Monday, December 11, 2006

Vetiver- its different uses:

Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) is a wild grass with long thin leaves, originated in India. Generally it can be found in Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, java and Haiti. It prevents soil erosion. In India Vetiver oil is well known as Khus or Khas.

Vetiver is well known for its excellent healing property. According to ayurveda the root and oil are used for curing muscular aches, arthritis, heat attack and fever. It has many uses in modern aromatherapy. Vetiver essential oil has deep, sweet, woody, smoky odors and used in making perfumes, soaps etc. It can strengthen the red blood cells and promote oxygen. It is also very useful for many skin ailments. It prevents acne and used for healing cuts. Vetiver is considered to be an effective element on sensitive and older skin.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Calendula- The ornamental plant with medicinal values :

Aah! The name itself carries a beautiful fragrance….

Another common name of calendula is Marigold. This marigold is grown all over the world as an ornamental plant, particularly in North America and Europe.
My grandma stays in North America. In my early days, almost every year, I used to visit her place with my parents.
The major attraction was her garden in her residence, which was awesome because the garden, which used to be full of Calendula flowers, mostly bloomed once in a month or at the new moon.
Although I have mentioned it as an ornamental plant, but the petals of calendula is used for centuries in medicinal purposes.
In Europe, it is used for producing sweat in fevers and in curing jaundice. Calendula is even used to prepare medicine in United States during the 19th century to treat stomach ulcers, wounds, conjunctivitis and liver complaints. Thus the list of applications of calendula is quite a high; even having the properties of healing wound, anti-inflammatory in nature, used in minor burns (including sunburns) and even used in soar throat. Topical uses of calendula would be for scratch, acne, and burns on skin.
Many of the creams contain calendula which is used especially for dry and sensitive skin. Those cream are used as day cream, mostly on the face and neck area. Calendula works as an exceptional skin conditioner and is well known for its ability to mend damaged skin, reduces blemishes, cure bedsores and other forms of fungus.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Therapeutic value of Liquorice :

Liquorice is a deep rooted plant and found mainly in the mediterranean region, central and southwest Asia. It is anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic in nature. The main part of the plant which is used in preparing medicine is the root. The root of the liquorice plant is beneficial in treating coughs, colds and some other respiratory infections.

Some medicinal values of liquorice-
1. Quite useful in treating gastric ulcers, gastric distress, acidity, arthritis.
2.It has importance for the treatment of Hepatitis B.
3. Liquorice also has importance in psoriasis, allergic disorders, chronic fatigue, eczema and depression due to hormonal imbalances.