| It was also a rich source of herbal remedies.
For birth control, Navajo women drank suds from the rotten root. The water-filled leaves from the plant were used for their laxative and sedative effects. Several tribes used the crushed root to make a shampoo to cure baldness.
Modern herbalists use yucca root primarily as an anti-inflammatory to treat arthritis. The plant contains large quantities of saponins, bitter substances that are known for their ability to foam when mixed with water. In animal studies, saponins have demonstrated an ability to reduce inflammation. |
Stephen T., M.D. Sinatra
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 In most medical schools in this country, the herbal remedies of Asian and European societies are simply not taught.
For example, the only medicinal herbs I learned about in medical school were the flowering foxglove plant, which is a source of the heart medication digitalis, and rauwolfia, the source of a medication used to control high blood pressure. Most other medicinal herbs were not given any credibility, despite the fact that many common pharmaceuticals originated from plants and barks. Herbal treatment was belittled and even scorned. |
| Creating a tea infusion is perhaps the oldest form of preparing herbal remedies. The recipe for ginger tea is quite simple. You can buy ginger root in any supermarket. Take about a one-inch segment of the root and slice it into thin pieces and add boiling water. Let it steep for approximately half an hour and add some honey and freshly squeezed lemon. You will be amazed how your nausea, indigestion, and even vomiting will cease after a few cups of tea.
In addition to its use for digestive disorders, ginger has long been touted as an immune system stimulant. |
Mark Bricklin
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 First, the cover of the paperback edition proclaims that the herbal remedies presented have been "proven effective by modern medical findings!" That's not true. Second, it is impossible to tell which portions of the book were written by Dr. Simmonite, a twentieth century herbalist, and which sections by Culpeper, the famed astrologer-physician of the early seventeenth century. That destroys whatever value the book may have as an historical document. |
Lesley Tierra
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 Such formulas are found in all forms of herbal remedies: bulk herbs, capsules, tinctures, tablets, salves, syrups, liniments, oils, teas, cremes, sprays, homeopathic remedies and Chinese pills. Knowing which form and formula to take may be confusing. But with some guidelines, this process can be understood.
The form an herbal formula is in will give some immediate indication of its use. For instance a salve is for a skin condition, a syrup for the throat or lungs, cough or cold and a capsule for an internal effect. Next, look carefully at the formula's contents. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 I don't know of any herbal remedies for dry-skin dermatitis. For myself, I use a cream that contains aloe and vitamin E. It seems to help. If it didn't, I'd try oral doses of vitamin E—400IU a day—based on an anecdotal report that appeared in the prestigious British medical journal Lancet a few years ago. It seems that a physician who had begun taking vitamin E supplements to reduce his risk for heart disease found that the supplements also cleared up his severe dry-skin dermatitis. I might also treat my dry skin with a good natural emollient, like avocado oil. eral plants myself. |
Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon
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 The labels on OTC bottles and herbal remedies will likely remain woefully inadequate, so it will be up to you to learn the rules to use such products safely.
References 1- Harrison, W., et al. "MAOIs and Hypertensive Crisis: The Role of
OTC Drugs." J. Clin. Psychiatry 1989; 50:64.
2. Rivers, N., et al. "Possible Lethal Reaction Between Nardil and
Dextromethorphan." Can. Med. Assoc. J. 1970; 103:85.
3. Riley, S.A., et al. "Effects of a Non-Absorbable Osmotic Load on Drug
Absorption in Healthy Volunteers." Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 1992; 34:40-46.
4. Wang, D.J. |
Nicola Reavley
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 Exercise, massage and herbal remedies are helpful for this.
Autoimmunity
An autoimmune disease is one in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. Some of the most common autoimmune diseases include arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and possibly inflammatory bowel disease. There may be a genetic component to autoimmune diseases and they may also be caused by infections and injuries. Stress and emotional factors also seem to contribute. Supporting the immune system through diet and lifestyle is vitally important in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. |
| There are several herbal remedies that can help to ease the problem. These include sage (Salvia officinalis), peppermint (Mentha piperita), chamomile (Matricaria recutita), hops (Humulus lupulus), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and valerian (Valeriana officinalis).
