| COMMON USES
Within the traditional herbal medicine paradigm, nettle leaves are considered very nutritive and consequently they are often used in situations of convalescence and recuperation.1 They are also used to aid milk production in nursing mothers.1 In addition, nettle is used
Family
ž Urticaceae
Synonyms
ž Stinging nettle
*:• Urtica
ž Common nettle {Urtica dioica L. |
| Traditional Use
Although alfalfa has been used medicinally in Traditional Chinese Medicine (to treat digestive disorders) and Ayurvedic Medicine (for digestive conditions, as a diuretic and in the treatment of arthritis), it is not often mentioned in North American textbooks of herbal medicine.1
Current Medicinal Use
Modern day herbalists consider alfalfa to be a good general tonic, due largely to its reputation as an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and protein. While more research is needed, alfalfa may be effective in reducing high cholesterol levels. |
| REPPED: In reading this book, not only is it important to realize what medicinal herbs are but also what they are not. herbal medicine is a complex subject, both a science and an art. No book could cover all the subtle nuances of this fascinating therapy. We have intentionally concentrated on the published 'scientific' material, but attempted to incorporate empirical information wherever possible. While many conventional practitioners are not familiar with the traditional elements of herbalism, this empirical knowledge plays a pivotal role in the practice of botanical medicine. |
Christopher Hobbs
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 This important work was said to be written by the legendary "Divine Husbandman," who is considered the father of herbal medicine in China, but is known to originate from the first century A.D., later reconstructed from several manuscripts on herbal medicine by the famous 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). |
C. P. Khare
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 Extreme toxicity makes it unsafe as a herbal medicine.
Zarnab (Arabic), Budul, Bhrangi, Chilaa, Chi-liraadh are doubtful synonyms of Taalispatra. Zarnab has been equated with Salix aegyptiaca Sprengel. National Formulary of Unani Medicine has equated Telispattar with Zarnab and Zarnab with Flacourtia cataphracta Roxb., also with Cin-namomum tamala Nees. Taalisfar (Arabic), known as Taalispatra in Punjab and Nepal, has not yet been equated scientifically with Abies spp. |
Richard P. Brown, M.D., and Patricia L. Gerbarg, M.D.
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 My appreciation of herbal medicine deepened considerably once I added Rhodiola rosea to my healing regimen during my long and difficult bout of Lyme disease. Since my recovery, I've gotten more and more interested in researching and writing about alternative and complementary medicine in psychiatry. Dick and I have been coauthors of numerous scientific articles and book chapters on the subject, including an in-depth article with Dr. Zakir Ramazanov on Rhodiola rosea for HerbalGram, and the chapter "Complementary and Alternative Treatments in Psychiatry" with Philip R. |
Josef A. Brinckmann and Michael P. Lindenmaier
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 U.K.: herbal medicine in the General Sale List, Table A (internal or external use) of Schedule I (requiring full Product License).
U.S.: Dietary supplement. Peppermint (§182.10) and its essential oil and/or natural extractives (§ 182.20) are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).
Authentication: Macroscopic (see also: Description) and microscopic, according to Ph. Eur. or USNF. The characteristic glandular trichomes have 8 secretory cells with a ballooned cuticle (Fig. 4). The cuticle of the long, multicellular
Wording of the package insert German Standard License
(St. Zul. |
| U.K.: herbal medicine in the General Sale List, Table A (internal or external use) of Schedule I (requiring full Product License). U.S.: Dietary supplement.
Authentication: Macroscopic (see: Description) and microscopic. The leaf epidermis comprises sinuate cells with
Excerpt from the German Commission E monograph
(BAn% no. 22a, Published February 1, 1990)
Uses
Catarrh of the respiratory tract. Contraindications
Gastric and intestinal ulcers, inflammatory diseases of the kidneys. Not to be administered to children less than 4 years of age. |
Richard P. Brown, M.D., and Patricia L. Gerbarg, M.D.
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| They had prepared an extensive monograph on Rhodiola rosea for the American Botanical Council's peer-reviewed herbal medicine journal HerbalGram (www.herbalgram.org), of which I am the editor. Over the ensuing months, I worked with them to develop the manuscript into what became the first authoritative and comprehensive English-language review of the clinical and pharmacological literature about this fascinating herb.
Normally, I am not one to hype the next "superherb." Too often, the U.S. |
Josef A. Brinckmann and Michael P. Lindenmaier
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| U.K.: herbal medicine in the General Sale List, Table A (internal or external use) of Schedule I (requiring full Product License).
U.S.: Dietary supplement. Natural flavoring substance approved for use in beverages only; finished beverage must be thujone free (§ 172.510).
Authentication: Macroscopic (see: Description) and microscopic, following the Ph. Eur. Particularly characteristic are the covering trichomes of the leaves (Fig. 3), which comprise a uniseriate, 4—
6 celled stalk and a long, thick-walled, often somewhat tortuous terminal cell (Fig. 4). |
| U.K.: herbal medicine in the General Sale List (listed as Menyanthes), Table A (internal or external use) of Schedule 1 (requires full Product License). U.S.: Dietary7 supplement.
