How to heal yourself with mountain plants

La chamomile To tone the skin and improve sleep quality. Bilberry helps with diarrhea and bile duct diseases.nettle, an excellent cleanser that also helps stop hair loss.

Mountain plants can help us solve many problems due to their soothing and, in some cases, even therapeutic qualities. The important thing is not to expect miracles, and to go to the doctor—not the usual Dr. Google—when necessary based on the symptoms of your illness. Otherwise, if you frequent the mountains, all you need to do is recognize mountain flowers, herbs, and plants, perhaps using one of the most popular apps. These include: Pl@ntnet, which can be downloaded from the Play Store or the App Store; iForest, which you can access on both Android and iOS; and Herbarium, available only on Android.

To treat ourselves with mountain plants, we need to understand their characteristics and the types of problems they're suitable for. Just like when we go to the pharmacy to get a medicine, based on a doctor's prescription. There's no single mountain plant that can be effective for everything. Let's look at the most common and useful ones.

Sweet woodruff

THESweet woodruff It lives in shady areas and is a plant with a slender stem that produces six to eight white flowers, which bloom from May to July. Woodruff is excellent against intestinal and stomach disorders, cureslack of appetiteIt relieves hyperactivity, controls epilepsy, and also has excellent diuretic and sedative properties. It should be picked before it flowers, dried, and preserved for use when needed. It also makes excellent infusions, prepared by steeping 50 grams of woodruff in a liter of boiling water for about an hour.

Blackberry

Il Blackberry It's an undergrowth plant, highly effective against diarrhea, biliary diseases, and acute enteritis, ailments for which a decoction is an excellent remedy. Boil two or three handfuls of blueberries, fresh or dried, in half a liter of water for five minutes. Then, strain it and drink the juice throughout the day, three times, on an empty stomach. You can also prepare a tincture of blueberries. blueberryBy steeping three handfuls of berries in a liter of old grappa for ten days, a spoonful of this tincture, taken in a cup of hot water, will soothe your ailments. Eczema and itchy skin can be treated with blueberry ointment, made by crushing the berries and boiling them until the water evaporates. The resulting syrup will be stored in airtight containers for use as needed. Blueberries are a protected species in Lombardy and Friuli, so harvesting them is prohibited in these regions.

Nettle

THENettle It is rich in mineral salts and vitamins C and A, potassium, calcium and phosphorus, and has diuretic, anti-anemic and purifying properties. It can also be used to combat hair loss, diabetes, diarrhea, rheumatism, and gout. An excellent decoction is prepared by cooking 50 g of leaves and young stems in 1.5 liters of water and boiling until reduced to 1 liter. Then strain and bottle, drinking up to 3 small glasses a day. In some areas, it may be considered a protected species, so always check before picking, unless you grow it yourself.

Watercress

Il Watercress, an annual plant of the cruciferous family, grows near waterways and is excellent for the kidneys, because of its diuretic properties. It also has notable invigorating properties, therefore it is beneficial for those suffering from asthenia, and helps to detoxify the bodyIts leaves, applied to the skin, treat infections. The fresh juice of the stem and flowers has expectorant properties, thus relieving respiratory ailments.

Spontaneous lavender

La Spontaneous lavender It is considered a true "magic plant" due to its many active ingredients. The oil obtained from it, when inhaled, works very well as a relaxant for anxiety, nervousness, stress, and even insomnia. In some cases, it also has positive effects on headaches. Furthermore, mountain lavender is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, relieves neck pain and muscle strains, and heals burns and insect bites.

Calendula

CalendulaIts mucilage has a protective and emollient effect, making it an excellent natural remedy for diaper rash in infants or even for sun protection. Calendula also has excellent antiseptic and antibacterial properties.

Mountain chamomile

La mountain chamomile It's ideal for sleep, but it's also an excellent remedy for decongesting the intestines, toning the skin, and refreshing the body. Its qualities were already described in the writings of Pliny the Elder.

St. John's wort

THESt. John's wort, also known as St. John's wort, is rich in flavonoids and hypericin. It's a perfect soothing agent with healing properties, especially for sunburn.

Mountain arnica

THEMountain arnica Also known as the “fall herb”, it is excellent for sprains, bruises, general trauma, muscle strains and tendonitis.

Mauve

Mallow. It grows not only in the mountains, but also in the plains. When it comes into contact with water, it produces mucilage, the active ingredients in its soothing and emollient properties. Mallow is valuable for protecting the gastric mucosa and promoting intestinal transit.

Elder

Elderberry. This mountain plant is well known for the syrup it produces. Its flowers also have soothing and protective effects on the upper respiratory tract.

Read also:

• Rediscovering well-being with anti-stress plants: what they are and all their health benefits
• Calendula: properties, uses and benefits
• Aloe vera: properties, benefits, and how to use it

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