8 Miraculous Medicinal Plants – From Healing Herbs to Anti-Inflammatory Flowers
These have been used to treat various ailments for centuries.
Medicinal plants have been used to treat various ailments for centuries.
From soothing aches to combating serious illnesses, these natural healers have long been a principal ingredient of medical practice, famed for their beneficial effects on the body.
Many healing herbs and plants include foxgloves, snowdrops, and Madagascan Periwinkle. While we might not have the expertise to extract their medicinal qualities ourselves, these powerful herbs and flowers deserve a lot of admiration and appreciation.
Take a look at the top healing plants and herbs below. But first, a note of caution: These plants are toxic in their raw form and should only be used in properly prepared pharmaceutical formulations prescribed by a medical professional.
Deadly Nightshade
Historically, this potent perennial has had cosmetic, medicinal and murderous uses. Today, it's used to treat abdominal problems and motion sickness.
European Yew
Synthesised from this tree's bark, paclitaxel or taxol is an important anti-cancer drug, particularly in breast cancer treatment.
Opium Poppy
Used as a drug for centuries, this plant has serious pain-relieving properties – its sap is used in opioid medicines such as morphine and codeine.
Cannabis
Cannabidiol (CBD) is occasionally prescribed by the NHS to treat epilepsy, nausea from chemotherapy and muscle stiffness with multiple sclerosis.
Foxglove
Toxic in high doses, digitoxin, an active compound derived from foxglove leaves, is used to manage heart disease.
Autumn crocus
Colchicine, used to treat pain and inflammation in gout, is extracted from this native British bloom.
Snowdrops
A source of galantamine, Snowdrops are used in modern medication to treat Alzheimer's.
Madagascan Periwinkle
Brought back from Jamaica by Sir Hans Sloane, who studied at the Physic Garden, this pretty pink plant is used in anti-cancer drugs.
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