| For women, herbalist Letha Hadady offers the following recommendations: We must approach the pain of PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) from both the emotional and physical sides. Emotionally, there are two types of PMS. One is the angry type. Aloe root is recommended for this. It cleans the system and cleanses the liver. It may taste a little bitter, but it is easy to take when added to a litde apple juice.
A stronger gall bladder and liver cleanser that lessens the impact of menstrual pains is the Chinese preparation Lung Tanxieganwan—20 percent ginseng, it aids digestion and reduces anger. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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 Like Galen, Nicholas Culpeper, the seventeenth-century
English herbalist, commented that it was helpful for a cough (p. 47) and was also useful in expectorating stubborn phlegm from the lung. Similarly, American Eclectic physicians of the nineteenth century remarked on its value as a medicinal plant not only for cough and asthma (p. 15) but also in menstrual complaints.2
Active Constituents
Horehound contains a number of constituents, including alkaloids, flavonoids, diterpenes (e.g., mar-rubiin), and trace amount of volatile oils. |
| Historical or Traditional Use
Dioscorides, a Greek herbalist, used hawthorn in the first century A.D. Although numerous passing men-
Hawthorn Be Supportive?
Ranking
Health Concerns
Primary
Angina (p. 13)
Congestive heart failure (p. 43)
Other
Atherosclerosis (p. 17)
Active Constituents
The leaves, flowers, and berries of hawthorn contain a variety of bioflavonoid-like complexes that appear to be primarily responsible for the cardiac actions of the plant. Bioflavonoids (p. 271) found in hawthorn include oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs [p. 324]), vitexin, quercetin (p. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 Being an herbalist, I use lots of herbs and spices (which, technically, are also herbs). Today, these plants are added to foods to perk up the taste. But long ago, when our ancestors were shifting from a Paleolithic diet to agriculture, they weren't interested in flavor enhancement, though that was a nice side benefit. Rather, they relied on herbs and spices to preserve foods, especially meats.
The aromatic oils that give herbs and spices their distinctive flavors are also potent antioxidants. They help retard meat spoilage, thanks to their antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. |
Berkeley Holistic Health Center and Shepherd Bliss
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| Jeanne Rose is a practicing herbalist, creator of a line of purely organic cosmetics, and author of several books.
Rosemary Gladstar has maintained a deep relationship with nature since childhood, when her grandmother taught her the lore of herbs and wild plants. Years of backpacking, camping, and riding her horses into the wilderness of the northlands further increased her friendship with all of nature. Choosing herbs as her vocation through visions she had as a child, Rosemary dedicated herself to the healing arts. |
Jean Carper
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 Even the respected herbalist Maud Grieve noted in her 1931 book that "the banana family is more of interest for its nutrient than for its medicinal properties."
However, in India, the plantain enjoys a huge folklore reputation as a treatment for peptic and duodenal ulcers. According to the Indian Materia Medica (1954), flour made of green plantains and made into "chappatis" (handmade bread) is good in cases of dyspepsia and flatulence, and a "slight gruel made of banana flour mixed with milk is a nice easily digestible article of the diet in cases of gastritis. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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| Blue flag should only be taken on the advice of a physician or herbalist trained in its use. Blue flag is unsafe for use during pregnancy or lactation. People should not give blue flag to children. Use of blue flag as a cathartic laxative is not recommended.
Blueberry
(Vaccinium spp.)
Common name: Huckleberry
Parts Used and Where Grown: Blueberry leaves are the primary part of the plant used medicinally; however, the berries are occasionally used. Blueberry is related to the European bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) (p. 396). Several species of blueberries exist—including V. globulare and V. |
Berkeley Holistic Health Center and Shepherd Bliss
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| Perhaps you are simply trying to become acquainted with a range of trusted experts—from an acupuncturist to an herbalist to a family doctor—to call on in times of need.
Mainstream Western medicine reigns supreme, and often succeeds magnificently, in certain areas of treatment and cure: traumatic injury, surgery, and antibiotic therapy for bacterial infections, for example. Health modalities known as "holistic," on the other hand, are the best for teaching one how to build a healthy, sound body-mind that resists
Whole Life Times, November 1983. 18 Shepard Street, Brighton, MA 02135. |
Earl Mindell and Hester Mundis
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 It is not recommended for long-term use without the supervision of an herbalist or other medicalprofessional. It may cause sensitivity to light and could seriously exacerbate sunburn.
TARRAGON
An impressive spice that adds gourmet flavor to salads, soups, and sauces, tarragon also contains the oil estragole, which has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
120. Raw Foods That You Are Better Off Cooking
Cooking vegetables and fruits has been an anathema for nutritionists (myself included) and health-conscious individuals for years. But the times are changing. |
Berkeley Holistic Health Center and Shepherd Bliss
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| It is very difficult for an herbalist to tell specifically why he would use this or that herb in a formula. From a deep understanding of the properties of the herbs, he is able to use the very same herbs that a layman would use, but in a combination that would be far more immediately successful. Though there are standard formulas, such as lower-bowel tonics, nerve tonics, etc., there are also particular combinations of herbs that would apply to a person's individual needs. The ability to use herbs in this way can be developed only by experience. |
Richard Gerber, M.D.
