Traditional medicine to help in the season of influenza and colds (and not only).
Our herbalist is the 14 most useful herbs you can rely on with a full description of valuable properties and a list of contraindications.
This succulent plant was first found in countries in South Africa and Arabia. During the trip of the Russian ship to South Africa, one of the crew members picked up an unknown tropical fever, and had to leave it on the shore. Literally a month later, another team found the sailor in the same place ─ he looked much better. It turned out that in the jungle, he found a tropical plant that looked like a shrub and chewed its leaves (more likely from hunger), and then noticed that his health began to improve significantly. So, according to unofficial data, aloe fell into Russia.
In nature, more than 200 different types of aloe are known, but the most widespread in our country is a tree aloe or agave. As a rule, two useful products are obtained from its leaves ─ juice and gel. The first is more often used in medicine, the second is in cosmetology. Aloe juice contains beneficial trace elements: manganese, copper, potassium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine, bromine, vanadium, iron, iodine, silver, fluorine, silicon, zinc, and many others.
Aloe juice should not be used for cancer, possible allergic reactions, uterine bleeding and pregnancy (only with the permission of the attending physician).
This perennial plant of the Araliae family grows mainly in mountainous areas, and most often it can be found in the Far East, in China, Tibet, Vietnam, Altai, and Siberia. China is recognized as the birthplace of the plant, and the pronunciation of its name is borrowed from Chinese (although in the original ginseng is spelled in two words and translated as “the root of life”). The most useful part of ginseng is really the root, in form resembling a small human figure (in connection with this, ginseng is sometimes translated from the same Chinese as “human root”).
In cases of self-treatment, if you do not control the use of drugs containing ginseng, you may feel unwell, even fatal poisoning, so it’s best to consult with your doctor before taking it. Ginseng is completely contraindicated in the development of acute infectious diseases, with high blood pressure, pregnancy.
In nature, there are about 30 different types of Eleutherococcus, but only one is used in medicine – Eleutherococcus spiny. This species is a shrub, with branching, thorny trunks (plant trunks can reach 4 meters in height) and fruits in the form of black berries. Eleutherococcus belongs to the Aralia family, as does ginseng and, accordingly, has similar properties. For this reason, it is often used for overwork as a tonic.
Eleutherococcus is not recommended to be used for chronic insomnia, high blood pressure, fever, pregnancy, increased nervous excitability, as well as children under 12 years of age.
Tussilágo or “cough slegon” ─ this plant has this name in Latin. “Coltsfoot” ─ it is rather the Russian folk interpretation, the basis for which was the leaves of the plant, slippery outside and fluffy inside. The plant belongs to the family of the Astrov (complex flowers), and its main beneficial feature is the treatment of cough and other bronchodilator diseases. The coltsfoot contains alkaloids with antibacterial action and inulin, which improves the quality of food digestion and improves digestion.
It is not recommended to use the plant solution during pregnancy, acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, asthenia, as well as for the treatment of alcoholism.
Salvia (Latin name of sage) is a large genus of shrub plants. By the way, with regard to the original name of sage, it comes from the Latin word salvere (from the Latin. “Be healthy”). The description of the use of this plant remained in the records of many Greek and Roman physicians. Hippocrates, in particular, called sage “holy grass.”
Worldwide, there are about 700 species of salvia. However, for medical purposes, in theory, only 100 of them are used, and in practice, the sage species known for their healing properties are only 2 – sage meadow (wild) and medicinal sage (specially grown in orchards and vegetable gardens). For treatment, mainly sage leaves are used: decoctions, tinctures, oils and ointments are prepared from them. Fresh sage leaves are applied only externally. The leaves contain vitamins, phytoncides, essential oils, alkaloids, flavonoids, organic acids, resinous and tannins, natural antioxidants.
Do not use sage for women during lactation, as it helps to reduce lactation (however, when the time comes to wean the baby from breast milk, sage, on the contrary, will be useful)
Nettle owes its original name and sad popularity among children to stinging hairs covering its stems and leaves. In theory, we all know from early childhood that you cannot touch nettles because you can get burned or “get wet”, but in practice nettles benefit significantly exceeds its snideful ability to “sting” (except for nettle trees from New Zealand, touching the which not only burns, but in principle is life-threatening).
In Russia, you can find only two types of nettles – stinging nettles and stinging nettles. Nettle contains carotene (it is more there than in carrots and sorrel), ascorbic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium, nickel, sodium, copper, titanium, manganese, boron, iodine, phosphorus, iron, and also vitamins A, B1 , B2 and PP, and the content of vitamin C, nettle surpasses even lemon. Nettle is often used to prepare various decoctions for medical purposes, but its leaves can also significantly brighten the taste of many soups in cooking.
Nettle is contraindicated in pregnancy, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis.
The main places of origin of ginkgo biloba are Japan and Southeast Asia. It existed on our land in the Mesozoic era. Ginkgo biloba has long been one of the main drugs of Asian medicine, and today it is successfully used in the West and in Russia, as a means to improve memory and prolong youth. The composition of the extract from the leaves of ginkgo biloba includes more than 40 biologically active compounds. This plant also has its own unique components ─ bilobalids and ginkgolides (to which it owes its unusual name), and it is they that largely determine its particular pharmacological activity.
Do not use ginkgo biloba extract for women during pregnancy.
