by Svetlana Konnikova      

Sometimes your life is so busy and you don’t have time for picnics or any activities outdoors in the beauty of nature, but the Stream Garden will always be there for you with its healing plants, berries, fruits and vegetables. Ancients used every piece of the plant: seeds, flowers, roots, stems, bark and fruit to treat common ailments. For centuries plants were used in cosmetics, in religious ceremonies, and as decorations in homes. With the Stream Garden, an innovation of Swedish scientists, once again we can return to these green plants, and have them as our herbal first aid and raw ingredients for homemade remedies, as healthy foods and natural adornments for our homes and offices.

Now, let’s see what can we plant in our home garden?

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) , of course.

Grow this plant, which is also called sweet basil,  on a sunny windowsill. Generally basil’s usefullness is associated with our digestive system. Herbalists believe that this herb can help to treat stomach cramps, vomiting, constipation, even headache and whooping cough.

Mix fresh basil leaves with olive oil, pine nuts, choped garlic and parmesan, and you have delicious, aromatic pesto. Dry its leaves and make medicinal infusion. Steep 1tsp dried herb in 1/2 cup spring water for 3-5 minutes. Drink 1 cup a day, sweeten with organic honey and take it to treat cough.

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Plant in a pot on a sunny windowsill and harvest before it starts blossoming with flowers. Medicinal part: Leaves. Chives help to stimulate appetite and promote digestive function. Rich in iron, it is helpful in treating anemia. Always use fresh leaves and never boil them, especially in soups. Just chop fresh leaves and sprinkle them over your homemade salads, sandwiches, omelettes or any other dish before you serve it, and  if you want to substitute an onion with chives.

Mint (Mentha spp.)

Mints love also to grow on a sunny windowsill. There are at least thirty species of mint and all of them were popular until 17th century.  Today peppermint (Metha piperita) is intensively used in the West. The Russians and Chinese use field mint (Mentha arvensis), known  as miata in Russian and bo he  in Chinese. Garden mint which is spearmint (Mentha spicata). It is delicate and not so strong as peppermint, but can be used in the same way as mint other species, and is good for children.  

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Place this plant on the sunny windowsill. This lovely herb is well known for its great medicinal qualities, such as enhancing memory and supporting longevity.  The leaves can be harvested all year round. Infusion made from leaves (1 oz leaves and 2fl oz spring water) makes a tonic, liver stimulant and gargle or mouthwash for sore throats, mouth ulcers, and gum disease. It improves digestive function and circulation. Use them also to make fresh, hot tea or chop and  to lamb chopsticks, and other meals. 

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Like many other herbs, this plant prefers sun and warm environment. Melissa is the Greek word for “honey bee“ Since ancient times, balm and bees have been linked together because lemon balm has similar healing properties as honey and royal jelly.  Touch its fresh leaves and you’ll smell a gentle citrus scent. This plant was ancient doctors’ favorite for making “elixirs of youth” and  to “renew youth.”  Today herbalists use fresh leaves of  lemon balm to make infusion to treat the early stages of colds, and depression, tension, and anxiety, digestive upsets and nausea. Lemon balm is cooling, so It is very helpful as a natural aid to relieve painful swellings, such as gout. If you want a refreshing drink, especially in summer, use its fresh leaves and make a hot lemon tea.

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)

Sounds familiar? You can see boxes of Stevia powder in our supermarkets. But better grown this extraordinary plant on a sunny windowsill in your kitchen. So you have it right there, available for healthy use. Stevia has been used in South America for many years as natural sweetener. Use fresh leaves in your tea as a substitute of sugar. If you are craving sweets or have “a sweet tooth,” just take a couple of fresh leaves and chew them.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

This small annual plant also likes sun. It has been cultivated for thousands of years. It is still grown in Europe, and the Mediterranean are, in North and South America. Medicinal part is seed. It can be used as apperizer, antispasmodic, and if applied externally, make a good aid for treating rheumatism and painful joints. Even if some people think that coriander tastes like a soap, this delicate herb with spicy aroma improves the flavor of other medicinal preparations.

You can make infusion by steeping 2 tsp. dried seeds in 1 cup water and take 1 cup a day.

Tomato (Solanum hypersicum)

Choose a small tomato that can grow into a small plant. Otherwise, it can grow so tall that it will be difficult to support it in your house conditions. Eat them as they grow. Add to your sandwiches, make salads or dry them in the oven and save for your other dishes. Fresh tomatoes make a nutritions meal with goat cheese.

 Buy goat cheese log. Cut on rounded pieces. Put several thinly cut tomatoes on a piece of cheese,. Then sprinkle choped parsley or dill (which can also be grown in your garden) on your sandwich, and you have delicious and nutritious meal You can also put all ingredients on a piece of rye or wheat Italian five grains bread, and have a healthy breakfast or lunch without worry of gaining extra pounds. 

Chilli Peppers (Capcicum annuum) also love to be placed on a windowsill with plenty of sun. There are lots of different chillies grown around the world.     

If you like spicy food, the hottest peppers are Habanero. Use it in main course meals. If you are curious,  to taste hot pepper in combination with chocolate, put a tiny piece of it in a cup with hot chocolate. This is very popular trick in South America, and it helps to boost metabolism. But be very careful because it is really hot!!!

The sky is limit in your choice of these green wonders you can grow in your home organic garden. My List also includes parsley and dill, strawberies and raspberries. So, don’t waste your time. Reward yourself and your family with green stimulus! Start your organic garden today for your health and wellness. 

Source: www.greenfortune.com; The Complete Medicinal Herbal by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, 1993; Honest Herbal, A Sensible Guide to the Use of Herbal and Related Remedies by Varro E. Tyler, PhD, Pharmaceutical Products Press, 1993