COMMON HERBS AND THEIR MEDICINAL USES

Download pressure, and reducing age- related memory loss. Leaves. Rosemary is easiest to grow from a cutting, rather than planting seeds. Artemisia ...

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Common Herbs and their Medicinal Uses

Introduction

Plants continue to be a major source of medicines, as they have been throughout human history. The populations of developing countries worldwide continue to rely heavily on the use of traditional medicines as their primary source of healthcare, and medicinal plants are now being given serious attention by mainstream medical science. The pages that follow detail some commonly used medicinal plants (herbs) that can easily be planted in any home garden.

CAUTION: Always seek advice from a medical professional before using a plant medicinally.

Name

Common name

Picture

Uses

Parts used

Propagation methods

Rosmarinus

Rosemary

officinalis

Rosemary is taken internally Leaves

Rosemary is easiest

as

colds,

to grow from a cutting,

and

rather than planting

an

infusion

influenza,

for

fatigue

headache. It is also used for treatment

of

seeds.

digestion

problems, including heartburn, intestinal gas (flatulence), liver and

gallbladder

complaints,

and loss of appetite. It is also used

for

headache,

gout,

cough,

high

blood

pressure, and reducing agerelated memory loss. Artemisia afra

African wormwood,

The uses of African wormwood Leaves,

New plants can be

wild

covers

propagated

wormwood;

a

wide

range

of stem

by

wilde-als;

ailments from coughs, colds,

division

or

from

umhlonyane;

fever, loss of appetite, colic,

cuttings

that

root

mhlonyane;

headache, earache, intestinal

easily in spring and

lengana; zengana

worms to malaria.

summer. Seed can be sown

in

summer.

spring

or

Foeniculum

Fennel

valgare

An

infusion

of

the

seeds Leaves,

soothes the digestive system root, and

is

said

to

Propagate by seeds

stem

increase and seeds

production of milk in nursing mothers.

Asparagus

Sprenger's

Asparagus species leaves are Leaves

Propagate by seeds

densiflora

Asparagus

used as vegetables or for

or division.

medicinal purposes. Crushed berries are used to treat skin irritation Note: The berries cause only low toxicity if eaten.

Allium tuberosum

Garlic chives

Help to lower blood pressure Leaves

Propagate by seed or

and blood cholesterol. It also

by dividing the

helps to prevent blood clotting.

clumps.

Garlic chives have been used to

treat

fatigue,

control

excessive bleeding, and as an antidote for ingested poisons. The leaves and bulbs are applied to insect bites, cuts, and wounds, while the seeds are used to treat kidney, liver, and

digestive

problems.

system

Leonotis

Wild

leonurus

Umunyane;

treat

Lebake;

poisonous snake bites and

Umfincafincane;

other type of bites (scorpion

Umhlahlampetu

and spider bites) and stings.

Dagga,

Wild dagga has been used to leaves and Propagate from seed, concerns

including stem

cuttings or by dividing large clumps.

Infusions of leaves and roots are

used

to

conditions, itchiness,

skin

boils,

eczema,

muscle

cramps,

influenza, cough.

treat

bronchitis It

Pressure

and

lowers

Blood

and

eases

headaches. Eucomis autumnalis

Pineapple lily

Pineapple lily is used to treat Bulb

Propagation

urinary

pulmonary

offsets,

seed,

ailments, fever and disease of

cuttings

and

stock. Tswana and Sotho use

culture

and

decoctions of the bulb to treat hangovers. Bulbs are used in decoctions

which

administered

as

are enemas.

These are used to treat lower backache, urinary diseases, as well as assisting in the healing of fractures.

is

by leaf

tissue

Borago

Borage

officinalis

It is used to treat oily skin,

Leaves and Propagate by seeds

coughing, reliving eczema,

seeds

assisting to fight rheumatism, regulating menstruation and assisting with soothing irritable bowel syndrome Amoracia

Horseradish

rusticana

Horseradish is used to treat

Roots

and Propagate by seed or

back pain and menstrual

leaves.

by division in winter

Leaves

Propagation is from

cramps.

Bulbine

snake flower, cat's

The fresh leaf produces a jelly-

frutescens

tail, burn jelly plant;

like juice that is wonderful for

seed,

cuttings

or

balsem

burns, rashes, blisters, insect

either

division

of

bites, cracked lips, acne, cold

clumps, and should

sores, mouth ulcers and areas

be done in spring

kopieva,

geelkatstert

of cracked skin. an infusion of a few fresh leaves in a cup of boiling water. The strained drink is taken for coughs, colds and arthritis

Gnidia

Yellow

heads;

kaussiana

harige

gifbossie;

plant is known in Xhosa) is

isidikili,

imfuzane,

also very effective for the

Salvia officinalis

The root of umarhedeni (as the

Roots

umsilawengwe;

treatment of sexually

umarhedeni

transmitted infections.

Sage

The infusions of leaves are Leaves

Propagation is from

used as a mouthwash for sore

seeds and cuttings

throats, mouth ulcers, gum diseases, laryngitis and tonsils. Infusions are taken internally as tonics, to aid indigestion and for menopausal problems. And

applied

compresses

externally to

help

as heal

wounds Crocosmia

Aunt

paniculata

Undwendweni

Eliza,

The corms are also used in Corms

Propagate by dividing

traditional medicine to treat

rhizomes,

dysentery and infertility

corms or bulbs

tubers,

Melissa

Lemon balm

officinalis

Infusions are taken internally Leaves

Propagate by seed or

for

anxiety,

by division in spring or

tension

autumn

nervous

depression,

headaches and indigestion. It is also applied externally for as poultice or ointment for sores, skin irritations, insect bites and stings. Lavendula

Lavender

officinalis

Lavender is used alone or in Leaves and Propagate by seed, combination with other herbs stem

cuttings,

to

division or separation

treat

states,

insomnia,

migraine

anxiety

layering,

headaches

and depression.

Zingiber officinale

Ginger

A

tea

nausea.

is

used

to

relieve Rhizome

Propagate by dividing rhizome.

Achillea

Yarrow

millefolium

A tea is taken for colds and Leaves

Yarrow

propagates

fever. It is also thought to

easily and in many

lower blood pressure and to

ways,

relieve indigestion.

division, stem cuttings

including

via

and seeds

Petroselinum crispum

Parsley

It

is

used

problems,

for

menstrual Leaves

kidney

stones, stem

urinary infections, and arthritis. Tea is made from leaves to treat jaundice and coughs.

, Propagated seeds.

from