Whether they’re called herbal folk remedies, botanicals, or phytomedicine, plant-based healing has a long and venerable history. Some names may seem familiar, such as echinacea, feverfew, chamomile, and ginger—all of which can be found as tea leaves in most supermarkets or health food stores, particularly as flu season approaches.
All these plants do well indoors, and there’s no substitute for vibrant, fresh harvests from plants that weren’t sprayed with pesticides. These and the following plants are all easy to grow from seed—or rhizome, in the case of ginger and its healthy cousin, turmeric.
Already at Hand
Three common windowsill culinary herbs that also offer important health benefits are mint, thyme, and garlic.Made from dried or fresh leaves, mint tea has been used to aid digestion, soothe abdominal cramps, and relieve gas and bloating. Chewing its fresh leaves can help open up the sinuses, relieve a sore throat, and soothe an annoying cough. Mint is so easy to grow indoors that it should be given its own pot, as it is an aggressive spreader that likes to take over.
Thyme oil, which is extracted from its leaves, is a common ingredient in natural cough remedies. For a simple, homemade version, add some thyme leaves to honey to quickly soothe a sore throat. Packed with vitamins A and C, copper, fiber, iron, and manganese, it’s also great with eggs, tomatoes, and chicken. Thyme likes a clay pot because it allows it to dry out fully between waterings.
Seed Packet Savants
Beloved by herbal enthusiasts worldwide during cold and flu season for its ability to boost the immune system, echinacea (also known as purple coneflower) is surprisingly easy to grow indoors, as it can make do with as little as four hours of direct sunlight each day. A cool-season grower, indoors it prefers temperatures between 65 degrees F and 75 degrees F.
Feverfew got its name from its reported ability to promote sweating, which flushes toxins from the body, helping break a fever. It’s best watered once a week to maintain even dampness. It has similar growing conditions to echinacea, but beware: It spreads its seed generously, so keep an eye out for seedlings in other plants’ pots.
Chamomile is most famous for its ability to improve sleep, something that’s important both when one is fighting off a cold or flu and for modern life in general. It also soothes the stomach and may help control blood sugar. There are two types: Roman and German, with the more compact Roman better suited to indoors. It needs six to eight hours of sunlight a day to produce flowers.
The little known but highly versatile toothache plant (aka electric daisy) is aptly named. Simply chewing a flower can numb an aching tooth with a local anesthetic spilanthol. It is both pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory when used to treat stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth), and it stimulates the salivary glands to aid those suffering from dry mouth. It thrives in six-plus hours of sun per day and a humid indoor environment.
Refreshing Roots
Ginger contains gingerol, a potent medicinal that has been used to fight flu and common cold symptoms. It has also been traditionally used to help with nausea, including morning sickness, and weight loss.Its cousin, turmeric, is known for lessening inflammation and helping with depression. Their lush leaves will add a dash of the tropics to a winter décor. Both need room to spread horizontally, so a 12-inch-wide pot is best, but as they tend to be shallow growers, a six- to eight-inch depth will do in a pinch.
Pick Your Pot
Any of these plants can be planted in individual pots or—with the exception of fast-spreading mint and feverfew—grown together in one big pot. One benefit of larger containers, such as the long pots designed specifically to fit a windowsill, is that they dry out less quickly and therefore need less watering than other planters.Fill the pot(s) with potting soil or seed starting mix—garden soil is too heavy. Plant the seeds at the depth recommended on the packet. Keep the soil moist, not soggy. Place in a window that gets five to six hours of sun each day (or use grow lights, which are available in a large range of sizes).
Beyond the Windowsill
Got more available space? Here’s three more homegrown remedies to round out the indoor homestead.Mood-elevating St. John’s wort (also known as goat weed) will thrive indoors as long as it gets eight or more hours of sun per day in 65-degree-F to 70-degree-F temperatures. The leaves and flowers make an excellent tea, oil, tincture, or poultice.
While moringa can grow huge outdoors, it can be easily kept under control inside. Regularly harvest the leaves and stems, which contain protein, manganese, essential amino acids, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, B, C, E, and K. Give it six or more hours of full sun per day.
Goldenseal root helps treat and prevent colds and allergies and reduces sinus inflammation and infection. When made into a mouthwash, it helps with sore throats, gums, and canker sores. It prefers shade.
