The world is facing a pandemic, and we all know how important immunity is in the treatment of Covid-19. Immunity and good health have become essential aspects of daily life. A well-balanced diet results in good health. Incorporating herbs and plants into your diet is an excellent way to strengthen your immune system. Here are six plants that you can grow at home and that can help boost your immunity.
Tulsi or Holy Basil:
Tulsi, also known as Indian basil, is an extremely potent medicinal plant. It is known as the "Queen of Herbs" due to its antifungal, germicidal, anti-biotic, and antibacterial properties, among many others. It not only benefits us, but having it around the house can protect us from viral infections, colds, and coughs.
Cure Fever
Tulsi oil enhance skin wellness and can be used as a mosquito repellent
Soothes throat, and cure respiratory disorders.
Boost your immunity.
Tulsi plants keep insects at a bay.
Clean the air.
Take a paper cup, poke holes in the bottom, add an equal amount of coco peat and sand (no garden soil), spray some water on the soil mixture, sprinkle basil seeds, cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil mixture, spray regular water, and set aside to allow the seed germination process to begin.
Your seedling will be ready to plant in a pot after 10 to 15 days. Take a 1:1:1 mixture of garden soil, river sand, and cow dung manure or compost and fill the pot with it. Make a small hole in the soil with your thumb and place the seedling in it.
CARE TIPS:
For the next 7 to 10 days, do not fertilize; instead, simply water the plants. After 7 to 10 days, use vermicompost as a fertilizer once a week; no other chemical fertilizers should be used. To keep the plant alive, pluck the leaves and remove the flowers regularly as the plant grows.
Mint
The name Mint only gives us a refreshing vibe. Mint is widely used in a variety of foods and beverages, including teas, drinks, juices, and alcohol, as well as sauces, chutney, salads, and desserts.
Mint has numerous health benefits aside from its cooling sensation and thirst-quenching properties.
Nutritive in nature
Improve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Aids in the Treatment of Indigestion
Could Help Your Brain Work Better
Could help to reduce breastfeeding pain
Improves cold symptoms
Cover up bad breath
From a mint plant, remove 15 to 20 stems that are 4 to 5 inches long. Just below the node, cut them. The point on the stem where the leaves emerge is known as a node. Take the bottom leaves from the stem and discard them. Take 25% of garden soil, 25% of fine sand, 25% vermicompost, and 25% coco peat. Fill the pot with these ingredients after thoroughly mixing them. Make small holes in the soil and insert the stems 1 to 1.5 inches deep in the media, compacting the cuttings to keep them intact. It should be thoroughly watered.
CARE TIPS:
Keep the pot in a bright, but not direct sunlight, position for at least 8 to 10 days. The soil should be damp but not wet at all times.
Ginger
Ginger has been prized as a food and medicine by Arabic, Indian, and Asian healers for thousands of years. Fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice, ginger can be used in a variety of ways. It's a common ingredient in cooking. It is occasionally added to processed foods and cosmetics.
It alleviates pain and inflammation, making it useful in the treatment of arthritis, headaches, and menstrual cramps.
It warms the body and stimulates circulation.
It prevents the spread of rhinovirus, which causes the common cold.
It kills the germs that cause diarrhea, as well as reduces gas and painful stomach pains. Hence it is always good for your stomach.
It aids in the prevention of drug-induced stomach ulcers.
Take a 2-inch long and 2-inch wide piece of ginger (rhizome or ginger root). For maximum growth, chop it into 2 to 3 small pieces as needed. Make a mixture of 70% vermicompost, 20% garden soil, and 10% coco peat. They should be completely mixed. Fill a large pot up to the top with this mixture and add ginger chunks 1-inch deep. Apply a thin layer of soil mixture to it. Pour water slowly so that the ginger does not decay in the water pool. The shoot will begin to appear in two weeks. Water heavily at this time, but make sure the water is well-drained. You can dig out the ginger after 7 to 8 months when the leaves have started to dry off.
CARE TIPS:
Ginger thrives in a warm, humid climate, therefore the optimum time to plant it in India is between the end of May and the middle of June. Make sure the water drains adequately from the soil to keep the ginger from rotting.
Lemongrass
In Thai cooking, lemongrass is a common ingredient. It has such a wonderful aroma that it is being used in a variety of air fresheners. Aside from these benefits, lemongrass is known as an ancient remedy for a range of health conditions.
Lemongrass oil relieves stress, improves mood, and cures insomnia.
Lemongrass tea is beneficial for stomach upset, bloating, gastric ulcers, menstrual cramps, and overall digestive health.
Lemongrass is a powerful antioxidant that helps to cleanse your kidneys and liver.
It lowers blood sugar levels and thus aids in the treatment of diabetes.
Its antibacterial properties aid in the treatment of common colds.
By removing pollutants from the air, it can improve the health of your lungs.
Lemongrass is a plant that can be grown from the stem. Take 2 to 3 lemongrass stems (approximately 3 to 4 inches long) with nodes, it can be kept in a small glass of fresh water for 7 to 10 days. Continue to change the water and wash the stem regularly. After about 10 days, you should see root growth, as well as emerging shoots and leaves. In the pot, it is ready for planting. The potting soil should not be sticky and should drain well.
CARE TIPS:
Lemongrass grows quickly and quickly dries up if the soil is dry. So continue to water it regularly and make sure the soil is moist but not wet.
Coriander
Coriander is an herb that is used in almost every Indian dish in the form of a powder. It is also used as a garnish on foods and salads. Coriander leaves are also referred to as Chinese parsley. It adds flavor to food and has numerous health benefits.
It improves heart health by lowering blood pressure and lowering bad cholesterol levels.
It's high in antioxidants, which help the body fight inflammation and enhance immunity.
Coriander seeds, extract, and oils may all aid in the reduction of blood sugar levels.
Various inflammatory disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, may be protected by coriander's anti-inflammatory properties.
Coriander Extract is used as an appetite stimulant and a home treatment for bloating and stomach pain.
Rub the coriander seeds to separate them into two parts. Soak them in water for the night. Fill a pot with regular garden soil all the way to the top. Cover the surface with a thin layer of soil after scattering the soaked coriander seeds. Water it to help the seed settle. Sprouts will appear after 5 to 7 days, and your coriander will be ready to harvest after 15 to 20 days.
CARE TIPS:
Keep away from direct sunlight and water on a regular basis.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a medicinal succulent with a low maintenance requirement. For thousands of years, it has been widely used as a cosmetic and a health cure. It is well-known for its healing and skin-wellness capabilities, but it also has several other advantages.
Dental plaque is removed with aloe Vera gel, which prevents tooth decay and improves gum health.
Aloe Vera gel has anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects. It helps to heal burns and sunburns and has been used as a skin protectant since ancient times.
Constipation can be helped by the aloe Vera latex found beneath the leaf.
Aloe Vera gel has been found in trials to reduce the aging process and prevent wrinkles.
It improves insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control.
Aloe Vera leaves can be used to propagate the plant. Remove a leaf that has grown at the plant's base. Check to see if it has the white part. Allow the leaf to dry in the sun and then in the shade. When the leaf has dried and its gel has completely dried Replant in a slanting position in a pot with cactus mix soil. Only water when the soil is completely dry. Soon, new shoots will appear.
CARE TIPS:
Don't overdo it with the water. Keep in a location with some sunlight. Once a year, fertilize.
I hope this article has inspired you to start a small kitchen garden at home. Another advantage of growing them at home is that they are chemical-free, making them more hygienic and safe to eat and use. Cultivate these plants to boost your immunity and that of your family!