Herbs for Health
Herbs, plants and their active components
have been used throughout history for their medicinal properties. Using plants
and herbs for health is increasingly popular throughout the world and according
to the World Health Organisation, 75% of the world’s populations are
using herbs/traditional herbal medicine for basic healthcare needs. Many
pharmaceutical drugs derive or contain active botanical and herbal components
too, so this shows that nature can have a lot to offer when it comes to
improving health. Many herbs and botanicals have been shown to be helpful too
in preventing certain symptoms and minor health conditions, so what better time
than now to learn how some common herbs can improve yours and your family’s
health this autumn and winter.
Dandelion
Many of the plants and herbs used in
traditional herbal medicine are very familiar to most people, where their names
are widely known. However what is not so well known is how they can be used to
help with specific health complaints. Dandelion is one name that will be
particularly familiar and highly recognizable to the majority of people, but what
may not be known is that this plant is classed as a herb by botanists.
Dandelion has some fantastic medicinal
properties, the most well-known one being its diuretic properties. This herb is
therefore especially useful for people suffering from water retention whether
that be a daily occurrence or as a cause of long haul flights. So if you are
yet to take your holiday and you are prone to water retention after flying,
dandelion tea can really help! Due to dandelions diuretic properties, some
studies have also shown that it can be useful in helping reduce high blood
pressure.
Due to dandelions effect as a diuretic, it is
also a powerful detoxification agent and can help flush out toxins such as uric
acid, which is a cause of gout. Dandelion can therefore be helpful in people
suffering with this condition. Dandelion also has a detoxification effect on
the liver, likely due to the fact that dandelion has been shown to increase the
flow of bile (the component that helps emulsify the fats we eat) and has in
some studies shown to improve liver function. Many people choose to consume dandelion
tea or tonic after a heavier night of alcohol consumption, swearing that it is
helpful for hangovers due to its detoxification effect on the liver. It’s
certainly worth a try!!
So if you fancy adding dandelion into your diet, one of the best ways to do this is to make a tea and drink it. You can make your own very easily using a good handful of washed dandelion leaves and pouring over hot water and leave to steep for 5-10 minutes. A great addition to this tea is a small splash of maple syrup or honey to add a little sweetness.
Feverfew
Feverfew is not a herb, but a plant that is
part of the daisy family, however it has a long history of being used as a
herbal medicine to treat a variety of ailments. The Latin name for Feverfew is ‘febrifugia’,
which literally translates to ‘fever
reducer’ so as the name would suggest, one thing it is known for is
reducing fevers, however it can do so much more than that. It has also been
shown to be useful in arthritis, nausea and vomiting, common cold and headaches
to name just a few. Studies have shown that the leaves of this plant show
significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects so it can be very effective
in those suffering with inflammatory conditions such as arthritis or migraines.
Over many years, feverfew has been explored in clinical research
as both a treatment and prevention to migraine, with some very successful
results. On the research and results that have been seen, researchers concluded that feverfew may be useful not only
for helping and alleviating classical migraine and cluster headaches, but also
for hormonal cause headaches that can occur premenstrually, during menstruation
or during ovulation. Although the mechanism of exactly why feverfew can be so
helpful in treating migraines and headaches is still largely unknown, it is
likely to be down to the fact that feverfew has been shown to help dilate blood
vessels in the head, which constrict during a migraine episode.
So if you are a
migraine sufferer or regularly suffer with headaches without a cause, it is
certainly worth trying feverfew. You can even just try chewing
on the feverfew leaves directly or again you can make your own tonic or tea
using the leaves.
Chamomile
Like dandelion, chamomile is one of the most
well-known herbs and is also one of the most ancient, with its use in medicine
dating back thousands of years. It is
the flowers of this herb that are used for eliciting health properties, one of which
is its effect as a sedative or relaxing agent, which is why it is often
recommended to drink before bedtime or at times of stress and anxiety. It has also been claimed that consumption
of chamomile tea boosts the immune system and helps fight infections associated
with the common cold, however although there has been some positive research
into this, more is needed before its effects on immune function can be
concluded.
One of the main active phytochemicals found in chamomile is
flavonoids and we know these to be essential for good health including
cardiovascular health, so anything that can keep your heart healthy and working longer is worth a go.
