Top 15 Familiar Plants Turned into Valuable Medicinal Herbs for Your Home Garden

As one of the most familiar plants in our daily lives, ginger plays a crucial role not only as a essential spice in every meal but also renowned for its various medicinal benefits. It is a precious herb with potent antibacterial properties and effective antioxidant prevention. The antioxidant compounds in ginger help the body prevent the production of histamine, guarding against seasonal allergies.

Moreover, ginger balances the digestive process, improves blood circulation, and enhances the absorption of nutrients in the body more easily and efficiently. Especially, ginger proves to be effective in treating joint pain, nausea, supporting diabetes treatment, and respiratory conditions. With its versatile uses in daily life and healing properties, ginger has become a plant that almost every family grows in their home garden and widely utilized. During the cold early days of winter, ginger is particularly effective in warming the body, preventing allergies, and colds. Enjoying a cup of hot ginger tea will make you feel warmer, healthier, and much more comfortable.

Garlic belongs to the onion family, a familiar spice appearing in most Vietnamese family dishes. In garlic, there are various nutrients such as vitamin C, Manganese, fiber, and vitamin B6, beneficial for health. In meals, adding a bit of garlic spice to stir-fries or salads enhances the flavor significantly, stimulating the appetite of the eater. In folklore, garlic is believed to ward off evil spirits, and its aroma helps repel snakes, reptiles, and harmful insects.

Additionally, garlic possesses impressive healing properties, such as treating scratches on hands and feet, thanks to allicin—a natural antibiotic found in garlic with effective antibacterial properties. Applying fresh garlic to minor scratches for a short period accelerates the healing process. Besides its therapeutic uses, garlic helps boost immunity, nutrient absorption, balances the digestive system, cardiovascular health, blood pressure, improves iron metabolism, and detoxifies internal organs in the human body.

Betel leaf, also known as Piperaceae, is a wild plant found in many rural areas. However, betel leaf is also a plant widely cultivated in the gardens of households. This is due to its wonderful healing properties, such as relieving joint pain, treating gynecological issues in women like itching, vaginal infections, excessive vaginal discharge, addressing sweaty hands and feet, toothaches, and repelling insects...

In traditional beliefs, betel leaf is also known for treating sinusitis, cold abdominal pain, diarrhea, hiccup, nausea, and even during the period of abstinence or childbirth for women. Elders believe that spreading betel leaves under the lying mat of a mother and newborn will help retain body warmth in cold weather, ensuring better sleep and less crying during the postpartum period.

Lemongrass, often mistakenly considered a wild grass, is, in fact, among the most valuable plants for important medicinal purposes in everyday life. Lemongrass is widely used in flower arrangements and as an ingredient in various dishes. However, few are aware that the roots and stems of lemongrass play a significant role in healing. This excellent herb helps treat symptoms of fever, cough, heal skin wounds, sunburns, and more.

In addition, lemongrass is effective in treating asthma, bronchitis, and lung inflammation. Furthermore, the natural growth of lemongrass species helps balance the ecosystem, creating a fresh environment and enriching the diversity of natural vegetation.

Fish mint has a slightly fishy and sour smell but is quite popular when served with main dishes due to its unique flavor. In addition to its mouth-watering taste, fish mint has the functions of cooling, detoxifying, and refreshing the body. It is a medicinal plant for treating intestinal diseases, diarrhea, and even constipation due to irritable bowel or heat. It effectively treats swollen red acne, itching, by simply crushing some fish mint leaves, applying them to the affected area, and bandaging. The affected area will gradually reduce swelling and heal after several continuous applications.

Moreover, using fish mint helps alleviate urinary pain and lung inflammation caused by measles. It is commonly used in pregnant women and children due to its mild nature, to reduce heat, fever, relieve pain during teething, or treat breastfeeding issues and mammary gland inflammation in breastfeeding mothers.

Dandelion plant is one of the precious medicinal herbs widely used in daily life. Dandelion has a bitter-sweet taste, a cool nature, and is excellent for cooling and detoxification. Folk medicine utilizes the roots, leaves, and branches for healing and wound recovery purposes. Dandelion contains a rich amount of vitamins, minerals, benefiting human health by purifying the body, detoxifying, and balancing blood sugar and cholesterol levels, minimizing diseases related to the liver, kidneys, and spleen.

