Healing herbs and their properties and purpose. Medicinal properties of medicinal plants
Our site provides answers to questions about medicinal herbs.
Before using any prescription, consult your doctor.
Everything you need to know about medicinal plants.
Why do people say that herbs do not help them?
Unfortunately, many people do not know at all how to use medicinal herbs correctly - at what time of the year to collect them, how to store them, how to prepare the necessary preparations from them and according to what scheme to be treated. You definitely need to know the exact dosage and contraindications, since not all plants are safe for health - if used incorrectly, they can become not a medicine, but a poison.
How do medicinal plants help?
In the process of life, plants under the influence of light energy produce biologically active substances from inorganic substances obtained from the soil, carbon dioxide, water. These chemical compounds have a certain effect on the human body: mineral compounds, vitamins, tannins, phytoncides (“natural antibiotics”) and other substances can have a beneficial effect on metabolism, immunity, and the functioning of various organs and systems.
Is it possible to replace medical treatment with herbs?
People are attracted to many qualities of medicinal plants. Indeed, unlike antibiotics, they do not cause allergic diseases and drug complications. However, they should not be opposed to drug treatment either - only a doctor can determine the necessary balance in taking medications and medicinal herbs. It must be remembered that the effect of the same plant on the health of different people may be different and depends on the characteristics of the organism. Each plant has its own characteristics of impact on various organs. The experience accumulated over many centuries in the use of medicinal plants often allows for the prevention and treatment of various diseases with more “sparing” means than traditional medical (or, even more so, surgical) treatment. However, official medicine by no means neglects the rich possibilities of medicinal plants: in fact, the active ingredients of most pharmacological preparations are of plant origin or their synthetic analogues. And the herbs themselves are often prescribed by doctors as an alternative or addition to the traditional course of treatment.
What are medicinal plants made of?
Medicinal plants are those that contain biologically active, medicinal substances for humans: proteins, vitamins, lipids, carbohydrates, enzymes, alkaloids, glycosides, bitterness, tannins, steroids, phenolic substances, phytoncides, flavonoids, essential oils, etc.
Proteins regulate all life processes of the cell. Distinguish between simple and complex proteins.
Vitamins are organic substances synthesized mainly by plants. More than 20 vitamins are known, divided into two large types - water-soluble and fat-soluble.
Lipids are fats and fat-like substances. Distinguish between simple and complex. Lipids serve as a source of energy in the body. From plants, a person receives unsaturated fatty acids that regulate fat metabolism and participate in the removal of cholesterol from the body.
Carbohydrates are organic compounds found mainly in plants. Carbohydrates include cellulose (fiber), starch, inulin, mucus, gums, pectins. Carbohydrates are very important for a person and are one of the main components of his nutrition. With a lack of carbohydrates, intestinal diseases can occur, blood sugar levels drop, memory deteriorates, and unreasonable fatigue appears.
Enzymes are complex proteins that speed up chemical processes in the body. They play one of the main roles in metabolic processes.
Alkaloids are organic compounds containing nitrogen. Some alkaloids are poisons.
Glycosides are organic compounds widely present in plants that contribute to the transport and storage of various substances. Glycosides of some plants are used to treat heart disease.
Bitters are natural compounds also called isoprenoids. Composed of terpenes, terpenoids and steroids. In the human body, they are needed to enhance the choleretic function.
Tannins are natural compounds with an astringent taste; in the composition of drugs exhibit astringent and bactericidal properties.
Steroids are organic compounds. Steroids include sterols, bile acids, vitamins of group D, sex hormones, adrenal hormones (corticosteroids). They are part of steroid glycosides used to treat heart disease.
Phenolic substances are a class of secondary compounds with various biological activities, such as aromatic.
Phytoncides are products of secondary biosynthesis carried out by higher plants. Plants release esters, alcohols, terpenes, phenols into the environment. Phytoncides have a detrimental effect on pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, bacilli).
Flavonoids are compounds derived from flavones and flavones.
Why is it better to use decoctions and infusions of whole fees?
It is no coincidence that people believe that the action of one plant is less effective than the action of collecting several herbs. The effect is associated not only with the different effects of different plants, but also with the fact that the action of one plant is often stimulated by the substances of another - perhaps not medicinal. That is why traditional medicine recipes are built mainly on medicinal preparations and mixtures.
Collect medicinal plants yourself or is it better to buy?
Self-harvesting of medicinal herbs is a complex and troublesome business, requiring deep knowledge of where, at what time and how each particular plant should be collected. Active principles, i.e., biologically active substances that have a healing effect on the human body, are often found throughout the plant - in roots, leaves, flowers. But more often they are concentrated only in certain of its organs, and therefore only part of the plant is often used for medicinal purposes. When collecting herbs to treat a specific disease, you need to know which parts of the plants you will need - different parts are collected at different stages of plant development.