For those suffering with eczema, chamomile may also have a
benefit for skin health, as several studies have shown that topical use of
chamomile creams can have equal or superior effects to topical steroid and
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications that are often prescribed in eczema
cases. Chamomile certainly has gentle,
soothing properties, which is one reason why you will often see it as an
ingredient in topical products aimed at babies and children, such as nappy
cream or shampoo.
Fennel
This herb is great for digestive complaints
and is a natural anti-flatulent, making is especially good for those people
suffering from bloating and trapped wind. The best way to consume fennel to
treat this ailment is as a tea, which you can easily make yourself or buy as a
tea bag. Drinking fennel tea after meals can help bloating prone people to
reduce the bloat and distension of the stomach and ease discomfort caused by
excess gas.
Fennel is also a highly nutritious herb
containing a great variety of vital nutrients including vitamin C, manganese,
potassium and iron. The best way to ensure you receive the vitamin C from it is
to eat the fresh fennel bulb, which can be chopped up and sprinkled raw on
salads or added to stir fries. Fennel is also a very high source of fibre,
which many of us do not consume enough of. A high fibre diet improves heart
health, reduces cholesterol and makes for a healthy bowel, just three reasons
why it should be on your menu.
Sage
There are over 900 species of sage found
throughout the world and it has shown over centuries to be a very useful herb
in the treatment and relief of many conditions. Sage contains anti-inflammatory
and antioxidant compounds, which have a positive effect on health. In more
recent years, more research has been done on sage’s benefit in cognition and
its memory enhancing and cognitive protective effects and results have been
positive so far, although more research needs to be done. However sage
certainly shows good promise in helping to protect against neurodegenerative
disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease as well as improving cognitive skills as
we age.
Sage is widely used amongst women going
through the menopause, especially for relief of hot flushes and hot sweats,
which are common symptoms during menopausal years. For these symptoms a sage
supplement or a sage tea is usually the most common format to consume it in.
Research also shows that sage has an
anti-microbial effect so it has potential use in oral health, to help guard
against microbes that form plaque and help against mouth ulcers and gum
disease. Making a sage mouthwash would therefore be a good way of using sage to
improve oral health and these are already available to buy in some shops. However
you can also easily make your own by adding 2-3tbsp of fresh sage or 1-2tbsp of
dried sage to about a pint , or just less, of boiling water. Simmer over a low
heat for 15 minutes and leave to cool. Once cooled strain the liquid mixture
and keep in a sterile container. Use this liquid as you would with any other
mouthwash.
Herbs and
other botanical plants contain a wealth of active components, which science is
only really starting to understand in relation to their effects on human
health. We know that a vast majority of these herbs have been used throughout
history for their curative and preventative effects in a wide range of
conditions and ailments and, if used correctly and with knowledge, there is
certainly no reason why these herbs cannot be part of your weekly diet in some
format, whether that be in raw form, dry form, supplement form or even as an
oil or cream if appropriate. As famously said by Paracelsus, who was one of the most influential medical scientists in
early modern Europe and who pioneered the use of chemicals and minerals in
medicine, ‘All that man needs for health
and healing has been provided by God in nature, the challenge of science is to
find it’.
References:
· Feverfew (Tanacetum
parthenium L.): A systematic review, 2011.
Pharmacognosy Review
· Chamomile: A herbal medicine
of the past with bright future, 2010. Molecular Medicine Report
· Diverse
biological activities of dandelion. 2014. Nutrition Reviews
· Chemistry, Pharmacology, and
Medicinal Property of Sage (Salvia) to Prevent and
Cure Illnesses such as Obesity, Diabetes, Depression, Dementia, Lupus, Autism,
Heart Disease, and Cancer, 2014. Journal of Traditional Complementary Medicine
· Salvia (Sage): A Review of
its Potential Cognitive-Enhancing and Protective Effects, 2017. Drugs R D.
· First time proof of sage's tolerability and efficacy in menopausal women with hot flushes, 2011. Advances in Therapy
· A Review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea, 2006. Phytotherapy research· Prevention and Cure of Digestive Disorders Through the Use of Medicinal Plants, 2017. Journal of Human Ecology