Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
In health care we always turn to conventional medicine to treat all kinds of diseases and conditions, but there is also herbal medicine as a complement to accelerate recovery from any disease. Phytotherapy has always existed and now it is experiencing a moment of growth that has multiplied the possibilities of use of different plants and roots.
In this Green Ecologist article, we are going to discover what is phytotherapy, what are the medicinal plants that are usually used and what properties of medicinal plants are the most interesting for the body.
What is herbal medicine
Phytotherapy is a science that applies plant products for therapeutic purposes. Phytotherapy products prevent diseases, reestablish the health of people with conditions and alleviate the symptoms of various diseases. Therefore, can be understood as the treatment with medicinal plants. The term phytotherapy comes from the Greek fyton (plant) and therapeia (treatment), so its purpose is clear.
If you wonder what medicinal plants are, we can say that they are plant species with healing and therapeutic properties. It is estimated that around 10% of plant species are considered medicinal and that there are more than 100,000 worldwide. A practice that has its origin in prehistory and that has been transmitted from generation to generation until today.
How to use medicinal plants in herbal medicine
In herbal medicine, medicinal plants must be used in different ways to introduce their properties into our body and thus enjoy the desired effect. The most common forms of use are the following:
Infusions and herbal teas
Through infusions and herbal teas we drink a juice created with parts of plants (leaves, stems, flowers, seeds …) that transfer their properties to us. The usual is boil water and introduce an envelope of the plant already purchased, although they can also be collected from nature and create your own homemade infusions. Linden, chamomile or horsetail are some of the most common.
Syrups
We can create homemade syrups using medicinal plants. For this you have to prepare infusions or decoctions mixing the result with honey to create a composition with positive effects on health.
Wine
It is also possible to ingest the properties of medicinal plants with wine by putting marinate the leaves or fruits of the plant in wine in question.
Essential oils
One of the most concentrated ways to take medicinal plants is through essential oils. They are usually taken under a medical prescription and are dissolved in an infusion so as not to take it directly. It also applies to the drops of plant extracts.
Capsules
At present we can find a multitude of encapsulated medicinal plants that we ingest with a little water and that work quickly after reaching our stomach. It is the part of herbal medicine with the highest growth in recent years.
Toilets
Taking a bath in which an infusion of a mixture of medicinal plants with beneficial properties or essential oils has previously been introduced and breathing in the vapors while relaxing is also another way of introducing those beneficial properties into our body.
What medicinal plants are commonly used
There are thousands of plants with medicinal properties, but some are really popular for their easy accessibility and for the affordable price for the consumer. The lavender It is one of them and is used to prevent insomnia and to relax the body, promoting rest at night. It is usually taken through essential oils or encapsulated mixed with other plants.
The Rosemary It is another medicinal plant, used to treat neuralgia and joint and muscle pain. It has been used since ancient times in cosmetics and gastronomy. The thyme It is usually used to treat frequent minor ailments and its infusions provide us with a multitude of antioxidant properties and many minerals, such as iron and calcium.
The eucalyptus it is also used for different conditions, such as the flu, colds, or respiratory illnesses. It is very useful to relieve coughs and nasal congestion and to remove skin blemishes. We cannot forget about aloe vera, a plant with many benefits for the skin, for cell hydration and with very interesting antiseptic properties.
A medicinal plant for every disease
These are just some example plants that are used in herbal medicine to treat different symptoms and ailments. There is practically a medicinal plant for each disease and herbalists and companies selling natural products offer a wide variety of medicinal plants in different formats.
It is important to know the properties of the different plants and their modes of use to complement the action of conventional medicine and thus accelerate the recovery process. And is that nature and medicine united hand in hand They will help us to enjoy good health in the shortest possible time.
If you want to read more articles similar to Phytotherapy: what is it and how to use medicinal plants?, we recommend that you enter our category of natural remedies.
