Contents
Herbal remedies for altitude sickness
Phytotherapy: medicinal plants for altitude sickness
Phytotherapy in altitude sickness involves using a series of remedies made with plants which primary objective is:
- Anticoagulant plants: To thin the blood to facilitate blood flow and provide more oxygen to the cells.
- Plants to provide glucose to the brain.
- To hydrate the body to avoid the dehydration.
Which are the main suitable herbs for mountain sickness?
Among the main plants there are:
- Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba): This plant is recognized worldwide for its properties to improve blood circulation, especially the brain. Poor circulation in the brain is the cause of many serious and crippling disease. One of the most dangerous are strokes that can cause death or paralysis of body parts. The ginkgo extract improves circulation to the capillaries of the brain, increases resistance and helps to prevent breakage. The administration of 60 to 240 mg daily of ginkgo extract not only guards against spills, but also prevents a range of symptoms associated with poor circulation in the head, including those occurring as a result of altitude sickness.
- Clove: (Eugenia Caryophyllata) Clove contains a significant amount of eugenol. This component has anticoagulant properties which helps thin the blood. This would allow a higher supply of oxygen to cells and cleanliness of cellular toxins. The infusion of clove can help climbers, skiers, sportsmen and tourists to breathe easier when climbing mountains or just when people go hiking in the mountains. (15 minutes infusion of a teaspoon of cloves per liter of water. (Drink three glasses a day)
Clove
- Mint (Mentha piperita) It contains rosmarinic acid and eugenol with anticoagulant properties that may help improve blood circulation. (Infusion of a spoonful of dried plant per cup of water. Take a couple of cups a day a couple of days before leaving for the mountain or climbing) Furthermore, an infusion of one teaspoon of dried leaves of mint per cup of cold water is very suitable to reduce the temperature and restore fluids lost by the heat.
- Penny royal (Mentha pulegium) Its content of anticoagulants carries the same properties as previous plants (Infusion of a spoonful of dried plant per cup of water. Take a couple of cups a day a couple of days before the trip)
Penny royal flowers
- Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) rosmarinic acid and the flavonoid naringenin give it the same properties. It is also rich in niacin (vitamin B3), a compound important to the supply of glucose to the brain and in the preservation of blood vessels. This is interesting in the treatment of abnormalities that are associated with a lack of cerebral blood flow (infusion of one teaspoon of dried plant per cup of water. Take a couple of cups a day a couple of days before leaving for the mountain or ascension)
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Like the previous plants, this is rich in eugenol. (Infusion of a spoonful of dried plant per cup of water. Take a couple of cups a day a couple of days before leaving for the mountains or before the ascension)
- Garlic (Allium sativum) Garlic is one of the best antiplatelet there. It is a food that contains more than 20 anticoagulant principles, among them we will include the following: alliin and ajoene, ascorbic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, caffeic and ferulic acid, magnesium and selenium, rutin and quercetin. His fame is known as blood thinners and its ability to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Maintaining a diet rich in garlic helps to improve the symptoms of altitude sickness or prevent its onset.
- Liquorice (Glycyrrhyza glabra) Licorice has over 15 antiplatelet principles. It is also good as a good remedy to lower body temperature. In hot summers, it is very useful to prevent heat stroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration,, etc. With the roots of this plant “water of licorice” is prepared, a good choice for quenching thirst and keep cool. (Decoction to 3% of dried root. Serve chilled or over ice. Very useful for altitude sickness.
