20 of the Most Underused and Little Known Healing Herbs on the Planet

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Have you ever walked down the herbal aisle of your local health food store and found a really interesting selection of herbs? Then perhaps later you went to another health food store and you found the same selection of herbs, as if these are the only edible herbs on this earth? Have you ever wondered if there were other herbs, lesser known, or perhaps not as popular, but that still contain powerful healing compounds?

Well, you are absolutely right. There are plenty of herbs on this planet; Mother Nature didn’t limit us to 50 or so. There are thousands of them, all with their own unique healing capabilities. Sometimes these lesser known herbs can be rather pricey, but if you do some shopping online, chances are good that you can find some that are more reasonably priced. Another option would be to buy seeds and try to grow some on your own.

Keep reading and discover the top 20 little-known herbs and their amazing healing abilities.

1. Greenthread

Sometimes called Plains Tea, Navajo Tea, or Coyote plant. Greenthread is a group of flowering herbs of the genus thelesperma, from the Asteraceae family. This herb is a powerful diuretic and anti-inflammatory that has been used by Native Americans for hundreds, or perhaps thousands of years. This tea is great for detoxifying and is one of the best ways to stop a urinary tract infection or for soothing an achy tummy. This pretty plant grows very easily from seed.

2. Agrimony

Agrimonia is one of more than a dozen species of the Rosacea family that include apples, almonds, and roses. This herb comes from the Greek word Argemone, which means plant that heals the eyes. Historically, then, it is no surprise that this herb has been used to treat eye aliments. It is also good for skin conditions, sore throats and coughs, as well as helping the body to relax so you can fall asleep naturally.

3. Aniseed

Not to be confused with anise, although it does have a similar taste. Aniseed (pimpinella anisum) is super effective at improving the digestion, easing nausea and gas, as well as increasing the milk supply of nursing mothers. This is another herb that is great for sore throats, coughs, congestion, and to ease feelings of anxiety.

4. Catmint

As you might have already guessed from the name, this herb is related to the peppermint and spearmint family. You might know this as catnip but the funny thing is that catmint has the exact opposite effect on humans as it does on cats. Although catmint (catnip) might make your cat go little nuts, it’s extremely calming to humans. Catmint tea can relieve sore throats, headaches, sinus pressure, and reduce fever. You can actually apply wet leaves to wounds to stop bleeding and reduce swelling. Drinking catmint tea can also calm down jangled nerves and help you sleep. Like most mint plants, catmint (nepeta cataria) is super easy to grow, even from seeds and has beautiful purple flowers that attract bees and butterflies.

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