5 Best Medicinal Herbs for Beginners (And How to Use Them) - Tree Of Asteria

5 Best Medicinal Herbs for Beginners (And How to Use Them)

Starting with medicinal herbs is one of the simplest and most natural ways to care for your body. Long before pharmacies and packaged pills, people turned to plants; growing in their gardens or nearby fields. Used to ease common discomforts like headaches, stress, colds, or minor wounds.

These herbs are gentle, effective, and often already part of your daily life. Think of chamomile tea before bed, or peppermint when your stomach feels off. For beginners, they offer a safe entry into herbal wellness without needing a medical degree or years of study.

Medicinal herbs allow you to slow down and reconnect with what your body really needs. They’re not about quick fixes but small, steady shifts toward balance. Whether you're brewing a calming tea or rubbing a soothing balm on sore skin, you’re creating space for healing! Naturally and intentionally.

And best of all? Many of these herbs are affordable, easy to grow, and versatile. You don’t need a full apothecary to get started. Just one or two well-loved herbs can make a meaningful difference in your daily routine.

What Makes a Herb Beginner-Friendly?

Not all herbs are created equal. Especially when you're just starting out. A beginner-friendly herb is one that’s gentle, easy to use, and well-known for its safety and versatility. These are the kinds of herbs you can feel confident experimenting with, even if you’ve never made a tea, tincture, or salve before.

Beginner herbs usually have a long history of traditional use, with benefits that are easy to feel and recognise; like calming your nerves, soothing your skin, or easing an upset stomach. They're also widely available and often used in everyday products, so they don’t feel intimidating or unfamiliar.

Another key factor? Simplicity. Beginner herbs don't need complicated preparations. Most can be used as teas, infused oils, or added to warm baths. You don’t need fancy tools or specialised knowledge just a willingness to explore.

In short: a good starter herb is like a patient teacher: easy to work with, forgiving if you make a mistake, and full of quiet wisdom that supports your body in small but meaningful ways.

5 Best Medicinal Herbs for Beginners (And Their Benefits)

When you’re just starting your herbal journey, it helps to focus on a few trusted plantsones that are gentle, effective, and easy to use. These five herbs have stood the test of time. They’re loved by herbalists and beginners alike for a reason: they work.

Let’s take a closer look at each one.

1. Chamomile: Calm in a Cup

Chamomile is like a warm hug at the end of a long day. Most people know it as a sleepy-time tea, but its benefits go far beyond bedtime. Chamomile helps calm the nervous system, ease anxiety, and gently support digestion. It’s also anti-inflammatory, making it useful for irritated skin or minor rashes when used topically.

How to use it: Steep the dried flowers for tea, infuse in oil for skin balms, or add to a warm bath for full-body relaxation.

chamomile

Chamomile a calming herbal remedy for tea, skin, and digestion

2. Calendula: Skin's Best Friend

Calendula (also known as pot marigold) is a powerhouse for the skin. It’s known for speeding up healing, reducing inflammation, and soothing everything from dry patches to minor cuts. It’s incredibly gentle. Therefor a go-to for babies, sensitive skin, and anyone looking for non-toxic skincare.

How to use it: Infuse the petals in oil to create healing salves or add them to DIY creams and soaps. It’s a key ingredient in many of our skincare balms, too.

Calendula in flower field

Calendula flowers a natural healing herb for skin irritation and inflammation

3. Peppermint: For Digestion & Headaches

Peppermint has a refreshing zing that wakes up the senses, but it’s also a trusted remedy for digestive discomfort and tension headaches. It can ease bloating, nausea, and gas, and its cooling menthol effect helps soothe sore muscles and calm the mind.

How to use it: Brew as a tea after meals, apply diluted peppermint oil to temples for headaches, or inhale the scent to clear the head.

Peppermint leavesPeppermint leaves a beginner-friendly herb for digestion, nausea, and headaches

4. Lavender: Soothe Mind & Body

Lavender is the go-to herb when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Its calming scent helps with anxiety, sleep troubles, and emotional tension. It’s also antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, making it a wonderful all-rounder for both the skin and nervous system.

