Medicinal Herbs to Grow in Early Summer

Why Grow Medicinal Plants?

Summer is an excellent time to plant new flowers and herbs that enhance the beauty of our garden. Additionally, these plants can help treat common ailments. With fresh and potent herbs at hand, you can easily create natural remedies whenever needed. Furthermore, your garden plays a vital role in supporting pollination and promoting biodiversity in the ecosystem. Overall, these plants provide a variety of healing benefits for your family.

MEDICINAL Herbs

1. Calendula

1: Growing Condition:

Growth requires full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Summer is the optimal time for blooming. While it is an annual, it self-seeds easily.

2: Medicinal Benefits of Calendula:

3: How to Use Calendula Medicinally

• Echinacea
• Lemon Balm
• Lavender
• Holy Basil (Tulsi)
• Peppermint

2. Chamomile

Chamomile, currently used in medicine, is known for its calming properties, aiding sleep, and improving digestion and inflammation.

2: Types

Chamomile consists of two main varieties: German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), which is commonly used in teas and essential oils, and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum Nobile), which is frequently used in skincare and aromatherapy.

3: Benefit

It promotes relaxation. It is an excellent remedy for stomach issues. Its use improves skin condition. It aids in reducing stress and anxiety.

4: USES

Chamomile is commonly consumed as tea, and you can enhance its flavor by adding honey or lemon. You can also find chamomile in various skin care products or create a simple DIY toner using brewed chamomile tea that’s been allowed to cool. Additionally, chamomile essential oils are excellent for use in diffusers, baths, or as part of massage oils.

3. Echinacea

1: INTRODUCTION

Echinacea refers to a group of flowering plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae) that are native to North America. It is widely used to prevent or alleviate colds and flu because of its immune-boosting properties.

2: **Types of Echinacea**

1. **Echinacea purpurea** – The most popular variety found in supplements and teas.

2. **Echinacea angustifolia** – Traditionally used by Native American tribes.

3. **Echinacea pallida** – Recognized for its yellow petals.

All parts of the plant—roots, leaves, and flowers—can be utilized in tinctures, capsules, teas, or extracts.

3: To plant Echinace

Begin with either seeds or transplants. This plant thrives in full sun and can tolerate dry soil once it is well established. It typically takes about two years to reach maturity. Echinacea grows best in large, deep containers due to its taproot system. For harvesting and storage, the roots should be collected in the fall of the second year. Make sure to thoroughly clean the roots and trim any thorns. Additionally, the flowers can be dried to make tea.

4. Lemon Balm

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), commonly known as bee balm or honey balm, is a lemon-scented mint plant native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, but it is now cultivated worldwide. The specific compounds found in the plant vary depending on where it is grown. Its applications are widespread in medicine, food, skin care, and fragrances. It plays a crucial role in pollinating insects, particularly various types of bees and other beneficial garden insects.

Medicinal Uses

Helps reduce stress and anxiety, promoting relaxation. Beneficial for achieving a restful night’s sleep and alleviating insomnia. Relieves symptoms of indigestion, bloating, and nausea. Contains mild antiviral properties; occasionally used for treating cold sores.

Culinary uses

Used in cooking for teas, salads, soups, and desserts. – Added to oils, syrups, or flavored drinks to enhance flavor, such as in lemon balm lemonade.

**Aromatherapy and Cosmetics**: – Incorporated into essential oils, balms, and lotions for its soothing scent.

How to Identify Lemon Balm?

Lemon balm is a bushy plant with a rounded growth habit, reaching a height of 39 inches. Its heart-shaped leaves are glossy green, soft, and slightly rough, emitting a sweet fragrance. In summer, small white to soft pink tubular flowers, ranging from ¼ to ½ inch, appear along the leaves. The stems are smooth, finely hairy, glossy green, and have a 4-angled shape. Each flower produces four small nutlets. In temperate regions, lemon balm can self-seed.

