Herbs are often grown to be used in your food, but that is definitely not their only use! You can also use some herbs for their healing and medicinal purposes. These can be applied directly to burns, scrapes, and other minor injuries, or mixed with other natural ingredients to make fully organic and natural medicine and beauty products.
Aloe Vera
If you are someone who has ever had a sunburn, you are probably no stranger to aloe vera. However, using the plant on its own is much better than getting the bottled lotion or gel made with aloe vera. If you can plant some aloe vera plants in your yard, you will have a long list of medicinal uses for it. Aloe vera also happens to be beginner-friendly and can grow in small pots if you prefer. You will be better off growing aloe vera if you are in a warm environment and can give it lots of natural sunlight. They unfortunately don’t do well if you get a lot of frost.
Peppermint
A really excellent type of mint to consider growing in your herbal garden is peppermint. This is especially great for healing DIY lotions and balms, along with being used for dental hygiene. This is one of the oldets medicinal herbs and has a very long history. You can use the peppermint to make a balm for cuts and scrapes, turn it into a soothing tea that helps with digestion, or even get rid of some types of pests in your home with peppermint.
Echinacea
This is an herb that is highly underrated that not many people think to grow in their garden. However, if you are looking for herbs not used for cooking, but for health reasons, you definitely want to consider adding this one! It is not beginner-friendly, so it is best to start your first herb garden with simpler options like basil and thyme, then gradually work into the more difficult ones like Echinacea and peppermint. However, you can use this for helping to treat the cold or flu, and in general helping to boost your immune system.
Lavender
This is also considered an herb and luckily it isn’t too difficult to learn how to grow in your garden. Lavender is perfect when you want to make your own skin care or beauty products, as it is really soothing on your skin. You can make lavender tea or drop the dried lavender herbs into your bath to relax and help you unwind after a long day. It is also aromatic, so it smells good in your garden or when you bring it inside.
