Easy To Grow Immunity Boosters for Difficult Times
In India, where plant based medicine is common, and most can claim to have used home made cures for common, non-serious ailments at least once, a disclaimer is probably not required. Nevertheless, before I shoot out this list of easy to grow plants, AND despite these being highly rated in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddhi and/or HomoeoPathy, PLEASE do your own research before ingesting/inhaling/applying/mixing/you-know-what-I-mean-by-now, any part or parts of these plants while attempting a cure or remedy :-)
Aloe Vera
Medicinal Use in: Skin Hydration/Care
Requirements: Full sun, sandy or quick draining soil, sparse watering
What to Note: Needs shelter from heavy rains and decreased watering in monsoons
Growing tips at: https://mumbaifarmer.com/what-to-grow/growing-aloe-vera-in-mumbai/
Miracle Plant/Patharchatta
Medicinal Use in: Asthma, Blood Dysentery, Boils, Diabetes, Gout, Insect Bites, Jaundice, Dysuria, Epilepsy, Gout, Pneumonia & other respiratory ailments
Requirements: Semi-shade, quick draining soil, sparse watering
What to Note: Needs shelter from heavy rains and decreased watering in monsoons
Insulin/Sugar Plant
Medicinal Use in: Diabetes
Requirements: Full sun/semi shade, regular soil, deep watering
What to Note: Needs large container for good growth
Sweetleaf/Multivitamin/Thavasi Keerai
Medicinal Use in: Anaemia
Requirements: Full sun, regular soil, regular watering
What to Note: Needs large container for good growth
Giloy/Gulvel
Medicinal Use in: Fever, Diabetes, Digestion, Depression & Anxiety
Requirements: Full sun, regular soil, sparse watering
What to Note: This is a quickly growing creeper. Needs extra large container and trellis/support for good growth
Gurmar/Gymnema
Medicinal Use in: Diabetes, Heart & Blood Ailments
Requirements: Full sun, well draining soil, sparse watering
What to Note: Needs large container for good growth
Indian Borage/Mexican Mint
Medicinal Use in: Renal & Blood Ailments, Inflammation of the Lungs
Requirements: Full sun, regular soil, deep watering
What to Note: Needs large container for good growth
Growing Tips at: https://mumbaifarmer.com/plantopedia/growing-borage-in-mumbai/
The Holy Trinity of Tulsi - Krishna, Rama & Karpoor
Medicinal Use in: Heart, Eye & Oral Health, Treatment of Fevers, Kidney Stones & Acne.
Requirements: Full sun, quick draining soil, sparse watering
What to Note: All tulsi/basil types grow in annual cycles in this part of India. So once your plants start to get woody, replant the more fibrous parts of their stems to propagate.
Growing Tips at: https://mumbaifarmer.com/what-to-grow/growing-basil-in-mumbai/
The Ginger Family - Galangal, Indian Ginger, Aromatic Ginger
Medicinal Use in: Respiratory Health, Stomach Ailments
Requirements: Full sun, quick draining soil, sparse watering
What to Note: A seasonal plant that grows best June through February. Needs bottom wide container that's wind sheltered for good growth
Growing Tips at: https://mumbaifarmer.com/what-to-grow/growing-ginger-in-mumbai/
The Turmeric Family - Golden, White, Black & Fragrant Haldi
Medicinal Use in: Arthritis, Hay Fever, Depression, High Cholesterol, Itchy Skin
Requirements: Full sun, regular soil, deep watering
What to Note: A seasonal plant that grows best June through February. Needs bottom wide container for good growth. Once harvested, central root nodes can be re-planted.
Growing Tips at: https://mumbaifarmer.com/what-to-grow/growing-turmeric-in-mumbai/
All the plants listed above are easy to grow in Mumbai weather. In fact, there are many more that did not make the list for want of space, like Brahmi, Vaathamkoli, Lemongrass, Citronella, Rosary Pea, Cardamom and Arrowroot. Available year round in my nursery (except for a few that are seasonally available like Turmeric, Indian Ginger & Arrowroot) they can be grown in containers on a balcony or large window grill that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight.
Sufficiently enthused about making a start? With the pandemic upon us - now and for the foreseeable future - it's time to move toward local and simple self-sufficiency by growing some of our own medicine at home. It's time to take control of our own health. And it's time to make those health and lifestyle choices that the pandemic seems to be highlighting to the world.
Take care, stay safe and happy growing!
#medicinalplants #medicinal #naturalremedies #naturopathy #plantmedicine #naturalcures #ayurveda #unani #siddhi #homoeopathy #traditionalmedicine #holisticmedicine #tropical
(Images in this post are sourced from the Internet. Please contact re objections/credits, thank you!)