Write a short note on medicinal plants
Answers
Medicinal plants, medicinal herbs, or simply herbs have been identified and used from prehistoric times. Plantsmake many chemical compounds for biological functions, including defence against insects, fungi and herbivorousmammals. Over 12,000 active compounds are known to science; some 20 to 25 percent of the drugs used in modern medicine use such chemicals derived from plants. These chemicals work on the human body in exactly the same way as pharmaceutical drugs, so herbal medicines can be beneficial and have harmful side effects just like conventional drugs. However, since a single plant may contain many substances, the effects of taking a plant as medicine can be complex. Further, the chemical content and pharmacological actions, if any, of many medicinal plants remains unknown, and the possible benefits and safety of many such plants have not been tested.
The earliest historical records of herbs are found from the Sumerian civilisation, where hundreds of medicinal plants including opium are listed on clay tablets. The Ebers Papyrus from ancient Egypt describes over 850 plant medicines, while Dioscorides documented over 1000 recipes for medicines using over 600 medicinal plants in De materia medica, forming the basis of pharmacopoeias for some 1500 years. Drug research makes use of ethnobotany to search for pharmacologically active substances in nature, and has in this way discovered hundreds of useful compounds. These include the common drugs aspirin, digoxin, quinine, and opium. The compounds found in plants are of many kinds, but most are in four major biochemical classes, the alkaloids, glycosides, polyphenols, and terpenes.
Medicinal plants are widely used in non-industrialized societies, not least because they are far cheaper than modern medicines. The annual global export value of pharmaceutical plants in 2012 was over US$2.2 billion.[2] In many countries there is little regulation of traditional medicine, but the World Health Organization is coordinating a network to encourage safe and rational usage. Medicinal plants face both general threats such as climate change and habitat loss, and the specific threat of over-collection to meet market demand.
It is very important to have medicinal plants around the house cause you never know when you might need them.
So here are a list of plants that have the highest medicinal value compared to the other million species around the world worth planting around the house.
1. Tulsi
There are four types of tulsi mentioned in ayurvedic texts ie Rama, Krishna, Vana & Kapoor Tulsi.
For over the centuries Tulsi (the queen of herbs) has been known for its remarkable healing properties.
Tulsi is taken as the herbal tea.
The oil extracted from the Karpoora Tulsi is mostly used in the herbal toiletry. Its oil is also used against the insects and bacteria.
The Rama Tulsi is the effective remedy for the Severe acute Respiratory Syndrome. Juice of its leaves gives relief in cold, fever, bronchitis and cough.
Tulsi oil is also used as the ear drop.
Tulsi helps in curing malaria.
It is very effective against indigestion, headache, hysteria, insomnia and cholera.
The fresh leaves of Tulsi are taken by the million of people everyday.
Many people wears the Tulsi beads, which is said to have certain physical and medicinal properties.
2. Aloe Vera
The aloe vera grows only under the sun with well drained dry or moist soil. Although the plant tastes like turd, it’s still edible. The sap from aloe vera is extremely useful to speed up the healing & reducing the risk of infections for :
wounds
cuts
burns
reducing inflammation
Apart from its external use on the skin, aloe vera is also taken internally in the treatment of :
ulcerative colitis (drinking aloe vera juice)
chronic constipation
poor appetite
digestive problems
3. Gotu Kola
The gotu kola acts on various phases of connective tissue development and stimulates healing of :
ulcers
skin injuries
decreasing capillary fragility
stimulation of the lipids and protein necessary for healthy skin
Leaves are thought to maintain youthfulness.
Crushed leaves are poulticed to treat open sores.
The gotu kola can also be used to :
treat leprosy
revitalize the brain and nervous system
increase attention span and concentration
treat venous insufficiency
4. Calendula
It grows in almost any type of soil condition. It has no problem with nutritionally poor, very acidic or very alkaline soils, just as long as it’s moist. Well known as a remedy for skin problems, the deep-orange flowered pot marigold variety is applied externally to :
bites
stings
sprains
wounds
sore eyes
varicose veins
Internally it is used to treat fevers and chronic infections.
The tea of the petals tones up circulation and, taken regularly, eases varicose veins.
Applying the crushed stems of the pot marigold to corns and warts will soon have them easily removable.
5. Basil
You must have used basil lot many times in food but have you ever tried it to heal flatulence? It has the power to treat:
Cuts
Lack of appetite
Stomach gas
scrapes
6. Thyme
It is mostly known for its strong antiseptic nature. It is wonderful when it comes to the treatment of:
Congestion
Stomach gas
Coughs
7. Rosemary
Rosemary is the great reviver. This perennial woody herb stimulates energy and optimism and sharpens memory and concentration by bringing more oxygen to your brain, according to UMMC. It’s a wonderfully stimulating alternative to caffeine when you need that second wind!
A row of these long-lived and drought-tolerant plants makes a beautiful, bee-friendly, evergreen hedge. You may only need one plant in your garden, as a little bit goes a long way.
8. Lavender
Long recognized for its sweet perfume, lavender also boasts medical benefits as a nervine and mild antidepressant. UMMC suggests adding it to your bath to alleviate stress, tension, and insomnia. It's also used in creams to treat sunburns and acne.
Woody lavender plants prefer hot, sunny, and dry environments. The fresh flowers are tasty in small doses when added to salads, honey, butter, lemonade, and even shortbread cookies. If you’re crafty, try sewing up an herbal heating pad or eye pillow with the fragrant dried flowers.
9. German Chamomile
Delicate, apple-scented chamomile demonstrates that mildness does not mean ineffectiveness. Primarily grown for its small, yellow-bellied flowers, NCCAM reports that chamomile is one of the best children’s herbs for treating colic, nervous stress, infections, and stomach disorders.
There are many more….however, I m stopping at these many. This would clearly outline as to why they are important in our lives.