Herbs to Have Handy in the Home
Having medicinal plants in the garden in your house is just like having a natural first aid box. These plants come in handy for the treatment and relief of symptoms and ailment. They also serve as first aid given to an injured or sick person before proper treatment comes. These natural remedies are like “time buyers,” they buy more time for injured and sick people pending the time proper and adequate treatment comes their way.
Medicinal herbs are wholly natural and easy to use. You can easily use medicinal herbs for the treatment of headaches, stomach ache, irritation, snake and scorpion venom, and skin infections. Essential oils can also be extracted from some of these plants. These essential oils are healthy for eating and massage.
Herbal remedy for the treatment of ailments has been a long age practice among different cultures of the world. These herbs have been effective both in the past and have worked wonders even today, which has successfully earned them scientific backings and support as proof of their effectiveness.
Some selected kinds of simple herbs that are easy to find and plant in your house have been discovered by professional herbalists. In order to know what the combination of these herbs are, you need to read this article to the end to understand how these herbs function and how they can be used for various ailments.
Must-Have Medicinal Plants
Basil
Basil is a common plant that is included in salads. Asides from its medicinal value, it also has an amazing flavor it adds to your meal. Basil contains vitamin K and iron that help combat ailments. It is also rich in manganese that aids metabolize different compounds in the body. Basil is a medicinal herb that can be made into tea and oils.
Health Benefits:
Stress reduction
Rich source of antioxidants
Antibacterial properties
Prevents quick aging
Reduces painful swelling and inflammation
Strengthens muscles, bones, and joints
Boosts metabolism and immunity
Helps digestion.
How to Use:
Sprinkle sliced basil leaves on your salad or blend it and add it to your smoothies.
Catnip
The catnip herb has a nice scent that would not only make your environment smell nice but would also provide you with health benefits. It serves as a mild sedative and an ultimate stress battler. It aids sleep, treats skin issues, and encourage relaxation.
Health Benefits:
Repels insects, especially bugs
Relieves skin inflammation from bug and insect bites
Relieves stress, calms anxiety, and restlessness.
Relieves stomach aches
Helps with quick recovery from cold
How to Use:
Make a tea from the plant or
Dry the leaves and burn to release scent for repelling insects
Apply the oil extract to relieve skin inflammation
Cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper is a natural detoxifier for humans. It also serves as a natural pain reliever and lowers cholesterol levels to the barest minimum.
Health Benefits:
Body detoxification
Boosts metabolism
Helps with digestion
Treats stomach upset
Improves blood circulation
Reduces the effect of body pain
How to Use:
Add to soups, stew, and sauces.
Chamomile
Chamomile contains high antioxidants content, which makes it effective enough to treat various ailments. It is commonly consumed by people like tea. Research shows that drinking a cup of chamomile tea day and night would relieve you of stress and aid relaxation.
Health Benefits:
Improves skin conditions
Reduces pain
Eliminates swellings and inflammation
Treats congestion
How to Use:
Sprinkle dried leaves on the hot water and boil for 3 to 5 minutes
Inhale of the oil
Apply this essential oil on the skin
Dandelion
The dandelion plant is both medicinal and edible. It contains vitamin K, vitamin C, iron, and calcium. You should have a rethink before uprooting that dandelion plant from your garden. Every part of the plant has its own benefits. For example, the roots are used for tea, the leaves are used as salad garnishes, and the sap is healthy for the skin.
Health Benefits:
Protects the liver by detoxifying it
Treats skin condition
Enhances overall bone strength
Treats urinary infections
How to Use:
Make a tea out of the roots.
Use leaves as food garnishes.
Echinacea
The flower of the echinacea plant is a natural immune system booster. It also relieves severe symptoms of illnesses and speeds up recovery from a common cold. Echinacea has side effects such as dizziness and nausea when taken in large doses for a long period.