How to use it: Diffuse the essential oil, add the flowers to a bath or pillow sachet, or use in infused oils to calm irritated skin.

Lavender in hands
Fresh lavender a soothing medicinal herb for beginners to support sleep and stress relief

5. Lemon Balm: Uplift Your Mood

Lemon balm belongs to the mint family but has a gentle citrus scent that instantly lifts the spirit. It’s used to ease anxiety, boost mood, and support better sleep. Some studies even suggest it may improve focus and reduce feelings of restlessness.

How to use it: Make a fresh or dried tea, add to cold infusions in summer, or use the leaves in calming skin blends.

These five herbs are simple, safe, and deeply supportive. Whether you’re sipping a cup of tea or applying a soothing balm, each one brings a little more balance into your day.

lemon balm pestle and mortar

Lemon balm an uplifting herb for mood, calm, and herbal teas

How to Safely Use Medicinal Herbs at Home

Herbs are powerful, even the gentle ones. That’s why a little knowledge goes a long way. When using herbs at home, the most important rule is to start small and listen to your body. Everyone reacts differently, and what works for one person might not suit another.

Always use high-quality, organic herbs when possible, and double-check that the plant is correctly identified. Especially if foraging or buying loose herbs. If you're pregnant, nursing, or taking medication, it’s wise to consult a healthcare provider before adding herbs to your routine.

Stick to simple preparations at first, like teas, infused oils, or herbal baths. These methods are gentle and give you time to observe how your body responds. It’s also helpful to keep a small journal of what you try and how it feels.Β 

In short: respect the plant, respect your body, and let nature guide you one step at a time.

  • Simple Herbal Recipes & Uses for Beginners

You don’t need to be an herbalist to start using medicinal herbs at home. Here are a few easy, no-fuss ways to get started:

1. Chamomile Sleep Tea -Β 
Soothes anxiety, encourages restful sleep

  • 1 tablespoon dried chamomile flowers
  • 1 cup hot water
    β†’ Steep for 5–7 minutes, strain, and sip before bed.

2. Calendula-Infused Oil for Skin -Β 
Great for dry skin, cuts, and rashes

  • Fill a jar Β½ full with dried calendula petals
  • Cover with jojoba or olive oil
  • Let sit for 2–4 weeks in a sunny window, shaking gently every few days
    β†’ Strain and use as a skin oil or base for salves.

3. Peppermint Tummy Tea -Β 
Eases bloating and digestive upset

  • 1 teaspoon dried peppermint
  • 1 cup hot water
    β†’ Steep for 5 minutes, strain, and drink slowly after meals.

4. Lavender Bath Soak -
Relaxes tense muscles and calms the nervous system

  • Β½ cup Epsom salts
  • 2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers
    β†’ Mix and add to warm bath water for a soothing soak.

5. Lemon Balm Iced Tea -
Uplifts mood and cools on hot days

  • Handful of fresh lemon balm
  • 2 cups cold water
    β†’ Steep in the fridge for 2–4 hours, strain, and enjoy chilled.

These small, sensory rituals invite you to slow down and care for yourself in simple, grounded ways.

Final Thoughts: Start Small, Listen to Your Body

As you've read by now you understand that you don’t need to know everything about herbs to start using them! You just need curiosity, a bit of patience, and a willingness to connect with the plants around you.

Start with one or two herbs that speak to you. Maybe it’s the soothing scent of lavender, or the golden petals of calendula in a healing balm. Let your experience be guided by observation, not perfection. Pay attention to how each herb makes you feel not just physically, but emotionally and energetically, too.

Herbalism is as much about reconnecting with your body as it is about the plants themselves. And when you begin to trust that process, even the smallest herbal habit can become something sacred.

So breathe deep, brew your tea, and take your first steps into a gentler, more natural kind of wellness. You’re exactly where you need to be.

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