In pharmacies, you can buy a variety of medicinal herbs and their fees. It is certainly easier and more convenient than collecting on your own, besides, many plants recommended for the treatment of certain diseases simply cannot be collected by ourselves - they are quite rare or not found in our area at all. On the other hand, self-collection is good for those who need to be absolutely sure that they will receive exactly the herbs they need as a result, and will have complete control over the entire process of collecting, preparing and preparing their medicine.
What is the harvest time for medicinal herbs?
In different periods of growth and development of a medicinal plant, the amount of active principles contained in it is not the same. And therefore, the time of collecting medicinal plants should be timed to coincide with the moment of the greatest content of these active principles in them.
Herbs should be collected at certain times and times. And herbalists clearly know these periods. So, Russian healers believed that the herbs collected for Ivan Kupala or Agrafena Kupalnitsa (on the night of July 6 and 7) had a special power. At the same time, some of them are able to heal people, protect them from the evil eye, damage and from the unclean, while others can harm people and send diseases. Today we understand that in the first case we are talking about herbs that have no contraindications for use, in the second - about herbs with poisonous or intoxicating properties. Herbs had to be collected on certain days, hours, phases of the moon, and before picking grass or digging a root, the tradition prescribed to read a conspiracy (to persuade, beg the weed to bring good and help a person, and also not to be angry for being deprived of life).
When is the best time to pick herbs?
It is necessary to collect above-ground parts of plants, especially flowers, in dry weather and after the dew has disappeared. Only in this case it is possible to preserve their natural color during drying and protect them from bacterial and fungal decomposition. Otherwise, the plant will inevitably lose its medicinal properties.
What parts of the plant are the most beneficial?
It is known that medicinal substances accumulate in a plant during a certain period of its development, and in its various parts, therefore, at a specific time, only those parts (leaves, flowers and inflorescences, fruits and seeds, roots and rhizomes) are collected that currently contain the most amount of nutrients. Their content in plants varies even during the day.
When is the best time to collect leaves?
The leaves are harvested during the period of bud ripening and flowering of plants, and only the lower leaves are selected so as not to disturb the flowering and fruiting process.
When is the best time to collect flowers and inflorescences?
Flowers and inflorescences are harvested at the beginning of flowering, when they contain the most nutrients and crumble less during storage.
When is the best time to collect herbs?
Herbs are harvested at the beginning of flowering, and in some cases - and in full bloom. With a knife (secateurs), the tops of the plant are cut off 15–30 cm long, without coarse ground parts.
When is the best time to harvest fruits and seeds?
Fruits and seeds are harvested gradually, as they ripen. Remember that ripe fruits and seeds are the richest in medicinal substances, but if they are overripe, they should not be taken. The stalks are separated immediately after harvest, and in the fruits of mountain ash, cumin and dill - after drying.
When is the best time to dig up roots and rhizomes?
Roots and rhizomes are dug up with a shovel in early spring or during the period when the aerial parts die off (late summer - autumn).
All harvested parts of plants are harvested in the daytime (from 8–9 to 16–17 hours) and in dry weather. Raw materials are immediately put into bags or other suitable containers, but they are not stuffed tightly.
How to remove bark from trees?
In order to remove the bark from the trunk and branches, you need to make two annular cuts at some distance from each other, and then an incision along the trunk, from one ring to the other. Then the bark is peeled off, applying force from top to bottom.
In oak, the bark is removed only from the branches!
What rules must be observed when collecting and harvesting medicinal plants?
Medicinal plants should be collected only in ecologically clean areas: in no case in the city and not in other settlements, not near roads, away from any enterprises, not only industrial, but also agricultural (where crops and plantings are treated with pesticides).
It is pointless and harmful for plants to pull them out whole - carefully collect only those parts that you need. When using nature, remember to take care of its future: if you are picking flowers, always leave a few plants intact so that new plants will appear next year. Tubers, roots and bulbs can be dug out of the ground only after the seeds have ripened and crumbled.
Grass and other above-ground parts of plants should be collected on a fine sunny day after the dew has gone (otherwise, wet plants will not be stored, pathogens will quickly start in them, and decomposition processes will begin).
How to dry medicinal plants?
The main task that must be solved when drying medicinal plants is to stop the destructive activity of enzymes (“fermentation”), that is, to protect the active principles contained in plants from their changes for a long time. Plants should be dried carefully, in well-ventilated areas, avoiding direct sunlight.
When dried, a significant part of the water evaporates from the plants, and therefore the plants lose approximately as much weight in weight: grass - 70%, leaves - 80%, flowers - 75%, roots - 65%, bark - 45%.
At what temperature should medicinal plants be dried?
