Medicinal Plants | 15 Best Medicinal Plants & their Benefits

Medicinal Plants & their Uses

Since ancient times, humans have been using different types of plants for the treatment of various diseases. Medicinal plants are mostly wild. Sometimes they are also grown. Plant roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds and even bark are used for treatment.

These medicinal property of plants is due to some chemical substances present in them, which have specific action on the actions of the human body. The main medicinal plants are Neem, Tulsi, Bell, Amla, Aloe Vera, Fenugreek, Ginger, Garlic, Patharchata, Levender, Ashwagandha, Sadabahar, Cinnamon & Mint.

You will get information about some of these here:

1. Neem

Neem

It is the family member of Azadirachta Indica. Neem is very important from a medicinal point of view. It is commonly found in India and Pakistan. Almost all parts of the plant, like leaves, stems, flowers, fruits etc., are used.

The leaves of the plant are digestive, carminative and expectorant and disinfectant. The juice of the leaves is used in the treatment of many skin diseases and jaundice. It is also used as an insecticide. Since ancient times, pieces of neem stem have been used as datum in India.

2. Tulsi (Holi Basil)

Tulsi

Its botanical name is Ocimum sanctum and it belongs to the family Labiateae. The Tulsi plant is of religious and medicinal importance. Its herbaceous plants are found all over India. Tulsi leaves are used as expectorant, refreshing and anti-cold. Tulsi is also used as a liver tonic in cases of liver disease, cough, and malaria.

3. Indian Bael

Bael

It is a member of the family-Rutaceae and is found throughout the world. The leaves, bark, roots, fruits, and seeds are used in traditional medicine to treat various illnesses.The fruit is used as a tonic and anti-blood flow. It is useful in treating liver injury, helping weight loss, diarrhea, intestinal upset and constipation. Vine fruits can also be used to make a refreshing drink.

4. Amla (Indian Gooseberry)

Amla

The botanical name of Amla is Emblica officinalis and it belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. Its fruits are rich in Vitamin C. Amla fruits are refrigerant, laxative and diuretic. It cures stomach problems and improves eyesight, aids in diabetes control, improves digestion and help in reducing wright, memory boosts, and immunity boosts.It can be eaten raw or in the form of Triphala powder along with Harra and Bahera, Indian gooseberry, marmalade, etc. with medicinal properties are made from Amla fruit.

5. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a small plant that is grown in homes all over the world. Many types of nutrients are found in it, which are very beneficial for our health and skin. It helps immensely in getting rid of problems like skin stains or pimples. Aloe vera is also used for treating Psoriasis, Seborrhea, Dandruff, minor burns, skin abrasions, skin injured by radiation, Herpes sores etc. Applying it on the face gives freshness and a new glow to the face.

6. Fenugreek

Fenugreek

In India, fenugreek is a form of aromatic spice and medicinal plant.

It is thought to have originated in southern Europe and western Asia. In India, fenugreek leaves are consumed as a vegetable. Fenugreek seeds are used to treat digestive issues such as lack of appetite, upset stomach, constipation, and stomach inflammation (gastritis). Diabetes, painful menstruation, polycystic ovary syndrome, and obesity are all treated with fenugreek. It is useful for diseases of the body. Its juice should be consumed twice a day, in the morning and evening, to cope with diabetes.

7. Ginger

Ginger

Ginger is a flowering plant whose bulb is used as a spice and in traditional medicine worldwide. Ginger is high in antioxidants, which protect your body's DNA from stress and damage. They can aid in the prevention of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and lung diseases, as well as promote healthy aging.

Ginger contains compounds that are anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory. According to researchers, the chemicals work mostly in the stomach and intestines, but they can also control nausea in the brain and nervous system.

Ginger is a super medicine, according to the information. Ginger also destroys bacteria, protects against Alzheimer's, and treats osteoarthritis, among other ailments. Ginger is also said to be healthy for your hair, preventing it from falling out and being dandruff-prone.

Ginger is also beneficial to the skin. So, if you suffer from acne on a daily basis, you can eat ginger on a daily basis to help you say goodbye to acne.

8. Garlic

Garlic

Garlic is a member of the Allium family and belongs to the onion genus. Onion, shallot, leek, chive, Welsh onion, and Chinese onion are all relatives. It's native to Central Asia and northeastern Iran, and it's long been a common seasoning all over the world, with a thousand-year history of human consumption and medicinal uses.

