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Herbs Used for Medicinal Purpose

Until the development of Chemistry and the synthesis of organic compounds during the 19th Century, all civilizations, from ancient to those early co-called modern times, people used medicinal herbs for their healing properties in the treatment of diverse disease. Forgotten for a long time, today herbs are back as important compounds of modern medicines and pharmaceuticals products based on the old science of herbology

There are a large number of Medicinal herbs but some of the most common are:

Blueflag Iris (Iris versicolor)

A Plant found in wetlands, native to eastern North America and exported to Europe, also known as blueflag iris, fleur-de-lis, flag lily, and flower-de-luce.

The medicinal part of the plant is the rhizome (rootstock), which is gathered in the fall. Rhizome contains gum, tannin, starch, volatile oil, 25 percent acrid, isophtalic acid, resinous matter, traces of salicylic acid and a number of unidentified substances which medicinal property is an oleoresin. North American Indians used the root for dropsy and as a cathartic and emetic, containing also powdered extractive, with diuretic and apparent hepatic stimulant properties.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

A Plant also known as St. John's Wort, klamathweed, amber, cammock and penny John.

Flower petals, leave and stem tissue are said to have antidepressant properties. This is a popular folk remedy for treating minor cuts, burns and inflammation which preparation generated $66 million sales in Germany during 1996.

Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)

North American native plant, but found all over the world, also known as evening primrose, willow-herb, scabish, scurvish, tree primrose, primrose and fever plant.

The entire plant is edible with seeds rich in unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid, y-linolenic acid, and oleic acid. Used in several studies to support the use for relief of breast pain, PMS, eczema, cirrhosis, rheumatoid arthritis and menopause, it is also used in cosmetics and toiletries.

Plume Poppy (Macleaya cordata)

Also known as plume poppy is source of sanguinarine and a competitor of bloodroot for this sanguinarine, with anaesthetic, antiseptic, antitumor properties, and also used as fungicide.

Indian Tobacco (Lobelia inflata)

Indigenous plant to North America, found in meadows pastures and cultivated fields of eastern US as far west as Arkansas and Nebraska, also known as Indian tobacco, lobelia, bladder pod, emetic weed, vomit wort, wild tobacco.

A Plant used for antispasmodic qualities to treat whooping cough and asthma, acting as a stimulant on the respiratory system and to induce vomit. Externally it can be used as a poultice for bruises, insect bites, sprains, and poison ivy irritations. Used as a substitute for tobacco, lobeline sulfate is commercialized as an adjuvant in smoking cessation programs. This plant may be toxic and is not recommended as a home remedy. It may also act as a nerve depressant in large doses, and its excessive use can lead to severe depression.

Pale Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) and Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Traditional Indigenous perennial plants for native North Americans, similar to narrowleaf species (Echinacea angustifolia)

Flowers and foliage are used for medicinal preparations as far as they contain not less than 1.4 percent ecanacosides used to stimulate and bust the immune system to prevent colds.

Buckhorn Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

This perennial plant was introduced into North America 100-200 years ago, also known as plantain or buckhorn plantain.

It is an Anti-inflammatory plant containing iridoid glycosides and phenols which is mucilage rich. The plant is used topically as an adjunctive, emollient, and itch-relieving treatment in dermatological conditions, as well as in case of eye irritation.

Psyllium Seed (Plantago psyllium)

Medicinal preparations are made from seed, or seed is taken orally as bulk laxative which effect is purely mechanical and linked to mucilage, a compound of this plant.

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

It is native to the Mediterranean, it is also known as Milk thistle.

Medicinal preparations are used for the treatment of liver disease, as well as to treat deathcap mushroom poisoning.

You may try medicinal herbs remedies as infusions, decoctions, tinctures, syrups, infused oils, essential oils, ointments and creams, although some laboratories are manufacturing pills and tablets using specific techniques to avoid chemicals.

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