If you’re like me, you love the idea of your garden doing double duty: not only feeding your body with fresh greens and vine-ripened produce but also offering simple, natural ways to support your health. Growing medicinal herbs at home connects us with centuries of folk wisdom and gives us ready access to plants we can enjoy as teas, salves, infusions, and everyday remedies.
TOP 20 MEDICINAL HERBS TO GROW
- Aloe vera
- Basil
- Bee balm (bergamot)
- Calendula
- Chamomile
- Cilantro
- Comfrey
- Dandelion
- Dill
- Echinacea
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Lavender
- Lemon balm
- Mint
- Mullein
- Oregano
- Sage
- Thyme
- Yarrow
Important Note: I’m not a certified medical practitioner. The purpose of this blog is not to give medical advice but to share information for gardening purposes. It’s always a good idea to contact your healthcare provider before introducing new herbal and natural remedies into your wellness routine.
BENEFITS OF GROWING YOUR OWN MEDICINAL HERBS
If you’re someone who enjoys a nightly cup of chamomile tea or who slathers aloe on sunburns, then having a little medicinal herb garden is an inexpensive and sustainable way to source your favorite natural remedies.
Plus, you know your herbs were grown organically, free from pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Speaking of pesticides, growing these herbs can even help you garden organically because the same aromatic oils that give them their medicinal properties also keep away common garden pests.
Finally, the act of taking care of your little tea garden is therapeutic in and of itself. Gardening is a wonderful way to reduce stress and manage anxiety.
KNOWING WHICH HERBS TO PLANT
You don’t need to plant every single herb on this list. I recommend reading through the plants and learning a bit about their uses to know which might offer the most benefits to you and your family. At the very least, you’ll want to have some herbs that settle upset stomachs, alleviate cold symptoms, and soothe irritated skin on hand.
You’ll notice that many of these are common culinary herbs used to flavor meals. So a great place to start is with the herbs you’re most likely to use in your kitchen, as well. That way, you can snip some mint leaves the next time you have a headache and also jazz up a boring pasta salad. If you have a little vegetable garden, you may already be growing a couple of these medicinal plants.
20 MEDICINAL HERBS TO GROW IN YOUR HEALING GARDEN
Make your own healing sanctuary with these medicinal herbs.
Aloe Vera
This cactus-like succulent is quite different from the herbs you’d expect to see on this list, but it’s a must grow for any healing garden. Aloe leaves contain that soothing gel we all know and love for sunburn relief. It also has inflammation-reducing properties that make it useful for other skin troubles, such as acne.
You can keep a little aloe vera plant on a sunny windowsill or patio and be ready whenever you or a loved one needs cooling comfort.
HOW TO GROW:
Grow aloe in a container with well-draining soil and bright light. Water sparingly and allow soil to dry between watering. Bring your pot indoors for the cooler months.
HOW TO USE:
Cut open a leaf and apply the fresh gel directly to burns, minor cuts, or irritated skin.
Basil
Basil isn’t just for pesto. This aromatic herb has anti-inflammatory qualities thanks to a bioactive compound called eugenol, which can provide relief for rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel symptoms (Source). The oils inside also have strong antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, even going so far as inhibiting drug-resistant bacteria in studies (Source).
If you’re really serious about growing medicinal herbs, grab seeds for holy basil, aka tulsi. All parts of this plant have been used for medicinal and ceremonial purposes for more than 3,000 years. It’s an adaptogen, meaning it helps the body manage stress (that’s chemical stress from pollutants and heavy metals, physical stress from exertion, metabolic stress, and psychological stress!), as well as balances hormones and promotes overall vitality (Source).
HOW TO GROW:
Basil thrives in warm weather. Plant basil in full sun with rich soil and consistent moisture. Basil pairs beautifully with summer veggies and even enhances the flavor of your tomatoes. Pinch flowers to keep plants productive.
👉Learn more about growing and harvesting basil in this guide.
HOW TO USE:
Begin harvesting once your plants have produced several sets of leaves by cutting right above a leaf node to encourage branching out. Brew fresh leaves into tea for digestive support or headache or arthritis relief, or infuse into oil for topical use.
Drink daily to regulate stress response, control oral bacteria, increase focus, regulate blood sugar, and promote energy.
If you find holy basil a little too spicy, blend with mint or lemon balm.
Bee Balm (Bergamot)
Bee balm is a beautiful herb that brings color to the garden and helps feed pollinators. It has antimicrobial properties and has long been used to treat a variety of issues. Grow this herb as a digestive aid or for gargling when you have a sore throat. Both the leaves and the flowers are rich in flavonoids (Source).
