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Medicinal Plants You Need To Make Natural Home Remedies

Medicinal Plants You Need To Make Natural Home Remedies

medicinal plants to grow 2026 survival garden

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Last Updated: May 2026

Learn more about these medicinal plants and make effective home remedies for survival and off-grid living!

When I first started working with medicinal plants, I was completely overwhelmed by all the conflicting information out there. I owe almost all of my early success to keeping this exact guidebook dog-eared and covered in dirt on my potting bench.

Sale
Medicinal Herbs — Rosemary Gladstar
  • Medicinal herbs beginner's
  • Language: english

Last update on 2026-06-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

(As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

Know These Medicinal Plants for Your Own Good!

1. Marshmallow

You know you can’t make s’mores without marshmallows, of course. But did you know the sweet treat you know today was once made with the marshmallow plant?

marsh mallow leaf medicinal plants pb 1

When included in home remedies, it treats sore throat, cold, cough, and flu since it fights bacteria. It relieves skin problems and digestive complaints as well.

🛠️ Prep Root → Chop and steep in cold water for 4–12 hours for throat/digestive soothing.
🗺️ US Climate Zones 3–9 | Thrives in damp, marshy ground or homestead ditches.
Safety Warning The plant’s natural soothing gel can coat the stomach and slow down how fast you absorb other oral medications. Space doses 2 hours apart.

2. Aloe Vera

You may not have seen an actual aloe vera plant but it’s so popular but there’s no way you haven’t heard of it. It’s found in many products like shampoo, moisturizers, and healing ointments.

Aloe vera contains phytochemicals, effective in fighting fever associated with cuts and burns. It stimulates skin renewal too, so it helps fight skin aging.

aloe vera adaptogenic herbs 1

What are Phytochemicals? These are organic compounds found in plants that fight pathogens and body invaders. Some are poisonous but many are used in traditional medicine, including aloe vera.

🛠️ Prep Inner Leaf Gel → Apply the clear fresh gel directly from a sliced leaf onto cuts, skin issues, or minor burns.
🗺️ US Climate Zones 9–11 | Thrives in hot, dry climates. Must grow in pots and move indoors for Northern winters.
🧭 Field Advisory Avoid scraping too deep into the yellow sap layer right under the skin; it can cause stomach cramps if accidentally eaten.

Living in a climate with harsh winters taught me the hard way that not every medicinal plant can survive the frost. Getting a reliable indoor setup going right on your windowsill is an absolute game-changer for keeping fresh remedies on hand year-round. That’s why I got this kit:

Indoor Herb Garden Starter Kit
  • EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO EASILY GROW 4 CULINARY HERBS AT HOME, IN ONE SLEEK BOX: 4 durable burlap pots, 4 moisture-proof seed...
  • #1 GROWTH PERFORMANCE: The Planters’ Choice kit has the best growing success rate on the market. We package the seeds in...

Last update on 2026-06-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

3. Pot Marigold

Like aloe vera, pot marigold is a popular topical treatment for various skin issues. Minor burns, infected cuts, blisters, and scars heal faster with pot marigold.

It also provides treatment for more severe skin problems such as acne, dandruff, and warts. Its properties also help reduce pain, muscle cramps, and stomach ulcers.

🛠️ Prep Flower Heads → Infuse flowers in warm oil to make skin salves for cuts, or steep as tea for stomach ulcers.
🗺️ US Climate Zones 2–11 | Grown easily across the country as a hardy, self-seeding annual flower.
🧭 Field Advisory If you have severe allergies to ragweed, daisies, or chrysanthemums, test a tiny amount of the tea or salve on your skin first.

4. Chamomile

There’s a reason why chamomile tea is popular. It has qualities which combat anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia.

As an antioxidant, chamomile improves immune function, making your body healthier in general. It also reduces swelling, reduces pain, relieves constipation, and relaxes muscles.

German chamomile herb garden Dog Herbal Garden ss 1

A cupful of chamomile tea out in the mountains will totally do you some good.