It depends on the characteristics of the plant: those that contain essential oils can be dried at a temperature not exceeding 30-35 ° C; for glycosides, the upper permissible temperature limit is 55–60 °C, for vitamin C, 80–90 °C. As a rule, fruits and roots are dried in an oven at a temperature of 40–60 °C.
Do properties change during drying and storage?
Of course, yes. Some of the healing properties are lost, but with proper observance of the collection and harvesting technology, these losses are minimized. But gradually, over time, the active properties of harvested herbs weaken. However, dried medicinal herbs usually become completely unsuitable for consumption only after a few years (subject to storage rules). Some plants have a shorter shelf life.
How to properly store medicinal plants?
In order to preserve well-dried material, both storage space and packaging are of great importance. Do not store plants in a damp room and uncovered. The prepared material absorbs moisture, as a result of which it collapses, changes in color and acquires a musty smell as a result of the activity of microorganisms that have fallen on it, in particular mold fungi. The storage room must be dry, well ventilated and accessible for regular inspections. That is why a barn or basement cannot be used as a pantry for medicinal plants. It is better to store them in an unheated room at the living quarters.
Freshly harvested herbs cannot be stored in the container in which you originally put them for more than 3-4 hours - the plants will cake and deteriorate.
Do not store plants in plastic packaging, as essential oils react with plastic, forming compounds hazardous to health.
How to use medicinal plants correctly?
Medicinal herbs are used both internally and externally. Inside, they take juices squeezed from plants, decoctions, napar, infusions, tinctures, extracts from roots, bark, seeds and fruits, powders from dried parts of plants. Outwardly, medicinal herbs are used in the form of baths, enemas, wrappings in a sheet soaked in a decoction of medicinal plants, in the form of lotions, poultices, compresses, applying plant parts and paste from them to sore spots, etc.
The most common dose for the use of medicinal herbs inside is 1 tbsp. a spoon "with a top" of a finely cut plant or mixture in a glass of boiling water or 4 tbsp. spoons with a "top" per liter of boiling water.
How to get juice from medicinal herbs?
Juices from medicinal plants are obtained using a juicer or press. If there is no juicer, the juice is prepared as follows. The plant is washed, finely cut and placed, without stuffing tightly, in a glass jar. Pour in boiled water and leave overnight. In the morning, filter through cheesecloth, squeeze out the remainder. Juices are best drunk freshly prepared.
How to make a drug collection?
A collection is a mixture of several types of medicinal herbs. Typically, a collection includes 10 components or more. They are composed of plants that mainly enhance or support each other's action. Remember that some plants are incompatible, as their medicinal properties are mutually neutralized (for example, large celandine and goose cinquefoil). From the fees, you can prepare infusions, decoctions not only for oral administration, but also for lotions, rinses, douches, microclysters, baths and poultices.
How important is it to follow the indicated dosage when treating with herbs?
Strict adherence to the dosage when preparing and taking drugs from medicinal plants is an indispensable condition for the effectiveness of treatment.
On the packaging of medicinal herbs sold in pharmacies, the method of preparation, single and daily doses are always indicated. At home, in the absence of pharmacy scales, medicinal herbs are usually dosed with spoons. The average dose for the preparation of infusions and decoctions when taken orally is 2 tbsp. tablespoons of dry grass per 0.5 liters of water. A tablespoon contains on average: flowers, leaves and grass - 4-5 g, roots, rhizomes and fruits - 6-8 g, although these data are very approximate.
The easiest way to measure the required amount of water is with a spoon or a glass: a teaspoon holds about 5 g, a dessert spoon - 10 g, a tablespoon - 15 g, a glass - 200–250 g of water.
How to prepare an infusion of medicinal herbs?
Infusions are used to extract active principles from those parts of plants that release them relatively easily (grass, leaves, flowers, fresh fruits). For the preparation of infusions, mainly water is used. Infusions can be prepared both hot and cold.
In the hot method, the crushed feedstock is poured into a bowl and poured with boiling water, usually in a ratio of 1: 10 (1 part of a plant to 10 parts of water). Infusions intended for external use are prepared more concentrated (1: 5). They are best made in a thermos: the raw materials are poured with boiling water and the thermos is kept open for 15–20 minutes, then it is closed with a lid and left overnight, and filtered in the morning. Another option for preparing infusions in a hot way is a water bath: the required amount of medicinal raw materials is poured with water at room temperature (about 18 ° C) in porcelain, glass or enamelware, which is placed in another larger container with boiling water (in a boiling "water bath"). ”) and heated in it with frequent stirring for 15 minutes, then cooled for 45 minutes and filtered.
Infusions are prepared in a cold way as follows: the raw materials are poured with the required amount of cold boiled water and infused for 4 to 12 hours, and then filtered.
