Many gardeners are returning to the old traditions such as using Mother Nature’s bounty to cure common ailments. For many gardeners, growing their own produce at home is driven by several things – taste, cost and necessity being some of them. The other impact that eating fresh, homegrown produce has is the positive benefits towards our overall wellbeing. Now we could wax lyrical about antioxidants and the like, but suffice to say fresh fruits and vegies are good for you – and the fresher they are the better. Of course, if you can, using organic principles for food production just puts the icing on the cake, so to speak. The reality we face is that no matter how healthily we eat, sometimes we just get sick or hurt ourselves. Being able to heal ourselves from the garden should be a natural progression from being able to eat from it. Of course, there will still be times when a trip to the doctor is inevitable, but for some of the less serious ailments that befall us, why not try ‘Dr. Growgood’?
Herbs have long been recognised as a source of healing. Many of the medicines we use today came about as a result of herbal remedies used through the ages. Medieval herbalists were either revered as wise women or feared as witches and many of them – and they were women not men – were in fact tried and convicted as witches. Around the world, many cultures actually rely – by preference, and in some cases, necessity – on herbal remedies. Western cultures are starting to realise the practicalities of practices such as Chinese Medicine, Bach flower remedies and naturopathy, which uses herbs as part of its success. To become a practitioner of alternative medicine takes many years of training – as many as a GP – there are, however, some simple home-style remedies that you can use at home.
Planning
The first question most people ask is ‘What should I grow?’ – which, understandably, isn’t as straightforward as it seems. This is likely to depend on several of factors: one’s individual needs, the amount of space for growing, climatic constraints (if any).
Requirements
Herbs, for the most part, prefer a warm, sunny position in the garden and are equally happy growing in the ground or in pots, making them extremely versatile for all gardeners. Choose a spot that will give your plants at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. They prefer soil or potting media that’s well drained and sandy but will in truth tolerate most soils, except those that are heavy and waterlogged. If growing in pots, choose a potting mix that’s suited to herbs or container growing. If you wish to use an all-purpose potting media – and there’s no reason to race out and buy some especially if you have some already – you can simply add a little compost or sand to give it increased drainage if needed. Assuming you already have soil that’s well drained, there’s no need for you to do anything special as far as preparation goes, but once again, if you’re dealing with soil that tends to be on the heavy side, meaning one with a lot of clay in it, the addition of sand, or preferably compost, will provide the extra drainage you need. Herbs don’t require a soil that’s high in fertiliser, so the addition of some organic matter prior to planting should be sufficient to give them a start. You can apply some liquid fertiliser such as fish emulsion or seaweed mix during the growing season just to keep them happy and healthy.
Choosing your plants
For most gardeners looking to grow their own ‘medicine chest’, the most practical idea is to grow a collection of ‘basics’ – herbs that deal with everyday-type ailments. However, if you have particular afflictions within your family then a little bit of research can reveal plants that may be more suited to your individual needs. Here you’ll find some recommendations for a ’general’ medicinal herb garden. Feel free to add and subtract according to your needs and wants.
Aloe vera
Hyssop
Lavender
St John’swort
Elder
Self heal
Horseradish
Calendula
Yarrow
Mint
Gotu kola
Thyme
Dill
Echinacea
lavender
Caring for your plants
Herbs are relatively easy to look after and establish. Some are annuals and only live for one year, whilst others are perennials, living for two or more years. Give them an application of organic fertiliser in spring and a dose of a liquid fertiliser once a month during summer. Perennials should be pruned back, usually in autumn depending on the plant, to encourage new growth the following spring. Taking care of your own health from the produce in your garden should be as simple and natural as possible. So before you go reaching for store-bought remedies, stop and think about what you have in the garden that may be of benefit to you and remember, there’s no better remedy than healthy eating and living.
NB. Before using any plants as herbal remedies, check that they’re safe to use. If in doubt, or if you have existing medical conditions, don’t use any herbs without first seeking medical advice.