Many of the plants, not just the veggies, that we cultivate and find simply ‘volunteering’ in our gardens and yards can be delicious and nutritious as well as incredibly medicinal, too.
Many simple plants can be harvested and used to make teas and tinctures to help supplement our health and general well-being. Along with plants, there are a few ingredients that many of us have in our kitchen cabinets that can make powerful home remedies for everyday aches and ailments.
Before heading to the pharmacist, it might be worth checking to see if you have anything at home that might help prevent and ease symptoms of minor conditions.
Check out these OGP articles that guide you in building a medicinal herb garden and concocting remedies from pantry staples.
1. Mysteries of Medicinal Herbs
It’s no mystery: plants have been naturally curing people for millennia. Most of the world’s population still relies on herbal remedies as opposed to stethoscopes and pharmacies. The problem is, as the medical industry has moved society further and further away from natural cures and preventions, the wisdom of how to use what herb to cure which ailment has become largely absent from common knowledge. But, it’s not that hard to unlock these riddles of old. Read on to uncover the mysteries of medicinal herbs. Read on to learn more about Uncovering the Mysteries of Medicinal Herbs.
2. Self-Seeding Medicinal Plants
To get that perfectly manicured veggie or flower garden, a lot of work has to go into weeding and mulching. Over the season, hours can be spent pulling out pesky unwanted plants and diligently deadheading flowers for fear of self-seeing. But what would happen if you did let your edible plants mature and self-seed? Free plants? Free food? Check out these common edible and medicinal plants that are ever so willing to do the hard work for you and keep you in seedlings year after year. Here is a whole list of Self-Seeding Edible and Medicinal Plants.
3. Medicinal Rose Family
The rose, or Rosaceae family, is a family of plants with over 2000 species within more than 90 genera. When you come across different plants within this family, often similarities can be seen, especially when it comes to the formation of blossoms or leaf patterns. One of the wonders of the Rosaceae family is that it contains many sweet edibles and medicinals. Many of these plants can be foraged in the wild, while others are easy to grow for yourself in your yard. Read on to learn all about the Edible and Medicinal Plants in the Rose Family and How to Grow Them for Yourself.
4. Medicinal Culinary Herbs
Without really giving it much thought, many of us use herbs medicinally, too. Though you might not be in your kitchen conjuring up potions, tinctures, and elixirs, every time you drink herbal tea, for example, you are enjoying the medicinal and aromatic powers of herbs. What’s more, every time you use herbs in your cooking, you are getting a dose of their medicinal properties without even thinking about it. By learning a little more about the medicinal properties, and not just the flavor profiles of common culinary herbs, you can start to make more intentional choices about the herbs you use in your cooking and, indeed, the amount you use. Here are 5 Culinary Herbs and Their Medicinal Properties.
5. Medicinal Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Wild, edible mushrooms are probably the forest forager’s most prized take. Not only are many of them choice, culinary delights suited for fine dining, but lots of mushrooms bring powerful medicinal qualities to the table as well. The lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceous) is possibly the most notable blend of these attributes. Lion’s mane is selected amongst other fungi for having particularly potent medicinal qualities. Studies have shown that it can be especially useful in nerve regeneration and brain health. It is consequently being explored as an aid for those with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other degenerative brain diseases. Check out this article to learn How to Forage, Cook, and Eat the Medicinal and Delicious Lion’s Mane Mushroom!
6. Spices for Medicinal Meals
There are many spices believed to be so potent that they are argued to be as effective, if not more so, than prescription medicines. However, using spices for their preventative, medicinal qualities is much like using prescriptions in that it requires regularity. Having a bit of turmeric or garlic every day is much more effective than having it only when ill. To do that, it’s important to have many methods for introducing these spices into our diets. There are lots of recipes like the ones below from the Food Monster App that’ll provide us with unique, different flavors and meals to satisfy today’s complex palates. Take a look at these 7 Healthy Spices For Making Medicinal Meals.
7. Medicinal Herb Garden
With the revitalization of home food production seems to be the re-recognition of plants as powerful, natural medicines. Without much ado, we can incorporate more natural medicines into our first aid repertoire by planting medicinal herbs and spices in our home gardens, be they container gardens, edible lawns, or full-on homesteads.
By and large, just about every edible plant comes equipped with a useful slurry of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients well-tuned for keeping the body sufficiently bolstered. However, there are some plants, especially certain herbs and spices, that excel in human health. Lots of them can be grown easily right at home. Take a look at these 9 Herbs and Spices to Start a Medicinal Garden at Home.
8. Natural First Aid Kit
First off, let’s discuss what exactly a first aid kit should contain. I’ve seen some that could fit in my back pocket and others the size of a suitcase, but to get this thing right, I’ve consulted with the American Red Cross. In turn, I’ve used and expanded their recommendations to lead you into the wonderful world of natural first aid and hopefully leave you fully covered for those tiny daily emergencies. And that’s what a first aid kit should be: the stuff you need for everyday boo-boos. Leave surgery and stitches to the professionals. Read on to learn How to Make a First Aid Kit With Natural Ingredients.
These articles are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. You should always check with a medical professional before using herbs or any home remedies to treat medical conditions.
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