Have you ever heard of medical herbs?
People often have the impression that herbs are just used for aroma in herbal teas and as spices for cooking, but medical herbs are herbs with medicinal properties that are used for maintaining and improving health, as well as preventing and treating illnesses. Actually, a quarter of the raw materials used in creating modern medicines come from plants. While there is usually a one-to-one relationship between medicines and disease where each disease has a recommended medicine to treat it, herbs are exceptional in that one herb can aid in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. Traditional therapies other than modern medicine are often called alternative therapies and many of them are similar in that they utilize the natural healing power of the human body. This form of natural remedy is termed as naturopathy and medical herbs are also in that field. The biggest difference between medical herbs and modern medicine, is that modern medicine seeks to affect only the area of disease while herbs support overall well-being as well.
Special Characteristics of Herbs
1. They contain a variety of effective components, which produce a synergistic effect with each other.
2. Strengthening of the whole body can be expected instead of just treatment of the disease area.
3. They are extremely effective in regulating the nerve function, the endocrine system, and the immune system to support healing and well-being.
1. Antioxidant Effect
Many of the active ingredients help to suppress cell oxidation and aging because many photosynthetic plants produce antioxidants inside themselves to prevent oxidation caused by UV light.
2. Regulation of Biological Defences
Our body has three systems, the autonomic nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system, that work together to maintain a well-balanced state of mind and body. This regulation aids in immunostimulatory action, creates a calming effect nerves, and helps to regulate the secretion of hormones.
3. Antibacterial and Antiviral Effects
By making use of substances plants create to protect themselves from pathogens, we can also prevent infections and illnesses. Herbs are so effective that herbs like Echinacea are the first thing that many people turn to for the prevention of cold, and for those that have caught a cold, Elderflower is the recommended option.
4. Pharmacological Effect
Similar to modern medical drugs, herbs also have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antispasmodic effects, and the active ingredients that exert these effects are often used in pharmaceutical products as well.
5. Supplementation of Nutrients
Herbs are rich in various nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre. Although it is not termed a medical effect like the rest, it is still an extremely important function.
