We’re surrounded by herbs, whether it’s the ones we cook with or the weeds growing in our garden and parks. These humble plants can do some remarkable things.

How do herbs work?

Herbs are imbued with the ingenuity and intelligence of nature. Plants evolve over millennia to efficiently occupy specific ecological niches. Factors like the climate and the abundance of nutrients and moisture in the soil all influence the properties of a plant. The sheer variety of these ecological niches goes a long way to explain their diverse properties as well as the benefits these plants can offer.

Thanks to modern herbal medicine, we now can analyse the ‘active ingredients’ in herbs to better understand their uses and efficacy. For example, we know turmeric is rich in curcumin, a remarkably powerful antioxidant which can relieve inflammation and help treat many inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.

As well as relieving inflammation, some herbs can relax and help you get a good night’s sleep (such as chamomile, hops, mugwort or valerian) they can nourish an exhausted nervous system (withania, oats, ginseng or liquorice) or repair damaged tissues (yarrow, arnica, calendula and golden seal) and many more things! So, venture out into your garden and see what may be waiting to be discovered.

Let’s start with dandelion, the quintessential lawn weed with cheerful yellow flowers and the beautiful delicate puff ball of seeds that you blow into the air to make a wish. Dandelion is one of my favourite herbs for supporting healthy liver function. Among other things, dandelion has a beneficial effect on cholesterol and can help regulate blood sugar. Other very common lawn weeds with healing properties include white clover (used to treat fever, coughs and colds) and plantain (for inflamed skin, insect bites and coughs).

What about the bushes in your garden? You might have some rosemary which, like many culinary herbs, is fragrant, meaning it’s full of volatile oils and a clue to the healing properties within. Whilst rosemary can boost memory, alertness and focus, other common herbs like lavender help with anxiety, stress, insomnia, and thyme is one of my favourite cough remedies.

We’re still just scratching the surface. Other common weeds include the prolifically growing violet, a superb remedy for anxiety, and chickweed, commonly used in ointments to treat skin irritations like eczema – the list goes on.

Next time you’re in your garden or local park, take a moment to consider and explore the pharmacopeia that surrounds you. Before taking any herb, always talk to a qualified herbalist or other trusted health professional to determine what is appropriate.

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