Medicinal Plant Chemistry

Medicinal Plant ChemistryMedicinal plants are cultivated for their benefits but the underlying process in which they grow is crucial to their chemistry. The medicinal plant chemistry is essentially determined by their soil, plant type and weather conditions. Knowing this will help you get the most out of your medicinal plant. Here is an overview of these important factors.When it comes to medicine, the basis of its goodness is largely determined by the plant's soil and plant type. Plants with a poor quality soil are likely to have poor medicinal plant chemistry. This can be ascertained by taking a few simple tests, including doing a soil test for yourself.Medical plants that thrive in a range of soils will have a better chance of giving you the right medicines for your needs. Plants like mint, Rosemary and lavender, for example, are good in soils with lots of calcium, iron and magnesium. Other plants are very suitable in soils that are good at absorbing nutrients. And there are medic inal plants that thrive in acidic or alkaline soils. You will know this if you compare the plants in your local garden center or health food store.Water is vital to the success of the medicinal plant as well. It keeps the plant healthy and balances the pH levels of the soil.Plant chemistry is also affected by the climate. Plants are not adapted to grow in extreme temperatures, which is why the medicine plants should have a cold-hardy period during which they grow well. If your plants are growing in damp conditions, for example, they won't make the grade because they will be more susceptible to diseases.The natural elements are an important aspect to consider when choosing a medicinal plant for your home garden. Some plants, like the willow tree, have a very high carbon content. Willow trees are very high in calcium and other minerals and are the ideal choice for a winter-garden. When choosing medicinal plants that contain minerals, look for plants that are grown in acidic or alkalin e soils.At this point, you have probably concluded that you need to learn about medicinal plant chemistry in order to choose the right plant for your needs. There are a few things you should take into consideration. Of course, you need to know whether your plant is suited to the home garden, since the plants you choose here are ones that are easy to maintain and are suitable for your climate. Some plants are particularly suited to cold climates, and if you do decide to choose cold-hardy plants, be sure to purchase them from a nursery that specializes in cold-hardy plants.Then, of course, you need to identify the medicinal plant that is right for you. Since medicinal plants often have a wide range of uses, it is a good idea to do some research on the medicinal plant you are thinking about buying before you actually get started on your gardening project.