Are you interested in gardening?

Regardless of how big or small your yard is, it is always a good idea to have plants around your home. After all, we all could use some fresh air, right? Apart from giving fresh air, certain plants have various other benefits.

This is why it is often advised that you should have various medicinal plants in your house. If you do, you will be able to hands-on treat a variety of ailments. While some plants help in relieving stomach aches, others are known to be excellent for the purpose of pest control.

Here are fifteen medicinal plants you should include in your garden, or as potted plants in your house.

1. Basil

Who doesn’t know about Basil? This herb is a very common garnish in pasta, salads, and various other meals. Whenever you add it to a meal, its taste is bound to get better.

Apart from being a great addition taste-wise, Basil is also packed with minerals and vitamins. For instance, Basil is known to be rich in iron and Vitamin K. Hence; this plant is ideal for combating an array of diseases.

This includes fever, swelling, and stress. Moreover, it helps in improving the body’s metabolism rate as well as boosting its immunity. Incorporating Basil into your everyday meal will help in strengthening your bones and improving your digestion.

2. Catnip

Do you have cats? If so, make sure to plant catnip in your garden. This is one plant that almost every cat loves. Why? Well, the plant has a distinct aroma that is known to act as a stimulant for cats. Since they get attracted to the smell, you will find your precious pet rolling near the plant. Hence, it helps in keeping them entertained and relaxed.

Catnip isn’t just an excellent plant for your pet. Instead, it is also excellent for your health. The plant helps in improving acne as well as aiding in having a peaceful sleep. Moreover, it is also known to be a great stress reliever.

Health benefits, delivered by catnip, are mostly because the plant includes thymol and nepetalactone. These compounds allow the plant to act as a sedative for cats and a stress reliever for humans.

Adding on to this, catnip also helps in repelling bugs. If an insect bites you, you can use it to relieve the irritation and swelling you get from bug bites. You can either choose to brew its leaves and drink it with your tea or topically apply it like a solution.

3. Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a natural detoxifier. However, while other detoxifiers tend to have an artificial taste, Cayenne Pepper is spicy. Regardless of which meal you add it to, Cayenne Pepper is likely to add the much needed spicy kick to it.

Why do you need to add this medicinal plant in your house? Well, there are multiple health benefits that are associated with it. This includes helping in maintaining cholesterol as well as different types of pain.

Apart from being a detoxifier and a pain reliever, Cayenne Pepper helps in improving the metabolism rate of the body. By aiding in the digestion process, it ensures that tummy troubles are kept at bay. You can choose to directly add it to your meal or create a sauce out of it.

4. Chamomile

You might have heard of, if not consumed, chamomile tea. Many health professionals recommend taking it before sleeping. This is because chamomile tea contains antioxidants that help in making one feel relaxed and hence getting a peaceful night’s sleep.

Most of the benefits associated with chamomile tea come from the plant chamomile. This plant is equipped with a high concentration of antioxidants. This helps the plant in being an excellent solution for skin issues, pain, swelling, as well as congestion.

While it is common to use the plant by brewing its dried flowers and adding it to tea, there are various other ways to use the medicinal plant. For instance, to combat skin issues, you can apply the essential oil extracted from the plant topically.

5. Dandelion

Having second doubts about having dandelion in your garden? We can understand why. This plant is quite flaky and creates a mess when planted within the house. But, this shouldn’t motivate you to get rid of them. Why? This is because dandelion, too, is packed with health benefits!

That’s right. Contrary to popular belief, dandelion is medicinal plants. They feature a high concentration of iron, calcium, vitamin C and Vitamin K. In layman terms, this means that dandelion is excellent for your bones, liver, and skin.

You can use dandelions’ roots in your tea or add the plant as a garnish on your meals.

6. Echinacea

Wish to add some color to your house? Echinacea, with its purple color, is the ideal plant for giving life to your garden and home. Apart from being highly aesthetically pleasing, the coneflower can be used to boost your immune system, prevent urinary infections, combatting respiratory issues, and fighting the common cold.

Echinacea can either be consumed in the form of a pill or the form of tea. However, note that too much of the plant can cause adverse effects on the body. This includes nausea as well as dizziness. Hence, make sure that you don’t take the plant in high doses regularly.

7. Garlic

We are sure your home doesn’t need protection from vampires. But, there are various other unwanted ailments that may persist in your life. And garlic might be the answer to some of them.

Garlic is excellent for maintaining cholesterol levels, detoxifying the body, and keeping different infections at bay. The chances are you already use garlic in various dishes. By having the plant in your house, you can have your regular supply of fresh garlic right at your doorstep.

