11 World's Best Healing Herbs - Important Medicinal Plants

Aloe (Aloe vera).

Aloevera is one

of the most familiar of all herbal remedies. Pots of aloe grace many houses where they stand ready to become a quick and easy

treatment for scalds and burns. A leaf plucked from the plant and sliced open consist of mucilaginous gel that is very efective for soothing wounds and burns,

and reducing risk of infection.

Therapeutic Uses

First and second-degree Burns.

Colitis.

Psoriasis.

Diabetes.

Aloe is well known for soothing sunburn. Perhaps, lots of people are unaware how wide its healing

properties extend, from soothing minor cuts and skin conditions to possibly lowering blood

sugar levels in diabetics.

Recent research shows that ingesting the mucilaginous gel inside Aloe, can

lower blood glucose in people with diabetes and ease pain or symptoms in people with

ulcerative colitis. Aloe gel contains polysaccharides, compounds that have a soothing effect

on mucous membranes, and enzymes that coat irritated skin and ease pain. Aloe has been repeatedly used for some skin conditions, such as Psoriasis and

burns. In a study, aloe cream,

containing 0.5 percent of the gel in powdered form, helped to heal 30 people with second - degree burns faster than

sulfadiazine, a commonly used antibacterial cream. Also, a study of 80 people with

psoriasis showed that a 70 percent aloe cream worked as well as a 0.1 percent

triamcinolone cream, often prescribed for psoriasis.

 Aloe gel is also used as an ingredient in many cosmetic products, such as shampoos, lotions and topical creams.

How to Use:

Natural Aloe gel: Apply to the skin several times daily for burns and other skin conditions.

Colitis, take 25 to 30 ml (about 2 tablespoons) twice daily. 

Diabetes, 10 to 20 ml (about 1

tablespoon) daily.  

2. Calendula (Calendula officinalis).

Nicknamed pot marigold, poet’s marigold, or gold.

Calendula flowers have little scent, and unlike Tagetes species, are edible. Calendula is a

profuse bloomer. Its name is likely derived from the Latin calendae, meaning “litle calendar" or “little clock.” The reference could be to calendula’s habit of partially closing its petals along with the setting sun.

Therapeutic Uses.

Wounds.

Dermatitis.

The gold Calendula have long been a remedy for skin ailments such as eczema, acne, abscess and abrasions. The German health authority approved calendula for treating wounds, based on research showing its super anti-infammatory

eʃects and eʃectiveness in helping wounds seal over with new tissue. 

Calendula have two main medicinal actions on skin. 

A. The triterpenoid compounds, such as oleanolic

acid, appear to inhibit a variety of bacteria.

2. It's anti-inflammatory eʃects may be

the result of a triterpenoid compound acting as an antioxidant, to reduce damage from

oxygen radicals in the healing process.

Calendula products have been studied and developed for a host of human ailments. This studies shows that a calendula extract combined with tea tree, green tea, and manuka oil was

developed into a mouth rinse which fights

gum infammation, or gingivitis. Another study randomized 254 breast cancer patients

about to undergo radiation treatment to apply either a calendula ointment or a commonly

used medicine, trolamine, twice daily. The calendula group had fewer interruption to their treatment and exhibited less dermatitis from

the radiation.

One method for making a calendula ointment is to heat the plant in petroleum jelly, strain and cool for use on the skin. 

How to Use

Topical preparations: Extracts are incorporated into many skin products: soaps, creams,

ointments, salves, and lotions with various concentrations of calendula. Apply preparations

3 to 4 times daily to heal minor skin conditions listed above.

Use Calendula mouth rinse 2-3 times daily, to fight gingivitis or gum disease.

Precautions

People that are allergic to plants in the Asteraceae family, can develop a sensitivity to topical use.

Discontinue use, should a rash develop.

3. Cayenne (Capsicum annuum).

Cayenne is a spicy cuisines of Southeast Asia, China, Mexico, southern Italy and many Caribbean

islands, and North America’s Cajun cultures share an ingredient: hot pepper. Cayenne is not the tiny black peppercorns ground in pepper mills, but the fleshy fruits borne by plants belonging

to the genus Capsicum.

