{"id":34576,"date":"2026-06-29T04:18:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T02:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myhome.at\/?p=34576"},"modified":"2026-06-22T11:11:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T09:11:49","slug":"growing-medicinal-plants-the-best-tips-for-your-garden-and-balcony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myhome.at\/en\/growing-medicinal-plants-the-best-tips-for-your-garden-and-balcony\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Medicinal Plants: The Best Tips for Your Garden and Balcony"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a herb for every ailment,\u201d as the old saying goes. And there\u2019s certainly truth to it: About 60,000 plant species are used worldwide for medicinal purposes. As far back as the Neolithic era, people relied on the power of medicinal plants to treat injuries and illnesses. They were used as poultices and processed into teas, ointments, extracts, and medicines. However, medicinal plants don\u2019t just help with various ailments\u2014many of them are also pleasing to the eye and provide food for insects. <\/em><\/p>\n\n

Which medicinal plants can you easily grow at home? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Many medicinal plants can be grown even on the smallest balcony or in the smallest garden. Medicinal herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage, dill, tarragon, and savory are particularly common here\u2014though the focus is usually on their use as culinary herbs rather than medicinal ones. <\/p>\n\n

How do you grow medicinal plants properly?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

You can\u2019t go far wrong when growing medicinal plants. The most important factor for healthy plants is the right location. Once you\u2019ve found it, you\u2019re ready to get started. Many medicinal plants can simply be sown from seed, while some are propagated using cuttings. For others, such as lady\u2019s mantle, all you need to do is pinch off a piece of root from an existing plant and place it in the soil. But of course, many medicinal plants are also available as young plants at your trusted garden center\u2014ideal for anyone who\u2019d rather not rely on the DIY method when growing medicinal plants. Some medicinal plants, such as marigolds or echinacea, even self-seed. This saves you the trouble of planting them in subsequent years. <\/p>\n\n

What is the best location for medicinal plants?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

It is not possible to make a general statement about which location is suitable for medicinal plants. Rather, the same rule applies to medicinal plants as to all other plants: it always depends on the variety. It is best to find out where the plant is native to; this will give you a good guide. <\/p>\n\n

How do you properly care for medicinal plants?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

The same applies here: Care requirements depend on the type of medicinal plant in question. As a general rule, however, the medicinal plants that are most popular here are relatively undemanding\u2014both in terms of fertilizer and water. <\/p>\n\n

Five Medicinal Plants You Should Know About<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

True lavender:<\/em><\/p>\n\n

This semi-shrub, native to the south, is becoming increasingly common in gardens and on balconies. The calming effect of the scent of lavender is particularly well known: if you have trouble falling or staying asleep, placing a small bag filled with dried flowers under your pillow can help. Alternatively, a few drops of lavender oil can be applied to the pillow or added to bathwater. In addition, lavender\u2019s essential oils are said to have anxiety-relieving and antidepressant effects. <\/p>\n\n

But it also has physical benefits: This medicinal plant is said to have not only anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and antispasmodic properties, but also antiviral and antibacterial effects. In addition, lavender keeps insects away from people, animals, and plants. <\/p>\n\n

Aloe Vera:<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Native to the tropics, aloe vera is a popular potted or houseplant that prefers a bright location and warm temperatures without significant fluctuations. Also known as the desert lily, this plant contains around 200 different compounds\u2014ranging from vitamins and minerals to enzymes and amino acids\u2014and has been valued for centuries for its cooling and anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of burns and other wounds. In such cases, cut off a piece of an aloe vera leaf and split it in half. Apply the gel that oozes from the cut to the affected area of skin. <\/p>\n\n

Calendula:<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Calendula flowers, with their yellow and orange blooms, are more than just decorative. Because of their anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and antiseptic properties, they are often used to treat skin and mucous membrane wounds\u2014whether as tea, ointment, or cream. To make a cup of tea, place one to two teaspoons of dried petals in a cup and pour about 200 milliliters of boiling water over them. Let the tea steep for ten minutes, then strain it. You can use it externally, for example, for washing or as a compress on skin wounds. Or you can rinse your mouth with it for minor oral injuries. <\/p>\n\n

To make calendula ointment, heat two cups of <\/em>calendula (dried or fresh) in <\/p>\n\n

250 ml of high-quality oil\u2014but don’t let it get too hot! Then strain it and heat it together with 25 g of beeswax until the wax has melted. Pour the mixture into glass jars, but don’t seal them until the ointment has cooled. <\/p>\n\n

Lemon balm:<\/em><\/p>\n\n

The plant, also known as lemon balm because of its lemony scent, is versatile in more ways than just in the kitchen. This undemanding plant, which does, however, spread rapidly, is very popular in naturopathy thanks to its antispasmodic, calming, and antibacterial effects. Among other things, it is used to treat heart problems, gastrointestinal disorders, menstrual cramps, sleep disturbances, restlessness, headaches, and colds. <\/p>\n\n

To make a cup of tea, pour 250 ml of hot (but not boiling) water over about two teaspoons of dried lemon balm leaves or approximately five crushed fresh lemon balm leaves. Cover and let the tea steep for ten minutes, then strain it. <\/p>\n\n

\"Medicinal
Medicinal plants release their properties when brewed as tea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Yarrow:<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Common yarrow has also been known and valued as a medicinal plant since ancient times. The cut, dried, flowering tips of the plant\u2014known as yarrow herb\u2014stimulate bile flow and have antispasmodic effects. Common yarrow is therefore often used to treat digestive problems, menstrual cramps, or for skin care. For the first two conditions, a cup of yarrow tea is recommended: To make it, pour about 250 ml of boiling water over two teaspoons of dried yarrow and let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes before straining. <\/p>\n\n

With a yarrow ointment, on the other hand, you can treat chapped skin, inflammation, acne, and mild hemorrhoids: Pour about 100 ml of vegetable oil over a handful of yarrow herb (dried or fresh) so that it is well covered. After heating, let it steep for 24 hours. Then reheat it, strain it, and add about 10 g of chopped beeswax. Reheat the mixture until the wax has melted. Stir well and pour into glass jars while still liquid. Let cool, then seal the jars. <\/p>\n\n

Warning: If you plan to forage for yarrow in the wild rather than growing it in your own garden, be careful, as yarrow has several poisonous look-alikes. In addition, people with an allergy to the Asteraceae family should also exercise caution when consuming yarrow. <\/p>\n\n

\"Medicinal
Lavender is also a medicinal plant and, among other things, helps with trouble falling asleep.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Good to know:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n