Hello Everyone!
The goal of this article is to make people more aware of medical plants and how useful they really are. In the course of this project, we did our own research as well as an interview with Liliane Sutter who practices herbal medicine. Additionally, we launched a survey in which we wanted to test and analyze the knowledge among the people about this topic.
One very important part of our project was our collaboration with the team from Kerala. It was a new and very interesting experience. The collaboration and teamwork were very successful.
1. Kerala & Zurich – about our collaboration ↓
2. Research Team Zurich ↓
3. Interview Liliane Sutter, herbal med. practitioner ↓
4. Survey ↓
5. Research Team Kerala ↓
6. Interview: “Plants & herbs in Ayurvedic treatment” ↓
7. On-topic posts on dontwastemy.energy ↓
Kerala & Zurich – about our collaboration [up ↑]
We, the team Kerala from India, began our collaboration with Anabel and Karla (team Zurich, Switzerland) on the 23rd of March 2021 (website creation teams).
We were immensely thrilled and excited when Anabel reached out to us showing genuine interest in our project idea. Being Jyothi, Aaron, Abhishek’s, and my (Vyshnavi) first time doing an international collaboration. At first, we were quite nervous as the concept of the horse project was new to us.
However, with the support and timely guidance (=Führung) of Ms. Elaine and Ms. Reenu, we were able to make this collaboration a success. We decided to research some medicinal plants which are quite powerful and have a positive impact on the environment (=Umwelt). After collecting the information, we posted it on the Horse site. We also prepared a few questions for an interview we are planning to conduct once the lockdown is lifted. Unfortunately, our progress was stunted due to a few health emergencies and exams.
Anabel and Karla were extremely nice and understanding towards us. Their hard work and dedication are evident from the information they provided us with every Thursday about their progress. When they informed us that they were wrapping up the project, we couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness because we weren’t able to put our best foot forward. But practice makes one perfect, and we are willing to improve ourselves in every way possible!
Even though we live on the other side of the globe it’s beautiful how this project brings us together and helps us learn each other’s surroundings.
Through this collaboration (=Zusammenarbeit), we were able to enrich our knowledge regarding various plants with healing benefits (=Heilwirkungen).
Here’s some of the research we have done for the horse project.
Research Team Zurich [up ↑]
Even though the majority of our drugs are produced industrially (=industriell), more than half of them are based on medical plants or their ingredients. Of the 50’000 medical plants, which are used worldwide, 15’000 are estimated as endangered species. Only sustainable cultivation (=Anbau) and the thoughtful collection of wild plants can counteract (=entgegenwirken) this downward trend. Thus, the diversity of medicinal plants is preserved as a source of income, as well as for consumers of herbal medicines.
Plants can produce many different chemicals, which produce many important biological functions which protect the plant from attackers. Many of these so-called phytochemicals also have a positive effect on human health and can be used as effective therapeutics against diseases. At least 12’000 of those chemical compounds from plants have been discovered and isolated so far. Scientists assume that this represents only 10 percent of all herbal active ingredients.
People have always used medicinal plants to provide relief from diseases and injuries. They passed on their experiences to the next generation through oral transmission. Later, when papyrus rolls created the prerequisites for this, they also wrote down their findings in dealing with medicinal plants. The best-known testimony of these records of medical efforts, with numerous examples of medicinal plants and their use, is the Eber Papyrus, probably written in the sixteenth century BC.
The glacier mummy Ötzi, about 5,300 years old, probably carried herbal remedies. At least scientists found remains of birch pores in the mummified man. The birch purling is a fungus that infects birches. It was formerly used as a remedy because of its anti-inflammatory ingredients, people cut the fruit body into thin strips as a bandage to heal wounds. Knowledge about medicinal herbs handed down over countless generations is available from all known tribes of the world. Depending on the region, people used different plants and active substances.
Studies showed that the Native Americans used about 2,500 of the 20,000 native plant species for medicinal purposes. It was not until many years later that scientists were able to prove that the medicinal plants of the Native Americans belonged to the plant families that contain the most bioactive substances. Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine from India also work with the power of medicinal plants.