They produce colorful fruits that vary considerably in the intensity of their heat. That heat comes from a plant chemical called Capsaicin,

which has pain-relieving properties.

Therapeutic Uses.

Nerve Pain.

Arthritis.

Purified cayenne pepper, yielding the essential compound

Capsaicin, is an effective topical pain reliever. Capsaicin is absorbed through the skin and

binds to specific receptors that act to deplete a compound responsible for conveying pain

sensations to the brain.

One category of conditions that cause pain originates from nerve damage resulting from

diabetes or other nervous system problems.

 Creams containing at least

0.075 percent capsaicin applied to a painful area over 6 to 8 weeks have been shown to

provide relief. In some cases, just one high-dose patch containing 8 percent capsaicin can also be beneficial. A common occurrence in the treatment is that the pain gets worse for a few days

before it gradually gets better. Some

studies have shown that preparations with a lower percentage of capsaicin, some of which

are available over the counter, are less effective, because of the lower dose or because

of poorer absorption. 

These creams are also used by people who experience the lingering

pain of shingles.

Osteoarthritis may also respond to capsaicin creams. Creams containing 0.025 percent

capsaicin have been shown to help ease joint pain of adults suffering from osteoarthritis.

Over a 6-week period; one study, in which subjects used the 0.075 percent cream for 4

weeks, resulted in decreased arthritis pain and tenderness in the hands.

How to Use

Cream: For nerve-related pain, apply cream containing 0.075 percent capsaicin 3 to 4 times

daily. Lower-dose creams containing only 0.025 percent capsaicin applied 4 times daily.

Effective for arthritis: For optimal benefit, treatment is usually recommended for 6

to 8 weeks; Researchers also are developing a patch, injections and other higher-dose forms of cayenne which look promising.

4. Chocolate (Theobroma cacao).

Satiny dark or

creamy, chocolate is a food intimately linked with comfort,celebrations, indulgence, and extravagance. Its source is a small tree, native to Central and

South American forests that produces large pods packed with dark brown seeds called Cocoa. From the

seeds come fragrant cocoa, luscious chocolate, and creamy cocoa butter. The cultivation of

cacao may have originated with the Olmec culture of eastern Mexico many years

ago. The Olmec, and later the Aztec and Maya, fermented, roasted, and then ground cacao

seeds into a paste, mixed with water, cornmeal, chili peppers, and other ingredients. The mixture was

whipped into a frothy, spicy chocolate drink. Both the drink and the seeds from which it

was made were considered sacred. Chocolate was “the food of

the gods,” in ancient Mesoamerica, which is what Theobroma means.

Therapeutic Uses.

Antioxidant.

Anti inflammatory.

Heart health (including blood pressure and cholesterol levels).

More studies linked chocolate consumption to improved cardiovascular health, it

is clear that chocolate is both a food and a medicine. Chocolate’s main medicinal effects come from a group of compounds called polyphenols, which are strong antioxidants and anti-inflammatory. the polyphenols in chocolate have antioxidants effects which are stronger than antioxidants in other foods. Presence of polyphenols also impact to chocolate its dark

brown color. Similar compounds are also found in green tea, many fruits and

vegetables and red wine. In humans, these polyphenols may stop one of the steps in the development of plaques in coronary

arteries by decreasing the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol

deposited there; hence, LDL plaque become less likely

to rupture and clot, thereby preventing a heart attack. These polyphenols also increase the levels

of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good, cholesterol protection against cardiovascular

disease. Polyphenol compounds present in chocolate are mild inhibitors of platelet activity, thinning blood in an

action similar to that of aspirin.

Another good component of chocolate is cocoa butter. By weight, chocolate contain more of cocoa butter. Cocoa butter is considered a good fat, because it contains oleic acid, a

monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil and also contains stearic and palmitic

acids, two saturated fats. In combination these fats balance the heart and cholesterol levels.

How to Use

Choose a dark chocolate of at least 70 percent cacao to maximize the polyphenol content.

5. Ginger (Zingiber officinale).

Ginger has been used as a spice in Asia for at least 4,400 years. Ginger’s genus name,

Zingiber, is derived from the Greek "zingiberis" which comes from the Sanskrit

sringabera, meaning “horn shaped.” It's tuberous underground stems are the part of ginger

used in cooking and in herbal medicine. Ginger effectively aid digestion and

a remedy for stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea.

Therapeutic Uses.

Morning Sickness.

Motion sickness.

Nausea and vomiting.

Colds and Coughs.

Inflammation.

 Scientic studies has strongly confirmed this medicinal benefits. Many studies in humans have shown that ginger

eases nausea and reduces vomiting related to pregnancy, motion sickness, and

chemotherapy. A National Cancer Institute study found that if patients took 0.5 to 1.0 g of ginger for three days before and after chemotherapy along with antinausea medications,

nausea was reduced by an additional 40 percent. Compounds in ginger bind to receptors

in the gastrointestinal tract that act to reduce the sensation of nausea and accelerate

digestion, thereby reducing the time food sits in the stomach.

More studies are being conducted on ginger for reducing the inflammation and pain of arthritis. Studies in

humans have shown that ginger relieves osteoarthritis pain in the knees. Sip 1 cup of hot ginger tea on a cold winter night and you will appreciate the warming

properties of ginger, as it improves circulation by gently opening blood vessels in the feet

and hands. Ginger tea warms your toes and may keep you from getting sick.

Compounds in ginger have been shown to destroy many of the viruses that cause the

common cold!

How to Use.

Fresh ginger tea: make 1 inch ginger paste or slice 1 inch of fresh ginger rhizome into small pieces. Simmer in 2 cups

water on low heat for 15 minutes. Strain. Drink 1 to 3 cups per day for coughs and colds and to enhance circulation.

Dried ginger tea: Pour 1 cup boiling water over ¼ to ½ teaspoon ginger powder and steep

for 10 minutes. Drink 1 cup after meals for

gas/bloating or to ease nausea.

Capsules: Take 250 to 500 mg 2 to 3 times per day.

Extracts: Concentrated extracts are typically used for osteoarthritis.

Use as directed.

Precautions:

Do not

combine high doses of ginger with anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners) without medical supervision.

Adding ginger to the diet is safe for young and old. Ginger may cause mild heartburn in

some people. Pregnant women should not take more than 1 g of dried ginger per day. 

6. Cinnamon. (Cinnamomum verum).

True cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) is native to the island of Sri

Lanka. Cassia, or Chinese cinnamon (C. cassia), is a close relative cultivated in Vietnam,

China, and Indonesia. Cinnamon was a precious commodity that was traded extensively

throughout the ancient world. The Egyptians used it as an essential ingredient in

embalming mixtures used to perfume and preserve the dead. Moses of the Old Testament,

added it to a holy oil for anointing. In Rome during the first century A.D., cinnamon was at

least 15 times more expensive than silver, and centuries later it was still costly. The desire to monopolize the cinnamon trade prompted European

expansion into Asia in the 16th and 17th centuries. Eventually, cinnamon became more

widely available and affordable.

Therapeutic Uses:

Diabetes

Cinnamon may be especially important to people with diabetes. Mainly the bark is used

medicinally. A polyphenol compound—with the name

methylhydroxychalcone, is found in Cassia cinnamon. It is this compound that may be

responsible for cinnamon’s main medical benefit which is lowering blood sugar in people with

diabetes. The compound seems to affect insulin receptors and aid in the formation of

glycogen, or stored sugar. Cinnamon also has antibacterial effects (from the essential oil)

and antioxidant effects (from the polyphenols), Cassia cinnamon has been studied in clinical trials, primarily by looking at fasting blood

sugar levels in people with diabetes. 

How to Use:

Cinnamon Powder: For diabetics, powdered cinnamon spice is an option, but for positive effects on blood sugar levels, it is necessary to use approximately 1 teaspoon daily. 

*Note that the common spice purchased in grocery stores is not necessarily cassia cinnamon.*

Capsule: Cinnamon capsules range in dose and suggested use; studies on type 1 and 2

diabetics used 1 to 6 g cinnamon a day, taken in divided doses.

Precautions

Cinnamon is well tolerated, though the volatile oil can cause a skin rash. Cassia and other

cinnamons, contain small amounts of coumarin; blood-thinning and liver problems generally

occur with this compound only if large amounts are taken over long periods.

 To be safe,

caution is advised for anyone with liver problems. Due to its blood-thinning effects, one should not take Cinnamon in quantities greater than use as a spice at least one week

prior to surgery. Medicinal doses are not recommended during pregnancy. Also, Close monitoring

of blood sugar levels in diabetics is warranted to avoid unsafe lowering of blood sugar.

7. Turmeric. (Curcuma longa).

Turmeric comes

from the rhizome of a stately, large-leafed perennial that belongs to the same family as

ginger. The genus name of turmeric, Curcuma, comes from korkum, a word used in ancient

Rome to mean “Saffron,” which is a much costlier, more subtly flavored spice. According to the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism called Vedas, Turmeric T is being associated with purity

and cleansing. Even today, orthodox Hindu brides and bridegrooms take part in a ceremony

called "haldi", the Hindi word for “turmeric”, in which their faces and hands are coated with

turmeric paste before they take their vows. As a healing herb, turmeric has its roots deep in

the medicinal traditions of India, China, and several Southeast Asian cultures. In Western

herbal medicine, it has recently gained popularity as a potent but safe anti-inflammatory

treatment for a host of digestive ailments and other conditions.

Therapeutic Uses.

Inflammatory bowel disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis (joint pain).

Studies in animals suggest turmeric may offer protection from Alzheimer’s

disease. Scientists have discovered that curcumin, a group of highly active, yellow-colored

compounds in turmeric, stops the accumulation of plaque in the brain. Destructive protein

fragments known as beta amyloid plaques build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s

and lead to memory loss. Studies in humans are currently under way to confirm this

preliminary finding.

Turmeric seems to have a special effects for reducing infammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Curcumin has been shown to be beneficial for

reducing symptoms in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In studies, patients given doses

of 1 to 2 g per day of curcumin experienced fewer symptoms and less systemic

inflammation.

Curcumin may protect against colon cancer. A small pilot study in patients with familial

adenomatous polyposis (FAP) disorder—characterized by the development of hundreds of

benign tumors in the colon, eventually leading to colorectal cancer—garnered positive

results. A combination of 480 mg of curcumin and 20 mg of quercetin taken orally 3 times a

day reduced the number and size of tumors in patients by roughly 60 percent over a 6-

month period. A larger study is currently under way at Johns Hopkins University.

Researchers around the world are showing a tremendous interest in turmeric. In the

United States alone, the National Institutes of Health is currently funding studies on

turmeric and curcumin for a variety of conditions, including colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel

syndrome (IBS), and rheumatoid arthritis.

How to Use.

Tea: Pour 2 cups boiling water over 1 teaspoon turmeric and steep for 10 minutes. Strain.

Add honey and/or lemon if desired.

Capsules: 2 to 3 g turmeric per day provides 60 to 100 mg curcumin, the daily amount

typically consumed in the diet in India.

Precautions:

Eating turmeric is very safe. Scientists have shown that taking curcumin at doses of up to 12

g per day is also very well tolerated, though there is little reason to take that much. Some

people may get indigestion when taking high amounts of turmeric/curcumin.

8. Stevia. (Stevia rebaudiana). 

Commonly known as sugar leaf, honey leaf, or sweet leaf of Paraguay, stevia is a small

South American shrub whose narrow leaves are nearly 50 times as sweet as ordinary

table sugar. Stevia is used to sweaten beverages and

to improve the taste of herbal medicines. They are also used medicinally as a

tonic for the heart, to help lower blood pressure, to relieve heartburn and kidney ailments,

and to dull cravings for sweets.

Therapeutic Uses.

Diabetes.

Insulin resistance (prediabetes).

High blood pressure.

Stevia is a powerful sweetener with no calories and could be a

dietary phenomenon, especially for people watching calories and carbs. If this noncaloric

sweetener should take the place of high-glycemic white sugar, the quality of carbohydrates

in the diet would improve, with benefits for teeth, blood sugar, and digestion.

stevia may directly affect the hormones and mechanisms involved with elevated blood sugar

in diabetics, thus helping to lower sugar levels and to protect against the effects of high

sugar levels.

Most of the benefits of stevia come from a compound called stevioside, which occurs

primarily in the leaves, accounting for 4 to 20 percent of the weight of the dry leaves. A

compound similar in structure to stevioside and thought to have some physiological eʃects

is rebaudioside A. Some animal studies show that stevia does not affect glucose absorption,

though it may promote insulin release from the pancreas, increase sensitivity to insulin

throughout the body, and slow glucose production in the liver. In humans, one study

involved 12 people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers examined the use of 1 g of an extract

(consisting of 91 percent stevioside and 4 percent rebaudioside A) or placebo with a meal.

After the meal, those receiving the stevia extract had a lower glucose level than the placebo

group did, possibly as a result of increased insulin secretion (which brings down blood sugar. 

The blood pressure–lowering eʃects of stevioside and rebaudioside A also have been

studied, and results have been mixed. Some clinical trials demonstrated a decrease in both

systolic and diastolic blood pressure with these compounds, while other trials contradicted

these results.

How to Use: 

Powder: Stevia leaf, in powder form, can simply be used as a sugar substitute in various

ways, such as sprinkling as a sweetener on food, in hot beverages, or in most recipes.

Liquid extract: Glycerin extracts are available, often standardized to the primary component

of stevia leaf, stevioside. Several drops of these extracts can be added to food as a

sweetener.

Precautions.

The safety of the chemical compound stevioside and of whole stevia leaf has been evaluated

extensively in laboratory tests looking at possible toxic, genetic, or cancer-causing effects.

Both have been determined to be safe when used as a sweetener. Care should be taken

when stevia is used in combination with medications that also lower blood sugar.

9. Pomegranate. (Punica granatum).

Pomegranate is native to the mountainous region that

includes northern Iraq and northwest Iran. Sumerian cuneiform records reveal that

pomegranates have been cultivated in the Middle East since approximately 3000 B.C. For

many centuries desert caravans carried the thick-walled fruits as a source of nutritious,

thirst-quenching juice. In Egyptian art and mythology, the pomegranate symbolized

abundance and unity. In early Christian, Jewish, and Islamic artistic traditions, the fruit

represented blood, death, and the renewal of life. According to Greek mythology,

Persephone, daughter of the goddess Demeter, makes the mistake of eating pomegranate

seeds in the underworld, and so is eternally bound to that place for part of every year. The

Romans named the fruit Punica granatum, or “seeds from Carthage,” possibly because that

Phoenician city in North Africa was a source of fine pomegranates in the ancient world.

Therapeutic Uses.

Prostate health

Heart health

Antioxidant

The luscious pomegranate has been compared with other common fruit juices, as one of the richest in antioxidant

activity, with roughly 3 times that of red wine and green tea! Animal studies show that

pomegranate juice and pomegranate flower extract offer strong protection against the

progression of atherosclerosis. Studies on humans demonstrate a modest effect on blood

pressure and inflammation reduction. This is are reasons for adding pomegranate to a heart-healthy

foods list.

