Below is a non-exhaustive list of the most commonly used plants, which are also the easiest to obtain, along with their main properties. This will allow you to prepare your herbal teas according to your moods or minor ailments.
Basil (leaves): calming, antispasmodic, digestive, antiseptic.
The little story: Native to India, this cold-sensitive plant thrives mainly in southern France and lives only from April to October. Its scent repels mosquitoes, which is why it’s worth having a plant on your balcony. Once used by the Hebrews to treat epilepsy and by the Arabs to treat mouth ulcers, it is still used by sorcerers in Black Africa to treat migraines and certain rheumatic conditions.
Recommended for: migraines, insomnia, stomach disorders, dizziness, and anxiety.
Borage (leaves and flowers): soothing and refreshing, depurative, diuretic, sudorific (promotes sweating).
The little story: To be harvested in June and July, at the height of its flowering, borage is also known by other, more common names, such as “shepherd’s purse,” “boursette,” or “ox tongue.” The term “borage” is said to derive from the Arabic Abou-rach, meaning “father of sweat.” You can use it in large quantities (100 g / liter of water).
Recommended for: febrile conditions, bronchial ailments, influenza, rheumatism, urinary disorders.
Chamomile (buds or flower heads): calming, digestive (or aperitif), antispasmodic and analgesic, intestinal antiseptic.
The short story: There are two types of chamomile: German chamomile (or “small chamomile”) and Roman chamomile (or “large chamomile”). They have roughly similar properties, but some say that German chamomile is more pleasant to drink… If possible, the flowers should be picked while still in bud, before they open.
Recommended for: anorexia, slow digestion, bloating, intestinal mucosa irritation, hepatic insufficiency, nervousness, migraine, premenstrual pain, rheumatic pain, cramps.
Cinnamon (bark): tonifying and stimulating.
The little story: Why do you think we put cinnamon in mulled wine? To better withstand the assault of the cold and germs!
Recommended for: flu, convalescence, loss of appetite. Caution: avoid mixing with mint.
Poppy (petals): calming and mildly narcotic.
The little story: Until the 16th century, the poppy was called “coquericot,” in reference to the rooster’s crow, as the rooster’s comb had the same color as the poppy’s petals. The poppy is a close relative of the opium poppy, from which opium is derived. Poppy petals can be gathered from May to September.
Recommended for: insomnia, bronchitis, but also as gargles for tonsillitis or dental abscesses.
Lemon (juice): antiseptic, bactericidal, source of vitamin C, anti-rheumatic, diuretic, astringent, anti-neuralgic, vermifuge, antipyretic, hepatic tonic.
The little story: The lemon tree is a tree that comes from Iran. Did you know that? Lemon juice is capable of killing the bacteria of cholera, diphtheria, and typhoid. When used on oysters, it gets rid of 93% of their bacteria in 15 minutes. Emperor Nero, who feared being poisoned, consumed a lot of it.
Recommended for: no moderation: add a few drops of lemon to your herbal teas.
Lemon balm (leaves and flowers): calming, antispasmodic, antiemetic, general tonic.
The short story: Lemon balm is better known as “lemon grass,” or also “lemon mint,” “lemon mint,” “bee balm,” or “French tea.” It was already used in the 17th century by French doctors to combat nervous depression.
Recommended for: migraines, digestive migraines, epilepsy, melancholy, lethargy, and nausea due to pregnancy.
Mint (leaves): a tonic for the nervous and digestive systems, antidiarrheal, antiseptic, antispasmodic, and antineuralgic, and an aphrodisiac.
The little story: In the old days, mint sparked a controversy between Hippocrates and Aristotle, and the Greeks: the former believed that mint was an aphrodisiac and “contrary to generation,” while the Greeks thought it was an aphrodisiac and forbade their soldiers from consuming it, as it “incited love and diminished courage.” Researchers have sided with the Greeks… Warning: mint is incompatible with cinnamon, aloe, and all substances containing significant amounts of resins.
Recommended for: stomach and/or intestinal sluggishness, bloating, nausea, malaise, dizziness, palpitations, hiccups, and bad breath. Avoid consuming it in the evening if you want to sleep well! Also used in inhalations for coughs and bronchitis.
