All of us know that plants really have the ability to heal us, but did you know just how easy it was to grow them at home? This article presents a list of how to grow some of the BEST foods for medicine!
Many of the herbs we use for cooking are actually quite powerful as natural medicines.
Plants That Heal:
Basil
The name “basil” comes from the old Greek word basilikohn meaning “royal”. This “royal” herb is grown in many regions throughout the world, mainly in Italian and Thai cuisine.
What does it do?
Basil is rich in beta-carotene. Beta-carotene makes vitamin A which maintains our eyes’ helath, skin, and immune system. Basil can be used as a remedy for depression, indigestion, fevers, colds, nausea, and vomiting.
How do you grow it?
Basil is easy to grow and comes in many varieties from lemon basil to cinnamon basil. It needs warm air, so if you’re still in the midst of winter, start by planting the seeds in containers indoor. Sprinkle newly planted seeds with water twice a day. Once the basil has grown a few inches tall, transplant them into a larger container.
Bay
People often dried bay leaf into boiling pasta. It makes a big difference. But did you know that bay leaves can also be used as medicine?
What does it do?
Bay leaves were originally added to recipes to aid digestion. You can also prepare them in oil and use that for sprains and arthritic joints.
How do you grow it?
Bay leaves are grown as part of a tree, so you can pick many leaves over its lifetime. Bay leaves need rich water-retentive soil and grow much slower than basil. When potted, bay trees can grow up to 6 feet!
Cayenne
It’s great for a kick in your cooking, but it’s also great for your health.
What does it do?
Cayenne can dissolve fibrin, a substance that leads to blood clots. As a result, you can apply cayenne topically to an open wound to staunch bleeding. Like many other hot peppers, cayenne is useful for enhancing your metabolism and promoting digestion.
How do you grow it?
Peppers need a lot of moisture to grow, so always use a high-quality water retentive soil. Peppers grow best in full sun, so place them near a window with sun exposure. When you’re planting them in containers, make sure individual seeds are at least 2 inches apart. Spritz the soil with water to ensure the soil remains moist.
Dill
Dill can be grown in the garden. It’s particularly great for barbecuing – for the eaters and the chef, too!
What does it do?
Dill’s oils have been shown to have chemo-protective properties which protect the body from carcinogens from smoke. Dill has been used for colic and gas, too.
How do you grow it?
Dill is an annual and will seed itself when it’s planted outside. Indoors, dill is an easy plant to grow and will be ready for harvest within 6 to 8 weeks. Like the other herbs on this list, dill benefits from compost-rich soil. Since dill is drought resistant, you’ll only need to water them when dry. Dill needs at least 6 hours of sunlight, so keep them by the window with your peppers.
Ginger
The most popular ingredient in cough and cold teas!
What does it do?
Ginger has warming properties which make it particularly good for treating colds, stomach cramps, and menstrual discomfort.
How do you grow it?
Ginger is a low-maintenance herb that only requires partial sunlight. Purchased as seeds, ginger takes about 10 months to fully mature. Rich but well-draining soil is recommended for ginger. Misting it with a spray bottle should be enough and in a few weeks’ time you can expect to see shoots poking out of the soil. One of the best parts of growing ginger is that you can cut off a part of it and return the rest to the soil to continue growing!
Oregano
Oregano is often used in Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine and it’s also referred to as “marjoram”. You can often find bottles of oregano oil in health food stores – and for good reason!
What does it do?
Oregano has calming properties which helps reduce tension. When it’s prepared as tea, it can be used to stimulate the appetite, digestion, and relieve bloating. The oils in oregano can be effectively used as an anti-bacterial and can be applied topically to help ease swelling, aching, and bee stings.
How do you grow it?
Oregano thrives in warm temperatures and bright sun, so make sure to keep it in containers by a sun-exposed window. Let the soil dry out before watering it. With similar growing requirements, you can grow oregano alongside sage and thyme.
Parsley
Parsley is actually the world’s most popular herb.
What does it do?
To give you even more of a reason to use parsley, it’s high in vitamins and minerals. Parsley is useful as a herbal diuretic which helps the body detox and cleanse. You can also eat or drink parley as a tea to relieve stomach cramps.
How do you grow it?
To grow parsley, keep it near a sun-exposed window and keep them moist. Parsley can grow alongside thyme, basil, mint, and oregano.
Peppermint
Peppermint is excellent for baking treats in the winter season, but you can use mint all year round as a natural medicine.
What does it do?
Many studies have shown that peppermint oil has the ability to soothe your tummy by relaxing your stomach’s muscles. You can steep peppermint as a tea to treat nausea and flatulence.
How do you grow it?
Peppermint requires the same conditions as parsley to grow. Try turning the pot around every three days to allow the plant to grow evenly.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a fragrant herb used to flavor a wide array of dishes. It’s available year-round, so you won’t have a difficult time finding and growing this herb.
What does it do?
Rrosemary contains compounds that stimulate the immune system, promote digestion, and are anti-inflammatory to boot! You can use rosemary to treat circulatory conditions, Alzheimer’s, indigestion, and stiff muscles.
How do you grow it?
Rosemary requires plenty of light to flourish, so keep it near a sun-exposed window. Mist it with water to ensure it stays moist to the touch, but take care not to overwater.
Sage
Like its sister herb, rosemary, sage is available throughout the year and holds a reputation as one of the best herbs for its health-promoting properties.
What does it do?
Sage is something to keep handy for flu season. It can be prepared as a tea and used as a rinse for treating a sore throat. Like rosemary, the volatile oils in sage also have anti-inflammatory properties.
How do you grow it?
Sage requires the same care that oregano herbs need. Harvest sage often to promote growth.
Thyme
Thyme is a powerful antimicrobial. It’s a natural antibiotic!
What does it do?
With its antimicrobial properties, it can be used to treat nail fungus, athlete’s foot and other fungal infections. Thyme’s aromatic oils aren’t just for smelling. They can be beneficial in treating respiratory troubles like asthma.
How do you grow it?
Thyme flourishes in the same conditions as oregano and sage. Use a clay pot to ensure that the soil dries adequately in-between watering.
Instead of filling up a medicine cabinet, why don’t you try using these 11 herbs all year round? They’re simple to grow and are beautiful for decorating the home, too!
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