Medicinal and Aromatic Herbs i n Romania

1. Medicinal and Aromatic HerbsinRomania Many herbs and spices are used in herbal medicine (phytotherapy) because of their chemical compounds and aromatic substances. These are some ways to use them: • Tinctures • Infusions • Decoctions • Macerates • Vinegars • Essential oils • Balms, creams and lotions • Powder • Fresh juice • Syrups • Extracts • Inhalations • Some aromatic plants are used to season food.

2. Medicinal herbs • It is good for: • indigestion, • cold symptoms, • headaches, • muscle pain, • or when you feel sick. Mentă - Peppermint Mentha piperita We use the leaves. Muşeţel- Chamomile Chamomilla recutita Weuse the flowers. • It helps: • when you have upset • stomach, gas and diarrhoea, • when you cannot sleep or you feel afraid, • to heal skin, • to make your hair stronger or lighter in colour.

3. Medicinal herbs Gălbenele– Pot marigold Calendula officinalis We use the flowers. • It is used to treat: • liver problems, • wounds, burns and frostbites, • stomach ulcers, • pains during menstruation. Sunătoare– Saint John’s wort Hypericum perforatum We use the flowers and the stems. • It is used: • for liver and gall problems, • when you feel very sad for a long time.

4. Medicinal herbs • It is used: • when you have a cold, fever and you cough, • for infections, • for headaches, • when you cannot sleep. Tei-Lime-tree Tilia sp. We use the flowers. Coada şoricelului - Yarrow Achillea millefolium We use the flowers and the stem. • It is good for: • allergies, • stomach problems, • colds.

5. Medicinal herbs • We use the fruit: • to have more energy, • against colds, • to treat liver problems, • for vitamins, especially vitamin C and D. Cătină– Common sea-buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides • It is good: • against parasitic worms, • for stomachache and diarrhoea, • to have an appetite, • against malaria. Pelin– wormwood Artemisa absinthium We use the leaves and the flowers.

6. Medicinal herbs • It is used: • to make a refreshing drink during summer, • against coughs, colds and the flu, • for bladder and kidneys, • to eliminate toxins. Socelder Sambucus nigra We use the flowers. Urzicănettle Urtica dioica We use the stem and the leaves. • It is good to treat: • hair loss and dandruff • anemia • obesity • allergies • diabetes • skin problems.

7. Medicinal herbs • It is used: • for skin problems • for kidneys • for joint pains • for good memory • for good eyesight • when you are tired or stressed. Coada calului horsetail Equisetum arvense We use the stem and the leaves. Cicoarechicory Cichorium intybus We use the stem and the root. • It is used for: • headaches, • stomachaches, • sore eyes, • wounds (with fresh leaves), • acne.

8. Aromatic herbs PătrunjelPARSLEY Petroselinum crispum We use the leaves in soups, salads and meat meals and the root as a vegetable. • It is good: • to stimulate appetite and digestion, • to protect the liver and intestines form cancer, • to eliminate toxins and kidney stones, • against rheumatism. LeuşteanLOVAGE Levisticum officinale The leaves are used in sour soups (borsch) for their flavor. The seeds are used as spice. • Lovage tea helps: • heal wounds, • stimulate digestion, • reduce gas.

9. Aromatic herbs MărarDILL Anethum graveolens We use the leaves to flavor many meals and pickles. Dill seed is used as a spice. • It is good: • for stomach problems, • against infections, • to regulate menstruation, • for women who breastfeed their babies. CimbruSAVORY Satureja hortensis It is used to flavor food, especially sarmale, a traditional meal in Romania. • It is used: • for stomach gas, • for nervousness, • to treat rheumatic pains.

10. Aromatic herbs • It is good: • for treating stomach pains, especially for newborn babies, • against parasitic worms, • for coughs and colds. ChimenCARAWAY Carum carvi We use the seeds to flavour food. ŢelinăCELERY Apium graveolens We use the leaves in salads and in sour soups for flavouring and the root to make a dish and pickles. • It is used: • to make the body stronger(it is rich in vitamins), • for high blood pressure, • for stomach and bladder problems, • for obesity.

11. Aromatic herbs • It is used to treat: • anorexia, • the flu and cold, • stomach problems, • intestinal infections, • rheumatism, • alcoholism. DafinLAUREL Laurus nobilis Its leaves are used to flavour food. They are removed from dishes before serving. • It helps when you: • cough, • cannot sleep, • have a sore throat, • your eyes are swollen. Mac roşuRED POPPY Papaver rhoeas We use the seeds to season pastry.

12. Aromatic herbs • It is used to help: • stomach aches and ulcers, • fever and the flu, • headaches. BusuiocBASIL Ocimum basilicum It is used to flavour different types of meat dishes and sauces. UsturoiGARLIC Allium sativum It is used to season food. • It is used: • to reduce high blood pressure, • against stomach cancer, • as a natural antibiotic, • against warts, • against asthma.

15. Presentation made by pupils from “Mihai Eminescu” School Ploiesti for the “Comenius” Multilateral School Partnership TOGETHER FORABETTERENVIRONMENTGREEN Robert Boldeanu (8B) Andreea Ionescu (8B) Cosmin Ştefan (8B) Laura Gugu (8B) Andreea Ciortan (8B) Diana Moisuc (8A) Cătălina Soare (6C) Răzvan Brânzoi (6C) Teachers involved: Viorica Maftei (Geography) Sorina Bărbuceanu (English) Hortensia Bogdan (primary-school teacher)