Parsley (leaves): digestive and hepatic stimulant, blood circulation stimulant, diuretic, source of calcium, iron, and trace elements.
The little story: Parsley is originally from Sardinia. A plant rich in legends, among certain peoples, parsley was once associated with death: it was enough to pull up a parsley plant while pronouncing the name of one's enemy to get rid of them.
Recommended for: painful periods, digestive or kidney function issues, urinary tract conditions.
Dandelion (leaves and roots): source of vitamin C, tonic, laxative, purgative.
The little story: Everything is good in the dandelion! The leaves are eaten in salads, the flowers are consumed as infusions or make a good base for jam (dandelion jam, with lemon and orange), and the roots are used in decoctions. Can be picked year-round.
Recommended for: liver congestion, hepatic and/or biliary insufficiency, constipation, diabetes, cholesterol, rheumatism, arteriosclerosis, circulatory disorders, and … cellulite.
Rosemary (leaves and stems): general tonic, stimulant of bile, stomach, blood circulation, and digestion.
The little story: It was Queen Donna Isabella of Hungary who introduced us to rosemary. Considered a miraculous plant, it was once used preventatively against plague epidemics, or to cure Louis XIV of rheumatism. Rosemary is included in the composition of paramedical products such as “Tiger Balm”.
Recommended for: convalescence, febrile states, lethargy, and sluggishness of the stomach or kidneys. Revitalizing cure: 1 liter of rosemary infusion per day for a few days.
Sage (leaves and stems): digestive and tonic.
The little story: Sature, also called “St. Julian’s herb,” “sadrée,” or “water pepper,” is often confused with thyme: its leaves are longer, but its scent is almost similar. It can be used, as a seasoning or as a medicinal plant, in place of thyme.
Recommended for: convalescence, febrile states, asthenia, diarrhea, difficult digestion, bloating, stomach pain.
Sage (leaves): digestive and nervous system tonic, astringent and antiseptic, febrifuge, antisudoral, hypoglycemic, aphrodisiac.
The little story: Sage, also nicknamed the “queen of medicinal plants,” takes its name from the Latin *salvare*, meaning “to save.” The Gaulish Druids considered it a magical plant capable of curing all diseases. Hence the saying: “He who has sage in his garden never needs a doctor.”
Recommended for: asthenia and convalescence, febrile states, loss of appetite, nausea and difficult digestion, physical and/or nervous depression, menstrual pain or hot flashes due to menopause, ulcers, diabetes.
Thyme (leaves and stems): antiseptic, nervous system tonic, antispasmodic, diuretic, astringent, and digestive, respiratory, and circulatory stimulant.
The little story: Called “férigoule” in Provençal, thyme is said, according to legend, to have been born from the tears of the beautiful Helen of Troy. There are several varieties, the most well-known of which are: common thyme (or garden thyme), lemon thyme (or “lemon thyme,” scented with lemon), and wild thyme (slightly less aromatic). It is a powerful antiseptic. Harvest preferably at the beginning of flowering.
Recommended for: everything! (physical and mental fatigue, anxiety, difficult digestion, intestinal problems, renal insufficiency, cardiac weakness, anemia, neurasthenia, flu, bronchitis, insomnia, painful periods, urinary tract infections)
Linden (flowers): calming, refreshing, antispasmodic, hypotensive, source of vitamin C.
The little story: Used in both medicine and witchcraft, the linden tree was once dedicated to the goddess Venus. Some people use it as a lotion to delay the appearance of wrinkles or to make freckles disappear. It is harvested in June, before its flowers fall.
Recommended for: migraines, palpitations, dizziness, digestive disorders of nervous origin, anxiety, insomnia.
Lemon verbena (leaves): antipyretic, sedative antispasmodic, diuretic, antineuralgic, antihypertensive.
The little story: “Heal-all,” “witch’s herb,” “herb of all ills,” “herb of enchantments,” verbena was nicknamed by the Romans veneris vena: “vein of Venus.” It was enough to rub one’s hands with verbena, then shake the hand of the person one wished to win back, for love to rise from its ashes.
Recommended for: general weakness, febrile states, spleen congestion, difficult digestion, painful menstruation, and migraines. As gargles for bad breath, gum inflammation, or sore throats.
