Gary Null and Amy McDonald
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 I think that herbs with a 2,000-year history have done people some good, that herbalists, dating back to the Indian medicine men and ancient Chinese herbalists, knew what they were doing.
"If we can help a person sleep, we can help him or her to think and feel better when awake. Valerian is an herb that has been used for years to help with sleep. Sometimes we mix that with taurine, which is not an herb but an amino acid. These two agents together tend to help people relax, although this does not work all the time.
"Some botanicals that worry us are at the opposite end of the spectrum. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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 Chinese herbalists prize Reishi mushrooms for their protective effect on the liver. The bitterer the mushroom, the higher the level of triterpenoids, which give it its potency. It's usually made into a tea or taken as an extract.
Phosphatidylcholine. The active ingredient in the popular supplement lecithin is actually a substance called phosphatidylcholine. In animal research, it protects against cirrhosis and fibrosis. We know that choline—the prime constituent of phosphatidylcholine—is essential for normal liver function, and phos choline is an excellent "delivery system" for choline. |
Brigitte Mars, A.H.G.
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 Topically, cistanches is used as a poultice to relieve toothache and joint pain and to clear up skin infections caused by strep and herpes. herbalists of North America and Europe used the powdered herb topically on skin cancers.
Edible Uses
The entire plant can be eaten raw or roasted as a vegetable. |
| American herbalists Guild 141 Nob Hill Road Cheshire, CT 06410 203-272-6731 www.americanherbalist.com
Offers a member directory of peer-reviewed herbal practitioners.
American Herb Association P.O. Box 1673 Nevada, CA 95959 530-265-9552 www.jps.net/ahaherb
Provides listing of herb schools throughout country and an excellent newsletter.
California School of Herbal Studies P.O. Box 39 Forestville, CA 95436
707-887-7457 www.cshs.com
Provides in-depth, on-site herbal education with many fine teachers.
Herb Research Foundation 4140 15th Street Boulder, CO 80304 303-449-2265 www.herbs. |
David W. Grotto, RD, LDN
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 Asparagus roots are used by Chinese herbalists to treat many ailments, such as arthritis and infertility. Madame de Pompadour used asparagus mixed with egg yolks, vanilla, and truffles as an aphrodisiac. Historically, asparagus has been used to treat problems involving swelling, such as arthritis and rheumatism, and may also be useful for PMS-related water retention.
Throw Me a Lifesaver!
DIGESTIVE HEALTH: Asparagus contains inulin, a carbohydrate that is not digested but promotes friendly bacteria in our large intestine. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
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 Blue cohosh can improve the muscular tone of a hypotonic uterus and thereby was thought by early traditional herbalists to improve fertility. Cramp-bark has been used more in cases of miscarriage rather than actual infertility. It has been used traditionally both as a uterine sedative and a uterine tonic. False unicorn or helonias has been used to improve uterine tone and decrease what has been called pelvic congestion. This herb also tends to be used more for women who have a history of miscarriage or abnormal bleeding during the pregnancy rather than true infertility. |
| Licorice has traditionally been used by naturopathic physicians, herbalists, and other health-care practitioners to support the body's immune system and to defend against the effects of disease-causing viral infections. Laboratory studies demonstrate a component of Glycyrrhiza glabra root, gly-cyrrhetinic acid, is active against viruses, specifically in HSV where it inhibits the growth, activity, and ability to replicate, irreversibly inactivating the herpes simplex virus. |
| Historically, many herbalists have taught that herbs with arbutin work best in an alkaline environment. That would appear to present a problem given that acidifying the urine is a fundamental concept in the successful treatment of UTIs. This potential issue has not been a factor in the great success I've witnessed in treating UTIs by acidifying the urine with vitamin C while simultaneously using uva-ursi and other botanicals.
Because of its potential irritating and inflammatory effects on the urinary tract mucous membranes, uva-ursi is best used in combination with other botanicals. |
| With therapies more acceptable to the public, subsidies from wealthy foundations, the support of the developing pharmaceutical industry, and political savvy and legislation in its favor, conventional medicine was able to restrict the use of unorthodox doctors, midwives, herbalists, and others and gain a virtual monopoly on the health-care system.
Fortunately, alternative medicine and naturopathic medicine have seen a rebirth in the last 15 to 20 years, and especially in the last 5. |
Richard Lucas
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 Health Tips for Cystitis
The following health measures recommended by physicians and herbalists should be included with any treatment used for cystitis. These suggestions not only help prevent cystitis from recurring after it has been successfully treated, but also help reduce the chances of ever getting the painful ailment to begin with.
1. Cleanliness and strict hygiene are necessary at all times, especially after urination and bowel movements. After moving your bowels, wipe yourself from front to back—i.e., away from the vagina—as this will prevent bacteria from reaching the urethra. |
Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. and Alan R. Gaby, M.D.