Health Benefits:
Relieves respiratory issues
Treats urinary tract infection
Combats infection
Treats symptoms of a common cold
How to Use:
Make a tea out of either the roots, leaves, or flowers.
Garlic
Garlic is a widely known effective herb for combating infections. It also reduces the cholesterol level. Garlic is easy to incorporate into diets and can be eaten raw to get the most out of it.
Health Benefits:
Prevents heart disease
Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Prevents Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Helps digestive health
How to Use:
Add it to all your meals’ ingredients.
Chew it raw for better results
Lavender
Popular for its nice scent, it also serves as a natural remedy for stress; it calms the nerves. The oil extract from lavender is great for massage and hair treatment.
Health Benefits:
Reduces stress
Relieves aches and migraine
Aids sleep and relaxation
Helps hair growth
Smoothens the skin
Treats respiratory tracts problems
How to Use:
Make a tea out of the leaves.
Apply oil externally on the skin
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm can be used to fend off harmful insects from your environment. It has a natural insect repellant property to this effect. Asides from this, it is also great at relieving stress, anxiety, and calms restlessness. It is delicious and can be added to meals, salads, and ice-cream.
Health Benefits:
Calms stress, anxiety, and restlessness
Combats inflammation
Relieves menstrual cramps
How to Use:
Make a tea out of the leaves.
Sprinkle on smoothies, salads, and soups
Apply oil to the skin externally.
Marigold
Marigold contains antioxidants that make it a healthy herb for consumption. It also serves as an insect repellant and fragrance within your home.
Health Benefits:
Reduces inflammation
Treats ear infection and ear pains
Treats skin diseases
Sharpens vision
How to Use:
Make a tea out of the leaves.
Apply the oil extract externally on your skin
Sprinkle on your meals as a garnish
Parsley
Parsley is a natural immune system booster. It has high levels of antioxidants that enhance its healing strength. It is also the best remedy for halitosis and bad breath.
Health Benefits:
Relieves stomach ache and bloating
It eases digestive tract congestion.
Strengthens bones, muscles, and joints
High antioxidant level
How to Use:
Sprinkle on dishes as a garnish
Make tea or juice from the leaves.
Peppermint
This herb is present in most chewing gums, desserts, and toothpaste. It is known to relieve stomach aches, muscle pain, and nausea. Peppermint is also the best remedy for morning sickness in pregnant women.
Health Benefits
Treats muscle pains
Supports digestion
Eliminates bad breath
Soothes head, stomach, and muscle aches
High antibacterial level; in other words, it can be used as a disinfectant.
How to Use:
Make a tea out of the leaves.
Apply oil extracts externally
Inhale oil extract
Rosemary
Rosemary is naturally filled with vitamins and minerals, thus making it the power hub for the body. It boosts memory and remembrance and helps in the healthy growth of hair. One cup of rosemary tea is enough for a whole night’s study.
Health Benefits:
Improves blood circulation, especially to the scalp
Improves memory and brain functions
Reduces inflammation
Tackles bad breath
Supports liver
Boosts hair growth
How to Use
Make a tea out of dried leaves.
Apply the oil extract externally on your scalp and other parts of the skin
Thyme
Though popular for cooking, it also has health benefits attached to it. Thyme has strong antifungal and antibacterial properties that prevent the effects of food contamination and reduces the rate at which infection gets into the body.
Health Benefits:
Reduces the pain from sore throat
Treats respiratory problems
Fights infection
Boosts and supports the immune system
Helps with blood circulation.
Having these herbs handy would make your body and general health thank you. They treat symptoms of ailments, different types of aches, and most of all, fight infections by boosting the immune system. All of these herbs are easy to process into teas and oils at home, and the majority of them can also be used as spices and garnishes for food. Asides from these direct health benefits, some of them also possess insect repellant strength that protects you from insects and their bites. Above all, a number of them are appealing to the sense of smell. They keep your home fresh with nice scents.
