11 plants with healing properties

The word heal means to become integrated into a whole. So, when we find ourselves in a state of disease, illness or injury, it’s important to recognise that our body is trying to guide us back to a place of wholeness – nudging us to reintegrate, so to speak. Fortunately, nature is here to facilitate this process. The 11 flowers, leaves, vines, woods and resins below are among the Earth’s most primal gifts with powerful healing qualities. Most of them are endemic to Indonesia, others hail from other continents, and many of them we cultivate ourselves in the Tirta Usada medicinal herb gardens in central Bali. Each plant offers its own unique medicinal and spiritual qualities, recognised by traditional, herbal and folk medicine practices around the world.

Aloe vera

Famed across the world for its skin-healing qualities, aloe vera is commonly used to treat wounds, lacerations, injuries, burns, blistering, acne, rashes and more. It’s known for its ability to draw toxins from the body, and can be taken internally as a powerful antioxidant. Aloe vera has also been used to assist the treatment of conditions such as diabetes, typhoid and other bacterial infections. Its cooling gel is believed to be helpful for the digestive tract.

Anredera cordifolia

Commonly called binahong in Indonesia – or Madeira vine in the English-speaking world – Anredera cordifolia is known throughout the tropics for its versatile healing qualities. It was used as a natural medicine by the Vietnamese army during the Vietnam War, and is said to be one of the reasons for their victory. Several studies have shown that it effectively speeds-up wound healing and even promotes bone healing and growth. It’s also been adopted in various folk medicine practices to improve kidney function, prevent diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis (including rheumatoid), gout, and intestinal infections. Astrologically, this helpful, useful, all-rounder herb, corresponds with Virgo – a sign associated with improvement, refinement, and healing.

Boswellia serrata

Frankincense is one of the most celebrated scents in history. One of the three gifts brought to the Messiah by the three Magi, this sacred resin is widely revered and associated with a deeply spiritual symbolism. Kinesiology investigation revealed that Frankincense is primarily associated with the zodiac sign of Cancer, which is evident through its nerve-calming and spiritually-healing qualities. In esoteric practices, the burning of this resin is believed to repel evil spirits and call in the angels and benevolent beings from the spirit world. In modern herbal medicine research, Frankincense is best-known for its use in cancer treatment.

Calendula officinalis

When discussing calendula, the first thing that comes to mind is wound healing and infection prevention. Sometimes referred to as the pot marigold, it is probably one of the most powerful healing herbs around, working on all tissues – internal and external. Soft, gentle and restorative in character, calendula is wonderful for soothing and brightening the skin. It’s also known and loved for its high antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties and is sometimes taken internally to treat conditions in the digestive tract, inflammation and more. In homeopathy, the remedy Calendula is used to speed-up healing processes in almost any tissue in the body. Emotionally, it addresses sensations of being deeply wounded.

Centella asiatica

Gotu Kola, known as pegagan here in Indonesia, is a wonderful circulatory stimulant. It works by increasing fluidity in the movement of water in the blood. By increasing and promoting microcirculation, gotu kola helps repair the brain. In Western and Ayurvedic medicine, it’s known as one of the key herbs for the prevention of conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The brain aside, gotu kola naturally promotes microcirculation throughout the whole body. This brings movement to stagnancy, sclerosis or hardening processes which can occur in the cardiovascular system, the nervous system, the digestive system and any other system in the body where there is a movement of fluid. In Indonesia, it’s also used to heal wounds and the skin, as well as conditions such as venomous bites from various animals and bruises. Gotu kola’s blood-cleaning properties make it a wonderful candidate for the of treatment stagnant blood. It also has a positive affinity for the stomach and the intestines and is well-known for its use in intestinal infections such as typhoid, salmonella and dysentery.

Curcuma longa

This potent and vibrant rhizome is considered one of the most powerful, all-purpose, versatile healing herbs in the world. It grows abundantly in our gardens, as well across Indonesia, and many parts of Asia where it is used to treat a wide range of health conditions. Turmeric is loved for its antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-parasitic, antiviral and anti-fungal properties. It’s also used to treat stomach ulcers and assist the healing of cuts and wounds on the skin. When grated and applied topically, it acts as a natural remedy for ringworm and other fungal skin conditions. With so many wonderful healing qualities, it really is one of the most important medicinal herbs of our time.

Drymoglossum piloselloides

The leaves of sisik naga, or the dragon scale fern, contain a powerful liquid which is used in traditional medicine to treat skin conditions and injuries spanning tinea, acne, cuts, bruises, and lacerations. It grows on the bark of other trees, living symbiotically with its host rather than acting as a parasite. When observing sisik naga from a spiritual-scientific point of view, we would say that a plant with this quality helps to increase the etheric field of the body which has a direct relationship to the skin and the complexion, as well as cultivating the vital life force of the body.

Michelia champaca

One of the most divine-smelling flowers in existence, the Himalayan magnolia, or cempaka, is known for its bright scent and soothing qualities. It is a very important ritual flower in Bali, used in many different offerings and in the composition of holy water, partly because of its energetically calming effects. The distillate, or hydrosol, of cempaka is cooling, anti-inflammatory, and brightening for the skin, offering radiant qualities to those who use it.

Piper betle

Betel leaf, or daun sirih, is a wonderful cleansing, antiseptic and antibacterial herb which also helps regenerate and freshen the complexion. In herbal medicine, it’s known for its calming and anti-inflammatory qualities on the skin. Betel leaf is also an internal medicine, used for the treatment of bacteria and parasites.

Plantago major

Commonly referred to as broadleaf plantain in English and daun sendok (spoon leaf) in Indonesian, Plantago is one of a few herbs that grows universally in nearly any part of the world. The way Plantago major grows is almost stoic. It prefers to cultivate wildly on footpaths, roads, and flat areas that are frequently trodden or sat on – almost as if asking to be stepped on, or even driven over. Medicinally, it is used to speed-up both internal and external wound healing. It’s also used as a natural remedy for urinary tract infections, burns, insect bites and stings, hemorrhoids, toothache and conjunctivitis. This plant has the ability to draw toxins out of the body and is used in the tropics for all kinds of venomous bites. Other herbal medicine uses include the treatment of cancer, tuberculosis, ulcers, diarrhea, and high cholesterol.

Santalum album

Sandalwood, or cendana in Indonesian, is a deeply venerated tree prized across many cultures for its spiritual potency and precious perfume. The complex and alluring incense drawn from its heartwood and roots is an essential component of Hindu and Buddhist worship, among other cultures and religions – believed to increase the spiritual vibration of a space and cleanse and purify those who come in contact with it. In certain herbal medicine traditions, including those of Indonesia, sandalwood is used to heal wounds, bruises and all kinds of skin eruptions, as well as kidney pain, cystitis, coughs and lung infections. Its sedative scent is said to promote calmness, induce a meditative state, and dispel negative energy and bad spirits.

The content in this article is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with qualified healthcare practitioners.