Medicinally means in a way that's intended to prevent, treat, or cure illness or injury, like medicine does. When someone uses a plant medicinally, they're using it for its healing properties to help the body recover or stay healthy. For thousands of years, people have used herbs like ginger and peppermint medicinally to settle upset stomachs.

When doctors prescribe medication, they're recommending something to be taken medicinally, meaning for its therapeutic effects on the body. A tea might taste delicious, but if you're drinking it medicinally, you're hoping it will help you feel better when you have a cold.

Scientists study many substances to understand their medicinal properties. They want to know exactly how these substances work in the body and whether they're safe and effective. What was once used medicinally by ancient healers sometimes becomes the basis for modern medicines. Aspirin, for example, came from compounds found in willow bark, which people used medicinally for centuries to reduce pain and fever.