There
are thousands, if not millions, of plants which boast amazing medicinal
uses for almost any ailment that you can think of. Before reaching out
for that prescription drug or cream, do your body a favour and look into
some of these amazing natural alternatives first! The best part about
healing in this natural way is that many plants and herbs can be grown
yourself, or can be purchased in a higher potency essential oil form.
There is also a much lower risk for potential side effects, provided you
are not allergic to the plant in question. Here are the top 5 most
underrated medicinal plants!
1. Ginger
Ginger is an amazing spice to cook with.
Not only does it taste great (especially when paired with garlic), it
has a whole bunch of amazing medicinal benefits. Ginger is very commonly
known for its ability to quell nausea, but it also has antibacterial,
antioxidant, and anti-parasitic properties, and is anti-inflammatory as
well! These are just a few of the many amazing uses for ginger.
The anti-inflammatory effects make
ginger an incredible supplement for joint pain, menstrual pain,
migraines, and more. Ginger is also great for people who suffer
from indigestion; it contains protein-digesting enzymes and assists with
stimulating your stomach to empty its contents.
2. Peppermint
Peppermint has many benefits to the
respiratory system, for coughs, colds asthma, allergies, and
tuberculosis. Rubbing peppermint oil on the chest can assist with these
things. Peppermint oil has also been known to work wonders on digestive
health, especially those with IBS. Peppermint tea can ease abdominal
pain associated with digestion and offers gas relief.
Peppermint leaves, tea, and oil are all
very easy to find. It is also very easy to grow your own peppermint in
your garden! An added bonus to this is that it smells lovely and helps
to keep unwanted pests away.
3. Chamomile
Chamomile has long been admired for its ability to relieve stress and make you
feel relaxed, but did you know that it has a wide array of other
benefits as well? According to a government organization in Germany
known as Commission E, chamomile has been approved for reducing swelling
on the skin and fighting bacteria! It is a powerful anti-inflammatory
and also has anti-bacterial, anti-allergenic, anti-spasmodic, and
sedative properties. It has been used to treat various skin disorders
such as: psoriasis, eczema, chickenpox, diaper rash, and many others.
4. Thyme
Thyme is not only great for cooking,
providing a wonderful flavor and aroma to your savory dishes, but it
contains many beneficial flavonoids for your health! Some of these
flavonoids include: apigen, naringen, and leteolin, along with thymonin,
which as been shown to protect and increase the percentage of healthy
fats found in cell membranes.
Thyme also contains many nutrients including vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, manganese, copper and dietary fiber.
Thyme oil also has a wide variety of
topical uses including relief from problems of gout, bites, sores,
arthritis, menstrual pain, nausea, fatigue, athletes foot and even
hangovers! It is also a great oil for aromatherapy and can be used to
strengthen memory and concentration, and calm the mind and nerves.
4. Lavender
I personally LOVE lavender! It has the
most lovely, calming smell and it is my go-to oil for my bubble baths.
Lavender oil has been used aroma-therapeutically to treat such
conditions as: insomnia, depression, stress, and restlessness.
Lavender oil has been known to fight
antifungal-resistant skin and nail infections. It can also be used to:
relieve muscle and joint pain, treat skin disorders like acne,
psoriasis, and eczema, soothe insect bites, kill lice and nits, boost
hair growth, improve digestion, alleviate various respiratory disorders,
and more.
