8 Best Healing Plants

best healing plants

If you are fond of gardening, Healing Plants are your thing. You must have at least one healing plant grow at your home. FDA also recognizes a wide range of healing herbs as beneficial and promotes their growth.

If you want to know about some of the best healing plants and how you can care for them, you’re in the right place. We have taken up the best healing plants in detail with their health benefits. We have also included some plants with flowers.

Why Healing Plants?

Healing plants or medicinal herbs are known well since ancient times for their multi-purpose use. These plants add to healing ailments provide needful health benefits. The Mexican, European and Chinese, all cultures affirm the importance of this medicine cabinet. Some of the Middle Eastern and third world countries, even today, use medicinal herbs to treat almost 70% of the common ailments.

More than 30% of plants around the world have medicinal properties that include some flowering plants too. WHO and FDA also recognize many plant species as healing plants. Without much investment and trouble, most medicinal herbs can be grown at home too. 

Medicinal plants are helpful in the treatment of severe ailments also like Alzheimer’s disease, colon cancer, blood sugar, and heart diseases. Common issues like cold, aches, inflammation are very easily treated using these herbs. Many of them are widely used in skincare products too.

They are well suited to America’s climate as well as home growing. They don’t require much attention and consume less water. Most of them are perennial or can be adjusted to all weathers without much effort.

Healing Plants For Your Home

There are a wide variety of healing herbs. Depending on the size of your garden and the vital health benefits, you can choose to cultivate one or more healing plants. You do not require to go out of the way for their care and maintenance and grow all of these in your home garden without much commitment. 

Let us discuss the best healing plants here.

1. St John’s Wort

It is scientifically known as Hypericum perforatum.

Healing Properties

  1. St John’s wort herb is best known for healing depression. It is found that it works more than a placebo in fighting depression. 
  2. Oil made from St. John’s Wort is used to cure skin ailments such as eczema and hemorrhoids. 

Tips For Growth

  1. To grow St. John’s Wort, soak them into water overnight to fasten germination.
  2. Afterwards, immerse the seeds in a container with soil.
  3. Ensure the soil is moist but do not overwater. 

Extra Tips

  1.  The plant requires a minimum of six hours of sunlight with a temperature around 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  2. It becomes more drought-resistant as it matures, so the soil needs to be kept slightly moist and not always wet. 
  3. The FDA hasn’t officially approved it for usage in drugs, with other chemicals.

2. Lavender

Scientific name:Lavandula

Healing Properties

  1. Lavender lavender has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory benefits. It is also used in pain relief drugs.
  2. It is mixed as a component in perfumes. It can be used as an essential oil.
  3. The flowers are used to reduce anxiety and stress. Keep them under your pillow, or use them in salads and as dressing.
  4. It calms the nerves, reduces skin irritations and skin inflammation effectively. The essential oil is a preferable form here.
  5. It works as an amazing beauty product too.

Tips for Growth

  1. It requires a dry and sunny environment to grow well. It blossoms well in full sun.
  2. Sandy and well-drained soil work the best for it to grow.
  3. It is a drought-tolerant plant and needs minimal watering.

Extra Tips

  1. Lavender is an aesthetically pleasing plant with a vibrant flower and a pleasant scent. When combined with plants like roses, rosemary, thyme, sage, it gives beautiful scenery.
  2. Lavender attracts lots of bees and is a pollinator.
  3. It is a natural pest repellent. 

3. Basil

It is scientifically known as Ocimum basilicum.

Basil is one of the most popular members of the mint family and is known as the king of herbs. The most widely recognized kind of Basil plant is sweet basil amid some other types. It does not give flowers but has many health benefits.

Remedial Features

  1. Basil upgrades the taste of the food and also helps in building stronger immunity in the body.
  2. It is known to fight free radicals that can prompt cell harm and increase the risk of growth of cancer cells, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes.
  3. It is mixed in skincare products for oily skin. It eliminates dirt and cleans pores from deep. It also helps in treating acne on the face.
  4. It is an essential herb used to treat upper respiratory infections and controls blood pressure. Combine it with ginger for effective results. 

Tips For Growth

  1. To grow the Basil plant, sow basil seeds about 1/4th deep in the soil and approximately 1-12 inches apart. 
  2. It gets ready for harvesting from 60 to 90 days of seeding. Sweet Basil can reach a height of 6-inches but grows up to approximately 18-24 inches.
  3. For more growth, sow it in moist, rich, and well-drained soil.
  4. It needs water regularly with ample sunlight. 

Extra Tips

  1. Basil is considered a sacred and auspicious plant in many cultures and is compulsorily grown in every household. 
  2. You can also consume it frequently, wash some leaves, and pop them into your mouth.

4. Curry Leaves

It is scientifically known as Murraya koenigii.

Remedial Features

  1. Curry leaves are excellent sources of fibre and are used to treat motion sickness and nausea. It also helps in maintaining blood sugar.
  2. One of the major nutrients in curry leaves is phosphorous that helps in cleansing the kidneys and reducing tummy trouble.
  3. Many people use it in food as it enhances the taste and helps in weight loss.
  4. It works best at calming nerves and is mixed in a wide variety of foods in the health food stores near you.

