Medicinal Drugs From Common Plants
 (Read 250+ times)
By Glory Lennon
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The first medicines were all from plants. Eons ago people used medicinal herbs to cure illness, revive constitutions and lessen pain. To this day many of the plants those long-gone people used are still being used in the same manner by apothecaries, naturalists and home-remedy enthusiasts. The herb garden, in essence, has replaced the medicine cabinet and the drug store, for some folks, anyway.
People seem to be continually astonished to find this out. They scoff at the notion of relying on a bunch of herbs made into a tea. They even worry about those who shun drugs made with great expense, much testing and extensive work by big-name pharmaceutical companies in leu of the “natural” ways. They obviously don’t have a problem with nasty side-effects from these powerful drugs. Well, naturalists do.
The skeptical are, in fact, questioning the effectiveness of herbal applications. It seems these people don’t know that there are many medicines currently on the market derived from common everyday plants. They may even have some right this minute in their pocket, purse and medicine cabinet.
Want to learn about some of them? Here they are.
Valerian.
Commonly known in Apothecary circles as the best herbal stress reducer, calmer of nerves and to help insomnia, Valerian is the active ingredient for many over-the-counter sleep aides and tranquilizers.
Aloe Vera.
Creams, lotions and other cosmetics number in the thousands with Aloe as an ingredient. Perhaps that is because it works well to heal burns, cuts, scrapes, wounds and soothe sunburn and hemorrhoids.
Alfalfa.
The sprouts may be good in a salad but it is the leaves that have been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels which in turn helps with heart disease and stroke. Alfalfa also seems to cling onto carcinogens in the intestine and colon and helps eliminate them more quickly. It’s even good for bad breath.
Allspice.
Not just for spice cookies, Allspice acts as a mild antioxidant, anesthetic, pain reliever and digestive aid.
Anise.
Though liked for its pleasant licorice taste, Anise also is useful for treating bronchitis, coughs, digestive disorders and asthma. It can reduce menopausal discomforts, too.
Apples.
Apples can help with diarrhea, constipation, to control blood sugar levels, reduce blood cholesterol and to eliminate toxins in the body. Ben Franklin was right. Watch for the seeds though. They contain high levels of cyanide.
Sweet Melissa.
Also going by the name Lemon Balm, this herb soothes menstrual and intestinal cramps and is used as a mild relaxant.
Basil.
Intestinal parasites be gone when you get out the Pesto. Stimulants the immune system too.
Bay Leaves.
Great in soup but also for stress management in two ways. When taken as an infusion it relaxes and soothes for a peaceful night’s sleep. When scattered about the kitchen it repels cockroaches, another source of stress.
Celery seed.
Because of the diuretic properties of celery seeds they have been used for centuries to help reduce the effects of PMS before there was PMS.
Cinnamon.
To regulate blood sugar make sure to sprinkle some on the morning oatmeal. Good for digestion too.
Cocoa.
Do you really need an excuse to indulge in chocolate? It is a mild stimulant, mood enhancing, digestive aid and even opens up bronchial passages for the treatment of asthma. And you thought it only tasted good.
Dill.
Used in the bath this can help with recurrent Urinary Tract infections. Helps with gas and digestion troubles too.
Echinacea.
Strengthens the immune system, fights infections, reduces recurrence of yeast infections and keeps cold and flu at bay.
Garlic.
Considered both an antioxidant and an antibiotic Garlic when ingested helps reduce blood pressure, blood sugar levels and blood clots, all good for reducing the instance of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke.
Ginger.
Morning sickness, motion sickness, Vertigo, heart disease, colds and flu, arthiritis and seasickness are all helped with this tangy root.
Ginkgo.
Long considered the elixir of longevity in China, Ginkgo also improves memory, helps with tinnitus (ringing in the ear), increases blood flow to the heart and the brain, impotence and macular degeneration.
Hops.
That’s right the stuff in beer is good for stimulating milk production in lactating women, for allergy sufferers and can be used as a sedative and digestive aid.
Peppermint.
Good for digestion, tummy cramps, infection prevention and as a decongestant.
Mullein.
Good for coughs, sore throats, diarrhea and hemorrhoids.
Cayenne Pepper.
Digestion, chronic pain, diarrhea, cluster headaches and improved blood flow are all helped with this hot spicy fruit.
Rhubarb.
Great as a laxative but also good for diarrhea.
Rosemary.
Good for preventing infection and food poisoning and as a decongestant.
So what do you think? Can the cure for cancer truly be found in the deep, dark rainforests of South America, a desert cactus or an alpine flower on a rocky mountain range? Well, why not? Aspirin comes from the willow tree, the heart drug Digitalis comes from the common cottage garden flower Foxglove and Catnip, though a bit of a stimulant for felines, makes a soothing, sleep-inducing tea for the stressed out individual.
As you can see plants are good for so much more than creating a beautiful landscape. And these few plants are just the tip of the iceberg. Or should that be a great start to the best medicinal garden there is?
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 For more fun gardening facts and amusing stories come visit
http://www.helium.com/users/32782
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