Even today, many of the medicines we manufacture industrially are based on herbal remedies. Among the best known are aspirin, whose active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid has been extracted from the bark of the willow tree over centuries. Opium, an intoxicant and narcotic, was also gained by the people by cutting immature seed capsules of the opium poppy, bot. Papaver somniferum (=Schlafmohn)
Medicinal plants are part of our planet’s biodiversity. More than 50’000 different plants are used worldwide for medicinal purposes – whether traditional or modern medicine. A large proportion of medicinal plants are collected in the wild because often the costs of cultivating (= kultivieren) them are too high, the plants are unsuitable for cultivation, or wild plants are considered to be more effective. Especially poorer people in the so-called third world countries have hardly any alternative to the “pharmacy nature” because they live on less than one US dollar a day. For many people, collecting wild plants is also the only source of income. However, according to estimates by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), up to 15’000 species of medicinal plants are already threatened with extinction. This is of concern to collectors, the processing industry, and consumers.
To counteract this downward trend, the conservation organization WWF, together with international partners, has drafted an International Standard for the Sustainable Collection of Medicinal and Flavoring Plants (ISSC-MAP). “The standard focuses on the ecological aspects of Good Harvesting Practices (GSP), which have been largely neglected so far: the need to make careful but affordable resource estimates and the determination of sustainable harvests; but also, social and economic factors are considered in the standard. The ISSC-MAP builds on existing principles, guidelines and standards for sustainable forest use, organic farming and good agricultural practice, fair trade, and product quality, without replacing them”, says the WWF. Since 2008, ISSC-MAP projects have been running in China, India, Brazil, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nepal, Cambodia, and South Africa.
Text Source:
Medical Plants (pflanzenforschung.de)
Interview with Liliane Sutter [up ↑]
How did you start this line of work? Why did you choose it?
I think it was more of a coincidence than anything else. I was a home economics teacher at first and worked on this job for a few years. After that, I went to travel the world for a year and that is when I knew, I had to do something different with my life. I then opened a newspaper one morning and there was this ad for a herbal medicine school. I have been interested in herbal medicine even before that and so I decided to take a course.
What are the positive sides of herbal medicine?
In my opinion, you have to different the different sides to this topic. There is a big part of medical problems which you can cover with herbal medicine. Most of the time people take pills and all the other pharmaceuticals too early, where you could use plants instead. Humans have used nature for hundreds of years before too and it did work back then, so it still does today. But there also is a limit to herbal medicine, in which it is not possible to help the patient with only natural remedies. In this case, it is better to switch to pharmaceuticals (=Arzneimittel).
A very important part of herbal medicine is that it works on different kinds of levels of the body. Meaning, plants have two types of effects on the body. One is on the physical level, on the chemical processes of the body. The second one is on the mental level. One example is the lady’s mantle (=Frauenmantel). As the name already indicates, it is a remedy used mostly on women. It is a treatment for menstrual or menopausal discomforts. What I described just now is the physical level. The lady’s mantle does also affects the mental level. The name indicates a lot about how the plant is used for treatment. As it is called a mantle (=Mantel), which is a word for coat, it has that exact effect on the person using it. Then, in this case, a woman feels warm and protected, like someone put a coat around her shoulders.
Herbal medicine takes more time to have an effect on people, which is why it is not used as much. People nowadays are always in a rush, they need to be healed as fast as possible, so they rely on pharmaceuticals.
What are the negative sides of herbal medicine?
As I said, for some people the possible longer process is a negative aspect of herbal medicine. Otherwise, in my opinion, there are no negative sides to herbal medicine.
The only thing I can think of is that there are so many plants that can be used for one problem, which means you must find out which is the best for this patient sitting in front of you. It can be difficult for some people to solve the “puzzle”.
Would you always recommend using herbal medicine? If not, why?
It depends on how severe the problem is. I am not allowed to diagnose a patient. If I am not sure, I send the patients to their doctors. If they say it is okay for me to work with them with herbal medicine, I will do so. In that case, it really depends on what their doctor’s opinion is.
