This morning it occurred to me that even though many plants have medicinal powers, the general thought is that they have to be exotic or rare to be effective, but this is not true! Sometimes the most common plants have the most powerful medicinal effects.
I put together this list of healing plants to show you that (like me) you can grow your own medicinal garden, and no, these medical plants are not expensive and you do not need a greenhouse!
1. Red Clover
Don’t be deceived by the innocent pink exterior of this flower! It may be beautiful, but it’s not just there for aesthetic purposes; the red clover is a serious virus killer!
Often used to treat viruses like bronchitis and whooping cough, the red clover can effectively trigger the secretion of saliva and mucus, which aids in flushing viruses from your body.
2. Male and Lady Ferns
The juices inside the leaves of a male and lady fern have strong anti-inflammatory agents, so they make for excellent topical ointments. When you have a cut, burn, rash, or allergy, the fern oil can be used to soothe and reduce swelling and redness.
3. Mint
Peppermint and spearmint may sound like toothpaste flavors but they are in fact very different, medically valuable plants. Peppermint, throughout history has been used successfully to treat indigestion, nausea, headaches, and diarrhea. Spearmint was used to remedy weak stomach, vomiting and fevers and was also used as a mild diuretic.
Recently, it has been established that peppermint is the more versatile and effective type of mint. Both types of mint can be taken orally as well as applied topically!
When I was suffering through the day-to-day symptoms of my illness, I got into the routine of having organic, loose-leaf peppermint tea every morning. The soothing powers can calm your body down, make you feel less lethargic, and promote better bodily function.
4. Sage
The multifaceted strengths of sage are incredible! Not only can sage relieve inflammation, it can also be used as an antioxidant, antifungal and anti-microbial agent. If you have indigestion, cramping, swelling, diarrhea, or other cold symptoms, sage should be your go to herb.