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HERBAL MEDICINE
Herbal medicine has a long tradition in all cultures, and recent research has begun to prove some of the huge benefits of using herbs.
Whereas much modern medicine has unwelcome side effects, herbs can provide a gentle, yet powerful, solution to a wide range of physical and emotional problems.
As well as relieving symptoms, herbal medicine also works on a deeper level to help patients return to full harmony.
Herbal medicine is becoming ever more popular in the UK, as ever more people seek out qualified herbalists.
Like many complementary therapies, herbal medicine aims to be holistic - it aims to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms, and to encourage the body to heal itself.
Herbal practitioners believe that the delicate chemical balance of the whole herb is needed for greatest effect and to reduce potential side-effects. Different parts of the same plant, such as the flowers or seeds, can have very different actions.
Herbal medicine is not about isolating the active ingredients from a plant which is the way that conventional medicines are often derived.
Herbal remedies for self-treatment are available as tablets, capsules, ointments and creams, and are on sale in health food shops, pharmacies and even supermarkets. For more serious health complaints, you should consult your GP and/or a qualified herbal practitioner.
The Regulation of Herbal Medicine
In the UK, the Department of Health is expected to create a statutory register of practitioners within about three years. In order to use the title “practitioner of herbal medicine”, therapists will have to be on the register to practice legally within the UK.
Common herbs/teas
Cats Claw
Name: Cats Claw, Uña de Gato
Latin Name: Uncaria tomentosa
Origin
From the Amazonian rain forest, Cats Claw is a vine that grows high into the canopy of trees.
Cats Claw gets its name from the claw like thorns, which protrude from its woody stems.
Cultivated / Parts Used
The inner lining of the vine
History of Use
Medicinal:
For thousands of years, this wild Amazonian herb has been cherished by the native Ashaninca Indians as a treatment for cancer, arthritis, rheumatism, Stomach, bowel and intestinal disorders, parasites, ulcers, tumours and many other immune and digestive problems.
Cats Claw is one of nature’s most powerful immune boosters. It also has Anti-inflammatory properties and acts as a powerful anti-oxidant that helps protect delicate cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Cats Claw is one of the top ten Amazonian wonder herbs. It makes a tasty alternative beverage, its full of beneficial phytochemicals that can prevent, or help heal a wide range of common ailments, it contains no toxins or harmful chemicals, no contraindications with other medications have ever been reported, it has no serious side effects and best of all is totally 100% natural.
Properties
Adaptogenic, Anti-microbial, Anti-oxidant, Anti-viral, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-tumour
Nutritional Breakdown
Cats Claw contains a wealth of beneficial phytochemicals including quinovic acid glycosides, several oxindol alkaloids, proanthocyanidins, polyphenols, triterpines and the plant sterols beta-sitosterol, stigma sterol and campesterol.
How it works
The incredible constituents above stimulate phagocytosis. Phagocytosis is the way in which your white blood cells attack, engulf, and digest harmful micro-organisms, foreign matter, and debris. This means that the Cats Claw gives your immune system a heightened ability to seek out and destroy all foreign and dangerous substances in the body such as viruses, tumour cells, bacteria, and toxins.
It also has anti-inflammatory properties and acts as a powerful anti-oxidant that helps protect your delicate cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Contraindications
Do not use when pregnant or breastfeeding. Also unsuitible for people with transplants.
Instructions For Use/Dosages
To use Cats Claw as a preventive drink 1 or 2 cups per day.
Cats Claw is best taken in the traditional form as a tea. For a tea with slight immune boosting and healing properties just add hot water to a heaped teaspoon of the herb and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.
To improve the taste, add a slice of organic ginger root. This gives it a refreshing zing that will also aid your digestive system, boost your immune system and improve your circulation.
In 1993 scientists found that Cat’s Claw has the potential to boost the immune system of patients with HIV by up to 50%. Since then, European clinical studies have used the extract from the bark in combination with AZT in the treatment of AIDS. It is also used in the treatment and prevention of arthritis and rheumatism, as well as diabetes, PMS, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, and prostrate conditions.
Doctors from Lima, in Peru reported at the international Congress on Traditional Medicine that’s Cats Claw had successfully treated 14 types of cancer in 700 patients. It has also been referred to as “the opener of the way”, because of its unique ability to cleanse the entire intestinal tract and offer significant relief from stomach and bowel disorders.