How to prepare a decoction of medicinal herbs?
Decoctions are used to extract active principles from roots and rhizomes, bark, wood, coarse leaves, dry fruits. These parts of the plant require a fairly long heat treatment, since they have a dense structure. To prepare a decoction, the crushed raw materials are poured with cold water, mixed thoroughly, put on fire, brought to a boil, and then kept on low heat for 20–30 minutes, after which they are filtered and squeezed in gauze. The decoction is diluted with boiled water to the desired volume.
It is important to observe the following rule: herbal decoctions should never be prepared in aluminum or other metal utensils in order to avoid an undesirable reaction with the metal.
How to prepare a tincture of medicinal herbs?
I use vodka or 40-70% alcohol as an extracting factor in tinctures. Usually, to prepare the tincture, 5 parts of vodka or alcohol are added to 1 part of the crushed raw materials, after thorough mixing, the mixture is placed in a dry, cool place, protected from light (it is advisable to prepare the tincture in a dark glass dish). Depending on the purpose of the tincture, the period of its infusion can vary from 7 to 40 days. At the end of this time, the tincture is filtered, then the gauze is squeezed out and filtered again.
As a rule, to prepare a tincture for 20 g of raw materials, take 100 ml of alcohol and get a 20% tincture. Ready tinctures are stored in tightly stoppered bottles.
How to prepare napar from medicinal herbs?
To prepare steam, medicinal herbs are poured with boiling water and steamed (simmered) in a cooling oven for the whole night. In the morning, the steam is filtered through gauze, after which it is ready for use. For the preparation of steams, the least coarse parts of plants are used, i.e. leaves, flowers, grass, fruits.
How to prepare herbal powder?
To prepare the powder, well-dried raw materials are ground in a mortar or coffee grinder. The powder is most often used for oral administration, for powdering wounds, ulcers and preparing ointments.
How to prepare an ointment from medicinal herbs?
Ointments are medicines that are used for external use. They are prepared by mixing plant powders with an ointment base; 4 parts of the base are taken for 1 part of the plant. As an ointment base, you can use pork or interior fat (lard), unsalted butter or any vegetable oil, petroleum jelly (preferably yellow). Powder, tincture or fresh juice of the plant is added to the preheated ointment base. You can prepare ointments of various concentrations: for example, to get a 10–20% ointment, you should take 10–20 g of powder per 100 or 200 g of fat, or 5–10 ml of tincture per 95 g of fat. The choice of base depends on various considerations: for example, ointments based on vegetable oil or mineral fats have a longer shelf life than ointments based on pork fat, but the latter are superior in quality.
How to do medicinal herbal baths?
Baths are prepared as follows. Pour 40–60 g of grass with 2–5 liters of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes or boil for 10 minutes on low heat, filter and pour into a bath filled with water (water temperature is 36–40 ° C). To prevent the formation of steam in the room, first pour cold and then hot water. Take a bath for 10-15 minutes, you must first rinse in the shower.
Important! During the procedure, the heart area should be above water.
The usual course of treatment with herbal baths: 2-3 times a week for 15 days.
How to brew medicinal herbs bought at a pharmacy?
Strictly speaking, collections of medicinal plants must be prepared in a water bath: here the requirements of the pharmacopoeia are consistent with the recommendations of experienced herbalists. But practice proves that extraction, i.e., the release of useful substances from plants, also occurs with a simple infusion of herbs.
It is most reasonable to prepare infusions in the evening, so that in the morning you can take the medicine. It is very convenient to use a glass teapot with a piston for “brewing” herbs. In the evening, put the amount of herbs indicated on the package into it, pour boiling water over it, and in the morning you will get a perfectly infused, chilled drink, ready to drink.
How long can the prepared decoction be stored?
The medicinal properties of the decoction do not last long - microbes begin to multiply in it, "thanks" to which various enzymatic processes are launched in the decoction. Therefore, the permissible shelf life of the broth is small: a day at room temperature, two days in the refrigerator.
Do dosages of medicinal herbs differ for children and adults?
When using medicinal plants, it should be borne in mind that the doses of the drug for an adult, a teenager and a child are not the same. When choosing the right dosage for a child or teenager, you can focus on the following recommendations:
Adults 1 dose
7 to 14 years 1/2 dose
4 to 7 years 1/3 dose
3 to 4 years 1/6-1/4 dose
1 to 2 years 1/8-1/6 dose
up to 1 year 1/12-1/8 dose
It is necessary to strictly observe the dosage and take into account the characteristics of your body. When buying herbal preparations in a pharmacy, always pay attention to notices about contraindications to the use of herbs.
1) Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.)
Perennial herbaceous plant with a very developed rhizome. It grows like a weed in fields, especially on clay soils, in meadows, along river banks, in sparse forests.
