Astragalus - Monograph

Common Name – Astragalus

Botanical Name – Astragalus Membranceus

Chinese Name – Huang Qi

Parts Used – Roots

Active Compounds - flavonoids, polysaccharides, triterpene glycosides, amino acids, and trace minerals.

So what is Astragalus good for?

Astragalus is known to help strengthen the immune system, protect the body during chemotherapy, help with the prevention and treatment of colds and flu and help the body recover from blood loss or blood deficiency.

Dosage

Tincture -30-100 drops three times a day.

Capsule form – as directed on the label.

Decoction – 15 grams of dried root per day.

How do you make a decoction of Astragalus?

Boil fifteen grams of Astragalus root in three cups of water for five minutes. Strain out the used herb and drink throughout the day.

Contraindications

Should not be used in cases of excess yang and yin deficiency.

Clinical Studies

Astragalus-Based Chinese Herbs and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy for Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials


 

 

Panax Ginseng – Monograph

Common Name – American Ginseng

Botanical name – Panax Ginseng or Panax Quinquefolius

Active Constituents – Ginsenosides

So what is American Ginseng good for?

Ginseng both American and Asian are considered to be adaptogens. Adaptogenes are herbs that help the body to adapt to changes. Ginseng is known to help the body cope with stress both mental and physical. Ginseng has been found to help lower sugar levels in diabetics and also help alleviate fatigue in cancer patients. Ginseng has also been found to have cancer preventing qualities.

If you are working hard and feeling stressed out ginseng may just be the right thing to help give you some more energy.

How should you take ginseng?

Ginseng is usually given as part of an herbal formula. It can be taken in pill form on its own to help with fatigue and stress, follow the directions on the label.

Tincture – 30-60 drops twice a day not at night.

You can make a ginseng decoction or ginseng tea by boiling a piece of ginger about the size of the top section of your thumb in one and a help cups of water for a half hour. You should drink two cups a day preferably between meals.

Contraindications

People with insomnia or high blood pressure as well as people taking anti-depressants should not take ginseng.

Clinical studies on health benefits

 The cancer-preventive potential of Panax ginseng: a review of human and experimental evidence.

  Effects of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng (Panax ginseng CA Meyer) extract on male patients with erectile dysfunction

 

Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) improves glucose and insulin regulation in well-controlled, type 2 diabetes: Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of efficacy and safety

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Aluminum Toxicity – what is it? And what can be done about it.

Aluminum is the most abundant metallic element in the earth's crust. Aluminum toxicity can lead to a large range of symptoms such as rickets, gastrointestinal problems, poor calcium metabolism, anemia, extreme nervousness, decreased liver and kidney function, headaches and even Alzheimer's like symptoms. Aluminum on its own is not able to pass through the Blood brain barrier but when it attaches itself to potassium it can then pass through. The scary thing is that aluminum is in almost every food that we eat. Many municipal water suppliers are treating their water with alum (aluminum sulfate). This is one reason why it's a good idea to do a detoxifying program every so often, so that our body can have a chance to rid itself of excess toxic material such as aluminum.

Here are some supplements that can help to protect the body from aluminum toxicity.

1. Apple pectin
   
2. Calcium magnesium supplements
   
3. Coenzyme A
   
4. Kelp
   
5. Lecithin (granules or capsules)
   
6. L-Glutatione

Classic Chamomile Tea treatment for Stomach Ulcers

This treatment method can be very effective. All you need is some chamomile tea and 20 minutes longer to lie in bed in the morning.

Prepare a strong cup of chamomile tea before you go to bed and put it next to your bed.

When you wake up in the morning before you get out of bed, drink the cup of chamomile tea. Now right after you drink the tea lay on each of your four sides for five minutes. That's five minutes lying on your back, five on your stomach, five on your right side and five on your left.

The healing powers of the chamomile will help to ease the pain and repair the damaged tissue caused by the ulcer.

