Despite all of the pills, liquids and tongue strips filling pharmacy shelves, nature has given us the best medicine. Many medicinal plants can be grown right in your own home, for safe, convenient and natural use.
Here are seven medicinal plants you can grow in your home:
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a low-maintenance plant that offers some amazing health benefits. You can grow it in a plant pot on either moist or dry soil. It requires a lot of sunshine to grow, so keep it on the patio or near a sunny window. Aloe Vera extract can be used to treat cuts and wounds or soothe a sunburn. Ingesting it can also help cure constipation and other digestive problems.
2. Basil
Basil grows best on an outdoor patio. It needs lots of sunshine and an adequate amount of water. You can use your own basil plant to relieve gas, heal scrapes and add some healthy flavor to your meals.
3. Peppermint
Peppermint is known for its soothing qualities. It can be used to relax tense muscles and ease pain. Peppermint is an easy plant to grow indoors. It enjoys shade with a bit of sunlight in order to grow. You can use the leaves to infuse a hot cup of tea to relieve stomach aches.
4. Thyme
Thyme is a medicinal herb that can be used to soothe the lungs during respiratory distress. The juice from a thyme plant can also help disinfect the urinary tract and treat stomach problems. To grow thyme at home, make sure the plant gets at least eight hours of sunshine per day.
5. Lavender
Lavender can be grown indoors or outside in the garden. Flowers from the lavender plant can be brewed to make a soothing herbal tea that helps to alleviate stress and depression. It can also be applied to the skin to heal light burns and other wounds.
6. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm can be grown in small pots indoors or outdoors. It is usually harvested in the summer when the flowers bloom. You can use crushed lemon balm leaves to repel mosquitoes or relieve sores and insect bites.
7. Pot Marigold
The marigold flower can grow on wet, dry or moist soil, which makes it easy to grow in any weather. Just make sure they get an adequate amount of sunshine so they can thrive. You can use marigold to soothe and cure insect bites or relieve open wounds.