5 medicinal plants that manage stress

Strophanthus gratus is used as a treatment for heart failure and arrhythmias or irregular heartbeat

Strophanthus gratus, a vigorous evergreen climbing shrub, occurs in tropical regions from Senegal to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In traditional medicine, climbing oleander has been used to treat snake bites, sores, gonorrhoea, constipation and fever. The root is claimed to be an aphrodisiac.

Cardiac glycosides, which are organic compounds that increase the output force of the heart, are the signature compounds in the plant. Particularly, ouabain has been identified as the main glycoside which is dominant in the seed.

Ouabain, a cardio glycoside, was isolated because of the way climbing oleander is used in traditional medicine. It's now used as a treatment for heart failure and arrhythmias or irregular heartbeat. Recent studies have also found a novel use that can prove relevant for metastatic prostate cancer.

Siphonochilus aethiopicus (African ginger, Wild ginger)

African ginger is native to western and southern tropical Africa, where it occurs in about 30 African countries. This wide range of distribution likely accounts for its use for a variety of health conditions. These include respiratory problems (like cough and influenza), pain, inflammation and malaria.

An analysis of the essential oil of the root and rhizome of African ginger found about 70 compounds in the root and 60 compounds in the rhizomes. The bioactive compounds siphonochilone and eucalyptol found in the roots and rhizomes have demonstrated potential for treating asthma and allergic reactions. In a clinical trial, eucalyptol, which is present in root and rhizome essential oil, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in bronchial asthma.