Medicinal plants refer to a variety of plants used in herbology, which is the study of plants for medicinal purposes. Not only as food or food flavoring, some plants also contain compounds that are beneficial to the body.
That is why in traditional medicine, many people use plants as medicine. The good news is, many of these plants you can grow at home.
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is perhaps one of the oldest medicinal plants in the world. Many people use it at home, both to beautify the room and to use the gel.
Aloe vera gel has many benefits, especially for skin and hair. It can help soothe skin wounds, burns, skin irritations, insect bites, and reduce skin swelling. In the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, this plant is also widely used.
2. Lavender
Another medicinal plant that you can grow at home is lavender. It is very popular for making essential oils or essential oils. This oil has both cosmetic and medicinal uses.
It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which aid in healing burns and insect bites. Apart from that, lavender oil is also a great agent in curing stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Not only for topical use, you can also process this medicinal plant into tea, by brewing it with hot water. Lavender tea is also important in curing digestive problems and nausea.
3. Cilantro
Cilantro or cilantro has a unique taste that some people like, but some don’t. These leaves are often garnished in Mexican and Thai dishes. The seed, coriander, is a key ingredient in Indian curries and many Indonesian dishes.
Although not many people consider this plant as a medicinal plant, the benefits of its leaves have long been popular. This is a traditional medicine to help remove heavy metals and other toxic substances from the body.
4. Peppermint
Another medicinal plant that you can grow at home is peppermint. The leaf extract of this plant is used in the manufacture of toothpaste and chewing gum.
When you brew it as a tea, peppermint can relieve digestive discomforts such as indigestion and vomiting. It can also soothe sore muscles when you apply it as a liquid or lotion.
5. Rosemary
Rosemary is a great cooking spice and traditional medicine. This plant extract concoction can stimulate energy, as well as sharpen memory and concentration by bringing more oxygen to the brain. This is an alternative to caffeine for those who cannot drink coffee.
6. Thyme
Having smooth stems and small leaves, thyme has many benefits and is popular as a medicinal plant. Many believe in the ability of this herb to increase courage and ward off nightmares.
In addition, thyme essential oil also has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, which are useful for preventing colds and flu. Many cultivars exist beyond the straight species, including the sweet orange variety which is a remedy for stomach problems in children.
Those are some medicinal plants that you can easily grow at home. Besides being useful, these plants can also be a beautiful garden decoration.
However, even though they can be used as traditional medicine, it is very important not to rely on these plants alone for the ailments you are experiencing. If you have health problems, you can go to the hospital for further examination.
