6 medicinal plants you can grow in your garden

Some medicinal plants are very beautiful for their color and brightness. Here we have chosen six that are easy to find and that, for the most part, do not need special care.

Anyone, if he or she chooses, no matter how little space he or she has at home, can create his or her own medicinal garden, whether in his or her home garden, in the backyard, on the terrace or even on a balcony. Our ancestors, especially in rural environments, used to cultivate certain plants from which they obtained basic remedies to face some of their health problems.

Continuing this tradition not only provides simple and natural remedies, but also provides an enriching experience that relaxes, trains attention and encourages contact with nature.

Whether woody plants (such as bay leaf, thyme, rosemary or sage) or herbaceous plants (mint, nettle or oregano), the variety of medicinal species that can be cultivated is very wide. And they do not necessarily have to look austere like nettle or onion. Here are 6 of them that are beautiful and do not need much care.

1. ECHINACEA, A GREAT STIMULUS OF THE DEFENCES

This North American plant (Echinacea purpurea) flowers in summer and until mid-autumn. In summer, the large, colourful flowers are picked, and in autumn, the root. It should be planted in full sun or partial sun, in flower bed or garden, and is ideal for decorating terraces and patios. It requires little care.

Properties: antiseptic, antiallergenic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory.
Indications: as it is excellent for boosting the immune response, it is recommended to prevent or improve respiratory infections such as influenza, colds, pharyngitis, laryngitis and sinusitis and to fight allergic accesses with rhinitis and conjunctivitis. Externally, it acts as a very effective anti-inflammatory on wounds, burns, epidermal inflammations and inflammations of the mouth and eyes.
How it is used: in infusion, associated with other plants that complement its action or in syrup. The infusion is applied externally in rubs, baths, eye drops and mouthwashes.
Precautions: Avoid orally during pregnancy and lactation and if there are liver damage.

2. LILY TO SOFTEN AND HEAL THE SKIN

The lily (Lilium candidum), originally from the eastern Mediterranean, has a round, scaly bulb and beautiful large, trumpet-shaped and very fragrant flowers. It should be planted in the sun without changing its position for at least four years.

It flowers from late spring to mid-summer. For medicinal purposes, bulbs (fresh, dry or dried) are mainly used, which are harvested at the end of summer or in autumn, although flowers are also used to a lesser extent.

Properties: astringent, antiseptic, healing, callicid, dermoprotective, anti-inflammatory.

Indications: due to its mucilaginous virtues, the bulb is very effective for treating skin ulcers, inflamed or cracked skins, spots, scratches, eczema, boils, burns and mild scalds, as well as for removing grains, urticaria, corns and calluses. It is also applied on muscular contractures, tendonitis and mild rheumatic inflammations.

How it is used: only by external route, the maceration of the flowers or the bulbs in olive oil, to apply in rubs or massages; the roasted bulb, applied in slices on the damaged skin; or the bulb cooked in milk or wine, crushed and applied in hot poultice on corns and corns. It is also found in hydroglycolic extract as an emollient for skin impurities.

Precautions: bulbs are considered edible and have been consumed in some European countries, but due to lack of studies it is not recommended to take them orally.