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 However, most herbalists use dong quai in combination with other herbs, rather than by itself, as in that study. On rare occasions, ginseng has caused vaginal bleeding in postmenopausal women, apparently because of its estrogenic activity.
Herbalists may recommend different combinations of herbs for different women, depending on their particular clinical picture. To maximize safety and effectiveness, women who wish to treat their menopausal symptoms with herbs should consult a practitioner who is trained in their use. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
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 Traditional Herbalist's Prescriptions for Common Clinical Conditions: A Survey of Members of the UK National Institute of Medicinal herbalists. Phytother Res. 12 (5); 369-371. 1998
Bayerl C, Jung EG. Allergic contact dermatitis from Aristochol®, a phytotherapeutic cholagogue. Contact Dermatitis 34; 222-223. 1996.
Budzianowski J. Coumarins, caffeoyltartaric acids and their artifactual estres from Taraxacum officinale. In: PM 63(3):288. 1997.
Caceres A, Cano O, Samayoa B, Aguilar L Plants used in Guatemala for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders. . 1. |
Andreas Moritz
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 Many herbalists believe that Cayenne not only aids the digestive system, but also benefits the heart and circulatory system. It acts as a catalyst and increases the effectiveness of other herbs when used with them. Cayenne is very rich in vitamins A & C, has the complete B complexes, and is very high in organic calcium and potassium, which is one of the reasons it is good for the heart. Cayenne has been known to stop heart attacks within 30 seconds (a teaspoon of Cayenne extract in a glass of hot water every 15 minutes until the crisis has passed). |
Marshall Editions
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 The herbs listed here are available from Chinese herbalists or online.
Acupuncture: Treatment will aim to relieve the underlying problem that is causing the puffy eyes. If puffy eyes are due to spleen and/or kidney deficiency, the treatment principle will be to disperse water retention, enhancing spleen and kidney energy. Treatment causes are determined by the individual patient's condition. 201
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Acupressure: Wash your hands before pressing the following points. |
Richard Lucas
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| Chinese herbalists have reportedly cured many a severe case of pleurisy with the above treatment.
PROPOLIS
Very good results have been reported with the use of propolis for treating various respiratory problems and related ailments.
• Dr. R. Chauvin of Paris, France, stated that he found the use of propolis helpful in preventing viral infections such as colds, flu, and tonsillitis.
• Dr. M.M. Frenkel of Russia reported that propolis is effective for treating diseases of the sinuses and upper part of the respiratory tract. |
| All docks are considered medicinally useful, but the species known as yellow dock (Rumex crispus) is the variety Chinese herbalists value most. This plant is easily recognized by its long, narrow leaves which have crisp, curled edges.
Nature's Aid for Irregularity
A tea made from yellow dock is said to be a gentle, natural aid for anyone troubled with constipation. The tea is not considered a laxative, but rather a normalizer and regulator of bowel function.
The root is the part of the herb used for making the tea. |
| Chinese herbalists have been aware of how dilation of arteries of the brain, which results in torturous migraine headaches or chronic headaches, can sometimes be traced to uterine and ovarian derangement. Although any one of a number of other causes could be the culprit of migraine, in those cases in which certain female disorders are responsible the herb vervain has often proven helpful.
To prepare the tea, instant vervain tea bags may be used or a quart of boiling water may be poured into a porcelain bowl containing 2 ounces of vervain. |
| Chinese herbalists employ it for its astringent properties to arrest bleeding gums and to fasten loose teeth. Used as a daily mouth wash, it builds strong healthy gums.
Place one teaspoonful of the herb in a cup and add boiling water. Cover with a saucer and allow the tea to stand for 30 minutes. Strain.
HU-CHIN-TS'AO
English Name: Violet Botanical Name: Viola odorata
The violet plant contains salicylic acid, mucilage, resin, sugar, an aromatic principle, a glucoside, and an alkaloid. It is also a rich source of vitamins A and C. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
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| Informarion that has appeared in the writings of traditional herbalists and the lay press or herbal resources about the danger of ginger during pregnancy appears to be out of date and not based on scientific facts. Select sensitive individuals may get some stomach-burning sensations when using ginger. Taking it with food will most likely relieve that discomfort.
Nettle (Urtica Dioicri). Nettle is one of the best herbs to use in pregnancy due to its appreciable amounts of vitamins and minerals, including calcium and iron. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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 And evidentially, Shakespeare was on to something when he associated rosemary with memory ("There's rosemary, that for remembrance: pray you, love, remember"). herbalists have treated rosemary as helpful for the brain as far back as the seventeenth century, when the English physician Nicholas Culpeper wrote that rosemary helps "weak memory, and quickens the senses" as well as "diseases of the head and brain, as the giddiness and swimmings therein.... |
Marshall Editions
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| Herbs: The following herbs are available from Chinese herbalists or online.
