Designing an Herb Garden by Organ System: A Simple, Healing Approach to Growing Medicine
- S. Lindhardt
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
When it comes to herbal medicine, one of the most common challenges people face is remembering which herb helps with what. With so many healing plants to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start, especially if you’re just beginning your herbal journey.
So when a client asked me to design an herb garden for their family that their children could learn from I decided to design an herb garden based on organ systems. Instead of randomly planting them wherever there was space, I created distinct sections in the garden, each one dedicated to a specific organ system in the body: digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous, urinary, skin, lymph, and so on. Within each section, I planted herbs traditionally known to support that system. I also added a cut flower, plant dye, and home care section to turn it into a living breathing apothecary!
URINARY SYSTEM
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
IMMUNE & LYMPHATIC SYSTEMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
SKELETAL/MUSCULAR SYSTEMS
SKIN SYSTEM (INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM)
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ELDERBERRIES & HOME CARE PLANTS (disinfectants & perfumes)
CUT FLOWER GARDEN & PLANT DYES
This design makes herbalism more intuitive and accessible. If you’re experiencing digestive discomfort, you can walk directly to the digestive section of your garden and choose from herbs like mint, fennel, or chamomile. If you need support for your respiratory system, you’ll find herbs like mullein, thyme, or lobelia all growing together.
This approach removes the guesswork and teaches you to think about health holistically, not just in terms of symptoms, but in terms of systems that work together and need care and balance.
Choose Herbs That Thrive in Your Region
When designing a garden like this, it’s important to choose herbs that grow well in your local climate and soil.
A medicinal plant is only helpful if it survives long enough to harvest!
Native medicinal herbs are especially valuable—they’re well-adapted to your environment, support local pollinators and wildlife, and often have deep roots in traditional medicine.
If you’re not sure which herbs are native to your region, try reaching out to local plant nurseries, herbalists, or native plant societies.
Practical and Empowering
A garden designed by organ system is more than just beautiful, it’s practical, empowering, and rooted in the natural intelligence of both plants and people. By organizing your herbs this way and focusing on locally adapted and native species, you’re creating a system that supports not just personal wellness, but ecological wellness too.
Grab your FREE printable worksheet below to begin designing your own organ system medicinal herb garden!
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