Essential Survival Gear Catalog

Did you know that many of the medicines that you pick-up in the drug store have herb plants in them? Just think how much money you could save by raising your own medicinal herbs. I know I have saved a lot of money by raising my own little first aid kit in the garden.

Do you have any of these ailments? Try herb plants!

• For aching joints, use chervil, coriander and thyme. For a cheap antibacterial, try calendula, lavender, lovage, marjoram, oregano or peppermint.

• Got bad breath? Parsley, mint, anise and sweet cicely will help everyone breathe easier.

• Constipation can be serious. Help get the kinks out with fennel or dandelion.

• It’s amazing how many herb plants will help with flatulence, including peppermint, summer savory, lemon balm, ginger, caraway, coriander, beebalm and lovage.

• There is not much more soothing to your frazzled nerves than a warm cup of chamomile tea at the end of the day. A few other herb plants that I think are soothing are goldenrod, lavender, dill and lemon balm.

• There is no better cure for a hangover than thyme. It works better than the raw egg/tomato juice concoction people might tell you to down.

• Do you have a terrible case of hiccups that won’t go away? Give dill a try It will be awesome, and if you like dill, it can be a tasty cure.

• To take care of your insect stings, including mosquito bites, try aloe, goldenrod, hens-and-chicks and summer savory.

• Lying awake all night? Your best bet for some shut eye is chamomile or dill, but any of the herb plants that calm your nerves can assist.

• If you suffer from seasonal allergies or nasal congestion, sage, horseradish and violet are great options. To clear your sinus passages fast, experiment with a little horseradish.

• Peppermint is the best thing for indigestion and stomachache, but dill, lovage and fennel are also helpful.

Among all these remedies you might be feeling like herb plants are like snake oil. You don’t believe me? Experiment with it for yourself!

• Aloe Vera: I torture both of my poor aloe plants by breaking off pieces every few days to take care of bug bites and burns, even sunburns Be mindful not to over-water it. It is a succulent and doesn’t need much water or any other creature comforts. Just be sure that it gets plenty of light and that its well-drained sod keeps it firmly rooted in the container or garden bed.
• Chamomile: As one of the more popular healing herbs, chamomile is good for both mental and physical ailments.. Chamomile has 2 kinds (German and true or Roman chamomile), both of these plants will self-sow if you allow them, which will decrease the amount of time you will have to spend replanting these perennial herbs.
• Horseradish: If you need to clean out your sinuses, just take a sniff of this one. Believe it or not, even though it has a peppery flavor, the horseradish herb is a member of the mustard family. Although the leaves can grow to 2 feet long, it is the root that is essential for the herb gardener.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Herb Garden Kits. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.