Feeling sluggish in the heat? Grow a pot of spearmint to refresh yourself, better than cooling balm
As soon as the weather turns hot, you start feeling dizzy and muddle-headed, feeling listless day after day. Huahua suddenly remembered how, back in childhood, Grandma often used various flowers and plants, rubbing them on the temples and neck a few times, and instantly you felt refreshed, without the sting and nose-burning of cooling balm. You really must grow a pot!
Spearmint
Grow Flowers Complete Guide
Spearmint, also known as green mint, is one of China's older medicinal herbs, with the effects of dispelling wind, regulating qi, and cooling and relieving summer heat
The difference between spearmint and mint
1. Look
Many flower lovers can't quite tell spearmint and mint apart. In fact, the difference between them is quite obvious: mint leaves have veins shaped like the character "", while spearmint leaves are wrinkled, with more patterning and a darker color
2. Smell
Mint's main component is menthone, and its scent is relatively mild; spearmint contains carvone and limonene, and its scent is strong. Fan it with your hand a few times and the smell spreads even faster
Spearmint uses
1. Cooling, itch relief, refreshing the mind
When you're dizzy, drowsy, or lacking energy, you can rub spearmint leaves on your temples for a cooling sensation. After mosquito or insect bites, when the itch is unbearable, you can also rub them on for quick itch relief
Keep a pot on the windowsill usually, and just smelling it doubles your energy!
2. As a cooling agent, flavor enhancer
Spearmint is often used in toothpaste for fragrance and cooling. You can also air-dry spearmint leaves and make them into sachets to place at home, repelling mosquitoes and refreshing the mind
3. Eating
Brew spearmint leaves as tea to refresh the mind, and you can also add them to food as an ingredient, both attractive and refreshing
Spearmint care
Propagation method:Can be sown in spring, summer and autumn
Soil:Loose sandy soil or leaf mold
Light and water:Grow in a bright spot with scattered light, water once every 1-2 days
Gynura bicolor
Grow Flowers Complete Guide
Gynura bicolor is also called red-backed vegetable and is fairly commonly grown in the south. Folk belief holds that it supplements blood and qi and boosts stamina; in fact, it is also very effective at reducing inflammation and relieving pain
Gynura bicolor uses
1. Calming and pain relief
Some mosquito and insect bites are both itchy and painful, and you may even scratch until there are blood streaks. Crush Gynura bicolor and rub it in circles on the wound; it cools, relieves itch and stops pain
2. Eating
Garlic Gynura bicolor, Gynura bicolor egg drop soup and so on are all very tasty, and they also nourish blood and qi, suitable for women to eat
Gynura bicolor care
Propagation method:Can be sown in spring, summer and autumn
Soil:Ordinary vegetable garden soil is fine
Light and water:Can be grown outdoors or on a balcony, water every day
Goji leaf tips
Grow Flowers Complete Guide
Goji leaf tips are the leaf buds of the goji plant. Speaking of goji, flower lovers surely know its berries are very nourishing; in fact, goji leaves are also a good heat-clearing herb
Goji leaf tip uses
1. Brew as tea, clear the liver, brighten the eyes and reduce internal heat
Besides being dried and made into tea for brewing, fresh goji leaves can also be brewed as tea. Drinking a little regularly reduces internal heat and refreshes the mind, and it also helps maintain the eyesight of middle-aged and elderly people
2. Eating
The tender tips and leaves of goji can both be eaten as a green vegetable, whether cold-dressed, stir-fried plainly, or made into soup. The flavor is refreshing, and it clears the liver and benefits the lungs
Goji care
Propagation method:Can be sown in all four seasons, can be cuttings in spring and summer
Soil:Ordinary garden soil is fine
Light and water:Likes light; water seedlings every 1-2 days, and once mature water again when the soil is dry
Zanthoxylum nitidum
Grow Flowers Complete Guide
The plant lives up to its name - Zanthoxylum nitidum. You may have heard of Zanthoxylum nitidum toothpaste, but you have surely never seen the plant itself!
