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Herbal medicine: how to treat yourself with plants
Herbal medicine is called herbal therapy (from the Greek phyto = plant and therapeia = care).
It is a therapy which uses plants or galenic forms derived from plants excluding the principles of pure extraction isolated from plants. Thus many galenic forms can be used: herbal teas (infused, decocted, etc.), powders, dry extracts (nebulisates, lyophilisates, etc.), liquid extracts, etc.
Across the world, all ethnic groups have a traditional pharmacopoeia made up of a dozen medicinal plants selected for their effectiveness over the centuries and passed down from generation to generation. This knowledge of medicinal plants has formed into pharmacopoeias, which are collections of knowledge and practices linked to the therapeutic indications of these plants.
The learned medicines of written tradition, Greek, Arab-Persian, Ayurvedic and Chinese based their transmission of medical knowledge on these pharmacopoeias. In Europe, the knowledge of medicinal plants was formalized with Greek medicine developed by Hippocrates from the 4th century BC. In the Middle Ages, Arab-Persian medicine took up the bases of Greek humoral theory and l ‘developed by incorporating plants from Ayurvedic medicine. These Arab-Persian treatises were then translated into Latin from Andalusian Spain in the 13th century and formed the basis of European medicine. In other regions of the world, such as Africa or the Americas, the transmission of knowledge has been mainly oral.
How to know if a plant is medicinal ?
In France, plants are considered medicinal when they are included in the list of medicinal plants of the French Pharmacopoeia. Brought back from the Americas like cinchona, from Africa like cola nut or from China like ginseng, these exotic plants have been gradually integrated into the French Pharmacopoeia. During the second half of the 20th century, few new plants obtained the status of medicinal plants in France. However, over the past fifteen years, new plants have entered this list. These are plants from the overseas departments, which have provided around fifty new plants from the traditions of these overseas communities. At the same time, around sixty Chinese plants were also included in this list and were the subject of control monographs at the European Pharmacopoeia. For its part, Africa conceals many interesting medicinal plants, widely used at the traditional level and often well studied scientifically, but whose use has not yet been recognized by local or international institutional bodies.
Why treat yourself with medicinal plants ?
Man has always sought in nature the means to heal himself.
Although medicine has made tremendous progress through chemistry and recently through biology, drugs that are developed to treat severe illnesses are often ill-suited to chronic conditions that start out mildly and then get worse and worse. the bed of much more serious problems. This disproportion between the evil and the remedy has become blatant. Too many drugs, developed to treat serious diseases, then spread to the population of small chronically ill patients who thus benefit from their shock effectiveness, but also suffer from the risks and undesirable effects which are attached to them. In pharmacology the law of “who can do more can do less” does not apply.
Herbal medicine has its place in this gap between the end of the means. It has its place with therapeutic effects that may be less powerful at the moment, but less problematic in the long term and that it is possible to maintain over long periods without difficulty.
The objective of the phytotherapy articles on the Soin et Nature blog is to promote the recognition of common medicinal plants in the world, some of which already have a regulatory status in certain countries, in order to be able to diversify our therapeutic arsenal with plants, many of which have made their mark. evidence in their respective cultures and in scientific validation studies.
Scots pine, whose botanical name is Pinus sylvestris L., belongs to the Pinaceae family. Its essential oil is obtained from the needles. The origin of Scots Pine’s Latin name is debated. Alexandre Etienne Guillaume “de” Théis, in 1810, maintained that it comes from the Celtic “pinus”, meaning mountain or rock. However, Félix Gaffiot, in his … Read more
Medicinal mushrooms are playing an increasingly important role in natural approaches to health, at the crossroads of tradition and modern scientific data. Used for thousands of years, they are now recognised for their effects on immunity, inflammation, metabolism and cell protection. Rich in polysaccharides, beta-glucans, triterpenes, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, these mushrooms stand out for … Read more
Irritability, lack of sleep, difficulty concentrating, feeling unwell, mood swings, constant feelings of insecurity… In today’s hectic, stressful world, controlling your emotions is essential to maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Irritability, sleep disorders and mood swings are all signals that alert us to the need to take care of our mental well-being. Biofloral, with its expertise … Read more
Legend has it that a hawk feeds on the juice of hawkweed to improve its eyesight. Hierakon, from which we can guess the Latin name for hawkweed. Hieracium was already the Greek name for several Chicoraceae. But it also contains Hierax, meaning “falcon”. The nameHieracium was therefore given to hawkweed “without any explanation other than … Read more