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 The image of the herbalist envisioned by most scientific doctors is that of the traditional healer or "witch doctor." The true "jungle medicine" as practiced in tribal societies consists of administering various herbs and roots indigenous to the geographical region, as prescribed for specific maladies, by a traditional healer. Although this might be the nature of the healing arts in various primitive African tribes today, it also describes the way medicine was practiced by doctors in Europe and Asia for centuries. |
| This document, left by an ancient Chinese herbalist, dates back to the year 2800 B.C. and lists 366 plant drugs used to heal various ailments. Perhaps the most famous of the early herbal medical textbooks was the original Materia Medica. It was created in the first century A.D. by Pedanius Dioscorides, an army surgeon from Asia Minor.1 In his book known as De Materia Medica (or "About Medicinal Trees"), Dioscorides attempted to organize all the current medical information on plant drugs into one informative text. |
Kenny Ausubel
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 After my wife illustrated a book about southwestern herbs, I became friendly with the herbalist author and ended up producing my first documentary, Los Remedios: The Healing Herbs, about the rich legacy of plant medicine in the Southwest. A friend showed the program to Catherine Salveson, a registered nurse with a background in cancer care, herbs, and media. Over lunch, I shared with her the story of Hoxsey. Catherine, who even in her nursing uniform bore an uncanny resemblance to singer Joni Mitchell, turned out to be extremely bright, articulate, and open. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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| She came to me and the local herbalist, my shaman friend Antonio, asking for help.
As it happened, we were standing very close to a tall senna tree. Like cascara sagrada, senna contains anthraquinones. The herb's pods and leaves have been used as laxatives since ancient times and were especially valued in the Arab world. Today, senna is recognized as one of the world's most popular and reliable laxatives.
I winked at Antonio, who proceeded to grab a handful of senna leaves, crush them, and brew a cup of senna tea for our stopped-up friend. |
John Heinerman
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 Good Treatment for Ringworm
One medical herbalist from Liverpool, England, shared with me some years ago her ointment for successfully eradicating ringworm from the skin. She took one half of an arum tuber (similar to a potato) and finely grated it; then she gently simmered the root material in about two-thirds cup of goose lard (melted Crisco may be substituted) for 15 minutes on very low heat so as not to cause burning or smoking of the fat itself. This was then permitted to cool. |
Berkeley Holistic Health Center and Shepherd Bliss
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| In the 'seventies he studied herbs, developed a program of alternative medicine at White Bird Free Clinic in Eugene, Oregon, and served as herbalist at the Berkeley Holistic Health Center.
Currently, Ethan is Aftercare Coordinator at Walden House, a drug program in San Francisco. He is the author of several books, including The Herbal Connection (BiWorld Press, 1981) and The New Herbalism (BiWorld Press, 1980).
Natural Cosmetics
Rosemary Gladstar
As we approach a more holistic way of living, we seek to be aware of what we take in, what we put on. |
Dian Dincin Buchman, Ph.D.
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 Sebastian Kneipp, the Bavarian master herbalist who codified all the known water therapies in the late nineteenth century, advised using hayflower "dips" to detoxify the child. Hayflowers were readily available to rural populations at that time. Now you can obtain Biokosma's superb Hayflower Bath (extract). The double hayflower compress acts as a magnet to draw out internal impurities and brings eruptions to the surface of the skin. Add 2 tablespoons of the brown extract to a large pot of boiled water. |
John Heinerman
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| You need to consult with a professional herbalist, homeopathic or naturopathic doctor, folk healer, or any similar person skilled in the medicinal application of herbs. Or refer to books on medicinal plants that are reliable and trustworthy. Besides this book, I would also recommend the following titles:
The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, N.D. (Santa Cruz, CA: Unity Press, 1980).
Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West (1979) and Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West (1989), both by Michael Moore (Santa Fe, NM: University of New Mexico Press). |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 To avoid the too-many-cooks problem, be sure to tell your physician and your herbalist about all the medicines you're taking as well as any unusual foods you might be eating.
Are you interested in herbal medicines, but you're not quite sure how to get started? Never fear—the information in this book will help you, whether you're an herbal neophyte just taking the first steps or someone who already uses herbs on a regular basis.
The chapters in part 2 of this book will tell you which herbs you need to tke an prevent and treat specific diseases. |
Andrew Chevallier
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 Gentian is a tall, attractive plant and has been cultivated in gardens at least since the time of the 16th-ccntury herbalist Gerard.
