Healing Gardens – Part 2

The following information is for educational purposes only. As with pharmaceuticals, plants may be harmful if used in excess or in combination with other medications. Before using any medicinal plant, consult your doctor and/or pharmacist.

Here are some more suggested herbs to consider for your home medicinal garden. (NB: If purchasing medicinal seeds or plants, pay attention to the Latin name listed – there are many varieties in each family and not all are medicinal.)

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Plant: Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)

Appearance: A perennial that grows from six to 14 inches (15 to 36 centimeters). This plant takes three to five years to mature. Its flowers are tiny, white, and fluffy with yellow centers, and its leaves are lobed and rounded.

Medicinal Qualities/Uses: Goldenseal alleviates conditions such as sore gums, gastritis, and nasal congestion. The active ingredients, alkaloid hydrastine and berberine, are found in the root stalk.

History: Goldenseal is native to the northern United States and southern Canada. The Cherokee used its bitter roots as an antiseptic and to treat snakebites; the Iroquois used it to treat whooping cough, pneumonia, and digestive disorders. It became a commercial product in 1860 and is now a top-selling herb. It is an endangered plant in North Carolina, where permits are required to propagate it. People collect it in the wild, which is one reason for its current scarcity.

Growing Instructions: It is easier to buy a plant than to propagate from seed. Roots can be cultivated after the plants mature (when they are three to five years old).

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Plant: Indian Psyllium (Plantago ovata)

Appearance: An annual that grows to 18 inches (46 centimeters). It is grass-like with soft, hairy leaves.

Medicinal Qualities/Uses: The seeds are the basis of laxatives, such as Metamucil, and can be ground and mixed with water or fruit juice to relieve constipation. Taken daily, this mixture has been shown to reduce the chance of heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol. Psyllium is also a popular ingredient in breakfast cereals. Active ingredients include pectine musilage and aucuboside.

History: The plant originated in India, and varieties are grown throughout the world.

Growing Instructions: Plant the seeds in the spring, and save some seed for replanting the following season.

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Plant: Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

Appearance: A perennial that grows to two feet (60 centimeters). It blooms with pink flowers and has light green leaves.

Medicinal Qualities/Uses: A gentle sedative, motherwort can be used to treat the symptoms of PMS, menstrual hot flashes, and delayed menstruation. Although there has been little research in determining the plant's active ingredient, the effective compounds are derived from its volatile oils and alkaloids. Motherwort seems to help calm the nervous system, and is drunk as a tea for heart palpitations or nervousness. To make the tea, add one ounce of herb to one pint of boiling water and strain. Or make a tincture by placing the leaves in alcohol (i.e., vodka) for six weeks; use a dose of one to four milliliters.

History: Translated, Leonurus cardiaca means lion hearted. Originally from England, motherwort was grown as a medicinal in many cottage gardens.

Growing Instructions: Plant the seeds in the spring. It will grow easily and, in the second year, will sport pink flowers. This plant appears in strange places in my garden each year, but it does not self-seed badly.

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Plant: Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)

Appearance: An annual that grows to 12 inches (30 centimeters). It is a green plant with small, oval leaves and stems that are easily broken.

Medicinal Qualities/Uses: Stevia is a natural, calorie-free sweetener. Add a leaf to beverages or food, or chew on leaves to cure sugar cravings. It has a slightly "green" taste. Powdered versions are now available commercially.

History: Stevia originated in Paraguay, where, for centuries, the Guarani Indians used it as a sweetener.

Growing Instructions: Place this plant outdoors in warm weather, and bring it indoors for the winter. (I keep mine potted for easy transfer.) Stevia gets leggy if not cut back, so use the leaves regularly to ensure a bushy, healthy plant.

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Plant: Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

Appearance: A perennial that grows to two feet (61 centimeters). It has silver-gray leaves.

Medicinal Qualities/Uses: Wormwood contains absinthol, the plant-base for absinthe and vermouth. Wormwood improves digestion and is one of the oldest home remedies for worms. Take as a tea: infuse one ounce (30 milliliters) in one pint (475 ml) of boiling water for 10 minutes. If taken in a very large dose, it can induce nausea.

History: Wormwood is an old remedy, and its name, Artemisia, was derived from Artemis, the Greek goddess of nature and the moon. It was mentioned in the Herbariam of Apuleius (c. 1400s), and, for a time, it was used in place of hops in brewing beer. An ancient proverb, "as bitter as wormwood," indicates the plant's unpleasant taste. Absinthe is infamous in art and literary history and was used by painters such as Van Gogh and by writers such as Wilde and Hemingway. It also inspired works such as Degas' The Absinthe Drinkers.

Growing Instructions: As a perennial, I have not had luck with seeding. Growing from a purchased plant is easier.

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Plant: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Appearance: A perennial that grows to two feet (61 centimeters). The plant has multiple tiny flowers and its color ranges from white to pink to bright yellow. Its leaves are light-green and fern-like.

Medicinal Qualities/Uses: The entire plant can be used medicinally. To improve digestion and the functions of the gallbladder, liver, and kidneys, drink a tea made by brewing one ounce (30 milliliters) of yarrow in one pint (475 milliliters) of water. Yarrow is also a valuable wound healer: boil the plant in water, strain, and apply the residue to the affected area. Pregnant women should not take yarrow as it can cause miscarriages.

History: Achilles is said to have dressed the wounds of his soldiers with this herb. It has been known as soldier's wound wort, knight's milfoil, and Herba Militaris. Yarrow was even used in the divination of spells and is, therefore, also known by names such as devil's plaything.

Growing Instructions: Grows well from seed but will not flower in the first year. Once roots are established, it does not require much water, so it is also good to Xeriscape (see sidebar) with. Seeds can spread, but I have never found them to be a problem. The flowers are pretty, and the leaves resemble ferns.

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So, whether you're a seasoned gardener or a novice, I hope I've piqued your interest with this small sampling of medicinal herbs. Happy planting!

For more medicinal plants, read Healing Gardens – Part 1.

Xeriscape

A method of gardening based on water-saving principles such as mulching, increasing organic matter content, and growing native plants that require less water.

Healing Gardens – Part 2

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Laura Crane

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