12 Highly Beneficial Medicinal Herbs
Nature is filled with all sorts of green and purple.. and yellow.. and red. But is it there just to look at it and say: "What a beautiful sight"?
Well, I can assure you, it is there for more than just that.
You can call them plants or herbs, but I call them cures. And for a reason. These colorful products of nature can benefit human health in so many ways.
Let's see how just 12 popular and well-known herbs can help our health, with a list of just some of their benefits.
1. Milk Thistle
Originally from the rocky Mediterranean area, milk thistle is now widely popular in Europe and America. It is very recognizable for its round purple flower heads and very pointy leaves. With its active ingredient silymarin, it is best known for treating liver and gallbladder problems. But that's far from being it. Milk thistle is:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Helps diabetes type 2 patients
- Improves cholesterol levels
- Prevents cancer
- Regulates digestion
- Treats various types of allergies
- Strengthens blood vessels
2. Sage
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| Photo by Alice Henneman on Flickr (CC BY 2.0) |
Also originating from the Mediterranean area, garden sage is now cultivated all over the world because of its many healing capabilities. It is characteristic for its long green oblong leaves with many short soft hairs. Here's what it is good for:
- Inflamed gums
- A sore throat
- Weak nervous system
- Rheumatism
- Amenorrhea
- Fever delirium
- Excess sweating
- Sense sharpener
- Memory improver
- Increases alertness and attention
- Improvement for patients with Alzheimer's disease
3. Chamomile
This daisy-looking herb has been used as an herbal medicine since the ancient times because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It can be found in sunny places, on meadows, and alongside roads. The flowering heads are collected and then dried to use as a tea or as an extract. Here is a list of some health benefits it can provide:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antispasmodic
- Antibacterial
- Against skin diseases
- Against respiratory tract diseases
- Sleep Aid
- General relaxation
- Digestive Aid
- Heals wounds and burns
- Reduces rashes
- Reduces menstrual cramps
4. Yarrow
Its Latin first name „Achillea“ comes from the belief that Achilles used it to treat his soldiers and himself. If Achilles used it, its healing properties have definitely been known for a long time. It grows in groups, in the fields, meadows, and in gardens, from lowlands to mountainous regions. Here is a list of several health benefits of yarrow:
- Enhances liver function
- Extracts water from the body
- Improves appetite
- Enhances gallbladder function
- Enhances kidney function
- Treats female ailments
- Helps diabetes patients
5. Wormwood
Yes, the herb that absinthe is made from. But this herb is so much more than just a part of an alcoholic beverage. It is an extremely powerful natural healer which grows near roads, vineyards, abandoned or unprocessed areas and also in gardens. Here are some health benefits that wormwood can provide:
- Parasite removal
- Digestive disorders
- Inflammations
- Fevers
- Stomach pains
- Painful menstruation
- Constipation
- Rheumatism
- Urinary tract diseases
- Nervous system disorders
- Helps diabetes patients
6. Marigold
A plant that comes from the same family as milk thistle, chamomile, yarrow and many more. The flowers have characteristic bright orange or yellow color. This plant has been used as medicine for almost a thousand years. Various products can be made from this plant such as tea, cream, oil, ointment and balm which is the most popular. Let's see what it can do:
- Treats dermatological problems (psoriasis, eczema, seborrhea, wounds..)
- Liver diseases
- Kidney diseases
- Urinary tract diseases
- Menstrual ailments
- Lowers blood pressure
- Enhances eyesight
- Treats conjunctivitis
7. Broadleaf Plantain
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| Andreas Rockstein on Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) |
Not to be confused with the Plantains from the banana family. This plant is botanically known as 'Plantago major' and is one of the most healing herbs on the planet. It grows in many places, and therefore it is considered to be a weed. But to prove that it is not just a weed, here are some of its health benefits:
- Skin problems
- Diarrhea
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antihistamine
- Analgetic
- Antioxidant
- Antiulcerogenic
- Treats respiratory problems (Asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis)
- Treats staphylococcus and streptococcus
- Treats clostridia
- Laxative
- Destroys parasites
- Treats teeth & gum infections
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8. Stinging nettle
8. Stinging nettle
People who've had interactions with this plant can confirm it is not initially very pleasant. It contains histamine and other chemicals which provide an unpleasant stinging sensation when touched. Nonetheless, it contains tremendous healing properties and it is definitely worth taking a look at how this seemingly hostile plant can actually benefit your health. Here is a list of just some stinging nettle health benefits:
- Cleans and strengthens the blood
- Treats urinary tract diseases
- Treats kidney problems
- Treats female ailments
- Treats respiratory problems
- Strengthens the nervous system
- Enforces urination
- Cleans digestive organs
- Helps with rheumatism and gout
9. Catnip
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| Photo by Isaac Wedin on Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) |
Best known for its effects on cats, catnip is an amazing plant with many health benefits for humans. It will not produce the same effect on humans as it does on cats by getting them in a state of nirvana, but it can definitely benefit the human health in various ways. Here are some health benefits of catnip:
- Treats digestive issues
- Respiratory issues
- Anti-inflammatory
- Helps with headaches
- Has calming effect
- Helps with sleeping disorders
- Helps with menstrual pain
10. St. John's Wort
Used since the time of the Roman Empire, St. John's Wort contains many healing and medicinal properties with an ability to treat depression being its best-known one. There have been many studies that have proven St. John's Wort's ability to treat depression. But this widely available herb has been proven to treat many other ailments and diseases. In fact, it is now considered to be one of the best healing herbs out there. So besides depression, it can also be good for:
- Female ailments (menstruation and menopause)
- Anxiety
- OCD
- Insomnia
- Sleeplessness
- Skin problems (wounds, burns...)
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiviral
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11. Eyebright
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| Photo by Björn S... on Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) |
Just as the name says, this plant can brighten your eyes. It can strengthen your eye nerve, clean the retina, and even regulate eye pressure. Since the 14th century, it has been used as a cure for various eye problems. Today it can be found in many lands of America, Europe, and Asia. But other than helping your eyes, eyebright can also:
- Help with respiratory problems
- Hoarseness
- Cold
- Sinus infections
- Stomach problems
- Colon and prostate disorders
- Increase intellectual capabilities
- Prevent memory loss
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12. Aloe Vera
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| Photo by rabiem22 on Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) |
The healing properties of Aloe Vera have been known for thousands of years. In ancient times it has been used for various diseases. This plant was called many names including "the miraculous plant", "the elixir of life", and the "plant of life". Its healing properties used to be a secret, but today science has discovered it's nutritive and healing properties and it is widely used to treat many health problems. So let's see what this incredible plant can do:
- Beneficial for cancer treatment
- Antioxidant
- Treats digestive disorders
- Treats allergies
- Helps with diabetes
- Reduces cholesterol levels
- Helps with skin diseases
- Strengthens the immune system
- Helps with eye diseases
- Destroys fungi and parasites
- Helps when giving up addictive substances (cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs)
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