Plants That Heal by Heather Doherty was originally published in the BFEC Newsletter, Vol.17/No. 3, Summer 2013.
Use of medicinal plants can be traced back to the world’s earliest civilizations and laid the foundations of modern medicine. Interest in them waned in the last century but is back on the rise.
If you walked into the BFEC office and pulled our medicinal plant field guide off the shelf, you might be surprised, as I was, to see the breadth of common plants it contains. Clover? Dandelion? Cottonwood? You bet.
The volume’s weightiness begs the question if every wild plant is medicinal. The answer, of course, is “no,” but it does speak to the treasure trove of value present in our local flora.
Interest in medicinal plants, or herbal medicine, is on the rise, a phenomena that fits well in our “do-it-yourself” era. The average non-chemically treated lawn contains a surprising plethora of medicinal plants, for free!
Most plants listed in our field guide have been used as traditional for centuries by Native Americans or European settlers. Part of the appeal of medicinal plants is rediscovering these jewels in our backyards. Learning about our own rootedness in the land is compelling, offering an experience that connects us to our landscape.
Some people turn to herbal medicine when modern pharmaceuticals have not provided the solutions they seek or do provide problematic side-effects. Another persuasive reason to consider herbal medicine is the overuse and decreasing effectiveness of antibiotics.
Many medicinal plants contain powerful antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties; it may be worth giving these a try and saving antibiotics for truly severe infections.
The World Health Organization estimates that in 2008, 80 percent of the world’s population used some form of herbal medicine. In addition to long-standing tradition, the low cost of medicinal plants makes them a necessity for impoverished people around the globe that depend on them. Uninitiated Americans, however, may be more likely to view them as primitive and question their effectiveness.
But "plant-based" is not synonymous with "light-weight" when it comes to medicine, evident in the many common pharmaceuticals that are derived from plants. Aspirin, for example, is derived from the bark of willow trees, which contains large amounts of salicylic acid and has been used for millennia as a pain reliever and fever reducer.
Opium poppies are the source of the pain-killer morphine. Digoxin, a drug that is widely used to treat cardiac conditions like atrial fibrillation, is derived from the plant foxglove.
In 2001, researchers identified 122 compounds used in modern medicine that were derived from traditionally used plants, which may represent the tip of the iceberg for potential uses of medicinal plants worldwide.
Considering what plants must contend with to survive, warding off hungry animals, nibbling insects and encroaching fungi, coupled with the inability to run away, it’s not surprising that they have produced their own suite of potent chemical compounds (or “phytochemicals”) to defend themselves. When used by people, these compounds function in the body similarly to conventional pharmaceuticals.
Thought-provoking as this reasoning may be, determining the effectiveness and reliability of herbal medicine can be confusing to the average consumer. The Food & Drug Administration treats herbs as food supplements, and manufacturers are not permitted to make statements about their effectiveness. They remain unregulated, which can make them seem suspect.
If you found yourself facing a shelf-full of bottles from various manufacturers of a medicinal herb, it would indeed be hard to compare or verify plant sources and the amount of active compounds they contained.
And in general, far less scientific data exists about the effectiveness of herbal medicines than conventional drugs. Pharmaceutical companies have been less incentivized to study medicinal plants than their own exclusive formularies, since they stand to profit far less. But herbal medicine is getting its due in places like Germany, which is generating research and where herbal medicines are offered along-side conventional medicines.
In 2002, the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health began funding clinical trails of the effectiveness of herbal medicines. But like studies conducted by other organizations, its methods have been criticized for reasons like those listed below for one of the most well-known medicinal herbs in the U.S.
Echinacea purpurea, or purple coneflower (see photo), is a flowering plant that is native to Midwestern prairies and popular in home gardens. (We proudly feature it in the BFEC prairie and wildlife garden.) You have likely passed boxes of tea bearing its name on grocery store shelves. It is reported to contain compounds that are antimicrobial, antifungal and boost the immune system.
Used by Native Americans and European settlers to fight infections, it was included in the U.S. National Formulary from 1916-1950. Its popularity in the United States declined after the introduction of antibiotics, though it is currently very popular in Germany.
Echinacea is most commonly used to reduce the severity and duration of the common cold. But studies of its effectiveness have produced conflicting results. Criticism of the studies’ non-standardized preparations help illustrate the complexity of the issue.