Authentication: Macroscopic (See: Description) and microscopic, following the Ph. Eur. Besides the fine cuticular striations and the characteristic aerenchyma (in both the lamina and petiole of the leaf), there are only a few conspicuous features (Figs. 3 and 4).
TLC Identification: (see also Ph. Eur.)
Stationary phase: Silica gel 60 (plates or foil).
Test solution: 1. |
| U.K.: herbal medicine in the General Sale List, Table A (internal or external use) of Schedule I (requiring full Product License).
U.S.: Cosmetic ingredient. Unapproved drug, presendy under consideration for inclusion on the bulk drug substances list for pharmacy compounding of prescription drugs. Myrrh fluidextract is an OTC digestive aid (§310.545), however there are inadequate data to establish general recognition of safety and efficacy. Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) natural flavoring substance in food (§172.510). |
Dianne Onstad
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 Medicinally, anise has warming and moistening properties; it has traditionally been used in European herbal medicine as a mild diuretic, a slight stimulant for vital bodily organs, a treatment for flatulence and indigestion, a breath sweetener, a toothache reliever, and a stimulator of mother's milk. Anise is also an expectorant with antispasmodic action that is helpful in countering menstrual pain, asthma, whooping cough, and bronchitis; it appears frequently as a
Anise/Aniseed / Nutritional Value Per 100 j
Edible Portion
Whole Seed ltsp.
Calories
337
7
Protein
17.60 g
0. |
Bradley J. Willcox, M.D., D. Craig Willcox, Ph.D., Makoto Suzuki, M.D.
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 As a rule, we believe that rational herbal medicine has fewer side effects than conventional medicine, as herbs are generally more diluted, but you have to be careful when an herb is removed from its cultural context. Such is the case with ma huang, where despite 5,000 years of use in Chinese medicine, the herb was synthesized, dosed up, and combined with other stimulants like caffeine to create products much more powerful and potentially dangerous than the original herb.
Bottom line: We don't recommend the use of ephedra-type diet pills or similar weight-loss products. |
Michael Castleman
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 Among the healing therapies now available are acupuncture, aromatherapy biofeedback, bodywork, Chinese herbal medicine, chiropractic, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage, meditation, music therapy, naturopathy, nutritional therapies, qigong, tai chi, visualization, Western herbal medicine, and yoga. |
Gary Null
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| They found that Chinese herbal medicine extracts OLEN, SPES and PC-SPES kill lung cancer cells but not normal cells in a way that is similar to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs but without the side effects.66
Apparently some forms of PC-SPES have been either intentionally or unwittingly contaminated with certain medicinal drugs, therefore the FDA banned their use. This is especially tragic since, as the following studies demonstrate, this formula seems to have been having some remarkable results. |
volker schulz and Rudolf Hansel
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 Prior to 1800, when medicine entered the scientific age, traditional herbal medicine was the unquestioned foundation for all standard textbooks on pharmacology. It was not until the advent of modern chemistry and the development of modern pharmacotherapy and "medical science" that phytotherapy was relegated to the status of an alternative modality. From the historical perspective, however, it is incorrect to classify phytotherapy as a special or alternative branch of medicine. |
| Wildfeuer A, Neu IS, Safayhi H, Metzger G, Wehrmann M, Vogel U, Ammon HPT (1998) Effects of boswellic acids extracted from an herbal medicine on the biosynthesis of leukotrienes and the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Arzneimittel-Forschung/Drug Res 48: 668-674.
Willuhn G (1995) Phythopharmaka in der Dermatologie. Z Phytother 16: 325-342.
Agents that Increase Resistance to Diseases
Herbal remedies fit very naturally into the natural and holistic system of medicine. |
Earl L. Mindell, RPh, PhD with Virginia Hopkins, MA
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| One of the truisms of herbal medicine is that the whole plant usually works better than an extract. Kava is a perfect example of this. Kava is useful when used in moderation but can be harmful when overdone or combined with other drugs. It's not a substance to use daily for an extended period of time. It would also be wise to avoid combining kava with alcohol and to avoid the highly concentrated doses offered by some manufacturers.
St. |
volker schulz and Rudolf Hansel
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| Zhu J-S, Halpern GM, Jones K (1998) The scientific rediscovery of an ancient Chinese herbal medicine: Cordyceps sinensis part 1. J Alt Comp Med 4: 289-303.
Zorikow PS, Lyapustina TA (1974) Change in a concentration of protein and nitrogen in the reproductive organs of hens under the effect of Eleutherococcus extract. Deposited DOC VINI, 732-774,58-63, ref Chem Abstracts 86 (1977) 119-732.
Appendix:
The 100 Most Commonly Prescribed Herbal Medications in Germany
Figure Ai and Tables A1-A3 review the 100 most frequently prescribed herbal medications in Germany. |
| Liske E Wustenberg P (1998) Therapy of climacteric complaints with Cimicifuga racemosa: herbal medicine with clinically proven evidence. Menopause 5: 250.
