If you are a typical South Asian person then you must have heard about the domestic herbal cures for all your minor-to-major problems. In other words, the family-famous desi totkas particularly for the purpose of your daily skin-care routine ;). Such cures were from the plants grown in homes, to which, now the term “medicinal herbs” is coined.
Let’s admit the fact that we prefer to use these organic and self-grown medicinal herbs rather than relying on pharmaceuticals, don’t we? Furthermore, in the COVID-19 pandemic, tons of desi herbal tea recipes did rounds on social media. During the time of initial Corona days, I suppose, the top trending topic must have been: How to cure Corona Virus by using medicinal herbs? 😉
Well, jokes apart! These medicinal herbs do help in eleviating your immunity level which in turn helps to battle against the infections.
Let’s now dig a bit deeper to discover which top 6 indoor medicinal herbs we must grow in our gardens.
- Basil Leaves
- Lavender
- Mint
- Aloe vera
- Chamomile
- Rosemary
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Basil Leaves / Tulsi
Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum
Basic Characteristics of Basil Leaves
- Glossy and Oval-shaped Green colored leaves.
- Small flowers are either white or magenta in colour.
- Highly Aromatic.
- Grows best in the warm climate.
- Possesses antimicrobial properties.
Medicinal Benefits of Basil Leaves
- Basil leaves and flowers are boiled up to make tea that treats cold, coughs, asthma, headaches, bronchitis, sinusitis, and diabetes.
- These work to relieve stress and anxiety. Thus, helping in mental clarity and improving focus.
- Basil leaves can also be used to cure cuts and bruises.
Feeling low on appetite?
Then Basil leaves tea is your remedy!
Read also: Onion Oil For Hair | Benefits | Prepare At Home
2. Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavendula
Basic Characteristics of Lavender
- A very famous bath ingredient. Lavender is widely loved as a soap and a room freshener as well.
Did you know?
The name Lavendula comes from the Latin word Lavare which means To wash. - Aromatic
- Physical features of a lavender leaf vary depending upon the region. They range from either being simple, narrow, or elongated to toothed, broad, and serrated.
- Lavender flowers are the main source of oil. Thus, the flowers are used to extract oil for many medicinal benefits.
- As the color ranges from blue and violet to lilac, Lavender presents a very refreshing effect on the eyes.
Medicinal Benefits of Lavender
The heart-warming fragrance of the refreshing pastel purple color Lavender is surly a mood-buster. Because of such a catchy aroma, you would want to dive in whenever you pass by it.
- Lavender oil helps to fight anxiety and mood disorders. Hence, improves sleeping pattern.
- Lavender’s aroma is believed to have a sedative effect and neuroprotective properties.
- Keeping a lavender bar beside your pillow or on a side-bed table improves sleep.
3. Mint
Botanical Name: Mentha
Basic Characteristics of Mint
- Extremely refreshing aroma.
Had a hectic day at work?
Then dive in the bathtub with mint soap bubbles 😉
- Easy to grow in moist soil.
- Reviving green colored leaves with prominent veins.
- A few families of mint have flowers with either pale purple or pink color.
- Taste and aroma make it a must ingredient in so many dishes ranging from vegetables to Salads, Chinese Rice to Plain Rice, and even in Omelets.
- Furthermore, Mint Margarita is a very famous refreshing drink made from Mint and Lemon particularly to curb hot summer heat.
Medicinal Benefits of Mint
- Mint helps in clearing the body from infections, cures stomach aches, and
Medicinal Benefits of Mint. gas problems.
- It has a calming effect on the brain and hence relieves stress and promotes sleep.
- Mint water is good for digestion and helps in regulating the blood circulation. Hence, gives you a naturally glowing skin.
- Ice cubes made from the mint tea help to relieve sunburn.
4. Rosemary
Botanical Name: Salvia rosmarinus
Basic Characteristics of Rosemary
- Belonging to the mint family, Rosemary is an evergreen plant.
- Grown in gardens with a warm climate.
- The leaves have a pungent smell and bitter taste.
- Leaves are used either dried or fresh to season foods.
- Flowers are deep purple colored around the elongated with pointed green leaves.
Medicinal Benefits of Rosemary
- Europeans use Rosemary as an antioxidant. Despite being an antioxidant, it possesses antibacterial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
- Rosemary leaves a positives impact on the brain.
- If taken orally, Rosemary helps in improving memory, relieving stress and anxiety hence improves sleep.
5. Aloe Vera
Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis miller
Basic Characteristics of Aloe Vera
- An evergreen plant native to the Arabian Peninsula but is present all around the world.
- Leaves are thick, having a really hard outer layer that harbors within a thick gel. The gel is used as a cure and in several home-made remedies.
Tried a new cosmetic product that backfired in the form of pimples? 🙁
Then apply aloe vera gel and forget it completely 😉
- The leaves are deep green in color, long, and spread from root to sideways.
- The margins of leaves contain teeth that do not cause any harm when touched.
Medicinal Benefits of Aloe Vera
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Medicinal Benefits of Aloe Vera Aloe vera helps with digestion, constipation, diarrhea, irritated bowel syndrome, decreases unfriendly bacteria in the gut.
- Improves the overall health of the skin. Soothes your skin, hydrates it, nourishes it and regenerates new skin tissues.
- Aloe vera helps to treat sunburns, blisters, insect bites, allergic reactions, minor burns, and inflammations.
- Aloe vera gel helps to cure minor bruises, cuts and burns, and improves the healing mechanism of wounds.
Note: But you must take care of your aloe vera plant at home for using it as a medicinal herb.
5. Chamomile
Botanical Name: Matricaria chamomile
Basic Characteristics of Chamomile
- It has a very pleasant and refreshing apple scent. Hence, also known as “little apple”.
- Because of scent, people use Chamomile as an air freshener, room freshener, and as a floor scent.
- It contains tiny flowers that grow in the May-September season.
- Leaves of Chamomile are shiny green in color and present a kind of feathery look.
Medicinal Benefits of Chamomile
Chamomile has the following benefits:
Cures Hay fever
- Fights inflammation
- Against muscle spasm
- Menstrual complications
- Cures insomnia
- Heals wounds
- Stabilizes digestive issues
Although these are not the only medicinal herbs that you can grow easily in your own little garden. But these are very basic, easy to cultivate, and important for your daily-care routine. Do try these out and let us know the results in the comments section 🙂
