Herbaceous Plants and their Medicinal Properties
Posted: Tuesday, September 15, 2009
by Dennis Sons
tn nursery
The wisdom in planting herbaceous plants is right within your reach. Herbaceous plants are popular and sought-after plants because of their beauty and their use in food preparation as well as medicinal properties.
Herbaceous plants do not form a persistent woody stem and are often known for their attractive flowers or foliage. The classification of herbaceous plants is determined by several factors such as climate and length of daylight; their hardiness to cold and genetics. They may also be classified on the basis of physiological growth cycles as annual, biennial or perennial.
There have been no in-depth studies on herbs being used for medicinal purposes, but this should not surprise you. Sadly, the extensive studies that are funded are geared toward promoting medicines' of the big pharmaceutical companies. Although much good has come from new medicines, so has much tragedy come with unknown allergies and adverse side-effects. However, since products of nature cannot be patented, there is no huge profit to be gained from selling them and monies are sunk into research for drugs that will bring in profit.
Infusion, tincture, decoction and distillation are four ways to prepare medicinal herbs. The first three are relatively easy to prepare in your own kitchen, but distillation requires special equipment to extract the herb's essential oils.
If you are serious about growing herbs, it is wise to go to a reputable nursery to buy the best herbaceous plants where the horticulturists there will be able to advise you if you have any questions. So then, let's take a look at just a few herbaceous plants to see what they are all about and to see some of the benefits can be gained from them.
One kind of herbaceous plant is the Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis Variegata). Goldenrod is a great choice for summer, late summer or early fall gardens. Choosing the appropriate variety is the key to easy maintenance as some varieties of Solidago can become very invasive.
Goldenrod requires a moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun and preferably only a light shade. Use an organic fertilizer lightly and space the plants about a foot apart. Be careful not to plant them too deep, watering the soil to moisten it. Water lightly daily and take care not to overwater.
The botanical name Solidago' comes from the Latin word solidate, which means to make whole'. Goldenrod has the reputation of causing hay fever but this is not so. Goldenrod is pollinated by insects rather than wind. Hay fever is caused by airborne pollens, so therefore despite the common belief, goldenrod cannot be the cause of hay fever. In fact, Goldenrod is known to help cure hay fever and other upper respiratory maladies.
Goldenrod is a diuretic agents (rids body of excess fluids) used most frequently to treat urinary tract inflammation and to prevent kidney stones. It has been used to treat such diverse conditions such as gout, diabetes, internal bleeding, enlarged prostate, hemorrhoids and tuberculosis. With its antimicrobic and anti-inflammatory properties, it has also been used in treatment for bladder inflammation, arthritis and rheumatism, allergies, cold and flu, kidney stones, laryngitis and sore throats. Topically, goldenrod is used for the inflammation of the mouth, throat and for the treatment of festering [slow-healing] wounds.
Milkweed (Asclepias Incarnata) has a long history of being used for medicinal purposes. It is the cardiac glycosides which are found in the tissue of the milkweed that give this plant its long history of medicinal use. Milkweed is found all over North America with over 140 species of milkweed and an incredible diversity of flower and foliage color. They are herbaceous perennials [live for more than two years]. In fact they can live several years if properly cared for. Some types of milkweeds cannot handle freezing temperatures, so they are divided into two classifications:
[1] hardy perennial This species can survive below freezing temperatures in any zone in the United States. They tend to go dormant in the winter months, but will return each spring
[2] frost tender perennial Some milkweeds fall into this category but they can still be grown anywhere in the United States. There are nine areas where the milkweeds will die in winter and need to be replaced by seeds in spring. There are two areas where they will grow all year round. Check with a reputable nursery to learn more about the zoning and which one you live in.
Milkweed gets its name due to the milky juice that exudes from the plant if it is damaged. This milk' contains latex, alkaloids and other compounds including cardenolides [cardiac glycosides].
During the Second World War, the latex from milkweed was considered as a possible alternative source of rubber in the west because Japan threatened to control the world's supply of rubber trees and cut off supply to the United States. Carl Linnaeus is the famous botanist and creator of the earliest system of plant classification. The genus was named after the Greek god of medicine, Asclepias, the Greek god of medicine and healing, due to its long medicinal use. The syriaca [Asclepias syriaca] was named by Linnaeus because he mistakenly believed that this species came from Syria in the Middle East but in reality, this herb is a native North American plant that was introduced in Europe before Linnaeus was born.
The very young seed pods, young buds and flowers of milkweed are all edible. It is necessary to boil these a couple of times and discard the water to reduce their bitterness. The dried stalks were also used as a source of plant fiber for making rope by Native Americans.
