| The Practical Use of Herbs_
You don't have to be an herbalist, know complicated formulas, study the chemistry of plants, or learn the Chinese philosophies of herbal medicine to enjoy the benefits that herbs can bring into your life. If you are a novice in the world of herbs, go to a bookstore or library for books in their health and diet sections. Start small, with perhaps five herbs—some good ones to try first might be garlic, rosemary, comfrey, echinacea, and thyme. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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 German Commission E monograph on buchu concludes that insufficient evidence supports the modern use of buchu for the treatment of urinary tract infections or inflammation.22
The essential oil of horseradish (p. 436) has been shown to kill bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections.23 The concentration that is required to kill these bacteria can be attained in human urine after oral ingestion of the oil. One early study found that horseradish extract may help people with urinary tract infections.24 Further studies are necessary to confirm this report.
Cleavers (p. |
| However, wild indigo is rarely used alone and is instead used in combination with herbs such as echinacea (p. 417), goldenseal (p. 429), or thuja.
Are There Any Side Effects or Interactions? Refer to the individual herb for information about any side effects or interactions.
Checklist for Influenza
Ranking
Nutritional Supplements
Herbs
Primary
Echinacea (p. 417)
Secondary
Vitamin C (p. 341)
Elderberry (p. 418)
Other
Asian ginseng (p. 394) Boneset (p. 402) Eleuthero (p. 419) Garlic (p. 425) Goldenseal (p. 429) Wild indigo (p. 469)
See also: Homeopathic Remedies for Influenza (p. |
| Horse chestnut (p. 435) contains a compound called aescin that acts as an anti-inflammatory and reduces edema (swelling with fluid) following trauma, particularly those following sports injuries, surgery, and head injury.106 A topical aescin preparation is popular in Europe for the treatment of acute sprains during sporting events.
Cat's claw (p. 408) is a South American remedy traditionally used to promote wound healing and reduce the inflammation of minor injuries.
One uncontrolled study in humans found that a gotu kola (p. |
Ralph Golan, M.D.
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 United States, was an ardent promoter of this herb. Cayenne is useful in treating infections, particularly respiratory and sinus (in combination with other anti-infection agents: ECHINACEA, GARLIC, GOLDENSEAL, etc.). (See "Anti-infection," page 459.) One to two capsules of cayenne taken every few hours at the first sign of symptoms may forestall a cold. Cayenne is believed to help stop internal bleeding when taken orally, or when applied topically to cuts. Of course, direct pressure is indicated first for bleeding. Interestingly, cayenne can also dissolve unwanted clots. |
Robyn Landis
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 THE GIFT I WANT TO GIVE
I have some things that a lot of people want. I feel fantastic—strong, healthy, and energetic—virtually all the time. I feel like I grow healthier and look younger every year. I don't live in fear of disease. I don't have the daily physical complaints most people do. I don't get colds and flu. I'm very clear about what keeps me this way, and it's not "luck."
I derive such tremendous satisfaction and value from living the way I do, and am so fascinated by the gentle plant medicines that help me achieve the kind of health I enjoy; how could I not want to share it? |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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 This assertion is simply not true. In fact, the last 10 to 20 years have produced a tremendous amount of information concerning plants, crude plant extracts, and nutritional substances as medicinal agents.
Compare this to just 30 years ago, at which time it was impossible for the scientific establishment to determine exactly how many herbs promote their healing effects. |
Andrew Chevallier
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 Christianity. Many medieval churchyards contain ancient yews, some thought to be over 1,000 years old. In the Middle Ages, the best longbows were made from yew wood, as were "magic wands." Medicinal Actions & Uses Though yew has been used in small doses to treat rheumatic and urinary problems, its extreme toxicity makes it an unsafe medicinal plant. Research Taxol inhibits cell division and has been extensively researched for its potential as an anticancer drug. Taxol is most commonly found in the Pacific yew (T. brevijolia), though some varieties of T. baccata also contain the substance. |
Richard Gerber, M.D.
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 Doctors need to learn more about the hidden side of life—the so-called invisible realms and the subtle planes and grades of matter. There is a wealth of material about these subjects which can be investigated scientifically.. .such as the fact that small amounts of vegetable or mineral matter, the essences of flowers or homeopathic remedies, can have a powerful effect in treating human illness.
