Your Medicinal Plants

Ashwagandha

Familia de Solanaceae

Ashwagandha is a medicinal plant with scientific name: Withania somnifera. It belongs to the Solanaceae plant family. This herb can also be called with the following common names: Indian ginseng, or nightshade higher Orval. It is a perennial herb that grows to 1 m. high approximately. The leaves of Ashwagandha are distributed around the stem, are round and usually have a minimum layer of beauty to the underside. Each leaf grows followed by a much smaller, and between the two leaves are born flowers in clusters of 3 or 4 units. It is a medicinal plant that does not tolerate cold, taking refuge at the foot of walls or fences, usually near cities. It is found in warm regions and blooms almost all year round, but especially in autumn. The flowers are pale yellow, the calyx is bell-shaped, the petals is greater than the calyx. The fruit is a berry about the size of a pea red. With respect to its medicinal properties, is not entirely clear functional activity exerted by this plant in the human body.

Despite this in India is widely used as a sedative to great effect. It is also considered a good home remedy for rheumatism. The root of this herb is what gives it its power sleeping pill. The fruit stimulates and provokes urine, which is used in case of dropsy. Can also be used to soothe pains, toothache, and in some cases has come to be used on the eyes to strengthen sight. Withania somnifera leaves can be used to heal ulcers of various types. It can lead to health problems if not used correctly.

Recipes from this medicinal plant:

Decoction: water must be heated with a handful of this herb for 5 minutes. Is expected to cool and strain the remains of Withania somnifera. It is a very good reliever for toothache.

Juice: Juice is prepared from the root of the medicinal plant and mixed with honey is then used on the eyes to strengthen sight.

Infusion: Boil water with the roots of this herb, let it cool and take a sedative before bed.

Physalis, medicinal plant

Familia de Solanaceae

Physalis is originated in Japan.
This medicinal plant belongs to the Solanaceae plant family.
The scientific name of this herb is Physalis alkekengi.
The Physalis is a perennial herb of 0.75 m. high and has an underground rhizome. At the top of the stems white or yellow flowers bloom.
The cup of the herb grows after flowering to form a vesicle (heart shaped) red to orange surrounding the fruit. This is a red berry.
Fresh fruits Physalis alkekengi are bitter and can be eaten in salads. The plant is widely used as an ornament.
The fruits of this plant are used for medicinal purposes.
Contains a bitter element, the fisalina, alkaloids, pigments, and plenty of vitamin C.
Physalis has the following medicinal properties: diuretic, colds and flu (thanks to vitamin C), laxative, constipation, for the elimination of uric acid (kidney, urinary tract infections, gout and rheumatism).

Recipes for this herb:

Infusion: to prepare an infusion with 15 or 30 g of ripe fruit of Physalis alkekengi in ½ liter of water. This infusion is used for diuretics.

Decoction: boil berries of this herb 15-20 for five minutes in one liter of water is allowed to stand and cool, strain the liquid and sweetened to taste. Contain purifying effect, drinking a glass in the morning.

Dust: The fruits of Physalis alkekengi once dried crushed into a powder; it can take 2 to 3 gr. about 3 times a day.

Jimsonweed, Datura stramonium

Familia de Solanaceae

The Jimsonweed is a shrub or small tree that can grow to about 3.5 m. high, and comes from the Andes. Its trunk is wood and branches.
This plant belongs to the Solanaceae family and its scientific name is Datura stramonium.
The medicinal parts used are the leaves and flowers.
The Jimsonweed is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and greenhouses.
But the use of this herb is not recommended for drinking, for their toxic effects that have hallucinogenic properties. The Jimsonweed has been used in the Old and New World since ancient times for medicinal, ceremonial and religious. South American Indians used them in religious ceremonies and as drugs. During the Middle Ages many preparations used for witchcraft containing extracts of these medicinal plants.
But instead another pharmacological action of the Jimsonweed is using the dried leaves or flowers, and inhaling the smoke burned is antiasthmatic, or while smoking a cigarette.
The leaves of this evergreen tree are medicinal oblong, smooth edge.
The importance of its showy flowers, very large and tubular forms, which have solitary and pendulous, are very fragrant at night, and white. They bloom all year round.
The Jimsonweed is used as a medicinal plant in external use, such as anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, emollient, and is also used to make oils and ointments.

Recipes for this medicinal plant:

Jimsonweed oil or ointment, for rheumatism and friction in the joint. Emollient for pimples, boils, etc.
Preparation: Place 500 d.c. olive oil, 150 gr. fresh leaves and crushed in a bowl. Then the mixture is heated in a water bath for 3 to 4 hours.
Then strain and remove excess water (if available).
Instead you can use oil or creed fat unsalted butter, to create an ointment.

Fresh flowers of this herb, crushed in a mortar with fat, used to prepare a kind of soft paste, which has the same properties as oil or ointment.