Healing Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide

Interested in herbal medicine but not sure where to get started? Our beginner’s guide lists ten essential healing herbs to have in your home.

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More and more people are turning their attention to herbal medicine and natural remedies to protect their health and keep their families well.

While there’s a time and a place for modern allopathic medicine, many of us are drawn to herbal remedies for everyday health issues like colds, stress, and sleeplessness. We might also turn to herbs to support our overall wellbeing, boost our immune systems, and give our bodies an extra helping hand.

Herbs have been used in traditional medicine systems across the globe for millennia. Many are used as inspiration for modern-day medicines, which use similar active ingredients. But those of us who prefer a more natural, holistic approach to our health tend to opt for the real thing instead.

If you’re getting started with herbal medicine and are ready to grow the collection of healing herbs you have in your home, this beginner’s guide is perfect for you.

We’re going to look at ten of the best herbs to have in your home, concentrating on those that have multiple benefits for your health and wellness.

1. Green Tea

One of our favourite all-rounders for supporting our overall health is green tea. Packed with antioxidants, green tea is great for reducing inflammation, boosting our brain power, supporting our immune systems, lowering our blood pressure, and even helping us lose weight.

2. Ashwagandha

Another healing herb we wouldn’t be without is ashwagandha. One of the most important herbs in Ayurveda, ashwagandha helps our bodies and minds cope with stress and anxiety. It also supports focus and concentration, boosts athletic performance, and helps us sleep better at night.

3. Liquorice

Lovely liquorice is a great herb to have on hand to support your immune system, protect your liver, and calm the digestion. Naturally sweet, this soothing herb also helps to ease sore throats and coughs, as well as reducing the hot flushes that are associated with menopause.

4. Chamomile

Always a popular option, chamomile is one of our favourite herbs for calming the nervous system and helping us cope with stress and anxiety. It is a great ally to have on hand if you are struggling to sleep at night too. And it is said to ease menstrual cramps, reduce high blood pressure, and protect your heart health.

5. Ginger

Fiery ginger is a great energiser and a popular remedy for nausea, including travel sickness and morning sickness. Its benefits don’t stop there though, ginger is also great for boosting the immune system, fighting inflammation, and soothing sore joints.

6. Turmeric

Another great all-rounder, turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory that can help our bodies with all sorts of different issues. It is packed with antioxidants, especially curcumin, which protects our cells against oxidative stress. It has shown potential for the treatment of many chronic conditions, including arthritis, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease.

7. Echinacea

When it comes to supporting our bodies during cold and flu season, few healing herbs are as popular as echinacea. This purple-flowered perennial is known to boost the immune system, making it easier for us to recover from coughs, colds, and sore throats – and reducing our chances of catching them in the first place too.

8. Ginseng

Prized by practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginseng has a reputation as a universal tonic. It is said to give the user strength and vitality, boosting the immune system, banishing fatigue, and protecting your cardiovascular health.

9. Cinnamon

Delicious cinnamon is another anti-inflammatory herb that is used to treat all sorts of ailments. It has shown promise in supporting blood sugar management, lowering cholesterol, and reducing blood pressure – making it a great herb for protecting your cardiovascular health. It is also a natural painkiller.

10. Dandelion

Last but not least on our list, dandelion is a familiar hedgerow plant that has plenty of benefits for our health. It contains compounds that help to protect our livers and combat inflammation. A natural diuretic, dandelion is also used to treat UTIs, and in beating bloating.

How to Get Started with Healing Herbs

Hopefully, this list has given you some ideas of which key herbal allies you’d like to welcome into your home. As for what you do with them – there are plenty of options, but we prefer to enjoy all that herbal goodness in the form of a soothing cup of herbal tea.

There are all sorts of different blends you can try, depending on your needs and the herbs you want to incorporate into your daily routine.

At NutraTea, we design each of our delicious herbal blends to address a particular concern, with herbs that are specifically chosen because of their unique health benefits. You can explore the full range via our online shop.