“Scientific research has been able to confirm the traditional uses of many plants,” Dr. Eca Lorenzo, an internal medicine doctor and functional medicine practitioner, pointed out.
She noted some herbs used to treat infections like coughs and colds have been proven to possess antiviral or antibacterial properties, highlighting the value of herbal medicines.
For instance, a 2012 study found the “administration of oral maoto granules (traditionally prescribed to patients with influenza in Japan) to healthy adults with seasonal influenza was associated with equivalent clinical and virological efficacy to neurominadase inhibitors.” Meanwhile, a 2004 study involving 60 patients showed elderberry extract (used to treat influenza, colds, and sinusitis), “seems to offer an efficient, safe, and cost-effective treatment for influenza.”
“Such findings from research allows us to combine different herbs and plants into synergistic blends to address specific needs or goals. These studies also help confirm the safety and tolerability of such plants or herbs for human consumption,” said Dr. Lorenzo.
One of the ways to take herbal medicine is brewing and drinking it. Botanical infusions, unlike tea which is made only from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, are made from different parts of different plants.
Containing leaves, barks, roots, seeds, flowers, and fruits of plants that are valued for their therapeutic properties, botanical infusions have a long history that dates back to ancient China and Egypt where they were served as drinks for both enjoyment and medicinal purposes.
Filipino plant-based brand Sekaya, under UNILAB’s Synnovate Pharma Corporation, offers a range of botanical blends made with ingredients that complement each other to promote health and wellness.
According to the brand, botanical infusions can be made from one plant part, multiple parts of one plant, or a blend of different plant types. Botanical blends in particular, combine different plants based on their traditional uses, keeping in mind how these benefits can complement each other to address a certain health concern.
Take chamomile flowers, licorice root, and cinnamon bark as examples: Chamomile flowers are known to help relax the digestive muscles, licorice root has been traditionally used to calm an upset stomach, while cinnamon bark helps reduce gassiness and bloating. Sekaya says it makes sense to put these three botanicals together to create a “synergized infusion” that can help alleviate stomach discomfort.
The plant-based brand’s botanical blends are available on its website (www.sekaya.com.ph) and on Lazada.