Healing Herbs

Speedwell: Benefits, Uses and How to Prepare It IMPORTANT: Speedwell (Veronica officinalis) is regarded as a gentle plant in folk medicine, but it is not without precautions. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid it unless advised by a doctor, because its effects during pregnancy are not sufficiently studied. People with chronic liver or kidney conditions, those undergoing drug treatments (especially anticoagulants, antidiabetic medication, or blood-pressure medicine), and young children should not use speedwell without first speaking to a doctor or pharmacist. Speedwell does NOT replace prescribed treatment and is not a remedy for serious illness; a persistent cough, prolonged fever, blood in the sputum, or breathing difficulties require urgent medical attention. Use only correctly identified plants, gathered from clean, unpolluted areas, well away from roadsides. ...

Plantain Herb: Benefits, Uses and How to Prepare It Step by Step IMPORTANT: Plantain is generally a gentle, well-tolerated herb, but there are situations in which it should be used with caution. People with known allergies to plants in the Plantaginaceae family or with pollen sensitivity may react to plantain, especially to leaves harvested during the flowering period. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should use plantain only after consulting their doctor, particularly in the form of concentrated preparations. Because plantain may have a mild blood-sugar-lowering and blood-thinning effect, people with diabetes and those taking anticoagulant medication should be attentive and check with their physician. Plantain does not replace medical treatment: in the case of a cough lasting more than two or three weeks, persistent fever, or a deep, infected, or non-healing wound, see a doctor. Applying leaves to the skin should always be done with well-washed leaves, to avoid contaminating the wound. ...