Certain types of subtle physical or etheric matter seem to attract specific illnesses to the physical body. |
Andrew Chevallier
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| It is itself highly irritant to the skin and causes severe dermatitis.
Ribes nigrum
( Grossulariaceae)
Blackcurrant
Description Erect deciduous shrub growing to 5 ft (1.5 m). Has serrated, palm-shaped lobed leaves, small greenish white flowers and clusters of black berries. Habitat & Cultivation Blackcurrant is native to the temperate regions of Europe, western and central Asia, and the Himalayas. It is cultivated for its sour-sweet fruit. The leaves are gathered in early summer, the berries when ripe in mid- to late summer. Parts Used Leaves, berries. |
| Many other Aloe species are also useful medicinally. key constituents
¦ Anthraquinones (aloin, aloe-emodin)
¦ Resins
¦ Tannins
¦ Polysaccharides
¦ Aloectin 13 key actions
¦ Heals wounds
¦ Emollient
Aloe Vera
A perennial with succulent leaves 2 ft (60 cm) long and a spike of yellow or orange flowers.
Parts Used
Leaves exude a bitter liquid, which is dried and known as "bitter aloes. " Tliey also contain a clear gel, which i a soothing skin remedy. |
| Key Theories
Unlike other herbal traditions that have a unified theory for making sense of illness and disease (for example, the European theory of the four humors), tcm has two different systems — the yin and yang theory and the five elements. They developed quite separately in China, and the five elements system was only accepted and fully incorporated into Chinese medicine during the Song dynasty (ad 960—1279).
On the streets of Hong Kong herbal chemists are a familiar sight. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 Aloe-Gator gel, a commercial preparation with an SPF of 40. In their book Prescription for Nutritional Healing, James Balch, M.D., and his wife, Phyllis Balch, suggest using aloe gel for sunburn—three or four liberal applications a day to spur healing and reduce pain and scarring.
In addition to the aloe that Peggy keeps in the kitchen, I have sev-
More Wisdom from the
Garden
Soothe Sunburned Skin from the Inside Out
Studies have shown that sunburn produces oxidative damage, the kind of cell-level devastation that's responsible for many of the diseases associated with aging. |
Andrew Chevallier
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| Cautions Take only under professional supervision. Do not take during pregnancy. Do not take the fresh plant, which is toxic.
Anethum graveolens syn. Peucedanum graveolens
(Umbelliferae)
Dill
Description Aromatic annual growing to 30 in (75 cm). Has an erect hollow stem, feathery leaves, and numerous yellow flowers in umbels. Fruit is lightweight and pungent. Habitat & Cultivation Dill is a native of the Mediterranean region, southern Russia, and central and southern Asia, growing wild in open areas. It is also widely cultivated, notably in England, Germany, and North America. |
the Editors of PREVENTION
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 Dr. Bloom. Without nailing down the precise species with the botanical name, you could end up taking the wrong medicine.
We've listed botanical names for all the herbs in this book in the chart on page 548. Whenever you need to familiarize yourself with the terminology for a specific herb, you can turn there for a quick reference. be measured in months or even weeks, but some tinctures can sit in your medicine chest for several years and not lose a thing. Even non-alcohol, glycerin-based tinctures—often called glycerites—can last for several years when stored. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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| In 1978, the German government established Commission E, a panel of physicians, pharmacists, pharmacologists, toxicologists, epidemiologists, and other professionals familiar with the vast body of historical and scientific literature pertaining to herbs and medicinal plants. The panel's mission is to pass judgment on the safety and effectiveness of various herbs as treatments for human health complaints. To date, Commission E has reviewed more than 300 herbs and has published a report (or monograph) on each herb's therapeutic dosage, benefits, and side effects. |
Christopher Hobbs
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 Taoist, Tao Hong-Jing (452-536 A.D.).
Chemistry
The sclerotium of G. umbellata contains ergosterol, a-hydroxy-tetracosanoic acid, biotin, soluble polysaccharide I (Gu-I), and crude protein (Yoshioka & Yamamoto, 1964; Yokoyama et al, 1975; Chang and But, 1986). According to Suzuki et al (1982), its mineral content (ppm) is as follows:
Na K Ca Mg Fe Mn Zn Cu
103 1,010 23,400 520 1,800 43 16 13
Studies on 1-, 2-, and 3-year-old G. umbellata have determined that total sugar, polysaccharide, and ergosterol content is highest in the 2-year-old fungus (Guo et al, 1992). |
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