There’s something deeply comforting about tending to a plant. Maybe it’s the routine, or the quiet joy of watching them thrive under your care. But what if your plants companions could do more than just look pretty on a windowsill? What if they could heal, nourish, purify, and even spice up your dinner? These superfoods brighten your home, purify the air, and come with a proud legacy of being used in Indian kitchens and traditional medicine for generations. Here are eight low-effort and immunity-packed superfoods you can grow in your house garden.
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Tulsi (Holy Basil)
Tulsi isn’t just another herb, it’s a plant with a résumé. For centuries, it’s been used in Ayurvedic remedies for coughs, stress, skin conditions, and more. Research even supports its adaptogenic properties, meaning it helps your body cope with stress. Besides being a medicinal all-rounder, Tulsi is a natural mosquito repellent and adds a lovely peppery depth to herbal teas. It grows easily in pots and loves a sunny windowsill.
Curry Leaf Plant (Kadi Patta)
This plant is more than just a garnish. Curry leaves are packed with antioxidants, iron, and compounds that support hair and digestive health. And they’re surprisingly great as home plants. They love warmth and sun, and with regular harvesting, you’ll have a fresh supply of aromatic leaves all year round.
Aloe Vera
Sunburn? Dry skin? Bad digestion? There’s one solution: Aloe. Aloe Vera is the poster child for natural healing, and with good reason. Its gel is packed with anti-inflammatory compounds, enzymes, and vitamins. You can scoop it straight from the leaf and apply it to burns, mix it into a face pack, or even drink a small spoonful (diluted) for digestion.
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Ajwain (Carom)
You’ve likely had ajwain in your paratha or in a tummy-soothing mix. But did you know you can grow the leaf version at home? Known as Patharchur or Indian Borage, the plant has thick, velvety leaves with a strong, herbal scent. It’s fantastic for coughs, colds, and indigestion. Some even use the juice for sinus relief.
Lemongrass
Tall, graceful, and lemon-scented, lemongrass adds an elegant wildness to your home while also serving up a host of wellness benefits. It’s antibacterial, antifungal, and known to ease anxiety. Brew the stalks into tea, crush the leaves for a room-freshener, or add a bit to your cooking for some Thai-inspired flavour. It also keeps mosquitoes at bay.
Brahmi
Brahmi may not be the prettiest plant in the garden, but what it lacks in glamour it makes up for in health benefits. Used traditionally in Ayurveda to support memory and mental clarity, modern studies back its role in reducing anxiety and boosting cognitive function. It trails beautifully in hanging pots, and with regular trimming, it can give you a continuous supply of small leaves for teas or tinctures.
Mint (Pudina)
If you’ve got even a scrap of balcony space, mint will claim it. This enthusiastic little plant is super easy to grow. Add it to your chai, chutneys, coolers, pani puri or just eat a leaf for a midday pick-me-up. Medicinally, mint helps soothe stomach cramps, fights bad breath, and acts as a mild decongestant.
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Insulin Plant (Costus igneus)
Despite its clinical name, the insulin plant is surprisingly easy to grow and rather lovely to look at. It has lush green leaves and a spiralled stem, and has earned its name because chewing the leaves regularly may help regulate blood sugar levels. Several small-scale studies have noted its potential in glycaemic control. As a house plant, it doesn’t demand much, just regular watering and partial to full sunlight
You don’t need a sprawling garden or years of experience to grow these superfoods. Most of them are beginner-friendly, thrive in pots, and are surprisingly low-effort once you understand their rhythm. More importantly, they reconnect us to older, slower ways of living, to remedies passed down in steel dabbas and childhood memories.
NOTE – This article was originally published in architecturaldigest and can be viewed here
