Medicinal Indoor Plants

Medicinal indoor plants have been used to effectively treat various diseases for ages. However, most people are not well aware of the medicinal properties of these indoor plants.

They just see these plants as a décor item or an epitome of beauty, making the dullest corner of their house beautiful.

According to a study (Pushka, 2021), house plants can help improve the air quality of the surroundings by converting all the pollutants and harmful toxins into positive energy.

In short, these plants recycle them into naturally filtered and purified air. That’s why these plants are also used to add positivity and creativity to the space.

This results in better sleep, improved concentration, and reduced stress and anxiety. In short, indoor houseplants are magical when it comes to benefits.

Most of us already know all of the benefits of houseplants but still can’t make sure to have them in our rooms or homes, just because of the proper caring of those plants, which can sometimes be a burden for a working person. But luckily, not all of the plants need extra care and attention.

Some plants can provide you with all of the medicinal benefits with minimum care and attention. These medicinal plants will save you time and effort while providing numerous health benefits with their aesthetic looks.

1. Aloe Vera

Almost every one of us has heard of this magical herb; in fact, some of us have even used it in case of sunburn. Aloe Vera is an easily grown and incredibly beneficial plant that can thrive indoors.

This medicinal plant is also known as the “Potted Physician” because of its long history of use for medical purposes, and today, it is still used to treat various health conditions.

This plant is native to North Africa and was first introduced in Europe in the 16^th century. It gained popularity in a short time and started to be used to treat various skin conditions.

It is still used for various skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis and has also been shown to be effective for other medical conditions like asthma and diabetes.

Medicinal benefits of aloe vera:

If you open an aloe vera leaf in half, there will be tons of clear gel inside; this gel is an excellent treatment for skin conditions. It can be effective for sunburn, minor cuts, and rashes as it soothes pain.

Because of its skin-soothing properties, it is also used in various beauty products like soaps, creams, and moisturizers.

Various studies have also shown the effectiveness of aloe vera gel in treating skin conditions. According to one study in 2008 (Amar Surjushe, 2008), aloe vera is still used to treat eczema and psoriasis, and not only these skin conditions, but this magical plant can also be helpful in other health conditions like asthma and diabetes.

Aloe vera can also be very helpful in treating various digestive issues. As this gel helps in healing the tissues topically, it can work the same for the tissues of the digestive system.

People often use aloe vera orally to treat digestive problems like constipation, but too much ingesting of aloe vera latex can cause problems sometimes, as it is bitter in taste and works as a strong laxative for some people.

Studies (Meika Foster, 2011) have shown that this laxative effect of this plant is due to the presence of a compound “anthraquinone”, and other nutrients like fibers and vitamins, which improve digestive health.

How to grow aloe vera?

A major benefit of an aloe plant, which can be present in almost every household, is its low maintenance.

Like all other succulents, this plant also likes loose and dry soil and does not like to get wet all the time. So in the case of aloe vera, you don’t have to worry about watering your plant all the time.

However, make sure to have a pot with many drainage holes to keep the soil dry and loose. Even if you think the plants need watering, let the soil dry out completely before watering it.

These plants are not easy to kill by environmental factors, so if your plant is not growing anymore, it might be because of too much water you have given to it.

Besides the low need for water, aloe water also doesn’t need regular fertilizers, making it a low-maintenance plant.

One thing you can do for your plant is to give it a lot of sunshine; as it is a desert plant, it thrives in warmth and sunshine.

Therefore, it cannot grow if you have put it in the basement. Instead, try to put it near your brightest window.

2. Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the most beloved herbs in the Western world. This beautiful evergreen herb has been grown in the garden for generations due to its incredible scent.

The fresh scent and the beautiful appearance of this plant is not the only reason why you should have it in your garden or home. In fact, this plant has a complete medicinal history of healing and muscle-relaxing effects.

Most people grow rosemary in their homes because of its amazing flavor. For example, it can be used as seasoning for roasted potatoes. No doubt, nothing can beat its taste, but its benefits are beyond this.

Medicinal benefits of rosemary:

Rosemary is a popular digestive aid used for various stomach ailments for centuries. This is because of the presence of carnosic acid in it.

This chemical compound is associated with improved gut health by improving the health of gut bacteria. Ancient people used rosemary tea to treat bloating, gas, and recovery from stomach bugs.

Because of the scalp-stimulating property of rosemary, it is also used in various hair products. Rosemary oil is a very popular product to treat dandruff, dry scalp, itching, and graying of hair.

This plant extract is also used in relaxing balms for muscle aching. This is because it is believed that this plant contains a compound that can provide an anti-inflammatory effect and reduce tissue inflammation.

That’s why the herbal salve of rosemary can be used for regular aches and pain and the stiffness and swelling of arthritis.

This medicinal plant is also used for treating migraines and headaches due to its effectiveness on the circulatory system.

In addition to the relaxing effect of rosemary oil, it also possesses strong aromatherapy properties, which makes it effective for stress relief, improving concentration, and promoting mental alertness.

Rosemary oil can also be combined with coconut or other carrier oil to promote calmness and reduce headaches.

How to grow rosemary?

