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Nature – it is the world’s largest, most eclectic and expansive pharmacy, with literally millions of species at our disposal to plant, cultivate, harvest and make use of in our everyday lives. And yet, most of us remain uninitiated into the highly practical and powerful realm of natural remedies that Nature herself offers to us with open hands.
While most of us grew up disconnected from the natural world, it is never too late for us to discover the endless sources of natural remedies hidden all throughout nature – and make use of them ourselves.
Whatever your personal context, natural remedies can be grown almost anywhere or in anything, from large paddocks and small patches of ground, to pots and window boxes. Healing plants of all varieties can also be bought at local nurseries, swap meetups, garage sales, online stores, or even foraged in the wild and transplanted into your own garden.
Have limited space? Check out this article on urban farming.
Having a great love for medicinal fruit, vegetables and herbs myself, I have taken the time to compile an extensive list of the best 100 natural healing plants to grow in your own personal garden or living area. This list is based on the high number of healing properties each plant has.
100 Best Natural Remedies Plant List
From vegetables that fight cancer and prevent colds, to herbs that treat indigestion, skin conditions and anxiety – there is a healing plant for almost everything and everyone here. Most of these medicinal plants can be dried, powdered, made into tea, tinctures, soups, balms, and even soaps, syrups and salves. I’m sure you will find what you’re looking for – and even more here!
1. Agrimony
Genus: Flowering plant.
Benefits: Soothes urinary tract disorders such as cystitis and irritable bladders. Anti-inflammatory.
Parts used: Flowerheads, leaves.
Growing conditions: Prefers full sun. Perennial.
2. Alder Buckthorn
Genus: Shrub/Tree
Benefits: Relieves constipation, stimulates colon.
Parts used: Bark.
Growing conditions: Prefers damp soil conditions, deciduous hedging shrub, grows to about 5 meters tall.
3. Aloe
Genus: Succulent.
Benefits: Healing properties for skin conditions such as sun burn, eczema, psoriasis, wounds and dermatitis. Used to soothe and skin and prevent wrinkles. Helps ease gastrointestinal disorders such as indigestion and aids elimination.
Parts used: Fleshy leaves and pulp.
Growing conditions: Evergreen succulent. Prefers sunny position with moderate water, but water sparingly in winter.
Check out this daily aloe drink that will alkalize your body for less aging and improve your skin.
4. Angelica
Genus: Herb.
Benefits: Appetite stimulator. Treats indigestion. Eases cramps and prevents flatulence. Anti-inflammatory.
Parts used: Root.
Growing conditions: Biennial/perennial herb. Prefers damp soil. Grows 2 meters. Harvest root in Autumn.
5. Aniseed
Genus: Fruit
Benefits: Helps cure respiratory congestion such as colds and flu. Used as a digestive aid to help with colic, bloating and gas. Helps to control nausea and vomiting. Reported to enhance libido.
Parts used: Seeds.
Growing conditions: Annual plant, warm climate.
6. Artichoke
Genus: Vegetable.
Benefits: Lowers cholesterol production. Soothes irritable bowel syndrome. Treats indigestion. Helps digest fats by enhancing liver function.
Parts used: Flowerheads, leaves, roots.
Growing conditions: Prefers full sun, fertile, and well-drained soil. Perennial.
Artichokes balance your heart chakra as do these other green foods.
7. Bilberry
Genus: Fruit.
Benefits: High antioxidants contribute to eye health, lessening the effects of glaucoma. Anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. Reduce the effects of vascular problems such as varicose veins, water retention and painful periods.
Parts used: Berries.
Growing conditions: Prefers acidic soil, large pots and full sun. Fruits in summer.
8. Black Cohosh
Genus: Flowering plant.
Benefits: Reduces menopausal symptoms. Balances hormones. Regulates menstrual periods. Soothes inflammation, e.g. arthritis.
Parts used: Root.
Growing conditions: Prefers light shade and moist soil. Harvest roots in Autumn.
Read more about this powerful Native American medicinal herb.
9. Blackcurrant
Genus: Fruit.
