Photo by Pinar Istek

Many people relate how their grandmothers would give them juanilama when they had stomachaches. Juanilama is an herbal medicinal plant belonging to the Verbenaceae family, which means the plant is very pungent. It has a strong fragrance similar to lemon, and like lemon, it has important health benefits.   
 
This medicinal plant has healing properties that are used to combat colic and cholesterol problems since it is excellent at eliminating body fat. It is also frequently used as a sedative and antispasmodic for intestinal problems, it is effective for treating colitis and ulcers and can be used to cure cough. 

Its leaves look like oregano and its flowers are a light pink color. The parts that can be used on this plant are its flowers and leaves. The preparation method is to boil half a liter of water for 10 minutes, add three to four whole flowers, including the seeds, and let it stand until the brew is warm. Drink one cup three times a day. It is recommended that children drink half a cup twice a day.

Warning: Don’t mix it with other herbs.

These days, many of the medicines that are available in pharmacies are 75% made from plants, although it seems that they are made from other things. Like juanilama, there are many plants around us that form part of a natural pharmacy.