Growing Aromatic Plants for Better Health

Aromatic plants have been cherished for centuries for their fragrant qualities and diverse health benefits. Incorporating these plants into your garden not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also provides a natural source of remedies and culinary delights. Let’s explore six popular aromatic plants, focusing on their health benefits, methods of administration, and essential growing tips.

Health Benefits:

• Improves Memory and Concentration: Rosemary tea or inhaling rosemary essential oil can enhance cognitive function. A study found that carnosic acid in rosemary protects the brain from damage and improves memory (Perry et al., 2003) .
• Rich in Antioxidants: Consuming rosemary-infused water or using rosemary extract can combat oxidative stress and inflammation due to its high antioxidant content (Bozin et al., 2007) .
• Supports Immune System Health: Adding rosemary to your diet or using rosemary oil can boost immunity through its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties (Bozin et al., 2007) .

Growing Tips:

• Prefers well-drained soil and full sun.
• Water moderately; allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
• Prune regularly to maintain shape and encourage new growth.

Health Benefits:

• Promotes Relaxation and Reduces Anxiety: Lavender essential oil, used in aromatherapy or as a bath additive, has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels (Lehrner et al., 2005) .
• Aids in Sleep Disorders: Inhaling lavender oil or using it in a diffuser can improve sleep quality and alleviate insomnia (Lillehei et al., 2015) .
• Antiseptic and Anti-inflammatory Properties: Applying diluted lavender oil topically can treat minor burns and insect bites due to its antiseptic properties (Cavanagh et al., 2002) .

Growing Tips:

• Requires well-drained soil and full sun.
• Water sparingly; lavender is drought-tolerant.
• Prune after flowering to maintain shape and encourage new growth.

Health Benefits:

• Rich in Antioxidants: Consuming fresh basil leaves or making basil tea helps protect cells from damage due to its flavonoids (Sadeghi et al., 2015) .
• Anti-inflammatory Properties: Adding basil to meals or using basil oil can reduce inflammation and swelling in the body (Ulbricht et al., 2014) .
• Supports Cardiovascular Health: Drinking basil tea or incorporating it into your diet helps lower blood pressure and improve heart health due to its eugenol content (Kifer et al., 2020) .

Growing Tips:

• Needs well-drained soil and full sun (6-8 hours of sunlight daily).
• Water regularly but avoid waterlogging.
• Pinch off the flowers to encourage more leaf growth.

Health Benefits:

• Improves Brain Function and Memory: Drinking sage tea or using sage extract has been linked to enhanced cognitive function and improved memory (Akhondzadeh et al., 2003) .
• Rich in Vitamins K and A: Consuming fresh sage leaves or using it in cooking provides essential vitamins for bone health and immune function (USDA National Nutrient Database) .
• Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties: Adding sage to your diet or using sage oil helps reduce oxidative stress and inflammation (Hamidpour et al., 2014) .

Growing Tips:

• Requires full sun and well-drained soil.
• Water moderately; do not overwater.
• Prune regularly to encourage new growth.

Health Benefits:

• Rich in Antioxidants: Drinking oregano tea or using it as a culinary herb provides strong antioxidant benefits from its high phenolic content (Skoula et al., 2002) .
• Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial Properties: Consuming oregano oil or adding fresh leaves to your diet helps reduce inflammation and fight bacterial infections (Gilling et al., 2014) .
• Supports Digestive Health: This herb can aid digestion and relieve gastrointestinal issues like bloating and indigestion (Marrelli et al., 2014) .

Growing Tips:

• Needs full sun and well-drained soil.
• Water when the soil is dry to the touch.
• Harvest leaves before the plant flowers for the best flavor.

Health Benefits:

• Antimicrobial and Antibacterial Properties: Applying diluted geranium oil topically can prevent infections and treat minor wounds (Dorman et al., 2004) .
• Reduces Stress and Fatigue: Using geranium oil in aromatherapy can alleviate stress and improve mood (Dorman et al., 2000) .
• Promotes Skin Health: Geranium oil, applied topically, can help heal wounds and improve skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis (Boskabady et al., 2011) .

Growing Tips:

• Prefers well-drained soil and partial to full sun.
• Water regularly but avoid overwatering.
• Deadhead spent flowers to promote continuous blooming.

Aromatic plants like Rosemary, Lavender, Origanum syriacum, Basil, Sage, and Geranium are not only easy to grow but also provide numerous health benefits. By incorporating these plants into your garden, you can enjoy their delightful scents, enhance your well-being, and have a fresh supply of natural remedies at your fingertips. Happy gardening!

By Eng. Maryse Bou Zeid

References:

1. Perry, N., et al. (2003). “Medicinal plants and dementia therapy: herbal hopes for brain aging?” Maturitas. Available at NCBI .

2. Bozin, B., et al. (2007). “Characterization of the volatile composition of essential oils of some Lamiaceae spices and the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the entire oils.” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Available at ResearchGate .

3. Lehrner, J., et al. (2005). “Ambient odors of orange and lavender reduce anxiety and improve mood in a dental office.” Physiology & Behavior. Available at ScienceDirect .

4. Lillehei, A.S., et al. (2015). “Effect of lavender aromatherapy on vital signs and perceived quality of sleep in the intermediate care unit: a pilot study.” American Journal of Critical Care. Available at AJCC .

5. Cavanagh, H.M.A., et al. (2002). “Biological activities of lavender essential oil.” Phytotherapy Research. Available at Wiley Online Library .

6. Skoula, M., et al. (2002). “Essential oil variation of Origanum syriacum I. from Greece.” Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. Available at ScienceDirect .

7. Gilling, D.H., et al. (2014). “Synergistic inhibition of planktonic and biofilm Escherichia coli O157

by carvacrol and thymol.” International Journal of Food Microbiology. Available at Elsevier .

8. Marrelli, M., et al. (2014). “Phenolic content, antioxidant and preliminary antimicrobial activity of different solvent extracts of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart.” International Journal of Food Properties. Available at Tandfonline .

9. Sadeghi, H., et al. (2015). “Ocimum basilicum: A Review on Phytochemical and Pharmacological Aspects.” Boletin Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromaticas. Available at ResearchGate .

10. Ulbricht, C., et al. (2014). “An evidence-based systematic review of basil (Ocimum basilicum) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration.” Journal of Dietary Supplements. Available at Taylor & Francis .

11. Kifer, D., et al. (2020). “The effect of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) on the body: a review.” Biomolecules. Available at MDPI .

12. Akhondzadeh, S., et al. (2003). “Salvia officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease: a double blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial.” Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. Available at Wiley Online Library .

13. USDA National Nutrient Database. “Sage, fresh.” USDA Nutrient Database. Available at USDA .

14. Hamidpour, R., et al. (2014). “Chemistry, pharmacology, and medicinal property of sage (Salvia) to prevent and cure illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, depression, dementia, lupus, autism, heart disease, and cancer.” Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. Available at ScienceDirect .

15. Dorman, H.J.D., et al. (2004). “Antioxidant, prooxidant and cytotoxic properties of carvacrol, thymol and other essential oil constituents.” Toxicology in Vitro. Available at Elsevier .

16. Dorman, H.J.D., et al. (2000). “Inhibition of microbial growth by carvacrol and thymol.” Journal of Applied Microbiology. Available at Wiley Online Library .

17. Boskabady, M.H., et al. (2011). “Pharmacological effects of Rosa damascena.” Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences. Available at NCBI .