Benefits: Rich source of GLA. Treats skin conditions such as eczema. Reduces PMS symptoms, hypertension and rheumatoid disorders. Reduces blood pressure and alleviates swollen glands.
Parts used: Root, leaves, berries.
Growing conditions: Full sun, requires high nitrogen levels in soil (so add extra organic matter). Prune back in Autumn. Attracts birds, so protect plant with net.
10. Black Mustard Seed
Genus: Fruit.
Benefits: Improves circulation, and thus helps stiff muscles, joints and cold extremities. Reduces inflammation.
Parts used: Seeds.
Growing conditions: Annual plant that prefers light soil and moderate sun. Harvest seed pods in late summer, and dry in cool place.
11. Brahmi
Genus: Succulent.
Benefits: Improves mental clarity, memory and concentration.
Parts used: Aerial leaves/stems.
Growing conditions: Creeping perennial that thrives in warmer temperatures and tropical climates.
12. Burdock
Genus: Flowering plant.
Benefits: Detoxifying, antibiotic, antiseptic and mild diuretic effects. Most especially helps with the treatment of skin problems such as eczema, acne, boils and dermatitis.
Parts used: Leaves, fruit, roots and seeds.
Growing conditions: Biennial and simple to grow. Harvest seeds in summer.
13. Caraway
Genus: Fruit.
Benefits: Used to aid digestion, ease pain, expel gas, soothe bloating, prevent reflux and relieve heartburn.
Parts used: Seeds.
Growing conditions: Biennial, prefers full sun and free-draining soil. Avoid transplanting.
14. Celery
Genus: Vegetable
Benefits: Anti-inflammatory. Taken for gout, anxiety, arthritis, and to aid sleep. A good diuretic.
Parts used: Stem, seed.
Growing conditions: Prefers full sun, lots of water, compost and mulch.
15. Centaury
Genus: Herb.
Benefits: Used as a tonic for the liver and gallbladder. Stimulates appetite. Relieves disorders of the upper digestive tract such as heartburn and indigestion.
Parts used: Aerial parts.
Growing conditions: Biennial, prefers full sun, grows with other wildflowers.
16. Chamomile
Genus: Flowering plant.
Benefits: Helps reduce the effects of a variety of ailments such as anxiety, poor sleep, indigestion, colic, sciatica and gout. Often brewed in tea to calm nerves and enhance sleep.
Parts used: Aerial parts.
Growing conditions: Perennial, likes partial sun and poor soil. Self-seeds.
17. Chaste Tree
Genus: Shrub.
Benefits: Relieves PMS pain, reduces hormonal acne, helps regulate hormones during menstrual cycles. Relieves menopausal symptoms.
Parts used: Berries.
Growing conditions: Grows up to 5 meters, prefers sun and does well in most soils.
18. Cherry
Genus: Shrub.
Benefits: Rich in vitamin A, B and C. High in calcium and magnesium. Good general immune system booster with anti-inflammatory effects.
Parts used: Berries.
Growing conditions: Two plants must be planted for pollination. Likes full sun and needs damp soil.
19. Chickweed
Genus: Flowering plant.
Benefits: Soothes sore and inflamed skin. Mild diuretic. Soothes rheumatism. Vitamin rich and great in salads although they’re classified as weeds!
Parts used: Leaves.
Growing conditions: Thrives in most soils. Blooms in late winter to spring.
20. Chicory
Genus: Flowering plant.
Benefits: Mild laxative. Anti-inflammatory. Can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Parts used: Leaves and roots.
Growing conditions: Likes well-drained alkaline soil. Needs deep soil for root development. Roots are harvested in the second year.
21. Chili
Genus: Vegetable.
Benefits: Used as an antiseptic, analgesic, stimulant and tonic. Reduces muscular aches and pains and prevents gastrointestinal infection.
Parts used: Pepper fruits.
Growing conditions: Likes dry soil and full sun. Can easily grow in pots.
22. Cinquefoil
Genus: Flowering plant.
Benefits: Anti-aging benefits for skin. Treats fever, diarrhea, toothaches and mouth ulcers.
Parts used: Leaves.
Growing conditions: Perennial plant that prefers full sun. Invasive and fast-growing.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ON THE ALOE VERA PLANT