Healthy Alternatives to Synthetic Drugs
By: Tammy Sons Owner Of Tennessee Wholesale Nursery
Tags: Medicinal Plants, Plants, Organic, Health, Herbal Remedies

Medicinal Herbaceous Plants

The high prices for prescription drugs and pharmaceutical medicines continue to grow from year to year, and this hurts the budgets of many patients who need them. Unfortunately, many people can’t afford to buy the best medicines that they need, and usually, have to settle for lesser-priced generic brands or go without. Because of this, more and more people now days are starting to rediscover natural medicinal herb plants.

Many herbaceous plants that are used for medicinal purposes are found growing in gardens because of their beauty and have been used in food preparation since the beginning of recorded history. Lacking a persistent woody type of stem, herbaceous plants are known for their attractive flowers and also for their hardiness to cold environments. The classification of these types of herbaceous plants is based on some unique factors, such as growth cycles, the ability to adapt to different climates and genetic distinctions.

Because these types of herbs have been used for their medicinal properties throughout human history, only in modern times have people veered away from their usage, but that is now changing. Today, people are getting back to their roots and beginning to use medicinal herb plants once again, plants such as goldenseal, black cohosh, blue cohosh, and ginseng. When compared to prescription drugs, medicinal herbs are less expensive, natural and a much safer method of helping our body’s ability to heal itself. Listed below are some medicinal herbaceous plants and their natural healing properties:

Black Cohosh — also known as Bugwort, Rattlesnake Root and many other names, grows in central areas of the United States and was used regularly among the many Native American tribes. The plant was used as a remedy for various ailments such as for women’s menstrual cramps, muscle pain, coughing, arthritis, indigestion, and sore throat discomfort. Juice taken from this plant was also used to repel insects and applied to snake bites to help the body to resist venom.

Today the plant is used primarily as a nutritional supplement to help women with mood swings, vaginal dryness, bloating, menstrual cramps and various other symptoms associated with menopause. The roots of the plant are available in some health stores as tea, capsules, liquid extract or in tablets form.

Blue Cohosh — also known as Blue Ginseng or Yellow Ginseng, is another plant found in central and eastern United States and was used by many native American Indian tribes. The plant was used primarily to induce labor by stimulating the uterus, which was also helpful in starting menstruations and as a laxative. Other effects helped to alleviate and stop muscle spasms, hiccups, epilepsy, inflammation of the joints and the uterus. Health stores are an excellent place to look for supplements made from this plant, and the roasted seeds are also used as a coffee substitute.

Golden Seal — supplements made from this plant have become very popular in recent years, mainly due to the plant’s reputation as an immune system enhancer and a natural antibiotic. Native American Indians knew the plant’s medicinal value and used it to treat genitor-urinary tract infections, digestive inflammation and for respiratory conditions. The plant’s roots are helpful in treating diarrhea, fever, pneumonia, whooping cough, heart trouble and can help the function of the liver.

Every day more and more people are becoming aware of medicinal herbs and the many health benefits that they provide, states Tammy Sons, a Tennessee based nursery owner that sells many wild and herbaceous plants for medical research as well as health and healing of consumers. Medicinal Herbaceous plants like goldenseal, which have natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, Blue Cohosh which helps induce menstruation and helps those struggling with epilepsy, and Black Cohosh, which helps reduce muscle pain, menstrual cramps and symptoms related to menopause are all inexpensive alternatives people are turning too. When compared to expensive prescription drugs today, medicinal herb plants have become a natural alternative.