I'm starting an herb garden/kitchen garden, and wondering if anyone else grows and saves medicinal herbs? If you have a favorite website/book or other source of info, I'd love to hear about it.

I'm starting with Echinacea purpurea, catmint, lemon balm, peppermint, spearmint, feverfew and elderberry. I splurged on a stevia plant, but I don't know how to use it effectively. I don't know how to use any of them perfectly, but I'm reading and learning. What's in your garden?

We have a vast array of plants that we grow for medicinal and other purposes. @Trish is our expert on that subject. We grow all the ones you mentioned, plus comfrey and yarrow and quite a number of others. We love them all, and most of them have extra benefits beyond medicinal, especially as plants for the bees.

I don't have a specific source of info, but I did just start growing thing that I found myself buying on a regular basis.

In addition to the above, Marsh Mallow is easy to grow and I use it as part of a cough syrup every year. also, German Chamomile is easy, yarrow goes great with Elderberries for fighting colds/flu, and calendula for balms.

Don't forget that the herbs that you are using the roots of need to be at least 3 years old to have the benefits.

It is great fun, and rewarding to see that part of our household budget go down!

I had not yet discovered Marsh Mallow, but I'll look it up to learn about it. I do have German Chamomile and I'm starting Calendula seeds this spring.

Thank you for the information about the plants you grow and use. I have a feeling this area of study will be a great adventure.

I grow an assortment of herbs for medicinal use as well as for my pleasure. There is a wealth of information on the internet for herbal usage but I will suggest looking at the resource links and always cross reference to verify the information. Here is one link... http://www.motherearthnews.com...

The good thing about herbal medicine is it generally does not have the dosage strength so is safer than most meds.

People rarely consider one of the common herbs grown as an herb but it is and is medicinally common ~ Aloe barbadensis. This aloe plant will treat skin issues and help to heal wounds and burns.

Good luck in your quest. It is fun!

Thanks for the link, Kristi. I'll get busy researching!

Hi Jill,
I, too grow as many herbs as possible, and especially love the perennial herbs. I have learned most of what I know from Jack Spirko of “The Survival Podcast”. If you go to his site and do a search for medicinal herbs you will find two podcasts he has done that are very informative. Also, he has gotten a lot of his info from “Sand Mountain Herbs. com” They have so much information on their website. Good luck to you, I think you are going to have so much fun and satisfaction.

Toni

Thanks, Toni. I know I'll enjoy learning about herbs and natural medicinals. There is a lot to learn so the journey will be fun. I appreciate your links and reference tips.

I am just barely beginning. I made a salve last year with chickweed in it. I told a friend about it and she said to make it better add Plantain to it. Next time, I 'll do this and also not make so much in one batch. We don't go through it that fast.

For the most part I buy herbal supplements because they are in measured doses. I'm nervous about taking too much of something. We just got in the ground some Black Cohosh that I hope to use medicinally.

Oh, I have to tell a funny story.... I gave some friends a garden tour of my place this spring. I pointed out the Wild Senna and one of them laughed and said, "Laxative Plant?!" She is a nurse and gives Senna to some of her patients. I grew it because it's native, but if it is thriving, I may collect the leaves.

About plantain, I dried some of those leaves to use instead of burdock to put on burns and cuts. It already grows here wild and I do not want to add another non-native to the area. Also, I learned something horrible about burdock recently, the seed heads are the inspiration for Velcro and think about what happens to any birds that land on it.
http://dnr.wi.gov/news/weekly/...

I just started using herbs a couple of years ago and am still adding plants to my garden. Some are for my chickens and I don't have near enough of some of them for both of us

Most herbal sites and books tell you how much is enough to use of the herbs you are interested in.
Most reccmend 1 teaspoon to 1 cup of water for teas.

Burdock grows wild here so I use it.
Plantain also grows wild here. I use it in salves for skin issues.

I add comfrey to just about every lotion and salve I make, along with other herbs. Still learning, still experimenting. I make small batches at a time.

I've got books, first is Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine and the second, Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest, the Definitive Guide. The second one I haven't had very long and seems to have plants that grow wild in the SW, some of which aren't available here, of course. I also have some old issues of The Herb Companion, a magazine which is no longer published. I've used medicinal herbs for quite a few years.

I have just recently started to learn about the benefits of herbs. I am trying to plant as many as i can . I want to be able to identify each one. I have planted russian comfrey Vitex, also planted several mint varities . I especially like stinging nettle.I made a hair spritzer with nettle and rosemary and it worked really well for me . actually most of what i know about herbs i learned because of ATP

if anyone needs some chickweed..... (or plaintain, for that matter)

I had received a book called "The Green Witch Herbal" some years ago. It was a great reference book. I haven't looked at herbs for remedies for a few years. But I believe in a lot of tea varieties. Moderate usage, of course.
My husband and I sold a home in upstate N.Y. a couple of years ago. Around the decks we built around the small home, I planted some herbs. I would love to see the home (herbs) now.....?Or not. Lol, you never know.

Chickweed is a versatile and very easy to grow herb. That's a good one to have. It's very generous of you to offer.
Another good but endangered plant to have is the striped or spotted wintergreen. Pipsissewa.
I just found out that I have a backyard full of it. (My husband and I are fixing up an old home, set back in a woodsy area. Just the right growing conditions).