HOW TO GROW:
Grow bee balm in full sun to partial shade with moist soil. It spreads easily and does best with room to grow.
HOW TO USE:
Use leaves and flowers fresh or dried in tea to soothe coughs, ease cold and flu symptoms, and relieve stomach cramps. Or make a tincture to wash wounds.
LETTUCE GROW SOMETHING PLANNER AND JOURNAL
Take all the guesswork out of planning your garden each year.
$12
Calendula
Calendula, also called pot marigold, is known for its cheerful orange and yellow flowers and its long history in skin care. Thanks to its soothing antiseptic properties, this gentle herb is often used in salves, oils, and even shampoos to calm irritated or sensitive skin (Source).
HOW TO GROW:
Calendula grows easily from seed in full sun and average soil. Harvest flowers often to encourage more blooms. Flowers readily drop seeds, so you’ll likely get more calendula flowers next year. As a bonus, beneficial insects, including pollinators, love calendula.
👉Learn how to plant and care for calendula in our guide.
HOW TO USE:
Dry petals and infuse into oil or salve to soothe skin issues like rashes, burns, and even minor wounds. If you have a baby, add calendula to your arsenal to treat diaper rash. Calendula flowers can be brewed into a soothing tea, though you may find the flavor a little bitter. In that case, try mixing in peppermint, honey, agave, or maple syrup.
Chamomile
Chamomile is a classic medicinal herb that, in my opinion, deserves a spot in every home garden. Its delicate flowers make a comforting tea that can help calm the mind and promote sleep by increasing levels of serotonin and melatonin.
Chamomile is also known to ease cramps or gas, and soothe an upset stomach. In traditional medicine, chamomile has been used to treat everything from ulcers and eye infections to insomnia and motion sickness. Applied topically, chamomile can relieve skin issues like eczema and rosacea thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (Source).
HOW TO GROW:
Chamomile grows best in cooler weather. Plant chamomile in full sun with well-draining soil. Harvest flowers regularly. Note: You can grow both German and Roman chamomile; German chamomile is the type more commonly used in teas, while Roman chamomile is a popular ingredient in skin care.
Chamomile flowers also attract beneficial insects.
HOW TO USE:
Dry flowers and brew into tea for relaxation, sleep support, and digestion. Chamomile tea has a nice sweet flavor, so you may find it refreshing on its own or with a little bit of honey.
For mouth ulcers, steep chamomile tea for an hour and gargle with it. Like calendula, you can also turn the flowers into a salve for external use to treat eczema, rosacea, acne, and diaper rash.
Fun fact: About a million cups of chamomile tea are consumed a day (Source).
Cilantro
Cilantro is both tasty and medicinal. Cilantro’s chemical compounds act as a digestive aid, lower blood sugar levels, improve heart health, and help your body eliminate heavy metals like lead by binding to them (Source).
Applied topically as a paste, cilantro’s a powerful antihistamine that can help with irritation from hives, sunburn, and poison ivy.
Plus you’ll love snipping it fresh into salsas and salads.
HOW TO GROW:
Cilantro prefers cooler weather and partial sun in warm climates. Replant frequently when plants are bolting (going to seed) quickly.
👉 Learn how to grow and harvest cilantro here.
HOW TO USE:
Use fresh leaves in food or lightly steep for digestive support. Add cilantro leaves to juices and smoothies.
Comfrey
Comfrey is a powerhouse herb known for its role in topical herbal remedies. It has a long history of use in salves and poultices for skin and muscle support. Its traditional use for repairing damaged tissue comes across in its other name, knitbone.
HOW TO GROW:
Plant comfrey in rich soil where it can stay permanently. It is a vigorous perennial with deep roots.
HOW TO USE:
Infuse leaves into oil to make salves or balms helpful externally to treat things like acne or psoriasis or promote fast wound healing. There are mixed reviews on the safety of taking comfrey internally, so it’s best to avoid unless under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Dandelion
Often dismissed as a weed, dandelion deserves some respect. Every part of this plant (flower, leaves, and root) is edible and healing. Its bitter greens encourage digestion and liver support, while the roots can be brewed into a tea known for fighting cancer cells (Source, Source). Dandelion is also a natural diuretic, meaning it helps the kidneys excrete excess waste.
HOW TO GROW:
Even though you may have some dandelion weeds nearby, it’s best to stick with plants you’ve grown from seed yourself. Dandelion grows easily in full sun and well drained soil with very little care. It will readily reseed itself if allowed. Bonus: Dandelion roots are great for breaking up compacted soil.