Moreover, dandelion is rich in nutrients and high levels of vitamins A, B, C, starch, fat, trace elements Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium… Especially Iron (higher than in spinach). Dandelion is effective in treating abdominal pain, joint pain, muscle pain, eczema, bruises, diuresis, laxatives, and helps regulate bowel movements. Dandelion plant also works wonders in treating breast gland blockages, milk duct blockages, and healing pus-filled pimples. Dried roots, stems, and leaves of the dandelion plant brewed into tea also have the effect of treating indigestion and indigestion.

Shiso, a spice, is also a widely used traditional medicinal herb. Shiso plant is also known as perilla, beefsteak plant, and purple mint, with different names depending on various regions. Its scientific name is Perilla frutescens, belonging to the Labiatae mint family. The shiso plant usually grows throughout the year with an average height of 0.5 - 1m, an upright stem, and many small soft hairs around. The leaves of the shiso plant grow symmetrically, shaped like pointed oval eggs, with serrated edges extending from the base to the tip with large sawtooth. The leaf blade is about 4cm - 12cm long and 2.5cm to 10cm wide. Shiso leaves are typically two main colors, either green or purple.

The flowers of the shiso plant usually form clusters about 6cm to 20cm long. The fruit of the shiso plant has a very small diameter, about 1mm, and is spherical and brown. There are two types of shiso plants, one with green color and one with purple color. Shiso plants can be found anywhere and can even be grown in your garden. Shiso plants are often grown from seeds and can be harvested in about 2 months for leaf use.

The body needs a daily supply of various vitamins to boost the immune system. In the patchouli plant, there are abundant vitamins C and A, helping you overcome the common cold. Additionally, patchouli contains copper, fiber, iron, and manganese—essential elements for good health.

Patchouli is a fragrant plant with flowers, leaves, and especially patchouli essential oil, which is beneficial for health. It not only acts as an antifungal, preventing the invasion of bacteria, viruses, and parasites, but also has excellent effects in balancing blood pressure, soothing the nervous system, reducing stress, and serving as an effective remedy for handling redness, swelling, dry skin, colds, and coughs...

Planting a pot of patchouli in your garden brings a refreshing fragrance to your home, uplifting your spirit with its gentle scent, relieving the fatigue and tension when feeling closer to nature.

Lemongrass is a perennial grass, often growing into large bushes, with narrow, long, serrated leaves that are rough to the touch. When crushed or peeled, the lemongrass plant emits a citrusy aroma. The stem and roots are white or slightly purple. Lemongrass is cultivated in many places and is a common spice used in Vietnamese cuisine, especially in dishes with a tangy flavor. In addition, the lemongrass plant possesses medicinal properties that are not widely known. Dishes prepared with lemongrass are often beneficial for digestion, stimulate sweating, reduce fever in people with colds, and have diuretic effects.

The stem of the lemongrass plant is used to treat muscle spasms, cramps, low joints, headaches, and various women's health issues such as menstrual disorders and monthly menstrual cramps. Drinking a bit of fresh lemongrass water can alleviate abdominal pain and regulate menstruation. Furthermore, lemongrass is effective in reducing fever, relieving pain, such as toothaches, muscle pain, joint pain, lowering blood pressure, improving blood circulation, detoxifying, countering the effects of alcohol, and preventing flu. In folk medicine, lemongrass is used for bathing, hair washing, and steam bathing because the essential oil in lemongrass helps soften and darken hair, providing a sense of comfort and joy to the spirit.

Chive blossom or chive flower is a familiar ingredient in our daily meals. Almost every dish is enhanced with chive blossom to make it more delicious and visually appealing. However, you may not know that this spice also has many effective medicinal properties. Chive leaves, also known as green onions or common onions, are a treasure trove of everything good for your body. It is a staple ingredient for many homemakers and is widely used in cooking, from raw dishes like salads, to cooked dishes…

Chive is a herbaceous plant, a perennial with a distinctive aroma. A plant has 5 - 6 leaves, cylindrical and hollow, 30 - 50cm long, with a swollen base and a tapered top. The flowers grow on the hollow cylindrical tube, forming umbrella-like clusters that resemble a sphere. The fruit is a round capsule. Chive is grown everywhere, mainly used as a spice. In addition to its culinary use, chive is also an herb used to treat various illnesses such as cough relief, expectorant, diuretic, and antiseptic...

Cinnamon basil has a sweet and spicy taste, and a pleasant aroma commonly used in family meals as a herbaceous side dish. Cinnamon basil is rich in iron, calcium, potassium, vitamins C, K, and is a good source of fiber beneficial for digestion. Cinnamon basil also has a warm nature, promoting sweating, diuresis, and effective pain relief. Cinnamon basil fruit is used as a precious medicine to improve and enhance vision. Cinnamon basil essential oil is used as a herbal remedy for skincare and hair moisturizing.

