6 healing plants you should have in your home, according to experts
When you raise medicinal plants inside your house, you add color to the rooms and give yourself a simple way to stay healthy. Clinical herbalist Lauren Haynes says, “A plain, safe plant is one of the easiest tools for looking after yourself and your family.” Herbalists such as Haynes plus plant scientists list several healing plants that will live indoors if you give them water and a sunny spot.
Aloe vera is a thick leafed succulent that stores clear gel inside each leaf. The gel cools sunburn, calms itchy skin and speeds wound repair by helping the skin build collagen. People also blend a small piece of the inner leaf into juice to ease heartburn but also keep the bowels regular - the plant serves as both a skin and a stomach remedy.
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Jiaogulan, nicknamed “sweet tea vine,” is a close cousin of the cucumber. It needs strong light and grows long twining stems. Dry the leaves, steep them in hot water as well as you get a tea full of compounds that resemble the active ingredients in ginseng. Drinkers report clearer thinking, lower tension, and, in some cases, longer life spans - the vine earns its reputation as a daily tonic.
Lavender carries a sweet scent and purple flowers that relax the mind. Set the pot near a bright window and it will bloom indoors. A few buds dropped into hot water give a calming tea or a pinch added to cookies lends a floral note, but use only a little or the flavor turns soapy.
Mint sends out fast runners - plant it alone in its own pot. Choose yerba buena for a mild taste or chocolate mint for a cocoa note. Crush fresh leaves for a tea that settles the stomach, eases gas and soothes a sore throat or a mild fever.
Lemon balm smells like lemon zest and belongs to the mint family. It prefers a sunny windowsill also its own container. Rub a leaf for instant calm, steep a handful for a night time tea or shred a few sprigs into salad or smoothies to help sleep and digestion.
Moringa is a slender tree that packs leaves with antioxidants, vitamins and complete plant protein. It grows wild in Africa besides Southeast Asia next to will live in a bright corner of your home. Harvest the tender leaves, dry them and sprinkle the powder on food for a daily nutrient boost.
