Naturopathic Medicine: Growing Your Own Herbs
Working in my garden provides me with stress relief. I find the act of nurturing plants meditative. In addition, being outside is grounding and sunlight allows my body to make vitamin D. Growing your own food is empowering as it can feel good to be self-reliant. If you are not currently a gardener, don’t worry — an easy way to start is with growing a few herbs.
From a naturopathic medicine perspective, growing your own herbs offers a blend of health, lifestyle, and preventive care benefits.
“The garden is not only where food grows—it’s where medicine begins.”
Advantages of growing your naturopathic medicine may include:
🌿 1. Supports Healthy Eating
Growing your own herbs gives fresh herbs on hand to encourage healthier cooking and eating habits. Since herbs enhance flavor naturally, they help reduce reliance on unhealthy additives such as sugar and processed salt.
🍵 2. Empowerment and Self-Care
Having medicinal herbs at your fingertips encourages you to be proactive about your health—whether it’s making a calming tea or a homemade salve.
🧠 3. Mind-Body Connection
The act of nurturing plants is grounding and meditative. It reduces cortisol levels (stress hormone), supports mental health, and improves your connection with nature—something core to naturopathic philosophy.
💊 4. Physical Health Benefits
When appropriate, herbs can provide gentle support without the side effects of synthetic medications. For example:
- Nutritional Boost: Fresh herbs like parsley, basil, and cilantro are rich in vitamins (A, C, K), antioxidants, and minerals.
- Calming Benefits: Chamomile, lavender, lemon balm may be used for anxiety or insomnia.
- Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Herbs like turmeric, ginger, and rosemary contain compounds that help reduce inflammation and may help pain.
- Immune Support: Garlic, oregano, and thyme have antimicrobial properties that support the immune system.
- Digestive Health: Peppermint and ginger can soothe digestive issues like bloating and indigestion.
- Heart Health: Some herbs, like garlic and hawthorn, can support healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Natural Remedies: Herbs like echinacea and elderberry are commonly used to prevent or shorten colds and flu.
🌱 5. Quality Control & Freshness
Growing your own produce ensures:
- No pesticides or contaminants.
- Maximum potency due to freshness.
- Proper harvesting and drying practices.
🌍 6. Environmental and Ethical Health
From a holistic view, personal herb gardens support sustainable living. This aligns with the naturopathic principle of “do no harm”—to both the body and the planet.
Keep it simple in the beginning by starting with a few herbs that are easy to grow such as basil and rosemary. In Indiana these are both annual plants meaning they will need to be planted each year or if you are planting in pots you can bring them in for the winter.
Herb Spotlight: Basil 🌱
Basil is one of my favorite herbs. It’s fragrant, flavorful, and incredibly versatile in both culinary and preservation methods. Pesto is a versatile sauce that I make every year with my basil. It takes a lot of basil to make the pesto but it is so worth it.
Growing Tips:
- Annual: Needs to be replanted each year.
- Warmth-loving: Wait until all frost risks have passed before planting
- Sunlight: Needs plenty of direct sun
- Variety: Many cultivars exist, each with its own unique flavor and appearance. Try several different ones.
- Growth: Pinch the tips regularly to encourage fuller growth.
Storage & Preservation:
- Short-term: Store fresh basil like cut flowers. Trim stems, place in a glass of water, cover loosely with a plastic bag, and store away from direct light. Change the water every two days.
- Cold-sensitive: Don’t store below 40°F—cold temps cause discoloration and wilting.
- Preservation ideas:
- Basil vinegar: A great substitute for fresh basil in recipes like pesto
- Basil salt: Layer leaves in salt, dry, and remove browned leaves to store flavored salt
- Frozen basil cubes: Chop basil, place in ice cube trays, fill with a little water and freeze
Final Thoughts
Gardening is more than just a hobby for me. —It nourishes my family’s meals, connects me with nature, and reduces my stress. And it is a great exercise without the gym! I hope you will give it a try, and let me know if you need help getting started.
In addition to being a naturopathic doctor, Dr. Melanie is a Master Gardener with Purdue Extension.