When it comes down to prioritizing your health, there’s no time like the present. In addition to drinking water and eating raw fruits and vegetables, there are other ways to increase your nutritional intake. In fact, it’s a wise idea to incorporate medicinal herbs into your regimen. Whether you have a green thumb or are merely up for the challenge, consider some of the medicinal herbs you can grow in your own garden.
Garlic
Garlic has a ton of medicinal benefits. If you’re fighting a nasty cold or the flu, consider eating a clove of garlic. Because it is so intense, follow it up with a glass of water. It is excellent for helping with flu recovery. It’s also helpful if you’re trying to lower your blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. When you’re looking to grow garlic, it’s best to be in it for the long haul as it takes about nine months for garlic to fully mature under the best conditions.
Chamomile
Chamomile is an excellent medicinal herb to grow in your home garden. It takes anywhere between two weeks and two months to grow and mature. Once it’s ready, you can prepare a delicious tea that helps with treating diabetes, inflammation reduction and cold symptoms. You can also use it to take care of pain associated with the menstrual cycle as well as cancer prevention.
Gingko
Gingko leaves are often consumed in pill form as a supplement. However, you can grow the leaves as well. Gingko leaves are especially powerful for anyone dealing with anxiety, depression or any other mental disorders. It’s also extremely effective in helping with eye health. The gingko tree grows best in certain climates. If you choose to grow it, you’ll need to make sure you stay on top of your garden maintenance. However, once it grows, it tends to last an extremely long time.
Ginger
Known for its effectiveness in easing stomach discomfort, ginger is a delightful herb to grow at home. It’s also helpful in treating soreness and aching muscles. It takes about eight to ten months to fully grow a ginger root. If you don’t have a backyard or much space to plant, you can grow ginger inside of your home.
Echinacea
Echinacea is an herb that takes between 10 and 20 days to germinate. You can enjoy echinacea in a simple tea when you’re trying to beat the flu. It’s also excellent for decreasing your chances of breast cancer. It’s even effective if you’re working on decreasing your blood sugar levels.
Whether you’re using fresh chamomile in a tea or raw garlic for a medicinal paste, purchasing fresh herbs in the store can become costly. It’s actually much more cost-effective to grow the herbs on your own. If there’s an herb you’re not using, you can always freeze it to preserve it for another time. Your health will thank you.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening.