Habitat & Cultivation
This largest member of the diverse gentian family is native to the Alps and other mountainous regions of central and southern Europe from Spain to the Balkans, flourishing at altitudes of 2,300-8,000 ft (700-2,400 m). The large root crowns can be split, or, alternatively, the plant can be readily grown from seed. It needs a loamy soil and a sheltered position. The root is dug up in early autumn and dried as quickly as possible. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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| After my USDA colleague persuaded me to explore ginger's anti-angina benefits, I read that it was endorsed for heart attack prevention in Ginger: Common Spice and Wonder Drug by New England herbalist Paul Schulick. He notes that an Israeli cardiology clinic now recommends a daily half-teaspoon of powdered ginger.
It seems that ginger is an antioxidant that offers the blood vessels some protection against the damage caused by cholesterol. Ginger also boosts the strength of heart muscle tissue, as does the medication digitalis. |
| Seventeenth-century herbalist John Gerard said that sage "helpeth a weake braine or memory and restoreth them ... in a short time." British researchers have confirmed that sage inhibits the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, thus preserving the compound that seems to help prevent and treat Alzheimer's. Like rosemary, sage is also well-endowed with antioxidants. Just be judicious: Sage contains a fair amount of thujone, a compound that in very high doses may cause convulsions.
W, Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). |
| And I personally feel safer consulting a well-informed herbalist than I do consulting most doctors. As for the perils of pharmaceuticals, read the fine print on labels or in the advertisements.
As for the identities of commercially packaged herbal products, especially those that are chemically standardized, you can usually trust the labels. But even with standardized extracts, as with pharmaceuticals, there is a very small but still real chance for error.
Watckingf Out for Problems
Whatever herb you're taking, I recommend that you learn as much as you can about what to expect from it. |
| Maine herbalist Deb Soule, author of the feminist herbal The Roots of Healing, advises pregnant women to avoid the following herbs: barberry root bark, cascara sagrada, feverfew, juniper berries, mugwort, pennyroyal, pokeroot, rue, senna, southernwood, tansy, thuja and wormwood. That sounds like good advice to me, and I would add a few more to this list: balsam pear, chervil, Chinese angelica, hernandia, hyptis, mayapple and mountain mint. Lately I've also seen caution flags about evening primrose and St.-John's-wort, but I haven't seen the rationale behind these caveats. |
| Sage (Salvia officinalis). An herbalist I respect recommends gargling several times a day with warm sage tea for mouth sores and bad breath. Sage has breath-freshening properties similar to parsley and peppermint, so I agree with him.
VV Wild bergamot (Monarda fistu-losa). If you like thyme, you'll like wild bergamot, either by itself or mixed into other herb teas. It contains some of the same antiseptic compounds used in commercial breath fresheners. Use two teaspoons per cup of boiling water and steep for ten minutes.
V Clove (Syzygium aromaticum). |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1Michael T. Murray, ND
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| It is interesting to note that many of the scientific studies have found LaPacho and lapachol to be more effective in treating malaria and cancerous tumors through oral ingestion rather than intravenous or intramuscular injection.8
An herbalist's interpretation would be that the body's recuperative powers are more effectively stimulated by the more natural route of nutrient plant material absorption through the digestive tract. |
Andrew Chevallier
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| In 1597, the herbalist John Gerard wrote that "Couch-grasse be an unwelcome guest to fields and gardens, yet his physicke virtues do recompense those hurts; for it openeth the stoppings of the liver and reins [ureters] without heat." In times of famine, the root has been roasted and ground as a substitute for coffee and flour.
Medicinal Actions & Uses A gentle, effective diuretic and demulcent, couch grass is most commonly used for urinary tract infections such as cystitis and urethritis. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1Michael T. Murray, ND
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| In the state of Tennessee, as a reaction to the 1939 publication of the book Back to Eden by herbalist Jethro Kloss, court action initiated by the Tennessee State Medical Association led first to the publishers being forbidden to advertise the book for any therapeutic purpose. They were allowed only to acknowledge that it was in stock. The Tennessee State Legislature then declared that the practice of naturopathy in the state of Tennessee would be considered a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 Herbs
Bilberry—Used by herbalist for years to treat various eye problems, this herb may help to prevent cataracts. In one study, bilberry extract plus vitamin E stopped the progression of cataract formation in 97 percent of fifty older patients with cataracts. Bilberry was also used by British fighter pilots during World War II who claimed that it helped relieve night blindness!
Personal Advice
I never go out in the bright sun without a good pair of sunglasses, and neither should you. |
| Early in my career as a pharmacist and master herbalist, I became frustrated that the healthcare system paid vastly more attention to the treatment of disease than its prevention. In the United States, I was one of the earliest advocates of the use of supplements, and I am proud that my books, including The Herb Bible and the Antiaging Bible, have helped introduce millions of readers to the role supplements can play in maintaining robust health and in treating disease.
As a pharmacist, I understand that conventional drug therapy occupies a very important role in health care. |
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