Create a Healing Garden

Sandra in Gardening, Health 11/04/2014

A healing or therapeutic garden is an outdoor garden designed to be a physical, psychological, social and spiritual area that acts as a “healing space.” It can be a nice place to have tea with friends and family, a quiet, peaceful retreat you can turn to anytime for stress relief, and an dedicated area to grow herbs for healing remedies.

Some healing gardens that have been implemented into plans for facilities such as nursing homes and other medical centers are nurtured by the residents who live there. By caring for and maintaining the garden space, the patients are able to connect with nature by touch and smell and give them a special healing advantage.

Developing a healing garden can be a soothing active with that will produce ongoing benefits. Before you begin planning your healing garden you need to assess the space you have available for the herbs and plants that will meet your healing needs. You don’t need a huge space for your garden.

In fact, you can likely accomplish what you need by growing some ideal plants in containers or even vertically, if needed. By planning and creating a healing garden you’ll be joining the thousands throughout history who have sought the healing powers of plants and herbs.

Many of the modern drugs and curatives are derived from the same herbs and plants you’ll grow in your healing garden, but they may be compounded with synthetic ingredients that can harm your health.

Since there are perhaps thousands of plants that have medicinal powers, you need to be very selective in the ones you choose. After assessing the space where you want your healing garden to be, you’ll then choose the plants and herbs.

Here are some herbs/plants you may want to consider if your garden space has a profuse amount of shade:

Catnip Catnip is easy to grow in the shade and can help relieve an upset stomach, flatulence and diarrhea.
Lady’s Mantle Make infusions from this shade herb by mixing four teaspoons of the dried herb and steeping it for ten minutes in one cup of hot water. It is good for stimulating appetites and as a coagulant for bleeding.
Primrose Treat headaches, anxiety, insomnia and fatigue with the flowers of the primrose plant. It also works as a good expectorant if you have lung congestion or coughing.

If you have an abundance of sun in your ideal healing garden space, here are a few plants and herbs to consider:

Basil Besides using this tasty herb for recipes, basil can also help relieve stomach cramps, nausea and headaches.
Anise This licorice flavored herb can be chewed to freshen your breath or mixed with warm milk and taken in the evening to prevent insomnia.
Chamomile You may be familiar with and have used chamomile tea because it tastes good and is good for you. It can be used for fever, colic and stomach problems. You can also use the oil of Chamomile to massage areas of your body that may be swollen or painful.

You may only want to grow plants that relieve uncomplicated ailments, such as anxiety or headaches. You’ll probably want to leave Foxglove, bloodroot and rue to herbalists who know exactly how to mix them into infusions or powders. Those plants are simply too powerful for amateur gardeners.

Essential Accessories for Your Healing Garden

It’s important that you not forget about the non-plant items for your healing garden that can transform it into a lovely place for relaxation and meditation. You’ll need equipment such as hardware (for fountains and other items) and furniture to make your outdoor space into a relaxation sanctuary.

To truly be classified as a healing garden, the design must implement items besides plants and herbs. For example, a water feature such as a waterfall, Koi pond or ecofriendly pond can produce soothing sounds and bring a different element into the picture.

Comfortable chairs and benches can also make a difference in making your healing garden an inviting place to visit and linger. Other items such as chimes and statues can all be added according to your taste and style.

Any sensory connection that promotes stress relief and relaxation can add to the beauty and tranquility of your healing garden. Here are some items that you’ll want to think about during the planning phase of your healing garden:

Water features You can go as simple or elaborate as you like with water features for your garden. If you have the space, you can incorporate a pond and fill it with fish such as Koi. You’ll need a good water pump and some other necessary equipment to keep the water as fresh and wildlife friendly as possible.
If you don’t have the space for a pond, there are many water feature products such as waterfalls on the market that come pre-formed, with their own pump and fountains in all shapes and sizes. They’re easy to assemble and maintain and add lots of interest to your garden space.
Furniture Again, you can be as simple or elaborate as you like with the furniture you choose for your healing garden. Natural wood furniture can blend with the outdoors and make it look seamless. A wooden bench next to a waterfall can be a relaxing place to meditate or read a book.
You may want to go all out and add a dining space for your garden. It can be a fun place to entertain or grab a few minutes with a cup of coffee or glass of wine when you just want to relax.
Maintenance equipment Tools and other maintenance items that you need depend on the complexity of your healing garden. You may need some garden tools to take care of the plants and herbs surrounding the garden. A hose or watering can is also required.
If you choose to have fish in a pond or bird feeders and houses, you’ll need special equipment for that too.

Nurturing your healing garden by keeping maintenance light and performing some simple chores to keep the area clean, neat and free from weeds and other invasive destroyers will pay you back tenfold.

The beauty and simplicity of your healing garden will nurture you and become the go-to place for meditating or relaxing in peace and harmony. Look online for designs and ideas that will make your garden all you want it to be.