Herbal Medicinal Plants

From LoveToKnow Herbs

Herbal medicinal plants grow everywhere in the world, and range from wild plants to trees, shrubs and more. Depending on the particular plant, the bark, flowers, roots or leaves may be used for medicinal purposes. From common everyday ailments like swollen feet to unusual problems like eliminating fibroids naturally, herbal medicinal plants can help.

Nature’s Pharmacy

Nature provides a vast pharmacy among the plant kingdom. From wildflowers to trees, many plants provide medicinal properties. Some of these plants, like willow and foxglove, have been harvested by modern medicine to produce remedies like aspirin and digitalis, a medication used to treat heart ailments. Others continue to be studied worldwide for their beneficial properties.

Cautions

To use any of the following herbal remedies, please read and review all of the advice associated with each herb. Depending on the herb and the ailment it’s intended to treat, you may need to take the herbs as a tea or tisane, in a pill or powder, or in a cream or topical form.

Purchasing herbs at a health food store, pharmacy or similar store, or growing your own from seeds, is preferred over harvesting them in the wild. Unless you are well trained and particularly skilled, there’s too much room for error when harvesting herbs in the wild, and an error can be dangerous or deadly. Some herbs too are now endangered, so it’s best to purchase quality supplements or teas from reputable companies.

Herbal Medicinal Plants To Try

Settle an Upset Stomach

The mint family includes many types of mint. Peppermint, spearmint, and even catnip all belong to the mint family of herbs. Mints make excellent flavorings, and teas and tisanes brewed from mint calm upset stomachs, flatulence and any discomfort in the digestive system. They’re easy to grow and safe for most people to enjoy.

Herbal Antiseptics and Skin Soothers

Many herbs are used topically to prevent or cure infection. By far the best-known and studied herb to treat infections is tea tree oil. Tea tree oil, extracted from the Australian tea tree, has been proven in numerous studies to kill bacteria and fight infection. It’s useful when treating boils, cuts and scrapes.

Another skin-soothing herb is calendula. The pretty, orange and yellow flowers yield soothing extracts that are often used in skin creams and burn treatments. Lavender is another beautiful, flowering herb that has antiseptic properties when used as a skin treatment. The scent is also said to soothe, relax, and promote sleep.

The aloe vera plant is easy to grow, and its gel has been used for centuries to treat simple burns. Many people keep an aloe vera plant in the kitchen and snip a leaf to treat burns incurred while cooking. You can make your own aloe vera gel or purchase commercial treatments.

Immune System Boosters

Echinacea

Herbal medicine has been used for centuries to treat the common cold and its evil sibling, influenza or the flu. Many people turn to Echinacea or a combination of Echinacea and goldenseal root to boost the immune system response. If you’re already sniffling, try products containing eucalyptus or extracts. Natural sinus relief herbs help clear the sinus congestion and headaches that accompany colds, while elderberry tincture is a time-honored remedy for the flu.

Use Common Sense

Just because herbs are natural doesn’t mean they’re entirely free from side effects or completely safe. A rattlesnake is entirely natural, but it can be lethal. Use your common sense when choosing herbal remedies.

Investigate Various Remedies

Herbal remedies come in many forms. There are teas, tinctures, pills and loose herbs. Still other healing modalities such as homeopathic, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine may use herbs or plants, but do not use the same quantities or types as herbal medicine.

Research all forms of alternative health treatments, and select one or more based on your own particular needs. It’s important to assess your current state of health, any medical conditions you may have, as well as any medications that you’re taking before you take an herbal remedy. Check to make sure that there are no contraindications for the herbs you select.

Some natural healing systems, such as homeopathy, are regarded as generally safe, while others, such as some herbs, should be used only under the guidance of a skilled healer, herbalist, naturopath or physician. Do your research and always check with your doctor if you’re not sure whether or not it’s safe to take an herb.