Since you’ll dig up the roots, avoid planting dandelions too close to other plants that might be easily disturbed.
HOW TO USE:
Use young leaves in salads or teas for digestive support. Dry roots can be roasted or brewed into a bitter herbal tea.
Dill
Dill is easy to grow and has a long history of calming the stomach and aiding digestion. Full of vitamin C and antioxidants, dill boosts your immune system and fights oxidative stress that might otherwise make you sick (Source). This wonderful little herb can even help prevent bacterial overgrowth (Source).
HOW TO GROW:
Plant dill in loose soil. Sow seeds directly and harvest often. Dill grows best in cooler weather, so provide shade in warmer climates.
👉Explore our complete guide to growing dill.
HOW TO USE:
Use fresh leaves in tea to ease bloating and digestive discomfort. Chewing a few seeds can also help with gas and bloating.
Echinacea
Echinacea is well known for its immune-boosting effects, which is why it’s often turned to at the first sign of illness. Its phytochemicals can fight respiratory infections like the flu (Source). And its anti-inflammatory properties alleviate pain from toothaches, sore throats, stomachaches, and headaches.
HOW TO GROW:
This flowering herb is easy to grow. Just provide average soil and lots of sun. Echinacea is a perennial, so it’s recommended to wait until the second year to harvest your plants. That gives it time to sow seeds and spread itself around your garden.
HOW TO USE:
You’ll harvest by digging up the roots and taking the entire plant. The roots are preferred for medicinal uses. You can add the roots and leaves to creams or ointments for external use. Or brew a tea from the roots or flowers to treat coughs, colds, and internal infections.
Garlic
Garlic needs little introduction. Beyond its kitchen role, it has traditionally been used to support immune health and circulation. It contains anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting compounds shown to slow the growth rate of cancer cells (Source). Not only that, it also reduces high blood pressure and lowers cholesterol (Source, Source). Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, many people turn to garlic at the first sign of illness or infection.
HOW TO GROW:
Plant garlic cloves in full sun with well draining soil before your first frost of the season.
👉Check out our full guide to growing garlic.
HOW TO USE:
Use fresh garlic in meals, infuse into honey, or steep lightly in tea for immune support. For an easy earache remedy, crush garlic bulbs, add to coconut oil, and strain after a couple hours.
Ginger
Ginger brings warmth and comfort to teas and has long been used to support digestion and ease nausea. Ginger has been found to reduce irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms by as much as 50% in some studies (Source). If you suffer painful menstrual periods, compounds in ginger called gingerols may offer as much pain relief as common medications like ibuprofen (Source).
HOW TO GROW:
Grow ginger in warm temperatures with partial shade and consistently moist soil. To start off, you’ll need a hand of organic ginger from the store. Place over some damp soil and keep covered to maintain moisture.
Once sprouted, cut off each little sprouted piece and plant in soil, sprout pointing up. Keep in a warm, sunny spot until time to transplant. Like aloe vera, you’ll need to bring your potted ginger inside in cold weather.
HOW TO USE:
To harvest ginger, brush away the soil around a root and remove a finger or two at a time with a clean, sharp knife. Leave the rest of the hand to keep on growing. Brew fresh ginger slices into tea to support digestion and relieve nausea.
Lavender
Lavender is not just beautiful. Its calming scent is beloved in aromatherapy and helps ease anxiety and sleeplessness. It’s also a favorite in dried herbal blends. For topical applications, lavender oil has been shown to speed the healing of burns, cuts, and scrapes, likely by encouraging new tissue growth (Source).
HOW TO GROW:
Plant lavender in full sun with excellent drainage. Be careful to avoid overwatering since it prefers dry conditions.
👉Check out our full guide to growing and harvesting lavender.
HOW TO USE:
Harvest lavender flowers when they’re starting to open for the best fragrance and flavor. Dry them for tea, sachets, or infused oils to promote relaxation. For an extra-soothing bedtime tea, try combining lavender with chamomile or lemon balm. The edible flowers can also be used to flavor desserts, ice cream, honey, tea, lemonade, and more.
Lemon Balm
Bright, citrusy lemon balm brings a calming presence to the body. It has a long reputation for easing stress and boosting your mood (Source). The antiviral properties of lemon balm oil have been shown to be effective against the herpes simplex virus (HSV) when applied to cold sores (Source).
Bonus: Crush a few lemon balm leaves and rub them on your skin for a natural insect repellent while you’re working in the veggie garden.
