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7 Of The Most Interesting Plant Based Medicines
Cathy
7 Of The Most Interesting Plant Based Medicines
Plant-based medicines, popularly known as traditional medicines in the old days, were used to treat various ailments and improve health. They were derived from the root, stem, bark, branch, leaves, or fruits of a particular plant, depending on its medicinal properties.
Over time, modern medicine borrowed from the effectiveness of these plants to manufacture today’s medicine. However, even with modern medicine, a large population around the world still depends on the natural world to make treatments.
This brief article will highlight the most popular plant-based medicines available in almost every corner of the world and the ailments they treat.
Aloe Vera: The Healing Plant
Aloe vera is a common plant that grows under different climatic conditions and is popularly known for its versatile medicinal value. This plant has succulent leaves harvested for their slippery liquid, which has soothing properties. The leaves are commonly applied to treat various skin conditions by applying the leaf extract directly on the surface. It’s also effective for treating minor skin irritations, cuts, and insect bites.
Due to its cooling effect, aloe vera gel is used to immediately relieve and heal burns and sunburns. Its compounds also promote healing. Its juice helps resolve certain digestive issues, such as constipation and irritable bowel.
Turmeric: The Golden Spice
Turmeric is a bright yellow spice often used in recipes. The tuber contains a compound called curcumin, which has great medicinal properties. It acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, helping reduce inflammation in the body, and an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage.
For those suffering from joint pains due to arthritis, it will help relieve pressure on the affected region when consumed as part of the diet. When added to your diet as a spice or taken as a supplement, it can help with conditions like indigestion and bloating.
Ginger: The Stomach Soother
A ginger plant, its root is used in traditional medicine mainly for its ability to soothe digestive issues. It’s also highly effective in treating nausea and vomiting, including morning sickness in expectant mothers and motion sickness when traveling.
Like turmeric, ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce muscle pain and soreness. You can consume ginger fresh, dried, or in supplement form to enhance digestion and help relieve indigestion and bloating.
Cannabis: The Versatile Healer
The controversial cannabis plant has gained a lot of attention from the medical field due to its medicinal properties. Unlike the way it was posed as a drug with negative influence, in recent years, it has been found to contain valuable compounds, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
In countries like the United Kingdom, cannabis medicine is regulated and offered in licensed clinics for the treatment of several conditions, such as chronic pain from conditions like arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Hence, if you have a patient, finding the best medical cannabis clinics in the UK may not be a challenge.
The specialized clinics also use cannabis to help patients deal with anxiety, depression, insomnia, and PTSD. The clinics offer it to patients using vaporisers and edibles for comfort and to enhance the effectiveness of the plant’s compounds.
Echinacea: The Immune Booster
Echinacea is a flowering plant often used to boost the immune system, making people less susceptible to infections. Hence, it is commonly used to prevent and treat the common cold and flu by reducing the intensity and recovery period. For immune support, it’s best to start taking it at the first sign of a cold or flu.
Echinacea can also be applied to the skin to promote wound healing by protecting it from infection and reducing inflammation. It can be used in various forms, including adding it to your cup of tea. Modern labs also produce Echinacea capsules for ease of ingestion.
Garlic: The Heart Helper
Garlic is usually used when cooking to add flavor to food, but you may not know its medicinal value. While enjoying garlic in your meals, it can help control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Hence, it saves you from the risk of getting heart-related diseases.
It also contains antimicrobial and antiviral properties, which help your body fight various infections. If a patient has an inflammatory condition, it can relieve the inflammatory condition.
Garlic tubers can be eaten raw or cooked, but modern medicine has made garlic supplements available for those who don’t like its taste or smell.
Peppermint: The Digestive Aid
Peppermint is another plant used for centuries to treat digestive problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It contains oils that effectively relieve bloating, gas, and abdominal pain. Peppermint can also help relieve symptoms of respiratory conditions like colds and congestion. Due to its refreshing aroma, it is good for suppressing nausea and relieving headaches and congestion when strategically applied on the surface.
Why Being Able to Manage Your Finances Matters in Business
As you are likely aware, money is a very big part of any business. Without money, businesses fail and if you are going to be a successful business owner, it is important that you have an understanding of finances and if you do not, you should ask for help. There are still some people out there that still don’t think finance management matters in business and if you are one of those people, here is why managing your finances matters.
You May Not Be Able to Get a Loan
Something that you are likely going to depend on for your business is business loans. Unless you are someone that has a lot of money saved up that you can use for your business, it is likely that you are going to need a bank loan to support your business. If you have a history of poor credit, it is also likely that you may have gone through bankruptcy in your past. Now, dealing with creditors after bankruptcy will be a bit of an annoying experience and they can be very reluctant to help you, so it is important that you prepare for this ahead of time.
You Have Things You Need to Pay For
Something that you have to consider is that with your business there will be constant costs that you probably haven’t even considered or budgeted for. You have likely thought about rent and utility costs, but have you thought about the cost of buying equipment for your business? Have you thought about small things such as staying stocked up on pens and toilet roll? Business owners tend not to think about stuff like this, but it is important to have designated funds in the budget for it.
Your Employees Need a Wage
Something else that you are going to consider is that your employees are going to need a wage. This is another thing that a lot of business owners neglect to think about and it is one of the biggest costs that you are going to have as a business. You need to also consider how much of your budget you are going to be able to allot to the payroll, as this will help you determine how many workers you will be able to take on and what kind of hours you will be able to offer them.
Pricing Strategy is Important
One of the most important aspects of managing your finances is going to be the pricing strategy for your business. Your pricing strategy essentially controls everything and if it is not well thought out, then you are going to run into problems. If you price the aspects of your business too low, you won’t make enough money to cover the overall costs that you may have as a business. However, if you overprice your items to achieve more profit, then it is likely that nobody will want to buy from your business.
It Can Impact Your Personal Finances
You have to remember that as the owner of a business, you are liable to what happens to your business. You have to remember that if your business fails, your workers can just move on and find more work, but if it fails you have to deal with the fall out of it all. If your business fails and your business owes money, this means that you owe money and this can weigh really heavy on you. If your business fails, you can be left with a lot of debt that could really destroy your personal life, so understanding your finances really matters.