Common Herbs and their Medicinal Uses
Transcription
Common Herbs and their Medicinal Uses
Common Herbs and their Medicinal Uses Introduction Plants continue to be a major source of medicines, as they have been throughout human history. The populations of developing countries worldwide continue to rely heavily on the use of traditional medicines as their primary source of healthcare, and medicinal plants are now being given serious attention by mainstream medical science. The pages that follow detail some commonly used medicinal plants (herbs) that can easily be planted in any home garden. CAUTION: Always seek advice from a medical professional before using a plant medicinally. Name Common name Picture Uses Parts used Propagation methods Rosmarinus Rosemary officinalis Rosemary is taken internally Leaves Rosemary is easiest as colds, to grow from a cutting, and rather than planting an infusion influenza, for fatigue headache. It is also used for treatment of seeds. digestion problems, including heartburn, intestinal gas (flatulence), liver and gallbladder complaints, and loss of appetite. It is also used for headache, gout, cough, high blood pressure, and reducing agerelated memory loss. Artemisia afra African wormwood, The uses of African wormwood Leaves, New plants can be wild covers propagated wormwood; a wide range of stem by wilde-als; ailments from coughs, colds, division or from umhlonyane; fever, loss of appetite, colic, cuttings that root mhlonyane; headache, earache, intestinal easily in spring and lengana; zengana worms to malaria. summer. Seed can be sown in summer. spring or Foeniculum Fennel valgare An infusion of the seeds Leaves, soothes the digestive system root, and is said to Propagate by seeds stem increase and seeds production of milk in nursing mothers. Asparagus Sprenger's Asparagus species leaves are Leaves Propagate by seeds densiflora Asparagus used as vegetables or for or division. medicinal purposes. Crushed berries are used to treat skin irritation Note: The berries cause only low toxicity if eaten. Allium tuberosum Garlic chives Help to lower blood pressure Leaves Propagate by seed or and blood cholesterol. It also by dividing the helps to prevent blood clotting. clumps. Garlic chives have been used to treat fatigue, control excessive bleeding, and as an antidote for ingested poisons. The leaves and bulbs are applied to insect bites, cuts, and wounds, while the seeds are used to treat kidney, liver, and digestive problems. system Leonotis Wild leonurus Umunyane; treat Lebake; poisonous snake bites and Umfincafincane; other type of bites (scorpion Umhlahlampetu and spider bites) and stings. Dagga, Wild dagga has been used to leaves and Propagate from seed, concerns including stem cuttings or by dividing large clumps. Infusions of leaves and roots are used to conditions, itchiness, skin boils, eczema, muscle cramps, influenza, cough. treat bronchitis It Pressure and lowers Blood and eases headaches. Eucomis autumnalis Pineapple lily Pineapple lily is used to treat Bulb Propagation urinary pulmonary offsets, seed, ailments, fever and disease of cuttings and stock. Tswana and Sotho use culture and decoctions of the bulb to treat hangovers. Bulbs are used in decoctions which administered as are enemas. These are used to treat lower backache, urinary diseases, as well as assisting in the healing of fractures. is by leaf tissue Borago Borage officinalis It is used to treat oily skin, Leaves and Propagate by seeds coughing, reliving eczema, seeds assisting to fight rheumatism, regulating menstruation and assisting with soothing irritable bowel syndrome Amoracia Horseradish rusticana Horseradish is used to treat Roots and Propagate by seed or back pain and menstrual leaves. by division in winter Leaves Propagation is from cramps. Bulbine snake flower, cat's The fresh leaf produces a jelly- frutescens tail, burn jelly plant; like juice that is wonderful for seed, cuttings or balsem burns, rashes, blisters, insect either division of bites, cracked lips, acne, cold clumps, and should sores, mouth ulcers and areas be done in spring kopieva, geelkatstert of cracked skin. an infusion of a few fresh leaves in a cup of boiling water. The strained drink is taken for coughs, colds and arthritis Gnidia Yellow heads; kaussiana harige gifbossie; plant is known in Xhosa) is isidikili, imfuzane, also very effective for the Salvia officinalis The root of umarhedeni (as the Roots umsilawengwe; treatment of sexually umarhedeni transmitted infections. Sage The infusions of leaves are Leaves Propagation is from used as a mouthwash for sore seeds and cuttings throats, mouth ulcers, gum diseases, laryngitis and tonsils. Infusions are taken internally as tonics, to aid indigestion and for menopausal problems. And applied compresses externally to help as heal wounds Crocosmia Aunt paniculata Undwendweni Eliza, The corms are also used in Corms Propagate by dividing traditional medicine to treat rhizomes, dysentery and infertility corms or bulbs tubers, Melissa Lemon balm officinalis Infusions are taken internally Leaves Propagate by seed or for anxiety, by division in spring or tension autumn nervous depression, headaches and indigestion. It is also applied externally for as poultice or ointment for sores, skin irritations, insect bites and stings. Lavendula Lavender officinalis Lavender is used alone or in Leaves and Propagate by seed, combination with other herbs stem cuttings, to division or separation treat states, insomnia, migraine anxiety layering, headaches and depression. Zingiber officinale Ginger A tea nausea. is used to relieve Rhizome Propagate by dividing rhizome. Achillea Yarrow millefolium A tea is taken for colds and Leaves Yarrow propagates fever. It is also thought to easily and in many lower blood pressure and to ways, relieve indigestion. division, stem cuttings including via and seeds Petroselinum crispum Parsley It is used problems, for menstrual Leaves kidney stones, stem urinary infections, and arthritis. Tea is made from leaves to treat jaundice and coughs. , Propagated seeds. from