Chamomile
Latin Name
Chamaemelum Noble (Roman Chamomile) and Matricaria Recutita (German chamomile)
Origin
Chamomile has apple scented daisy like flowers. It flowers from June to July, and the seeds ripen from July to August.
The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees and flies. This herb grows in fields and many other places throughout England, Europe, Russia and Asia, and is naturalised in Australia and the US.
Cultivated/Parts Used
The flowering heads are harvested when fully open and are dried for later use. The flowers contain various volatile oils including proazulenes which upon steam distillation produce chamazulene, a remarkable anti-allergenic. The flowers can be added to cosmetics as an anti-allergenic agent.
History of Use
Called Maythen by the Anglo-Saxons, it was one of the nine sacred herbs given to the world by the god Woden. The root was traditionally chewed to relieve toothache. The Egyptians revered it for its virtues, and their strong belief in its power to cure led them to dedicate it to their gods.
Chamomile is most commonly known as a tea that has a wonderfully soothing, sedative and absolutely harmless effect. It makes an excellent tonic to sweat off a fever and flu, is particularly effective in treating various digestive disorders, nervous tension, irritability and hysterical and nervous affections in women. It has been used to relive morning sickness, menopausal symptoms, dysmenorrhoea, mastitis, anorexia nervosa and hysteria and is considered a preventive and the sole certain remedy for nightmares.
Chamomile is particularly useful for treating young children for stomach aches, sleeping problems colds and teething, due to its gentle nervine effect. It has been used traditionally in the UK and Europe as a treatment for asthma and hay fever as it is said to reduce the reaction to allergens in sensitive individuals. It is also used externally in compresses, lotions, and creams and can be used to treat wounds, sunburn, burns, haemorrhoids, mastitis and leg ulcers.
Chamomile baths are highly recommended for fatigue, stress, and colds, and inhaling the vapours when steaming the herbs is a good treatment for coughs.
Properties
Anodyne (soothing pain reliever), Anti-inflammatory, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic (calms muscles), Carminative (induces the expulsion of gases from the stomach and digestive system), Cholagogue (promotes the discharge of bile from the system), Diaphoretic (induces perspiration), Emmenagogue (aids blood flow in pelvic and uterine area), Febrifuge (fever inducing, brings out fever), Nervine, Sedative, Stomachic (aids digestion), Vasodilator (widens blood vessels for increased blood flow)
Nutritional Breakdown
The main chemical components of Roman chamomile oils are a-pinene, camphene, b-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, 1, 8-cineole, y-terpinene, caryophyllene, and propyl angelate and butyl angelate.
The main constituents of German chamomile oil are chamazulene, a-bisabolol, bisabolol oxide A, bisabolol oxide B and bisabolone oxide A.
Contraindications/Interactions
None known, although Chamomile is not recommended for use during pregnancy as in very high dosages it can induce bleeding.
Instructions For Use/Dosages
Use 1 teaspoon per cup to make a hot strong chamomile tea. Linden (Lime flower) and Elder flowers can be added to make the tea even more potent.
For a bath to relieve fatigue, stress, and colds, tie a handful of flowers into a cloth and drop into the bath or hang from the tap whilst running the bath.
For the treatment of coughs place a handful of the chamomile flowers in a bowl, pour hot water over them, place a towel over your head and your head over the bowl. Then inhale the vapours.
Elderflower
Origin
Czechkia
Cultivated/Parts Used
The flowers and the berries are most frequently used today but the bark and leaves have also been used.
Elderflower is common throughout most of Europe and grows in hedgerows, woods, coppices and waste places throughout northern temperate regions. The bisexual flowers appear in early summer and are gathered in spring and early summer and dried rapidly in the shade. The berries are collected in August and September whilst the bark should be taken from young branches in early spring before the leaves appear.
History of Use
Elder is a traditional symbol of sorrow and death because it is the wood from which the crucifixion cross was made and the type of tree from which Judas hanged himself.
In the 18th century the Romans used elderflower water to whiten the skin and remove freckles.
The flowers are crisp and somewhat juicy with an aromatic smell and flavour and make a delicious raw refreshing snack. They are often used to make a sparkling wine whilst a sweet tea is made from the dried flowers.
Elderflower also has magical associations throughout Europe where it is widely believed that burning elder wood brings bad luck, but that elder sprigs hung in houses provide protection from witches.
