7 MUST HAVE MEDICINAL PLANTS IN YOUR BACKYARD
A good garden is not just about flowers and grass - you need something else to make gardening a lot more interesting. Here are some wonderful medicinal plants for your garden which will not only enhance its beauty but also will prove very useful in your daily life. Some of them can also be planted in pots and are easily available at the nearest nursery -
1) Aloe Vera
Its time you stop searching for aloe vera as an ingredient in beauty products and instead use it straight from your garden! Aloe vera gel can work wonders on your skin by giving it a wonderful glow while also acting as a moisturizer. It helps to get rid of acnes and pimples, and is very effective in treating burns. Its thick leaves can also be eaten as a vegetable to reduce digestive problems.
2) Tulsi or Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
Widely known for its aromatic properties and religious importance, tulsi’s high medicinal qualities make it a garden essential. Referred to as the elixir of life (since it is believed to promote longevity), it is used in herbal tea (leaves) and serves as an insect repellent (dried leaves). You can chew its fresh leaves or make a kadha (herbal preparation) to treat cold, cough and a sore throat.
3) Parijat or Night Jasmine (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis)
It is an evergreen plant also known as queen of the night since its flowers release a strong sweet fragrance at night. You can use the pretty white flowers to make garlands; gajras for decorating hair; or as offerings to the deity. Its leaves, when boiled in water are used to treat arthritis and it is popular in ayurvedic medicines and homeopathy to cure fevers and as a laxative.
4) Neem or Indian lilac (Azadirachta Indica)
We all know neem for its bitter taste (leaves and fruit) and superior medicinal qualities. Neem leaves are: effective in curing skin infections (leaves boiled in bathing water); dried and burnt to keep away mosquitoes; and can be used in a face pack to treat pimples and allergies. Its bitter fruit is eaten to treat diabetes and its twigs (datun) were used in old times to clean teeth, which also kept them strong and cavity free.
5) Lemon grass (Cymbopogon Citratus)
Also known as fever grass, it has long green leaves like grass with a slight citrus flavor; which are used in tea, curries, and to prepare kadhas (effective against cough and nasal congestions).
6) Methi or Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
Methi is a common green vegetable and you can easily grow it in your kitchen garden. It is used as an herb (dried leaves), a natural hair conditioner and also to get rid of dandruff (make a fine paste with methi seeds and a little water and leave it on your hair for 2-3 hours).
7) Henna (Lawsonia Inermis)
Here is our favorite mehandi and you can very well plant it in your garden. To avoid chemicals affecting your skin, you can make your own henna cone (with fresh henna leaves) rather than the ones available in the market. You can apply its paste (prepared simply with henna leaves or mixed with some curd) on your hair since it is an excellent conditioner and hair dye (apply only on very dark brown or black hair if you don’t want to dye them).
So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest nursery today and bring these amazing plants home! Happy Gardening!
- By Pragati Pant