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.