Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) or purple coneflower is best known for its beneficial effects on the immune system and ability to treat colds and upper respiratory tract infections.Artie Allison/Shutterstock
Important points
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Long before humans had pharmaceuticals at their disposal, we relied on plant remedies to treat and cure diseases. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of herbal medicine practices dating back 60,000 years. Of course, we have the wonders of modern medicine. However, knowledge about phytotherapy still remains. According to the World Health Organization, 75% of the world's population uses herbal remedies for basic health needs.
The world of plant-based medicine is vast, but you may be surprised at the health benefits you can get from just a few common herbs. No one is telling you to stop going to the doctor (and you should!), but using immune-boosting plants and herbal remedies for minor ailments may help you go a little less often. .
“I believe that plant medicine is a very practical yet profound study,” says Jenelle Shafer, a certified herbalist and owner of Pennsylvania-based Sheep Hill Herbs. .
“Over generations, plant technology, knowledge and wisdom were lost. Herbalists were discredited for hundreds of years, called quacks and witches,” Schaefer says. “To return to knowledge, we need to learn from and pass on from those who have learned or been taught by our parents, grandparents, and elders who have preserved this wisdom.”
The really great news is that many medicinal herbs are very easy to grow and may even provide additional benefits to the garden itself. The list of medicinal plants and herbs is long to say the least, but it's a good idea to start with the ones you're at least a little familiar with. These plants are easy to find at local nurseries and can be grown from seeds, but they are also a source of powerful medicinal properties.
If you're even remotely interested in medicinal herb gardening, here's how to get started.