Why is it, that some countries use more natural remedies and others do not?
Basically, every country has or had its own kind of herbal medicine and knowledge of it. We mostly hear that Asia uses a lot of natural medicine, right? Well, Europe had that too, but in our case, the church destroyed most of the knowledge we had back in that time. They killed many Celtic volks because they declared it as witchcraft and forbid it. That is why we do not use it as much because we lost the knowledge of it many years ago. Also with all those witches burnings, it was all because of that reason, to not let other cultures and believes interfere with the church.
What kind of plants can be used for medical reasons? Which ones do you think help?
I always tell myself that, all the plants growing and blooming around you, that is the ones you need. I am not against Asian herbal medicine, but I still believe that since we live in Europe, we have a whole different body and needs. This means those needs get covered by the plants we have around us, not ones from Asia. There are some plants we use and need every day like; chamomile tea (=Kamillentee), peppermint tea (=Pfefferminztee), etc. The plant I use the most are liver plants. The liver (=Leber), in herbal medicine, stands for anger and rage (=Ärger und Wut), which means that if you keep pushing down those feelings, your liver does not work correctly. Plants that are used for that are; milk thistle (=Mariendiesteln), dandelion (=Löwenzahn), artichoke (=Artischoke), etc. they contain many bitter substances (=Bitterstoffe), which are very good for your liver.
Then we have the kidneys (=Nieren), which we have two of. On the physical level, our kidneys clean our blood. On the mental level, they stand for relationships, there it does not matter if between family, partners, or friends. That means if there are conflicts in that area, your kidneys also start to work incorrectly.
The heart, of course, is obvious in what it stands for. If it concerns the heart, it is always about love or emotions which have to do with love.
Then we have the mills (=?), it works on getting all the sadness out of you. On the physical level, it constructs the white blood cells in our body.
Our bowel is the subconscious of our body. The bowel just functions, we do not really have a connection to it, which is the same with our subconscious. That means, if we have something that bothers us in our subconscious, it can affect our bowel movements (=Darmbewegungen).
Is there a chance of a reduction in the number/amount of medical plants available due to constant usage (=konstante Verwendung)? Have you ever faced such a situation, or do you think there will be a situation like that in the future?
No, I do not think it will. They will always grow back. Nature works in its own ways and I do believe it works hand in hand with us humans if we let it. No, I have not had faced such a situation before.
Artificial fertilizers (=künstliche Düngemittel) can also reduce the effect of medical plants. What opinion do you have about that statement?
It had a huge impact on the plants. If artificial fertilizers are used on plants, they will have protection from the outside but not from the inside. On the inside, the plants become weaker because of the fertilizer. It also changes and weakens the effect the plant has or had.
How is the use of medical plants beneficial or harmful for the environment?
It is neither one nor the other. It is not harmful, but it is not beneficial (=nützlich) either.
Survey [up ↑]
Click on an images to see the results:
Research Team Kerala [up ↑]
Homegrown Herbal Remedies
For pain relief
Feverfew (=Mutterkraut)
This is a traditional medicinal herb commonly used to prevent migraines and headaches. It is also known as ‘medieval aspirin’ and is often dried to be used in medicine.
Turmeric (=Kurkuma)
There are many scientifically proven health benefits to Turmeric, including the potential to prevent heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. Native to the Southwest and a member of the ginger family, it is lauded for its brilliant benefits.
For allergies
Holy Basil (=Basilikum)
Brilliant for helping against coughs and colds, Holy Basil contains antibacterial properties that function to ward off bacteria and germs in your mouth. This potent cultivar is thought to be sacred within the Hindu belief and helps against joint pain and anxiety. Tulsi gives out oxygen for 20 hours and ozone for four hours a day along with the formation of nascent oxygen which absorbs harmful gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide from the environment
Chamomile (=Kamille)
Great for indigestion (=Verdauungsstörungen) and skin irritation, chamomile is also used as a sleeping aid (such as drinking chamomile tea before bed). It has also been proven to have a strong natural antihistamine
For Sleep
Lavender
Lavender is often found in a wealth of products, such as bath salts, candles, soaps, mists, and pillow sprays. It’s famously known for assisting those who sleep badly, and its scent can encourage deep sleep by decreasing heart rate and blood pressure.