Collect the aerial part - green summer shoots - in June - August. Dry in attics with good ventilation.
The drug is used as a diuretic for heart and other diseases accompanied by congestion.
2) Spring primrose (Primula veris L.)
Perennial herbaceous plant. Blooms in early spring. Grows in forests, among bushes, on slopes.
Collect leaves at the beginning of flowering, when they contain the greatest amount of vitamins, and immediately dry. The roots are dug up in autumn or early spring, dried in the attic or in the open air.
Tinctures from the leaves are used for beriberi, a decoction of the roots - as an expectorant.
3) Common hop (Humusuls lupulus L.)
Perennial herbaceous vine. It grows in damp places, along the banks of rivers, on the edges, among shrubs, sometimes in forests.
Harvest inflorescences ("cones") of hops in August - early September. Dry immediately - in the air or in attics. The infusion is used for neurosis, insomnia, gastritis, cystitis.
4) Lovage medicinal (Levisticum officinale Koch)
It also refers to perennial herbaceous plants with a straight cylindrical branched stem up to 2 m high. It grows mainly in Ukraine, cultivated as a medicinal, ornamental and spicy plant.
All parts of the plant smell good. Collected in September-October. The decoction is used for dropsy, nervous and heart diseases.
5) Common Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill)
Basically a biennial, sometimes perennial herbaceous plant, up to 2 m high. Distributed in the Crimea, the Caucasus and Central Asia, cultivated in Ukraine; runs wild in the Crimea.
Fennel fruits are harvested at the beginning of ripening, when they acquire a greenish-yellow color. Dry in the shade with good ventilation. The decoction is used as an appetite stimulant and digestive aid. It is used in the food industry and in perfumery.
6) Common juniper (Juniperus communis L.)
Shrub or low tree. Grows in pine forests, on the edges. Juniper cones are harvested in autumn (September - October), shaking them from the bush onto the litter.
Air dry or in attics. The drugs are used as a diuretic. Used in the food industry.
7) Common barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.)
Grows among bushes, on edges, in lowlands and foothills. The roots are harvested in early spring or late autumn (October). Collect no more than ¼ of the plant's root system further from the root. Dry in attics or under sheds.
The bark is harvested during the period of sap flow, the leaves - after flowering. The drugs are used as a choleretic agent, as well as for bleeding associated with inflammatory processes. An infusion of the leaves is used as a hemostatic agent.
8) Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hill)
Evergreen, branched shrub, 30-70 cm high. It grows on poor soils, in forests, damp places, in the mountains, on the edges, mountain pastures. Found in Russia and Ukraine.
Collect the aerial part (grass) during the flowering period (July - September). Dry in the shade in the air, in the attic, indoors, laying out a thin layer. A decoction or infusion is used for cholelithiasis, colds, rheumatism, gout, and as a diuretic and diaphoretic.
9) Angelica medicinal (Archangelica officinalis (Moench.) Hoffm.)
It is a herbaceous biennial plant up to 2 m high. Grows in marshes, along river banks. Cultivated as a medicinal and spice plant.
Collect the root in spring and autumn. Dry in attics, indoors. The infusion is used as a diuretic and carminative, as well as to enhance intestinal motility.
10) Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.)
Perennial herbaceous plants, up to 1 m high. Grow in weedy places. Distributed in forest-steppe and steppe regions.
Harvest motherwort herb (tops of stems) during flowering. Dry in attics. The drugs are used as a cardiac sedative.
11) European hoof (Asarum europaeum L.)
A perennial herbaceous plant, overwintering with green leaves resembling the print of a horse's hoof. Grows in deciduous and mixed forests.
The rhizome (with roots) and leaves are harvested in spring (April - May). An infusion of herbs is used for cardiovascular diseases to normalize blood circulation.
12) White mistletoe (Viscum album L.) (damn pomelo)
Collect leaves and annual shoots in autumn and winter. Dry indoors or in an oven at a low temperature. The drugs are used as a means of lowering blood pressure (for atherosclerosis with high blood pressure and related phenomena).
13) Purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L.)
Biennial plants with stem height up to 1.2 meters. Leaves are collected from plants of the second year of life, sometimes rosette leaves of the first year (from July to autumn).
Dry immediately after collection indoors at a temperature of 40-60 degrees. The drugs are used as a tonic and regulating the activity of the heart and blood vessels, in chronic insufficiency and other heart diseases.
14) Ephedra two-spike, conifer (Ephedra distachya L.) (ephedra, Kuzmicheva grass)
Shrub with yellow-greenish finely ribbed branches. Outwardly similar to horsetail. It grows on rocky places, sands, especially on seaside and steppe slopes. Ephedra is widespread in the forest-steppe and steppe parts of Ukraine.
