List of Medicinal Plants and their Uses: 5 Incredible Plants to Have Nearby!

Last Updated on March 25, 2023 by Jeremy

We often wonder when walking on a nearby nature trail, or just on a stroll in the countryside if there was a list of medicinal plants and their uses available as a quick reference.

Then it hit me, you would probably find one about a mile long, as there are so many wild plants within the universe that can be used for medicinal purposes.

Medicinal plants, by definition (According to Wikipedia):

also called medicinal herbs, have been discovered and used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times.[mfn]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicinal_plants[/mfn]

As a matter of fact, the Greek, Romans, and the Egyptians have documents of medicinal plants dating back in an era of 3000BC on clay tablets. This means that they are definitely not new.

What this also means is that medicinal plants play a very important role in a natural remedy situation. Which brings me to introduce to you a list of 5 incredible plants you should consider sourcing out for its medicinal uses.

In this article I will give you criteria for selecting a medicinal plant, how to prepare a medicinal plant for use, plus follow it up with a conclusion that wraps up the article.

So, let’s not waste any more time, and increase your knowledge of the uses of these 5 plants!

~ As an affiliate, I may earn commissions from links clicked at no extra cost to you.~

Criteria for selection of medicinal plants

---

First, let’s talk about what a medicinal plants criteria should be when selecting a random one of the ground. The biggest thing to look at is the plants traditional use. Take Stinging Nettle as an example:

The traditional uses are that the plant can be prepared in capsules, an oil infusion, as a cooking herb, a syrup, tea or infusion, or even as a tincture or vinegar.

Going beyond this, its food uses should be a reason to insert it into the criteria list, as well as the plants nutritional profile. With stinging nettle, the food it can be substituted with is spinach, or it can be added to soups and stir-fries.

And its nutritional profile is through the roof, as it is high in calcium, magnesium, chlorophyll, iron, vitamins A, C and D, zinc, potassium, chromium, cobalt, niacin, phosphorus, manganese, and silica.

Another part of the criteria for selection of a medicinal plant is the scientific research. As we mentioned earlier, that it dates back to the 1500-3000 BC era, we still would like to know about more recent studies. Continuing on with nettle:

“The seventeenth-Century physician and astrologer Nicholas Culpeper recommended the use of nettles to ‘Consume the phlegmatic superflities in the body of man that the coldness and moisture of winter has left behind’. He also prescribed the juice of the leaves as a treatment for gangrene and scabies“.[mfn]The Boreal Herbal: By Beverley Gray[/mfn]

Of course, the last thing we need to consider is some safety precautions before picking any medicinal plant. After stinging nettle enters the flower and seed stages, old leaves develop particles that are gritty, called “cystoliths”, and they can irritate the urinary tract if eaten or ingested as tea.

Have a watch on this 3-minute video of a traditional healer preparing medicinal herbs:

List of medicinal plants and their uses

---

Now that we have the generalized criteria out of the way, let’s find out what 5 incredible plants you need nearby for future usage.

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)

What might most be known as a treatment for the common cold and flu, Echinacea comes from a plant in the daisy family.

The upper parts of the plant and its roots are used in tablets, tinctures, extracts, and teas. It can also be used as an ingredient of a juice because its also known to reduce inflammation.

According to Pub Med:

Echinacea preparations are commonly used to prevent and treat upper respiratory tract infection.[mfn]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31126553[/mfn]

Plus its been known to reduce anxiety, lower blood sugar levels, and help treat skin concerns. Because there have been many scientific studies and meta-analysis performed on this plant, the safety consideration of echinacea is it:

may have undesirable interactions with various drugs prescribed for diseases, such as heart disease, bleeding, and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or psoriasis.[mfn]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinacea#Side_effects[/mfn]

Echinacea is native to central and eastern North America.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

If you recall of an article The Health Benefits of Eating Raw Ginger: The #1 Amazing Root to a Healthier You, ginger was first recognized between the era of 475-221BC, and is native to tropical regions of Asia.

Its traditional uses are commonly found in culinary forms, but can also be utilized as a supplement.

Scientific evidence and studies have shown that ginger can help heal many parts of a body like:

• easing nausea, especially associated with pregnancy, motion sickness, seasickness, surgery, and chemotherapy
• reducing inflammation and pain associated with arthritis
• boosting the immune system
• aiding indigestion
• improving heart health and brain function
• preventing some cancers of the gastrointestinal system and female reproductive system

Precautions and safety considerations of ginger can take its toll as well, mostly after ingestion. This includes it may cause heartburn, bleeding, lead to diarrhea, upset your stomach, cause gas, lower your blood sugar, cause skin irritation, and eye irritation, to name a few.