Properties
Anti-catarrhal, Anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic Cholagogue (promotes discharge of bile from system), Circulatory, Diaphoretic (increases / produces perspiration), Diuretic, Emollient Expectorant, Laxative, Purgative, Stimulant.
Nutritional Breakdown
Small amount of essential oil, palmitic linoleic, linolenic acids, triterpenes, flavonoids (including rutin) mucilage, sugar and pectin.
How it works
Elderflower stimulate the body's ability to resist viral infections such as colds and influenza, can be used to treat sinusitis, hay fever and other upper respiratory inflammations, and also protects the liver against damage from poisons. Traditional herbalists consider it a wonderful blood purifier. Elder flowers have mild diuretic action, the tea is used to "break" a fever by bringing on sweating, whilst a cooled infusion can be used as a gargle for a sore throat or as an eyewash for conjunctivitis, twitching eyelids, inflammation of the eyes, and as a compress for chilblains.
Contraindications/Interactions
None known
Instructions For Use/Dosages
Brew as herbal tea, infusing leaves/berries with hot water for several minutes. For the best effects drink the tea as hot as possible. If using for colds and influenza drink frequently. For night time coughs and fevers in children, use a foot bath before going to bed. To treat sore throats, gargle for several minutes frequently until the soreness resolves. Cooled tea can be used as an eyewash or ear drops when ears are blocked.
Ginkgo Biloba
Latin Name
Ginkgo Biloba
Origin
The world's oldest living tree species, believed to have survived 200 million years.
Ginkgo Biloba trees can be traced to the fossils of the Permian period and for this reason it is often referred to as the "living fossil.'' Ginkgo Biloba trees can live for 1000 years and may grow to a height of 120 feet.
Cultivated/Parts Used
Leaves and seeds.
History of Use
Medicinal use of Ginkgo can be traced back almost 5,000 years in Chinese herbal medicine. Ginkgo leaf tea was used to enhance a clear mind and improve the power of concentration. This ancient remedy has been recommended for coughs, asthma and inflammations due to allergies.
In the late seventeenth century, Engelbert Kaempfer, a German physician and botanist, became the first European to discover and catalogue the ginkgo tree. In 1784 a ginkgo tree was brought to America and planted, in the garden of William Hamilton, near Philadelphia. The Ginkgo tree is the most resistant of tree species to insects, disease, and pollution, and because of this it is frequently planted along streets in cities. The seeds can be eaten after roasting. Ginkgo was often taken as a 'pick me up' for a bad hangover.
Properties
Circulatory stimulant, energizer, tuberculostatic (aids treatment of tuberculosis), vaso-dilator (increases blood supply through temporarily widening arteries, veins and capillaries), anti-aging, cognition-enhancing, stress-alleviating.
How it works
Ginkgo increases circulation by opening out blood vessels and boosting oxygen levels to the brain improving short and long term memory, increased reaction time and improved mental clarity. Impotence can be cured / lessened through use of Ginkgo due to its enhancing effect on the circulatory system enabling greater blood flow to vital areas. Ginkgo has been shown to support an enhanced vitality level and its high antioxidant activity is valuable for fighting age related conditions including mental fatigue and erosion of energy. It is also used as a treatment for vertigo, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and a variety of neurological disorders and circulation problems.
The unique terpene lactone components found in ginkgo are known as ginkgolides and Bilobalide. Ginkgolides may improve circulation and inhibit platelet-activating factor. Bilobalide protects the cells of the nervous system. Recent animal studies indicate that Bilobalide may help regenerate damaged nerve cells.
Ginkgo’s antioxidant activity in the brain and central nervous system may help prevent age-related declines in brain function. The brain and central nervous system are particularly susceptible to free radical attack. Free radical damage in the brain is widely accepted as being a contributing factor in many disorders associated with aging, including Alzheimer’s disease. Recent research is revealing that this herb could be effective in easing strokes.
Contraindications/Interactions
Excess use may cause dermatitis, headaches, diarrhoea and vomiting. There may be an additive effect between Gingko and blood thinning agents. Do not use when pregnant or breastfeeding.
Instructions For Use/Dosages
Use 1 teaspoon per person / per cup, add boiling water, cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Strain tea before drinking or make in a Cafetiere.
Use with Hawthorn or lime-blossom for circulation and with Coltsfoot for asthma and coughs. Ginkgo tea does not taste amazing on its own; you may want to mix it with another flavoured tea, lemon or honey to make it more palatable.
Supporting Research
Modern research has confirmed that the ginkgo flavone glycosides and the terpene lactones do indeed produce the results of enhancing a clear mind and improving the powers of concentration by increasing circulation to the brain and other parts of the body as well as exerting a protective action on nerve cells.
One double blind study found that ginkgo could help people with macular degeneration, an oxidation-related disorder causing decreased or lost vision.
Hawthorn leaves
Common Name
Hawthorn
Latin name
Crataegus oxyacanthoides
Cultivation
Hawthorn is a deciduous shrubby tree with smooth thorny shoots and three-lobed stipulate leaves. Also known as mayflower, it’s related to the apple tree and the peach tree. It produces small white or pink five-petal flowers with short triangular sepals are arranged in corymbs and on long stalks. The berry is red with white mealy flesh and a large stone. Crataegus grows in hedgerows and copses throughout Britain and all temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. The flowering tops are harvested in late spring and early summer, the berries in September and October.
Parts Used
The parts used are the flowering tops, dried ripe fruits, and leaves.
Plant Overview & Picture
Hawthorn was traditionally used in Europe for kidney and bladder stones and as a diuretic. In China the berries believed to 'move' the blood, and are used to relieve symptoms of 'food stagnation', which can include abdominal bloating, indigestion, flatulence and diarrhoea. Ayurvedic medicine recommends hawthorn for heart and circulatory complaints as do the American Indians.
Hawthorn is an extremely valuable medicinal herb. Both the fruits and flowers of hawthorns can be used to treat disorders of the heart and circulation system, especially angina and high blood pressure. Western herbalists consider it a 'food for the heart', it increases the blood flow to the heart muscles, nourishes and strengthens them and restores normal heart beat. This effect is brought about by the presence of bioflavonoids in the fruit which are also strong antioxidants and to prevent or reduce degeneration of the blood vessels. Prolonged use is necessary for the treatment to be efficacious.
The flowers and berries are also astringent and excellent if made into a decoction and used as a gargle for sore throats.
Magical Properties
Hawthorn flowers are reputed to have magical properties and are said to increase fertility. Strangely enough the leaves are also used to enforce or maintain chastity or celibacy by placing them under the mattress or around the bedroom. If worn or carried hawthorn will promote happiness in the troubled, depressed or sad and protect against lighting and ghosts. The Romans placed hawthorn in cradles to guard the child from evil spells.
Energy
Warm. Decreases excess Air while stimulating Fire
Hawthorn Properties
Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Cardioactive, Cholagogue, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Expectorant, febrifuge, Hypotensive, Laxative, Sedative
Useful for treating
Hawthorn is a fantastic heart tonic. It is effective in treating heart disorders such as arteriosclerosis, angina or hypertension, blood pressure irregularities, Irregular heartbeat and palpitations. It improves circulation and is said to tone the veins, help with difficult breathing and reduce nervousness.
Instructions for use - (How to make Herbal teas)
Use one to two teaspoons of the dried leaves and drink as an infusion Use 1-2 teaspoons of the berries to make a decoction. This can be gargled with to treat sore throats or drank as a tea for heart conditions.
Contraindications
Do not use when pregnant or breastfeeding.
Alfalfa (medicago sative)
Alfalfa is widely grown throughout the world. It is a restorative tonic, used for digestive weakness, chronic inflammations, to rebuild vitality and anemia. It contains vitamins such as C, D, E and K, chlorophyll, carotene and minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium.
Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)
Blackberry is a creeping, perennial bush that grows in dry and sandy soil. The plant produces white flowers in the summer months along with juicy berries which ripen from red to purplish black.
Blackberry teas containing tannins from the leaves or bark have gentle astringent properties, which are useful in treating diarrhea, hemorrhoids, burns and scalds.
The leaves may be chewed to treat bleeding gums. Wines and vinegars made from the fruit are thought to work against edema caused by poor circulation
Borage
Catnip
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Strawberry
Thyme
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> Borage > Burdock > Catnip > Dandelion > Garlic > Ginger > Lavender > Lemon Balm > Marsh Mallow > Oats > Peppermint > Plantain > Poplar > Raspberry > Red Clover > Rose > St.John's Wort > Strawberry > Thyme > Violet > Walnut
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