Hhhhherbs!

This post is a partial response to @papa-pepper's question: what are you growing? I'll be covering most of the herbs that we intend to start this year.

I'm thoroughly tired of winter, as many of you are as well. So on top of the strawberries we started last week, I'm about to start some herbs.

Top left to right:

Stinging nettles so I can slap people. They're also good as greens and very nutritious. Here is an article with many medicinal uses as well, from diabetes to gout to hay fever, this is a promising herb!

White yarrow that I originally chose for it's flowers to attract pollinators, but I've learned through this and other articles that it is very useful for bleeding and antibiotic purposes. @sagescrub claims it works well as a mouthwash when tinctured, and I'm thinking I need a few gallons of tincturing alcohol for all the tinctures I'm going to want to make...

Feverfew partly because I think it grows here already and I want to compare... Also because it is supposed to be good, as the name suggests, against fevers. It's also good for migraines and other problems. I'm hoping it'll be a natural replacement for acetaminophen and ibuprofen, which I've heard can be dangerous for the liver, especially over time.

Sheep sorrel I wanted to grow originally for the sinus inflamation relief, but I'm finding that it is going to be an extremely powerful ally in my medicinal arsenal. An extreme antioxidant and supposed cancer treatment, I expect it'll be helpful for ailments small and large.

St. John's Wort is a renowned mental health herb for treating anxiety and depression, both of which plague my family (and many others) in various ways. It's also reportedly useful for conditions from psoriasis to PMS. This stuff may prove extremely beneficial.

Plantain is usually used for insect bites and poison ivy relief by nature of it's antitoxic benefits, but it is also useful for ailments from high cholesterol to irritable bowels, and is also reported to be an expectorant and urinary tonic. I'm excited for this one.

Lemon balm I have two of. It ended up that way when Baker Creek hooked us up with a freebie packet! Woot! I'm finding that these herbs have a lot of uses! Case in poinglt: anxiety, cold sores, and heart palpitations are just a few of the ailments that lemon balm can help with.

Cilantro because yum! Food as medicine! On top of being delicious, cilantro is a tonic that can help clear your body of toxic metals while also supporting eye and heart health. It is also good for liver and blood sugar regulation.

Borage was originally selected because of it's recommendation in oak guilds and as a pollinator attractor that compliments strawberries. Another medicinal food, it is supposed to help with respiratory and skin issues, which will help my family even more than in the garden. I believe I read somewhere that the popular hybridized comfreys were created by breeding true comfrey with borage and other plants.

Lemon basil because I enjoy the flavor of basil... And lemon! I'm hoping this medicinal food can help our family explore new recipes and cooking styles. It is reported to help with heartburn and may even help treat and prevent some cancers by inhibiting their growth. A bold claim.

Toothache plant, as the name suggests is mainly known for its numbing effect, but it also has antiviral and antibiotic properties that I've been embracing lately thanks to @papa-pepper. With it's vibratory sour zing, I'm wondering if it would be something that could be worked into a mild salsa or something... that might be cool to play with.

Agastache or "hummingbird mint, is a pollinator attractor of legendary fame. But it also has powerful healing properties for fevers and respiratory ailments. It's also been proven effective against herpes viruses and fungal infections.

Valerian is another mental health remedy for anxiety and insomnia that has the added uses of relieving epilepsy, pain, and high blood pressure. Thanks to @sagescrub, I know to be patient with this one.

Yeesh, that looks like a lot! This was supposed to be a quick post...

That's this year's meager start to medicinal herbs. In addition to the mullein and echinacea that I planted a while back. There'll probably be more, but that's what I'll be working on first as I start to build a local herbal medicine bank. I'll be tincturing some, drying some, and consuming some fresh in an attempt to learn and help whoever needs it. As I keep a personal stash, I intend to share and maybe sell some of the medicines I'm blessed to be able to produce.

I've started saving and stashing away glass bottles and jars in hopes of having enough containers for all these projects. Some of which, if I deem them good products, may end up on Homesteaders Co-op. That would be really cool to be able to produce these things on a scale that's large enough for myself, my local community, and an online network of friends and customers.

If you're tired of winter and dreaming of spring, maybe @papa-pepper's prompt can help you daydream and provide some insight on for your garden this year!

Now. Where the heck are my seed trays?!

Be blessed.
Be fruitful.
Stay relevant.

Nate.

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