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Sustainability for me includes being able to have age-old natural remedies around to help maintain health. Medicinal plants are useful to have around and can be fun to grow. In the past, most of the plants were boiled in water, added to recipes or mixed with water to make a paste for treatments. Insect stings, bug bites, fungi and several other diseases were easily treated with medicinal plants.
Here is a list of 5 medicinal plants you can easily grow on your balcony.
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the most popular medicinal plants you can grow on your balcony. The sap of the aloe vera plant is used for many purposes. It can reduce infections from wounds, cuts or burns. Topical application of the sap is also helpful in reducing inflammation. Apart from that, applying the sap on your face can help in reducing and preventing acne and treat dry skin.
The aloe vera plant also happens to be edible. It has a rather bitter and turdy taste. People have found it helpful in treating poor appetite. Drinking the juice of aloe vera has treated ulcerative colitis as well as digestive issues.
You can easily grow aloe vera in a pot on your balcony. Just make sure that the soil is moist, and the plant gets a lot of sunshine.
2. Basil
Basil is the most used medicinal plant in Ayurvedic medicine due to its several beneficial properties. The leaves of this plant are full of antioxidants which aid our immune system to fight against coughs, common cold, fevers, bronchitis etc. Using basil is quite easy. You can boil the leaves and drink the water on an empty stomach. You can also soak the leaves in water overnight if you have a tight schedule and do not have time to boil the leaves in the morning.
3. Thyme
Thyme is a well-known plant that is famous for its antiseptic properties. It is known for treating cough, congestion and stomach gas. Thyme is usually cooked with foods such as beans, chicken, lamb, beef and tomatoes.
Meanwhile, it is also used to flavour teas, lentils, soups or stews. You can also use this plant with eggs to reap its benefits. The plant is completely edible. So, according to your preference, you can throw it into the pot whole or just use the leaves.
4. Fenugreek
Fenugreek is yet another medicinal plant that has been used in curing diseases since prehistoric times. Fenugreek seeds are useful in treating inflammation of the stomach or intestines. It helps in treating poor digestion as well, alongside acting as a mouth freshener. It also aids in gaining weight which is helpful for underweight people.
5. Tea Tree
Tea tree is a shrub that has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, which make it very famous in DIYs and home remedies. Aborigines chewed on the leaves of tea trees to reduce headaches. The leaves and twigs of tea trees have been used to make oil. The oil can treat acne, athlete’s foot, minor burns etc.
All of these plants are rather easy to grow. All you need is a pot filled with some soil for these medicinal plants. Once you grow the plants, you can easily reap the different benefits each has to offer.
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