How to Grow Anti-Inflammatory Herbs

Three easy-to-grow, powerful anti-inflammatory herbs are devil's claw, echinacea and turmeric. Dry root of devil's claw is a bitter commonly used for pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. Echinacea is a good external anti-inflammatory for eczema and psoriasis. Turmeric has active curcuminoid compounds that help reduce inflammation caused by autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and vasculitis. Regardless of what's causing the inflammation, each of these herbs will help reduce it effectively without any known harmful side effects. Growing the herbs is a good way to ensure the quality of the herb to be taken medicinally.

Things You'll Need

• Soil
• Seed compost
• Organic liquid fertilizer
• Potting tray
• Six inch pot
• Hand shovel
• Organic devil's claw seeds
• Organic echinacea seeds
• Organic turmeric roots
• Water
• Plastic bag
• Fluorescent grow-light lamp (for cold climates)

Instructions

Growing Devil's Claw

1. Choose a sunny area of the garden with space to plant Devil's Claw seeds two to four feet apart, as done with cucumbers.

2. Plant pre-soaked seeds in rich loam soil in the late spring, 1/2 inch deep. Keep soil well watered until seeds have germinated.

3. Fertilize soil with organic liquid fertilizer to ensure optimal health of the plants.

4. Harvest roots in the fall and keep seeds to dry for planting the following spring.

Growing Echinacea

1. Plant echinacea seeds in early spring, choosing a sunny area of the garden with well-drained soil. Space them two inches apart and 1/4 inch deep in the soil.

2. Compliment soil with organic liquid fertilizer to make it rich and fertile.

3. Harvest ripened flower heads to dry and collect the seeds for planting in the future. Otherwise, echinacea is a good self-sower.

Growing Turmeric

1. Buy fresh turmeric root rhizomes at a local health food store, making sure they have a small bud on the side. You may also find a source for buying the fresh roots online, although it's easier to know exactly what you're getting when you buy the rhizomes in person.

2. Place roots in a tray with the buds facing up and cover them with seed compost and grit. Wrap the tray in a plastic bag for three weeks in a space of the house that maintains a temperature of approximately 68 degrees Fahrenheit. In hot climates, a pantry works well. In colder climates, consider placing the bag under a fluorescent grow-light lamp, which will serve as a heat source without burning the roots.

3. Remove the plastic bag. Keep the soil damp and in a warm place away from sunlight. Plant the turmeric root in a six-inch-deep pot when shoots reach two inches high. Keep pot damp and on a warm shady shelf.

4. Fertilize weekly with an organic liquid fertilizer until autumn. Reduce watering and move to a sunnier spot during the winter. Roots may be harvested the following spring.

References

• Virginia Tech Non-timber Forest Products Program
• Growing Echinacea
• Growing Turmeric

Resources

• University of Maryland Medical Center