19 Helpful Plants You Can Grow For Effective Healing
Let’s be honest, Mother Nature provides us with so many natural remedies, pretending like there’s one condensed list would be an insult to her thoughtfulness and ingenuity.
So, we’re going to focus on a wide variety of healing plants that will hopefully cover the bulk of what you need to have in your medicine cabinet. We’ve listed the various things each of these healing plants can help with in an easy-to-skim format. That way, you’ll be able to tell at a glance which plants you might want to have on hand (and maybe even grow yourself!) for you and your family.
We are not licensed medical practitioners, so the information about each of these herbs comes from the linked studies that are included under the properties listed for each herb. If you want more information about any of the properties listed, just click that property to be taken directly to the relevant study.
And, if you don’t have time, space, and/or desire to grow these plants yourself, you can visit our Gardening Products page for these plants in high-quality supplement form!
ALOE VERA
- Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-tumor, antiseptic, anti-aging
- Encourages wound healing
- Helps relieve sunburns
- Inhibits histamine reactions
- Decreases tumor size
- Effective against inflammatory-based diseases
- Laxative effects
- Fights viruses
- May be used for cancer chemoprevention
- Decreases wrinkles and assists with general skin health
- Improves digestion
- Treatment for acne
- Can reduce arthritis pain
- Decreases blood sugar levels
- Beneficial to dental health
- Food preservative
ARNICA
- Anti-inflammatory, anti-clotting, anti-rheumatic, analgesic
- Treatment for arthritis
- Helps with bruising and muscle pain
- Acne and skin issues
- Prevents hair loss and stimulates hair growth
- May reduce post-partum bleeding
Arnica may cause adverse reactions and should not be ingested.
CALENDULA
- Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial
- Anti-tumor
- Skin disorders
- Wound healing
- Jaundice
- Blood purification
- Anti-HIV
- Cytotoxic
- Prevents/cures liver damage
- Oral care
- Skin care due to its antioxidant properties and ability to increase blood flow
- Antispasmodic and reduces cramping
CAYENNE
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory
- Antimicrobial, anti-irritant
- Increases blood circulation and takes blood to where it is most needed, and is a counterirritant (brings blood to the surface and takes away toxins)
- Increases metabolism
- Fights flu and cold by breaking up mucous and raises body temperature to promote sweating
- Kills cancer cells
- Can stop a heart attack
- Stimulates digestion
- Prevention and healing of ulcers
- Helps with morning sickness
- Aids in congestion and indigestion
- Linked to increased lifespan
- Treats psoriasis
CHAMOMILE
- Helps to fall asleep and get good sleep
- Aids in digestion
- Decreases the risk of certain cancers
- Lowers blood sugar and helps control diabetes
- Helps the heart
- Strengthens immune system and fights off the cold, flu, and sinus problems
- Reduces fevers
- Helps treat colic in infants
- Helps with eczema
- Reduces hemorrhoids
- Helps with skin issues
- Reduces anxiety
- Aids with seizures
CHICKWEED
- Reduces lipids in the blood
- Reduces inflammation in digestion, renal, respiratory, and reproductive tracts
- Pain relieving
- Helps with weight control
- Skin care, including itchiness
COMFREY
- Antioxidant
- Pain reliever and anti-inflammatory
- Treatment for sprains, degenerative arthritis, contusions and strains
- High anti-oxidants and vitamin C which assist in an expedited healing of wounds and decreasing scar tissue, helps to regrow bones, and aids with other medical issues
- Effective against prostate cancer
DANDELION
- Antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial
- Antiviral, anticoagulant, antiplatelet
- Helps with fatty liver
- Contains inulin that improves bacteria flora in gut
- Stimulates insulin production
- Aids in weight loss
- May help treat hepatitis
- Respiratory infections
ECHINACEA
- Combats cancer and tumors
- Boosts the immune system and helps to prevent the common cold
- Helps to relieve upper respiratory issues by reducing irritation and mucus
- Helps decrease chance of infection and increases white blood cell count
- Aids with topical infections
- Decreases inflammation, pain, and soreness
- Skin care and oral health because of its antibacterial and antivrial properties
- Controls blood sugar levels
- Believed to cure ADD
- Laxative
Echinacea is a wonderful healing plant, but there may be side effects if you take too much of it. Read this if you are unsure of how much to take, or check with your naturopath. It is not recommended to take chronically over a long period of time.
ELDERBERRY (Black Elder)
- Protects against and decreases the efficacy of the common cold and flu
- Prevents cells (especially malignant) from spreading into surrounding tissues
- Prevents HIV-1 infection
- Potentially improves bone health
Want to learn more about this amazing healing plant (including how to make your own elderberry syrup)? Check out our article here!
