Medicinal herbs make up a great variety of techniques and treatments that, over the years, were used to help with different health conditions. Many plants are used in herbal medicines due to their clinically proven therapeutic efficacies, but they may not sound familiar to you.

Below are five herbs which properties and benefits are still not known to many people but are used in herbal medicines for centuries.

Bacopa

Traditional Indian medicine uses Bacopa to enhance memory and reduce anxiety. It is being prescribed to enhance intellectual abilities and alleviate the symptoms of diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. It helps relieve stress, mild anxiety, and poor concentration. Besides these benefits, it has also proven to be effective in improving digestion and reducing asthma symptoms due to its relaxing action on the respiratory tract.

Various clinical and pharmacological trials are being developed that provide scientific consistency to some of its therapeutic attributions. However, due to the lack of a unanimous agreement on its efficacy, more evidence is required. 

It is not easy to find the dried Bacopa plant for infusion. However, you can find it in tincture form, sometimes associated with vitamins B and E.

Chaparral

Chaparral has powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties and is highly appreciated in traditional and millenary medicine.

Traditionally Chaparral was used by indigenous tribes to prevent and attack sexually transmitted viruses. Now it is claimed to help alleviate the symptoms of more than 50 ailments, including arthritis, skin conditions, stomach pain and the common cold. Although it can be prepared as an infusion, the common way to consume it is in the form of tincture or capsules.

Coltsfoot

Since ancient times, Coltsfoot has been used for medicinal purposes due to its healing properties and disinfectant and expectorant effect. Its anti-inflammatory properties help cope with the symptoms of bronchitis.

It is also used in respiratory conditions such as asthma and whooping cough in traditional medicine.

 The freshly encapsulated flowers and the leaves that appear later are used to prepare infusions taken warm against all types of respiratory tract infections.

Arnica

There are two species: HeterotecaInuloides or Mexican arnica and Arnica montana L., which are used to treat inflammatory conditions, as well as for the alleviation of contusions, sprains, rheumatic problems, wounds, bruises and pain.

The presence of fatty acids in arnica oil favors the penetration of bioactive and anti-inflammatory compounds through the skin. This plant has been shown to activate cells of the immune system, including neutrophils - cells that attack harmful bacteria.

Sage

All species of Sage (Salvia officinalis) contain a certain amount of an odorous essence to which they owe their main medicinal virtues.

Internally, the infusion of the flowery bouquets, due to its content in essence, is a stimulant of the glands related to digestion, which is why it is a stomach tonic and a carminative mixture.

Sage also contains tenolenes and various tannin substances to which they owe their vulnerable and healing virtues. The fresh leaves or the entire plant with the flowers still in the bud are crushed and used to prepare healing poultices for all kinds of wounds, sores or burns.