Phytotherapy, also known as herbalism, is a medicinal approach based on the use of the properties of plants to prevent, relieve or treat various ailments. It relies on the richness of bioactive compounds in plants, which can have beneficial effects on human health.
Medicinal plants contain a diversity of compounds, such as polyphenols, terpenes, flavonoids, and alkaloids, which can act in different ways on the body. These compounds may have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and other beneficial actions.
Herbal medicine is used to treat a wide range of conditions, including gastrointestinal disorders, sleep problems, skin conditions, hormonal imbalances, respiratory disorders, and even emotional aspects such as stress and anxiety .
Certain plants are renowned for their potential to support weight loss, but it is essential to emphasize that herbal medicine alone is generally not a miracle solution for weight loss. It can be used in addition to a healthy diet and exercise.
The effectiveness of herbal medicine depends on the disorder being treated, the plant used, and the individual response. Some plants have well-studied and research-backed properties, while others still require further investigation.
Herbal medicine may be recommended by qualified health professionals, such as herbalists, naturopaths, integrative physicians, or certified herbalists. These practitioners are trained to assess individual needs and recommend personalized approaches.
Herbal medicine products include a diverse range of plant extracts in different forms, such as herbal teas, tinctures, dietary supplements, ointments and essential oils. These products are often available in specialty stores or under the supervision of health professionals.
Although considered safe, herbal medicine may pose risks for certain people, such as pregnant women, children, and those with specific health conditions. Prior medical consultation is recommended.
Reliable information can be obtained from qualified health care practitioners, herbal medicine professionals, medical publications, and reputable online sources. It is essential to verify the credibility of information sources.
In ancient times, plantain was a well-known and widely used plant. In addition to the pseudo-Apuleius who wrote extensively about its use, there was a writer in the first century AD who held plantain in high esteem. Like mallow, plantain is reputed to have anti-inflammatory properties, both internally and externally. What is plantain? Plantago lanceolata, … Read more
The dandelion is a very common plant, impossible to ignore and full of treasures. A headache for botanists, there are no fewer than 60 species groups and over 1200 species in total (in Europe alone). The dandelion is widespread in most temperate zones of the northern hemisphere (Europe, North America, North Africa, China, India, Iran, … Read more
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
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 eruceterocoque, sometimes called Russian ginseng, 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 are similar … 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
Algae are plants of natural, aquatic origin. There are several types, including green, brown and red. Also known as thallophytes, these are specimens made up entirely of thallus. They have no roots, stems or leaves, just a vegetative apparatus. Since they first appeared over a billion years ago, they have continued to develop. There are … 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
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
Lavandin is the result of hybridisation (natural at first) between the two species Lavandula vera and Lavandula latifolia, and its aromatic profile is close to that of Lavandula vera (but with 6-8% camphor ). This hybridisation gave rise to four varieties of lavandin in Provence: Super, Grosso, Sumian and Abrial. Nowadays, lavandin is much more … 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
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
Guarana is native to the lower Amazon, Brazil to be precise, where it grows in abundance. Cultivated in a few places on the South American continent, this plant has only been known in Europe since 1817. Guarana is a Brazilian name derived from the name of the Guarani tribe, indigenous to Amazonia. What is guarana? … Read more