The world of medicinal plants is vast and complex, with a variety of plants offering a range of healing properties. From turmeric to tansy, these nine powerful medicinal plants have been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. Sage is a powerful herb with beautiful flowers and soft leaves. This plant grows in home gardens and has been used as a medicinal herb for 4,000 years.
It is very rich in nutrients and antioxidants, and its stem, flower and leaves can effectively cure a number of diseases. The blood flower (also known as Mexican butterfly herb) is a type of tropical milkweed with toxic milkweed that is emetic (makes you vomit). It has also been historically favored as a heart stimulant and expels worms. It can be quite useful for a number of possible hiking disasters.
Tansy is an aster and old-world remedy, used to flavor beer and stews, as well as to repel insects. Rubbing the leaves on the skin provides an effective insect repellent, but tansy can also be used to treat worms. It is said to be poisonous when extracted, but some leaves are not harmful if ingested. Turmeric has a bright orange hue and is impossible to miss on a spice rack.
Originally from India, turmeric is believed to have anti-cancer properties and may prevent DNA mutations. According to recent research, turmeric also shows promise as a treatment for a variety of dermatological diseases and joint arthritis. It is a tentpole of an Indian alternative medicine practice called Ayurveda. Echinacea is much more than those beautiful purple flowers that you see dotting gardens.
These flowers have been used for centuries as medicine in the form of teas, juices and extracts. Nowadays, they can be taken as powders or supplements. The most well-known use of echinacea is to shorten the symptoms of the common cold, but further studies are needed to verify this benefit and understand how echinacea increases immunity when there is a virus. In general, with the exception of some potential side effects, echinacea is relatively safe. Lavender has been recommended for anxiety relief for good reason.
This aromatic and purple flower has a fairly strong position among studies, which have mainly focused on its anti-anxiety abilities. It has been shown to be relaxing in a study conducted among dental patients, while another study confirmed that lavender can directly affect mood and cognitive performance. It has also been praised for its sedative properties to help people sleep what they so badly need. Recently, lavender has also been found to have anti-inflammatory benefits.Tea tree oil has antimicrobial superpowers that have been studied in wounds and topical infections.
Tea tree oil, like all essential oils, must be diluted in a carrier oil. Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of a tree native to Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Grape seed extract has been well established and applauded for its antioxidant activity. It has powerful health benefits, including lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and reducing symptoms of poor circulation in the veins of the legs. Studies confirm that regular consumption of grape seed extract has anti-cancer effects and seems to stop the growth of cancer cells. Yarrow was one of the main wild healing plants used by Native American tribes.
It was known and appreciated for its high antimicrobial and anti-infective properties. In Native American herbalism, Yarrow was much more prized than dandelions and chicory. Yarrow plants were first used by the ancient Greeks more than 3,000 years ago to heal external wounds and successfully stop bleeding. Banana may not be the first plant that comes to mind when thinking about medicinal plants, but it should be! Despite being considered a garden weed in many parts of North America, banana is one of the most powerful survival plants since it can be used both as a wild healing plant and as an edible plant. The world of medicinal plants offers an array of healing properties that have been used for centuries to treat various ailments. From turmeric to tansy, these nine powerful medicinal plants are just some examples of how nature can provide us with natural remedies.
