Herbs for Stress Garden:

By Herbalist Linda Kingsbury Ph.D.

Code=Plant common name – popular uses

Growing cycle – flower color-most often parts used

Catnip- sleep aide, colic, good for children

Perennial – white flowers, square stem - leaves

Steep 2tsp. fresh or 1 tsp. dried leaves per cup of water. This mild relaxing tea helps ease stomach upset and colic.

Chamomile – peace of mind, menstrual cramps, calms the stomach

Perennial – white daisy-like flowers – flower tops

The flowers are high in calcium and calm the mind. A good after dinner tea high in calcium. The tea can also be used as a hair rinse and facial rinse.

Fennel – indigestion, liver support

Perennial – yellow umbel flower heads - seeds, leaves

Eases digestive upsets. Healing for the liver. Make a tea with the seeds and food sprinkle with seeds, fresh leaves and flowers. Contains phytoestrogens.

Lavender – headache, insomnia, dream aide

Perennial – purple flowers and leaves - flowers and leaves

A natural relaxing tea made with the flowers and leaves helps to clear the mind and has the added benefits of antidepressant and antibacterial actions. The essential oil has many healing properties including easing burns, depression, and bug bites.

Lemonbalm – mood balancing, antiviral against herpes

Perennial – white flowers - leaves

Refreshing lemony scent is released when you touch the leaves. Adds flavor to teas and relaxing properties. The oil, tea or tincture made with fresh leaves provides relief for herpes outbreaks.

Saint John's Wort –sciatica, eases stress and depression

Perennial – bright yellow flowers - fresh flowers and leaves

Infusing the fresh flower tops in olive oil makes a healing massage oil and wound healing oil. This oil is especially good to ease any nerve-based pain, sciatica or neuralgia. The healing properties soak into the skin and directly go to the nerve endings. A fresh flower tincture aids depression and soothes nerve-based pain.

Valerian – insomnia, stress

Perennial – large fragrant flower heads – root, fresh flowers

The active ingredient, valepotriates, act as a natural tranquilizer on animals and people. It also affects the central nervous system.  Use with caution since large quantities can cause nausea. I like to grow them for their fragrant large flowers  which waft their relaxing aromatherapy in the summer’s breeze .