Common Herbs Information for Ailments
Herbs have been widely used for treatments of ailments and diseases for thousands of years, proven by our ancestors and scientifically by many scientists. Hence, hundreds of species has been identified and usages highly profound, in here we will introduce commonly found herbs and their uses for common ailments.
Aloe Vera (Aloe ferox, A. barbadensis): Internally, concentrate Aloe ferox resin is used as a strong laxative. Externally, the clear gel from the A. barbadensis leaf, is used to treat burns, abrasions, skin injuries, and in skin care cosmetic products.
Angelica: Angelica is a bittersweet, aromatic, and anti-inflammatory herb that increases perspiration, lowers fever, and has anti spasmodic and expectorant properties. The plant is rich in furano-coumarins, including xanthotoxin, imperatorin, angelicin, archangelin as well as coumarins such as umbelliferone, osthol, osthenol. The osthol is mainly found in the roots and the imperatorin in the fruit.
The roots of the A. sinensis are known as dang gui and the roots of A. dahurica as bai zhi in traditional Chinese medicine, where is it used for a general tonic and is also known as "woman's ginseng"
Barley: Whole barley seeds, and cereals and flour made from them are being investigated for treating diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. Some evidence from separate studies involving laboratory animals and humans suggests that barley seed products in the diet may improve blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes -- possibly because the fiber in barley seeds delays stomach emptying and slows down the absorption of carbohydrates from foods.
Basil: Sweet basil with its wonderful aroma and flavor is one of the most popular and widely grown herbs in the world. We associate basil with Italian cooking but it could be use to relieve sore gums and treat bad breath. A basil leaf tucked into the mouth over an ulcer and kept there for as long as possible will ease the pain.
Bee Pollen: Used as an immune system builder, Bee Pollen is thought to have the ability to correct body chemistry and eliminate unhealthy conditions. It is considered to have the ability to throw off poisons and toxic materials from the body. It also aids in the digestive process and the assimilation of nutrients. Bee pollen may also relieve anemia, cerebral hemorrhage, colitis and constipation.
Black pepper: An aromatic, pungent, warming herb that lowers fever and improves digestion. Black pepper contains essential oil (up to 3.5%) and 5 - 10% pungent acid-amides with piperine as well as piperyline, piperoleines and piperamine, while the oil contains sabinene, pinene, phellandrene, linalool and limonene. Piperine is known as a central nervous system depressant and has good anticonvulsant and antimicrobial properties. It stimulates both the digestive and circulatory system and, apart from this, has insecticidal properties.
Camphor: Stimulates the circulatory and nervous system, Bitter and aromatic herb that combats inflammation and eases spasms and pain. Camphor is reported to enhance digestion and to kill internal parasites. It has definite antiseptic, spasmolytic (in bronchial tubes), anti-irritant, carminative, circulatory, as well as analeptic properties. Although the smell stimulates the cold receptors in the mucus membranes, it does not have a direct decongestive effect.
Chinese Bitter Melon: Commonly used by Asians as part of their diet, it is used regularly to clean the blood and for anti-viral and anti-tumor effects.
Citronella: This plant is part of the same family as lemon grass, but has nearly the same properties (a great insect repellent) and fragrance as that of Melissa officinalis. The oil contains acetylizable alcohols (geraniol) and aldehydes (citronellal).
Cloves: Cloves are a spicy, warming herb that relieve pain, control nausea and vomiting, improve digestion, protect against internal parasites, cause uterine contractions and are strongly antiseptic. They contain flavonoids, galloytannins, phenolic acids and triterpenes, while the oil contains eugenol, eugenyl acetate and b-caryophyllene. The eugenol contained inhibits prostaglandin formation, which explains the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, but the herb has further antiseptic, antispasmodic and carminative properties.
Coconut Oil: Virgin Coconut Oil has small molecular structure allows for easy absorption, giving both the skin and hair a soft smooth texture. Just the coconut oil by itself makes an ideal ointment for the relief of dry rough and wrinkled skin. Coconut oil is also rich in lauric acid. Lauric acid in the stomach, transforms into 2-Monolaurin, which is a substance that has anti-microbial properties. A nutraceutical called monolaurin - created from coconut oil - has been approved by the FDA as a drug used in infectious disease. Lauric acid is found in human mother's milk. It is lauric acid in human milk that helps nursing infants to have healthy immune systems.
Dandelion: Is helpful for people who suffer from allergies, eczema and other skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, gout, rheumatism, gall stones, metabolic disturbances, bone disorders, low blood pressure, poor circulation, ulcers, anemia, halitosis (bad breath), constipation, malignant tumors, colds, lowering cholesterol, cardiac edema, heart burn, swollen glands, hot flushes, and as a sleep inducing night cap. Dandelion is herb with fat metabolism properties. For weight loss several cups of dandelion tea can be sipped daily, adding 1-2 tablesp. of cider vinegar to each cup.
Dong Quai: The reputation of Don quai is second only to Ginseng and is considered the ultimate, all-purpose woman's tonic herb. It is used for almost every gynecological complaint from regulating the menstrual cycle to treating menopausal symptoms caused by hormonal changes. The Chinese uses dong quai as strengthening treatment for the heart, spleen, liver and kidneys. Both men and women use the herb as a general blood tonic.
Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus is an aromatic herb that stimulates the system, a decongestant and expectorant that relaxes spasms and lowers fever. It also has antibiotic properties and an effective insect repellent. It contains an essential oil, which contains 1,9-ceneole, a-pinene, p-cymene, limonene and other monoterpenoids, while the fresh leaves also contain sesquiterpenes (aromadendren and globulol), euglobals (derivatives of acylphloroglucin) and flavonoids.
