Medicinal Plants Have Been Used By Most Civilizations
Throughout the world, medicinal plants and herbs have been used for thousands of years. Ancient civilizations, including the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Babylonians, Native Americans, and more, all used herbs to treat ailments, cure diseases, and promote overall health. Today, herbs are still commonly used in home remedies and medicinal applications. With the right knowledge, medicinal herbs can help treat a wide range of issues and conditions.
How to Take Medicinal Plants
Medicinal plants an herbs can be consumed and used in numerous ways. One of the most common ways is adding fresh herbs to sauces, stews, soups, salads, and as accents for finished meals. Another popular method of consumption is herbal teas. Additionally, medicinal herbs can be found in supplements, tinctures – liquid extracts of herbs that you take orally – and salves that can be applied topically to address bites, sores, rashes, and a wide range of other skin issues.
Where to Find Medicinal Plants
Fresh herbs can be found in stores or easily grown in small pots in your house, your garden, or on your deck. Herbs – especially more common ones such as plantain and dandelion – can also be located in the wild if you are familiar with their identification. Teas can be purchased at health food stores or produced at home with fresh or dried herbs.
Medicinal herbs can be purchased in health food stores, online, or created by drying your own fresh herbs. Tinctures can be found online or in specialty stores.
Benefits and Cautions
Although they offer countless benefits such as boosting the immune system, treating skin conditions, fighting infections, promoting healthy sleep, and easing anxiety, it is also important to be aware of the cautions involved with using herbs. Even though they are natural, herbs can lead to side effects if used incorrectly.
It is especially important to discuss any medicinal herbs you are taking with your doctor if you are currently taking prescription drugs. Mixing herbs with prescription drugs can lead to dangerous interactions. Also, if you are pregnant or nursing, always consult a medical professional prior to adding a new herbal remedy to your routine.
Top 10 Widely-Used Medicinal Plants and Herbs
Medicinal herbs provide a host of benefits. Following is an overview of the top 10 traditional herbs used for medicinal purposes.
1. Echinacea
Echinacea grows in the western United States, Canada, and Europe. The Great Plains Indian tribes used it for a variety of medicinal purposes. Echinacea is most commonly used for fighting the flu and the common cold. It is also used to help fight a number of infections including yeast infections, herpes, swine flu, ear infections, malaria, UTI’s (urinary tract infections), and countless others.
It also used to help reduce anxiety, boost low white blood cell counts, treat migraines, address pain, boost exercise performance, and a host of other medicinal applications. Commercially, echinacea products are available in several forms such as teas, tablets, and juices.
2. Calendula
Calendula, a flower with a vivid yellow-orange hue, has been used for centuries to treat skin trauma, soothe bee stings, ease digestive upset, and heal wounds. It can be found in teas, tinctures, and oil infusions.
3. Lavender
Lavender is notorious for its relaxing scent. It has long been used in natural remedies and as a natural fragrance. In tinctures, it is used to help ease anxiety and promote high-quality sleep. As an oil, it can be diffused to help ease discomforts associated with colds or respiratory infections. The oil can also be added to a bath to help soothe sore muscles and promote relaxation.
4. Comfrey
Comfrey flower and leaves
Comfrey has commonly been used to help heal bones and wounds at a faster rate. It can be used topically as a salve to help treat cuts, bruises, burns, and abrasions. It is not recommended for internal use.
5. Plantain
Plantain is one of the most common North American herbs. It can be found all over from backyards to sidewalk cracks.
Topically, it has been used for a wide variety of skin ailments such as sunburns, stings, rashes, burns, blisters, cuts, breakouts, bites, and poison ivy. Additional uses include treating coughs, mouth sores, sore throats, and bronchitis due to plantain’s anti-inflammatory properties.
Plantain seeds were also commonly used as a laxative due to their high fiber content. Plantain tea has been used to help treat digestive issues.
6. Mullein
Mullein Flower
People use the flowers, leaves, and roots of this velvety plant, also known as Indian Tobacco, to treat a wide range of inflammatory conditions, burns, gout, lung-related issues, and diarrhea. An oil made from this flower is often combined with olive oil to help treat ear aches.
7. Chamomile
For thousands of years, chamomile has been a popular remedy due to its ability to promote vitality, tranquility, longevity, and youth. It is most commonly used in tea form and can help fight anxiety and depression, ease allergies, calm skin disorders, reduce insomnia, treat wounds, and more.
Red Clover flowers
8. Red Clover
Red clover is growing in popularity due to its ability to address a range of conditions. It can be used as a tincture, tea, or supplement to help treat menopause symptoms, reduce skin inflammation, fight respiratory infections, and boost heart and bone health.
9. Burdock
When thinking of burdock, most people automatically think of the frustrating burs that love to cling to anything they touch. However, burdock root possesses numerous health benefits and can be used to treat a variety of conditions.
Medicinally, the seeds, roots, and leaves have been used to make teas in hopes of treating colds, stomach issues, cancers, gout, and other issues. Topically, it has been used to treat numerous skin concerns.
Dandelion flowers
10. Dandelion
While millions of people simply view dandelions as an annoying weed, these sunny yellow flowers are actually packed full of vitamins, minerals, and potent compounds. Native Americans and the Chinese used to treat numerous conditions with this herb.
In modern times, dandelion leaves are used as an addition to salads and as a diuretic. The roots are used to address liver and gallbladder issues.
Final Thoughts
Medicinal herbs are a powerful, natural way to boost your health and address a variety of ailments. Next time you sense a cold coming on or end up with an itchy bug bite, consider testing out some of the herbal remedies mentioned above.
