Medicinal Plants

There is archaeological evidence that humans used plants for medicinal purposes as long as 60 000 years ago, and it is estimated that there are between 18 000 and 50 000 plants with medicinal uses. Some of these are easy to grow at home and easy and safe to administer, for example by harvesting leaves to make a tea. However others such foxglove can have a lethal effect in very small doses. Dosage can be hard to manage as the medicinal compounds in plants will vary depending on the age of the plant, soil type etc. Although many of the plants we sell fall into the former category you should always seek advice from a medical professional before using herbs medicinally.

Having your own medicinal garden can be a great joy, a thing of beauty, and give you the same sense of independence that a vegetable garden gives. Indeed there is no need to separate them, and many culinary herbs have medicinal uses too – remember ‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food.’

Disclaimer: We have a passion for growing herbs but we are not qualified herbalists and have no medical background. We always recommend that you consult with a qualified health-care practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing or on any medications. Kahikatea Farm cannot take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants or a plant not having the effect it is reputed to have.