HOME REMEDY: Medicinal garden
This week, I thought I’d share a few tips on easy-to-grow plants so that you can start your own medicinal garden or, if you are short of space, even just a healing plant tub.
The standard herbs such as mint, rosemary, sage and lavender all have great health benefits but are fairly common fare, so I am not including them. Instead I will be suggesting a few plants that are a bit different.
If you have a sunny spot, try lemon verbena – this is a Mediterranean, small compact shrub so needs sun, but its leaves are wonderful to make a soothing tea and can be picked all through the summer. Under this little shrub you can plant some camomile – this starts as a small clump but pretty soon it shoots out trails of pretty, daisy-like flowers that can be picked and used to make a calming tea, or added to a bath for a relaxing soak. Don’t get the ‘lawn’ variety, though, as this is not so good for flowers.
Sof McVeigh: www.thehomemadecompany.com
The standard herbs such as mint, rosemary, sage and lavender all have great health benefits but are fairly common fare, so I am not including them. Instead I will be suggesting a few plants that are a bit different.
If you have a sunny spot, try lemon verbena – this is a Mediterranean, small compact shrub so needs sun, but its leaves are wonderful to make a soothing tea and can be picked all through the summer. Under this little shrub you can plant some camomile – this starts as a small clump but pretty soon it shoots out trails of pretty, daisy-like flowers that can be picked and used to make a calming tea, or added to a bath for a relaxing soak. Don’t get the ‘lawn’ variety, though, as this is not so good for flowers.
Sof McVeigh: www.thehomemadecompany.com