I don’t know, add a lemon and some honey to ginger, and you have a pretty impressive cold suppressant in my opinion.

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Here’s a plant that can be found in Europe, Asia and North Africa, and can be traditionally used as teas, liquids, topical ointments, or tablets.

Research has shown that this plant can aid with the treatment in depression, symptoms of menopause, and what is called somatic symptom disorder, which is a:

condition that causes severe anxiety about physical symptoms such as pain, weakness or shortness of breath.[mfn]https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-st-johns-wort/art-20362212[/mfn]

Unfortunately, some side effects can occur when ingesting this medicinal plants properties, some of which may be caused from interactions with other medications.

The main ones to keep an eye on are:

• Headache
• Diziness
• Diahrea
• Dry Mouth
• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to Light

Not to worry too much however, as generally St. Johns Wort is pretty safe. It would still be wise to consult with a physician before taking any of these medicinal plants, regardless of form.

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

Another useful plant designed for health is milk thistle, which is native to the Mediterranean region, but can now be found globally. Known as “the liver fixer upper“, milk thistle is available in a capsule, tablet or liquid and can be used to treat problems such as:

• Liver Disease
• Indigestion
• Diabetes

Scientific studies confirm mixed results on the treatment of Cirrhosis, but positive effects on the controlling of indigestion in combination with other substances.

If not taken in appropriate doses orally, the side effects can result in headache, itchiness, and gastrointestinal issues. Also, it has been known to cause a severe allergic reaction so its best to do more research with your doctor before advancing upon this natural remedied plant.

Wild Chamomile (Matricaria discoidea)

Lastly, on the list of medicinal plants and their uses is this popular “herb” called Chamomile, but more specifically, Wild Chamomile. Other names for this plant might be known as pineappleweed or false chamomile, but this plant grows in North America and can be used in a bath, as an infused oil, salve, tea, cream or wash.

Known to take action as an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, hypnotic and mild sedative, this medicinal plant is perfect in a tea or tincture to settle gas, heartburn and gastrointestinal issues.

It is also used as a remedy for menstrual cramping, plus it acts as a cleanser to rid the body of pinworms, which is:

a condition that makes children cranky, irritable, grind their teeth, and scratch their bottoms.[mfn]The Boreal Herbal: By Beverly Gray[/mfn]

Because of its similarities to chamomile, wild chamomile can be taken a little less precausiously as its properties are much milder. That said, cautions are that it may cause allergies in people with sensitivities to plants in the Astreraceae family.

By Krzysztof Ziarnek – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

How to prepare and use medicinal plants

---

Now that we’ve witnessed 5 awesome plants to keep your eyes out for, let’s talk about how to prepare and use each of these plants. Different forms of preparations are used in each whether its for a tincture, cream or tea, so different methods are to be used.

Remembering from the video above, olive oil should be combined with the dried plants to create the tinctures. But what about something like making a herbal tea?

Here’s a 6-minute video that will give you a step-by step direction of how to make a herbal tea:

A key piece of advice before preparing and using these plants is to assume the person taking these medicines will need to follow dosage guidelines. As well, making sure you have correctly identified these medicinal plants will lead to avoiding some common mistakes.

Going back to our stinging nettle plant as our example, here’s a remedy that helps prevent allergies and is an overall tonic for the body.

How to prepare: Put nettle leaves (1 part) in a jar, cover with vodka (2 parts) and let steep for 30 days. Shake every day.

How to Use: As a tincture, usually made every year.

As for the rest of the plants, the only offering I can showcase is through the usage of supplements. A well respected brand name called Jameson has some, if not, all the above plant names in the form of pills.

You’re more than welcome to check out the link and find your brand:

CANADA’S MOST TRUSTED BRAND OF VITAMINS

Conclusion

---

Gearing down to the end of the article, let’s do a bit of a recap of the benefits of using medicinal plants.

A) It’s a healthier alternative to cure medical issues.

B) It can be used in a variety of different ways including foods, teas, tinctures and creams.

C) The side effects are surprisingly low.

D) Plant based medicines have been around for thousands, and thousands of years.

If you haven’t done so already, may I encourage you to try natural remedies for your next issue after consulting with your healthcare professional. They are safer than one might think and in the end, may even save on the pocketbook.

What medicinal plants have you used? I’d like to hear some chatter in the comments below if you’d like another list of medicinal plants to use.

Earth is Heart!