Tips For Growth

  1. Curry leaves can be grown from cuttings or seeds. 
  2. To implant curry leaves, sow the seeds in the soil and dampen a little. Curry leaves require at least 20 degrees Celsius temperature to germinate. Fresh seeds germinate the best.
  3. To grow it from the stem, cut a piece of the stem of a fully grown plant. The piece of the stem should be about 3 inches long with a few leaves. Now eliminate the last 1 inch of the stem part from the piece of stem and immerse it into the soil. Ensure a warm and moist environment
  4. The curry leaves require a warm environment with regular watering. Make sure you don’t over-water the plant. 

Extra Tips

  1. Curry leaf plant delivers a small, dark, berry-like organic fruit. The seeds from the fruit need to be removed before consumption. 
  2. It is a plant native to tropical and sub-tropical regions.

5. Parsley 

It is scientifically known as Petroselinum crispum.

Healing Properties

  1. Parsley, as a herb, treats hypertension. 
  2. It also helps in improving heart and bone health as it is a good source of folic acid and vitamin K. 
  3. It also boosts immunity and regulates cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure in the body. 
  4. It is rich in vitamins and antioxidants and works beyond a common garnishing and flavoring ingredient.

Tips For Growth

  1. Parsley Seeds need to be implanted during March or April for best growth results. 
  2. They take up to four weeks to germinate. Soaking the seeds overnight before sowing can bring the best growth result. 
  3. Sow the seeds 1/4th inch deep in the soil with a distance of 6 to 8 inches. Make sure your soil is mix with several nutrients with rich organic matter. 
  4. Ensure that it is thoroughly watered, especially during summertime.

Extra Tips

  1. Parsley doesn’t require much maintenance and can be grown in a small container too. So you don’t have to worry about space for planting. 
  2. Parsley is widely used in all American, Middle Eastern, and European dishes.

6. Aloe Vera

It is scientifically known as Aloe barbadensis.

Healing Properties 

  1. Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties and also slows the process of skin aging. 
  2. It is extensively used in healing skin infections and burns. Just cut up a leaf and apply the gel.
  3. It contains powerful antioxidants which stop the growth of certain bacteria harmful to the body of a man.

 Tips For Growth

  1. Use a cactus potting mix to grow aloe-vera that doesn’t hold water. You need to ensure good drainage of water at the site.
  2. A location that receives 8-10 hours of sunlight is best for its growth.
  3. Bury a leaf in the soil and water it after planting. 
  4. In a couple of weeks, you can see new, tiny leaves growing. It takes almost two months for it to fully mature for use. 

Extra Tips

  1. Aloe-vera needs proper sunlight and cannot handle still water. It should dry out before it is sprinkled with water again.
  2. It generally doesn’t need to be fertilized.
  3. Aloe Vera is a popular medicinal plant that people have used for thousands of years.
  4. It is used in capsule form or liquid form to promote health and well-being.

7. Thyme 

It is scientifically known as Thymus vulgaris.

Healing Properties

  1. Thyme has been used in healing cough and bronchitis for a long time. It also cures many more respiratory problems because of its anti-microbial properties.
  2. It speeds up healing because of the antiseptic compounds present and contains some anti-inflammatory properties.
  3. It also relieves menstrual cramps. 
  4. The plant leaves can be used in cooking too. Its leaves can be directly plucked and used in ginger tea or other chicken-based dishes. 

Tips For Growth

  1. To grow Thyme plants, sow the seeds in the soil approximately 12-24 inches apart during late spring in a sunny area. Roots will start growing in about six weeks.
  2. It suits best in warm temperatures and full sun.
  3. It does not require very nutrient-rich soil.
  4. Make sure you water the plant frequently as the top inch of the soil dries up.

Extra Tips

  1. It is a woody Mediterranean spice and herb.
  2. It is a perineal plant and can sow all the year.
  3. Its leaves stay evergreen while pink or white flowers appear in the spring and summer months only.
  4. During winters, it needs to be taken indoors, in some warmth.

8. Chamomile 

It is scientifically known as Matricaria recuita.

Healing Properties

  1.  Chamomile comes from a herb family that helps in reducing various inflammatory disorders.
  2. Study shows it also has antioxidant properties that help in curing motion sickness. Chamomile flower heads are used for curing major problems. 
  3. It is a helpful supplement for lowering blood sugar levels in diabetic people. It is consumed with ginger in ginger or lemon teas.

Tips For Growth

  1.  To grow Chamomile, sow the seeds, not very deep, in the soil. They require sunlight to germinate. You need to scatter them and water them at appropriate times.
  2. It takes up to seven to fourteen days to germinate.
  3. Chamomile doesn’t require a lot of water, as it is drought-resistant. 

Extra Tips

  1. It leaves a pleasant scent in the air after maturing.
  2. It grows well in both full sun, but a little shade would be better in its growth.
  3. It is generally grown together with ginger as they make a good pair.

Final Words

We have seen that healing herbs are relatively easy to grow and suit America’s climate well. The article discusses only a few of the best healing plants for your home garden. There can be many more like turmeric, Calendula, Snake plant, Echinacea purpurea, pot marigold, peppermint peppermint, catnip catnip, and many more.

You can choose any based on the purpose and your liking and will surely fit right into your garden as well as your daily lives. Essential oils are a loved category for beauty concerned gardeners. Some prefer medicinal plants which have at least one flower stage to make their garden more lively.