List of Information of Mexican Medicinal Plants

Mexico is home to thousands of medicinal plants used in teas, infusions, poultices and common food dishes. The aloe vera plant is used worldwide for its internal and external healing properties. Cilantro is a common plant found on many dishes and is used as a stomach tonic. Many of the plants commonly used in Mexico have numerous healing properties.

Herbal Teas

• Oregano de la Sierra or Mexican oregano is a plant native to rocky conditions in Mexico and Central America and is used as a hot tea for coughs. It is also used for stomach indigestion and gas. Yerba Buena or spearmint works as a tea for soothing the stomach and head and helps to ease the pain of childbirth. It can be brewed with cinnamon, clove and nutmeg as a hangover cure and for gas. Yerbanis or Mexican Marigold Mint found in southern Mexico is used as a medicinal tea for calming the stomach and nerves and helps alleviate cold and hangover symptoms. It is a popular tea with the Tarahumara Indians of Chihuahua and the Huichol Indians of Jalisco and Nayarit who use it for religious rituals. Tea made from the arnica plant clears up cold symptoms and relieves fatigue.

Poultices And Infusions

• Many herbs are used as poultices for external wounds or are brewed as infusions (herbs soaked in alcohol) for different medicinal purposes. Arnica is one of Mexico's "most versatile herbs," and besides its use as a tea, it works as both an infusion and a poultice for the treatment of external wounds and bruises. Sores and open wounds can be treated with an arnica infusion made with water. Mexican sávila (aloe vera) has gained worldwide recognition for its uses as a treatment for skin disorders including burns, cuts, scrapes and other skin issues. The pulp from the plant can be applied directly to the skin as a poultice and an infusion can be created to treat internal problems as well.

Medicinal Plant Uses In Recipes

• According to the SpanishLink.org Web site over 5,000 medicinal plants are used in everyday Mexican food dishes. Cilantro, also known as coriander is used to flavor dishes and works as a stomach tonic that also strengthens the heart. This plant's leaves are common in stews, soups and sauces. Fresh rosemary or romero is prepared as a side vegetable dish for fish or other seafood meals. Epazote leaves are commonly added to tortilla dishes including quesadillas to add flavor and for its anti-parasitic properties. The thick leaves of the prickly pear cactus is commonly used in egg and salad dishes. It is popular as an "effective control" of cholesterol and blood sugar levels.