Apart from cooking it and adding it to your meal, you can also eat garlic raw. Health benefits are best realized when you consume garlic raw! Health benefits of the plant include prevention of cardiovascular diseases, combatting dementia, and boosting digestive health.

8. Lavender

Lavender is a trendy plant to have in any garden. There is just something about its scent that helps in calming the soul. This is why Lavender tea is very famous for assisting in making one feel relaxed.

By planting lavender in your house, you can have access to all its benefit. Whether you are craving lavender tea or wish to use its oil for treating your hair, you can do it all, without having to go on a lavender product hunt!

The oil extracted from the plant can either be used topically or can be used in a diffuser to spread the scent of the plant around the house. The latter can be used to reduce stress and relieve migraines.

9. Lemon Balm

Wish to care for your mental health while keeping pests at bay, all at the same time? Having a Lemon balm plant in your house will easily allow you to do so. This medicinal plant aids in relieving stress as well as helps in ensuring that your home isn’t infected by bugs.

Lemon Balm can be added to a variety of dishes and beverages. This includes teas, water, and juices. Some even consume the plant by adding it to ice-cream! By including it in your meals, in one way or another, you can ensure that your anxiety levels are kept in check.

Apart from helping the brain relax, the plant is also known to alleviate menstrual cramps, inflammation, and cold sores. Use it in the form of tea or apply its oil topically to avail its health-related benefits.

10. Marigold

Is your house plagued with bed bugs? Bed bugs are a menace. To eliminate them, you will need the strongest bed bug killer. But, using bug sprays are a temporary solution. Yes, they will remove all bugs present at the time. However, they won’t prevent further bugs from infesting your house later on.

This is where medicinal plants like Marigold come into the picture. This plant is known to act as an insect repellent, including bed bugs. Apart from being a natural bed bug remover, Marigold can also be used to treat skin ailments, ear infections, inflammation, and bacterial infection.

11. Parsley

Yes, you can grow Parsley in your house. You should grow Parsley in your home! It is an excellent medicinal plant for ensuring your bone as well as digestive health. The plant is equipped with a large amount of Vitamin K and antioxidants. Together, this allows the plant to be equipped for combatting a plethora of ailments.

Not to mention, Parsley is excellent for eliminating odor from your breath! You can choose to either sprinkle it raw in your dishes as a garnish or brew its leaves to be used as a tea.

12. Peppermint

Peppermint is one medicinal plant that is most probably already a huge part of your life. Whether it be toothpaste or gum, peppermint is a popular flavor in all. It also makes high tea.

The good news is that peppermint comes with many advantages as well. It helps in combatting muscle pain, stomach aches, nausea, headaches, bad breath, and digestive problems. You can choose to apply its oil topically or brew its leaf to make tea.

13. Rosemary

Add rosemary in your garden and get access to a variety of benefits. This plant is rich in both vitamins as well as minerals. This allows it to be great for boosting memory as well as hair growth. Apart from this, the plant helps in improving blood circulation and supporting liver health.

The benefits can be availed by merely brewing dried rosemary leaves and making a tea out of it. You can also sprinkle its leaves on top of any dish and consume it raw.

14. Sage

Does anyone in your house have diabetes? If so, Sage is one plant you need to have in your home. Why? This is because Sage is one of the most well-known natural remedies for managing diabetes. It plays a role in keeping glucose levels to the required level.

Sage also helps in improving memory and enhancing brain function. It also aids in strengthening the immune system and digestion system. To use Sage, you can incorporate it in your meals, either by cooking it or by simply sprinkling it on top. It can also be used as a tea or applied topically.

15. St. John’s Wort

We live in a fast-paced and stress-inducing world. Compared to previous generations, millennials and Gen Z’s are the most stressed out and depressed generation. It has become even more critical today to find ways to take care of one’s mental health.

Having the right medicinal plants around you is a great way to do so. For instance, St. John’s Wort is a plant which is known to combat symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, OCD, and mood swings. Most often, the plant is either consumed in the form of a pill or applied as an ointment.

It is advised that professional advice is taken before pills containing the plant are taken. However, you can always use its flowers for making tea. They are bound to make you feel relaxed and hence, less depressed.

Ending Remarks: You need plants around you

You might think, can you not just buy items that contain these plants rather than having them all in your house?

Well, there is just something about using fresh ingredients that help intensify benefits associated with such plants.

Rather than making use of boxed items, it is much preferred that you brew your tea with these plants by yourself. Similarly, fresh oil extracted from the plants is bound to be more productive.

Decide which plants have benefits that you are interested in. Have those medicinal plants in your house. Watch as your quality of life enhances!

Did we miss any medicinal plant you think deserves a spot? Let us know.