This is not a silver bullet, if you do this just once it may help for that day but not long term. Also this will work best when done along with lifestyle changes to help heal the ulcer.

Vitex Agnus-Castus – Chasteberry - Monograph

Common Name – Chasteberry

Botanical Name – Vitex agnus-castus

Parts used – Fruit

Active Constituents -Iridoid glycosides (aucbin and agnoside) and flavonoids (casticin, isovitexin and orientin).

So what is Vitex good for?

Vitex is a herb that can help to bring balance to the female reproductive system. It can be used to help treat irregularities of menstruation and PMS.

Vitex can be beneficial during menopause.

Vitex can help to balance the body after the use of oral contraceptives.

Vitex may help control acne in female and male teenagers.

Dosage

Tincture – 20 drops three times a day

Tea – three cups a day

How to make chasteberry tea?

Add one teaspoon of the dried ripened fruit to one cup of boiling water and cover the cup. Let it steep for 15 minutes and strain out the used herb.

Contraindications

Vitex should not be taken by pregnant women. Weak and anemic women should use caution when taking this herb.


 

Chamomile - Monograph

Common Name- Chamomile

Botanical Name - Matricaria Recutita, Matricaria Chamomilla

Parts Used – Flowers

Active constituents – Volatile oils and bioflavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin)

So what is chamomile good for?

Therapeutic properties of Chamomile – anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, calming, emmenagogue, bitter, stomachic.

Chamomile is one of those herbs that are good for almost everything.

Chamomile is a calming herb and could be used to help falling asleep. A strong cup of chamomile tea is great for helping to relax if one is feeling stressed.

Chamomile is good for almost all problems of the digestive system, stomach ache, indigestion, and lack of apatite, ulcers and many others. Because of its ability to help heal wounds it could be very helpful in the treatment of mouth ulcers.

Chamomile can be used to help ease pain. It has been even said to help with teething babies.

Chamomile can help with menstrual pain and bloating.

Chamomile tea can help to clear up eye infections.

Chamomile can be used topically to help heal wounds and sooth irritated skin.

Dosage

Tincture – 30-100 drops 1-3 times a day

How do you make a strong cup of chamomile tea?

Add one heaping tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers to a cup of boiling hot water and cover the cup. Let it brew for 5-10 minutes and the strain out the used herb.

Contraindications

Some people are allergic to chamomile.

Beside the allergic aspect chamomile is safe even during pregnancy and nursing.

Bell’s palsy – What is it and what can be done Using Natural Medicine to Help?

Bell`s Palsy is an acute idiopathic unilateral facial nerve paralysis. Which in simple English means, that a nerve which controls one side of the face muscles, temporarily stops working for no knows reason. For the most part the condition last from one to six months.

The theory is that this is brought on by an inflammation of the nerve as it passes through the narrow bone canal under the ear. The inflammation then causes a cut off of the circulation to the nerve resulting in temporary nerve damage.

Treatment of Bell's palsy using natural medicine is in one way similar to that of conventional medicine in that one should start by taking anti inflammatory herbs and supplements. Omega 3 fatty acids and garlic are two thing that I would suggest to lower inflammation and also thin the blood a bit so that it can flow better to the nerve with the hope that this will quicken the rejuvenation of the nerve.

50mg of B-complex vitamins should be taken three times a day along with an additional B12 sublingual tablet which should be take once a day. This is to supply the body with what it needs to repair the damaged nerve.

Capsicum capsules have been noted to be very helpful due to the herbs blood moving properties. This helps with speedy delivery of all nutrients to the damaged nerve, which aid in a quicker recovery.

Nerve tonic herbs which help with improving blood flow would also be beneficial. Hers such as ginkgo biloba and guta cola can be very helpful.

Acupuncture can be extremely helpful also.

In most cases the problem will take care of itself even without any treatment, but the hope is that by helping the body to heal it will result in a more speedy complete recovery.