HOW TO GROW:
Grow lemon balm in full sun or partial shade. It spreads easily, so give it a large spot in the ground or its own large container. Once established, it’s drought- and cold-tolerant. Pinch back the tips of your lemon balm regularly to prevent it from flowering and keep the plant bushy and productive.
HOW TO USE:
Harvest the leaves when they’re young for the best flavor. Brew fresh or dried leaves into tea for relaxation and nervous system support.
Mint
Mint is one of the easiest medicinal herbs to grow. This anti-inflammatory is known for its cooling digestive support and headache relief thanks to menthol, a compound that relaxes muscles and eases pain. Studies have found that topical application of mint to the forehead is even effective against migraine pain (Source).
Additionally, drinking mint or peppermint tea calms the muscles of your stomach, which can improve gas, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, and even motion sickness. In fact, peppermint oil is a common treatment for those with IBS (Source). I drank a glass of mint tea daily to help with morning sickness.
That’s not all. Drinking mint tea or chewing on some leaves can reduce bad breath, improve focus, open your sinuses, and improve congestion.
HOW TO GROW:
Mint grows easily… so easily it can take over your garden. Grow mint in its own container to prevent spreading. It prefers partial sun and consistently moist soil.
HOW TO USE:
Use fresh or dried leaves in tea to support digestion and provide cooling relief. Apply a paste made of crushed mint leaves or peppermint essential oil to your forehead and temples for tension headache or migraine pain relief.
Mullein
You may not be familiar with mullein, or maybe you only consider it a weed. Mullein is a tall, soft-leaved plant with a long history of use for respiratory wellness. It has traditionally been used as an expectorant to support lung comfort (in other words, it gets rid of excess mucus and soothes mucus membranes). Extracts from the plant have been found to fight disease-causing bacteria like staph and E. coli in studies (Sources).
HOW TO GROW:
Grow mullein in full sun and dry soil. Keep its height (up to 10 feet tall when flowering) in mind when choosing a location. It’s drought-tolerant and very low maintenance. Pinch off flower stalks early to prevent the plant from spreading to other parts of your garden.
HOW TO USE:
Leaves and flowers can be brewed into tea to support a dry or wet cough, bronchitis, asthma, and chest colds. Always strain well due to fine leaf hairs.
Oregano
Oregano is so much more than a pizza herb. It’s a wonderfully powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial herb to have on hand for immune support this cold and flu season. Its oils (mainly thymol and carvacrol) are antibacterial and have been found effective against even resistant bacteria like E. coli (Source). In studies, oregano has been shown to slow the spread of cancer cells (Source).
HOW TO GROW:
Plant oregano in full sun and well-drained soil. You can plant it in your vegetable garden, but make sure to harvest often to keep its growth in check.
👉 Check out our complete guide to growing and harvesting oregano.
HOW TO USE:
For the highest oil content, harvest oregano in the morning after the dew has dried but before the sun is too strong. Use leaves in tea or infused oil to support immune and respiratory health.
Sage
Sage is a perennial herb with a long history of use as an antimicrobial, whether ingested to ease a sore throat or burned to cleanse the air (sage sticks, anyone?). Sage-based mouthwashes kill the bacteria known to cause cavities (Source). Sage has also been found to reduce blood sugar levels and alleviate menopause symptoms. It’s currently being studied to treat everything from depression and dementia to heart disease and cancer (Source).
HOW TO GROW:
This hardy little herb is super easy to grow. Plant it in full sun with dry soil and good airflow.
👉 Explore our complete guide to growing sage.
HOW TO USE:
Brew sage leaves into tea to soothe sore throats and seasonal discomfort. Steep sage for a full hour to make your own sage mouthwash for oral health or sore throat relief. Make your own bundles of dried sage to smudge for improving air quality.
Thyme
Thyme is a small but mighty herb with strong antimicrobial properties and a long history of medicinal use. It’s an excellent source of vitamins A and C. Like oregano, it contains the antibacterial chemicals thymol and carvacrol. In studies, thyme essential oil was found to be more effective at reducing painful menstrual cramps than ibuprofen (Source).
Thyme is used around the world to improve respiratory health; thanks to a compound that relaxes the muscles in your trachea and reduces inflammation, it’s useful to treat coughs, bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, and pertussis (Source).
HOW TO GROW:
Grow thyme in full sun with excellent drainage. Once established, it’s drought resistant. Harvest thyme regularly to prevent it from becoming too woody or flowering.
👉 You can find our full guide to growing thyme here.
HOW TO USE:
Use fresh or dried thyme in tea to support immune and respiratory health. Add some honey to sweeten the earthy taste of thyme.