Valerian (=Baldrian)
The root of the Valerian plant has been used to treat a variety of sleeping problems for centuries now. It’s also great for the health of the heart and hyperactivity.
Indian gooseberry (=indische Stachelbeere)
Botanical name: Phyllanthus emblica
Botanical description: The tree is small to medium in size in height. It is deciduous. The leaves are simple, light green, resembling pinnate leaves. The flowers are greenish yellow. The fruit is nearly spherical, light greenish yellow, quite smooth and hard on appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows. The taste of Indian embolic is sour, bitter and astringent, and it is quite fibrous.
Chemical constituents: It consists of phytochemical constituents like tannins, alkaloids, polyphenols, vitamins and minerals. It also contains gallic acid, ellagic acid, emblicanin A & B, phyllemblin, quercetin and ascorbic acid. It is also rich in Vitamin A, which helps in improving eye health.
Uses in traditional medicine: Indian gooseberry is most used for high cholesterol, abnormal levels of cholesterol or blood fats (dyslipidemia), and persistent heartburn. Indian gooseberry also works by reducing total cholesterol levels, including the fatty acids called triglycerides, without affecting levels of the “good cholesterol” called high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The soluble fiber in gooseberries dissolves quickly in the body, which helps to slow the rate your body absorbs sugar. This can help reduce blood sugar spikes. Gooseberries also have a positive effect on blood glucose and lipid counts in people with type 2 diabetes.
It also has the following benefits:
1)Improves Immunity
2)Respiratory Health
3)Improve Digestion (=Verdauung)
4)Skin Care
Botanical name: Abutilon indicum
Botanical description: The atibala is technically a shrub. Though it usually grows up to a height of 1.5m, it can grow up to 3m in height. It is known for its unique ‘gear’ shaped seed pods and golden yellow flowers. It occurs in several tropical and subtropical zones.
Chemical constituents: β-Sitosterol is present in atibala. Its leaves contain tannins, carbonic acid, Asparagine, Magnesium phosphate and Calcium carbonate.
Uses in traditional medicine :Atibala extract is antimicrobial in nature and hence helps reduce the appearance of pimples and boils. Atibala is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is widely used to reduce swelling. It also has astringent properties and helps to cleanse the skin and reduce skin oiliness. Due to its cooling and healing processes, it is also very useful for treating rashes and calming irritated skin. Its seed extract is also very useful for treating diseases like piles, common cold, rheumatism, jaundice and leprosy.
It also has the following properties:
1) Demulcent
2) Laxative
3) Diuretic (=Harntreibend)
4) Sedative
5) Astringent (=adstrigierend)
6) Expectorant
7) Tonic
8) Anti-convulsant (=Antikolvusium)
9) Anthelmintic (=Anthelmintikum)
Jamun tree (=Jamun-Baum)
Scientific name: Syzygium cumini
The Jamun tree is an evergreen tropical tree. It is favored mostly for its fruit and timber.
Where is it found?
Jamun usually grows under tropical and subtropical climate. Hence, Jamun trees are generally found in India, the Philippines, Thailand, Madagascar etc.
How can we grow a Jamun tree and how long does it take to grow?
A common way of growing Jamun trees is to plant them as shade trees near the farm dwellings and wells. Jamun plants start bearing after 8 to 10 years of planting, while grafted ones bear after 6 to 7 years. The commercial bearing starts after 8 to 10 years of planting and continues till the tree becomes 50 to 60 years old. The fruit ripens in June -July.
What are some of the uses of the Jamun tree?
It is quite fascinating that its seed, leaf, bark, and fruit are used to make medicine. The outer layer of the fruit appears to be blackish or dark purplish in color and has a distinct sweet taste with sour and astringent undertones. This juicy fruit is used in Ayurvedic treatments, Unani and Chinese medicine.
