Phytotherapy is commonly defined as the study of the use of extracts of natural origin as medicines or health-promoting agents. It should be perceived as an allopathic discipline, because the effects that are expected from HMP are directed against the causes and the symptoms of a disease.
An herbalist is someone who uses plants for healing. These practitioners are not medical doctors, though some practitioners are also referred to as medical herbalists.
Herbal medicine (also herbalism) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine.
Ethnobotany is the study of how people of a particular culture and region make use of indigenous (native) plants. Plants provide food, medicine, shelter, dyes, fibers, oils, resins, gums, soaps, waxes, latex, tannins, and even contribute to the air we breathe.
Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being.
A registered Unani-Tibb Practitioner is a complementary healthcare practitioner diagnosing and treating patients according to a philosophy is based on four axioms. The first, temperament, reflects the uniqueness of each individual, which is important in both diagnosis and treatment.
“Maha-tita†in Hindi means “king of bittersâ€. “Creat†is the English name for the herb Andrographis paniculata that belongs to the family: Acanthaceae. The herb is exceedingly bitter, and has been in use for many centuries in Asia, where it is regarded as the “King of Bitters†[1, 2].
Medicinal plants such as Aloe, Tulsi, Neem, Turmeric and Ginger cure several common ailments. These are considered as home remedies in many parts of the country. It is known fact that lots of consumers are using Basil (Tulsi) for making medicines, black tea, in pooja and other activities in their day to day life.
Results showed that the respondents rated herbal medicines higher than orthodox medicines in terms of safety and degree of advertisement. Orthodox medicines were rated higher than herbal medicines in terms of affordability, packaging, availability, efficacy, and side-effects.
Consuming herbs may help to prevent and manage heart disease, cancer and diabetes. It may also help to reduce blood clots and provide anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour properties. Research is ongoing but studies have shown that: Garlic, linseed, fenugreek and lemongrass may help lower cholesterol.
Herbal medicines are generally considered to be safe and effective agents. Therefore, people more and more turn to herbal medicine because they believe that plant remedies are free from undesirable side effects. However, medicinal plants can be toxic intrinsically or when taken in combination with other preparations.
Herbal medicines may produce negative effects that can range from mild to severe, including:
- allergic reactions and rashes.
- asthma.
- headaches.
- nausea.
- vomiting.
- diarrhoea.
It grows about 15 inches tall and has curved, spiked leaves and bright yellow, star-shaped flowers. It also has slender corms (the bulbous base of the stem) instead of potato-like tubers.
African wild potato is a plant. People use it to make medicine. The African wild potato is used for urinary tract disorders including bladder infections (cystitis), prostate problems including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer; other cancers; and lung disease.
Intelezi derives from the noun Buthelezi, meaning 'slipperiness' and refers to the ability of the medicine to make the user slippery (that is to get out of trouble).
Holy basil is also known as "The Incomparable One", "The Mother Medicine of Nature",.
Top 10 Medicinal Plants
- Calendula (Calendula officinalis).
- Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla).
- Peppermint (Metha x piperita).
- Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum).
- Plantain (Plantago major).
- Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis).
- English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia “Veraâ€).
- Hops (Humulus lupulus).
A Guide to Common Medicinal Herbs
- Chamomile. (Flower) Considered by some to be a cure-all, chamomile is commonly used in the U.S. for anxiety and relaxation.
- Echinacea. (Leaf, stalk, root)
- Feverfew. (Leaf)
- Garlic. (Cloves, root)
- Ginger. (Root)
- Gingko. (Leaf)
- Ginseng. (Root)
- Goldenseal. (Root, rhizome)
Medicinal Plants & Their Uses
| Hindi Name | English Name | Uses |
|---|
| Brahmi | Thyme leafed gratiola | Enchances Memory, Anxiety |
| Dhaniya | Coriander | Indigestion, Flatulence, Controls Spasmodic Pain |
| Kalmegh | Kalmegh | Indigestion, Acne, Diarrhea |
| Lashun | Garlic | Ringworm, Dysentery, Wounds |
The WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants aim to provide scientific information on the safety, efficacy, and quality control of widely used medicinal plants; provide models to assist Member States in developing their own monographs or formularies for these and other herbal medicines; and facilitate information
DNA barcoding is a method to identify the certain species name of a sample by using a short genetic marker from the sample's DNA. After doing the identification of these samples with three molecular markers (nrITS, matK and rbcL), 76 samples were identified up to species level and 14 to genus level.
Conservation of medicinal plants can be accomplished by the ex-situ i.e. outside natural habitat by cultivating and maintaining plants in botanic gardens, parks, other suitable sites, and through long term preservation of plant propagules in gene banks (seed bank, pollen bank, DNA libraries, etc.)
Plants are really important for the planet and for all living things. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen from their leaves, which humans and other animals need to breathe. Living things need plants to live - they eat them and live in them. Plants help to clean water too.
The healing properties of medicinal plants could be due to the presence of tannins. They are known to posses' astringent, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties [14].