GARLIC
- Reduces candida (yeast), atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, respiratory infections, and the common cold
- Great source of B-vitamins, and vitamins A, C, and K
- Lowers high blood pressure
- May lower cholesterol
- Prevents major heart diseases and metabolic diseases
- Neuroprotective
- Reduces dementia
- Treatment for lead poisoning
- Wound healing
- Osteoarthritis
- Boosts energy
- Potential anti-aging effects
- May prevent obesity
- Dental care
GINGER
- Anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-nausea
- Relieves nausea for pregnant women
- Relieves nausea for chemotherapy patients
- Respiratory tract infections
- Digestion issues
- Helps with stomach ulcers
- Musculoskeletal disorders like arthritis and rheumatisim
- Relieves asthma
- Speeds up weight loss
- Can potentially delay neurodegenerative diseases, like dementia
- Prohibits cancer cells
- Prohibits tumor growth
- Reduces the risk of blood clotting and regulates hypertension
- Fights fungal infections
LAVENDER
- May help with depression, anxiety, and stress
- Sleep aid
- Anti-inflammatory for skin care
- Treatment for skin diseases
- Effective at preventing infections in wounds
- Heals wounds faster by promoting collagen synthesis
- Cleans hair
- Helps with heart health
- Neuroprotective health due to its antioxidant properties
- Treatment for diabetes symptoms
- Supports brain function and is used to treat Alzheimer’s disease
- Treatment for neurological effects, like strokes
- Relieves headaches
- Remedy for PMS and menstrual cramps
LEMON BALM
- Protects the liver
- Protects the heart
- Can be used to make kombucha
- Fights against candida
- Helpful with diabetes
- May help to manage stress and anxiety
- Aids in hyperactivity and concentration
- Improve cognitive function
- Sleep aid, especially for women experiencing menopause
- Helps fight cold sores and other herpes
- Can fight specific cancer
- Protective against radiation
- Pain relieving
- Can help an overactive thyroid
- Relieves digestive issues including ulcers
- Reduces PMS symptoms
OREGANO
- Effective against food-borne pathogens
- Cancer fighting
- Fights inflammation
- Can help heart health
- Prevention against metabolic issues, like diabetes
- Effective at treating infectious diseases
- Effective against microbes that developed resistance to antibiotic drugs
- Treatment for depression
- Mood-enhancer
PEPPERMINT
- Antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory
- Antispasmodic, anti-fungal, antiseptic, potentially anti-cancer
- Relieves tension headaches
- Topical pain reliever
- May treat chronic inflammatory disorders, like allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma
- Relieves respiratory issues
- Improves brain function and mood
- Improves exercise performance
- Treats IBS
- Supports oral health
- Fights against candida
- Encourages hair growth and reduces dandruff
- Relieves itchiness
- Helps relieve nausea
- Improves colic symptoms in infants
- Encourages skin health
- Relief and protection from sunburns
- Therapeutic for herpes virus
ROSEMARY
- Anticancer
- Has high levels of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, thiamin, and folate; magnesium, calcium, and iron; ample amounts of antioxidants
- Improves memory
- Cardiovascular system, urinary conditions, reproductive system, respiratory system, and liver treatments
- Stimulates hair growth and improves digestion
- Balances hormones
- Skin care
- UV protection
- Powerful against bacterial infections, including staph
- Stomach ulcers gastritis, and stomach cancer
ST. JOHN’S WORT
- Is prescribed to relieve depression
- Eases withdrawal symptoms from addictive symptoms and relieves anxiety
- Helps to restore hormone balance
- Eases muscle aches/pain and lowers blood pressure
- Helps with hemorrhoids and stretched skin
- Has been shown to be effective in treating leukemia
- Anti-cancer properties
- Heals wounds
- Kidney and lung problems
- Treats PMS symptoms
- Effective against menopause symptoms
- Treatment of pressure sores
- OCD improvement
THYME
- Antifungal, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, anticancer
- Treats skin diseases
- Relieves respiratory ailments
- Improves circulation because of its high iron content
- Lowers blood pressure
- Protects the heart
- Eye care and cataract prevention
- Immunity booster
- Stress reducing
- Protects against colon cancer
- Protects against breast cancer
- Helps fight sore throat
- Prevents food poisoning
- Mood boosting
- May fight anxiety
- Supports immune system and aids with multiple sclerosis
This is a lot of information about healing plants. It can seem overwhelming and easier to just “take a pill” for whatever issues you have. But when you get in the habit of using these natural herbs, you can have both the relief for your symptoms and the comfort of knowing exactly what you put in and on your body.
Want to learn some of the best ways to use these and other amazing healing plants?
- Click here to learn how to make a Salve
- Click here to learn how to make a Tincture
- Click here to learn how to make an Herbal Syrup
- Click here to learn how to make a Liniment
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Disclaimer: All information contained herein is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided to diagnose, prevent, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition for any human or animal, and Mother Nature’s Truths, as well as the author(s), contributor(s), publishers, and owners accept no responsibility for such use. Anyone suffering from any disease, illness, or injury, or who has an animal suffering from such, should consult with their physician or veterinarian. The statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.