Nature’s pharmacy: 5 healing herbs that thrive in spring

Spring is a season of growth — not just in gardens, but in our wellbeing. As the earth warms and blossoms return, so do the healing herbs that have supported vitality for centuries. These five Spring herbs are easy to grow, gentle to use, and rich in benefits for body and mind. These herbs are nature’s gentle allies, offering support, beauty, and connection. Whether you sip, soak, or salve, let Spring’s pharmacy nourish you from the inside out.

Lemon Balm

• Benefits: Calming, digestive support, antiviral
• Grow: Thrives in pots or garden beds with partial sun
• Use: Brew fresh leaves into tea, infuse in honey, or add to bathwater for relaxation

Nettle

• Benefits: Rich in iron, supports detoxification, anti-inflammatory
• Grow/forage: Found wild in moist areas. Wear gloves when harvesting
• Use: Steep dried leaves for tea, add to soups, or use as a hair rinse for scalp health

Chamomile

• Benefits: Soothes nerves, aids sleep, anti-inflammatory
• Grow: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil
• Use: Dry flowers for tea, infuse in oil for calming skincare, or use in facial steams

Calendula

• Benefits: Skin healing, antimicrobial, lymphatic support
• Grow: Easy to cultivate in sunny spots and blooms in all season
• Use: Steep petals for tea, make salves or infused oils for cuts and rashes

Mint

• Benefits: Digestive aid, energising, cooling
• Grow: Vigorous grower — best in containers
• Use: Fresh in teas, smoothies, or foot soaks; dry for herbal blends