Cinnamon basil leaves are also used in the treatment of skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis, reducing cholesterol levels in the blood. Scientists have even pointed out that simply incorporating a few strands of cinnamon basil into daily meals can reduce the risk of fat accumulation in the blood and benefit digestion.

Chinese parsley, also known as cilantro, is a familiar aromatic herb that enhances the flavor of many dishes. Besides its culinary use, this herb surprisingly offers therapeutic benefits and various health advantages. Chinese parsley is a herbaceous plant with an average height ranging from 15 to 25cm. The leaves are lobed and elongated, with many serrated edges on both sides. The upper leaves are wider towards the tip, often with more serrations on the stem leaves. The upper leaves are deeply incised with 3-7 lobes at the top and many spines.

The flowers are greenish-white, growing from the stem axis in a cylindrical or oval shape. The fruit is spherical, slightly flattened, containing numerous seeds for propagation. Normally, when mature, the seeds of the plant will fall off and disperse. Chinese parsley is usually harvested fresh for immediate use and can be harvested at any time of the year. Both young and mature plants have excellent effects.

In many regions, this medicinal herb is also used in its dried form. After harvesting, it is cleaned, can be left whole or cut short, then dried in the shade for later use. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese parsley has remarkable effects, initially clearing heat, promoting qi circulation, reducing pain, promoting airflow, dissipating heat, detoxifying, stimulating digestion, and neutralizing odors.

Most parts of the tofu plant exhibit chemical activities, so the medicinal properties of the tofu plant continue to be researched. In fact, while the benefits of the fruit are well known, the health benefits of tofu leaves are not widely known. Tofu leaves have various uses, and they contain a high amount of berbagia, an effective compound for treating acute diarrhea. When brewed with tea, tofu leaves help reduce cholesterol and prevent diabetes.

One of the main health benefits of tofu leaves is rapid weight loss. Drinking ground tofu leaf water with other fruits helps prevent the conversion of starches into sugar in the body. If you have a family history of diabetes, the simplest way to prevent it is to regularly drink tofu leaf tea. This type of tea can effectively reduce glucose levels in the body by reducing the activity of the enzyme alpha-glucosidase. As a result, blood sugar levels decrease without increasing insulin production in the body. Tofu fruit is effective in reducing diarrhea or other abdominal pain. Simply put tofu fruit and roots into a pot, add water, boil, and drink on an empty stomach for excellent results.

Lemongrass is a common spice present in many Vietnamese dishes, yet few people know that lemongrass is also a medicinal herb that can treat numerous ailments. Lemongrass, also known as kinh gioi or khuong gioi, promotes sweating, enhances lymphatic secretion, improves blood circulation, relieves inflammation, soothes nerves, reduces fever, dilates bronchi, and acts as an antiallergic. Lemongrass leaves have a pleasant aroma, a spicy taste, warm properties, and contain about 1% essential oil.

Lemongrass flowers induce stronger sweating than lemongrass leaves. Use lemongrass flowers if there is no sweating; use lemongrass leaves if sweating is present. When entering the blood compartment, use lemongrass leaves made into charcoal. Lemongrass is used as medicine to treat various conditions such as external invasion of pathogenic wind, sudden fever, headache, nasal congestion, cough, itching, new measles outbreak, pustules, sore throat, poison ivy, bleeding gums, cough, vomiting blood, urinating blood, postpartum conditions, restraining appetite, and spastic limbs. The usual dosage is 4 - 12g, and when using fresh lemongrass, the amount is multiplied by 3 - 4 times.

Lemongrass is a wild-growing herbaceous grass reaching a height of 15 - 90cm with robust roots. The stem crawls at the base, branches out, then grows straight, forming a bush. The leaves are arranged alternately, lance-shaped, and the flower cluster is a finger-splitting inflorescence with 5 - 7 long branches radiating evenly at the common stalk's top and 1 - 2 lower branches, each carrying many flowers. The fruit is elongated, almost triangular. The grass blooms from March to November, and this tropical grass species is commonly found in various places, often seen on field edges, roadsides, and wastelands.

Lemongrass is often used to treat high blood pressure, pulmonary tuberculosis, dry cough, lingering low-grade fever, fatigue from tuberculosis, yellow and scanty urination. It is also used for pregnant women with heat constipation, melancholy, restlessness, headache, nausea, chest fullness, and hot flashes. It is also consumed to treat pustules, heat toxicity, and tongue-tie in children.