The most useful medicinal herbs

Aloe Vera

This plant of the succulent genus was first discovered in the countries of South Africa and Arabia. During the voyage of the Russian ship to South Africa, one of the crew members caught an unknown tropical fever, and he had to be left on shore. Just a month later, the sailor was found in the same place by another team – 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 (rather from hunger), and then noticed that his health began to improve significantly. That’s how, according to unofficial data, aloe got to Russia.

In nature, there are more than 200 different types of aloe, but the most common in our country is the tree-like 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-in cosmetology. Aloe juice contains useful trace elements: manganese, copper, potassium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine, bromine, vanadium, iron, iodine, silver, fluorine, silicon, zinc and many others.

Benefit

strengthens the immune system

cleanses the blood

treats diseases of the nervous, cardiovascular, digestive and urinary systems

it has an anti-inflammatory, bactericidal effect

treats eye diseases

increases the secretion of the digestive glands

normalizes cholesterol levels

accelerates the healing of wounds and ulcers

treats diseases in the gynecological field

relieves inflammation of the gums

Contraindications

Aloe juice should not be used for cancer, possible allergic reactions, uterine bleeding and pregnancy (only with the permission of the attending physician).

Ginseng

This perennial plant of the Araliaceae family grows mainly in mountainous areas, and most often it can be found in the Far East, China, Tibet, Vietnam, the Altai, and Siberia. The native land of the plant is recognized as China, and the pronunciation of its name is borrowed from the Chinese language (although in the original ginseng is written in two words and translates as “the root of life”). The most useful part of ginseng is really the root, which is shaped like a small human figure (in this regard, ginseng is sometimes translated from the same Chinese as “human root”).

Benefit

it has an anti-inflammatory effect
affects carbohydrate metabolism
reduces blood sugar
increases vision
increases the body’s endurance and resistance to stress, infections, changes in external temperatures, etc.
equalizes blood pressure in hypotension
lowers cholesterol levels
activates the function of the adrenal glands
stimulates the blood circulation of the brain
accelerates fat metabolism
promotes rapid healing of wounds and ulcers

Contraindications

In cases of self-medication with uncontrolled intake of drugs containing ginseng, it is possible to worsen well-being up to fatal poisoning, so it is better to consult a doctor before taking it. Ginseng is completely contraindicated in the development of acute infectious diseases, high blood pressure, pregnancy.

Siberian ginseng

In nature, there are about 30 different types of Eleutherococcus, but only one is used in medicine — Eleutherococcus prickly. This species is a shrub, with branching, prickly trunks (the trunks of the plant can reach 4 meters in height) and fruits in the form of black berries. Eleutherococcus belongs to the Araliaceae family, like ginseng, and, accordingly, has similar properties to it. For this reason, it is often used for overwork as a tonic. By the way, eleutherococcus is part of the classic composition of the Russian drink “Baikal”.

Benefit

tones up

improves performance

relieves chronic fatigue

it puts the nervous system in order

helps to reduce blood sugar levels

helps in the prevention of cancer

it has a calming effect on the eyes, has a positive effect on vision in general

improves appetite

increases the body’s resistance to infectious diseases

helps with radiation exposures and poisoning

promotes the treatment of stomatitis and other diseases of the oral cavity

it is useful for restoring the menstrual cycle and infertility

increases male sexual activity

Contraindications

Eleutherococcus is not recommended for use with chronic insomnia, high blood pressure, fever, pregnancy, increased nervous excitability, as well as children under 12 years of age.

Mother-and-stepmother

Tussilágo or “kashlegon” is the name of this plant in Latin. “Mother-and-stepmother” is more of a Russian folk interpretation, based on the leaves of the plant, slippery on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The plant belongs to the Asteraceae family (Asteraceae), and its main useful property is the treatment of cough and other bronchodilatory diseases. Mother-and-stepmother contains alkaloids that have an antibacterial effect, and inulin, which increases the quality of food absorption and improves digestion.

Benefit

improves the secretion of gastric juice
the decoction of the plant relieves muscle and joint pain
helps with inflammatory skin diseases (furunculosis, acne)
helps with excessive sweating of the legs
promotes the treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases (angina, tonsillitis, fahrengitis)
helps with dental problems (periodontal disease, gum inflammation)
treats bronchodilator diseases

Contraindications

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.

Sage

Salvia (Latin for sage) is a large genus of shrubby plants. By the way, as for the original name of sage, it comes from the Latin word salvere (from Lat. “be healthy”). Descriptions of the use of this plant have remained in the records of many Greek and Roman physicians. Hippocrates, in particular, called sage a “sacred herb”.

Around 700 species of salvia have been recorded worldwide. However, for medical purposes, in theory, only 100 of them are used, and in practice, only 2 types of sage known for their medicinal properties — meadow sage (wild) and medicinal sage (specially grown in gardens and vegetable gardens). For treatment, sage leaves are mainly used: they are used to prepare decoctions, tinctures, oils and ointments. In fresh form, sage leaves are used only externally. The leaves contain vitamins, phytoncides, essential oils, alkaloids, flavonoids, organic acids, resinous and tannins, and natural antioxidants.

Benefit

helps in the treatment of skin diseases, external wounds, ulcers, tumors

it has anti-inflammatory properties

it has a restorative effect on the body

restricts sweating

helps with diarrhea

promotes the prevention of arthritis and the treatment of frostbite

it has antiseptic and antispasmodic effects

it is effective in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and women’s diseases

helps improve memory

it has a firming effect on the hair (slows down the process of baldness in men)

Contraindications

Do not use sage for women during breastfeeding, 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

Nettle owes its original name and sad popularity among children to the burning hairs covering its stems and leaves. In theory, we all know from early childhood that you can not touch the nettle with your hands, because you can get burned or “get stung”, but in practice the benefits of nettle significantly exceed its snide property of all “sting” (except for the nettle tree native to New Zealand, touching which is not just burning, but in principle life-threatening).

In Russia, you can find only two types of nettle – nettle dioecious and stinging nettle. The composition of nettle contains carotene (there is more of it than in carrots and sorrel), ascorbic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium, nickel, sodium, copper, titanium, manganese, boron, iodine, phosphorus, iron, as well as 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.

Benefit

cleanses the blood

increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood

promotes the treatment of skin diseases (boils, acne, eczema)

it has a hemostatic and healing effect

helps the female body recover faster after childbirth

relieves the symptoms of PMS and menopause

helps to improve the tone of the cardiovascular system, improves the work of the heart

helps in the treatment of rheumatism, sciatica, relieving muscle pain

can be applied to hair and scalp care, reduces hair loss

improves the functioning of the digestive system, gives choleretic and laxative effects

it normalizes the blood sugar level in diabetes mellitus