There are many plants you can grow, indoor or outdoors, that can be used in your foods or for medicinal purposes. I wrote about some common ones in my last post, basil and cayenne pepper, so if you missed that head on over to my last post to read about them.
In this post, I will write about more plants you can grow easily to get a garden that is beneficial for you, your nutrition, your brain health, and your wellness in general.
Lavender As A Plant To Grow
Lavender is one of the most well-known medicinal herbs, popular for its soothing scent
and ability to calm the nerves.
Lavender health benefits:
Eases tension and reduces stress
Relieves headaches and migraines
Aids sleep
Supports healthy hair and skin
Fights acne
Relieves pain
Treats respiratory problems
Common uses:
Make a lavender syrup to add to teas, lemonades, or just seltzer water:
Brew flowers for a tea
Use essential oil in a diffuser
Apply essential oil topically
Add lavender buds to a warm bath
Growing tips:
Lavender likes 6 to 8 hours of sunlight and, once established, is drought tolerant. Read
more at https://bit.ly/3eOECID
I am currently growing Lavender in an Aerogarden due to my lack of sunlight in Ohio especially during the fall and winter sessions. Lavender does much better outside here in the summer. However, I want to grow it year-round. It does take a while to mature but once it gets going... watch out!
Mine is not quite ready yet and has just sprouted. However, I can't wait to use this in tea and also I just read about throwing Lavender flowers into a firepit to help with mosquitos. I am a camper so I am excited to give this a try!
Lemon Balm
This lemony plant is delicious and easily used in several dishes like teas, ice cream,
and more. Many people consume lemon balm tea to help relieve anxiety, stress, and
even to calm restless kids.
Lemon balm benefits:
Calms restlessness, anxiety, and stress
Reduces inflammation
Treats cold sores
Soothes menstrual cramps
Common uses:
Brew leaves for tea
Garnish for dishes and desserts
Apply tea or essential oil topically
Growing tips:
Lemon balm prefers to be grown in full sun in well-drained, sandy loam. It grows best
in slightly moist soil, so water regularly. Grow 4 lemon balm plants for cooking or 6 to
12 plants for tea and preserving.
Peppermint
Peppermint makes a tasty tea and helps relieve tummy aches, nausea, and muscle
pain.
Peppermint health benefits:
Relieves allergies
Soothes muscle pain
Relieves headaches
Reduces nausea, gas, and indigestion
Supports digestive health
Treats bad breath
Highly antibacterial
Common uses:
Brew leaves for tea
Apply essential oil topically
Inhale essential oil
Growing tips:
Peppermint needs lots of water and rich soil with good drainage. It won’t tolerate dry
conditions. Planting it in full sun will increase the potency of its oils and medicinal
qualities.
I grow peppermint in my Aerogarden, too so it will grow year round. I like the smell of it and it taste really good in my tea.