Local herbs for medicinal purposes

Here in North Carolina, we are fortunate to have a wide variety of herbs growing naturally that can be used to help with many common ailments. Today, I’m excited to share with you 12 common and easy-to-find herbs that shouldn’t be too far from your home garden or local market. Some of these herbs are often mistaken for mere weeds, while others are well-known household staples. When used properly and in the right doses, each of these herbs can gently support the body’s natural ability to repair and heal itself. Our bodies are wonderfully designed to regenerate and maintain balance, which is why I have a deep appreciation for herbal medicine. Unlike allopathic medication, many medicinal herbs serve multiple purposes and support various systems within the body, making them incredibly versatile and holistic in their healing potential.

1. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) – you can use every part of the plant (leaf, root, and flower)

Uses: Liver support, digestion aid, detoxification, extra vitamin c

Dandelion Tea: Steep fresh or dried leaves in hot water for 10 minutes. Drink 1 cup daily to support digestion and liver function.

Root Tonic: Roast and brew roots like coffee for a natural detox beverage.

In salads

2. Garlic (Allium sativum) Uses: Immune booster, natural antibiotic, antifungal, heart health, fight candida

Garlic Honey Syrup: Crush 2–3 cloves and mix with raw honey. Take 1 teaspoon daily for cold prevention.

Garlic Oil: Infuse chopped garlic in olive oil for 1–2 weeks; use topically for ear discomfort or fungal issues (strain before use).

Garlic Tea: Add in some honey, lemon and other herbs to help ward off viruses

Garlic and Onion Poultice: Fight pnemonia by crushing up garlic cloves, onions, and placing it in apple cider vinegar. Let is sit in a jar as you soak and old cloth to place directly over the lungs where it hurts.

3. Onion (Allium cepa)

Uses: Respiratory relief, inflammation reducer

Onion Poultice: Lightly sauté chopped onions, wrap in cloth, and apply warm to chest for 15 minutes to ease congestion. You can also place it on your feet under socks when sick to pull out toxins. Use onions and garlic in foot soaks when sick to recover quickly.

Onion Cough Syrup: Layer onion slices with sugar or honey, let sit overnight, and take 1 spoonful of the syrup for cough relief.

4. Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

Uses: Antimicrobial, antiviral, digestive aid

Oregano Tea: Steep 1 teaspoon of dried oregano in boiling water for 10 minutes; sip for sore throats or mild colds.

Oregano Oil: Dilute a few drops in a carrier oil for topical use on fungal infections. Take in capsule form or create your own with dry oregano to fight bacteria infections, including pneumonia.

5. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Uses: Respiratory support, cough soother

Mullein Tea: Steep dried leaves or flowers in hot water (strain well to remove hairs). Drink 2–3 times daily for cough or congestion.

Mullein Oil: Flowers infused in olive oil for several weeks make a gentle ear oil (use only in unbroken ears). You can add garlic oil in the ear as well.

6. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Uses: Antibacterial, expectorant, immune support
Thyme Steam: Add a handful of thyme to hot water, cover head with a towel, and inhale steam for sinus relief.
Thyme Tea: Sip a warm infusion with honey for coughs and sore throats.

7. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Uses: Memory booster, circulatory stimulant, hair health

Rosemary Hair Rinse: Steep sprigs in boiling water, cool, and use as a final rinse to stimulate scalp and shine hair. Add in a little apple cider vinegar with water for more scalp cleansing.

Rosemary Tea: Drink a cup to help with focus and fatigue.

Diffuser: Rosemary is uplifting and can fight depression and anxiety.

8. Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Uses: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, joint health

Golden Milk: Mix ½ tsp turmeric powder with warm milk, black pepper, and honey; drink before bed for inflammation and immunity.

Turmeric Paste: Combine turmeric with coconut oil and apply to minor skin irritations or insect bites.

TIP: Always make sure that you place black pepper or coconut oil with it so that the body can retain turmeric.

9. Dead Nettles (Lamium purpureum)

a lot of time found with dandelions

Uses: Anti-inflammatory, wound healing, mild allergy relief, women’s health

Dead Nettle Tea: Brew dried leaves for 10 minutes and sip for mild seasonal allergies.

Poultice: Crush fresh leaves and apply to small cuts or bruises to soothe skin.

Dead Nettles Steeped and placed into a bath: Great for women’s vaginal health

10. Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

Uses: Urinary tract health, anti-inflammatory, allergy support

Goldenrod Tea: Steep flowers and leaves in hot water for 10 minutes; drink 1–2 cups daily to support kidney and bladder health.

Steam Inhalation: Inhale steam from a strong goldenrod tea to ease sinus congestion.

Into a bath: Steep golden rod and place into a bath

11. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)

Uses: natural sweetener, blood sugar regulation, Lyme Disease (antimicrobial), blood pressure support, antioxidant

Sugar substitue (doesn’t bake well): Use fresh or dried leaves in teas, smoothies, or desserts instead of sugar

Tea: to help blood pressure and blood sugar

mouth rinse: mix stevia leaf and mint or green tea to create a natural antibacterial mouthwash

Vector born diseases: In stronger extracts, we use Stevia in conjunction with other antimicrobial herbs to help treat Lyme Disease and other vector born diseases.

12. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia, E. pallida)

Uses: immune booster (please be careful if you are immune compromised), anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, wound healing, respiratory relief

Tea: Use in colds and flu

• Poultice: to help aiding in a snake bite while getting medical attention the root can help tremendously in snake bites

  • Immunologic adjuvant study vs snake venom

  • A study (Chaves et al., 2007) found that an aqueous extract of E. purpurea root enhanced the production of anti-venom antibodies in mice that were given the venom of Bothrops asper (a pit viper) plus the extract, versus controls. Organization for Tropical Studies+1

  • In vitro, the same extract increased lymphocyte proliferation in human lymphocytes activated with lectins. Organization for Tropical Studies+1

  • This suggests a potential immunostimulatory effect of the root extract in the context of venom exposure.

topical application: can be used for wounds, scrapes, and skin irritation diluted