25 Simple Medicinal Herbs to Know and Use Now

**Disclaimer** – The information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice. I am not a medical professional (nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night). Please do your own additional research before trying self-treatment and consult your naturopath or homeopathic professional before proceeding with any new treatments. This post is meant to inspire you and get the gears turning in the right direction. The information here has been compiled from my own research, personal medicinal care from a licensed provider, and overall experience seeking out alternative ways.

Why Herbal Remedies?

Many herbs that can be used medicinally. They are relatively simple to grow (or purchase) and harvest. This post will only cover twenty-five. We’re going to look at these 25 simple medicinal herbs to know. We may include more in another post. First, Let’s explore the history of medicinal herbs. Not too long ago our ancestors didn’t have access to many of the medications of today. These medications were not in existence or they were just too far away from modern medicine available to them. If you’ve watched Little House on the Prairie or The Waltons, then you’re familiar with it. Difficulty accessing medical treatment and money were always a problem.

Why Should We Consider These 25 Medicinal Herbs?

Fast forward to today. The want for herbal remedies is still clear and present, however the drive and motivation are very different. What I mean by that is it’s not about access any longer. There’s a medical building on every corner and insurance is fairly accessible to the vast majority. The drive nowadays is that of mistrust of the shifty HMO/PPO’s, astronomical hospital bills (even when you are insured), and lets not forget the deathly side effects of the prescription drugs.

Why Do We Say That?

The medical field would have us believe that much of the herbal treatments are hocus pocus. In fact much of the drugs made today consist of some sort of synthetic plant property. Roughly 30% of medications are trying to mimic the results of herbs, but with unnecessary chemical compounds. That’s not to say that some medications don’t have their place. I still have to take one medication myself that I haven’t been able to replace with herbs…..yet. I will find an alternative!

All that to say the tables seem to be turning a bit. Back in 1998 researched showed that roughly 80% of the population used TRADITIONAL medicine for primary care. In 2014 that number saw an uptick to 80% of the population worldwide relying on herbal remedies at least in part for primary care. You can read more about that here. Then again, in 2021, those reports turned back to the previous numbers. More detail about that statistic here. Depending on the publisher’s standpoint these numbers can be swayed in any direction.

So Why These 25 Medicinal Herbs to Know and Use Now?

It’s never a bad time to start treating your body better. Here’s a few quotes I found while scanning the internet for research. I just love them.

Ok, I snuck that Erma Bombeck one in there for fun. Thomas Edison’s quote is pretty profound, given the period of history he was from. Perhaps technology and advancements are NOT always the better way. Time and time again we have seen that a previously “approved” drug is found to be harmful. By the time that data comes out, its too late. The damage has been done. People have suffered life-altering illnesses or worse, death.

What are the 25 Medicinal Herbs?

So, we are going to list them here briefly and give you much deeper information in another post on how to use them. Why in two posts? Our goal is not to inundate you with far too much information. It makes the post too long and you lose interest, let’s be honest. Fear not, we will still give you a brief use of these herbs right here. For more in depth information on each of these herbs, we will create additional posts covering these items in smaller groups. As they become available we will add the links to those posts right here in this post.

1. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) – Used for chronic inflammations, to lower cholesterol, prostate conditions, increase urine flow, asthma, and more.
2. Blackberry (Rubus spp.)¹– Used to treat diarrhea, fluid retention, inflammation and more.
3. Borage (Borago officinalis) – Reduces fevers, calms irritated tissues, regain strength, obesity and, of course, more
4. Burdock (Arctium lappa) – skin eruptions, eliminate toxins in the body, enhances liver function, reduces cholesterol, blood purifier, slow or prevent cancer, and more
5. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) – calms the nerves, eases digestion, it even reduces a fever without first spiking it! It also aides in colic, ulcers, also eases diarrhea, gas, and stomach cramps.
6. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) – Take a diuretic? Dandelion is full of potassium and can replace potassium that is lost with frequent unrination. helps fight diabetes, stimulates digestion, reduces cholesterol
7. Garlic (Allium sativum) – This is my favorite for immune support, but it does so much more! Garlic also lowers blood pressure, kills parasites, relieves spasms, can reduce the risk of heart attack, and may also help treat Alzheimer’s and dementia.
8. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) – Another favorite for fighting colds, flu, fevers, menstrual cramps, hangovers, healthier skin, and weight loss
9. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia spp.) – relieves headaches, also soothes colic, stimulates penile erection, pain associated with cancer, treating acne and more
10. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) – Besides smelling fabulous in the garden its great in treating reduces fevers, heals wounds, it even will help with sadness (the blues) brought on by sadness or illness.
11. Marsh Mallow (Althea officinalis or Malva sylvestris spp which is just Mallow) – Effective against sore throats, coughs, colds, asthma, bronchitis, digestive orders such as Crohn’s Disease, and indigestion
12. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) – soothes wounds and earaches, whooping cough, asthma, bronchitis, and if you buy into the whole magic thing then it can create magic and protect against it as well.
13. Oats (Avena sativa) – Well the Latin name may give you a hint to this, but it can be used as a moisturizer. I can’t mention that commercial name, but I bet you can figure it out. It will certainly soothe irritated skin due to eczema, poison ivy, ok, or sumac, insect bites and the like.
14. Peppermint, Spearmint (Mentha x piperita, or spicata spp.) – Our grandmother’s knew this one; soothes out tummies (that’s why they always had them in the form of “after-dinner-mints”) or was that only in my family? It can be used as mouthwash, a sore throat remedy, sinus relief, and it relieves nausea, gas and bloating
15. Plantain (Plantago major spp.) – Gentle laxative, diarrhea, dysentery, blood in urine, treat sores, blisters, swellings and insect stings
16. Poplar, aspen, cottonwood (Populus spp.) – Similar to the attributes of aspirin, the Populus genus can effectively treat rheumatism, headaches, inflamed prostate and can even be used as a muscle rub.
17. Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)¹– It’s an antioxidant that relaxes blood vessels, ease the strain of child birth, and diarrhea
18. Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) – boosts estrogen thus aiding in menopause symptoms, helps rid the body of metabolic waste, and helps boost fertility. It’s also said to rebuild the one’s strength from chronic disorders like arthritis and allergies.
19. Rose (Rosa rugosa spp.) – Treats stomach aches, diarrhea, pain and chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, it can also aide in treating irregular menstruation and gastritus.
20. St. John’s-Wort (Hypericum perforatum) – Another garden favorite for it’s beautiful yellow flower, this plant can heal a cleaned wound quickly, improve sciatica, relieve neuralgia (intense pain along the course of a nerve), boosts the body’s immune system and then there’s the common uses of treating anxiety, depression, cuts and burns
21. Strawberry (Fragaria vesca spp.)¹ – Useful against upset stomach and diarrhea, an appetite stimulant, diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure, and osteoarthritis
22. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris spp.) – When taken early on , it will give your immune system a boost when fighting a cold, eases cramps, and calm nervousness, aides in treating bacterial and fungal infections as well
23. Violet (viola tricolor, v. oderata, and v. spp.) – Treats pesky coughing, lymphatic stimulant, headaches, soothes boils, and catarhh (excessive buildup of mucus in the nose or throat)
24. Walnut Black or White (Butternut) (Juglans nigra, J. cinerea) – This is a staple in our house. It does wonders in treating parasites (and before you say “ewww”, we all have parasites), fungal infections, lowers the rate of heart disease, and the risk of gallstones
25. White Pine (Pinus strobus) – Treats coughs, colds, and urinary tract and sinus infections, joint inflammation and skin infections.

1. CAUTION: “Improperly dried leaves of raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, and sweet clover may contain a compound produced from residual moisture and fungal activity that inhibits blood clotting and may cause internal hemorrhaging. Be sure to use these herb leaves fresh or completely dried only. Some herbalists recommend avoiding them altogether (especially red clover) for several weeks prior to surgical procedures or childbirth.” – excerpt from The Herbal Home Remedy Book ↩︎