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Gardening is a great way to get exercise, calm your brain after normal daily stresses, and beauty your environment.

Gardening doesn’t have to require a lot of time, money, or space. A garden can be grown in a few feet of soil or even with a few pots around your house. People who are short on time choose plants that are hearty; those that will grow even if they don’t have time to tend them every day. But the time they do have to water, prune, or just look at those plants is time well spent; research shows gardening is a great way to decrease stress levels and therefore protect yourself against stress-related diseases.

The best part about gardening is the beauty it brings to your surroundings. A few carefully-placed plants can improve an ugly room or feature of the house, increase the value of your home, and bring smiles to your visitors’ faces.

Herbs are used as alternative forms of medicine to treat everything from an upset stomach to depression. Most herbs are available from your local natural foods store, but many people enjoy the rewards of growing their own herb gardens. Herbs can be grown outside, but many can also grow very successfully in pots placed along your windowsill.

If you choose to start an herb garden inside, start the seeds in small pots with a fluorescent light or plenty of sunlight. Don’t plant the seeds very deep (there are often directions on the seed packages), and water sparingly. As they grow larger, either transplant them to larger pots or plant them outside in the garden after the last frost.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of medicinal herbs. However, there are a few that should be part of any good herb garden, and these include:

• Burdock
• Cayenne
• Chamomile
• Echinacea
• Fever Few
• Lemon Balm
• Milk Thistle
• Peppermint
• St. John’s Wort
• Yarrow

Burdock is used to detoxify the blood stream and rid the body of harmful toxins. It can also cure sore throats and colds, and provides healthy dietary fiber when eaten.

Cayenne is used to treat circulation and digestion problems, heart disease, sore throat, headaches and toothache. It can also treat upset stomach and gas, and some people use it in various recipes to treat premenstrual symptoms.

Chamomile is used to treat upset stomachs, stress, anxiety, and to induce sleep. It is typically boiled to make a tea.

Echinacea is used to support the immune system. Many people believe it prevents and cures the common cold.

Fever Few is used to treat migraines and muscle spasms. The leaves are chewed daily.

Lemon Balm reduces stress, acts as a sedative, and alleviates upset stomach, gas and bloating.

Milk Thistle is used to treat high cholesterol, liver problems, gallbladder disorders and some types of cancer. It can also be helpful for people with type 2 diabetes.

Peppermint is used to support healthy lungs and breathing. The leaves can be placed in boiling water to create an air freshener and inhalant.

St. John’s Wort is used as a sedative and to treat depression.

Yarrow fights the common cold and the flu. It can also staunch bleeding if a piece of the plant is held against a wound. It lowers blood pressure, cures fevers, and promotes healthy digestion and circulation.