Rosemary is a houseplant that can tolerate harsh weather and doesn’t worry you constantly. This medicinal plant has an incredible heat tolerance and can also bear very low temperatures.

This evergreen shrub won’t even make you worried if there is snow outside for a short period. It can grow well outdoors, but if the temperature is below 30℉ in winter, try to move it indoors.

Another benefit of growing rosemary is that you can make many plants from one original one. Because this plant can root easily from its cuttings.

When planted in a container, this plant has to spend a whole year outside before moving inside for winter.

This plant is native to warm areas like North Africa, Southern France, and Greece, so it does not like to be wet all the time.

Therefore, you are free from frequent watering, and even if you are going to water it, make sure the soil is completely dry.

Try to put this plant in a south-facing window to give it proper sunlight for 7-8 hours every day.

3. Lemon Balm

lemon balm plant, melissa officinalis, close up

Lemon balm, a member of the mint family, is also a famous medicinal plant which can easily be grown indoors.

This plant has a good smell and taste and can provide various health benefits because of its medicinal properties.

One of the main reasons behind this herb’s popularity is its sedative nature, which makes it helpful in relaxing the nervous system.

Medicinal benefits of lemon balm:

Lemon balm is a brilliant herb for relieving stress and anxiety. This is because of this herb’s mild-sedative nature, which makes it helpful in relaxing the nervous system.

It is mild enough to keep you awake but relaxed. People often use lemon balm when suffering from anxiety.

Even if this herb is effective, never throw out your anti-depressant/anti-anxiolytic medication, or stop seeing your physician just because you have lemon balm regularly.

This herb can be effective if you have situational depression or anxiety, or can slightly mitigate symptoms, but is not necessarily a dependable cure.

Lemon balm also has antiviral properties. Because of this, it has been used against herpes and shingles for centuries and has proved to be very effective.

Another amazing benefit of this magical herb is that it works as a natural mosquito repellent, and is very easy to apply.

All you have to do is brush up against the plant, and due to the essential oil in the leaves, it will release tons of mosquito-repellent scent into the air.

How to grow lemon balm?

Buying a lemon balm plant can be challenging as it is not always easily found at local nurseries. However, you can find usually one at big box hardware stores with robust nursery sections.

This plant has the same growing process as peppermint, but it does not spread like mint, so you don’t have to worry when planting it on the ground.

Like most plants, it thrives in direct sunlight, regular watering, and good-quality soil.

This plant also lives happily in a pot at a sunny window, however it can also tolerate a little bit of shade, so if you don’t have a sunny window, this plant is still a great choice.

Another interesting thing about lemon balm is that bees are attracted to it. Therefore, if there is a space outdoors, plant it there!

4. Peppermint

Almost everyone is familiar with peppermint, and its popularity is due its amazing taste. However, besides its awesome taste, this herb also has some amazing medicinal benefits.

Peppermint has been used to treat stomach issues and headaches from ancient times. Even today, this herb is used to make tea for upset stomach and other digestive issues.

Peppermint is a beneficial herb and a low-maintenance indoor plant that you can easily grow in your home and take advantage of.

Medicinal benefits of peppermint:

Peppermint, especially in tea form, is a very effective and well-known herb for stomach issues. This herb can soothe the upset stomach caused by indigestion and morning or motion sickness.

This is because of the antispasmodic property of this herb, which makes it helpful in reducing stomach cramps.

Many people like to have a cup of peppermint tea every time they have a big meal, as it helps in faster digestion.

Peppermint is also considered beneficial for headaches, especially for migraines associated with nausea. This herb can reduce the severity and duration of the pain if taken in tea form. It can also be added with other herbs like chamomile or lavender to enhance its benefits.

All you need to do is to boil water and add this herb to it, letting it steep for 12-20 minutes. Then, enjoy your deliciously beneficial peppermint tea!

How to grow peppermint?

Peppermint plants can easily be found everywhere, from nurseries to hardware stores to grocery stores. You can also buy this herbal plant in a pot or start it from seeds. It can grow both indoors and outdoors easily.

This plant has a very high growth rate and can spread like wildfire. This can sometimes make it challenging to grow outdoors, as it will take over everything else.

Alternatively, you can place it in your room or kitchen on a sunny window and enjoy mint for your teas and tonics as long as you like.

This herb thrives in warmth and with regular watering. So when the weather is warm, keep your pot outside for fresh air.

Conclusion:

Indoor plants are beautiful and provide an aesthetic look to your place, but these plants can provide numerous health benefits.

Indoor plants like aloe vera, peppermint, rosemary, and lemon balm are beneficial, low maintenance, and easy to grow at home. These plants have been used in traditional medicines from ancient times to treat various ailments.

Even these days, people use these plants in making teas and tonics for digestive issues, headaches, and other conditions.

There are thousands of medicinal plants which can be easily grown indoors; in fact, almost every culinary herb provides certain medicinal benefits. For example, basil can be effective in treating nausea, thyme is great for treating coughs, and sage is an amazing hormone controller.

You can have all these herbs in your garden and enjoy their benefits with minimum effort!

Medicinal Indoor Plants