Collect thin branches, called "grass", in August-September. Dry indoors or in the air. The drugs are used as tonic nervous and cardiovascular systems, with bronchial asthma, shock, bleeding.
15) Ruta odorous (Ruta hortensis Mill.)
Perennial shrub with a very strong smell. Lives in the wild in the Crimea.
Only the upper parts of the stems are harvested from the rue during flowering. Drying is done in the shade or in attics. The drugs are used as a stimulant, antiseptic, antispasmodic.
On this I have all the guys, the first selection is completed.
As mentioned, this is only a mini idea of medicinal herbs. Posts are being prepared that will tell you the useful and medicinal properties of each plant, how to use it, in what doses and for what diseases.
See you in new posts. Good luck, happiness and health to you.
Medicinal plants are herbs, any parts of which (leaves, root, rhizome, flowers) are used in folk medicine for the preparation of various potions.
Types of medicinal plants
In medicine, medicinal plants are classified into the following types:
- Official. Plants that are allowed at the state level. Their types are listed in the State Register of Medicines of the Russian Federation.
- Medicinal plants in folk medicine. The largest category. The species included in it are little described, but are widely used among the people. Plants in this category have not been tested in modern pharmacology, but are distributed in countries where medicine is not available.
- Pharmacopoeia. Plants included in the official category. Requirements for their quality are described in the article of the State Pharmacopoeia.
Medicinal plants are also divided into:
- herbaceous - chamomile, chicory, St. John's wort, calamus, cowberry and others;
- shrubs and shrubs - wild rose, lilac, hawthorn, sophora, barberry, viburnum, juniper;
- creepers - grapes, hops, ivy, Caucasian Dioscorea;
- trees - birch, linden, elder, willow, eucalyptus, almond.
The use of medicinal plants
Medicinal plants have been used by the people since ancient times. The main scope of their application is the manufacture of medicines for external and internal use.
From medicinal plants are made:
- infusions;
- decoctions;
- extracts;
- dried herb powder;
- ointments;
- lotions.
For the preparation of medicines in medicine and among the people, all parts of plants are used:
- flowers;
- leaves;
- fruit;
- roots;
- rhizomes;
- seeds;
- bark;
- kidneys.
Medicinal plants are excellent for the treatment of many diseases. But most often they are used as an adjuvant therapy with the parallel use of medications.
For eyes
To improve vision, blueberries, cranberries, and cloudberries are used. Fruits also have a positive effect on the eyes, and.
Eye treatment with medicinal plants should be agreed with the attending physician. They do not treat diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma and serious infections.
For the treatment of colds
Various medicinal plants are used to treat colds. With the first symptoms of a cold will help to cope:
- St. John's wort;
- chamomile;
- sage;
- yarrow;
- linden flowers;
- raspberries;
- strawberry;
- dandelion;
- horseradish.
Decoctions, teas, tinctures, fruit drinks are made from plants. Herbs are used for inhalation and as a solution for gargling.
The most effective anti-cold remedy is. It has an anti-inflammatory and disinfecting effect on the human body.
For the treatment of nasal congestion is used, and. Complex drops are made from them and instilled into the nose.
To cure pneumonia, a decoction of elecampane and St. John's wort is prepared. Bronchitis is treated with black elderberry and oats.
For the treatment of women's diseases
Medicinal plants are widely used in gynecology. For the treatment of uterine bleeding, yarrow and nettle leaves are used.
Shepherd's purse tea is an excellent remedy for menstrual problems. If a woman has inflammation, the following herbs help to treat it:
- chamomile flowers;
- plantain leaves;
- yarrow herb;
- St. John's wort;
- bergenia root;
- horsetail
To make the female menopause less painful, gynecologists recommend using decoctions from medicinal plants such as birch, mint, yarrow, buckthorn, viburnum.
Viburnum bark is used for menorrhagia (excessive bleeding during menstruation).
For men
Medicinal herbs have a beneficial effect on men. For the treatment of male infertility, they use: centaury, garcinia cambogia, blueberry leaves, mulberries, birch leaves, lingonberries, bearberry, horsetail, milk thistle, sage, calendula, wild rose, tricolor violet, wild rose.
Dandelion and nettle leaves contribute to the production of male testosterone. Adding ginger to coffee or other drinks and dishes gives a man strength, vigor, self-confidence and tones the muscles.
For vessels and heart
For the treatment of hypertension, chokeberry, medicinal valerian, sweet clover, marsh cranberry, five-lobed motherwort, stamen orthosiphon, common mountain ash and horse sorrel are used.
Marsh cudweed dilates blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, and calms the nervous system.
Coronary heart disease is treated with apricot, fluffy birch, hawthorn, wild strawberry, wild garlic and Chinese magnolia vine.
