Nowadays, people make more environmentally-oriented choices than ever before. As a result, the popularity of natural solutions for pain and other ailments has been soaring. Instead of taking regular prescription medications for their health issues, many individuals prefer to harness the power of healing herbs.
Whether it is taking the best ashwagandha supplement or adding a touch of peppermint into your diet, you also can reap the benefits of medicinal herbs. These benefits range from boosting your skin and gut health to easing sleep disorders, reducing anxiety, and relieving tension headaches.
Lemon balm, calendula, rosemary, thyme, lavender, chamomile, and ginger are only a few examples of herbs you should get familiar with. Each of them has unique properties you can take advantage of depending on your current condition. Here is a comprehensive list of herbs you might want to incorporate into your wellness plan:
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a very popular herb that can be found in almost every herb garden. It is also known as Melissa officinalis and is a member of the mint family. The Latin word Melissa means “honey bee” and refers to the sweet smell of the leaves.
Lemon balm has been used for centuries in traditional medicinal practices to relieve stress and anxiety. The herb is native to southern Europe, but it is widely grown in France, Germany, and England. You can consume it in the form of tea or apply it topically to soothe skin irritations.
The tea brewed from its leaves has some antioxidant properties, which help fight free radicals in your body. Lemon balm also possesses anti-depressant properties that can help with mild cases of depression and anxiety. In addition, it can help you deal better with stress.
Calendula
Calendula or marigold is a bright orange or yellow flower that grows easily in most parts of the world. It’s best known for its healing abilities because of its high content of carotenoids and healing compounds, including flavonoids, saponins, and essential oils.
Due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, this herb can be used to treat various skin conditions, including acne and rashes. You can add calendula extract to your homemade skin care products or tinctures if you want to reap the benefits of this herb. You can also take it as tea for colds and flu.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a perennial herb with aromatic leaves that have been used for thousands of years for both culinary and medicinal purposes. This herb is closely related to other herbs such as lavender, thyme, and sage.
The leaves are typically dried for use as a tea that provides relief from stomach cramps and flatulence as well as headaches and tension due to its analgesic properties. Rosemary also has antioxidant properties that can protect your brain from free radical damage.
Thyme
Thyme is a herb that may be familiar to you as it is commonly used in food recipes. However, this herb also has some amazing medicinal properties. It has a distinct aroma and flavor that can make your skin glow with health. If you have acne, rashes, or any other skin infection, you can treat them with thyme.
Furthermore, thyme is an antimicrobial herb often used to treat respiratory infections. You can also add it to your homemade face masks for quicker results.
Lavender
Lavender is one of the most popular herbs because of its sweet smell and the relaxing effects it has on the body. Most people like to grow it in their herb gardens because it’s easy to nurture, and the flowers are beautiful.
You can use lavender fresh or dried to get the best out of it. Add it to your bath water, make tea with it, or add it to your homemade facial masks. Lavender oil is also widely used in aromatherapy sessions and essential oils for stress relief and relaxation purposes. Lavender can treat headaches, help with insomnia, and manage pain levels naturally due to its analgesic properties.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a plant that can be found both in Europe and North America. It’s a quick-growing herb that has been used for centuries for different types of ailments, and drinking peppermint tea is the best way to get all of its benefits.
When ingested, peppermint can help relieve nausea, indigestion, heartburn, stomach cramps, and flatulence due to its soothing effect on your digestive system. In addition, peppermint oil has analgesic properties that can help with headaches, toothaches, muscle aches, soreness, and even pain relief during labor.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a very popular herb among those who like herbal remedies because of its many healing benefits. For example, chamomile tea not only helps you relax but also relieves stomach cramps and intestinal spasms due to its antispasmodic properties. Moreover, this herb has been proven effective at treating bladder inflammation symptoms when consumed in large amounts over time.
Many people use chamomile as an ingredient in their beauty products such as lotions and soaps because it contains antioxidants and boasts anti-inflammatory properties that can prevent premature skin aging due to free radicals.
Ginger
Ginger is a rhizome that can be found in tropical regions, including India, China, and Jamaica. It’s been used for centuries for both culinary and medicinal purposes. The leaves of the ginger plant are milder than the root and can be used for cooking or to make tea.
You can drink ginger tea to help with indigestion, stomach cramps, nausea, and flatulence. Moreover, ginger has been proven effective in reducing inflammation and pain due to its analgesic properties.
Conclusion
Using herbs for medicinal purposes was very common in past centuries. However, with the introduction of synthetic drugs and modern medicine, people have forgotten about this practice for a long time. Thankfully, more and more people are getting back to nature and choosing natural remedies over chemical-based products because they are safer and more effective.
In this article, we have covered the main herbs that you can use for medicinal purposes. They are easy to grow and can be used fresh or dried in different ways to help you get all of the essential nutrients and minerals they offer. If you want to give them a try, start with the lemon balm and chamomile tea and see how they work for you.
