A garden is a tranquil sanctuary that provides endless opportunities. You can use it to grow food or you can harness the power of herbs to benefit your health. You don’t even need a garden! Purchase pots, soil, and small herbs, give them love, sunshine, and water, and then prepare them in various ways. From tinctures and syrups to teas and seasonings, herbs have myriad uses and can help improve memory, reduce arthritis symptoms, and even fight the common cold.
Some herbs thrive outdoors, while others grow better indoors. At the end of the day, you can easily grow them in pots without the need for a plot of land. Even if you live in an apartment and only have a five-foot by seven-foot balcony, you can grow the herbs in this article. Reap the health benefits of herbs year round when you grow them at home. Continue reading to learn more about starting your medicinal, herbal garden.
Aloe Vera
Every person can benefit from inviting aloe vera into their life. The gel has soothing, cooling, antibacterial, emollient, and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s possible to use it to reduce the pain and itchiness of sunburns, or even add to smoothies to encourage healthier digestion. Apply it to the skin to help reduce acne or the symptoms of eczema and rosacea. It’s a hardy plant that grows indoors and outdoors. Bring it inside during colder months and leave it outside in the warmer months. Just make sure it doesn’t have full sun exposure, because it will wilt.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a shrub that has woody stems and aromatic needles. The rosemarinic acid in the needles have powerful antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties. Several studies found that the antioxidants in rosemary exhibit anti-cancer effects, while the anti-fungal properties proved effective against listeria and H. pylori. For a healthy rosemary plant, make sure the soil is properly aerated. Water only when the soil is dry. It can take a while to grow, but don’t be afraid to trim the leaves if you want to cook with them.
Tulsi
Known for its antioxidant, adaptogenic, immune-boosting, antidepressant, and mucus expelling properties, tulsi is a wonderful herb to grow at home. You may be more familiar with tulsi’s other name, holy basil. It’s a traditional folk herb that is beneficial for improving cognitive abilities, making it great for the elderly. Tulsi enjoys full sun in temperate areas, but it also likes shade in warmer climates. Make sure to trim the shoots and early flowers, just like regular basil, if you want a health plant.
Oregano
Oregano is a classic culinary spice, but it boasts some powerful health benefits. Several studies examined carvacrol, the compound in oregano that may help protect against arthritis. Other studies found beneficial antioxidants in oregano that exhibited abilities to slow the growth of certain cancers. The polyphenols may even help reduce a person’s risk of other chronic diseases. It’s a perennial plant that requires natural light. It’s the perfect windowsill plant! Just leave it in the window for six hours a day and make sure the soil is completely dry before you water it.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass has a beautiful, refreshing aroma that is a staple herb in Indian, Caribbean, Chinese, and Brazilian folk medicine. Most modern research focuses on the benefits of lemongrass essential oil, but actual lemongrass helps reduce anxiety, stress, insomnia symptoms, and the duration of colds and flus. You can use it in stocks, soups, or you can brew it into an aromatic tea. Lemongrass thrives in pots, and should be taken indoors during the winter. It has a tendency to take over a garden, so growing it in a pot prevents this. Lemongrass prefers full sun and quick-drying soil.
Thyme
It’s common for health care workers in Europe to use thyme in many of their cold & flu products. Studies have shown that thyme has the ability to reduce symptoms of bronchitis, asthma, and even emphysema. Other studies found that thyme exhibited expectorant and antibacterial properties, making it great if you need to rid excess mucus from the body. It’s possible to propagate thyme from cuttings, but it’s easy to purchase a small new plant. Keep it in a small pot in the windowsill so that it gets ample light. You don’t even have to water it a lot because it is drought-resistant.