🛠️ Prep Flowers → Steep dried blossoms in hot water for 10 minutes to help relieve anxiety, stress, or insomnia.
🗺️ US Climate Zones 3–9 | Prefers full sun and loose, well-drained soil. Grows easily across most of the US.
🧭 Field Advisory Can increase the relaxing effects of other sleep aids or sedatives. Avoid if you have strong allergies to ragweed.

I used to lose half my harvests to mold because I was just laying fresh flowers out on paper towels to dry. Upgrading to a proper suspended airflow system made a massive difference in preserving the potency and lifespan of my medicinal stash. Here’s what helped me:

Stainless Hanging Herb Drying Rack
  • Efficient Herb Drying: You will get 4 pcs herbal drying racks, each equipped with 30 stainless steel detachable clips...
  • Firm ang Safe: Made of high-quality stainless steel, rustproof and strong load-bearing capacity, providing a sturdy and...

Last update on 2026-06-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

5. Chinese Yam

Oriental Chinese medicine and diet almost always include medicinal plants. The Chinese yam for one is often included in their cooking.

That’s because the Chinese yam fights whooping cough and digestive inflammation. It is even included in treatments to prevent cancer.

So just imagine what it can do against a simple cough and stomach upset. It also helps improve your diet, address menstrual issues, and fight fatigue.

🛠️ Prep Tuber Root → Cook or bake thoroughly in meals to address fatigue or digestive inflammation.
🗺️ US Climate Zones 5–9 | Thrives well in the humid South and East; requires loose, deep soil so the tubers can expand.
🧭 Field Advisory The juice of the raw, unpeeled root contains natural compounds that can cause mild, temporary skin itching. Handle with gloves when prepping.

6. Echinacea

Native American medicinal herbs list always include echinacea or the coneflower. This amazing plant boosts the immune system and resists bacterial and viral infections.

tea drink echinacea purpurea dried folk sore throat remedies 1

 

With echinacea’s antibacterial properties, colds, flu, as well as burns, wounds, and sores are no problem at all. It also provides relief to stings, insect bites, and snake bites.

🛠️ Prep Root & Flower → Simmer tough roots for 20 minutes for an immune tea, or preserve flowers in high-proof alcohol.
🗺️ US Climate Zones 3–9 | Native to the US Midwest prairies. It is highly drought-hardy and easy to grow.
🧭 Field Advisory Best used short-term (under 6–8 weeks) to help support the body at the onset of a cold or infection. Use caution if you have an autoimmune condition.

7. Great Yellow Gentian

yellow gentian blossom medicinal plants pb 1 1

This medicinal properties of this plant provide relief to stomach complaints. It helps soothe stomach aches and diarrhea.

It also helps improve digestion as well as improve appetite. Aside from treating stomach issues, the yellow gentian is also used to reduce sore throat and jaundice.

🛠️ Prep Root → Simmer dried, chopped root in boiling water for 15 minutes to create a bitter digestive aid.
🗺️ US Climate Zones 4–8 | Prefers cool climates, mountain regions, and moist, rich soil with excellent drainage.
🧭 Field Advisory Because it intensely stimulates stomach acid, do not use this bitter tea if you have active stomach ulcers or acute digestive irritation.

RELATED: Triple A’s Of Nature’s Medicine: Antiviral ~ Antibacterial ~ Antibiotic

8. Siberian Ginseng

Home Remedies for Cold and Flu

While look-alikes, Siberian, Korean, and American ginseng are not one and the same, all three have adaptogenic uses, though.

The Siberian ginseng, in particular, helps promote good health. It relieves stress and fights common ailments.

It is common in Asian medicine, but it’s gaining ground in the U.S.

Adaptogenic Definition: This natural substance helps the body adapt to stress. It also helps normalize the body’s physiological function.

🛠️ Prep Root & Bark → Chop and simmer the tough roots for 30 minutes to extract its stress-relieving properties.
🗺️ US Climate Zones 3–8 | Exceptionally cold-hardy. Thrives in partially shaded forest homestead plots or woodland borders.
🧭 Field Advisory This herb helps normalize body function under stress and increases stamina. Avoid taking it late in the evening so it doesn’t disturb your sleep.

