The Sunflower Power

The Sunflower (Scientific Name: Helianthus annuus Linn.) is a well-known plant that grows anywhere. The seeds found on the inflorescense are commercially used for food and for extracting edible oil. There are many varieties of sunflowers. They are cultivated not only for commercial purpose, but in many gardens, as an ornamental.

These are the common uses of this plant as a medicine:

• It can heal wounds, bruises and ulcers.
• Use in the treatment of pulmonary diseases, bronchitis, cough, asthma, dysentery, whooping cough and colds.
• It helps in relieving headaches.
• Use in the treatment of nervous conditions.

How to use this plant in treating patients:

• The crushed leaves and the seeds made into a poultice is used for application of bruises, wounds and ulcers.
• The flowers and the dried or fresh leaves are prepared as tea in pulmonary diseases, bronchitis, coughs, asthma, dysentery and whooping cough.
• The oil extracted from the raw seeds is recommended for chest diseases in doses of 10 to 15 drops, 2 to 3 times a day. The drink made from the seeds is good for headache, nervous conditions, pulmonary diseases and colds.

Reference: Amazing Healing Plants by Dr. JC Kurian

Chrysanthemum's Bloom Power

 

Flowers are used as ornamentals in our home, but wait until you will discover the power of this plant that we usually used in funerals and altars, the Chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemum (Scientific Name: Chrysanthemum indicum Linn.) is an erect, hairy, whitish herb. It is perennial, aromatic plant which grows to about 60 cm high. The leaves are sharply toothed, ovate-oblong, with 2 or 3 lobes on each side. Flowers are borne in white, purple, yellow and other colored heads. The disc florets are numerous. The fruit is very small, somewhat compressed and grooved. The plant is widely cultivated for ornamental purposes.

The whole part of the plant can used for medicinal purposes in normal dosage:

• Relieves colds, headaches and inflamed respiratory tracts.
• Can be used for bronchitis, whooping cough, boils, accumulation of pus in tissues, swellings and rheumatism.
• For the treatment of intermittent fevers, hysteria and painful menstrual flow.
• For hypertension.
• To expel gases, flatulence, and griping pains from stomach and bowel.
• Used as sedative.
• Gives tone and vitality to the body.
• can be used against fungal infection.
• Use to relieve abdominal pains.

These are the procedures on how to use this plant as a medicine:

• The decoction of the whole plant is recommended to relieve colds, headaches, inflamed respiratory tracts and also for bronchitis, whooping cough, boils, accumulation, of pus, swellings and rheumatism.
• The infusion of flowers is good for intermittent fevers, hysteria, and painful menstrual flow.
• The tea made from the flowers expels gases, flatulence, pain in the stomach and bowels; also acts as a sedative and tonic.
• The oil is applied locally in fungal infected areas, and also for abdominal pains.

Reference: The Amazing Healing Plants by Dr. JC Kurian

The Soothing Relief from Gumamela (Hibiscus)

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Hibiscus (Scientific Name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.) , commonly known as Gumamela in the Philippines, is one of the most common shrubs used for hedges. It grows in any soil with little care. The flower is solitary, half-opened in the morning, but as the weather warms up, it opens fully. The foliage of this shrub is deep green in color. Surprisingly, this plant has magical medicinal powers. Kids in the block just pick these flowers and play with the petals and its parts, not knowing how powerful the plant is as a medicine.

These are the medicinal use of the plant:

• Coughs and colds.
• Gentle laxative and a softener of inflamed parts.
• Soothes internal and external wounds and sores.
• It also soothes the alimentary tract and relieves inflammation.
• Lowers body heat.

Every part of the plant can be used as a medicine and in normal dosage. These are the instructions on how to use the plant as a medicine:

• The decoction of hibiscus roots are used for coughs and colds.
• The leaves make a gentle laxative and  soften inflamed parts.
• The application of the crushed flowers soothes external wounds and sores.
• The infusion of the petals of the flower soothes and protects the alimentary tract, relieves inflammation and lowers body heat.
• In fevers, an infusion of the flowers help to reduce body temperature.

Reference: Amazing Healing Plants by Dr. JC Kurian

The Carambola (Balimbing) Fever

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The Carambola or Star fruit (Scientific Name: Averrhoa carambola Linn.) is commonly known as Balimbing in the Philippines. It belongs to the plant family, Oxalidaceae. This ornamental tree grows to a height of about eight meters. The leaves are ovate to elliptic. The flowers are bell-shaped, small with purple petals. The winged fruits are pulpy and juicy, with three to five ribs. The gold or yellow ripe fruit is edible but is sour in flavor.

This fruit has surprisingly use as medicine in different ailments:

• Prevents and cures scurvy and cools the system.
• Good for fevers of any kind.
• Bleeding piles and temporary mental disorder cased by high fever.
• Stings and bites of insects.

These are some of the ways on how to use this fruit as a medicine:

• The dried fruit prevents and cures survey and cools the system.
• The fresh juice of the ripe fruit is good for fever of any kind.
• The ripe fruit is used for bleeding piles and temporary mental disorder caused by high fever.
• The crushed leaves applied externally are recommended for stings and insect bites.

Common parts used in medication are the fruit and the leaves of this tree,

Reference: Amazing Healing Plants by Dr. JC Kurian