The use of plants in medicine is not new, going back at least as far as A.D. 50 when the Roman doctor, Pedanuis Dioscordis, wrote De Materia Medica.  His writing became the foundation upon which all other herbals were based.  Through time and unfortunate errors, the use of plants as medicine, food, cosmetics and pleasure was perfected and passed down from generation to generation, from farm to farm, and from the country to the city.

A century ago most home gardens included herbs in some part of their landscaping for their medicinal value.  As it was then and still is now, only a part of the plant – the root, flower, seed or leaf was used.  In many cases one part of a plant is used in medicine while another part of the same plant could be very poisonous.  The person administering the herb must have had, and today still must have complete knowledge of a plant’s qualities before using them in medicine.

Luther Burbank experimented with and through trial and error improved many of the plant types shown in this medicinal garden.  The beauty of these plants can easily be seen, and many of them may be recognized as still being used in today’s landscaping.

Medicinal Herbs in Display Bed

Common Name	Botanical Name	Uses
Agrimony, liverwort	Agrimonia eupatoria	tonic, astringent, diuretic
Aloe	Aloe saponaria	to treat human ringworm
Burdock, Gobo	Arctium lappa	powerful sweat-inducing agent, diuretic, treated gout, rheumatism
Clary sage	Salvia sclarea	used as a tonic, and for digestive problems
Comfrey	Symphytum officinale	salve used for wounds, rashes
Costmary	Chrysanthemum balsamita	astringent, antiseptic
Feverfew	Chrysanthemum parthenium	tonic for headache
Foxglove	Digitalis purpureum	poisonous! used externally for ulcers, internally as blood circulation stimulant
Goldenrod	Solidago	astringent, tonic, diuretic
Hen and Chicks	Sempervivum	Astringent
Horehound	Marrubium vulgare	mild laxative, tonic
Lady’s mantle	Alchemilla vulgaris	tonic, astringent, depurative
Lamb’s ears	Stachys byzantina	emetic, purgative, leaves used as bandages
Lavender	Lavandula	stimulant, antispasmodic tonic, diuretic, sedative
Lemon balm	Melissa officinalis	sedative, antispasmodic
Lovage	Levisticum officinale	diuretic, expectorant
Mugwort	Artemisia vulgaris	a digestive and tonic herb
Mullein	Verbascum thapsus	root used to treat diarrhea, bronchial and lung ailments
Oregano	Oreganum marjorum	relieves earache, toothache, cough and swelling
Rosemary	Rosmarinus	Antiseptic
Sage	Salvia officinalis	reduces sore throats, nervous headaches, depression
Salad Burnet	Sanguisorba minor	astringent, stops internal bleeding
Soapwort	Saponaria officinalis	used to treat poison ivy rash
Tansy	Tanacetum vulgare	used externally for rheumatis
Tea tree	Leptospermum scoparium	antiseptic, antifungal, antibacterial
Thyme	Thymus vulgaris	antiseptic, tonic
Vervain	Verbena officinalis	tonic, expectorant, restorative
Winter’s bark	Drimys winteri	remedy for scurvy
Wormwood	Artemesia dracunculus	tonic, diuretic
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium	anti-inflammatory, antiallergenic

Plants continue to play an important role as botanists and other scientists continue to find new uses for them in agriculture and medicine.  Even today in much of the world, people rely on natural herbs and other plants for most of their health care.  New medicinal uses for wild plants include an endangered species of evening primrose that has the potential to treat coronary heart disease, multiple sclerosis and possibly other diseases.  Scientists are studying the chemical that causes leaves to change color in the fall as a potential cure for colon cancer.  The bark and needles of the Yew tree have been successful in treating many forms of cancer.  New plant discoveries will continue to be found as long as there is diversity in the plant kingdom and the curiosity, patience and open-mindedness to accept the value plants have to offer people.