Yarrow
Yarrow is a beautiful flowering herb with a long reputation for supporting skin healing and gentle fever relief. It’s rich in flavonoids, or plant-based chemicals that improve digestion, making it helpful in treating issues like ulcers and IBS (Source). It’s also useful to reduce chronic inflammation.
Lastly, yarrow can relieve stomach and menstrual cramps by relaxing muscles in the intestine and uterus.
HOW TO GROW:
Yarrow thrives in full sun and poor soil. I recommend growing this flowering herb in the ground, where it can spread out. It’s drought-tolerant and very easy to maintain.
HOW TO USE:
Use yarrow in teas or salves to support skin healing and comfort during colds.
PLANTING YOUR MEDICINE GARDEN
Once you know what you want to grow in your medicinal herb garden, you’ll want to figure out where you can grow them. I love to grow herbs around the edges of my raised beds, but they also do really well in containers. Most herbs can be planted alongside flowers, veggies, and other herbs, but some (like mint and lemon balm) do better in their own space. Flowers like bee balm and yarrow can grow right in the ground.
For more help planning your garden, check out our printable Garden Planner and Journal.
The next step is to roll up your sleeves and sow some herb seeds. Keep these tips in mind:
GROW YOUR HERBS FROM SEED
Growing these healing herbs from seed is an inexpensive way to end up with lots of different types of herbs for your garden. Herbs are easy to grow from seed, though many are slow to get started. Follow these seed starting tips for strong, healthy seedlings.
Pro Tip: Make sure to follow the recommendations on your seed packets. You’ll probably see advice, for example, to cold stratify lavender and echinacea seeds to improve germination.
PREPARE THE SOIL FOR YOUR MEDICINAL GARDEN
Most herbs aren’t very fussy about their soil. They just want a space that drains well. You can improve soil texture and nutrients by adding some compost; no fertilizer needed.
HARDEN OFF YOUR HERB SEEDLINGS
Before transplanting herbs to your garden, take some time to get them used to outdoor conditions. This is a 10- to 14-day process called hardening off. It’s worth the extra effort to end up with hardy, healthy plants.
TRANSPLANT AT THE RIGHT TIME
If you’re moving seedlings to the garden or planting little herb starts from the nursery, wait for mild weather. Most herbs are best planted during mild weather in spring or fall.
MEDICINAL HERB GARDEN MAINTENANCE
Herbs are low-maintenance plants once they’re up and growing. Water regularly to keep the roots from drying out. Prune and harvest weekly to keep your plants healthy and productive. If your herbs are growing in okay soil, they likely won’t need additional fertilizer. If your plants seem stunted or their leaves are yellow, add some organic fertilizer high in nitrogen (for leaf development).
HARVESTING FOR MEDICINAL USE
The best method for harvesting medicinal plants depends on which plant part you’re using for a remedy. For all plants, it’s best to harvest in the morning, once the dew has dried. You’ll want to either use your harvest immediately or dry it in a cool, airy place for the highest potency.
Leaves
If you’re using the leaves of a plant, as is the case with sage and oregano, it’s typically best to harvest before the plant flowers. This ensures the leaves are at their peak in terms of flavor and medicinal potency.
Flowers
Most flowers are best harvested once the blooms are fully open but before they begin to fade. A fine mesh screen works great for collecting small blooms like chamomile or lavender and drying them.
Roots
Medicinal herbs that are harvested for their roots, such as dandelion and echinacea, are best grown in the ground, away from other plants, so that they can be dug up with minimal disturbance. The best time to harvest is in the fall, after the first frost (when the plant is dormant).
Storing Your Herbs
Dry your leaves or flowers somewhere cool, dry, and dark. As long as herbs are thoroughly dried and then stored away from heat and light, they can be kept in airtight jars for months.
Growing medicinal herbs at home is a wonderful way to stock up on fresh, organic treatments for common complaints like colds, bloating, and headaches. You don’t need a large space or deep herbal knowledge to get started. A few well-chosen plants can support everyday wellness while making your garden more useful and resilient.
So start with a couple herbs you think you’ll turn to most, and then add in some new ones as you become more adept at tending your medicinal herb garden.
Sources
National Library of Medicine, “Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons”
National Library of Medicine, “Analysis of flavonoids in the flowers and leaves of Monarda didyma L”
National Library of Medicine, “Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future”
National Library of Medicine, “Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects”
National Library of Medicine, “Plants used to treat skin diseases”
National Library of Medicine, “Biological activity of common mullein, a medicinal plant”
PubMed, “Origanum vulgare induces apoptosis in human colon cancer caco2 cells”
