Did you know that many of the shampoos that you get in the pharmacy have herbs in them? Just think how much money you could save by raising your own healing herb plants. I know I have saved a lot of money by cultivating my own little first aid kit in the garden.

Do you have any of these ailments? Try herbs!

• For aching joints, try chervil, coriander and thyme. For an affordable antibacterial, use calendula, lavender, lovage, marjoram, oregano or peppermint.

• Got bad breath? Anise, mint, parsley and sweet cicely can do you a world of good.

• Constipation can be serious. Both dandelion and fennel can assist in getting things going again.

• It’s amazing how many herb plants can help with flatulence, including peppermint, summer savory, lemon balm, ginger, caraway, coriander, beebalm and lovage.

• There is not much more soothing to your frazzled nerves than a lovely cup of chamomile tea at the end of the day. A few other herb plants that I think are soothing are goldenrod, lavender, dill and lemon balm.

• There is no better cure for a hangover than thyme. It works better than the raw egg/tomato juice concoction some people might tell you to down.

• Can’t cure your hiccups? Give dill a try It will be fantastic, and if you like dill, it can be a tasty cure.

• Goldenrod, aloe, summer savory and hens-and-chicks are awesome for taking the sting out of those insect bites, including mosquito bites.

• Insomnia? A lot of those herbs that can calm your nerves will help here too, but chamomile and dill are most likely to help you with your insomnia.

• If you suffer from seasonal allergies or nasal congestion, sage, horseradish and violet are great options. To clear your nasal passages fast, experiment with some horseradish.

• Peppermint is the best thing for indigestion and stomachache, but dill, lovage and fennel are also beneficial.

Please don’t be alarmed with all these treatments—it is not snake oil! You don’t believe me? Experiment with it for yourself!

• Aloe Vera: I have 2 different aloe vera plants that are always suffering from me breaking off bits to treat burns (including sunburn) and mosquito bites. Be mindful not to over-water it. It is a succulent and does not require much water or any other creature comforts. Just be sure that it gets a lot of light and that its well-drained sod keeps it firmly rooted in the container or garden bed.
• Chamomile: You may already be familiar with chamomile because it is well-known as a medicinal herb that can help with both mental and physical maladies. Chamomile has two types (German and true or Roman chamomile), and if you let them, both of them can cultivate themselves next year in a process called self-sowing.
• Horseradish: Just a whiff of horseradish can clear you out, and quickly. As a member of the mustard family, horseradish has a peppery taste that doesn’t attract horses at all. When you are working with horseradish, it is the root that is the important, but do not neglect the foliage, which will grow to two feet long–they can look awesome in your floral arrangements.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Herb Garden Kits. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.