It is found in two varieties: Jamuns with white toned flesh and has a good amount of pectin while the other one with dark purplish flesh has lower amounts of pectin.
Jambolan is widely used in folk medicine for diabetes. It is also used to treat inflammation, ulcers and diarrhea.
Some of the benefits of Jamun:
– Shields Against Infections
– Aids In Digestion
– Treats Anaemia
– Fights Respiratory Issues
– Helps in Weight Loss
– Maintains Oral Hygiene
Triphala (=Dreifrucht)
What is Triphala?
Triphala is most known for its use as a gentle bowel tonic, being helpful in digestion, and supporting regular bowel movements. The combination of the three fruits has a synergistic effect to bolster many other systems as well. Triphala also contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that may help protect against certain cancers and other chronic diseases. Triphala strengthens the eye muscles which in turn improves the eyesight. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce the strain on the blood vessels and help to control high blood pressure.
Amalaki (Emblica Officinalis) (=Amlabaum)
What is Amalaki?
It supports the natural functions of the liver and the immune system.
Bibhitaki (Terminalia belerica)
What is Bibhitaki?
This is particularly good for Phlegm, supporting the respiratory system as well as Phlegm accumulations in all systems.
Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)
What is Haritaki?
Is known for its “scraping” effect, which removes toxins and helps maintain healthy levels of weight.
Uses:
– Weight Loss
– Dental Issues
– Cataracts
– Helps indigestion
Ashwagandha (=smell of horse)
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is a plant from the nightshade family native to the Indian subcontinent. It is also known as Withania somnifera (scientific name). The root smells like a horse (“ashwa”), which is why it is called Ashwagandha (on consuming it gives the power of a horse). The paste formed when roots are crushed with water is applied to reduce the inflammation at the joints. The leaves are bitter and are recommended in fever, painful swellings.
What are its benefits?
Most of the benefits from ashwagandha are from the root and the leaves. The leaves are most used in teas. The root can be taken in many ways but it’s most dried, powdered and taken as a supplement these days. It is also known as Withania somnifera (scientific name).
What is it used for?
Ashwagandha is used as a household remedy by Indians, who consider it as the best tonic for old people and children and as an aphrodisiac by young people. Ashwagandha leaves, though bitter in taste, are rich in iron and can be consumed as herbal tea. The tea helps in relieving conditions like anaemia and serves as an energy tonic and relieves fever and painful swellings.
Some of the well-known benefits of Ashwagandha include:
– Lowers stress hormones and calms anxiety
– Improves Insomnia
– Boosts immunity
– Improves stamina
How can we grow an Ashwagandha shrub?
By planting the saplings of the shrub
Neem
What is Neem?
Neem is one of the most popular medicinal plants with a variety of health benefits. Neem leaves come from the neem tree which is also known as Azadirachta indica and Indian lilac. It is deciduous, shedding many of its leaves during the dry winter months. Neem trees act as very efficient, natural air filters trapping dust particles, absorbing gaseous pollutants. The planting of Neem trees helps reduce greenhouse gases through photosynthesis absorbing large quantities of CO2 and producing oxygen.
How is it used?
In India, neem leaves are dried and placed in cupboards to prevent insects from eating the clothes, and in tins where rice is stored. The flowers are also used in many Indian festivals like Ugadi. The tender shoots and flowers of the neem tree are eaten as a vegetable in India. A souplike dish called Veppampoo charu made of the flower of neem is prepared in Tamil Nadu.
Different parts of the Neem tree and its oil extracted out of seed is being used in different parts of the world for different purposes. Neem oil/extract is being used for making cosmetics like soaps and toothpaste etc.
Neem oil can also provide protection against fungal diseases. Spraying of Neem oil on plant prevent the outbreak of Powdery Mildew disease quite effectively and in some cases better than any commercial product. It is considered most effective as fungi preventive and as a cure after the disease is established on plants.
Due to the extraordinary properties of Neem, its bark, leaves, flowers, seed, and fruit pulp were and are now used to treat a wide range of diseases and complaints ranging from leprosy, diabetes, ulcers to skin disorders and constipation, etc. Neem leaves are mainly used for dermatological purposes.
