One of the best ways to benefit from having a food garden is with herbs. Herbs can be grown in raised beds, as accents in flower gardens, in pots by themselves outdoors or even on a windowsill in your kitchen.
Growing your own herbs is an easy way to add flavor and vital nutrients to your homemade meals. Not only are they an excellent source of flavor and phytonutrients but many herbs have healing properties. So if you’re going to grow herbs grow the ones you like to cook with and add those that offer you health and healing.
Here are just some of the common varieties of herbs, which are easy to grow at home, what their healing properties are and how to benefit from the same:
Basil: Grown inside or out basil grows best in a controlled environment where it is not exposed to extreme heat or wind. It comes in several varieties and is a standard in kitchens in the Mediterranean where the diet has been linked to optimum health and longevity or as a herbal addition to many Thai curry dishes. Basil relieves mucus and congestion, lowers blood pressure. This herb also wards off mosquitoes and warts. Use basil raw in salads, as an appetizer with tomatoes and fresh mozzarella or chiffonade cut and sprinkled in or on your favorite Italian dishes like sauces, pastas and pizzas.
Chamomile: A beautiful low growing bush of daisy like flowers chamomile has been an essential plant in monastery gardens. Known for it’s use to ease digestive complaints, skin and mouth sores it can easy the after effects of chemotherapy and is commonly used as a sleep aid. For use at home cut the stems and flowers and allow to dry. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of the herb and allow to steep for at least 7 minutes. Strain and drink as a tea.
Parsley: Curley leaf or flat, parsley is one of the world’s most widely used herb. A favorite in all kinds of dishes parsley is rich in important nutrients, such as vitamins A, K, and C. It has diuretic properties and ailments associated with the liver and kidneys and as an anti-inflammatory has been used to treat edema and gout. Add fresh chopped parsley to soups and stews and season seafood dishes with the dried leaves.
Rosemary: Rosemary can grow almost anywhere as a significant landscaping plant. The oil in rosemary has been shown to exhibit antibacterial, antifungal and analgesic properties and improve circulation. The fragrance relieves congestion and when used in aromatherapy can relieve headaches, stress and anxiety. Cut fresh rosemary and strip the leaves to use as a marinade on meats, or use the branches as a BBQ brush to remove carcinogens from grilled food. As a tea add 1 to 2 teaspoons to a cup of hot water, strain after 10 minutes and enjoy a few times a day.
Sage: Also coming in many varieties and often sold as salvia sage is a classic seasoning for poultry and many savory dishes. Sage may reduce sugar levels in diabetics when taken on an empty stomach. It has been shown to helps to kill bacteria and is used as a popular ingredient in natural deodorants and also as a gargle for sore throats, coughs and colds. Native Americans and First Nations have burned sage believing that the smoke would cleanse an area of evil spirits. Sage leaves can be used as a rub on pork, or under the skin of your favorite roasted poultry.
Thyme: Traditionally bundled with parsley and bay leaf to form the French bouquet garni which is drops into stocks, soups and stews as they simmer. Thyme is an excellent source of iron and manganese, with calcium, fiber and vitamin K. It protects healthy fats in cooking and is used for its relaxing effect on the smooth muscles of the stomach and intestines. Tiny thyme leaves also contain a volatile oil with remarkable antiseptic properties. As with many of the other herbs you can steep a stalk of thyme and drink as a tea. Our favorite use is to add sprigs to a bit pot of Jamaican stews and simmered beans.
Each one of these herbal healers is easy to grow in almost any location. Most herbs, including those above, can be used in meals right out of the garden or saved in the freezer or spice cabinet to use for months after the growing season is over.
Other Home Grown Healers
Brassica vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, collard greens and Brussel sprouts may be helpful for respiratory issues. And most of us have already heard their importance in overall nutrition and a healthy diet. Other significant holistic healing plants come in the form of peppers and roots. Some of which are easy to grow at home and others which are not.
Hot peppers such as cayenne and chilis have been said to relieve pain and show a significant reduction in inflammation in the body. They can be found in abundance as starter plants at the local garden center and are easy to grow at home and may compliment the other plants in your spring/summer garden.
While it is not impossible to grow your own root spices they are a little more difficult to get started and can take significant care and time to reap a good harvest. My two favorites and both in the same family are the roots turmeric and ginger. These two roots are powerful anti-inflammatories from which many have found relief from arthritis. Both are used frequently in Indian cultures for cooking, as well as antiseptic remedies. Ginger has been used as a popular digestive remedy in teas, ales and candies for centuries all over the world. My Grandma used to prescribe a nice big glass of Canada Dry stirred vigorously to remove some of the carbonation whenever we had an upset stomach.
We’ll add more tools for growing your own home remedy foods, so check the Healthy Living and Healthy Eating sections often for updates.
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