Medicinal herbs come from angiosperms, which are flowering plants, and from gymnosperms, which are trees and shrubs. Medicinal herbalists use the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit and bark of the flowering plants, trees and shrubs. Medicinal herbs are categorized into types, depending on the benefit that they produce. Some types of medicinal herbs include carminative, two classifications of aromatic herbs and diuretic herbs.
Carminative Herbs
Carminative herbs soothe the digestive tract and reduce gas and bloating. They include plants in the mint family, as well as basil, chamomile, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, lavender, nutmeg, oregano and rosemary. Rosemary Gladstar, author of "Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health," says herbal teas offer a pleasing way to use herbs medicinally. Carminative herbs are also used as seasoning for foods.
Nervines
Aromatic herbs are divided into two categories, nervine, which heal or soothe the nervous system, and stimulant herbs, which restore or increase energy. Examples of nervine herbs include dong quai, lady's slipper, ginger, lobelia, skullcap, valerian, catnip and sarsaparilla. Preparation includes tea infusions, according to Michael Tierra, author of "The Way of Herbs."
Stimulants
Some stimulant herbs are capsicum, fennel, damiana, garlic, ginger, sage, thyme, feverfew, penny royal and lemon grass. Stimulant herbs enhance the effect of other herbs. Rosemary Gladstar writes in "The Way of Herbs," that one way to prepare a stimulant herb is to "steep one teaspoon of combined powder in a cup of boiled water for fifteen minutes, covered. Drink the liquid poured off from the sediment." Stimulant herbs address respiratory and circulatory problems.
Diuretic Herbs
Diuretic herbs cleanse the liver, kidneys and urinary tract system. Types of diuretic herbs are horsetail, parsley, juniper, marshmallow, plantain, nettles, dandelion and hawthorn. Kathi Keville, author of "Herbs for Health and Healing," says the best type of preparation for diuretic herbs is in tinctures.
References
- "Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health;" Rosemary Gladstar; 2008
- "The Way of Herbs;" Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.D.; 1998
- "Herbs for Health and Healing;" Kathi Keville; 1996
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