What are some of the most essential, must have herbs at home that everyone should keep in their pantry? Continue reading to learn more!
Needless to say, the wonders of herbs. Since the dawn of time, people have used herbs for health, beauty, against lessons and spells, for their fragrance or as a refreshing drink, both in summer and in winter.
However, there are several herbs that help the body in a unique way, and we are lucky that most of them can be found in our country. In this article, we will discuss the top 8 must have herbs at home that will keep you healthy all year long.
For centuries, people have used herbs to improve health, heal wounds and perform cosmetic procedures. Although modern life is very different from that of our ancestors, there are things that will remain unchanged - the use of herbs and their miraculous properties.
Herbs are present in medicines, cosmetics, food products and even if you cannot see them, they are there. Well, let us bow in the power of nature.
Here are just a few of many benefits they possess.
Herbs are rich in antioxidants, which in addition to having the ability to absorb a large amount of oxygen entering the body through them, fight free radicals and heavy metals that enter our body through food, water and air. With the help of the antioxidants in these incredible plants the cell is cleansed.
They have the most beneficial effect on brain function.
Herbs are known for their antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. You can benefit from their action if you have a problem with inflamed joints or as a result of other inflammations occurring in the body.
Their action is expressed in the fact that they reduce swelling and inflammation and help it to subside more quickly. Oregano is one of the herbs with the strongest anti-inflammatory effect.
And by rinsing with a decoction of herbs, for example, an infusion of Sumac, you can get rid of stubborn fungi. Be careful when using them though! Some herbs would be poisonous if taken orally.
Sumac leaves are one example. You can use them for external (leg) or internal (vaginal) washes, but under no circumstances should drink tea from this herb.
It is hardly a secret for anyone that chamomile has the strongest antibacterial effect. There are many pharmaceutical, choleopatic and herbal remedies in which it is included. The combination of several different herbs with antibacterial treatment in the form of tea is the safest way to fight viruses.
For beautiful skin, hair and nails. If you want to have flawless skin, long and shiny hair and strong bones and nails, open the old books of our grandmothers and you will find loads of invaluable and working advice on nourishing masks, infusions, steam facials and what not.
Again, we will mention first of all the antioxidant properties of herbs, but we will add the huge amount of vitamins and minerals in them and their concentration in these sometimes very small plants and last, but not least the ecological purify in which they grow and the effect on us will be astounding.
Stimulates appetite, stimulates digestion, has a diuretic effect. Increases the tone of smooth muscles.
Recommended for the treatment of cardiac and renal edema, indigestion, flatulence. Inflammation and sand in the kidneys and bladder, gastric and intestinal inflammations, regulation of the menstrual cycle, inflammation of the prostate.
Externally it can be applied as a compress for boils, freckles, skin spots, stings and insect bites.
Next on our list of must have herbs at home is dandelion. It has a cleansing effect on the colon and liver, stimulates digestion. It is used to cleanse the liver, kidneys and gallbladder.
Bulgarian folk medicine uses dandelion against atherosclerosis, skin diseases, against worms, rheumatism, eczema and diabetes.
Our list of must have herbs at home continues with fennel, also known as wild fennel.
Soothing effect, diuretic, accelerates metabolic processes. Prophylactic against angina attacks. In spasms of the smooth muscles of the organs in the abdominal cavity. It is used in chronic coronary heart disease.
Affects the stomach, intestines and gallbladder. Tea helps with loss of appetite, indigestion and migraines. The healing effect is analgesic and antispasmodic.
Causes reflex dilation of the coronary vessels of the heart, has a choleretic effect. Wild mint cleanses the body of mucus.
It has expectorant and excites intestinal tolerance. It has analgesic, diuretic and gas-repellent action. It is used against coughs, gastritis, colitis, sand and stones in the kidneys and bladder, headache, insomnia and hiccups.
This one of our must have herbs at home is great for dealing with inflammation as it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Stimulates digestion, has a diuretic and diuretic effect. It is also used for edema of renal and cardiac origin, enhances bile secretion, has a laxative effect.
Next on our list of must have herbs at home is green tea. It has a strong antioxidant effect against malignant diseases, improves the condition of the skin, reduces the effects of ageing.
It favors the cardiovascular and nervous system, reduces the progression of atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and obesity.
Speaking of must have herbs at home, we can’t help but mention hawthorn.
This herb contains a phytochemical with an extremely high protective effect. Hawthorn increases the elasticity of the arteries and strengthens the heart.
At the same time it lowers blood pressure and helps to break down arterial plaques. It is officially approved for pharmaceutical use in Germany.
If you are a beginner herbalist, you can start with easy-to-grow herbs such as parsley, thime, mint, basil, oregano, rosemary, chamomile, sage, lavender.
They do not require specific care and you can grow them both inside the home and also on the balcony or in the garden.
It is good if you want to grow herbs at home to put them on windowsill, they love the sun, and if you put them close to the kitchen sink, you will create a humid environment that will make them grow much faster and the aroma will become even stronger.
You just have to be careful with too much sun, it can dry out the fragile petals and the soil you grow your herbs on.
The optimal temperature at which you can grow your herbs is from 18 to 21 degrees. At a higher or lower temperature you rist burning the plants or stopping their development. Plant leaves should never touch the window glass for the same reason.
The glass heated during the day gradually burns the touched leaf and this affects the whole plant.
When you buy a herb in a pot from the store you must transplant it into another pot, as pots with a diameter of no less than 15 mm are the most suitable. Also replace the soil with one that is drained (such a mix is sold in the flower shops).
This will ensure that the soil is well, but not excessively moistened.
Spices and herbs don't like a lot of water, so don't water them too often. The easiest way to check if the plant needs watering is by sticking your fingertip into the soil no more than 2 cm, if the soil is even slightly damp, don't water and check again in a day or two.
Once you know how often you should water your herbs, you won't have to check the soil every time. Approximate watering is about once a week.
It is good to use a liquid fertiliser that you dilute with water 1:1 and to fertilise the plants once a month. The new gardeners can try fertilising their plants with organic fertiliser, but it takes a bit more time.
There are so many more herbs that are good to keep on hand and enjoy not only their incredible taste, but also their healing effect, but we will not have thousands of lines to describe them.
Drink teas, trust nature and respect the traditions of herbalism, because the use of herbs for healing has been tested for generations and has an indisputably proven effect! For this reason, don’t forget to always have these must have herbs at home.