Kombucha, or, as it is called in Russia, Kombucha ─ is a symbiosis of vinegar and yeast. Kombucha came to us in the XX century through Transbaikalia straight from China. In everyday life and traditional medicine in both Russia and the pioneer countries of Kombucha (China, Japan, India), it is not the mushroom itself that is used, but its infusion. In Japan, geisha drank infusion kombuchi for weight loss, rinsed his hair, removed pigment spots and even warts on the skin. In India, the infusion of Kombucha fixed paint on fabrics. In China and Russia, they also drink it as an invigorating and perfectly thirst-quenching drink. Kombucha copes well with therapeutic tasks, as it contains many healing components (alkaloids, vitamins, enzymes, glycosides, aromatic substances, as well as sugar, acetic acid and alcohol).
Due to its high sugar content, Kombucha may not be useful for people suffering from fungal diseases, obesity, or diabetes.
The perennial plant of the legume family, which is considered to be the birthplace of China, has a high nutritional value, and therefore is often used in digestive disorders. The plant contains isoflavones and flavones (substances that regulate hormonal activity in women), saponins (substances that block cholesterol absorption) and chlorophyll, which helps cleanse the entire body. Alfalfa also contains minerals (iron, zinc, potassium, calcium) and acids (citric, malic, ascorbic, fumaric, oxalic).
It is not recommended to use alfalfa during pregnancy and autoimmune diseases.
Levzeya grows high in the mountains. The most famous places where you can pick a bouquet Levzei ─ Altai, Sayan Mountains, Kazakhstan. The people of this plant is often referred to as “maral root”, and all because in the fall deer-deer living in some mountainous areas, dig up and eat its roots. Actually, thanks to them, the usefulness of the Leuzei was once discovered.
For biostimulants, concentrated in the root of the left-hand crop, the plant is also often referred to as a natural anabolic (a substance that gives energy, increases endurance, and promotes rapid muscle recovery). So the Leuzea root can often be found in popular sports supplements.
Levzeya root is contraindicated to take with epilepsy, arrhythmias, sleep disorders, hypertension, increased nervous excitability, chronic diseases of the liver and kidneys, the acute period of infectious diseases.
Even the ancient Greek philosopher Xenophanes wrote about her in his writings. In the entire history of the wormwood, about 400 of its species were bred. There are about 180 species in our country, of which the most popular is wormwood bitter. The plant is a straight stem about 1.5 meters high with leaves and yellow (sometimes reddish) flowers. In the stems and leaves of wormwood a lot of useful substances and essential oils are concentrated. In addition, carotene, ascorbic acid, potassium salts, malic acid and succinic acid are found in the wormwood. By the way, another popular type of wormwood is tarragon, which is known to you as tarragon. Bitter wormwood is a part of absinthe and some other vermouths.
Wormwood is not recommended to use during pregnancy, breastfeeding, anemia, bleeding, enterocolitis, gastric ulcer, gastritis. In large doses, wormwood can cause a breakdown of the nervous system.
Horsetail is a perennial herbaceous plant, known to many gardeners as a difficult to eradicate weed. Horsetail breeds spores, looks like a mini-Christmas tree and a bit like a horse’s tail (horsetail is a derivative of the “tail”). As befits a weed, horsetail does not have its historical homeland, it is only known that in different countries, depending on the climate, its height varies. For example, in Russia it reaches no more than 1-1.5 meters, but in South America you can also find a 12-meter plant. Horsetail contains a lot of useful substances and elements ─ vitamin C, flavonoids, potassium salts, salts of silicic acid, bitterness, saponins, carotene, resins and tannins.
The use of horsetail is contraindicated in pregnancy, nephrosis and nephritis.
This perennial plant of the family yasnotkovyh usually grows in wastelands, hence its name. The territory of distribution of motherwort is very extensive: it can be found in Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Western Siberia. The most common plant species is heartwort. It is his solution that calms in stressful situations and has a beneficial effect on the heart. Of all known soothing herbs, motherwort has the strongest effects: it contains flavonol glycosides, essential oil, saponins, stachidrin alkaloid, tannins and carotene.
Motherwort is contraindicated in pregnancy, hypotension, bradycardia, gastric ulcer, erosive gastritis.
Echinacea is a perennial plant of the Aster family. In nature, there are only 9 species of Echinacea, and the most studied is Echinacea purpurea, and it is used for medicinal purposes. Echinacea resembles chamomile in its appearance (only petals of a different color), and you must have often come across it in nature. As a medicinal raw materials are used stems, flowers, leaves and rhizomes with roots. All parts of Echinacea contain polysaccharides, essential oil, caffeic acid esters (echinacoside), glycosides, resins, betaine, organic acids (cerutic, palmitic, caffeic, linoleic, oleic, as well as phyto-sterols, phenolic compounds, phenolic acids, tannins, polyenes and alkaloids). Echinacea is a powerful herbal antibiotic.
Do not take echinacea lactating and pregnant women, as well as in the presence of autoimmune diseases and tuberculosis.
A nosebleed always appears suddenly, which can lead to a stupor when a person does not know at all how…
What is a Plantar Wart? Plantar warts are non-cancerous skin outgrowths on feet that are caused due to a viral…
Age-related changes and weight gain do not add beauty to the face. Especially when it comes to double chin. He…
Nails and hair are a very reliable source of information about the state of health, doctors admit, but it’s still…
Polyps of the stomach are outgrowths from the epithelium of the mucous membranes of the stomach, in the form of…
Chickpeas have many health benefits such as help with weight loss, avoid diabetes, lower risk of genetic diseases, prevent chronic…