7 Medicinal Herbs

Yerba Mate

Yerba mate is often referred to as “the better green tea”. That is because the yerba mate plant contains a higher number of antioxidants and naturally occurring nutrients than green tea. Green tea contains 8 polyphenols whereas yerba mate contains 11 polyphenols,which are newly discovered antioxidant compounds believed to possess powerful cancer-fighting abilities. Yerba mate also contains over 24 essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, Iron, and vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B5 and B Complex.

In fact, yerba mate is so nutritious that investigators from the Pasteur Institute and the Paris Scientific Society concluded that yerba mate contains “practically all of the vitamins necessary to sustain life.” They focused especially on Pantothenic Acid, remarking that it is “rare to find a plant with so much of this significant and vital nutrient. It is indeed difficult to find a plant in any area of the world equal to Mate in nutritional value.”

Meadowsweet

Also known as the pride of the meadow, lady of the meadow or queen of the meadow, this perennial herb is highly valued amongst herbalists for the fact that it contains salicylic acid, a highly effective natural painkiller. In fact, meadowsweet is so effective as a painkiller that many herbalists use it in the same way mainstream physicians use aspirin. This herb is especially beneficial to people suffering from arthritis and rheumatism. Warning: Individuals who are sensitive to aspirin or those who suffer from asthma should not use meadowsweet. Likewise, this herb should not be given to children as its use may lead to Reye’s Syndrome.

Kava

The Polynesians were the first to discover the medicinal and sedative powers of Kava. However, due to various reasons, this powerful herb faded from the limelight around the early 1900′s and did not resurface till the early 1990′s. In 1993 a scientist by the name of H.J. Heinz conducted a double-blind study in which he compared the effects of Kava to those of prescription sedative drugs. His study concluded that Kava is an excellent non-addictive sedative that allows its users to perform many of the tasks prescription sedative users are urged to avoid, such as driving a car and operative heavy machinery. Just three years later, a team of scientists in Germany established that Kava is also effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Due to the findings of these and many other studies today Kava is widely used by both herbalists and mainstream physicians to treat anxiety and nervous disorders.

Camphor Laurel

Camphor, a white crystal-like substance, derived from the camphor laurel tree, and the active ingredient in Tiger Balm, is a natural muscle relaxer. In order to enjoy the full benefits of camphor’s muscle relaxing powers apply camphor oil topically. The oil penetrates the skin and is highly effective in relaxing aching muscles without the side effects (grogginess, sleepiness, etc..) that often accompany the use of prescription muscle relaxers. Since camphor oil is also an anti inflammatory agent and stimulant that increases blood flow to sore muscles and helps improve circulation it is especially effective in the treatment of the pain associated with sore muscles, due to exercise, and the joint pain that accompanies arthritis and rheumatism.

Camphor is also used as a decongestant and cough suppressant. White camphor oil is safe for ingestion and is widely used as a highly effective natural cough suppressant.

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is the most widely used medicinal herb by both herbalists and mainstream physicians. That is because witch hazel can help ease the pain and complications of a variety of inflammatory conditions as well as treat a wide array of skin conditions, such as acne.

Witch hazel gets most of its medicinal powers from a substance known an Tannin. Tannin is an astringent compound, meaning that it has the ability to dry and contract tissue and stop bleeding or secretion. The presence of tannin is what makes witch hazel such an effective topical remedy for acne because tannin can tighten pores, block excess oil production and reduce inflammation. Furthermore, witch hazel has also been shown to possess disinfecting properties that can help prevent the recurrence of acne by cleansing the skin of oils, dirt, dead skin cells and bacteria. Best of all, witch hazel also possesses an anti-irritant compound that has a numbing effect on tissue. Thus, when used topically witch hazel can also help ease the pain associated with most types of acne.

It is highly recommended that you consume witch hazel in tea form. Do not consume the drug store variety of witch hazel as most of it has isopropyl alcohol mixed into it. To make witch hazel tea, simply place a small amount of the herb in boiling water and let simmer for a few minutes. Due to its natural anti inflammatory abilities witch hazel is widely used by most herbalists to help ease the discomfort babies experience when teething. To make a highly effective, natural pain and inflammation relieving gum rub for your teething baby simply mix a teaspoon of witch hazel tea with one drop of myrrh and one drop of clove oil and rub on baby’s gums.

Dang Gui

The root of the plant Dang Gui, also known as the backbone of traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used as a fertility aid in both men and women; though its main power lies in treating women’s reproductive health issues. It’s hard to believe that the roots of dang gui contain a series of compounds called phytoestrogens, which mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. Thus, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine firmly believe that dang gui can help balance women’s hormones and thus use it extensively in the treatment of menstrual and menopausal symptoms, including migraine, cramps, mood fluctuations, and hot flashes.Warning: Under no circumstances should this herb be used by women who are or think they may be pregnant.

Dang gui can also help relax the smooth muscles of the body, such as those of the uterus and arteries. By keeping the smooth muscles in the arteries dilated dang gui helps maintain regular blood flow and heartbeat. Therefore, dang gui has traditionally been used by both herbalists and mainstream physicians to treat angina, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat. A series of scientific studies have gone as far as proving that the antispasmodic, dilating effects of dang gui may help treat chronic pulmonary hypertension in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially when taken in combination with the drug, Nifedipine.

Milk Thistle

The seeds of this member of the sunflower  family house the highly potent medicinal ingredient Silymarin. The antioxidant ability of silymarin is what enables it to remove free radicals from the body. Therefore, it is not surprising that milk thistle is highly beneficial to the health of the liver. Milk thistle detoxifies the liver and protects it from toxins such as alcohol. Milk thistle is also helpful in the treatment of hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver as it has been shown to facilitate liver cell regeneration and help reverse liver damage.

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