The liver
The liver is the most important metabolic organ in the body and has fundamental effects on health and vitality. Reducing stress on the liver and helping it to heal promotes health and can help to alleviate the symptoms of many disorders. |
| Supplements and herbs
There are several supplements and herbal remedies that may be useful in improving liver function. Antioxidants help to protect the liver from free radical damage; and carnitine, choline and inositol may help to prevent the accumulation of fat in the liver. Beneficial herbs include a group of plants known as bitters, which stimulate the flow of digestive juices from the glands of mouth, stomach, pancreas and small intestine. Bitters also stimulate liver activity, increasing both bile production and release from the gallbladder. |
Berkeley Holistic Health Center and Shepherd Bliss
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| Samuel Thompson compiled lists of herbal remedies from Mrs. Benton, a lay healer in Vermont. Between 1822 and 1839, his New Guide to Health sold 100,000 copies. At this same time he started a movement to keep healing from the marketplace. He wanted to democratize medicine and advocated that every person should be his or her own healer. Thompsonian magazines sprang up with controversial ideas about popular health, including attacks on male doctors' medical abuse of women. |
| British Medical Journal, October 18, 1975.
9. herbal remedies II.
10. On this subject, Paavo Airola says, "Menopause is a divinely designed phase in woman's life, with a purpose of liberating her from duties as procreator with God, and giving her time for self-improvement, for the perfection of her human and divine characteristics, and her spiritual growth." He states this in an excellent article in the July 1976 issue of Let's Live magazine, entitled, "Menopause: Dreadful Affliction or Glorious Experience? |
| Stan Malstrom, herbal remedies II. Family Press, 1975. Jeannine Parvati, Hygieia: A Woman's Herbal. Freestone Publishing Collective, 1978
Jeannine Parvati (AKA Jeannine O'Brien Medvin) holds a Master's Degree in Psychology, is the author of two published books, and has led numerous conferences focusing on female sexuality and yoga. She is a midwife and an astrologer, and has been invited to speak and teach throughout the western United States. Mother of three daughters, including home-born twins, Parvati is a student of Baba Hari Dass.
Evaluating and Improving Family Health
Aha E. Kelly, M. |
Kenny Ausubel
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 Because Hoxsey's herbal remedies were not patentable, he had reason to be cautious. Perhaps Hoxsey felt, as Winston Churchill once remarked, that the truth was so valuable that it had to be protected "by a bodyguard of lies." The MacGuffin might still be in play, after all.
So the question remains as to what exactly is in the Hoxsey tonic. Mildred Nelson has continued to hold the precise recipe close to the vest and never confirmed or denied its makeup. She gave a sly wink that Hoxsey might have admitted under court order only what the AMA believed to be in the tonic. |
| The popular use of herbal remedies in particular is increasingly palatable to conventional medical practice. At last, the arch polarization in medicine seems to be diminishing, even the long-taboo realm of unconventional cancer treatments.
Yet altering deeply ingrained national policy is like turning a battleship in rough seas: It doesn't happen quickly or without getting drenched. Redirecting the medical course will be an extended voyage fraught with submerged snags. |
Marcia Zimmerman, C.N.
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 He had tried various herbal remedies and supplements with limited success. Finally, he got on my 30-Day Plan and has made remarkable strides in the past months. Amazingly, he got some relief almost immediately, but it took several weeks before he was able to function normally.
As experts have learned more about the progression of AD/HD into adolescence and adulthood, the extreme importance of managing the symptoms in childhood has emerged. Each child will be different and require multiple approaches to his or her condition. |
Committee on Comparative Toxicity of Naturally Occurring Carcinogens
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 Certain plants used as herbal remedies contain carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (e.g., lasiocarpine), but are not considered as foods and thus are not included in this discussion. In contrast, animal tests provide some evidence of carcinogenicity for a large number of individual plant constituents (see Appendix A). In many cases, these results were obtained only at or near the MTD. In plants or their crude abstracts, carcinogenic constituents typically are highly diluted by the noncarcinogenic components of the plants and their crude extracts, thus making achievement of an MTD impossible. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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| Consumer's Guide to Safe Self-Care
Herbs and Their Compounds
While herbal remedies are generally safe for self-care and cause few, if any, side effects, herbalists are quick to caution that botanical medicines should be used cautiously—and knowledgeably.
First and foremost, if you are under a doctor's care for any health condition or are taking any medication, do not use any herb or alter your treatment regimen without consulting your doctor. If you are pregnant, do not self-treat with any natural remedy without the consent of your obstetrician or midwife. |
Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon
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| Conclusion
Over-the-counter medications are not wimpy drugs, and herbal remedies are not necessarily harmless. These products can have side effects and may interact with a wide variety of other compounds. A sensible consumer will learn which precautions apply. As more and more medicines jump the counter (Aleve, Pepcid AC, and Tagamet HB are examples, with Carafate, Feldene, and Zantac under review), you will have greater need than ever to check for interaction potential. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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| But he's open to herbal remedies. He even keeps a copy of my book The Green Pharmacy in his office, along with other herb references. He hopes this might encourage his patients to openly discuss herbal therapy with him.