Liske E, Boblitz N, von Zeppelin HHH (2000) Therapie klimakterischer Beschwerden mit Cimicifuga racemosa - Daten zur Wirkung und Wirksamkeit aus einer randomisierten kontrollierten Doppelblindstudie. In: Rietbrock N (ed) Phytopharmaka VI - Forschung und Praxis. Steinkopff-Verlag, Darmstadt, pp. 247-257.
Lohning A, Verspohl EJ, Winterhoff H (1998) Pharmacological studies on the central activity of Cimicifuga racemosa in mice. Abstract J10. |
Leslie Taylor, ND
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 Dracontium longipes, D. loretense, D. peruviuanum, and D. asperum. While all four species are indigenous to the Amazon, D. aspe-rum is more prevalent in the rainforests of Brazil, Suriname, and Guyana; longipes, loretense, and peruviuanum are more prevalent in Peruvian and Ecuadorian rainforests.
Ethnobotanically, jergon sacha is considered a signature plant: the plant's indigenous uses are directly related to its appearance. In this particular case, the trunk-like stem and its mottled coloring closely resembles a poisonous snake indigenous to the areas in which it grows. |
Brian O'Leary
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 Here are some of the many approaches: mind-body medicine, energy medicine, vibrational medicine, homeopathy, alternative medicine, integrative medicine, holistic healing, East-West medicine, ayruvedic medicine, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, acupressure, herbal medicine, chiropractic, and spiritual healing. Many pioneering individuals promoting these practices include
Deepak Chopra, Larry Dossey, Bernard Siegel, Andrew Weil, Elmer Green, Norman Sheely, and others too numerous to mention here. |
Michael Castleman
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| Among the healing therapies now available are acupuncture, aromatherapy biofeedback, bodywork, Chinese herbal medicine, chiropractic, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage, meditation, music therapy, naturopathy, nutritional therapies, qigong, tai chi, visualization, Western herbal medicine, and yoga. |
Bradley J. Willcox, M.D., D. Craig Willcox, Ph.D., Makoto Suzuki, M.D.
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| These words from the Textbook of herbal medicine (Gozen Honzou) were written in 1832, by Dr. Tokashiki Tsuka, physician to the King of the Ryukyus (present-day Okinawa). They embody the concept of nuchigusui—the healing power of food. Today the nuchi gusui spirit still permeates the Okinawan psyche and has made its way into the Okinawan kitchen—and now into yours. In ancient China, the diet doctor received top ranking, and it's said that the first medical textbook was actually a cookbook. To us that makes total sense. We are firm believers in the healing power of good food. |
Earl L. Mindell, RPh, PhD with Virginia Hopkins, MA
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| Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herbal medicine; try 500 mg three times a day.
Calcium and Magnesium
Sometimes insomnia or anxiety can be caused by "universal" muscle tension, where it feels as if every muscle in your body is tense. People with this type of tension tend to get muscle cramps at night. When your grandmother gave you a glass of milk before bedtime, she was wisely giving you a dose of calcium to relax your muscles and ease you into sleep. Magnesium regulates calcium uptake by cells, so take a magnesium/ calcium combination for the greatest effect. |
The Life Extension Editorial Staff
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 The PDR for herbal medicine cautions that aloe is contraindicated in cases of intestinal obstruction or intestinal diseases (Crohn's or ulcerative colitis) or abdominal pain of unknown origin. An appropriate dose of aloe in the form of aloe leaf gel would be 10 grams or 2 tsp three times daily.
Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice root (DGL) has also been found to be beneficial fot leaky gut syndrome. The recommended dose for this would be 500 mg of a 10:1 extract 3 times daily. |
C. P. Khare
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| Yew is no longer used in the West as a herbal medicine. In homoeopathy a tincture of berries and fresh young shoots are used (up to third potency).
C. infortunatum: Flowers contain fumaric acid, beta-sitosterol and methyl esters of caffeic acid, a diterpenoid and a sterol. Leaves contain the flavonoids scutellarein-7-O-glucuronide and hispidu-lin-7-O-glucuronide. Leaf and root exhibit antitu-mour, vermifuge and febrifuge properties. (CIMAP.)
Rhododendron anthopogon D. Don (Ericaceae), known as Taalisfar in Kashmir, is found in the Himalayas at altitudes of 3000-4000 m. |
| Sarsaparilla of herbal medicine contains a mixture of saponins derived mainly from sarsasapo-genin and smilagenin. The saponins display a strong diuretic action as well as some diaphoretic, expectorant and laxative properties.
Neither the whole drug nor its contained saponins is effective in the treatment of syphilis or as a "blood-purifier" (Tyler). It is also claimed that sarsaparilla contains testosterone and can be substituted for steroidal drugs. Testosterone has never been detected in any plant, including sarsaparilla (Tyler).
According to M. |
| In European herbal medicine, Rue has also been used to treat hysteria, epilepsy, vertigo, multiple sclerosis, Bell's palsy. An infusion is used as an eyewash for strained and tired eyes.
Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654) wrote of Garden Rue: "It provokes women's urine and women's courses, being taken either in meat or drink... A decoction (of leaves) with dried dill leaves and flowers, eases all pains and torments, inwardly to be drank, and outwardly to be applied warm to the place grieved... It kills and drives forth the worms of the belly... |
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