Lavender
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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