How can we grow a neem tree?
The simplest way to propagate neem trees is by seed, but you can also do root and shoot cuttings.
It helps in:
– Treating Acne
– Treating Uneven Skin Tone
– Preventing Skin Infection
– Lightening Acne Scars
– Acts as a Blood Purifier.
Peepal Tree (=Peepal-Baum)
What if there was a tree that could release oxygen even at night, cure many diseases and be a complete ecosystem in itself?
Turns out, it is the Peepal Tree. The Peepal tree, also known as Ficus Religiosa, is indeed a very fascinating tree.
What are its advantages?
It pumps groundwater due to an extensive root system. They keep the surrounding land cool, also purifies the air by killing the harmful bacteria in the surrounding. They also provide a home for a variety of living organisms. Peepal trees are known to supply maximum oxygen. They provide oxygen even at night. They have a very long life span of up to 2000 years!
What is its use?
Their uses for human beings are innumerable, some of them are Jaundice, Skin diseases, Stomach disorders, Diarrhoea, etc.
These are the few reasons why the Peepal trees are called the KING among all trees!
Sandalwood (=Sandelholz)
What is Sandalwood?
Sandalwood oil is very commonly used in aromatherapy. Sourced from various types of sandalwood trees of the genus Santalum, sandalwood oil contains aromatic compounds thought to be beneficial to your health.
What are its benefits?
In both Ayurvedic medicine, sandalwood oils are said to be beneficial in treating most physical and mental disorders, including anxiety, bronchitis, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, gallbladder problems, high blood pressure, indigestion, insomnia, liver problems, low libido, sore throat, and urinary tract infections.
How is it used?
Sandalwood oil is extracted from the heartwood by steam distillation. The average yield of oil ranges from 3.0% to 6.0%. The sweet, powerful, and lasting odor has made sandalwood oil useful in the perfume industry, soaps, candles, incense, folk medicine, and religious and cultural purposes for centuries. In addition, the wood and its powder are used for religious and medicinal purposes, and the food industry, especially in India.
Tulsi (=indisches Basilikum)
What is Tulsi?
Tulsi is an adaptogenic herb, it helps to adapt the body to stress and boost energy. Tulsi can be used for anxiety, stress, and fatigue, and used in herbal formulations to treat asthma, bronchitis, colds, and flu. Tulsi is an oxygen generator that can give competition to the best air purifiers in the world. It also absorbs harmful gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.
Tulsi Medicinal Uses & Benefits:
– It promotes a Healthy Heart. It contains vitamin C and antioxidants such as eugenol, which protects the heart from the harmful effects of free radicals.
– Anti-aging
– Treats Kidney Stones
– Relieves Headaches
– Fights Acne
– Relieves Fever
– Eye Health
– Oral Health
Cardamom (=Kardamom)
What is Cardamom?
Cardamom is one of the world’s very ancient spices. It is one of the oldest known spices in the world. Cardamom is a common spice seen in most Indian households. It is carminative in nature and helps speed up digestion, reduces inflammation of the stomach lining, fights heartburn and nausea.
Health Benefits of Cardamom:
– Antioxidant and Diuretic Properties May Lower Blood Pressure.
– May Contain Cancer-Fighting Compounds.
– May Protect from Chronic Diseases Thanks to Anti-Inflammatory Effects.
– May Help with Digestive Problems, Including Ulcers.
– May Treat Bad Breath and Prevent Cavities.
– May Have Antibacterial Effects and Treat Infection
Cinnamon (=Zimt)
What is Cinnamon?
Cinnamon is the dried inner stem bark of Cinnamomum Verum, which is a bushy evergreen tree 10-15 m tall. The bark is widely used as a spice. Cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka, the neighboring Malabar Coast of India. Cinnamon is one of the most delicious and healthiest spices available.
Health Benefits of Cinnamon:
– It has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties.
– Contains antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects.
– Its prebiotic properties may improve gut health.
– Reduces blood pressure.
– Lowers blood sugar and risk of type 2 diabetes.
