THE MEDICINAL GARDEN
(AKA "Bess's Garden")
Named for a favorite Working Border Collie buried nearby,
Bess's Garden contains the plants that I use most frequently as medicinals. 
This page is just general pictures. Please go to "The Last Homely Herbal" link below for more information.
DISCLAIMER:
These pages are NOT intended as medical advice but only as information about lore. It is not recommended for you to use any of these herbs without first consulting your doctor. This is wonderful information, but should only be used under direct supervision of a trained herbalist or medical doctor.
Divided into 8 large beds, Bess's Garden contains:
Cone Flower:
There are several varieties of ConeFlower
Medicinally we are interested in Echinacea purpera.
A word of caution-When used for its immune system building properties-Ech. Should not be used longer than 21 days as it then begins to decrease the body's abilities to resist disease.
Mullein:
Mullein is my cure all- it has so many uses as a simple.We make a tea"BreatheRight" that we use for sinus relief...
A Simple?
In using herbs medically, many herbalists will combine several herbs
into a single tonic or tincture. A Simple is a plant that you use alone-learning how to use the various parts-when to pick /harvest them -by the seasons, by the signs, by moon phases, etc. I know of 12 uses for Mullein, for instance.
Yarrow:
Yarrow was the old soldiers' helper-it has astringent properties and was packed into a wound as a pressure bandage-often mixed with spiderwebs to create a "bandaid".
Valerian:
A known sleep aid, Valerian root needs to be used with care and caution in dosage.
Lobelia
Foxglove
A strong medicinal, Foxglove was once the source of digitalis, a cardiac regulatory drug. It is beautiful landscape plant, but should not be in a garden where unsupervised children will be.
Horehound
One of my favorites, old-fashioned Horehound Candy is a wonderful cough drop and makes a soothing syrup for sore throat. The tea is said to be beneficial for respiratory problems.
Golden Rod
Mugwort
Mugwort is an old time sleep aid- for calm easy rest- but in different dosage it can be a stimulant to prophetic dreaming.. as with all herbs - the amount is very important- MORE IS NOT BETTER!!! when taking herbs.
Wild Bergamot
Another Monarda, "Bee Balm" is also known as Oswego Tea- due the midwestern indians use og f it as a tonic.
Golden Seal
Black Cohosh
Found in wonderful tall spikes of white in borderline woods, Black Cohosh is one of the primary old time women's tonic's ...Black bears use it as a diarrhea remedy.
Dandelion
Wild Ginger
Sage
Motherwort
these delicate plants are oneof the beautiful herbs to enjoy in limestone flats- watch for them on benches along the river.
Comfrey
Chamomile
Red Clover
We also do a lot of Wild Foraging out in our hills and hollows. I believe it is very important to share information-so that it won't be lost. But, in doing so, we must also teach how to forage in a responsible way.
I always leave sufficient parts of the "patch" to reseed
and
If I know of 2 or 3 patches, I will alternate years of harvesting
.
This is a picture of one of my favorite areas to forage near our home Farm.
