There are a lot of medicinal plants in existence. However, there are too many of them for us to create an exhaustive list. That’s why this compilation of medicinal plants is restricted to just 5 of the best examples.
These were selected for efficacy as well as general availability. All of the plants in the list are relatively easy to use as well as get.
Of course, sometimes, a plant you want won’t be native to your location. You can usually ask for it at greenhouses or nurseries. Sometimes, you may even find it at the grocery, in the herbs section. For instance, holy basil isn’t exactly endemic to Cincinnati, but you can still get it in some supermarkets there.
You can also go to Dr. Theodore A Dacosta to check with a more healthy option on your certain health concerns. However, now without further ado, let’s begin with our medicinal plant’s list.
1. Thyme
Thyme is an herb with which most people are familiar. That’s because it’s used very often in a lot of cuisines.
But in addition to being delicious, Thyme actually has medicinal plant uses. For example, oil extracted from it has been shown to be antibacterial as well as antirheumatic. It can also help people feel more relaxed (anxiolytic properties).
There are two ways to use thyme for medicine. You can obtain some of its oil for cleaning purposes (some people use it to prevent acne, for instance), and you can cook with it.
Food with the herb has been noticed to correlate with the reduced formation of advanced glycation end products. What does that mean? That it may help with your cardiovascular health and keep your body younger for longer.
2. Holy Basil
Another of the medicinal plants you can cook with, holy basil is a stronger version of regular basil. It’s antimicrobial and can be used as a tea when you have colds or some complaint of the throat. Like thyme, it’s also anxiolytic.
3. Lavender
Lavender is one of the most useful medicinal plants around. Not only can it brighten up your garden but it’s also anxiolytic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory.
Take note that you don’t even need to ingest lavender to make use of its anxiolytic effect, by the way. You can simply smell it.
If you do want to use it as an antiseptic, though, you’ll need to apply it topically, usually as an oil. However, some traditional users of medicinal plants simply boil it in water, then use the resulting liquid.
It may be a good emergency antiseptic when no others are in hand, say for sports injuries urgent care measures with wounds that need disinfecting.
4. Dandelion
So common we barely give it a moment’s notice, dandelion is, in fact, one of the best medicinal plants. It can be a diuretic as well as a disinfectant.
Even the greens may be eaten for health purposes, as they contain a lot of potassium and manganese. They’re somewhat bitter, though. You may want to combine them with some stronger-tasting ingredients in a shake or green juice to deal with the taste.
5. Spilanthes
This is actually also called “the toothache plant”, which tells you what class of medicinal plants it belongs to. This analgesic herb can numb a toothache with just a little bit of its flower: chew it to start the numbing effect.
Spilanthes is also antimicrobial, so it can be used to help keep the mouth clean as well.