Ordinary corn is used for atherosclerosis. Corn columns with stigmas normalize the metabolism in the body, and reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood.
For kidney and urinary problems
Medicinal plants effectively cope with kidney diseases and urinary system problems. To cleanse the kidneys, it is recommended to consume flax, shepherd's bags, bearberry, elderberry and tricolor violet. The listed herbs have a diuretic effect, but unlike medicines, they do not wash out calcium from the human body.
For the treatment of renal inflammation, bearberry, yarrow, birch buds are used. To get rid of edema due to improper functioning of the kidneys, you should drink an infusion of oats.
If a person suffers from a disease such as cystitis, baths from such medicinal plants will help him: birch, currant, eucalyptus leaves, sage grass, sweet clover, chamomile and calendula flowers.
To dissolve stones in the urinary organs, infusions of carrot seeds, lingonberries, strawberry leaves and parsley should be used.
For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
For the treatment of problems associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, you should choose the right medicinal plant. Some herbs can help with a certain disease, while others can harm.
If the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines suffers, the treatment will help:
- sea buckthorn fruits;
- rice grains;
- cereals;
- althea root.
Plants envelop the walls of the stomach and have an anti-inflammatory effect on the work of the digestive tract.
Medicinal plants such as snake knotweed root, tea leaves and birch buds will help to cope with diarrhea. They create a protective film and prevent the penetration of chemically active substances and microorganisms.
Sea buckthorn oil and pectin do an excellent job with ulcers and erosive diseases of the gastric mucosa. If a person has constipation or flatulence, then medicinal plants that have an astringent effect will not work. Anise fruits, dill and fennel seeds and hay leaves have an effective effect in this case.
To cure hemorrhoids, the following medicinal plants are used:
- leaves and strings;
- flowers, calendula and chamomile.
A properly selected collection of medicinal plants will help cure diarrhea, intestinal infection and other gastrointestinal diseases at the first symptoms.
Outdoor use
There are a number of medicinal herbs that are used only externally. For example, . For external use, leaves and flowers of calendula are suitable. They have an anti-inflammatory effect and promote the healing of wounds on the hands and feet.
Such a medicinal plant as fireweed is a hemostatic agent for the human body. It also has soothing properties and promotes faster healing of wounds.
Celandine is used to make lotions as a cure for rashes, lichen, acne, diathesis, purulent wounds and ulcers.
The crushed leaves of the plant are applied to infected wounds.
Since childhood, each of us has known such a medicinal plant as plantain. Its leaves are applied to wounds. They have a hemostatic effect, wound healing and anti-inflammatory action.
Nervous and mental problems
For the treatment of neurosis, chamomile roots and flowers, transverse mint leaves, fragrant dill, and nettle are used. Pharmacy chamomile helps a person cope with mental problems.
Medicinal plants have a calming effect on the human nervous system, hypnotic, anticonvulsant and anti-inflammatory effect, relieve increased irritability.
Nerves are treated with prickly hawthorn, black elderberry, motherwort, oregano, stork and fragrant dill.
Contraindications to the use of medicinal herbs
Despite the effectiveness of herbal treatments, they should be used with caution. A plant such as celandine should not be consumed orally in large quantities. Overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and breathing problems.
The correct dosage should be observed when using the drug collection, which contains spring adonis. This is a poisonous plant.
If a person has increased secretion of the stomach, it is not recommended to use the roots of common calamus. Aloe does not apply in the presence of open wounds, uterine bleeding, cystitis, during pregnancy.
In the presence of serious diseases, the use of medicinal plants should be agreed with the doctor!
Medicinal plants and their use occupies an important niche in the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals. Each medicinal plant has its own unique properties, indications and contraindications. For what purposes, and in what ways can medicinal plants be used?
The properties of medicinal plants are numerous and varied. Each plant element produces special substances that affect the immune, nervous, cardiovascular systems, and also restores the energy balance of a person.
Detailed properties and features of each medicinal plant are studied by such sciences as pharmacology, herbal medicine, and pharmaceuticals. Since ancient times, the effects of medicinal herbs have been studied and put into practice by herbalists, healers, and traditional medicine specialists.
When using medicinal plants in medicine and pharmaceuticals, experts divide them into several main groups, depending on the main active ingredients. Each group is characterized by the presence of certain therapeutic properties:
How useful are these plants?
The use of medicinal plants in the medical and pharmacological field is characterized by a number of undeniable advantages. Unlike most medications, herbal medicines are non-toxic, natural, bioavailable, have a minimum of contraindications and possible adverse reactions.
In addition, doctors point to such beneficial properties of medicinal plants:
Due to their mild effect and the absence of aggressive chemicals, most medicinal plants can be safely prescribed in the treatment of pregnant and lactating mothers, elderly patients, and young children.