• To treat all kinds of nosebleeds: Place 10 g of Bei Mao Gen (wooly grass rhizome) and 5 g of Jin Yin Hua (honeysuckle flower) in a teapot and add boiling water. Let the herbs steep for five minutes before drinking.
• To treat chronic nosebleeds: Make a decoction using 12 g Han Lian Cao (eclipta), 15 g of Xiun Shen (ningpo figwort root), 15 g of Zhi Mu (anemarrhena rhizome), 12 g of Di Cu Pi (cortex of wolfberry root), 12 g of Dan Pi (cortex of tree peony root), and 12 g of Mai Men Dong (ophiopogon tuber). |
| The herbs listed are available from Chinese herbalists or online.
• To treat hiccups due to an irregular diet: If hiccups occur after overeating or wolfing down food, or after eating too much cold or raw food, mix 18 g of Cao Mai Ya (baked wheat), 18 g of Cao Gu Ya (baked rice grain), 12 g of Shan Zha (hawthorn fruit), 8 g of Shen Qu (medicated leaven), and 3 g of Gan Cao (licorice). Drink 1 cup two to three times during the day for three to five days. |
| These herbs, available from Chinese herbalists, help to build a stronger digestive system. Do not use these herbs if you are suffering from diarrhea.
Acupuncture: Consult an experienced TCM practitioner about your condition, and in the meantime avoid eating wheat. Treatment aims are to improve your general health, by improving your digestive energy. The length of treatment varies, but it usually lasts for a few months.
Acupressure: The Pi Shu point is located in the middle of the back, 1 'A inches lateral to the spine at the 11th vertebra. |
| Mother's cordial: This formula, used by herbalists for centuries, is made specifically for the last two weeks of pregnancy to prepare the uterus for an easier delivery. It should not be taken at any other time during pregnancy. These herbs strengthen the uterus, relieve unproductive spasms, and soothe nervous agitation. Mix a dried herb formula made from 40% squaw vine, 30% cramp bark, 20% blue cohosh, and 10% false unicorn. Drink an infusion made from 1 tsp of this formula per cup of water, three times daily. |
| Hawthorn, as well as the other herbs listed, are available from Chinese herbalists or online. • To treat indigestion due to overeating and/or acute stomach bloating: Mix 12 g of dried Shan Zha (hawthorn) with 12 g of Bin Long (betel nut), 30 g of Yi Yi Ren (seeds of Job's tears), and 8 g of Shen Qu (medicated leaven). Make a decoction by placing the herbs in a ceramic or glass pot and adding 3M cups of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid and drink 1 cup twice a day. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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| According to Ann Mclntyre, a fellow of the National Institute of Medical herbalists and the author of six books, its chemical structure gives it a unique ability to penetrate the skin easily, nourishing and detoxifying even the deepest tissue layers. o-in Thp 1 cn Hpalthipct FohHq nn Farth
What about Canola Oil?
No, it's not a mistake, nor an omission. Canola oil is not on the list of the world's healthiest foods. It's not even close.
Nutritionists can be divided into two camps on certain controversial issues, soy being one of them, canola oil being another. |
Brigitte Mars, A.H.G.
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| They can be differentiated by the fact that blackberries bear larger, black or purplish berries and have longer, thornier canes that appear greenish white in their first year. Most herbalists agree that blackberry plants share common uses, as detailed here, and red raspberry plants share their own common uses, as detailed in the profile of raspberry (see page 246).
Blackberry leaf was recommended for therapeutic use as early as the first century, by Dioscorides. The leaf helps clear heat, reduces inflammation, cools fever, and dries dampness. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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| Recent research has confirmed something that herbalists have long known: Sage works as a memory enhancer.
It's also used for combating indigestion, excessive perspiration, and sore throats. And if that weren't enough, it's also been found to be helpful with menopausal night sweats.
WORTH KNOWING
Sage is completely safe, and no health hazards or side effects are known. However, sage may decrease breast milk supply and is considered by some experts to be a uterine stimulant—virtually all pregnancy experts advise that sage and sage preparations should not be taken during pregnancy. |
Brigitte Mars, A.H.G.
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| Herbalists debate about the safety of using herbs containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and more research needs to be conducted to determine whether comfrey is safe for internal use. But there is no problem with using it topically.
Because comfrey causes rapid wound healing, make sure a wound is clean of any dirt before applying comfrey. Also be sure of your species; poisonings have occurred from novices collecting toxic foxglove, mistaking it for comfrey.
Range and Appearance
Comfrey, a native of Europe and northern Asia, is a perennial that grows from 1 to 4 feet tall on an angular stem. |
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