Phytotherapy and Medical Herbs
What determines the healing effect of nature is represented in part in medicinal plants, which have active ingredients called phytocomplexes.
Modern pharmacology simulates, with newly synthesized drugs, the effects produced by phytocomplexes, creating effects that could be harmful to the individual.
We must not go too far away to appreciate the healing effects of phytocomplexes, just waking up in the morning and be able to enjoy a cup of
coffee belongs to the family of
Rubiacae ,
that contains caffeine, a methylxanthine capable to stimulate the cardiovascular contractile force of the heart
to induce a moderate peripheral vasodilator and diuretic, increasing in small doses alertness and visual feedback.
It is common among many people not to take coffee in the evening before going to bed but intead to prefer the Chamomile, belongs to the family of Asteracae,
rich in chamazulene and flavonoids, which similarly to benzodiazepines, have a sedative action, with anti-inflammatory action,
being able to inhibit the action of enzymes capable of producing substances that promote inflammation, particularly in the mucosa of the stomach, thus preventing possible ulceration.
When suffering from bowel spasms was used to take a chamomile because of its flavonoids, but in particular bisabolol as well as apigenin
and its derivatives possessing spasmolytic activity on smooth muscle of the intestine, due to lower entry of calcium into smooth muscle cells of intestinal wall.
An old man or a hypertensive subject sometimes feels the need to eat a clove of Garlic , belongs to the family of Liliacae, , because the allicin, contained on it, has an antiplatelet action,
preventing blood clots that could lead to thrombosis, an anti hypertension associated with the effect of vasodilatation especially in small blood vessels in the skin of the district, not to forget the bacteriostatic effect, capable of damaging bacteria and antiviral effect.
Since time immemorial, indigenous Australians were accustomed to use the leaves of
Melaleuca, belongs to the family of Myrtacae
, for their disinfectant properties, and general skin level. The use of this plant in Western countries is fairly recent, having started in the early 80's. The medicinal action of Tea tree oil is mainly type anti-infective against both bacteria, some viruses and against many fungi. The aerobic bacteria are more sensitive, such as streptococci and staphylococci, but also a fair amount of anaerobic bacteria are destroyed by this essential oil.
It is also active against some viruses, particularly adenovirus and herpes simplex type 1, type of action with predominantly destructive virus comes in contact with, although at rather high concentrations. At lower concentrations, which are those that typically occur in human therapy, can damage the virus without destroying it.
Sinusitis in children is often treated with bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme contained in Pineapple, belongs to the family of Bromeliaceae,
which has an activity favoring the digestive process, anti-inflammatory and anti-edema. If applied externally, it fights cellulite, promotes cleansing and healing of wounds and injuries. The pineapple is definitely not the only good candidate that phytotherapy has available as anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic, but such as
liquorice, belongs to the family of Fabaceae,
which also has gastroprotective effect, antioxidant, hypertensive is always used by Chinese medicine for inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the osteoarticular and skin allergies, low blood pressure, mainly due to phytocomplex
glicirizine.
Our grandmothers improvised a traditional medicine, folk wisdom transmitted by using, for example, the
Lavender, , belongs to the family of Lamiacae,
whose essential oil is a mixture of substances like terpenes and a good amount of
tannins, flavonoids, coumarin , and derivatives, phytosterols and moderate amounts of rosmarinic acid,
acting as a 'sedative and anxiolytic activity, which is used for the symptomatic treatment of anxiety of adults and children and sleep disorders. Recent clinical studies have investigated the effect of a massage with lavender essential oil on memory, on emotionality and aggression in a group of elderly patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer type, confirming the sedative action of the essential oil of lavender also when used as a massage.
The traditional Japanese Kampo medicine is very familiar with the
flavonoids and tannins, which in combination with coumarins,
for example, are responsible for the action of the lymphatic drainage of the Clover, belongs to the family of
Leguminosae,
, significantly reducing the demolition of catecholamines, particularly adrenaline, both vessels, with consequent improvement in the contraction of blood vessels. Catecholamines in fact are the main vasoconstrictor in the human body, responsible for the increase in blood pressure as well.
In opposite ways
the Guarana
, belongs to the family of Sterculiaceae
stimulates contractile force of the heart, increases oxygen consumption and has a moderate peripheral vasodilator and diuretic, indicated mainly in memory impairment, mental deterioration, fatigue in general, obesity and overweight, with anti-asthenia and its psychostimulant action.
Originally from the Far East, particularly Korea and China, widely cultivated in the United States in Southeast Asia and Japan the
Ginseng
d, belongs to the family of Araliacae
, action was mainly psychological and physical tonic.
Experimental evidence has significantly increased the electrical activity of the cells of the cerebral cortex due to action of stimulation on the cholinergic system, particularly in the basal ganglia and hippocampus by the ginseng, thus improving memory, attention and brain function. In addition, ginseng increases the levels of dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline in the brain, and it is known that these substances have anti-depressive, euphoric and psychostimulant. Eastern medicine has always includes the aphrodisiac effect of this plant, increasing the blood flow into the corpus cavernosum of the penis, also linked to a stimulus in the central nervous system, but not least important is the effect of non-specific immunostimulant, hypoglycaemic and hepatoprotective of this herbal.
The same tonic effect on sexual and mental and physical level is supported by the world of herbal medicine from ancient Peru, where
maca,
a tuber that grows in the Andes,
encourages sexual activity,
spermatogenesis (sperm production)
and motility of sperm without altering gonadotropins, hormones produced by the pituitary hormones that control the activity of the genital organs, and male sex hormones.
All this and much more want to be just a hint of the immense task that the herbal remedies have in improving the conditions of human life and heal from any disease.