Garlic is most widely used to treat disorders involving the cardiovascular system (heart) and the circulatory system (blood). High blood pressure, high cholesterol or other bad cholesterol in the blood. Garlic can also be used to cure tumors and colds.

9. Patharchatta (Bryophyllum pinnatum)

Patharchatta

Patharchatta (Bryophyllum pinnatum) is a plant found in about 60 percent of the houses in India. Many different medicinal properties are found in this plant. The leaves of Patharchatta are used both externally and internally for medinal uses. Patharchata leaves have diuretic, wound healing properties, antihepatotoxicity (prevent liver from damage) , antimicrobial, antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory activities and are beneficial in urinary bladder and kidney stones, intestinal problems, ulcers, arthritis, inflammation, conjunctivitis, menstrual disorders, migraine, urethritis, wound, dysentery, ulcers, indigestion, etc

10. Ashwagandha

Ashvgandha

The root of this plant smells like horse urine, hence the name Avashgandha. This residual plant is cultivated as a sort of money crop. it's accustomed increase strength within the body. This plant is employed to form ayurvedic medicines. Churning its roots is completed to cure diseases like arthritis and joint pain. To cure diseases like cough and asthma, the powder of this root can even be used. it's wont to remove weakness associated with the systema nervosum.

11. Lavender

Levender

Lavender could be a sort of herb plant, which is extremely easily found in sandy and rocky lands. Bees love this plant much, because they create honey from its flowers. Lavender is often used for anxiety, stress, and insomnia. It's also used for depression, dementia, pain after surgery, and lots of other conditions, but there's no good scientific evidence to support many of those uses.

In foods and beverages, lavender is employed as a flavor component.

In manufacturing, lavender is employed in pharmaceutical products and as a fragrance ingredient in soaps, cosmetics, perfumes, potpourri, and decorations.

12. Mint

Mint

Mint grows natively on all continents except Antarctica. Peppermint and spearmint are likely the most commonly used mint varieties, but many others exist, like wild mint and water mint.

Eating fresh or dried leaves to treat bad breath. Inhaling essential oils of mint may improve brain function and cold symptoms. It's also used for treatment of stomach disorders & gastric.

13. Sadabahar (Madagascar Periwinkle)

Sadabahar

Sadabahar botanical herb, also called the "ever-blooming blossom," may be a well-known flower that has found its way into modern medicine as herbal remedies.

The Sadabahar plant incorporates a long list of health benefits and is employed to treat a range of ailments like diabetes, sore throats, lung inflammation, skin infections, eye irritation, and even cancer prevention.

Sadabahar plant is a main source of the cancer-fighting drugs vincristine and vinblastine which used to treat cancer. It had been previously classified as old maid within the Vinca.

The chemotherapy drugs vinblastine and vincristine, which are found in the alkaloids catharanthine and vindoline and are biosynthesised from them, are used to treat cancer spread.Vinorelbine, a more modern semi-synthetic chemotherapeutic agent used to treat non-small-cell carcinoma, is frequently derived from vindoline, catharanthine, or the vinca alkaloi plant.

14. Cinnamon

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of tree species from the magnoliid dicot genus. Cinnamon is used worldwide mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a large variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfast cereals, snacks, tea and traditional medicine.

Cinnamon is used as an anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal treatment. Cinnamon

contains antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects. Its prebiotic properties may improve gut health. It also reduces force per unit area, lowers glucose and the risk of type 2 diabetes & relieves digestive discomfort.

15. Clove

Clove

Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree within the magnoliopsid family, Eugenia aromaticum. Cloves are available throughout the year because of different harvest seasons in several countries.

Cloves are employed in traditional medicine because of the volatile oil, which is employed as an anodyne (analgesic) mainly for dental emergencies and other disorders. The oil is employed in aromatherapy.

Long-used in traditional medicine, there's evidence that essential oil containing eugenol is effective for toothache pain and other kinds of pain, and one review reported the efficacy of eugenol combined with flowers of zinc as an analgesic for alveolar osteitis.

Conclusion

Nature has given all types of plants have some different properties. All have different types of vitamins & minerals with medicinal properties available. Research is still going on.

If a human consumes the required nutrition in a daily meal, then there will be no adverse effects on the body & no hospital is required for illness. The body has an immune system for fighting all types of external & internal attacks. We have to take care of our immunity by taking a proper diet and adopting a healthy lifestyle.