Herbal remedies are gifts from the mother nature. The medicinal herbs are utilized in many organic goods in addition to helping in the treatment of many mental, physical, and emotional problems that affect people. Medical plants grow swiftly and are cost-effective. Due to its low cost, as well as health benefits, a medicinal plant garden is well-liked all around the world.
The phrase “medicinal plant” refers to several different plant species utilized in herbalism (“herbology” or “herbal medicine”). It involves both the study of and the use of plants for therapeutic purposes.
The Latin word “herba” and the ancient French word “herbe” are the origins of the term “herb.” Today, the term “herb” is used to describe any component of the plant, including the fruit, seed, stem, bark, flower, leaf, stigma, or root of a non-woody plant. Before, only non-woody plants, such as those that derive from trees and bushes, were referred to as “herbs.” These healing plants are also utilized in some types of spiritual practices, as well as in food, flavonoids, medication, and perfume.
Long before the ancient era, people employed plants for medical purposes. Chinese texts, Egyptian papyrus, and ancient Unani scrolls all discussed the usage of plants. There is evidence that around 4000 years ago, Unani Hakims, Indian Vaids, and cultures from the Mediterranean and Europe used plants as medicine. Herbs were employed in healing rituals by indigenous societies in Rome, Egypt, Iran, Africa, and America, while other cultures formed traditional medical systems like Unani, Ayurveda, and Chinese Medicine that systematically utilized herbal remedies.
Here are some suggestions for setting up an easy-to-manage medicinal plant garden at your house.
Start Small: One of the fundamental gardening ideas that are appropriate for sustaining high-quality herbal/medicinal gardens is to focus on quality rather than quantity. Start with one or a few herbs, watch them develop, and learn about nurturing and how to care for the many gardening-related concepts by watching them. One can go to a larger garden with additional herbs once the first few bloom. Particularly for beginners, a slow and comprehensive approach offers a sense of inspiration and renewed vitality.
Regularly Check Soil Nutrient Levels: Regardless of the plantings, it is important to regularly evaluate the soil’s quality. Given that the soil is the most important foundation and the source of many nutrients for seeds, seedlings, and plants, it must be assessed in accredited laboratories to look for any potential shortages. To provide a more natural breeding habitat for the herbs and plants, the manure utilized in medicinal gardens must be of an organic type rather than chemical in focus.
Prefer Basic Seeds: Medicinal gardens may be constructed using a variety of plants and therapeutic herbs, either in seedling form or from basic seeds. The use of basic seeds is encouraged because they are more cost-effective and because they help novice gardeners or owners of medicinal gardens in understanding the notion of care and nurturing needed to sustain a herbal garden over an extended period of time. Gardening is a way of life, not simply a hobby. The better the garden is likely to be kept, the more involved the owner is with all elements of gardening.
Embrace Culture of Potting: Not all gardeners support the usage of pots for medicinal plants. Several plants have been seen to produce more in a tiny, specific container. Using pot culture to cultivate medicinal plants has the benefit of allowing one to experiment with sites beyond the garden base, such as raised beds, porches, and even within or outside the kitchen window. While embracing the pot culture is a fantastic idea, make sure that all the medicinal plants, such as yarrow, burdock, mullein, and related herbs, that grow large and spread across a wider surface area are always planted in the garden rather than in pots.
Focus on the Garden Design: The layout of any garden of medicinal herbs affects how the plants develop and evolve. Some herbs, like yarrow and valerian, are more suited for garden corners, while others may complement vegetables and appear more attractive when planted in flower beds, such as yarrow and valerian. Understanding the underlying family of herbs and their relationships with other plants and herbs is crucial instead of randomly planting herbs in the yard. With the use of this composite design technique, a garden may be properly planned, and beautiful, and produce more fruit and vegetables. With a raised bed in the center, several landscape designs may be created to store therapeutic herbs that require more sunshine than others.
Conclusion:
We are going further distant from nature as our way of life becomes more technologically advanced. Even though we are a part of nature, we cannot escape it. Herbs are natural items; thus, they have no negative side effects and are also relatively safe, environmentally friendly, and locally accessible. Many plants are traditionally used to treat diseases associated with certain seasons. To improvise the lives of people, they must be promoted and indulged in our small-space gardening.
First published on: 20 Dec 2022, 16:51 IST