrates and Aristotle played a pivotal role in legitimizing herbs as medicinal remedies, shaping the foundation of herbal medicine as we know it today.
• Dioscorides’ “De Materia Medica” appears to have made the most significant contribution to herbal remedies, as his work presents approximately 500 plants and about 1000 simple drugs.

Living in a world mainly dominated by modern biodiversity science leaves little room for traditional medicine. Generally, the media don’t hesitate to devour Washington’s culture of corruption, which has heavily influenced the pharmaceutical industry to the point where prescription drugs have become the third leading cause of death in the United States and Europe. Keep in mind that our aim is not to discount the advancements of modern medicine, and we are not here to start a “throw away your prescription” movement.

Nevertheless, we’d like to emphasize the timeless wisdom of traditional healing methods, which have nurtured health for generations. It may be time for your garden to be more than carrots and roses. After all, why not transform it into a healing oasis? What do you have to lose?

Peppermint

You might think: “What on earth does a culinary herb have to do with medicine?” 

You’re right; peppermint is mainly used for minty cocktails, herby soups, salads, and sauces, but that doesn’t mean it cannot do wonders for:

• Upset stomachs: Peppermint relieves digestive symptoms such as bloating and indigestion. Moreover, 726 patients who suffered from irritable bowel syndrome and tried peppermint oil experienced profound transformations in the relief process.  
• Headaches: Peppermint oil’s menthol helps with blood flow, ultimately providing a cooling sensation and easing pain. 
• Morning sickness: The 5-HT3 receptor channel affects nausea and vomiting, and peppermint oil seems to have antagonistic effects.
• Breath: Peppermint has antibacterial properties that fight against the germs causing dental plaque, which can significantly improve your breath.

So, the first step would be to plant peppermint. It grows happily in both beds and pots, but many individuals have used planters to produce it, assuring the soil is sandy, calcareous, and rich in humus and nutrients. Next, search on the internet for “How to make your peppermint oil”. And third -there’s no third – that’s it.

Motherwort

Planting Motherwort doesn’t imply any issues, and it is actually one of the easiest herbs to grow. It’s a low-maintenance wild perennial that’s tolerant of a wide variety of soil conditions. It requires watering and fertilization once a year, in the spring when the leaves are in the bud. 

Motherwort is very useful, especially for women of childbearing years or for those experiencing perimenopause, as it acts as an emmenagogue that handles the issue of scanty or absent menstruation. It may also help with hormones, supporting women in menopause to stay safe from unusual weight gain. Moreover, it’s good for early labor pains, with the mention of NOT using it until labor starts.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha comes from the nightshade family, and it is often grown indoors or in controlled environments due to several reasons:

1. Climate control: Ashwagandha is extremely frost-sensitive, making it impossible to grow in cold or wet spring conditions. This plant thrives best indoors, within stable temperatures that prevent damage from frost or excessive moisture. Therefore, flower pots are much needed if you decide to grow Ashwagandha. At elho, you can find lots of planters that are available for indoor use, featuring almost any color you could think of. 
2. Soil and nutrient management: Ashwagandha prefers sandy loam or light red soil with a pH of 7.5 to 8.0 and good drainage (she’s a very pretentious girl, we’d say).

For its medical use, Ashwagandha has been used for thousands of years to relieve stress and anxiety and improve sleep quality. Moreover, taking Ashwagandha may benefit cognitive functions, including memory, and help boost testosterone (thank God). 

However, you should know that Ashwagandha may not be safe if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, and about to have surgery. It would be wise to perform a thorough examination before taking this plant, as many people describe it as the best thing that has ever happened to me, but also, Denmark has recently banned it because of its ability to induce abortion and the negative impacts it has on hormones. 

Calendula 

Calendula is a hardy annual that can quickly grow to maturity (it takes about 6-8 weeks after sowing). This plant is usually served as a tea, but it’s also used as an ingredient in various herbal formulations, oils, ointments, and tinctures. Due to its potent antioxidants, which include triterpenes, flavonoids, polyphenols, and carotenoids, Calendula can significantly neutralize the harmful effects of the oxidative stress present in our bodies. In case you’re wondering, oxidative stress is ever-present within human bodies, occurring when an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants. In short, that means the cellular capacity to neutralize free radical formations, on its own, proves inadequate.

Here are the potential benefits of Calendula:

• It may regulate the menstrual cycle.
• It may have antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
• It may combat certain cancer cells. 
• It may promote wounds and skin ulcers. 

Final Thoughts

What do you say – are you ready to create your own oasis of medicinal greenery, where nature’s healing touch is always within reach? Imagine the peace of knowing that whenever a small discomfort arises, you have pure, organic remedies at your fingertips – nurtured by your own hands, free from artificial additives.

And no, we’re not suggesting ashwagandha for a quick high – this is about real, natural healing, the way it was always meant to be.

*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.