A Guide to the Best Herbs for Planting in Your Garden and Why

Choosing Herbs for Their Abilities and Treatments

Some herbs heal, some lift your mood, and some just taste good in your newest chicken dish. Since herbs don't take up much room you can grow quite a few in a small amount of space, and each plant usually yields plenty. Sure, you'll likely want to plant some herbs that you'll use mainly for cooking, but why not plant some beneficial herbs as well.

Senna is an herb that is generally prepared as a tea. The drink is a natural laxative that has been in use for hundreds of years. It also cleanses the digestive system and colon, and can be made into a paste as a treatment for skin abrasions.

Sick of the bugs and flying insects in your garden? Get rid of them by growing some pennyroyal. The plants smell great and they repel fleas. Crush the leaves and rub them on your skin for an all-natural repellent that keeps chiggers, flies, mosquitoes, ticks and gnats away from you.

Is insomnia plaguing your nights? Not when you plant valerian or skullcap plants. They're fairly easy to grow, look nice, and when steeped in hot water, can help you get a good night's sleep. Some say the herb can become habit-forming so avoid using it often as a sleep aid. As a matter of fact, skullcap has even been used in China as a cancer treatment. It has a yellowish appearance that will brighten any herb garden.

St. John's Wort has long been considered an aid for mild depression. It can also be used as a topical medication. Studies have linked this herb to helping with anxiety, ear infections, menopause and colitis.

Create your own acne medication with a comfrey poultice. Make a strong tea with a half-cup leaves to a cup of hot water. Apply directly onto skin. The liquid feels like an astringent when you use it and will clear up acne in no time.

The benefits of green tree plants seem to be never-ending. Make a tea from the plants and drink to cleanse the system and even aid with weight loss. Used since the ancient times in China, this herbal tea has been linked to helping heal cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, infections, and cardiovascular disease.