When I first decided to grow my own remedies, I wasted a ton of time and money trying to hunt down specific heirloom seeds from a dozen different places. If I had to do it all over again, I would have just grabbed a massive, non-GMO seed vault like this right out of the gate:

Ultimate Medicinal Herb Seeds Variety Pack – 36 Heirloom Non-GMO Healing Herbs for Planting...
  • GROW NATURAL MEDICINE – Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Calendula (Calendula officinalis), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea...
  • RARE HERBALIST PLANTS – White Sage (Salvia apiana), Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis), Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis...

Last update on 2026-06-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

9. Garlic

garlic Natures Medicine 1

A very popular culinary ingredient, garlic boasts a lot of health benefits. That includes helping to control high blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and lower risks of heart disease.

Aside from all these, garlic also provides relief to colds as well as other viral infections. It is also an ingredient for homemade remedies to treat toothache pains.

🛠️ Prep Cloves → Crush or chop raw garlic and let it sit for 10 minutes before consuming to fully activate its compounds
🗺️ US Climate Zones 4–9 | Plant individual cloves in late autumn for a highly successful mid-summer harvest nationwide.
🧭 Field Advisory Garlic naturally acts to lower blood pressure and acts as a mild blood thinner. Avoid large therapeutic doses if you are on blood-thinning meds.

10. Great Burdock

ripe great burdock medicinal plants pb 1

The Great Burdock is used as a remedy for various health issues. It may address indigestion, liver, and gallbladder problems. Rheumatism and gout may also be treated with this plant. Its ‘purifying’ properties aid in expelling toxins from the blood and the urine. This underground tuber stimulates the appetite and helps in dealing with anorexia. It also treats skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis, and acne.

🛠️ Prep 1st-Year Root → Clean, chop, and simmer the deep taproot for 20 minutes to address skin conditions or indigestion.
🗺️ US Climate Zones 3–9 | Incredibly adaptable; wild-forages effortlessly across fields, pastures, and open homestead spaces.
🧭 Field Advisory Look-Alike Note: The large leaves look very similar to toxic Foxglove before blooming. Always confirm the root’s distinct earthy, safe smell.

11. Gotu Kola

gotu kola leaves medicinal plants dt 1

Gotu kola aids in decreasing swelling and improving blood flow. For this reason, Gotu kola prevents or decreases the appearance of varicose veins and blood clots. It also helps in preventing scars, stretch marks, and other skin issues. It has the potential to relieve anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia as well.

🛠️ Prep Leaves & Stems → Steep leaves into tea for fatigue or anxiety, or mash into a paste to help prevent skin scars.
🗺️ US Climate Zones 7–11 | Loves high humidity, warm air, and consistently wet, boggy soils. Prefers the American South.
🧭 Field Advisory While excellent for increasing blood flow and reducing swelling, avoid taking heavy therapeutic doses internally for longer than 6 weeks.

Essential Oils from Medicinal Herb Plants

1. Peppermint

Peppermint Medicinal Herbs 1

You know this soothing herb very well because it’s found in gum, toothpaste, even in beauty products. Yet, the health benefits of mint shine most when consumed fresh as tea or flavoring to food and drinks.

Peppermint improves digestion, relieves gas, and soothes common symptoms of colds. It also alleviates nausea headache or even fatigue.

2. Sage

sage plant in herb garden Dog Herbal Garden ss 1

Sage has properties that address both internal and external health issues.

It boosts memory retention, lowers cholesterol and sugar, and eases stomach pain and diarrhea. When used externally, sage provides relief to cold sores and mouth sores.

3. Tea Tree

tea tree flower Medicinal Essential Oils ss 1

From bacterial infections down to sunburns, tea tree oil proves to be an effective natural treatment for a long list of health issues.

Tea tree oil is often referred to as the “medicine cabinet in a bottle,” and for those reasons. In fact, it is common to find tea tree oil in most Australian households, where the tea tree is native.

