Phytotherapist Stepensky: sage and rosemary will help protect against winter diseases “, Dr. Sergei Agapkin and actor Mikhail Politseimako, together with a visiting physician-phytotherapist Andrei Stepensky, named five herbs and spices on the air that will help the body protect itself from winter diseases. Doctors recommended adding them to tea, after consulting with specialists to select the right dose. The episode of the show has been posted on YouTube.
The first plant, whose medicinal properties for the protection of immunity were noted by experts, is sage. Stepensky said that his essential oil has a bactericidal and antiseptic effect, so sage is often used in tinctures and preparations.
Further, the doctor named the “relative” of sage – rosemary. Experts recommend drinking tea with this plant in the morning. Stepensky's co-host, physician Sergei Agapkin, added that recent studies have also indicated a positive effect of rosemary on brain activity.
The doctors named cinnamon as a medicinal spice. The spice has an antiseptic effect, but it also reduces cravings for sweets. “Few people know that this is a medicinal plant that can lower blood sugar levels,” Agapkin emphasized. However, excessive cinnamon consumption is dangerous, according to a herbalist. In particular, overdose can lead to dizziness, headaches and indigestion.
Finally, doctors have identified mint and echinacea. “Everyone thinks that mint is just a soothing medicinal plant, but this is not entirely true. It is used both for gastrointestinal diseases and as a powerful antiseptic, ”Stepensky noted. Speaking about echinacea, Agapkin mentioned studies that have shown that people who drink tea from this plant have a 58 percent lower risk of catching colds.
Earlier, nutritionist, M.D. Mikhail Ginzburg revealed unexpected properties of garlic. According to him, the plant has a double effect: it stimulates digestion, and also has an antibacterial effect and, as a result, reduces gas formation.