Medicinal plants are plants that have therapeutic properties or beneficial pharmacological effect on the human body.

Medicinal plants are also identified as alternative medicine.

Plants can be considered native if they occur naturally in an ecosystem or habitat without human introduction .

The First Nation people who lived in B.C. have used medicinal plants to treat aliments for centuries before modern medicine was introduced.

First nation people are also known as the indigenous people. The first nations people are the people who originated from B.C.

Heal-all (Self heal)

Scientific Name: Prunella Vulgaris

Heal all was often brewed into a therapeutic tea to treat soar throats, stomach aches, urinary and liver problems. Heal all is also used to help calm people having fits. Moreover, heal-all was used as a natural pesticide among the First Nations.

Modern uses for  heal-all include using it in an ointment to treat cuts, wounds and bruises

It is also used as an immunity booster , as it has an antibiotic effect.

Scientific Name: Urtica dioica

Stinging nettle has been used for decades to treat joint and muscle pains, gout and anemia. The roots and boiled leaf decoction were commonly used on eczema rashes and insect bites.

Today people use stinging nettle to treat urinary tract infections and early stages of enlarged prostate e.g.(BPH).

Stinging nettle can also be used in a compress or as a medical cream to treat arthritis and tendinitis pain.

Scientific name: Salix

Not only was willow used for smoking meat, it's ashes can also be used to treat wounds. Willow bark and leaves were chewed as a way to heal sore throats, and manage headaches. Willow is also efficient on fevers

Scientific name: Mahonia aquifolium

Oregon grape is often brewed into a medicinal tea. The tea can be used to treat aliments such as hepatitis, jaundice,  syphilis, constipation and uterine problems.

Oregon grape can be made in to healing tea or jam.

Above are just some examples of native medicinal plants in B.C. There are also a variety of other plants and berries that have medicinal effects. Next time you go out on a hike, maybe you'll find some medicinal gems our beautiful province has to offer.

Click here to find out out more about native medicinal plants in the area.