Common Herbs their Medicinal Uses Introduction Plants continue to be a major source of medicines, as they have been throughout human history. The populations of developing countries worldwide continue to rely heavily on the use of traditional medicines as their primary source of healthcare, medicinal plants are now being given serious attention by mainstream medical science. The pages that follow detail some commonly used medicinal plants (herbs) that can easily be planted in any home garden. CAUTION: Always seek advice from a medical professional before using a plant medicinally.
Name Common name Picture Uses Parts used Propagation methods Rosmarinus Rosemary officinalis Rosemary is taken internally Leaves Rosemary is easiest as colds, to grow from a cutting, rather than planting an infusion influenza, for fatigue headache. It is also used for treatment of seeds. digestion problems, including heartburn, intestinal gas (flatulence), liver gallbladder complaints, loss of appetite. It is also used for headache, gout, cough, high blood pressure, reducing agerelated memory loss. Artemisia afra African wormwood, The uses of African wormwood Leaves, New plants can be wild covers propagated wormwood; a wide range of stem by wilde-als; ailments from coughs, colds, division or from umhlonyane; fever, loss of appetite, colic, cuttings that root mhlonyane; headache, earache, intestinal easily in spring lengana; zengana worms to malaria. summer. Seed can be sown in summer. spring or
Foeniculum Fennel valgare An infusion of the seeds Leaves, soothes the digestive system root, is said to Propagate by seeds stem increase seeds production of milk in nursing mothers. Asparagus Sprenger's Asparagus species leaves are Leaves Propagate by seeds densiflora Asparagus used as vegetables or for or division. medicinal purposes. Crushed berries are used to treat skin irritation Note: The berries cause only low toxicity if eaten. Allium tuberosum Garlic chives Help to lower blood pressure Leaves Propagate by seed or blood cholesterol. It also by dividing the helps to prevent blood clotting. clumps. Garlic chives have been used to treat fatigue, control excessive bleeding, as an antidote for ingested poisons. The leaves bulbs are applied to insect bites, cuts, wounds, while the seeds are used to treat kidney, liver, digestive problems. system
Leonotis Wild leonurus Umunyane; treat Lebake; poisonous snake bites Umfincafincane; other type of bites (scorpion Umhlahlampetu spider bites) stings. Dagga, Wild dagga has been used to leaves Propagate from seed, concerns including stem cuttings or by dividing large clumps. Infusions of leaves roots are used to conditions, itchiness, skin boils, eczema, muscle cramps, influenza, cough. treat bronchitis It Pressure lowers Blood eases headaches. Eucomis autumnalis Pineapple lily Pineapple lily is used to treat Bulb Propagation urinary pulmonary offsets, seed, ailments, fever disease of cuttings stock. Tswana Sotho use culture decoctions of the bulb to treat hangovers. Bulbs are used in decoctions which administered as are enemas. These are used to treat lower backache, urinary diseases, as well as assisting in the healing of fractures. is by leaf tissue
Borago Borage officinalis It is used to treat oily skin, Leaves Propagate by seeds coughing, reliving eczema, seeds assisting to fight rheumatism, regulating menstruation assisting with soothing irritable bowel syndrome Amoracia Horseradish rusticana Horseradish is used to treat Roots Propagate by seed or back pain menstrual leaves. by division in winter Leaves Propagation is from cramps. Bulbine snake flower, cat's The fresh leaf produces a jelly- frutescens tail, burn jelly plant; like juice that is wonderful for seed, cuttings or balsem burns, rashes, blisters, insect either division of bites, cracked lips, acne, cold clumps, should sores, mouth ulcers areas be done in spring kopieva, geelkatstert of cracked skin. an infusion of a few fresh leaves in a cup of boiling water. The strained drink is taken for coughs, colds arthritis
Gnidia Yellow heads; kaussiana harige gifbossie; plant is known in Xhosa) is isidikili, imfuzane, also very effective for the Salvia officinalis The root of umarhedeni (as the Roots umsilawengwe; treatment of sexually umarhedeni transmitted infections. Sage The infusions of leaves are Leaves Propagation is from used as a mouthwash for sore seeds cuttings throats, mouth ulcers, gum diseases, laryngitis tonsils. Infusions are taken internally as tonics, to aid indigestion for menopausal problems. And applied compresses externally to help as heal wounds Crocosmia Aunt paniculata Undwendweni Eliza, The corms are also used in Corms Propagate by dividing traditional medicine to treat rhizomes, dysentery infertility corms or bulbs tubers,
Melissa Lemon balm Infusions are taken internally Leaves Propagate by seed or officinalis for nervous anxiety, by division in spring or depression, tension autumn headaches indigestion. It is also applied externally for as poultice or ointment for sores, skin irritations, insect bites stings. Lavendula Lavender Lavender is used alone or in Leaves Propagate by seed, officinalis combination with other herbs stem cuttings, layering, to treat insomnia, anxiety division or separation states, migraine headaches depression. Zingiber Ginger A tea is used to relieve Rhizome Propagate by dividing officinale nausea. rhizome.
Achillea Yarrow A tea is taken for colds Leaves Yarrow propagates millefolium fever. It is also thought to easily in many lower blood pressure to ways, including via relieve indigestion. division, stem cuttings seeds Petroselinum Parsley It is used for menstrual Leaves, Propagated from crispum problems, kidney stones, stem seeds. urinary infections, arthritis. Tea is made from leaves to treat jaundice coughs.