A war, a pandemic, or any SHTF scenario could severely limit access to conventional medicine.
Luckily, you can prepare for such a situation by starting your own backyard pharmacy.
For eons, humankind has tapped into herbal remedies for various conditions, from respiratory illnesses and inflammation to anxiety and insomnia.
Learn about these ten medicinal plants and their uses for common ailments.
10 Medicinal Plants Every Prepper Should Grow for a Collapse Scenario
1. Echinacea
Echinacea enjoys some well-deserved fame in the herbal remedy world. This humble-looking flower is packed with beneficial phytochemicals.
Native Americans had traditionally used echinacea to treat respiratory illnesses, infections, and wounds. Clinical studies have confirmed the plant’s efficacy against the common cold.
Echinacea is native to the North American midwest. It’s a hardy perennial plant that thrives in well-drained soil and prefers plenty of sun.
The flowers, leaves, and roots are all usable for medicinal purposes. Harvest the flowers and stems when the plant is in full bloom, dry them, and use them to make tea, tinctures, or salves.
2. Mint
Peppermint, spearmint, and other members of the Mentha species are must-haves for any survival garden. Mint can alleviate digestive symptoms like nausea, stomach cramps, and gas.
Mint tea is excellent for colds and flus, since menthol may help clear nasal passages. Essential oils in mint have potent antimicrobial properties.
Of course, mint isn’t just a medicinal herb. It has many culinary and cosmetic uses, works great as a landscaping plant, and attracts pollinators to your garden.
Mint is very easy to grow. In fact, it can spread like a weed unless controlled, so you might prefer to keep it in pots to prevent choking other plants. Mint likes full sun to partial shade and moist but well-drained soil.
3. Chamomile
Chamomile is an ancient medicinal herb with a broad array of uses. Studies suggest that chamomile may help relieve inflammation, ease insomnia, and even soothe hemorrhoids.
Both German Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) offer powerful medicinal benefits, although Roman Chamomile has a reputation for being more effective against digestive issues and insomnia, whereas German Chamomile may be better for skin inflammation.
The bright white-and-yellow flowers are the useful part of the chamomile plant. You can brew tea from the dried flowers, make a chamomile tincture, or even add chamomile to balms and salves. Chamomile prefers sun and light, well-drained soil.
4. Lavender
Lavender is a staple in any medicinal garden. This fragrant plant contains potent active ingredients with antioxidant, antibacterial, and neurologic properties.
It may help regulate mood, relieve anxiety and insomnia, treat skin issues like acne and eczema, and even promote wound healing.
Lavender is a hardy shrub that grows as a perennial from zone 5 and up. A Mediterranean native, it prefers dry conditions with plenty of sun. Besides its health properties, it has many culinary and household uses and serves as a magnet for pollinators.
Many medicinal applications start with lavender essential oil, but if you’re not up to steam distilling, you can easily make tinctures and brew tea from fresh or dry lavender flowers.
5. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), a.k.a. Indian ginseng, is an evergreen shrub native to India, Nepal, and some regions of Africa.
Traditional Indian medicine considers Ashwagandha a powerful adaptogen with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Modern studies suggest that Ashwagandha supplements can help relieve anxiety and stress.
Like other plants on this list, Ashwagandha doesn’t need a lot of pampering. The drought-resistant shrub does best in warm, sunny conditions and prefers well-draining soil.
Ashwagandha can grow year-round in zones 7 to 12. The roots are ready for harvesting after about six months. You can steep the roots in water to make tea or dry and powder them.
6. Calendula
Calendula, or pot marigold, has been traditionally used as a remedy for skin conditions like rashes, wounds, and inflammation. Calendula flowers are rich in flavonoids, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds.
This no-fuss, bright yellow flower thrives as a perennial in zones 9, 10, and 11, or as an annual in other zones. Calendula enjoys warm, sunny weather and well-drained soil.
You can easily make a basic soothing salve by infusing a carrier oil (like coconut or olive oil) with dried calendula flowers and combining it with beeswax.
You can also steep calendula flowers in alcohol to make a tincture or brew soothing tea that may help with sore throats and gum inflammation.
7. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is another essential medicinal plant for your survival garden. This juicy succulent is useful for soothing rashes, burns, insect bites, and various skin conditions.
Simply cut off a bit of fresh gel-filled leaf and apply topically, or freeze some aloe cubes for an extra cooling effect. Aloe vera leaves contain various vitamins, enzymes, and other compounds that promote skin healing.
Aloe vera is extremely easy to grow and propagate, either in pots or in the ground. The plant needs plenty of light, but does best in indirect sunlight if you live in a hot climate. Water it sparingly, only when the soil is dry.
8. Comfrey
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a well-known medicinal herb with proven anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Important caveat: only use comfrey externally, since ingesting it could cause liver damage.
Traditional healers and herbalists have used comfrey for bone fractures, joint disorders, ulcers, hemorrhoids, and various skin conditions.
Both comfrey leaves and roots contain bioactive compounds that lend their healthful properties to salves and ointments.
Comfrey is an adaptive, low-maintenance plant that can thrive in full sun or partial shade and tolerates a variety of soil conditions. You can propagate comfrey from seed or from cuttings. It can become invasive, so make sure you plant it where you want it to grow.
9. Holy Basil
Holy basil (Ocimum Tenuiflorum), or tulsi in Ayurvedic tradition, is related to the well-known sweet basil but has a more pungent flavor and stronger medicinal effects.
This powerful plant boasts antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic, and antioxidative properties. It may also help regulate blood sugar.
Studies suggest that holy basil can protect the body from chemical stress and reduce damage from pollutants. You can brew tea from its fresh or dry leaves or make a tincture for more concentrated benefits.
Holy basil is a perennial plant that grows well in hot climates and requires minimal watering. It needs plenty of sunlight, but tolerates partial shade. Bees love holy basil, so planting it will also help attract pollinators.
10. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), another plant in the mint family, is a traditional medicinal herb valued for its calming properties.
Current studies likewise suggest that lemon balm may help ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Lemon balm is a leafy herb with a delicate lemony scent. It will grow almost anywhere, either in full sun or partial shade. Its seeds spread easily, so you may consider removing the flowers unless you want lemon balm to take over your garden.
Steep lemon balm leaves in hot water to brew a relaxing tea or soak them in alcohol to create a tincture. You can also use lemon balm in various dishes. Plant lemon balm around the perimeter of your garden to deter mosquitoes.
