6 Medicinal Plants and Their Remarkable Health Benefits

In Ayurveda, aloe vera is known as the “king of medicinal plants”, and Tulsi is known as the “queen of medicinal plants”. Tulsi or basil leaves can be used to cure cough, cold, bronchitis and loss of appetite. Another popular expectorant, dalchini or cinnamon, helps cure lung problems such as bronchitis, asthma and even heart disorders and fever. A curry leaf plant requires a lot of sun and frequent watering during the summer.

In winters, it can survive with weekly watering. Growing the plant in a pot will allow you to move it to a convenient area as the seasons change. Curry leaves are a common ingredient for tempering in Indian recipes. The Giloy plant is quite easy to grow in tropical climates such as India.

When the plant is small, it may be necessary to keep it in the shade so that it grows during extremely high temperatures. Once the plant has matured, it can survive very high temperatures in tropical regions. Giloy is known to boost immunity, control diabetes and respiratory problems. If you want to grow neem in a pot, you will have to place it in a sunny place.

You should also choose a pot with a top diameter of 7-10 inches and drainage holes for good growth. Neem leaves can be used for multiple purposes, which is beneficial for problems such as gum disease, diabetes and more. Neem oil is an effective herbicide. Tulsi is a tropical plant that needs a lot of sun to germinate.

The plant will need water if the topsoil is dry, which should be checked often. This variety of Tulsi, known as Rama Tulsi, can be easily observed on a plant. Tulsi plants should be pruned regularly to promote the growth of new leaves. Being one of the most common medicinal plants grown at home in India, Tulsi can be consumed in teas.

Wild turmeric is a root plant and has a sweet fragrance. This plant will grow best in a sunny place in a large pot. Wild turmeric has large green leaves and grows 3 or more feet tall. As the plant matures, each stem sends a spike of greenish-white flowers and sometimes roses.

Wild turmeric thrives in warm, humid conditions and in neutral, well-drained soils. Wild turmeric is known for its cosmetic benefits and can help reduce blemishes, dark circles and more. The Ashwagandha plant grows as a small shrub of 10 to 12 cm with yellow flowers. Extracts or powder of the root or leaves of the plant can be used for consumption. Ashwagandha is a drought-tolerant plant and its leaves are elliptical in shape and dark green in color.

The ripe fruit of the plant is a berry that usually has a red-orange color. The Ashwagandha plant is known to be beneficial in reducing anxiety, stress, depression and more. Medicinal plants are useful to have on hand to treat common ailments. You can use certain medicinal plants to relieve headaches, tummy problems and even irritation caused by insect bites. Plants can be consumed in teas, used as a garnish, applied topically as essential oil, or consumed as a lozenge. To help you decide which plants are best for you, we gathered our main medicinal plants - Catnip, Cayenne Pepper, Chamomile, Echinacea, Wild Turmeric, Tulsi, Neem, Curry Leaves, Giloy, Aloe Vera, their remarkable health benefits and how to use them.

Catnip

: Most cats are attracted to this plant since its scent acts as a stimulant for them; while for humans it is normally used as an analgesic for stress, sleep aid, and as a solution for skin problems.

Cayenne Pepper

: This spicy pepper adds flavor to any food or drink and is also known as a popular detoxifier due to its compound capsaicin which helps reduce pain relief and cholesterol.

Chamomile

: This flower has high concentrations of antioxidants that make it great for relieving various ailments; it can be consumed as tea before bedtime to help relax.

Echinacea

: Also known as purple echinacea; this herb is most often used to speed up recovery from the common cold; however it can cause negative effects if taken consistently in large doses.

Wild Turmeric

: This root plant has sweet fragrance; it grows best in sunny places with large pots; it's known for its cosmetic benefits such as reducing blemishes and dark circles.

Tulsi

: This tropical plant needs lots of sun; it should be pruned regularly; it's one of the most common medicinal plants grown at home in India; it can be consumed in teas.

Neem

: This should be grown in pots placed in sunny places; its leaves can be used for multiple purposes such as gum disease or diabetes.

Curry Leaves

: This requires lots of sun and frequent watering during summer; it's commonly used for tempering Indian recipes.

Giloy

: This should be kept in shade when small; once matured it can survive high temperatures; it's known for boosting immunity and controlling diabetes.

Aloe Vera

: This king of medicinal plants is known for its healing properties; its extracts or powder can be used for consumption.