For instance, since the flower, stem and roots contain different compounds, which were used? How was the plant harvested, and did the plant’s maturity affect strength of active compounds? Did its freshness (or lack thereof) alter its effectiveness? Further refinement of studies may lead to more answers.
Ok, so you’ve decided to try echinacea for yourself, but how? While some herbal medicines are available in pill form, others appear as teas, tinctures (concentrated extracts) or salves.
Another way to think about medicinal plants, however, is as food. Eating plants loaded with antioxidants or compounds that reduce cholesterols is one way to maintain good health or address the root of chronic illnesses. Many well-known culinary herbs are on medicinal plant lists, having developed (in theory) into cooking herbs of choice because their antifungal or antibacterial properties helped preserve meat prior to the days of refrigeration.
When exactly do herbs like garlic and basil cross the line from being more of a medicine than food? The answer lies in how often you use them. Either way, you have good reasons to take advantage of summer’s tasty treats.
These plants require little to no preparation and are easily located in lawns or woods.
Plantain: Originally from Europe, Native Americans called it “white man’s shoe” because it seemed to follow settlers everywhere. Several species grow readily in lawns. Plant is antimicrobial and stems bleeding, treats stings, swelling, cuts and splinters. Chop or mash the fresh leaves and place directly on affected area. Packed with nutrients, it’s also a good “emergency food.”
Jewel weed: This plant grows 3-4 inches tall in damp woods. Related to impatiens, its “jewel” is a small orange flower. A must-know for hikers, since it is the antidote to poison ivy and stinging nettle. Break open its hollow stem and rub the sap (which resembles aloe vera) on stings and rashes. Also reported to prevent poison ivy rash from occurring when used directly after exposure. Add entertainment to your hike: ripe seed pods explode when touched.
Stinging nettle: How can this plant be an irritant in one moment and medicinal soother the next? It turns out that those stinging spines protect leaves (from the nibbling of hungry wildlife and humans alike) that are packed with vitamins and minerals like iron. Cooking the young leaves like spinach will remove the sting, though wear gloves for the harvest! Leaf teas are used during pregnancy and to treat arthritis. Exposing joints directly to the string is reportedly effective in reducing arthritic pain.
If you’re interested in growing or purchasing your own medicinal herbs, here are a few starters.
Echinacea: Echinacea tops the BFEC list of plants you should know. We stack the BFEC garden and prairie with Echinacea purpurea, or purple coneflower, and recommend it to home gardeners for its drought tolerance, beautiful flower and benefits for bees and butterflies. Add its medicinal uses and its hard to beat. As a cold-fighting medicine, leaves, flowers and stems are used to make teas and tinctures.
Lavender: The essential oil of lavender is referred to by herbalists as “first aid in a bottle.” A confirmed antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic, it is used to treat wounds an take the pain out of bee stings and insect bites. It is also used as a mild antidepressant and to treat insomnia and headaches.
Yarrow: Yarrow is a “weed” that grows in fields and pastures (look for it on the edge of BFEC prairie). Its fine, feathery foliage is topped with dozens of tiny white blooms. It is used by herbalists as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and astringent. Like lavender, it’s a great first-aid herb; yarrow tincture is used to relieve stomach cramps and indigestion, reduce fever, slow bleeding and heal bruising.
An additional sampling of common culinary or wild medicinal plants.
Thyme: This antimicrobial herb is used to treat chest colds and as a disinfectant in cleaning products.
Chickweed: A prolific weed in the garden, it’s added to salads for a vitamin for a vitamin kick or used as a poultice on wounds.
Dandelion: Entire plant is used as food or medicine. Root reduces cholesterol, and leaf is a diuretic and nutritious.
Hawthorn: Small tree or bushy shrub used for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.
Elderberry: Large shrub with dark berries used to make wine and to treat flu and colds; popular in Europe. Berries may be toxic before fully ripe.
Red clover: Excellent source of vitamins and minerals; blossoms are prepared as tea to treat respiratory problems, eczema, menopause and tumors.
Burdock: Reviled for its tenacious burs, the roots of this weed are edible (a common vegetable in Japan) and used to treat skin problems and possibly fight cancer.
Below are resources discovered while researching this article, though they are not intended to provide the final word on the topic. Please keep in mind that “natural” does not equal “safe,” and as with any medication, it is best to consult a health care provider — in this case one that is knowledgeable about herbal medicines.
Companies like ConsumerLab.com, which “tests the purity of health and nutritional byproducts,” have popped up in the absence of regulation to try to provide quality control information to consumers.