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Growing medicinal plants
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A few medicinal plants may be grown at home with minimal care and attention.
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– Photo: R. Ragu
Healing touch: Tending to a few medicinal plants is like having a doctor at home.
Names of a few pharmaceutical drugs pop up like chewing gum in the mouth of even laymen. Virtually no one visits a doctor for a common cold, cough or even fever. A trip to the nearby medical store will yield medicines that are claimed to provide immediate relief. However, many forget in the bargain that simple home remedies are better for prevention or treating number of symptoms leading to the illness.
While the West has, of late realised the insidious effects of chemical-ridden, allopathic drugs and is turning its eye eastward for nature-friendly remedies, we Indians are gradually losing track of our own plant life which is renowned for its therapeutic wonders. In fact, many do not know that quite a few medicinal plants may be grown at home with minimal care and attention.
“Of late, there has been improvement in the situation and many are recognising the significance of medicinal plants in offering simple cures,” says Dr. K. Narasimha Reddy, retired Additional Director of Ayush Department and Director of Swami Ramananda Tirtha Institute of Socio-Economic Research and National Integration, Hyderabad.
While home gardens are mostly grown for their aesthetic appeal, having a few ordinary medicinal plants is sure to offer the assurance similar to that of having a doctor at home. The actual list of therapeutic plants runs into thousands of species, but Dr. Reddy suggests a few that are easy to obtain, simple to plant and less-cumbersome to look after.
Wonder drugs
“Tulsi (basil), or Ocimum sanctum, is a plant with multiple uses. Apart from the known medicinal values of the leaf, all the parts of the plant have healing properties of one kind or the other,” he says. The plant is particularly useful in addressing upper respiratory infections such as common cold and cough, painful gums, toothache, skin ailments, allergic rashes and even “scorpion bites”. It may be used either internally or externally, fresh or dry. Tulsi, when planted in multiples, is known to reduce atmospheric pollution.
Aloe vera, also known as Kumari in Sanskrit, is popular for its cosmetic and therapeutic values. However, once planted, it will take at least eight years for the sapling to become medicinally active.
“Aloe vera milk acts as a purgative and cures uterine and menstrual disorders. Its juice has a cooling effect and helps the body to develop immunity if taken regularly. Virtually, no face pack world over is ever made without aloe vera as an essential ingredient. Its juice also heals burns and ulcers and reduces pain immediately,” informs Dr. Reddy.
Like Tulsi, aloe vera too is a hardy plant and does not need much watering.
Vitis quadrangularis is a creeper that has Vitamin D and calcium in plenty. “Its stems may be used as food supplements when made into chutney or wrapped in ‘bajjis’. All you have to do is to train it up a rope. It heals fractures when ground and tied at the spot,” Dr. Reddy says. It also prevents osteoporosis if taken on a regular basis.
Coleus amboinicus, hibiscus, pomegranate, curry leaves, drumsticks, amla, Tinsporia cardifolia, papaya and Andrographis paniculata are a few other medicinal plant varieties that may be grown at home.
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