With two active little boys to keep up with, Mandi and Will Sanders' household is, in many ways, just like those of other young parents. There are always the inevitable skinned knees, sniffles, bug bites and earaches to contend with. But instead of turning to the medicine cabinet, Mandi Sanders often simply steps outside to her herb garden for a solution.

While the Starkville mom doesn't hesitate to call on conventional modern medicine when the occasion warrants, she also has a deep respect for what Mother Nature provides. Her appreciation for natural remedies is rooted in memories of herbal teas prepared by her gardening grandmother, teas that could ease tummy aches or the occasional cold.

When Sanders was expecting her first child, her interest intensified.

"I was very conscious of everything going into my body; I'm very research-driven and I wanted to know all I could," she said, strolling through a plant-bordered path in her yard, where herbs grow in profusion. Plant beds designed by her landscape architect husband, and filled with sunflowers, zinnias and coreopsis, lead to a chicken coop, where a butternut-colored kitten dozed by a plump sitting hen. A hand-painted sign on the hen house reads "Tranquility." Outside and inside, the Sanders' homestead exudes a regard for the natural world.

Ancient applications

The use of plants as remedies predates human history, and ethnobotany -- the scientific study of human uses of plants -- is recognized as an effective way to discover future medicines.

"A lot of our pharmaceutical medicines are derived from plants," noted Sanders, who is pursuing a nationally recognized masters certification in herb use. "I really like doing things on my own, in a kind of self-sustainable way." The University of Mississippi graduate is increasingly asked to speak on herbal topics to groups like the Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute of Mississippi, and led a workshop at the Everything Garden Expo held in Starkville this past spring. Enthusiasm for studying herbs seems to be spreading, she acknowledged.

Remedies at home

In her home, Sanders sorted through a variety of herbs drying on a screen, explaining their uses, when asked. Some are effective for skin irritations. Some help relieve anxiety. Still others are combined to make Sanders' nutrient tea mix she equates to a "one-a-day" vitamin.

Many of the herbs are made into teas or tinctures, others into creams or balms.

"This is yarrow," she said, pointing out a feathery plant stem. "My son had a nosebleed a few days ago. I stripped off a yarrow leaf, crumbled it and pressed it against his nose and it almost immediately stopped."

There's also catnip, which makes a good tea for relaxing and can be useful in soothing teething pains and reducing fever. And plantain, a plant Sanders calls "a little green Band-Aid."

"Plantain is my No. 1 weed," she grinned. "It's so common, comes out early in spring. If you had a bug bite and some plantain, you could just pick a leaf, crumble it a little, moisten it, even with some spit, and put it on the bite. It would take the sting right out."

Her boys are big fans of their mom's "magic green cream," a soothing balm she made for poison ivy, rashes, scrapes and other skin issues.

Other favorites are lavender and lemon balm.

Sanders shares some of her teas, creams and cut flowers through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) network of more than 20 families. In exchange for items from her garden, others provide produce from theirs.

Self-sufficient

Sanders makes it clear that she is not a medical professional. She is a student of the herbal world, absorbing knowledge that has served mankind for millennia. She stressed that knowing any harmful effects of herbs is as important as knowing their beneficial properties.

"We live in a world of technology and advancements, but there is that tradition and practical knowledge that has almost been forgotten, but is so useful," she said. In generations before us there's always been someone who knew all this."

At the top of her recommended reading list for anyone interested in herbs is a book titled "Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health," by Rosemary Gladstar. And there's a wealth of information available from organizations including the American Herbalists Guild and American Herb Association.

"We have a connection to plants; they were provided for a reason," said Sanders. "There's just nothing better to me than having the knowledge that I can walk outside and find something that is of use."

ON THE WEB:

American Herb Association, ahaherb.com

American Herbalists Guild, americanherbalistsguild.com