However, for those days when you’re short on time but still want pure, organic oils for these recipes, it’s a lifesaver to have a trusted set sitting in your cabinet:

Sale
Cliganic Organic Essential Oils Set (Top 5 - The Classics) - 100% Pure Natural - Aromatherapy...
  • Included in this Gift Set: Peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass & orange. essential oils gift set for aromatherapy...
  • Certified Organic - Cliganic organic essential oils are proudly USDA organic certified to ensure ultimate quality and...

Last update on 2026-06-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Cold and Sore Throat Home Remedy

  • Use tea tree oil as a rub for colds
  • Gargle with hot salt water for a sore throat
  • Gargle with apple cider solution for a sore throat
  • Mix water, lemon extract, apple cider vinegar, ginger, and turmeric root to make tea for a cold and sore throat
  • Use eucalyptus oil as a rub for colds

Home Remedy for Flu

  • Mix a cup of water and a cup of dried catnip, then add lemon extract and raw honey
  • Take omega-3 oil supplements or eat foods rich in omega-3
  • Heat water with elderberry extract, then add turmeric and cinnamon
  • Heat water with a mixture of thyme and peppermint
  • Fill a glass with licorice root and cover with water, then add honey

Expand your emergency preparedness skills by knowing medicinal plants for home remedies. Knowledge in traditional medicine is just as important as your survival gear.

When you’re in survival mode, you will have to forage for medicinal plants to make your own homemade treatment. Whether you’re an outdoorsman or not, you should know more about medicinal plants and their uses.

QUICK POLL

Medicinal Plants: Legit survival healing resource or just overhyped quack medicine?

What did you choose and why? Head down to the comments section and defend your choice.

3 thoughts on “Medicinal Plants You Need To Make Natural Home Remedies”

  1. Laura F. Bedard Garcia

    I use herbal teas for stress and for upset stomach or gas.

    If I feel like I might be coming down with a cold or flu, I add to a cup of water (usually warm) 1 tsp. of organic elderberry syrup and a dropper-full of organic echinacea & goldenseal extract and I usually don’t have to drink this more than once to start feeling better!

    I believe that God intended for herbs to help us stay healthy!

    I almost forgot! When I get a toothache (which is rarely), I grind up some cloves and use a cotton swab to rub the ground cloves into the area of the tooth that is hurting. It works great!

    Also, for muscle or joint pain, I use Boiron’s Arnicare! It helped a friend’s shoulder heal quickly after surgery! Her doctor was amazed!

    1. Awesome to hear, Laura. Nature really did provide exactly what we need to keep our bodies going if we just take the time to learn how to use it. I’m a big believer in that, too. That clove trick is an absolute lifesaver when you can’t get to a dentist, and I’m definitely taking note of that Arnica tip. Thanks for dropping by and sharing what works for you.

  2. Patricia S Anderson

    Years ago I had an extremely severe congestion problem. I went to my doctor and he gave me samples of an inhaler and an nasal inhaler, telling me that the nasal inhaler would break through the congestion. I got home and read the instructions, and the first thing it said was to be sure the nasal passages were clear. I tried it anyway with the expected results–did nothing but drip back out my nose. I called my doctor and was informed to continue anyway (the lung inhaler gave me heart palpitations). That it would take two to three months to be effective. I had a friend who did Chinese herbal medicine and she asked if I’d be willing to try it. She provided me with some herbs, told me to make a tea and drink three cups a day for no more than three days. I did. In three days my sinuses and lungs were clear and I’ve had no problem since. Because of this I began to study herbal medicines and when I got bronchitis again, I used echinacea and goldenseal with great results. Today I still use echinacea but use garlic instead of goldenseal because of overharvesting. Yes, I have proof of herbs as medicine, but one must be careful becase there can be severe consequences is misused. I have been studying now for years. I love Rosemary Gladstar’s books, but use many others as well. One never knows where one will find an interesting or necessary bit of information not covered elsewhere.

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