This week, two guests describe their work with the healing power of medicinal herbs. They draw upon family histories of herbalism along with their own studies of how to use botanical medicines. You may want to listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EDT on your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on March 18, 2023. The Power of Medicinal Herbs: For centuries, up until almost the middle of the 20th century, people relied primarily on plants for their medicines. The advent of synthetic drugs created and distributed by pharmaceutical companies helped pushed botanical medicines out of favor. Even though schools of medicine and pharmacy are no longer teaching their students how to use plants for healing, the plants have not lost their power. What should you know about them? Warding Off Colds and Respiratory Infections: If you come down with influenza, your doctor can prescribe an antiviral medicine to help speed healing. If your stuffy nose, sore throat and cough are caused by any of the hundreds of rhinoviruses, coronaviruses or enteroviruses that cause the “common cold,” your health care provider doesn’t have much to offer. There are some prescription medicines that can address individual symptoms, such as benzonatate or guaifenesin for cough. In the drugstore, you can buy multi-symptom cold remedies over the counter. But none of them will actually help you get better faster. Medicinal Herbs Can Help: One plant that helps speed recovery from respiratory infections is Andrographis paniculata. Most Americans are unfamiliar with this herbal medicine, but research has shown that it has antiviral and immune-modulating activity (Pharmaceuticals, Aug. 24, 2023). Herbalists also recommend it for digestive disorders, calling it the King of Bitters. That name may offer a clue to why Andrographis is not very well known in the US. Americans are frequently reluctant to eat or drink things that taste bitter. Mimi Hernandez frequently pairs Andrographis with a far more pleasant-tasting and familiar herb, black elderberry. It too has been used to aid recovery from respiratory tract infections, although more and better clinical trials are needed (BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, April 7, 2021). Is Goldenrod Just a Nuisance? Many people blame their fall allergy symptoms on goldenrod (Solidago canadensis).  According to Mimi Hernandez, that’s probably inaccurate. Allergies are more often reactions to other plants, possibly inconspicuous ones, that bloom at the same time. Goldenrod itself can be used topically to treat skin problems. It has a reputation for acting as an anti-inflammatory or diuretic when swallowed in a tincture or tea. Other Medicinal Herbs Tackle Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar: A couple of plants available in the US are more widely used and respected in Mexico and other countries. One of these is hibiscus, a beautiful red blossom that makes a tangy-tasting tea. In Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries, this is called agua de jamaica. A few controlled trials have shown that Hibiscus sabdariffa lowers blood pressure in people with mild hypertension (Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research, Jul-Sep 2019). Prickly pear cactus, known as nopal