This is important, because doctors need to know when their patients are using herbs. Certain herbs can interact with pharmaceuticals—sometimes beneficially, sometimes harmfully.
T Is for Touch
To borrow a line from a phone company ad, reach out and touch someone—the people around you and the world around you. Look for love, which is rejuvenating. |
| If you're concerned about a particular digestive problem, you may want to try some of the herbal remedies and other natural measures recommended below.
Constipation: The Right Foods and Herbs Can Keep You Going
Do you remember my SEVENTY principles for growing youthful? As I explained in chapter 2, the S in SEVENTY stands for sensible diet, while the first E stands for exercise. These two principles are the foundation of healthy digestion. Apply them to your own lifestyle, and you may not need herbs to keep yourself regular. |
Thomas Bartram
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 Section 12(1))
No licence is required for the sale, supply, manufacture or assembly of those herbal remedies where the process to which the plant or plants are subjected consists only of drying, crushing or comminuting and the remedy is sold or supplied under a designation which only specifies the plant or plants and the process and does not apply any other name to the remedy; and without any written recommendation (whether by means of a labelled container or package or a leaflet or in any other way) as to the use of the remedy. |
| See: MEDICINES ACT 1968, LABELLING OF HERBAL PRODUCTS, LICENSING OF herbal remedies - EXEMPTIONS FROM.
HERBALENE (Lusty's). Formula: Senna leaf BP 64 per cent; Fennel BPC 16 per cent; Buckthorn BPC 1934 4 per cent; Mate 8 percent; Elder leaves 8 per cent. Laxative. Relief of non-persistent constipation.
HERBS, SOURCE OF. Today's practice: only first grade organically grown herbs (European, British, American, etc) without the aid of pesticides or herbicides are the general rule, but standards vary in different countries. |
| But with the growth of scientific medicine in the 20th century medical reliance on herbal remedies has progressively diminished, although the fund of knowledge of true herbalists like Thomas Bartram continued to grow. Today, however, we hear repeatedly of threats to the natural world and its flora and fauna, alerting us to the precious heritage of herbal medicine. We realise, too, that many of our scientifically designed drugs are derived ultimately from plants; pharmaceutical research continues to draw on this source of new remedies. |
| Failing to respond to conventional medicine he accepted aid from Senecca Indians who took him into their care and treated him with simple herbal remedies, resulting in arrest of the profuse bleeding and a rapid return to normal health.
Prescribing botanic medicines for his patients from knowledge learned from his Indian friends, he met the famous medical botanist, Samuel Thomson, who taught him the elements of the craft. On his return to England lectures to his fellow doctors met with hostility. |
| A member must become familiar with the terms of the Medicine's Act 1968 and subsequent statutory instruments, notably the Medicines (Retail Sale or Supply of herbal remedies) Order 1977. Particular care should be taken to become familiar with the statutory maximum doses of those remedies listed in Schedule III of the latter order. Detailed records of prescriptions and dispensing must also be kept.
9. |
| In the main, herbal remedies are used to relieve symptoms of self-limiting conditions. They are usually regarded as safe, effective, well-tolerated and with no toxicity from normal use. Some herbal medicines are not advised for children under 12 years except as advised by a manufacturer on a label or under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. |
Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D.
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 Leung, in Chinese herbal remedies (New York: Phaidon Universe, 1984). The traditional Chinese dose is three to six grams (0.1 to 0.3 oz.) taken in the form of a decoction, pill or powder.
Turmeric contains carbohydrates, protein, fats, minerals (especially potassium) and vitamins (especially vitamin C). But the greatest interest has been in its yellow pigment curcumin, first isolated in 1842. Routinely used in paper production, scientists have recently discovered that curcumin is an effective topical agent and anti-inflammatory drug (2). |
Ralph W. Moss PhD
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 However, it is occasionally still cited in the negative literature on herbal remedies.
Essiac is relatively non-toxic, inexpensive, and accessible through almost every health food outlet. One can brew Essiac tea at home for about five cents per day, and so it appeals to the budget-conscious who may have been financially drained by other cancer treatments.
Clinical Results
We have seen the essentially negative conclusions reached by the Royal Cancer Commission. The Resperin "clinical trial" ended in fiasco in 1982. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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| I'm mighty glad that herbal remedies have become more popular in recent years, as a growing number of doctors recommend echinacea for preventing colds, ginger for relieving motion sickness and morning sickness, and ginkgo for sharpening memory and treating Alzheimer's. But we still have a long way to go. Most doctors still view herbs as a last resort, to be tried only after pharmaceuticals haven't worked. That's backward. The best way to treat ailments and protect your health is to use herbs first and leave pharmaceuticals as your last resort.
Why? Mainly because drugs are dangerous. |
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