– Relieves digestive discomfort.
– The popular spice boosts metabolism too!
Interview about the topic “Use of medical plants and herbs in Ayurvedic treatment” with Dr. Santhosh [up ↑]
Kindly introduce yourself.
I am Dr. Santosh. I am an Ayurvedic practitioner practicing at Bangalore. I finished my graduation at Kothamangalam Kerala with BSc degree first , then BAMS at Bangalore, and followed with post graduation at Tumkur, Karnataka. Prescribing medicines from 1998 onwards at Bangalore.
How did you start this line of work? Why did you choose it?
Post a degree at Kothamangalam in Biology, I found a fascination for understanding living beings and it’s process of survival. This along with exposure to practice of medicines with plants and herbs by my grand father took me to explore Ayurveda. An ancient Indian medical science.
What are the most commonly used herbs/medicinal plants in Ayurvedic medicine/treatment ?
According to ayurvedic science everything under the sun including the sun can become a medicine if known how to use it. Most common known and used medicines are the spices used at home.
What are the positive sides of using herbs in Ayurvedic medicines/treatment?
Herbs and plants grow on soil and get it’s nutrition and water from soil and convert it to food with help of sunlight and store it in different parts of it’s body. These food have certain alkaloids along with them. It is this alkaloids which work as medicines. Since these are not eaten by animals regularly they are safe. And when used in right proportion and combination, they work as medicines with the least side affects.
What are the negative sides of Ayurvedic medicines (if any)?
Ayurvedic medicines are relatively safe with very few side affects. However it’s the knowledge of doctor on herbs that is important.
Would you always recommend using Ayurvedic/herbal medicine? If not, why?
I do recommend Ayurvedic medication for most. Science is a knowledge which grows. So is the knowledge of human beings too. And so is the number of new diseases. Every science has certain strengths and limitations. To identify weather the disease can be treatable by herbs or it needs immediate attention with chemicals is ascertained and then advised accordingly.
Why is it, that some countries use more natural remedies and others don’t?
– Geopolitics
– Lack of in-depth study about natural remedies.
– Trust of the people
– Education
What kind of plants can be used for medical reasons? Which ones do you think actually help? Which ones do you use?
I have answered this earlier. Any plant can be a medicine and can be a poison too. Knowing the right use is what matters. I use mostly compound herbs in my practice.
Authors:
Anabel
Karla
Vyshnavi
Aaron
Abhishek
Jyothi
Text Sources:
Health Benefits of Cardamom (healthline.com)
Neem (webmd.com)
Jamun (netmeds.com)
Neem Oil (medicalnewstoday.com)
Ashwagandha (timesofindia.com)
Triphala (banyanbotanicals.com)
Jamun fruit (medisensehealth.com)
Cinnamon (britannica.com)
Tulsi Tea (wellandgood.com)
Gooseberries (wikipedia.org)
Atibala (deepayurveda.com)
Picture Sources:
Head Picture (pixabay.com)
1. Indian Gooseberry (healthline.com)
2. Atibala (indiamart.com)
3. Jamun tree (nurserylive.com)
4. Triphala (indiamart.com)
5. Amalaki (thaifreezedry.com)
6. Bibhitaki (dhamma-ayurveda.com)
7. Haritaki (amazon.in)
8. Ashwagandha (indiamart.com)
9. Neem (nurserylive.com)
10. Peepal tree (wikipedia.org)
11. Sandalwood (indiamart.com)
12. Tulsi (britannica.com)
13. Cardamom (gardenerspath.com)
14. Cinnamon (dengarden.com)
On-topic posts on dontwastemy.energy [up ↑]
Organic waste
Urban gardening
How can plants survive in the climate change?
Green Roofs
☷ See the project teams here »
☵ Some words about the contributions »
I like the informative and nice selection of medicinal plants here! I have some experience for home use, I like especially teas (fennel is my favourite), but I am interested in medicinal plants in general. Your article is a good starting point for me. Thank you.
Thank you so much Anabel and Karla for collaborating with us! It was very interesting and informative!!