Herbal Plants
BY KEVIN
WHAT ARE HERBAL PLANTS ?
Medicinal plants, also called medicinal herbs, have
been discovered and used in traditional medicine
practices since prehistoric times. Plants synthesise
hundreds of chemical compounds for functions
including defence against insects, fungi, diseases, and
herbivorous mammals.
PEPPERMINT
Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between
watermint and spearmint. Indigenous to Europe and
the Middle East, the plant is now widely spread and
cultivated in many regions of the world. It is
occasionally found in the wild with its parent species.
CATNIP
Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip, catswort,
catwort, and catmint, is a species of the genus Nepeta
in the family Lamiaceae, native to southern and
eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and
parts of China. It is widely naturalized in northern
Europe, New Zealand, and North America.
BASIL
Basil, also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the
family Lamiaceae. Basil is native to tropical regions
from central Africa to Southeast Asia. It is a tender
plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide.
CHAMOMILE
Chamomile or camomile is the common name for
several daisy-like plants of the family Asteraceae. Two
of the species are commonly used to make herbal
infusions for traditional medicine, although there is
no evidence that chamomile has any effect on health
or diseases.
ALOE VERA
Aloe vera is a succulent plant species of the genus
Aloe. An evergreen perennial, it originates from the
Arabian Peninsula, but grows wild in tropical, semi-
tropical, and arid climates around the world. It is
cultivated for agricultural and medicinal uses.
THYME
Thyme is any member of the genus Thymus of
aromatic perennial evergreen herbs in the mint family
Lamiaceae. Thymes are relatives of the oregano genus
Origanum. They have culinary, medicinal, and
ornamental uses, and the species most commonly
cultivated and used for culinary purposes is Thymus
vulgaris.
GARLIC
Currently, garlic is widely used for several conditions
linked to the blood system and heart, including
atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high
cholesterol, heart attack, coronary heart disease, and
hypertension.
MOTHERWORT
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) is an herb in the
mint family. It is used as a remedy for female
reproductive disorders. For instance, it's purported to
help regulate menstrual periods, especially when
someone is anxious or tense.
