Ten Versatile Medicinal Herbs

With growing season in full swing and the economy the way it is, now is the time to maximize your garden space’s utility. I live in a small apartment with super limited growing space for fresh herbs and limited kitchen space for dried herbs, so prioritizing the most efficient and low-maintenance crops is always important for our household.

Today I have compiled for you a list of our ten favorite multitaskers to keep on hand in our garden and pantry. Some we grow, some we buy, some we forage, but all are must-have staples!

Peppermint - This bright leafy friend is recommended for stomachaches and nausea, mood elevation and mental clarity. It’s also key in the arsenal of any insomniac, with its relaxing properties and ability to slice through most headaches.
(Try our Pure Peppermint or The Psychic)
Chamomile - A multipurpose herb with gentle, grassy flavor used to soothe woes from muscle spasms to inflammation. Try as a poultice for skin irritation or as a tea to treat hay fever and anxiety!
(Try our Sweetest Dreams or Friendly Farmer)
Ginger - Technically not an “herb,” but we’ll let the semantics slide to include this root spice. Ginger destroys nausea and gas, boosts circulation while reducing inflammation, has been known to significantly reduce symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
(Try our Blue Spirit or Masala Chai)
Nettle - An iron-packed green leaf possibly best known for the danger it presents when not carefully harvested. Not only is nettle leaf delicious, similar in flavor to fresh young spinach, it can also help with joint pain, eczema, hay fever and urinary tract infections. The juice of a fresh nettle can even stop bleeding and neutralize its own sting!
(Try our Baby Steps or Found Family)
Dandelion - From flower to root, dandelion is one of the most useful weeds around! Infuse the root in a tea to help detoxify the liver, decrease gas and soothe an upset stomach. Eat the young greens to boost fiber and vitamin intake. Gently steam the flowers for a delicious and healthy snack! Use as a poultice to clear up bruises and reduce topical inflammation!
(Try our Keep it Movin' or Village Witch)
Sage - An earthy herb with so many uses! Did you know this culinary favorite is also a powerful anti-fungal agent? That’s just the beginning of its use case file! Expectorant to clear your phlegm, anti-inflammatory helper for organ and soft tissue, oral health superhero, blood sugar manager, antioxidant and cognitive function star!
(Try our Tummy Soother or Dire Wolf)
Calendula - Also known as Pot Marigold, this cheerful flower is a powerful treatment for itchy skin, burns, rashes and fungal infections. In a tea, calendula is very useful for digestion as well as stimulation of the menstrual and lymphatic systems.
(Try our Food for Tot or Off-Balance)
Echinacea - Every part of this easy-to-grow plant can be used to support the immune system. Eat the flowers in a tasty summer salad, dry the leaves and cut the roots to use in tinctures and teas year-round. Mix with elderberry for a double-punch to preventing or expediting the cold and flu!
(Try our Lemon Ginger Echinachea or Wicked Stepmother)
Basil - Another savory herb you typically find in a culinary context, but is also useful for a number of medicinal applications! Common basil can perk up your appetite, settle flatulence, and hasten the healing of cuts and scrapes. Chew on the raw leaves and stems or use liberally in your cooking for great results.
(Try our Pizza Power or KitTea's Cup)
Lemon Balm- This peppermint relative helps with stomach distress, anxiety, and insomnia like its cousin. It can also be used topically for healing wounds, herpes/cold sores and insect bites with a swiftness. Super versatile as a poultice, snack, or tea!
(OK, we don't yet have any teas containing lemon balm...would you like us to?)