Your Medicinal Plants

Cat Thyme

Familia de Lamiaceae

The scientific name of this herb is Teucrium Marum, belongs to the family Lamiaceae.
It can be called with the following common names: Maro, Almar, catnip, Amaro, Herb Pope, Grass strong Manjar cat, among others. This medicinal plant inhabits rocky land naturally in the Balearic Islands, Iberian Peninsula, but is now distributed worldwide by human action. The Cat Thyme is a small shrub grows to 20 to 25 cm. high. It consists of a considerable number of branches erect, whitish. Teucrium Marum leaves are very small, oval shaped.

The flowers are borne in the leaf cavities. The corolla is pink and unevenly. It collects the aerial parts of this herb for use in natural medicine. The leaves and flowers are used in some cases. The Cat Thyme is considered one of the best medicinal plants because of its various healing properties. It has been used as a home remedy in asthma, as antiscorbutic, antispasmodic and aphrodisiac.  It is also a good natural remedy for stomach and digestive problems.
But his fundamental medicinal property is a diuretic and tonic.

Recipes from this herb:

Wine: wine Cat Thyme is prepared by mixing one liter of Jerez with 30 gr. branches with flowers of this herb. They drink a cup after meals.

Infusion: Put a quart of warm water. When it begins to boil, add 30 gr. branches with flowers of this herb. Drinking a hot cup after each meal. This infusion served as a tonic and digestive.

Veronica or Ground-well

Familia de Scrophulariaceae

The scientific name is Veronica officinalis. Other common names: Bird’s Eye, Ground-well and Common Speedwell.
It is a plant belonging to the plant family: Scrophulariaceae.
It is a creeping stem grass. Veronica leaves grow in pairs facing each other.
Since leaf nodes are born roots that are inserted into the earth and is what makes the plant look like cringing.
They have clusters of bluish flowers. These are very small
This herb grows in mountainous areas, and some dense forests.
The fruit is small, triangular-shaped and covered with a light hair.
Veronica is a plant that contains bitter principles that serve as snacks, ideal for complex digestion and reducing flatulence caused by poor digestion.
It also contains tannins, which act as astringents. Also applied to wounds and canker sores, helps healing.
It also contains saponins, soothing action and bronchial asthma.
It is also used in cases of anorexia, because it acts as an appetite stimulant.

Recipes for this herb:

Infusion: Place 5 gr. Veronica officinalis and dried whole. Added to 250 ml. previously boiled water, leaving it to stand for 12 minutes.
Of this preparation can be drunk up to three cups a day. Confers an appetite-stimulating effect, improving digestions and solving some mild cases of asthma and bronchitis.

Juice: This plant is also used fresh juice is extracted, which take 10 gr.  Three times a day, the effects are achieved are similar to previous ones.

Decoction for external use. Add 40 gr. of the whole dried herb to a quart of water, boil for 10 minutes. With the liquid obtained directly compresses applied over cuts, wounds or ulcers.

Espinheira Santa

Familia de Celasteraceae

This herb is native to South America.
The scientific name of this herb is Maytenus ilicifolia, and belongs to the family Celasteraceae.
This herb is a perennial shrub or mild subtropical climate, typical of hills and mountains, from 1 to 5 m. high.
In the wild, this herb grows mainly in semi-shade sites with fertile, deep, somewhat loamy and well drained.
Espinheira Santa leaves are simple and alternate petiole short, spiny-toothed edge elliptical or oblong 4 to 7 cm. long and between 1 and 3 cm. wide, color is bright green and opaque by the beam on the underside.
The flowers of this herb are yellowish, small, and can also grow alone or in bouquets.
The fruit of this herb, is a capsule containing 1 to 4 seeds, and of course opens this fall.
The Espinheira Santa is multiplied by means of its seeds in the autumn and winter.
The concordance is a medicinal plant resistant to pests and diseases.
The parties used this herb are its leaves, bark and roots.
The Espinheira Santa is a medicinal plant rich in: alkaloids, friedelin, friedelanol, lactones – maitanprina, tannins, flavonoids, minerals (sodium, iron, and calcium), mucilage, nitrogen compounds, proanthocyanidins.
This medicinal plant is used to treat asthma problems, as well as antiseptic, antacid, analgesic, soothing antitumor fertility regulator, aphrodisiac, diuretic and to treat cancer problems.
You can use this herb to reduce fertility in women.
This herb is not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing.

Recipes for this herb:

Compress:
Place 10 sheets of this herb in a pint of water, once boiling remove from heat. Allow to cool naturally and then use.