Growing herbs in apartments not only adds natural beauty and a pleasant fragrance, but can provide you with several healthy home medicines. Even though herbs are famous for being used in cooking, they have provided medicines for all types of sicknesses and aliments for several centuries. Herbs are the basis for our current production of pharmaceutical drugs.
Today, many individuals are turning to herbs as natural and inexpensive ways to help many physical conditions such as headaches, stomach aches and frequent insomnia. Typically herbs are consumed by drinking a cup of tea which allows herbs to be easily absorbed.
Here is a guide to help you grow healthy herbs in an apartment.
Getting Started
Growing herbs is similar to growing most plants and flowers. They require nutrient rich black dirt, water and sunlight. Most herbs need a lot of sun, though there are some that can flourish in low lighting. You can plant your herbs in a medium to large pot, windowsill container or recycle an empty large coffee can. It’s important that they have room to spread their roots and can be placed near a sunny window. Also, add some gravel to ensure proper water drainage.
1. Valerian, Skullcap, Chamomile, Passion Flower – helps calm you down and make sure that you can get a good night’s rest.
2. Barberry, Sweet Annie, Meadowsweet, Baikal Skullcap, Licorice, Ginger and Marshmallow – work as an aid for proper digestion and promote a healthy digestive tract.
3. Pygeum, Saw Palmetto, Pipsissewa, Marshmallow and Echinacea – benefits the health of the male prostate.
4. St. John’s Wort – benefits concentration and emotional sense of well being.
5. Milk Thistle – helps the liver stay healthy.
6. Reishi – provides effective support for the immune system.
7. Black Cohosh, Helonias, Partridge Berry, Dang gui, Angelica, Licorice, Ginger, Chasteberry – helps the hormonal health of women, and often used for menopause symptoms.
8. Fresh Motherwart, Hawthorn and fresh Skullcap and Cayenne – promote a healthy heart and benefits heart and cardiovascular conditions.
Three Major Types of Plants
It’s important to know the major types of plants because they may require different amounts of water, sun and weeding. There are three kinds of plants including annuals, perennials and biennials. An annual grows for one year, a perennial grows for more than two years and a biennial continues for two years. As you plant your herbs, leave room between them to ensure their roots do not mix together. If you have room, plant them in separate containers.
Harvesting Your Herbs
After the herbs have attained their full growth, they are ready for harvesting and storage. You can dry the herbs by placing them in air locked bags, hanging them upside down or by drying them inside an oven.
How To Prepare Your Herbs
Herbs are easy to consume by drinking them as a tea. You can use an infusion method to extract their active ingredients. While fresh leaves provide the highest amount of essential oils, you can use dried herbs and still get a nice flavor.
Infusion
Simply begin by mixing a teaspoon of herbs with a cup of boiling water, for every cup that you wish to drink. Pour the boiling water on the leaves, flowers and stems and let them sweep for 15 to 30 minutes or when the water becomes cool. Put a tight cover over the mixture so it can capture the basic oils and nutrients. Then, strain the mixture and place it in a bottle that you will refrigerate for later use.
You may drink it immediately while it’s hot, but the flavor will be stronger the longer it’s allowed to sweep.
Examples Of Herbal Teas
Many kinds of herbs can be placed in boiling water for several minutes and after tossing out the leaves and stems, the water may be used as a hot drink. Here are some examples:
– Senna
– Lemon
– Chamomile
– Rooibos
– Ginger
– Apple
Some herbs that are combined make a flavorful tea and provide double the nutrients for better health.