The Urban Herbal Remedy
Life in a big city has its perks. Community, events, restaurants, and public transit. Unfortunately for those residing in the metropolitan area, the greenery is sorely lacking. Lush woods and open fields are foreign to many major cities. The natural flora of the environment provides us with fresh air, a beautiful landscape, and sometimes food! What can you do if you want the city life and access to fresh greenery around your home? I present to you the window herb garden. It is an eye catching and delicious hack to bring life to any dull space. Not to mention, it is a fun and inexpensive hobby to spend indoors. An herb garden starter kit is the best way to boost your mood, add a nutritious garnish to your meals, and to brighten up your living space.
A drab and dreary apartment can easily be brightened up with a little splash of vegetation. A small batch of lavender growing in your living room may be just what you need to set a relaxing tone for your guests. Maybe some kava in the kitchen or even some basil in the bedroom. Alliteration aside, an herb kit is an easy and inexpensive way to greatly improve one’s home décor.
Aside from serving as a form of decoration, herbs provide a myriad of health benefits when consumed. For instance, basil was found to be rich in antioxidants found from the plant’s roots, leaves, and flowers. As well as reducing oxidative stress, basil contains a multitude of anti-inflammatory properties. Studies on the use of crude herbs (leaves, flowers, stems etc.) for people with hypertension have shown strong results. A study in Ghana indicated that patients used moringa, bitter leaf, garlic, dandelion, and cotton plant to manage hypertension. In Malaysia; misai kucing, bitter gourd, basil, ginseng, and garlic are used for patients with hypertension. In Jamaica patients with hypertension took moringa, ginger, lime, garlic, and guinea hen weed. Many people living in big cities do not have access to fresh produce and high quality food leading to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The herb garden isn’t the solution to solve the world’s problems but it is a step in the right direction. For example; inner-city families living in food deserts can grow fresh oregano from home and start brewing their own tea. This acts as a gateway for their children to form nutritious habits. Growing oregano and making tea may lead growing cherry tomatoes and making homemade salads, which may lead to inner-city kids learning to meal prep, which may lead to the reduction or elimination fast food intake outside of school. Forming the habit of seeking creative ways to access healthful foods and drinks doesn’t have to start at childhood either and it is never too late to turn things around.
The medicinal use of herbs in the U.S. is, for the most part, underappreciated. Educating yourself on the beneficial properties of plants and herbs is important when considering your health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Especially those with chronic non-communicable diseases. The need for natural remedies is only increasing with the way the U.S. healthcare system prioritizes the treatment of the human body as if it is only the sum of its parts. The modern healthcare system may need to learn to view the organ systems for what they are, systems that rely on each other; rather than separate structures that function independently. So, go start a window garden and enjoy the first stepping stone of improve your health and happiness from your own home.
Sources:
Kamelnia E, Mohebbati R, Kamelnia R, El-Seedi HR, Boskabady MH. Anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-oxidant effects of Ocimum basilicum L. and its main constituents: A review. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2023;26(6):617-627. doi: 10.22038/IJBMS.2023.67466.14783. PMID: 37275758; PMCID: PMC10237160.
Joachimdass RJ, Subramaniam K, Sit NW, Lim YM, Teo CH, Ng CJ, Yusof AS, Loganathan A. Self-management using crude herbs and the health-related quality of life among adult patients with hypertension living in a suburban setting of Malaysia. PLoS One. 2021 Sep 10;16(9):e0257336. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257336. PMID: 34506588; PMCID: PMC8432735.
