Must Have Medicinal Plants to Keep in Your Garden
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Inviting an abundance of plants into your living and work spaces is a fantastic idea for your mental and physical well-being, but there are also many benefits to using plants medicinally!
At Kelly Mac Interiorscapes, we grow a variety of herbs and healing plants in our own backyard garden during the summer.
Don’t have a home garden?
Don’t sweat it! These powerful plants are happy being grown in portable containers wherever space is available!
Read on to learn more about the simple, backyard plants that you can grow to supplement your health and wellness routine!
Sage
Sage is not just for “smudging” and cleansing a room! As a member of the mint family, sage is an aromatic herb that has been used in traditional medicine to treat viral infections.
Learn to grow and use sage for a variety of purposes.
Tulsi Basil
In a 4-week study in 24 healthy adults, supplementing with 300 mg of tulsi basil extract significantly increased levels of helper T cells and natural killer cells, both of which are immune cells that help protect and defend your body from viral infections.
Learn more about tulsi basil and its medicinal properties.
Lemon Balm
Research has shown that lemon balm has antiviral effects against avian influenza, herpes viruses, HIV-1, and enterovirus 71, which can cause severe infections in infants and children.
Find more creative uses and ways to use your lemon balm!
Oregano
A popular herb in the mint family, oregano’s compounds, which include carvacrol, offer antiviral properties.
Both oregano oil and isolated carvacrol reduced the activity of murine norovirus within 15 minutes of exposure.
Read more about oregano.
Garlic
Garlic is a popular natural remedy for a wide array of conditions, including viral infections.
Studies indicate that garlic enhances immune system response by stimulating protective immune cells, which may safeguard against viral infections.
Enjoy a flavorful and delightful garlic soup recipe.
Eucalyptus
The oil that comes from the eucalyptus tree is used as an antiseptic, a perfume, as an ingredient in cosmetics, as a flavoring, in dental preparations.
The leaves also contain flavonoids and tannins; flavonoids are plant-based antioxidants, and tannins may help to reduce inflammation.
Read more about using fresh and dried eucalyptus.
Peppermint
Peppermint is known to have powerful antiviral qualities and is commonly added to teas, extracts, and tinctures meant to naturally treat viral infections.
Learn to brew a batch of Moroccan-inspired mint tea!
More ideas for fresh mint.
Rosemary
Rosemary has therapeutic applications due to its numerous compounds, including oleanolic acid.
Oleanolic acid has displayed antiviral activity against herpes viruses, HIV, influenza, and hepatitis in animal and test-tube studies.
Read on for more rosemary uses!
Dandelion
No garden or container garden whatsoever? It’s ok! The humble dandelion is here to help.
Dandelions are widely regarded as weeds but have been studied for multiple medicinal properties, including potential antiviral effects.
Brew a kettle of dandelion tea and enjoy the benefits!
Aloe Vera
Another great plant to keep in your home for medicinal uses, the mighty aloe plant is a safe and robust indoor plant that can live in nearly all homes!
There are so many benefits to having an aloe plant in your home. Learn all about the health benefits and medicinal uses here!
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