Fenugreek: Fenugreek is a bitter herb that increases milk-flow, stimulates the uterus, soothes irritated tissues, lowers fever, reduces blood sugar, improves digestion, promotes healing, and has laxative, expectorant, diuretic, anti-parasitic and anti-tumor effects. Fenugreek sprouts are also used to promote hair growth, especially in men. The seeds are rich in mucilage (glactomannans), lipids, protein, protease inhibitors. Various steroid saponins are present (aglycone), furostanol glycosides, small amounts of alkaloid and steroidal peptide.
Garlic: There has been more written about the wonderful benefits of garlic than any other food source known. It's history dates back 3,500 years: Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was the first to write that garlic was an excellent medicine for eliminating tumors. It may also help restore natural killer (NK) cell activity.
Ginger: Ginger is another great example of how a plant can be used as a food, spice or medicine. It has been used to treat nausea, motion sickness and vomiting. Ginger has a long history of use for all types of digestive upset and can be helpful to increase appetite.
Ginseng: One of the world's most famous herbs. Ginseng is classed as an "adaptogen," a relatively recent term coined by Russian researchers to describe ginseng's general tonic properties. Adaptogens are herbs that increase the overall resistance to all types of stress. Other herbal adaptogens include Astragalus, Siberian Ginseng and Schizandra. Asian Ginseng (Chinese and Korean) is renowned for its ability to increase energy and endurance.
Green tea: The tannins interact with proteins and are astringent and also have antioxidant activity. Scientific evidence also indicated assist in promote weight loss and treat prostatitis, a painful urinary condition. One of the polyphenols in green tea - epigaltocatechin galate (EGCC) is thought to be 200 times more powerful than vitamin E for neutralizing free radicals. It contains caffeine as well as triterpene saponins, carotenoids and non-protein amino acids (theanine, 2-amino-6-ethylamidoadipinic acid).
Jasmine: Jasmine is an astringent, anti bacterial, anti viral, cooling and bitter herb. It stimulates the uterus, calms nerves and is reportedly an aphrodisiac for women. It is also used as an alternative for preventing cancers, as well as viral and bacterial infections. J. officinale is used in perfumes, as well as flavoring for maraschino cherries.
Licorice: Licorice is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world, commonly used in European, Arabian and Asian traditional medicine systems. It is soothing to inflamed mucous membranes; often recommended in treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers and cough and asthma remedies. Licorice extract displays a stimulating action on adrenal glands and is thus useful in fatigue due to adrenal exhaustion. Licorice and its extracts are safe for normal use in moderate amounts.
Mother Wort: Motherwort is a bitter, diuretic herb working on the circulation and urinary system. It has sedative, hypotensive, cardio tonic and antispasmodic properties. It lowers blood pressure and exhibits antibacterial and anti-fungal effects.
It contains stachydrine, leonurine, iridoid glycosides (ajugol, ajugoside, galiridoside) labdane diterpenes, diterpene lactones (leocardin, murrubiaside), flavonoids, phenolic acids and tannins.
Neem: It is a bitter tonic herb that reduces inflammations and clears toxins, while promoting healing and improving all body functions. Apart from this it destroys a wide range of parasitic organisms and is also insecticidal and spermicidal.
Olive leaf extract: Has enormous antiviral, anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-parasitic, and heart health benefits. The active ingredient Oleuropein interferes with viruses in several ways: It disrupts the viral amino acid production, inhibits replication, and in retro-viruses neutralizes enzymes that are needed to alter the RNA of a healthy cell whereby the virus would be able to take over those cells.
Onion: Onion is a pungent herb, protecting against infection, relaxing spasms, reducing blood pressure as well as blood clotting and blood sugar levels. It further has expectorant and diuretic properties and also contains a range of sulfur containing compounds - sulfoxides (cyteinesulfoxide, isomer of alliin) and cepaenes.
Parsley: Parsley is a bitter, aromatic, and diuretic herb that relaxes spasms, reduces inflammation and clears toxins. It is also said to inhibit tumor-cell growth and stimulates the digestion and uterus. It contains flavonoids (including apiin), traces of furanocoumarins (bergapten, oxypeucedanin, psoralen). The essential oil contains phenylpropanoids apiol, myristicin and allyltetramethoxybenzol.
Peppermint: Internally, peppermint has an antispasmodic action, with a calming effect on the stomach and intestinal tract. As a tea, extract, or in a capsule, peppermint is useful for indigestion, cramp-like discomfort of the upper gastrointestinal and bile duct, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammation or irritation of the gums.
Saw Palmetto: The berries have long held a reputation as sexual stimulants and aphrodisiacs. The largest use today is as a supplement for reducing enlarged prostate glands, treating urinary tract problems and for improving body strength.
Seaweed: They have outstanding nutritional profiles. Essential fatty acids, nucleic acids like RNA and DNA, phyto-chemicals as carotenoids. It has properties of anti-aging, weight loss and detoxification.
Soy: Soybean is a sweet, cooling and slightly bitter herb used in Chinese medicine for a variety of ailments. It has sedative, anti-spasmodic, diaphoretic (causes sweating) and anti-pyretic properties, with hormonal balancing effects and has great benefit to the liver and circulation. It contains phospholipids, soy protein, protease inhibitors, isoflavonoids and triterpene saponins. Some studies also indicate that it can be useful in the treatment of menopause and post-menopausal conditions, cancer, hypertension, aging, and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
St. John's wort: It is a bittersweet herb that has cooling and astringent properties, mostly used to calm the nerves, reduce inflammation and promote healing. It contains phenolic compounds, terpenoids, hyperforim and hypericin.
