7 Essential Plants to Grow in your House

The great Hippocrates once said,  "Let thy kitchen be thy apothecary; and, let foods be your medicine."

Health can be maintained under any circumstances if we eat right and move the body most suitably. However, including medicinal plants in the regular diet has proven beneficial for enhancing the taste of the food as well as building immunity. There are few basic plants and herbs we can grow in our house which can conquer the risk of metabolic disorders and infections effectively. These plants can grow in small places and with minimal care. You will be amazed once you observe, how easily you can find them in your surrounding and how easy it is to nurture them. Building a strong immunity is a necessity during the epidemic diseases such as COVID-19. Besides, having beautiful-looking plants with magical medicinal properties in the house isn't something we all will love. Moreover, the ancient medicinal science of India, Ayurveda, has listed numerous benefits of growing plants inside the house and consuming them daily. In the Homoeopathic medicine system also, there are tones of medicines prepared from plants and dispense in the potentised form, which indeed has miraculous results in curing patients.

There are numerous herbs and plants available in nature with several health benefits. Also, they can be used in various forms. You can choose herbs and plants according to the availability of place, food preferences, and medicinal effects. However, I am listing down some medicinal plants which are super easy to grow, widely used in various food recipes, and have anti-microbial properties. Additionally, all plants are a rich source of antioxidants which helps us stay young and healthy. Daily consumption of all these medicinal plants in some other way can prevent multiple diseases and salutary.

"Every breath is a giveaway dance between you and the plant". - Susan Weed

1.       Turmeric

How to consume:

  • Can be used in cooking
  • Can be consumed with warm milk
  • Can be sprinkled on salads

Benefits:

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Prevents Alzheimer's disease
  • Reduces the risk of cancer
  • Lessen the risk of depression
  • Reduces pain
  • Fights against ulcerative colitis
  • Lowers the cholesterol levels
  • Boosts immunity
  • Fights against chronic diseases

2.        Curry leaves

How to consume:

  • Can be used wisely in regular cooking, in curries, in tempering, and garnishing
  • Can be used in a powdered form

Benefits:

  • Helps Weight loss
  • Helps in treating dysentery, constipation and diarrhoea
  • Relieves morning sickness and nausea
  • Helps in eliminating bacteria
  • Good for controlling diabetics
  • Good for improving eyesight
  • Reduce stress
  • Heals wounds, burns and skin eruptions
  1. Garlic

How to consume:

  • Can be used in a variety of dishes
  • Can be also cooked and stored in the bridge
  • Eating raw garlic is better to be avoided

Benefits:

  • Highly nutritious
  • Fights against the common cold
  • Lowers cholesterol levels
  • Reduces blood pressure and risk of heart diseases
  • Prevents Alzheimer's disease & dementia
  • Improves bone health
  • Anti-bacterial effects against intestinal infection
  • Fights against cancer
  1. Ginger

How to consume:

  • Can be used in cooking
  • Can be used in the dried powder form
  • Can be used to flavour your tea

Benefits:

  • Reduces the risk of diabetes
  • Relieves menstrual pain
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Relieves upset stomach
  • Curb down morning sickness
  • Helps in weight loss
  • Fights against cancer
  • Prevent heart diseases
  1. Aloe Vera

How to consume:

Preferable consume the inner pulp (gel) after washing it thoroughly to remove latex from it

  • Can be consumed by adding it to the smoothies
  • Can be added to the salad
  • Can be gulped with the water
  • Can be consumed in the form of juice

Benefits:

  • Cosmetic benefits
  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Accelerates the healing of burn
  • Reduces dental plaques
  • Treats canker sores
  • Reduces constipation
  • Improve skin health & prevent wrinkles
  • Lowers blood sugar
  1. Holy Basil (Tulsi)

How to consume:

  • Can be used to garnish your food
  • Can be used in a tea preparation
  • Can be used to infuse the water
  • You can just much on 2-3 leaves every morning
  • Can be added to salad

Benefits:

  • Antimicrobial
  • Antidiarrheal
  • Antioxidant
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Liver, brain and heart-protective
  • Anti-diabetic
  • Anti-pyretic
  • Antitussive
  • Anti-arthritic
  • Anti-coagulant
  1. Mint
  • How to consume:
  • Can be used to garnish the food
  • Can be used in a tea preparation
  • Can be used to infuse the water
  • You can just much on 2-3 leaves every morning
  • Can be used in the form of chutney
  • Can be added to salad

Benefits:

  • Reduces breastfeeding pain
  • Relives irritable bowel disease
  • Mask bad breath
  • Improves brain function
  • Rich in vitamin A
  • Improves digestion
  • Rich in antioxidants
  1. Lemmon grass

How to consume:

  • Can be used while brewing tea
  • Can be used to infuse water

Benefits:

  • Anti-microbial, Anti-inflammatory
  • Reduces bad odour
  • Anti-oxidative
  • Reduces the risk of cancer
  • Promotes healthy digestion
  • Acts as a diuretics
  • Reduces cholesterol and blood pressure
  • Reduces pre-menstrual camps
  • Preventive insomnia

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Until next time Rewrite your Mind & Relive your Life. 

Further resources:

  • https://rewriteandrelive.in/blogs/index.php?post/2022/11/03/Go-for-a-walk-in-Nature
  • https://www.instagram.com/p/CCiLkbyhtk7/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
  • https://www.dabur.com/ayurveda/ayurvedic-medicinal-plants
  • https://www.ugaoo.com/blogs/green-lifestyle/5-medicinal-plants-and-their-uses

About the Author:

Dr Priyanka Mohol [BHMS, PGDEMS & CC, DDHN, MPH (Scotland)]

Public Health Consultant & Community Nutrition Specialist