Important Considerations

Grows rapidly – best suited for container gardening. May affect thyroid medications and sedatives; consult a healthcare professional if using for medicinal purposes.

5. Peppermint

Peppermint is a perennial herb that resembles mint and is widely used in cooking due to its sweet aroma and strong flavor. The flowers of the peppermint plant are often dried and used to enhance the taste of various dishes, while its essential oil is another common flavoring ingredient. Fresh peppermint is also extensively used in culinary applications.

Peppermint is characterized by its square stems, stalked dark green leaves, and pinkish-lavender flowers with four petals. This plant can spread aggressively through stolons, which sets it apart from other types of mint. Additionally, it contains volatile oils in resinous dots on its leaves and stems.

Uses and health benefits

Peppermint is a well-known traditional remedy effective for treating various ailments such as bloating, menstrual cramps, diarrhea, nausea, anxiety, depression, muscle and nerve pain, and indigestion. Different forms of peppermint may address specific issues.

Top Uses of Peppermint Oil

Diluted oil is a versatile natural remedy that can help with a variety of ailments. It is effective for alleviating headaches, relieving muscle pain, reducing bone congestion, easing nausea, providing an energy boost, soothing itching and insect bites, supporting oral care, aiding digestion, cooling the feet, acting as a natural insect repellent, and enhancing hair care. You can apply diluted oil to your temples, the back of your neck, and sore muscles to experience relief. It is also useful for mouthwash and toothpaste to maintain oral freshness and can be added to shampoos to manage scalp irritation and dandruff.

Key Active Compounds

Menthol provides a cooling sensation, while menthone contributes to aroma and mild analgesic effects. Limonene has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, whereas Rosmarinus acid is known for its anti-inflammatory effects.

Precautions & Safety

Before using, dilute the product to a concentration of 1-2% in a carrier oil. – Avoid applying it to mucous membranes or the eyes. – This product is not recommended for pregnant women, small children, or newborns. – It may interact with certain medications, including blood pressure medications and antacids. – If you are using it for the first time, please perform a patch test.

Which are Perennial herbs, and which are Annual herbs?

Annual Herbs

Which part of the plant do you use for medicinal purposes?

Medicinal plants, also called medicinal herbs.

Leaves: The leaves of herbs are important in making many medicines, either dried or fresh, used in teas, infusions, tinctures, or poultices. Examples are mint, basil, eucalyptus, and plantain. 

Flowers: Some plant flowers also have healing properties and can be dried for teas, infusions, tinctures, oils, or topical uses. Examples include chamomile, lavender, calendula, and elderflower.

Roots: Additionally, roots from certain plants are used for medicine as well. They can be harvested and dried for decoctions, tinctures, or powders. Examples are ginger, licorice, echinacea, and valerian.

Bark: Medicines can come from the bark of certain trees and shrubs, which contain active compounds. The bark is dried and used in different forms like decoctions, tinctures, or powders. Examples are cinnamon, willow bark, and slippery elm bark.

Seeds:  Some medicines are also made from seeds of plants, which can be ground into powder, made into oil, or used in decoctions. Examples include flaxseed, fenugreek, black cumin, and milk thistle seeds. 

Whole Plant: Additionally, the whole plant or various parts, such as leaves, flowers, stems, and roots, can be used for their healing properties. Examples include ginseng, dandelion, nettle, and St. John’s wort.

What other medicinal common Medicinal Herbs can I grow in early Summer?

In early summer, I plant various medicinal herbs to take advantage of the warm weather. Here are a few herbs I have or plan to grow next year.

Basil is a versatile herb used in cooking, known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It’s often used to help with digestive issues and to reduce stress.

Peppermint has a refreshing taste and helps with digestive problems like indigestion and bloating. I usually drink it as tea, but it can also relieve headaches and muscle aches.

Chamomile is calming and I enjoy it as a tea in the evening to help with relaxation, anxiety, and sleep quality.

Echinacea is known for boosting the immune system and may reduce cold and flu symptoms. It is commonly used as a supplement or in tea and tincture forms.

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