Medical plants

Fișer Lucia
Medical herbs

• Herbs have been used in folk medicine since many years and
the use of herbal-derived natural products as a therapeutic
tool has been increasing considerably
Respiratory disorders
herbal treatment 
Respiratory disorders 

• Aloe vera
• Onion Allium cepa
• Salvia officinalis L
• Mullein Leaf (Verbascum thapsus)
• Plantain Leaf (Plantago spp.)
• Zingiber officinale Roscoe
• Hyssopus officinalis L
• Prunus spinosa L
• Origanum vulgare L
Onion Allium cepa

• Onions are cultivated and

used around the world
Onion Allium cepa

Indication
• Respiratory diseases (colds, bronchitis, asthma,
laryngitis)
• Flu
• Digestive atony
• Obesity
• Atherosclerosis, thrombosis prevention
• Cancer prevention
Onion Allium cepa

Internal use

• Modern research – 2-20g/day

• WHO- 2-5g/day(because of the unpleasant smell)
Onion Allium Cepa

 External use
• Nasal drops - 2 tablespoons chopped onion + 50ml
hot water, infuse for 30 minutes, strain + 1
teaspoon of honey. Administer 3-5 drops.
Indications - rhinitis, flu.
• Syrup - 10 tablespoons juice + 20 tablespoons
acacia honey. 2-3 teaspoons x 3 times / day
Indications - bronchitis
Aloe vera

Synonnyms
•  A. barbadensis Mill., Aloe indica Royle, Aloe
perfoliata L. , A. vulgaris

•   Aloe vera is considered to be native only to

the south-west Arabian Peninsula
Aloe vera

External use
Rhinitis
• Aloe juice -a few aloe leaves 3-4 years old,
it is kept in the refrigerator for a few days
then make juice, mix with cooled boiled
water in a ratio of 1:10. Use 2-3 drops for 2-
3 days.
Aloe vera

 
External use

• Topical medication for skin conditions

( burns, wounds,rashes, psoriasis)
Aloe vera

Contraindications for internal use

• nursing mothers
• intestinal obstruction
Mullein Leaf (Verbascum thapsus)

The effects
• Expectorant, fluidifies the bronchial secretion,
(due to saponosides)
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-catarrh
• Analgesic (due to iridoids)
• Diaphoretic
• Diuretic (due to flavonoids)
Mullein Leaf (Verbascum thapsus)

Administration

• Infusion -1 tea spoon of plant+200ml hot

water , well strained, 2 cups a day

• Local washes
Mullein Leaf (Verbascum thapsus)

Indications (internal use ) Indications (external use)

• Rhinitis • Hemorrhoids
• Laryngitis • Burns
• Tracheitis • Boils
• Bronchitis • Absceses

• Plant recommended by Discoride for all lung diseases

Plantain Leaf (Plantago spp.)

They are found all over the world including 

America, Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe.

There are about 200 species of Plantago

Has been consumed as human food since

prehistory

Young plantain leaves can be eaten raw,

and older leaves can be cooked. The seeds
can be cooked like rice.
Plantain Leaf (Plantago spp.)

The effects
• Antimicrobial
• Anti-inflamatory
• Expectorant, fluidifies the bronchial secretion,
• Anti-histaminic
• Laxativ
Plantain Leaf (Plantago spp.)

Administration

• Infusion -1 teaspoon of plant + 200ml hot

water, 2 cups a day

• is safe for children

Plantain Leaf (Plantago spp.)

External use

• Fresh plantain leaves are placed on wounds

• it is antiseptic, astringent, closes the wound,
facilitates blood clotting.
 Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)

Actions

• Expectorant
• Cough reliver
• Reliv bronchospasm
• Sedative
• Improves digestion
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)

Administration

• Infusion - 1 tea sp. of plant +200 ml water,

infuse 30 min, ½ glass 3 times / day

Contraindications:
• Epilepsy, hypertension, pregnancy
Mentha X piperita L

Actions
• Spasmolytics (flavonids)
• Choleretic (flavonids)
• Colleague
• Anesthetic (menthol)
• Antimicrobial (volatile oil) - Streptococcus,
Staphylococcus
• Relieves cough, reduces respiratory congestion
(menthol)
Mentha X Piperita L

Administartion
• Infusion - 1 tea sp.+200 ml hot water, infuse
15 min, 3 times / day

Side effects
• Nausea, vomiting, G-E reflux, erythema,
headache, anaphylactic shock.
Respiratory disorders

Inhalations with essential oils

• Eucalyptus
• Tea tree
• Cloves
• Mentha
• Lemon
Gastric disorders
Medical Herbs

• Gastritis
• Colicitis
• Constipation
Chamomilla recurita

Propertis

• Anti-spasmodic
• Stomachic
• Carminative
• Anti-inflammatory
Chamomilla recurita

