“Herbalism was the grounding of flower power. Nature woke us up.”
-David Hoffmann
We love growing plants around us, but do you know we can easily grow flowering plants in our homes?
With the increased amount of pollution in our surroundings, there has been a significant rise in pollution as well. Plants act as a natural purifier and medicinal plants especially help in a lot of health problems as well.
Given below are the 5 medicinal plants I love the most that can be easily grown at home, you must have heard about them too.
1. Basil
Biological Name: Ocimum basilicum
Basil is a common plant that can be found in a lot of Indian households, as it carries a religious aspect to it. But apart from that, Basil has a lot of healing properties that work for mind, body and spirit.
“Basil is also known as the queen of herbs.”
Benefits~
- Promotes heart health as it contains vitamin C and antioxidants like eugenol.
- Acts as an anti-agent because it has vitamins A and C.
- It is a mild diuretic and detoxifying agent and thus helps in lowering uric acid levels.
- Relieves headaches and fever, it has been a primary component of a variety of ayurvedic medicines.
- Helps in curing respiratory disorders like tuberculosis as it has compounds like camphene, eugenol, and cineole.
2. Mint
Botanical Name: Mentha piperita
A perennial aromatic herb of the mint family, peppermint is a pleasant smelling, refreshing herb. It is widely cultivated because of its culinary use across different countries and is known to add a strong flavour to the food. Its scent is used in many medicines, chewing gums and toffees as a flavouring agent.
Mint is also known to harbour a variety of medicinal properties along with its culinary use.
Benefits~
- It contains a lot of nutrients like fibre, But A, iron and manganese.
- Peppermint oil containing menthol helps in digestion and related problems.
- Peppermint oil also helps in cough and cold.
- Its leaves are quite rich in phosphorus, calcium and vitamins like C, D, E and A which helps in boosting the immune system.
3. Parsley
Botanical Name: Petroselinum crispum
You must have seen parsley on the top of a lot of dishes. Parsley is known as one of the most famous garnishing herbs across the world, a must-have plant for every garden because apart from its use in the kitchen, it has innumerable medicinal benefits.
Benefits~
- Parsley is rich in antioxidants like flavonoids, carotenoids and vitamin C.
- It supports bone health since it’s packed with vitamin K.
- Parsley contains certain compounds that have anti-cancer properties.
- It has three carotenoids named lutein, beta carotene, and zeaxanthin, which protects our eyes.
4. Aloe Vera
Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis miller
Aloe Vera is an essential component of a lot of cosmetic products. It is widely used for skin issues. It is the most common houseplant and grows very easily along with having a lot of medicinal plants. It has soothing, healing and moisturizing properties.
Benefits~
- Consuming Aloe gel relieves heartburn. Due to its low toxicity, it is a safe and gentle remedy for heartburn.
- It is very water-dense and thus helps in treating dehydration.
- Aloe Vera is a nutritious boost containing important vitamins like vitamins B, C, E, and folic acid.
- Aloe vera gel helps in clearing acne-free skin.
5. Indian Lilac
Botanical Name: Azadirachta indica
Though not technically a plant, Indian Lilac, or ‘Neem’ as it is commonly known, is very rich in medicinal properties. And while it might not be possible to grow it in your home, we are not averse to the idea of growing it in your back garden.
Benefits-
- Its leaves are used for eye disorders, leprosy, ulcers, heart, gum and liver problems.
- Its bark is used to treat fever, malaria, ulcers and skin diseases.
- Its flower helps in bile reduction and phlegm control.
- Its fruit provides relief from haemorrhoids, worms and urinary tract disorders.
These are our top five picks for plants with medicinal value that can be grown in your house or in your back garden. Do let us know how many of these qualities have you tried out.
Also Read: Botanical gardens-: Basic botany to decorate your garden.
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