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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.
Who does not remember these Mediterranean landscapes where the dark cypress raises its narrow mourning columns against the violent blue of the sky? Before embellishing the Côte d’Azur and playing the useful role of a rampart against the wind and sand, the cypress took root in Asia Minor , where its presence is recorded in an old Assyrian … Read more
Burdock, in addition to its medicinal implication in the daily life of men , has also been a plant linked to the spiritual domain. Already, 2000 years ago, Pliny indicated that it was one of the favorite plants of the Druids. Later, we will find it in the procession of solsticial plants and those that we throw (among others) into the … Read more
Like any solar plant , echinacea offers medical matter its flower head, the culmination of this plant, but also what is diametrically opposed to it, namely, a ruffled root strain. Although arriving late in Europe (1930s), echinacea, the study of which began after World War II, particularly in Germany, have since revealed some of their secrets . A little history … Read more
Scabies is a skin condition that most commonly affects humans. The responsible parasite attacks the epidermis by making sort of furrows in it as a nest. Then the female parasite chooses them to lay the eggs. This then causes itching . Gradually, lesions form on the skin. Namely, that this type of disease is contagious. In other words, it can be transmitted from person to … Read more
Heavy legs are a common syndrome , especially in women, and usually worsened with the heat of summer. If the hereditary factor exists, venous insufficiency is not inevitable. Herbal medicine indeed offers a range of remedies to relieve this phenomenon and the pain caused. Origins and symptoms of heavy legs and venous insufficiency Caused by valve dysfunction *, venous insufficiency is a poor … Read more
Once the euphoria of the first summer days has worn off, France is preparing to face the devastating heat waves . We fear the extreme discomfort and damage to the skin, hair and health in general. Ah if only we had a magic wand! We would hypnotize the weather so that it remains favorable to us indefinitely. While we greatly … Read more
Medicinal plants can be of great help in losing weight naturally without straining your body. Taken as a complement to a food rebalancing, they allow you to lose weight, keep your figure and optimize your slimming capital. To support you in your weight loss, we have selected four plants for you in different dosage forms. … Read more
Most medicinal plants do not pose a significant health risk; however, there are cases where some herbs can produce unwanted effects. Therefore, their use is limited to certain situations. To assess the degree of toxicity of a substance, factors specific to the exposed subject such as age, weight, sex, physiological status, etc., as well as … Read more
The word alkaloid is a generic term to designate more or less complex compounds of plant origin, the main characteristics of which are the presence of nitrogen in the molecule and a more or less pronounced alkalinity. At low doses, they have physiological and pharmaceutical properties, but exhibit high toxicity at high doses. Among the … Read more
Originating in the rainforests of the mountains of southern China, theuse of green tea leaf as aninfusion is intertwined with the history of China, where the plant has been used in traditional medicine for over 5,000 years to stimulate cognitive functions, treat digestive disorders, promote the elimination of water, alcohol and toxins, stimulate blood circulation … Read more
The best use of plants and herbal teas for external use Aside from inhalation, the following herbal preparations are highly useful for topical care of local injuries, bruises and infections. Inhaling medicinal plants : Inhalation is very beneficial in cases of lung disease. This preparation is intended to enter the lower respiratory tract; the pulmonary … Read more
Herbal drinks usually work best on an empty stomach. Often it is suggested to drink them in small sips throughout the day, but it is also possible to divide the daily dose into 2 or 3 divided doses. In certain cases, one is satisfied in particular to quite simply prepare the remedy as needed (for … Read more
Aloe vera is a medicinal plant with a variety of uses, depending on whether you use its dried sap (latex) or the translucent gel at the heart of its leaves. Dried sap is a powerful laxative. The gel is used to treat wounds, stings and minor burns, and to combat certain skin infections. A little … Read more
A little history to start … In prehistoric times, the pomegranate will have seeded all around the vast region bordering the Mediterranean Sea, and even beyond. About it, we find written traces in certain Sanskrit documents, through hieroglyphic inscriptions. That is to say its sphere of influence in time and space! From a mythological point … Read more
Anxiety is thought to play a role in memory by mobilising part of a person’s attentional resources. People suffering from anxiety have to process both relevant information and anxiety-related information, which requires greater attentional effort. As a result, anxious subjects perform less well when the tests contain a large amount of information. This is the … Read more
Sport is an integral part of our life and more and more French people practice it regularly, however no sporting activity is without danger and small daily ailments often hamper physical activity. Consequently, there is also an increase in the number of injuries and other pathologies linked to the practice of sport. At the same … Read more
Sleep plays an essential role in our well-being. Yet many people have difficulty falling asleep or suffer from sleep disorders. Rather than turning to sleeping pills, which often come with side effects, medicinal plants offer a natural and effective alternative. In this article, discover the best medicinal plants to help you fall asleep and improve … Read more
Herbal medicine offers solutions for treat yourself with plants. Whether you’re looking for a better night’s sleep or a slimming boost, phytotherapy – the use of medicinal plants– is a natural way of dealing with everyday problems. It is both an alternative and a complementary solution to conventional medical treatments, which are becoming increasingly popular … Read more
Spirulina, often mistaken for algae, actually comes from cyanobacteria of the Arthrospira genus. These microscopic blue bacteria carry out photosynthesis. Historically, the Kanem people of Chad and the Aztecs ate it as patties or cheese. In the 20th century, it was rediscovered as a food supplement. Commercial production began in the 1970s. Arthrospira platensis, the … Read more
With the arrival of spring comes an irresistible urge to revitalise. Every year, women’s magazines take up the subject of spring detox, and laboratories are full of praise for their miracle products. But beyond the marketing hype, there is a real reason to purify our bodies after the winter season. Why spring detox? During the … Read more