Herbal Remedies- Medicinal Uses of Common Herb Garden Herbs

Did you know that your spice rack is a jackpot of herbal remedies?  We think of herbs as something to add to food to enhance the flavor.  Did you know that herbs have a multitude of medicinal properties?  Interestingly, most of them aid digestion! 

I have selected common, easy to find “herb garden” herbs.  I have personally purchased and killed every single one of these herb plants at least once!  I have summarized herbal remedies using the fresh or dried form of the herbs, because you can buy the plants and grow your own fresh supply, or buy the dried bottled version.  I have omitted the herbal remedies associated with purchased tinctures and oils. 

Included in this hub, herbal remedies with

Basil

Lemon balm

Oregano

Parsley

Peppermint

Rosemary

Thyme

Basil helps ease a variety of stomach and intestinal complaints such as “nervous stomach”, gas, bloating, and constipation.  Basil also has antibacterial effects and is good not only for gastrointestinal problems, but urinary tract infections.  Try also for headaches and sleep problems.

Chop 3 to 4 cups of fresh basil leaves.  Make a bag from gauze or cheesecloth and place basil.  Press to squeeze the juice from the leaves into a glass container.  Take 1 teaspoon 3 times per day. 

You can also drink a basil infusion.  Pour ¼ cup of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of dried basil.  Steep for 10 minutes.  Drink 1 cup twice a day for up to 8 days.  Take a 2 week break and repeat. 

A basil poultice can be used on slow-healing wounds and fungal infections.  Simmer basil 2 minutes.  Squeeze liquid from basil and apply to wound. 

Gargle with a basil infusion to soothe a sore throat.  Prepare infusion as above and allow to cool sufficiently. 

The “volatile” lemon balm oils ironically have a calming impact, making lemon balm good for stress-related stomach aches, depression, anxiety, and headaches.  It is also known to relieve toothaches, menstrual cramps, and nerve pain. 

To settle an upset stomach, pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 to 2 teaspoons of chopped, fresh lemon balm.  Steep 10 minutes, then strain.  Drink 1 cup of tea 3 to 4 times per day.  Enhance calming properties of tea by adding spearmint leaves and chamomile flowers.  

For headaches make a tincture.  Add ¼ cup of the flowers of the lemon balm to 1 ¼ cup of vodka or brandy in a glass container.  Tightly cap.  Leave for 4 to 6 weeks.  Strain.  Use 20 to 100 drops of tincture per day. 

Lemon balm is a natural anti-viral and is helpful in treating herpes viruses- chicken pox, shingles, and fever blisters.  It has been known to decrease the frequency of herpes outbreaks. 

For relief of chicken pox and shingles discomfort, use 1 cup of fresh lemon balm and 1 quart of water.  Steep 20 minutes, then strain.  Add the liquid to your bath. 

Make a compress to relieve fever blisters (cold sores).  Use 1 ½ tablespoons of fresh lemon balm and 1 cup of boiling water.  Steep for 10 minutes, strain, and dab on sore 3 to 5 times a day. 

Oregano is an outstanding digestive aid, and stimulates a poor appetite.  It relieves cramping, bloating, belching, gas, and diarrhea. 

To improve appetite and treat indigestion, add 1 cup of boiling water to 1 teaspoon of dried oregano or 2 teaspoons of fresh.  Steep for 10 minutes and strain.  Drink 1 cup unsweetened tea 15 to 20 minutes before each meal, but not more than 3 times a day. 

Oregano has expectorant and antibacterial properties, thereby making a great remedy for respiratory problems such as coughs, bronchitis, and asthma. 

For cold and flu symptoms, add 2 quarts of boiling water to ½ cup of dried oregano.  Steep 20 minutes, then strain.  Add liquid to a warm bath.  Soak 20 t0 30 minutes, then go to bed. 

Oregano can be applied as a topical to help heal cuts, scrapes, wounds, rashes, and eczema.  Prepare tea as for bath and allow to cool.  Wet a clean cloth with the tea, wiping affected area 4 times per day. 

Use oregano as a gargle for inflamed gums or sore throat.  Prepare tea and allow to cool.  Add 1 drop of tea tree oil.  Gargle with ¼ to ½ cup of the tea up to 4 times a day. 

Parsley is a mild diuretic, and is good for treating bladder infections or decreasing water retention.  Add 1 cup boiling water to 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried chopped parsley or 1 tablespoon fresh.  Steep for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain.  Sprinkle tea with onion or garlic powder.  Sip tea 1 to 3 times a day. 

For kidney stones prepare a decoction, which is an extraction of the essence or active ingredient of the oregano by boiling.  Add 1 teaspoon of parsley root to 1 cup of water.  Simmer gently 10 to 15 minutes.  Strain.  Drink 1 cup, 1 to 2 times daily for 1 to 2 weeks. 

Neither parsley tea nor the decoction are suitable for people with heart disease or serious kidney disease. 

Peppermint can ease both acute and chronic intestinal inflammation and relieve nausea, gas, and diarrhea.  It can support digestion.  When taken after a heavy meal, it stimulates bile production. 

Add 1 cup of boiling water to 1 teaspoon of dried peppermint, or 2 tablespoons of fresh peppermint.  Steep 10 minutes.  Drink 1 cup of tea 2 to 4 times per day. 

Inhaling peppermint can clear nasal congestion, and break down congestion in the respiratory tract.  For sore throat or cold, add 1 quart of water to 10 tablespoons of fresh leaves.  Steep 10 to 20 minutes.  Add to bath or use to gargle. 

Rosemary is good for the digestive tract, relieving cramps and bloating.  It has antispasmodic properties, and stimulates production of gastric juices.  It stimulates appetite and supports digestion. 

Add 1 cup of boiling water to 1 teaspoon of rosemary leaves.  Steep for 15 minutes and strain.  Drink 1 cup, 2 to 3 times per day. 

Rosemary wine is good for circulatory and heart weakness, low blood pressure, and nervous agitation.  It is good for “convalescence”.  To 1 quart of white wine or liqueur, add 1 ¾ oz of rosemary leaves.  Leave for 5 days, then filter.  Take 1 tablespoon after meals 2 to 3 times per day. 

Rosemary hair rinse relieves dandruff and adds luster to hair.  Add 4 cups boiling water to ½ cup rosemary leaves and 1 teaspoon of borax.  Steep 2 hours.  Strain and use within 10 days.  After shampoo and conditioning, apply ½ to 1 cup to hair.  Do not rinse. 

The oil in thyme acts as an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antibacterial.  It is effective for colds, laryngitis, bronchitis, and asthma.  Thymol, a component of thyme’s essential oil, enhances blood circulation and relieves joint inflammation and pain of arthritis and gout. 

Add 1 cup boiling water to 1 teaspoon for dried thyme or 2 teaspoons of fresh.  Cover and steep for 10 minutes.  Strain.  Add honey to sweeten if desired.  Drink warm, 1 cup, 1 to 3 times per day. 

Thyme is helpful in treating wounds such as cuts, scrapes, boils, and impetigo.  Make an infusion by adding 2 quarts boiling water to ½ cup dried thyme or 1 cup fresh.  Steep 20 to 30 minutes.  Strain.  Add liquid to bath and soak for 20 minutes. 

Information is from The Complete Guide to Natural Healing by International Masters Publishing.  It’s one of those sets where they send card sets in the mail every couple weeks.  You think it’s going to be one binder full, but ultimately was 5!  Here’s a Ripoff Report.  This would be one of those situations where my mom says “you musta had more money than sense”.  At any rate, the cards are very well done, and I like most everything about them except what I wound up paying for them.