The Benefits of Phytotherapy
© Lefay Resorts
When we talk about benefits of phytotherapy, we mean the advantages of the branch of pharmacotherapy that deals with the healing uses of medicinal plants and preparations to make infusions, decoctions, herbal teas and extracts.
Pistil, stem, corolla, bud and root. Not only did ancient man know the names of the plants, he also knew how to name their individual parts. Today their active substances are a proportion of the ingredients of a package in a herbal shop. However, before the arrival of synthetic drugs, plants were the only remedies available to alleviate various ailments.
Several populations connected the use of plants in herbology to the five elements.
The Greeks argue that nature was formed by the five elements of aether, air, water, earth and fire, which are the same as those that make up the universe according to Ayurveda. The theory of the five elements of Metal, Wood, Earth, Fire and Water originates in China during the Shang dynasty.
Chinese Medicine has been dominant in the field of plant classification. According to this Medicine, the elements come together with a certain flavor, a “target organ” and the effects produced by it.
In medical practice, each element corresponds to a season, during which a particular agent predominantly affects an organ:
SUMMER
The element of summer is fire, associated with the heart and the heat pathogen. A herbal tea made from lemon balm, linden, passionflower, Rhodiola and Whitania Somnifera counteracts the effects of the muggy weather which often causes irritability, anxiety and difficulty sleeping.
AUTUMN
In autumn, the key element is metal, which corresponds to the lungs and the dryness that affects them. Talus, Schisandra, Eleutherococcus and Rhodiola can stimulate the function of the lungs. Moreover they can improve the immune defenses in preparation for the winter months.
WINTER
Winter is characterized by water. During this season the kidneys are suffering from the cold weather, so the aim is to warm up the body. Walnuts support kidney function, alleviate back pain and resolve constipation. Asparagus root helps the diuretic function, while fenugreek and fennel seeds combined with cinnamon warm the kidneys to help avert the cold.
SPRING
In spring, the wind mainly affects the liver and is associated with wood. Mandarin, mint and turmeric stimulate the energy flow in the body; you may want to add liquorice, which neutralizes toxins and harmonizes the action of other plants.
During seasonal change the element of Earth is most in need of moisture.
Finally, when the seasons change, the element of earth, which corresponds to the spleen, is most in need of moisture. A herbal tea with talus, mandarin and cinnamon can help to counteract the sense of fatigue and breathe new life into the body’s energy, which tends to stagnate during the changing of the seasons.
The Lefay SPA Method uses the oldest form of phytotherapy within its programs: the herbal tea. During the initial examination and depending on the energy constitution of the guest, a specific medicinal plant is recommended.
For more information please click on Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda or Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti .
