| Thus, the storage and processing history of an herb containing quinones can significantly affect its medicinal properties. Glucofrangulin A (see Figure 4.30), a diglucoside, is found in the dried bark of buckthorn (Rham-nusfrangula) and is one of several related compounds responsible for the laxative properties of this plant. Hypericin is found in St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), which was the second best selling herb in the United States in 1998; its structure was illustrated in Figure 1.1. |
Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton
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 Early morning
Breakfast Banana and pineapple smoothie
2 oat cakes
Multivitamin and mineral supplement, magnesium, vitamin C, MSM-sulfur or amino acids, probi-otics, and i tablespoon of flaxseed oil or pollution-free fish oil supplements (taken at least half an hour after fiber supplements)
Mid-morning Raw carrot and cucumber sticks
Pre-lunch Fiber supplements
Large glass of water
Lunch
Grilled chicken breast
Mixed green leaf and herb salad: In a large bowl, mix salad and chopped fresh herbs, add cherry tomatoes, dress with lemon juice and i tablespoon of olive oil. |
Michael Tierra
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 Caraway is a mild stimulant and may be added to herb formulas for digestion and laxative formulas to prevent griping.
CARDAMOM (ELETTARIA CARDAMOMl/M)
Cardamom is a carminative and stimulant commonly mixed with other spices to treat indigestion and gas. It warms the body and is good for diarrhea, colic and headaches. It is an important ingredient in Chai tea, an Indian spice tea valued for its warm, stimulating effects. |
Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D.
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 Other beneficial nutritional compounds have included magnesium, potassium, calcium, and an herb called Hawthorne berry. Fish oil in two to four gram dosages is also an outstanding anti-arrhythmic because it supports heart rate variability. (In simple terms, it has a calming effect on an irritable heart.) Frequently, I also have been able to reduce my patients' use of some of the conventional drugs we use to suppress arrhythmias with the aid of these synergistic combinations.
The human research on L-carnitine is intriguing as well. |
Sharol Tilgner, N.D.
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 This is wonderful when there is a high fever and no sweating. This herb is specific for pneumonia, bronchitis, pleurisy and influenza.
Licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra, is an immunomodulator and soothing to the mucous membranes. It is demulcent, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-allergenic, expectorant with secretolytic and secretomotor activate ity, anti-inflammatory, nutritive, spasmolytic and antioxidant.Ai-mm- 144'146,148 Licorice root is used for all throat and bronchial irritations.
Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, is an antispasmodic and expectorant. |
Mehmet C. Oz., M.D. and Michael F. Roizen, M.D.
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 Formerly recommended as a treatment for female infertility, impotence, and low libido in both men and women, it was also used to aid rejuvenation after a long illness. The herb became widely known in the West when medal-winning Bulgarian Olympic athletes claimed that use of Tribulus had contributed to their success. High-quality studies on its use and dose are still limited, but we recommend 300 milligrams daily, since side effects are few and far between. |
Gabriel Cousens
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 It is a promising blood sugar regulating herb. Studies in Japan have suggested that corosolic acid is an activator of glucose transport and decreases blood sugar. In one American study with ten Type-2 diabetics, the blood sugar dropped 31.9 percent after two weeks of 480 meg of corosolic acid per day. Nondiabetics had no change in their blood sugar. Repeated studies have found approximately the same results.
SHILAJIT
There is hardly any curable disease which cannot be controlled or cured with the aid of Shilajit.
VAID CHARAK (FIRST CENTURY A.D. |
Kathi Keville
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 TONING THE NERVES
The African herb yohimbe has been proven to improve a man's staying power, although it doesn't fit most people's idea of a true aphrodisiac. For one thing, yohimbe usually doesn't increase sexual excitement, although some men interpret its stimulating effect that way. It does improve the operation of the nerves that promote desire while dampening those that stimulate ejaculation (this is just the opposite action of cocaine). This translates to prolonged and increased pleasure. |
Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay.
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 This herb is very clinically effective for viral infections.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung condition characterized by airway obstruction, spasm and hy-perresponsiveness in the bronchial tubes, or inflammation and swelling in the lining tissue. It is often an advanced stage of allergies and currently is increasing in prevalence and severity. This disease can be life threatening and must be managed by an allergist to avoid crisis and to handle emergencies. |
| Rather, it now seems that this herb exhibits broad-based neurotransmitter uptake inhibition of serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, GABA, and L-glutamate. This action is strong, but because it is well distributed across many chemical pathways, strong interaction with other drugs in this class has not so far been problematic, although it does speed clearance of other drugs. A similar argument can be made for kava root.
Nitric Oxide
The remarkable tiny gas molecule nitric oxide (NO) functions as a signaling molecule that works in response to nerve cell stimulation. |
| The anticholinergic action of the herb Swertia japonica is effectively used in Japan to calm intestinal muscle spasms.
• Ayurvedic doctors use suchi (Atropa acuminata), a relative of belladonna, as a sedative, narcotic, and antispasmodic. Both belladonna and suchi contain the anticholinergic alkaloid atropine, long considered to be the "active ingredient." However, in an interesting demonstration of whole-plant action, Italian researchers found in animal experiments they could produce "significant biological activity" using whole-plant extracts which contained low levels of atropine. |
| The alkaloid ephedrine, found in the TCM herb ephedra (ma huang), stimulates these receptors. This explains why ephedra is known to relax and open the muscles surrounding the lungs in asthma, but too much will overstimulate the heart and raise blood pressure.
• Red pepper was examined in a controlled clinical study for its effects on dietary energy production. Subjects received either 10 grams of red pepper or a placebo with their meals. |
Gabriel Cousens
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| Five were able to discontinue their medication and maintained blood sugar control with this herb alone.174
Dosage: The average dose per day in many of these studies was 400 mg.
CURCUMIN (TURMERIC)
Curcumin is a strong antioxidant, and has been associated with treating complications in diabetes. It inhibits oxidation—an internal rusting—because it protects against free radicals that are caused by the cross linkages and high sugar. So curcumin prevents free radical damage, reduces oxidative stress associated with diabetes, and helps to clean up metabolic waste. |
Michael Tierra, L.Ac, O.M.D.
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 Dose: 3-9 grams
Biota seeds (Ml ZI REN) Semen biotae orientalis Common Name: Biota seeds Family: Cupressaceae Energy and Flavor: Neutral; sweet
Organ Meridians Affected: Heart, liver, kidney, large intestine
Properties: Sedative, mild laxative, emollient, tonic
Effects and Indications: This herb is used as a tonic for the heart blood and calms the spirit for symptoms such as insomnia, palpitations, and forgetfulness. It is used as a mild laxative for cases of constipation due to deficiency of either yin or blood, especially for the elderly. |
Gabriel Cousens
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| In addition, this potent herb lowers blood sugar in both normal and diabetic humans.191
PTEROCARPUS
Pterocarpus marsupium balances glucose and lowers cholesterol. It was able to reverse the damage to pancreatic beta cells in different studies. This is quite impressive. Even more so, it also helps to counter the effect of insulin resistance, maintains blood sugar levels, restores insulin release from the pancreas, and in some cases, resulted in almost complete restoration of normal insulin secretion. |
Michael Tierra, L.Ac, O.M.D.
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| Dogwood berries (SHAN ZHU YU)
Fructus corni officinalis
Common Names: Cornus, dogwood berries
Family: Cornaceae
Energy and Flavor: Warm; sour
Organ Meridians Affected: Liver, kidney
Properties: Astringent, diuretic, tonic
Effects and Indications: This herb nourishes the liver and kidney and astringes essence. It is used for nocturnal emissions, spontaneous sweating, sore back and knees, and dizziness. It tonifies essence and assists the yang for cases of shock when there has been a collapse of both yang and qi. |
Gabriel Cousens
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| HOLY BASIL
Holy basil, known as the herb of Vishnu, is considered in India to be an adaptogen, improving immunity and generally strengthening the body. A significant placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics showed a 17.6-percent reduction in blood sugar. It also normalizes triglyceride levels in the blood, lowers cholesterol, and decreases blood pressure and inflammation in mild to moderate cases of diabetes.
PARSLEY
Parsley is excellent for kidney support in diabetics. |
Mark Sircus
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 Cilantro is the leafy part of a common herb whose seed, coriander, is a familiar culinary spice. Its active component is a mercaptan that can penetrate the blood brain barrier.
Dr. Andrew Hall Cutler says that Omura is right that cilantro contains some active principle that effectively binds (and releases) mercury and crosses the blood brain barrier but says that the pharmacology or kinetics of cilantro's active principle remains unknown. Dr. Hall has deterred people from using it for he has maintained that nobody has any clue how to use cilantro. This issue has been resolved by Drs. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 Native to both India and the southeastern United States, the herb has distinctive fan-shaped leaves that impart a bitter, acrid taste. In India and in Indian cuisines, it is sometimes served as a salad or a cooked vegetable.
EVIDENCE OF BENEFIT
Gotu kola has been used for thousands of years in ayurvedic medicine to revitalize the nerves and brain cells and to treat leprosy, skin ulcers, and other skin problems. Research shows that it has anti-inflammatory effects and improves the flow of blood throughout the body by strengthening the veins and capillaries. |
| Since this potentially allergenic herb frequently is not listed on the label when it is included in these products, allergic reactions to any of these products may be due to balsam. People who react to these products should not use any form of balsam.
Barberry
Latin name: Berberis species, most commonly Berberis vulgaris (Berberidaceae [barberry] family)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Barberry is a thorny, deciduous shrub that grows to a height of ten feet (three meters). Protected by thorny stems and tough leaves, it bears small yellow flowers in spring followed by purple berries in autumn. |
| Rosemary
Tea, made by steeping 1 tsp (2 gm) dried herb, crushed just before use, in 1 cup water. (See teas in Part Three.) Take 1 cup as needed.
Relieves cramps and spasms.
Slippery elm bark
Tea, made by steeping 1 tsp (2 gm) in 1 cup cold water. (See teas in Part Three.) Take 1 cup as desired.
Causes the stomach to produce protective mucus.
St. John's wort
Tincture. Take K tsp (1 ml) in % cup water daily.
Relieves gastrointestinal inflammation.
Valerian
Tincture. Take %- % tsp (1-3 ml) in % cup water, 3-4 times daily.
Stops gastrointestinal spasms; eases sleep. |
| Another herb, licorice, helps prevent fluid from accumulating in the lungs. It also reduces the rate at which the body breaks down epinephrine, a medicine used to combat anaphylactic shock that may be self-administered by means of an epinephrine pen (Epi-Pen). Take 800 milligrams of glycyrrhizin tablets once a day (children aged six to twelve, 400 milligrams) for four weeks after an attack. Do not give licorice to children under age six.
LJ Electric insect-repelling devices ("bug zappers") are not recommended. |
Gabriel Cousens
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| Sumptuous Salad
3 cups cooked grains of choice (cooled)
1 cup cooked beans of choice (cooled)
2 cups diced vegetables of choice (colored bell peppers, celery, spinach, cucumber, tomato)
1 cup nuts or seeds, chopped % red onion (optional) one-half bunch minced herb of choice (cilantro, basil, oregano, thyme, parsley)
2 tablespoons olive oil (or other recommended oil to taste) 1 teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice
This is a great quick and easy salad and the beans are a great source of protein! This fast and healthy complete meal serves 4. |
Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac.
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 Pure Energies is a company that sells EMF-protection devices, and Dr. herb Ross is the CEO of Pure Energies. The book also makes references in the text to other InnoVision Health Media Inc. publications.
All of the factual information in this book has been drawn from the scientific literature. To protect privacy, all patient names have been changed. Branded products and services discussed in the book are evaluated solely on the independent and direct experience of the health-care practitioners quoted. |
Jack Challem
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 One gram of cinnamon is about one-quarter teaspoon of the ground herb.
Fasting blood-sugar levels decreased by 18 to 29 percent among people taking cinnamon. In addition, cholesterol levels declined by 7 to 27 percent, and triglyceride levels went down 23 to 30 percent. No improvement occurred among people taking the placebos.
You can sprinkle cinnamon powder on fresh fruit, such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, pomegranate seeds, and cantaloupe. Ground cinnamon spice is much less expensive than capsules. |
Sharol Tilgner, N.D.
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| Parsley, Petroselinum crispum, is a diuretic, expectorant and a nutritive herb that supports general health through nutrition.
Ginger, Zingiber officinalis, is warming, antimicrobial, diaphoretic, antitussive, expectorant, anti-inflammatory and an immunomodulator.
Cayenne, Capsicum spp., is antiseptic, styptic, diaphoretic and a circulatory equalizer. It is great for cold hands and feet. Chronic use of cayenne has a protective effect on the tracheobronchial system of the lungs and the liver. |
| Chronic ingestion of large amounts of this herb can decrease the level of thiamin, vitamin Bl. Use only spring sterile shoots, never use older sterile shoots.
SKIN SPRAY FOR BOO BOOS
Calendula Calendula officinalis 45-65%
Aloe Aloe vera 25-45%
Action:
This formula is healing and soothing to the skin. It promotes rapid healing of wounds and other minor irritations. It is antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antipruritic and stimulates the growth of normal tissue.
Indications:
This formula is used for wounds such as cuts and abrasions. |
Michael Tierra
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| ECHINACEA
Echinacea is perhaps the most famous Western herb for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. While it may have little direct activity against cancer, its ability to stimulate the immune system makes it a useful addition to the formula. Echinacea has shown anticarcinogenic properties. |
| Yerba mansa
Anemopsis calijomica Parts Used: Roots, leaves Energy and Flavors: Cool, spicy
Systems Affected: Lungs, large intestines, bladder; has a particular effect on the mucous membranes and nasal passages, lungs, bronchioles, colon, and urinary passages
Biochemical Constituents: Methyleugenol, esdragole, thymol methy-lether, linalool, p-cymene, asarinin, various aromatics
Properties: This herb, a native of the Pacific West of North America, is an antiinflammatory, similar in properties to goldenseal in that it exerts its effects on the mucous membranes. |
| It is a mild herb and must be used in large doses, about eight to thirty grams per day, depending upon the severity of the ailment. The leaves are stronger and are taken two to eight grams per day.
Ephedra (MA HUANG)
Ephedra sinica
Family: Ephedraceae
Part Used: Stems and branches
Energy and Taste: Warm energy, acrid taste
Systems Affected: Adrenals, lungs and heart
Dose: 3-10 grams
Properties: Stimulant, Diaphoretic, expectorant, astringent Notes: Ephedra is useful for asthma, bronchitis, coughs and other congestive conditions. |
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