Playful as kids are, accidents happen. And the accident that befallen me at 7 years old was the feeling of the hot exhaust pipe of a motorcycle kissing the skin of my leg. Grandma was around and saw it. Immediately, she took out a knife and slice the thick lower part of the aloe vera plant by the garden and rubbed the exposed end on the burn.
Looking back, I realized that it was important to have medicinal plants around the house cause you never know when you might need them. So here is a list of plants that have the highest medicinal value compared to the other million species around the world worth planting around the house.
Aloe Vera
The aloe vera grows only under the sun with well drained dry or moist soil. Although the plant tastes like turd, it’s still edible. The sap from aloe vera is extremely useful to speed up the healing and reducing the risk of infections for :
- wounds
- cuts
- burns
- eczema
- reducing inflammation
Apart from its external use on the skin, aloe vera is also taken internally in the treatment of :
- ulcerative colitis (drinking aloe vera juice)
- chronic constipation
- poor appetite
- digestive problems
Marsh Mallow
The plant of which marshmallows are made of. The root is taken internally to treat :
- inflammations and irritations of the urinary and respiratory mucus membranes
- counter excess stomach acid
- peptic ulceration
- gastritis
Externally, the root is applied to :
- bruises
- sprains
- aching muscles
- insect bites
- skin inflammations
- splinters
The leaves are very edible, unlike the aloe vera. They can be added to salads, boiled, or fried. It is known to help out in the area of cystitis and frequent urination.
Great Burdock
It requires moist soil and can grow shadeless. The great burdock is the pretty famous in the area of detoxification in both Chinese and Western herbal medicine. The root is is used to treat ‘toxic overload’ that result in throat infections and skin diseases like :
- boils
- rashes
- burns
- bruises
- herpes
- eczema
- acne
- impetigo
- ringworm
- bites
The leaves and seeds can be crushed to poultice it to bruises, burns, ulcers and sores.
Pot Marigold
It grows in almost any type of soil condition. It has no problem with nutritionally poor, very acidic or very alkaline soils, just as long as it’s moist. Well known as a remedy for skin problems, the deep-orange flowered pot marigold variety is applied externally to :
- bites
- stings
- sprains
- wounds
- sore eyes
- varicose veins
Internally it is used to treat fevers and chronic infections.
The tea of the petals tones up circulation and, taken regularly, eases varicose veins.
Applying the crushed stems of the pot marigold to corns and warts will soon have them easily removable.
Gotu Kola
The gotu kola acts on various phases of connective tissue development and stimulates healing of :
- ulcers
- skin injuries
- decreasing capillary fragility
- stimulation of the lipids and protein necessary for healthy skin
Leaves are thought to maintain youthfulness. Crushed leaves are poulticed to treat open sores. The gotu kola can also be used to :
- treat leprosy
- revitalize the brain and nervous system
- increase attention span and concentration
- treat venous insufficiency
Chamomile
With a sweet, crisp, fruity and herbaceous fragrance, has long been used medicinally as a remedy for problems regarding the digestive system. It has a soothing and calming effect in the area of aromatherapy, used to end stress and aid in sleep. The entire herb is used to treat common aches like toothache, earache, shoulder pain and neuralgia.
Globe Artichoke
A bitter tasting plant that requires a lot of sun, the cardoon has become important as a medicinal herb in recent years following the discovery of cynarin. The cardoon leaves, best harvested before flowering, helps to :
- improve liver and gall bladder function
- stimulate the secretion of digestive juices
- lower blood cholesterol levels
- treat chronic liver and gall bladder diseases
- jaundice
- hepatitis
- asteriosclerosis
- early stages of late-onset diabetes
Chinese Yam
A type of yam that can be eaten raw, the chinese yam can be easily grown, succeeding in fertile, well drained soil in a sunny position. It is sweet and soothing to the stomach, spleen and has a tonic effect on the lungs and kidneys. It is used internally to treat :
- tiredness
- weight loss
- loss of appetite
- poor digestion
- chronic diarrhea
- asthma
- dry coughs
- uncontrollable urination
- diabetes
- emotional instability
Externally, it is applied to :
- ulcers
- boils
- abscesses
The leaf, on the other hand, is used to treat snakebites and scorpion stings.
Echinacea
One of the world’s most important medicinal herbs, the echinacea has the capacity to raise the body’s resistance to bacterial and viral infections by stimulating the immune system. It also has antibiotic properties that helps relieve allergies. Basically, the roots are beneficial in the treatment of sores, wounds and burns. It was once used by the Native Americans as an application for insect bites, stings and snakebites. The echinacea grows on any well drained soil, as long as it gets sunlight.
Siberian Ginseng
The siberian ginseng has a wide range of health benefits, mostly as a powerful tonic herb that maintains good health. Its medicinal properties are used for :
- menopausal problems
- geriatric debility
- physical and mental stress
- treat bone marrow suppression caused by chemotherapy or radiation
- angina
- hypercholesterolemia and neurasthenia with headache
- insomnia
- poor appetite
- increasing endurance
- memory improvement
- anti-inflammatory purposes
- immunogenic purposes
- chemoprotective purposes
- radiological protection
Source: Natural Blaze