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Let us assume you want to be healthy, you want to stay alive and well for as long as possible and you want to accomplish this naturally. So what better way to do this than to create a medicinal garden full of herbs to cure what ails you or just to keep you in tip-top shape before you get ill.

The herb garden, just the mere fact of creating one, will add to your health just by you tending it. You will get the benefit of gentle stretching and some good muscle toning when you prepare the bed, plant the herbs and carefully tend them, snipping a bit here and there for your various medicinal teas, infusions and as a seasoning for food. You're already started to a more productive, healthful life.

But what herbs should go into a medicinal herb garden? The truth is all herbs have some benefit to them even if not just for your own health. There are herbs I plant for my garden's health. How do I mean? I plant parsley not for me but for the larva of butterflies. They like to feed on them. They grow fat and happy munching away then do me a great favor and turn into butterflies which please me just to look at them and help relieve any stress. My cats stay healthy too chasing them around. But the butterflies also pollinate the flowers for yummy tomatoes which in themselves have medicinal qualities and therefore can go in a medicinal garden too, come to think of it.

The following is a short list of common herbs which can go in a medicinal garden and the various things they are good for.

Onions and Garlic have antibiotic qualities. Back in the day, these were often used in combination to relieve sufferers from infections such as Scarlet fever, pneumonia and Strep throat. They were made into infusions, slowly simmered or eaten raw. So, if you make it a habit to cook with these you're one step ahead of the game and your cooking skills will bring people to the table. This way you make the entire family healthier without them even knowing it.

Chamomile, Valerian, Monarda Bee Balm and Lemon Balm are all said to relieve anxiety, stress and insomnia. While the Chamomile, Bee and Lemon Balms make a nice tasting tea, Valerian doesn't but it is the strongest of the herbs in terms of health benefits. A bit of sugar or honey or mixed with other herbs should make it more palatable.

Anise seeds, Mint, Ginger, Catnip, Echinacea (the Purple Coneflower) and Dill are all good for the upset tummy.

Thyme have been used over the centuries as an antiseptic and decongestant.

Valerian, Anise, Fennel, Feverfew and Red Clover are all antispasmodic herbs used to relax muscles. They help ease painful abdominal cramps and Charlie horses.

Ginger is an all-around digestive helper but it also helps with morning sickness, motion sickness and vertigo.

Rosemary, Sage and Thyme are said to help forestall food poisoning. Just a sprinkle of these onto your food should do it.

Mint makes an invigorating tea for those suffering from the Winter Blahs.

St. John's Wort is supposed to induce euphoria.

Basil has been said to rid the body of intestinal parasites, to kills bacteria and increases the immune system's ability to ward off infectious illnesses. Get that Pesto ready!

So, you see this gives you reason enough to plant yourself a nice medicinal herb garden. See if you don't feel loads better every time you look at it, smell it and touch those lovely fragrant plants. Oh, yes, and don't forget to munch on them too.

Learn more about this author, Glory Lennon.
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