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9 Herbs That Fight Colds, Ease Headaches, And More

by Jeff Csatari + Nikki Werner For RodalesOrganicLife.com
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Werner Rebel/ Shutterstock

Why burn a quarter-tank of gas running out to the drugstore for Pepto when you can pluck some relief from your windowsill herb garden?

Besides adding another dimension to your cooking, freshly harvested herbs can soothe dozens of common health problems, and it’s possible to grow a selection of home remedies in a couple of pots placed in a sunny spot. 

Look for seedlings of these plants and herbs at any garden store, or if you’re really ambitious, buy a packet of seeds and try sprouting your own.

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Lavender

lavender in field
Subbotina Anna/ Shutterstock

Grow:
This sun-loving plant needs good drainage. Use a small pot filled with gravel and a light soil.

Use:
It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. (Plus, here are 7 cool things we never knew lavender could do.) Crush a handful of the heads and add to a bowl of boiling water to use as a steam bath for your face. You can also dab the oil from the flowers on blemishes, says pharmacist Margo Marrone, founder of The Organic Pharmacy in the United Kingdom. 

Basil

basil plant
sofiart/ Shutterstock

Grow:
This sweet, fragrant annual is ideal for growing in pots. Pull off the white flowers as soon as they appear to keep it from going to seed and your herbs from tasting bitter.

Use:
Rub crushed leaves on your temples to relieve headaches. Pour boiling water over basil leaves for a pain-relieving footbath.

MORE: Basil Growing Guide

Thyme

thyme bush
EQRoy/ Shutterstock

Grow:
Plant in dry, light soil. Needs sun.

Use:
A powerful antioxidant as well as an antiseptic. Drink a tea made from lemon thyme to treat colds before bed. Warning: Don’t use thyme when pregnant.

MORE: Thyme Growing Guide

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Lemon Balm

lemon balm in pot
Julia Tsokur/ Shutterstock

Grow:
Pot it, or it will colonize your garden.

Use:
Use for healing and preventing cold sores. Also, rub leaves directly onto skin as a natural insect repellent or to soothe bites.

MORE: 20 Little Ways To Nurture Yourself This Winter

Parsley

parsley plant
isak55/ Shutterstock

Grow:
Thrives in a pot in the sun as long as the soil is kept moist. Feed with organic fertilizer.

Use:
Immune-system booster. Eat one tablespoon of chopped flatleaf or curly parsley daily. Chewing parsley neutralizes mouth odors.

MORE: Parsley Growing Guide

Mint

mint plant
hvoya/ Shutterstock

Grow:
Use a sunken pot, because it grows vigorously.

Use:
Ideal for treating the collywobbles, which you might know as butterflies in the stomach. (Check out these 7 other surprising health benefits of mint.) Sip tea made with fresh peppermint leaves to soothe stomach cramps, nausea, and flatulence. For a natural decongestant, place a fistful of mint leaves in a shallow bowl and cover with boiling water. Lean over it, drape a towel over your head, and breathe the steam.

MORE: Mint Growing Guide

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Rosemary

bowl of rosemary
Oxana Denezhkina/ Shutterstock

Grow:
This hardy perennial loves basking in sunshine.

Use:
Tea made from a thumb-sized piece has been known to lift spirits in people suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and hangovers. Infuse warm red wine with rosemary, cinnamon, and cloves to soothe winter colds.

MORE: Rosemary Growing Guide

Sage

sage bush
NikoEndres/ Shutterstock

Grow:
Needs full sun and a dry sandy soil. Sage means “to be in good health.”

Use:
Gargle with a broth made from a quarter-cup of leaves (and cooled) to relieve sore throat.

MORE: Sage Growing Guide

Aloe Vera

aloe plant
Nevada31

Grow:
Plant in pots placed in full sunshine. Water well.

Use:
Break open the thick leaves and apply the gel that seeps out to your skin to soothe sunburn. “It’s 96% water and 4% active ingredients, including amino acids and enzymes that nourish damaged skin,” says Marrone.

MORE: 5 Surprising Benefits Of Aloe Vera For Your Skin

The article 9 Indoor Herbs That Fight Colds, Ease Headaches, And More originally appeared on Rodale’s Organic Life.

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