Herbs

Diseases
Ulcer
Body cleansing
Cough
Cholesterol
Circulation problems
Nausea
Flatulence
Burns
Cold
Digestion problems
Diarrhea
Wounds
Prostate problems
Rheumatic problems
Stress
Earache
Inflammations
High blood pressure
Hemorrhoids
Gout
Acne
Memory
Insomnia
Dandruff

Herbs useful for treating rheumatic problems: Stinging nettle, horsetail, common heather.

Herb name: Nettle, Urtica dioica and Urtica urens

Family: Urticaceae

Useful plant parts: the overground parts and seeds

Description: Small nettle can grow up to 50 cm, while the large nettle can grow over one meter in height. The small nettle is a unicameral plant, while the large nettle is a bicameral perennial. Its leaves are pointed, covered with tiny hair like fibers, and have toothed borders. As most people are probably aware of, contact with skin can cause burns.

Collecting period and locations: Nettles generally like fairly fertilized soil, and are therefore often located near human dwellings, along fences, houses, junkyards, along railways, and at similar places. As for the gathering of this plant, the leaves are picked, in the period from May to August, and are dried up in warm and dry air.

Medicinal properties and applications: The nettle can be used to clean the body from various toxins. Nettle tea is also good for treating bile and liver problems. Active substances from nettle leaves also stimulate secretion of urine, which further contributes to cleaning of the organism. Nettle is also famous for its positive effect on the prostate.

Active compounds: Mineral compunds (relatively high amount of iron), acetylcholine, formic acid, histamine, vitamins and chlorophyll.

Recipe: 2 full teaspoons of dried nettle leaves are added to a fourth liter of boiling water, which is then cooked 5-10 minutes, and strained. Tea is used while still warm, and the standard therapy lasts between 4 and 8 weeks.

Herb name: Horsetail, Equisetum arvense

Family: Equisetaceae

Useful plant parts: Overground parts

Description: Horsetail is a plant that has a branched horizontal root in the soil from which, in early spring, brown nonbranched stems emerge. These stems have sporangiums at their top. A few weeks later, branched green stems emerge, that are usually 20 to 30 cm high, with properly positioned lateral stepwise strips.

Collecting period and locations: Horsetail is picked in early summer, when the stems are still very fresh and green. Only green and branched stems are picked. They are tied in bunches and dried in that form. As for the locations, horsetail is a relatively widespread weed, it grows along paths, edges of meadows, on embankments; most commonly on relatively wet and clay rich soils.

Medicinal properties and applications: Horsetail tea is good for various conditions - for the treatment of rheumatic problems, chronic cough, leg swelling due to problems with substance exchange in the organism, problems with bladder and kidneys. Also, it often a part in tea blends for blood cleansing.

Active compounds: Silicon dioxide, flavonoids and saponins.

Recipe: 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried and crumbled horsetail are soaked for 12 hours in a quarter liter of water, or alternatively, 1-2 teaspons of the same material are added to hot water and left for about half an hour. 2-3 cups a day are taken usually.

Herb name: Common heather, Calluna vulgaris

Family: Ericaceae

Useful plant parts: Upper parts of stems together with the flowers

Description: Common heather is a medicinal plant that can grow to a height of about one meter. It can live a relatively long time, even for several decades. The fairly branched stems of this plant are wooden at their bottoms and are spread close to the ground. The upper parts of vertical stems develop light purple flowers.

Collecting period and locations: Common heather is mostly picked during the time of blooming (August and September). Usually the flowers are picked, which are removed from the stems, or the stems can be picked together with the flowers. The flowers, together with the stems, are dried in a dark and airy place. Concerning places where common heather can be found, it is usually located in larger areas where a large number of these plants can be found. It likes acidic soil and can be found in relatively dry woods that get plenty of light. Sometimes this species can be found growing on meadows too.

Medicinal properties and applications: Common heather has been used since ancient times in herbal medicine for a large number of diseases. It is often used for blood and overall body cleansing, for increasing excretion of urine, and for treating kidney and urinary stones. However, the most common application of this medicinal herb is the treatment of rheumatism and gout.

Common heather can also be added as a spice to many different meals, such as cooked green beans, fresh cheese, cheese with salami, cheese with scallions, cheese cones, but also many other.

Active compounds: Arbutin, hydroquinone, glycosids, tannins, saponins and mineral compounds.

Recipe: Usually tea is prepared from this plant by adding about two teaspoons of dried flowers to a quarter liter of boiling water. The thea is then left for about 15 minutes. After that, the tea is strained, and can be drinked. Usually two to three cups of this tea are taken throughout the day.