There are many herbs commonly available in our immediate surroundings. Here is a list of few of them which can be beneficial for our health and impart essential nutrients.
- Dandelion (taraxacum officinale)
- Burdrock (arctium lappa)
- Elder (sambucus nigra)
- Hawthorn (crataegous laevigata)
- Mahonia (mahonia aquifoilum)
- Lime Tree (tilia europaea)
- Oak (quercus robur)
- Nettle (urtica dioica)
- Plantain (plantago major)
- St. John’s Wart (hypericum perforatum)
- Red Clover (trifolium pratense)
- Gum Trees (Eucalyptus)
Dandelion (taraxacum officinale)
Parts used – flower, leaf, and root
This is a wonderful herb for the liver, heart, and kidneys. It helps stimulate liver function and aides in digetion of food.
It is also a prime kidney herb, helping to relieve water retention from kidneys.
It treats gallbladder problems, edema, high blood pressure, heart weakness, skin problems, and many other conditions.
Burdrock (arctium lappa)
Parts used – root and seed
Highly nutritious, it helps in nourishing the pancreas and spleen while balancing blood sugar levels. It is a strong general immune boosting herb, rich in tumor-inhibiting chemistry.
As blood cleanser it will clear the skin, bloodstream, lymph, and colon of toxins. It is best used in combination with dandelion to safeguard the elimination of collected toxins.
Burdock is used as a root vegetable in Japan.
Elder (sambucus nigra)
Parts used – fruit, flower, leaf, and bark
The elder berry is now recognized as a strong antiviral.
The berries, leaves, and flowers are useful for treating fevers and inflammation, thanks to their inherent anti-inflammatory property.
All parts of the plant clean and clear the bloodstream and aid the clearing of mucus from the lungs.
When applied externally, the flowers and bark are useful for sore eyes, minor injuries, and skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, warts, inflammation, and irritation.
Hawthorn (crataegous laevigata)
Parts used – flower, leaf, and berry
It acts like a beta-blocker, blocking heart receptor cells and unblocking again as needed by the individual. All parts of the hawthorn are very safe for use on the heart, and many heart patients regularly pick the leaves, berries, and flowers and make tea from them.
It is a very helpful herb, ideal for improving circulation and coronary blood flow, and for regulating heart rate and blood pressure. It also has antibacterial qualities.
Mahonia (mahonia aquifoilum)
Parts used – root, root bark, and occasionally the fruit.
Native Americans used it to treat the liver and skin.
Mahonia has the ability to inhibit the overproduction of skin cells associated with psoriasis and is used frequently in Germany for this purpose with great success. Whenever you see barberry (Berberis) mentioned in a formula, mahonia will often do just as well.
It also has a beneficial effect on the bowel because, by stimulating bile flow, it helps stimulate peristalsis, which helps release toxins. It is therefore can be proved as a vital liver herb.
Lime Tree (tilia europaea)
Parts used – flower
It is a good herb for the nervous system, sedating, calming, and relaxing.
It relieves spasms, improves digestion, and often helps migraines and high blood pressure.
It is also used for circulatory problems like hardening of the arteries, and for urinary infections and catarrh.
A wonderful musty and heady aromatic fragrance from the summer blossoms of the lime tree are good to rejuvenate the senses.
Oak (quercus robur)
Parts used – bark, leaf, gall, and acorn
The oak is a bitter, astringent plant, rich in antiviral and antibacterial chemistry. Because of the strongly astringent qualities of its tannis, only small amounts can be taken internally. It is ideal for treating some types of diarrhea.
It is also a wonderful treatment for the immune system. But it is mainly used for mouthwashes and as a gargle
for sore throats and for gum and mouth problems.
Nettle (urtica dioica)
Parts used – leaf and root
Nettles are rich in many vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, and are particularly high in available calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Nettle is a wonderful blood cleanser and will greatly help anemia (along with any excess menstruation or hemorrhage).
It is used as rheumatism and arthritis remedy.
Plantain (plantago major)
Parts used – leaf and juice
This roadside herb is a wonderful immune stimulant and can be taken internally for bacterial infection or put directly on wounds as a fresh poultice.
It also has antihistaminic properties, which make it useful for treating allergies, insect bites, and so on.
It cools, helps reduce inflammation, and acts as an efficient blood and lymph cleanser.
St. John’s Wart (hypericum perforatum)
Parts used – flower and top leaves.
This yellow flower, which blooms at the summer solstice, has been used for a wide variety of diseases, both internal and external. The list is impressive, and modern research is now able to support its older uses — externally for wounds, bruises, burns, and nerve pain (including dental), internally for liver and gallbladder complaints, bladder and lung problems, dysentery, worms, diarrhea, hysteria, and nervous complaints.
Sales of St. John’s wort outstrip those of Prozac in Germany because it has the ability to heighten serotonin levels in the brain. (St. John’s wort should not be taken with drugs containing serotonin; it can also cause sensitivity to light in some individuals. It is advisable to seek professional advice before taking this herb.)
Red Clover (trifolium pratense)
Parts used – flower
Red clover is an par-excellence blood cleanser used for degenerative diseases and specifically for cancers of the lymphatic system and bloodstream. Its red flower gives a huge clue to its blood-cleansing capabilities.
It is also capable of relaxing spasms and will help release water retention and induce sweating when needed.
Gum Trees (Eucalyptus)
Parts used – leaves
The leaves of eucalyptus are dried, and can be used as tea leaves. It is excellent source of anti-oxidants, particularly flavonoids, which helps in protecting body from oxidative stress and free radical damage. It also helps in easing cold and cough.
Eucalyptus helps in making teeth healthy as it contains eucalyptol. Eucalyptol along with inherent anti-inflammatory properties helps in decreasing the bacterial infection in mouth, hence in improving cavities and gum health. For this reason, it is generally added to mouthwash.
Topical application of eucalyptus helps in treating skin condition like dermatitis, psoriasis of skin by increasing the ceramide levels. Ceramide found in outer layer of skin, helps in retaining moisture of skin.