Medicinal herbs of St. John's Wort (Hypericum)

Hypericum (St. John's Wort) is a genus of about 450 species of trees, shrubs and herbs that occurs in all temperate part of the world but has only in species in southern South America and two species in Australia and New Zealand.

It is a perennial herbaceous plant with mature stems and branches that are smooth without hairs.

St. John’s Wort was first mentioned in Roman times by Pliny the Elder in the 1st century AD. Around the same times, Diascorides, a Roman army doctor born in Greece recommended the imbibition of St. John’s Wort with special liquids ‘to expel many choleric excrements’.

Hypericum belongs to the family Clusiaceae and shares with all or most of the other genera of that family opposite simple entire exstipulate leaves, the presence of glandular secretions, free petals, fascicles of stamens and seeds lacking endosperm.

Hypericum perforatum (devil’s scourage, goat weed, rosin rose, St. John’s Wort, Tipton weed, witch’s herb) contains the naphthodianthrones hypericin, and pseudohypericin, flavonoids, such as hyperoside, isoquercitin and rutin, and phloroglucinols, such as adhyperforin and hyperforin. It is effective in mild to moderate depression.
Medicinal herbs of St. John's Wort (Hypericum)

Dill seed herbal medicine

Dill is a derivation of the Norwegian word ‘dilla’ meaning to soothe. The Babylonians and Assyrians cultivated it during antiquity for its magical and medicinal powers. The plant has medicinal qualities, including the strong antiseptic properties of the extracted oil.

In herbal medicine dill seeds are considered a sedative, helpful to digestion and Papyrus Ebers from 1534 BC records the use of dill in ancient Egypt to relive headaches.

Some cultures chew dill seed as a means of combating halitosis. They are combined with warm white wine as a drug-free remedy for sleeplessness.

A tea made of white wine and a blend of anise, coriander, caraway, and a dill seed is reputed to stimulate the flow of breast milk in nursing mothers. Ozark healers advise dill tea for hiccups, and it is used as an antihypercholesterolaemic plant in Iranian folk medicine.

Medieval herbals recommend dill for various diseases and disorders: stomach diseases, headaches, chest pains and hemorrhoids. Eating the seeds was supposed to be an aphrodisiac for a man.
Dill seed herbal medicine

Medicinal uses of safflower

Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.) seeds are primarily cultivated for the production of edible cooking oil.

The flower can be made into tea that induces perspiration, considered effective against colds and certain cases of hysteria.

The major potion of safflower oil contains serotonin derivatives that have been proven to show strong in vitro antioxidants activities and to exert various biological effects on plasma and liver lipid status.

It was widely used in ancient, Ayurvedic and Greek medicine. The flower stimulates interferon production improves coronary and cerebral microcirculation and breaks up blood stagnation.

In Chinese herbal medicine, safflower is considered a vasodilator, a substance that causes blood vessels to open up. Chinese physicians believe that safflower helps nutrients get to the hair follicles.

It also relaxes and stimulates the uterus. It is used in the treatment of amenorrhea, arteriosclerosis, blood clots, coronary heart disease, constipation, delayed menses, fever, high cholesterol, hysteria, measles, miscarriage, seizures and tumors.

In Korea, safflower seed oil is used as an herbal medicine for the promotion of bone formation and treatment of osteoporosis and rheumatism.
Medicinal uses of safflower 

Chrysanthemum herb benefits

The flower of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat, owing to its broad pharmacological effects as well as its fragrance, is also used as a beverage – chrysanthemum tea. Chrysanthemum relieved thirst and benefits the brain, liver heart and eyes.

Based on traditional usage, in addition to use as a tea, C. morifolium Ramat is used for the common cold, fever, migraines, conjunctivitis, eye irritation, hypertension, ulcerative colitis, vertigo, ophthalmia with swelling and pain, etc.

Chrysanthemum use for the treatment of hypertension is based on it ability to stabilize the central nervous system and dilate blood vessels, thus increasing blood flow.

As a mixture with other herbs, it has been claimed to able to relive migraine and eye irritation, improve vision and cure keratitis.

It is also said to cure headaches and sore throat and to calm mind.
Chrysanthemum herb benefits

Ginger in herbal medicine

Ginger is well known across several cultures. The plant is indigenous to the Southeast Asian region. The rhizome is used in medicine. It has been used medicinally for more than 2500 years in China and India for condition such as headache, rheumatism and colds.

Ginger speeds metabolic rate, plus it inhibits nausea and vomiting often caused by morning sickness or motion sickness.

Ginger has antiemetic action, stimulates the flow of saliva and gastric juices, and increases intestinal peristalsis. It also has known antibacterial, antifungal, molluscacidal, nematocidal and antiplatelet effects.

Clinical studies support the use of ginger for nausea. Ginger acts directly on the gastrointestinal tract by increasing motility and promoting adsorption of toxins and acids.

Studies in Denmark, Italy, and elsewhere have revealed that ginger is an effective as Dramamine, or more so, in the prevention of motion sickness. Furthermore, ginger users have been found to experience fewer side effects, notably sleepiness.
Ginger in herbal medicine

Liquorice in Chinese medicine

The name scientific name for liquorice is Glycyrrhiza glabra or Glycyrrhiza uralensis while common name known as Gan cao, sweet root or glycyrrhiza.

The root has a sweet constituent. The name liquorice is derived from a Greek name meaning ‘sweet root’. Liquorice root is one of the oldest and most frequently used medicinal herbs in the history of Chines medicine.

Liquorice is used extensively in traditional Chinese medicine for a variety of conditions and ailments. It is felt to benefit Qi , reduce "Fire Poison" (sore throat, skin eruptions), and diminish "Heat."

Specific conditions treated by Chinese herbalists include gastric and duodenal ulcers, abdominal pain, pharyngitis, malaria, tuberculosis, abscesses and sores.

It also increases secretions, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, used to treat respiratory catarrh, chronic gastritis, and to harmonize the flavors.

Long term use in high dose may lead to liquorice intoxication: its mineral corticoid effects cause sodium and water retention, decrease potassium, hypertension, edema, heart complaints, in some cases myoglobinuria.

In 2008, The European Commission suggested that intake of glycyrrhiza acid should be restricted to below 100 mg/day to avoid a rise in blood pressure, muscle weakness, chronic fatigue, and lowering of testosterone levels in men.
Liquorice in Chinese medicine 

What is herbal medicine?

For thousands of years herbs have been esteemed for their healing value. It is as ancient as the history of mankind.

Herbal medicine is the practice of using one or more parts of a plant – its seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark or flowers – to relieve physical and psychological problems, prevent disease, or just improve overall health and vitality.

Herbs differ from drugs in that they work harmoniously with body’s innate capacity to heal, supporting the immune system rather than suppressing it as many drugs tend to do.

Herbal medicine is a holistic approach to maintaining a vibrant, energetic, balanced state of being that is best practiced every day. When illness or injury occur, the goal is to treat the source of the problem.

Its concept is working with the body instead of against a disease as a mainstream medicine. It use of medicinal plants instead of pharmaceutical drugs.

Herbs given in proper dosage, as prescribe by a qualified professional, generally have fewer and less harmful side effects than many drugs.
What is herbal medicine?