Herbal remedies have long been a favourite of the Orient. With high curative and cooking value, herbs can alleviate common ailments and boost flavour of daily dietary items.
With increased awareness regarding health and the importance of an organic lifestyle in Pakistan, people are gradually pivoting towards growing herbs in their gardens. The Express Tribune speaks to herb cultivators in the country, who share the benefits of growing herbs in home gardens.
Fauzia Hashmi shares that she developed a penchant for growing herbs in the wake of increased discussions regarding them on social media platforms and since they can elevate the taste of foods consumed on a daily basis. “Growing herbs is not a new phenomenon,” says Hashmi, who has been growing herbs for the past two years. “People have grown and used them for medicinal purposes for centuries. Modern medicines were made from herb extracts much later. Much later, modern medicines were made from extracts of those herbs,” she adds.
Amanullah Bajoi started growing herbs in his kitchen garden in 2012. He drew inspiration for growing them from his parents, who used to plant herbs in their own garden. He plants summer herbs, like ispaghol, wild mint, chamomile and sesame.
Hashmi cultivates the aromatic plants in winter and summer, growing up to 20 herbs in the former season. “Mint, menthol, lemon balm, stevia, basil are summers herbs, but they need to be protected from direct sunlight,” she explains. She further says, “Rosemary, sage, oregano, chives, thyme and marjoram are a few of the winter herbs that I plant.”
Raw herbs, which are grown in Pakistan, are in high demand internationally. According to Hashmi, “Sea buckthorn is a berry grown in highlands from which cancer treatment is made. People from all over the world come to Pakistan to collect those berries from locals.”
Chives, Curry leaves
Hashmi enjoys cooking international cuisines at home and feels that fresh herbs play an important role in upping the flavour of such dishes. Once she started growing these plants, she became avidly interested in their medicinal properties. She shares that certain herbs help in reducing health problems. “Chamomile and lemon balm help reduce anxiety, and rosemary enhances brain activity. They comprise anti-inflammatory and healing properties,” she says.
She notes that in the wake of increase in stressors and health problems, such as hypertension, anxiety, ulcers and headaches, the use of herbal remedies has amplified. “This is because herbs have an answer to many of these everyday problems,” she comments.
Contrarily, Bajoi feels that there is lack of knowledge about herbs in the region. “There is less awareness about herbs and how to grow them and people don’t know the benefits of growing these plants. Many useful herb seeds are not even available in many cities,” he says.
Bajoi feels that people in the past were more inclined towards growing herbs because of scarce medical facilities, but today, the use of antibiotics, which have multiple side-effects, has become common. He acknowledges that despite this, people are gradually realising the importance of herbs. With growth in the field of science, expensive modes of treatment and even fake medicines have come to the fore, which are turning people back to herbal remedies.
Adding to Bajoi’s comments, Hashmi says, “It is time that people learn more about herbs and their hidden properties. Growing herbs is tantamount to having a home pharmacy. They are a blessing in disguise.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 18th, 2014.
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