Zanthoxylum nitidum uses
1. Dissolving blood stasis and relieving pain
Decoct the leaves of Zanthoxylum nitidum in water for about 15 minutes until a thick greenish-yellow juice comes out, then apply it to bruises to reduce swelling and dissolve blood stasis
2. Treating toothache
The roots of Zanthoxylum nitidum can be used as medicine after being sun-dried, and it is a very famous toothache remedy, which is why it is often added to toothpaste
Zanthoxylum nitidum care
Soil:Ordinary garden soil or leaf mold is fine
Light:Apart from shading in summer, it can be grown in direct sun in spring, autumn and winter
Water:Water again when the potting soil is dry, avoid waterlogging
Agastache rugosa
Grow Flowers Complete Guide
Agastache rugosa, the main medicinal ingredient in Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui, is of course the strongest weapon for clearing heat and relieving summer heat. Have you grown it at home?
Agastache rugosa uses
1. Clearing heat and relieving summer heat
People with weak constitutions easily feel dizzy and weak when summer temperatures are high, and middle-aged and elderly people in particular are prone to heatstroke. Brew a cup of Agastache rugosa tea to relieve summer heat and refresh the mind, easing dizziness and chest tightness
2. Eating
Agastache rugosa leaves can be eaten; you can deep-fry whole leaves, and you can also pair them with fish in dishes to remove the fishy smell
Agastache rugosa care
Soil:Ordinary garden soil or leaf mold is fine
Light and water:Place in a spot with scattered light and good ventilation, water every day
Salvia plebeia
Grow Flowers Complete Guide
Salvia plebeia is also called wild mint and can be used medicinally. Ancient formulas record that it has the effects of cooling the blood, reducing swelling and relieving cough. It is commonly seen in the wild, and now some people grow it at home too
Salvia plebeia uses
1. Clearing the throat and reducing internal heat
Wash Salvia plebeia leaves and brew them as tea to clear the throat and soothe the voice, removing internal heat
2. Relieving cough
Wash Salvia plebeia and boil it in a pot for about 20 minutes; drinking it can relieve cough and phlegm. This is an old folk remedy, though opinions on its effects vary
Salvia plebeia care
Propagation method:Dig up from the wild
Soil:Ordinary soil is fine
Light and water:Likes light; place in a spot with good light, water once every 2-3 days
Sedum aizoon
Grow Flowers Complete Guide
Sedum aizoon is also called Fecai, and is said to nourish the heart (the specific effects are unknown), but it is very effective at reducing inflammation and relieving itch!
Sedum aizoon uses
1. Special-effect itch relief
After mosquito or insect bites, crush the leaves and apply them to the bump, and it stops itching after a while. Both adults and children can use it. Huahua's grandmother grew it, and you must keep a pot on hand in summer
2. Eating
Sedum aizoon has also started appearing on dining tables in the last two years; it can be cold-dressed or stir-fried plainly. Huahua hasn't tried it yet
Sedum aizoon care
Propagation method:Can be propagated by cuttings or water rooting
Soil:Plant in ordinary garden soil, and it can also be grown hydroponically
Light and water:Place in a spot with scattered light and good ventilation, water once every 2 days
Luffa
Grow Flowers Complete Guide
If you grow luffa, don't just know how to eat the gourd; luffa leaves are also very useful. They have the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, so don't waste them
Luffa leaf uses
1. Cooling and itch relief
Rub luffa leaves to release their juice and apply it to mosquito or insect bites. It can gently and effectively relieve itching without irritation, especially suitable for people who can't stand cooling balm and for children
2. Dyeing
Luffa (loofah) leaves are a relatively ancient source of dye, capable of producing a pale green color - a dreamy traditional method
Luffa Care
Soil:Ordinary garden soil or leaf mold both work
Light and water:Place in a spot with indirect light and good airflow, water daily
While it is still not too hot
these practical natural cooling herbs
hurry up and plant them~