What diseases are suitable for the treatment?
The range of use of medicinal plants is very wide. Experts actively use them to combat such diseases:
- violations in the functioning of the respiratory system;
- diseases of a chronic nature, with frequent relapses;
- dermatological diseases;
- disorders in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels;
- pathologies affecting the respiratory system;
- diseases of the urinary tract;
- nervous diseases;
- disturbances in the functioning of the neuroendocrine system.
In addition, many medicinal plants and medicines based on them are used to strengthen the human immune system.
Methods of using medicinal plants in medicine
Methods of using medicinal plants in the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals are divided into two main categories: internal and external. Medicines based on medicinal plants are taken orally in the form of infusions, decoctions, herbal teas, syrups, extracts and powders.
For the implementation of local treatment by the external method, powders, compresses from infusions and decoctions, as well as ointments from medicinal plants are used.
How are infusions prepared?
Healing infusions from medicinal plants can be used for oral administration, as well as the preparation of compresses and lotions. In order to make an infusion, you will need a spoonful of crushed medicinal herbs (the plant is selected taking into account its properties, depending on the patient's diagnosis and functional purpose) and a glass of clean water.
Infusions are prepared, both cold and hot methods. In the first case, the herbs are poured with cool water, and then infused for 8 hours and filtered with gauze.
With a hot cooking method, vegetable raw materials must be poured with boiling water and boiled for about 15 minutes over low heat. After that, the tincture is cooled and filtered using the same gauze cloth.
Preparation of herbal powders
Herbal powders are suitable for both oral and topical use. To prepare such a powder, first of all, you will need to prepare raw materials - dry the medicinal plant thoroughly.
The method of preparation itself is extremely simple: the plant is carefully ground to a powdery state (this can be done using an ordinary coffee grinder or a special mortar, like real herbalists). The resulting medicine is stored in a dark place, in any container with a tight-fitting lid.
Alcohol tinctures from medicinal plants
Herbal tinctures based on medical alcohol are characterized by a particularly strong effect, and therefore are taken in minimal concentrations agreed with the attending physician. Be sure to dilute alcohol herbal tinctures in clean water!
Raw materials insist on medical alcohol for a period of time from 10 days to 2-3 months. The resulting medicine is stored in a glass bottle, which is recommended to be tightly closed with a lid and placed in a dark place, protected from sunlight. With proper storage, an alcoholic tincture based on medicinal herbs retains its amazing healing properties for several years.
Herbal ointments
Based on medicinal herbs, you can also prepare a healing ointment, which is subsequently used for compresses and therapeutic applications. Experts use both raw and dried herbs as raw materials for ointments.
In order to obtain an ointment, the applied phytoelement is necessarily combined with a substance that has an astringent effect. For these purposes, you can use butter or vegetable oils, lard, petroleum jelly or lanolin.
Note that the shelf life of ointments made on the basis of animal fats is short and can be no more than a few weeks.
Preparation of decoctions
Herbal decoctions are considered one of the most common methods of using medicinal plants. Such funds are absorbed by the body a little longer than infusions, but they have a longer and more pronounced effect.
In addition, herbal decoctions are extremely simple to prepare. You just need to pour a tablespoon of raw materials with a small amount of water, boil, filter and dilute with clean water to the desired volume.
However, phytotherapy experts still do not advise abusing herbal decoctions, since when boiled, some of the active substances of plants are destroyed. The maximum duration of storage of herbal decoctions is two days.
Possible adverse reactions
Despite the fact that herbal medicines are usually very well tolerated by patients, without side effects, in some cases there is still a possibility of the following adverse reactions:
It is worth noting that the above unpleasant symptoms usually manifest themselves when using medicinal plants that have a toxic effect, with their long-term use and non-compliance with the recommended dosage.
How to use medicinal plants correctly?
Experts identify the following rules for the use of medicinal plants, which must be followed in the treatment:
When are medicinal plants contraindicated?
The main contraindication to the use of medicinal plants is the patient's increased tendency to allergic reactions, as well as individual intolerance to certain plant substances. Each individual plant has its own limitations for use.
Contraindications to the use of the most common medicinal plants are as follows:
A preliminary consultation with the attending physician will help to establish the presence or absence of contraindications to the use of a particular medicinal plant, making the therapeutic course extremely effective, and most importantly, completely safe!
The use of medicinal plants in the field of modern medicine and pharmaceutics provides effective treatment for a number of diseases. The advantages of using drugs based on medicinal plants are their safety, mildness of action, almost no contraindications and adverse reactions, along with high rates of effectiveness.
However, with prolonged and uncontrolled use, even natural remedies can cause significant harm to health. Therefore, before the very beginning of treatment with medicinal plants, it is necessary to consult with a specialist and strictly follow his recommendations in the future!