Use
• Gastritis
• Pharyngitis
• Dysmenorrhea
Chamomilla recurita

Administration method

Infusion - 2-3 g + 200ml hot water, infuse,

consume 3-4 times / day, between meals
Glycyrrhiza glabra L

Spasmolytic & anti-inflammatory

• Glycyrrhizin -stimulates the local secretion of

prostoglandins, as a result increases the
secretion of mucus
Glycyrrhiza glabra L

Anti –helicobacter pylori action

• Glyceretene acid -can eliminat Helicobacter
pylori (strains resistant to clarithromycin,
metronidazole)

Spasmolytic action comparable to papaverine,

due to Isolicviritigenol
Glycyrrhiza glabra L

Side effects
• Pseudohyperaldosteronism - if the dose exceeds
3.5 g / week (HTA, edema, weight gain)
• Abnormal muscle contractions
• Decreased hemoglobin

Recommended dose of glycirin -2mg / kg / day

Calendula officinalis

• Common name "marigold„

• It is sacred flowers in India
•  Native to southwestern Asia, western Europe,
Mediterranean.
Calendula officinalis

Action & uses

• Antibacterial, antifungal – dye volatile oil, saponoside

fraction – oral cavity , pharyngeal diseases
• Spasmolytic - gastritis, cholecystitis, dysmenorrhea,
cystitis
• Holeretic - caffeylchinic esters
• Immunostimulatory - polyholoside - stimulates
granulocytosis
Calendula oficinalis

Administration method

• Infusion
2 tea spoons +200ml hot water, infuse for 15
minutes.
• It is consumed during the day, before meals.
Taraxacum officinale Weber

Actions
• Choleretic (cholecystitis)
• Tonic-stomachic (gastritis, dyspepsia)

Administration method
Infusion
• 2 tea sp.+200 ml hot water / 3 times a day, 30
minutes before meals. Consume ¼ glass,2 times/day

Contraindications
• Obstruction of the bile ducts
Constipation

• Aloe
• Psyllium 
• Beet
• Senna
• Flax
• Dandelions
• Pormwood
• Prunse
Constipation

Psyllium

Uses

• Is a natural fiber laxative that helps create bulk stools

• It can lower cholesterol levels
• Lower  Blood glucose levels (Type II diabetes)

Advers efects
• Gas or stomach bloating 
• Alergy
Constipation

Psyllium

study showed
that taking 5.1 grams (g) of psyllium
twice a day for 2 weeks significantly
increased the water content and
weight of stools, as well as the total
number of bowel movements, in 170
individuals with chronic constipation
Aloe vera

Laxative effect
• Aloe Barbados -50mg
• Aloe de Cap- 100mg
• If exid 250mg dose –appearsa drastic
laxative effect
Menopause
Menopause

• Phytoestrogens
• are compounds that naturally occur in plants

• Angelica sinensis
• Soy (tofu, tempeh, miso, soymilk)
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)
Menopause

• Hawthorn (Crataegus sp)

Action

• Decreases myocardial contraction and BP

• Contraindications, side effects - not reported

Menopause

• Hawthorn (Crataegus sp)

Administration method

• Infusion (flowers) - 1.5 g + 150ml hot water,

infuse 15min-30min, 3-4 cups / day

• Infusion (fruit) -1 tablespoon +200ml hot water,

infuse 2 hours, 2 -3 times / day
Menopause

• Sage (Salvia officinalis )

Action
• decreases excessive sweating
• improves cognitive function
• antibacterian
Menopause

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Administration method
• Infusion (leaves) – 3g+200ml hot water, infuse 15 min, 2-
3 times/day

Contraindications
breast-feeding
epilepsy (overdose, more -15 mg / day may cause epilepsy)
Menopause

• Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L)

Actions
• sedative
• hypotensive
• hypoglycemic
Menopause

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L)

Administration method
• Infusion (stem + leaves + flowers) –2 tea spoons + 200ml
boiling water, infuse 30 min., 1 tablespoon x3-5 / day.

Contraindications
• Babies, pregnant women, nursing women

Side effects
• In large doses - diarrhea, metrorrhagia, gastric irritation
High glucose

• Bitter cucumber (Mamordica charanita)

 Action
Contains - 17 amino acids, 16 are identical to the amino acids of
bovine insulin.

 Administration method
2.000 mg/day -3months
High cholesterol

• Globe artichoke  (Cynara scolymus)

Action

• Inhibits cholesterol synthesis in liver tissue

High cholesterol
• Globe artichoke  (Cynara scolymus)

Administration method
Infusion
• 2 t.sp-dried leaves + 200 ml of boiled water, infuse for 15 minutes,
filter.

• Consume 1/2 glass 3 times a day, 30 minutes before a meal.

Contraindications
• Allergies to Asteraceae
• Gallstones
• Severe hepatic impairment