One of the most interesting areas of pomegranate research is prostate health. Laboratory

and animal studies have shown that the fruit’s juice, peel, and oil all interfere with the

spread of prostate cancer tumors. A 2-year study examined the effect of 8 ounces of

pomegranate juice on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in 46 men who had received

surgery or radiation therapy for prostate cancer. PSA levels are used as a marker after

cancer treatment to determine if the cancer has returned. Treatments are deemed eʃective

if they reduce PSA levels in prostate cancer patients and/or prolong the time it takes for the

PSA level to double (indicating that progression of the cancer is slowing). Sixteen of 46

patients (35 percent) exhibited a decline in their PSA levels during treatment, while 4 of the

46 patients (2 percent) achieved a PSA decline of more than 50 percent. Overall, PSA

doubling time was signiɹcantly delayed in a majority of the men drinking the juice. After

the 2-year study, those who continued to drink pomegranate juice had lower PSA levels than

those who stopped. At the conclusion of the study, the mean PSA doubling time went from

15 to 54 months, with no adverse events reported.

In men, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. Seven government-funded studies are currently evaluating pomegranate’s role in treating

prostate cancer.

How to Use:

Juice: 8 ounces per day (the typical amount used in research studies).

Capsules: Generally, 2 to 3 g per day of powdered pomegranate capsules.

Precautions:

There are no known safety issues with drinking pomegranate juice or with using pomegranate juice extracts.

11. Garlic (Allium sativum).

Garlic’s slender green leaves, bulbous white roots, and pungent flavor mark it

as a member of the genus Allium, which also includes onions, leeks, and chives. Garlic is prizzed as

a vegetable, a condiment, and a medicine, this herb was long thought to impart strength and stamina. The legions of slaves who

built Egypt’s great pyramids were given garlic and onions as part of their daily diet. The

original Olympic athletes in Greece ate garlic before competitions, possibly making it one

of the earliest performance-enhancing substances. Widely used in spells and charms, garlic

was believed to protect against all forms of evil, including witches and, more famously,

vampires. Medicinally, garlic has long been revered for its benefits, particularly in treating infections.

Therapeutic Uses.

Diarrhea.

Coughs and colds.

Heart health.

Garlic has a stunning reputation for fighting infections, especially in the lungs

and guts. With the growing problem of antibiotic resistance (which occurs when bacteria

and parasites are no longer vulnerable to antibiotics), garlic could be effective & important.

Louis Pasteur first documented garlic’s antibacterial activity in 1858. Albert Schweitzer

relied on garlic to treat amoebic dysentery for years in Africa. Modern research has

confirmed that garlic can kill a number of diarrhea-causing organisms, including Salmonella,

Escherichia coli, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia lamblia. Fresh garlic also impairs many

organisms that cause colds and pneumonia. In fact, a preliminary study indicated that

taking a garlic supplement helped prevent the common cold.

Garlic not only helps fight infection but also may reduce the risk of some cancers. In 2002,

the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported results of a population-based study

showing reduced risk of prostate cancer for men with a high dietary intake of garlic and

scallions. Garlic also protects the gastrointestinal tract. In seven studies evaluating garlic

consumption, those who ate the most raw and cooked garlic had the lowest risk of

colorectal cancer. Multiple studies have found that aged garlic extracts prevent or reduce

gastrointestinal toxicity resulting from methotrexate, a drug often prescribed for

autoimmune conditions.

There are also good reasons to include garlic in a heart-healthy diet. It helps lower

cholesterol and blood pressure, though its effects are mild. Garlic also makes platelets a little less sticky, thus reducing the risk of clots.

How to Use:

Cooking deactivates some of garlic’s activity, so one of the easiest ways to take garlic is

simply to eat it! Raw garlic is probably the optimal form. Crush a couple cloves and put in

olive oil, add a dash of lemon, and toss over a salad.

Capsules: If buying garlic in capsule form, look for products standardized to allicin, a key

ingredient. Research suggests garlic products providing 4 to 8 mg allicin daily are optimal.

Precautions.

Garlic is safe and well tolerated in the regular diet. There is a small risk that eating larger

quantities of raw garlic (more than 4 cloves per day) can affect platelets’ ability to form a

clot, so it makes sense to reduce consumption 10 days before surgery and not to exceed this

amount if taking anticoagulant medications. Garlic can also interfere with medications used

to treat HIV infection.