MMilkweed is the host plant for the monarch butterfly where they love to place their larvae since the cardiac glycosides make the monarch toxic to its foe. Milkweed nectar is loved by all butterfly species as well as the honey bees. Hummingbirds like to use the floss from the milkweed seed pods for the lining of their nests.
Common milkweed has a long history of use as a medicinal plant. More recently, it has largely fallen into disuse because it has been overshadowed by another more popular species of milkweed, butterfly weed ( A. tuberosa ), also known as pleurisy root. Butterfly weed has orange flowers that do not grow in globular clusters. It is rare in most parts of southern Ontario, but is a bit more common in eastern and extreme southwestern Ontario, especially in sandy regions.
TThe milky latex of common milkweed has long been used to treat warts but it must be applied fresh several times per day for several weeks. The wart will eventually turn black and fall off. The latex from dandelion stems can be used similarly, but milkweed latex is considered far superior.
It is primarily the rhizomes of common milkweed that are used medicinally. After the aerial parts of the milkweed have died off, the underground stems are dug up. At this time it is still easily recognized by its characteristic pods and the fact that it has a single stalk with no branches. After digging up and cleaning the rhizomes they can be dried for use in teas, or the fresh root can be tinctured in 40% alcohol.
Common milkweed is an excellent herb for the treatment of lung conditions. It relaxes the bronchioles, reduces spasms and liquefies the mucus secretions of the lungs. It is used for treatment of bronchitis, pleurisy, asthma and tuberculosis. It is one of the stronger lung herbs that can be used when milder, more tonic herbs are not getting the results that you seek.
Milkweed is also a great diaphoretic. It can be used for any help to improve blood circulation to the extremities of the body and can be used (along with regular exercise) to help anyone with poor circulation. Milkweed is used for any feverish condition since it brings on a sweat that helps cool the fever. Its strong diaphoretic properties also make this herb very effective at helping to improve blood circulation to the extremities of the body. Combined with regular exercise it can be used by anyone with poor circulation. The combination of these properties makes it effective in the treatment of peripheral edema. As a lymphatic, it is also helpful for any condition characterized by swollen lymph nodes and aids in the drainage of the lymphatic system.
Milkweed is particularly useful for anyone whose stomach is not producing enough enzymes or hydrochloric acid. It is also beneficial for chronic constipation but can seem rather intense for those with a sensitive system. For such individuals, it may cause nausea or diarrhea. If used as directed, this is unlikely. However, reduce percentage of this herb or discontinue its use until you can speak to a herbalist or trusted doctor.
Milkweed, a detoxifying herb, supports the removal of toxins from the body through its action on the blood and lymphatic circulation, digestive tract, kidneys and to a lesser extent, the kidneys. It is primarily used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, in this capacity.
Alright, let us take one more herbaceous plant and look at its medicinal uses. Think of the cost saved to grow your own herbs to beautify your landscape or garden. Add to that the benefits of herbs in cooking and medicine and you can see the wisdom in purchasing your own herbaceous plants from a good nursery .
Hibiscus Rose mallow is a large genus (some 200 species) of flowering plants found in the Malvaceae family.(the mallow family, along with members like cocoa, cotton, okra, baobab and durian) Hibiscus are grown for their beautiful flowers that are native to warm temperate, subtropical and tropical region globally.
The hibiscus flowers are trumpet-shaped with five or more petals. Colors range from white to pink, red, purple or yellow. The fruit is a dry five-lobed capsule, containing several seeds in each lobe, which are released when the capsule splits open at maturity.
Hibiscus plant is not only an ornamental plant but is it also used as an ingredient in food preparation and in making soothing herbal teas. The hibiscus sabdariffa or roselle is the preferred species used to make hibiscus tea.
Extracts of some hibiscus species are claimed to have health benefits, including prevention of bladder infections, constipation and nausea. It has been proven that a daily dosage of hibiscus tea can lower high blood pressure as quickly as one month. The tea from the hibiscus flower helps reduce the fatty deposits built up in the arteries as well as reduce blood cholesterol levels. This in turn reduces the risk of heart disease. As a natural diuretic, it is often taken by people with kidney problems.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is used by natives of south India as a hair treatment because the extracts from the red flower and leaves helps remedy dandruff and hair fallout. The dried hibiscus is edible and is used in some Mexican dishes.
So there you have it! Beautiful herbaceous plants found at your favorite nursery will not only beautify your landscape, but provide flavor to your food as well as health to your body when used properly as an alternative medicine and you would only need to go out into your own backyard! This is wisdom.
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