Alfalfa, also known as cultivated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), is a remarkable plant of the plant kingdom. Native to warm temperate regions, it belongs to the Fabaceae family and has played an essential role in agriculture and animal nutrition thanks to its exceptional nutritional properties. This perennial plant is rich in proteins, amino acids, lipids, … Read more
Unlike the March violet, the therapeutic career of wild pansy began late. There was no trace of it in Antiquity, and it played only a few symbolic and ornamental roles in the Middle Ages. The first interest in wild pansy dates back to the sixteenth century, when the word “pansy” first appeared. Although most Renaissance … Read more
Passionflower, or Passiflora incarnata, is a climbing plant native to the south-eastern United States and Mexico, renowned for its medicinal properties. Traditionally used to treat insomnia and anxiety, it has gained an important place in the French pharmacopoeia. Its richness lies in its unique constituents, notably flavonoids and indole alkaloids. This article explores the many … Read more
In a world where natural health is gaining in popularity, it’s essential to explore the many possibilities offered by medicinal plants. Among these, Orthosiphon, also known as Java tea, stands out as an ancient remedy for the urinary tract. Native to South-East Asia, this plant with its many virtues has long been used in traditional … Read more
ELEUTHÉROCOQUE (Eleutherococcus senticosus) Where did he come from? Classified among adaptogenic plants, the eruceterocoqu e, sometimes called Russian ginse ng, has a very global action. It acts simultaneously against fatigue and the effects of stress, it is a stimulant of the nervous system and memory, it is notably anti-inflammatory as well as immuno-stimulating! Its actions … Read more
The olive tree, an emblematic tree steeped in history and mythology, also has many little-known therapeutic powers. In this article, we invite you to explore the fascinating world of the olive tree, from its mythological origins to its contemporary medicinal applications. We begin our journey by going back to the mythological roots of the olive … Read more
The cold and the microbes of winter put your immune system to the test. Colds, sore throats, nasopharyngitis, flu… there are many ailments that the body has to contend with. To boost your immune defences, your pharmacy can advise you on the best use of natural medicines. Phytotherapy (health through plants) has specific applications that … Read more
If you want to learn more about walnut and its fruits, you will hardly be surprised by the ambiguity characterizing this tree. If the nut seems generally favorable , it is otherwise for its carrier. A harmful shadow has been hovering over this tree since the dawn of time. The walnut gets its name from the walnut, nux ; this one being from noxicus … Read more
As the West moved into the 3rd millennium, mucuna was virtually unknown to the myriad of medicinal plants. It appeared in the form of a standardized extract of fresh plant intended for masterly preparation at the end of the 2000s, thus quickly making itself known in the world of herbal medicine . The proliferation of scientific work has now ranked it … Read more
The signature theory would demonstrate that St. John’s Wort, which blooms more particularly during the summer solstice , is a solar plant whose symbolism directs us directly to its propensity to know how to chase the heady pangs of depression . St. John’s Wort preserves evil spirits which, in our modern times, are all examples of the difficulties we can encounter as … Read more
Since Antiquity, men have made lemon balm travel across the Mediterranean basin so that it will eventually find its place in the pharmacopoeias of various places around the globe . Spreading from east to west, it began to spread very early in Asia Minor, was subsequently found to grow in Spain around 960, then across the Alps through the Benedictines. … Read more
The etymological origin of sweet clover comes from the Greek meli, meaning honey, and lôtos, for lotus, i.e. honey flowers. In fact, the plant is a melliferous plant, much sought-after by bees. Melilotus officinalis is the species used medicinally. However, related species such as M. alba Medicus are also used in herbal medicine. What is … Read more
Discover the fascinating history of the horse chestnut in Europe, a journey through time and space. Native to the Balkans, northern Greece, Turkey, the Caucasus and northern India, this remarkable tree was introduced to Europe during the Renaissance. First described in Italy in 1565, it then spread to Vienna, France and the rest of Europe. … Read more
If the hops were not approached medicinally speaking by the Ancients, it is because they probably did not yet know its qualities. Pliny mentions a hop used as a vegetable. In fact, the first achievement attributed to hops is not about medicine. It was customary, from the ninth century, in Germany, to use hops, especially in the manufacture of beer . Indeed, … Read more
There is a hormonal decline towards the end of the period of female genital activity; as the years go by, and particularly from around the age of 40 onwards, women experience a succession of sex hormone deficiencies at a rate and intensity that varies from one person to another. Progesterone levels begin to fluctuate in … Read more
Harpago , which means grapple or harpoon in Latin, and from the Greek phuton , which is translated by plant, vegetable , gives its name to harpagophytum because its fruits are provided with hooks curved in the shape of grapples; they cling to the fur and hooves of animals which frantically struggle in all directions to get rid of them, hence its other name of “Devil’s Claw” . A little … Read more