Eyebright – Monograph

Common – Eyebright

Botanical Name – Euphrasia Officinalis

Parts Used – Foliage and/or the Whole Plant

Active Constituents - Iridoid glycosides, flavonoids, and tannins.

So what is Eyebright good for?

Therapeutic Properties – Anti-inflammatory, astringent, anti-catarrhal.

Eyebright has been used for hundreds of years for varicose ailments. Eyebright has mainly been used to treat inflammation of the eye. But due to possible toxic effects of the herb is has been recommended to be taken only in homeopathic form.

Echinacea – Monograph

Common Name – Coneflower

Botanical Name – Echinacea

Parts Used – Roots and Leaves

Active constituents – Alkylamides (Echinacein), polysaccharides, glycosides, volatile oil.

So what is Echinacea good for?

Therapeutic Properties – Immune stimulator, anti-biotic, anti-inflammatory, alterative (helps to cleans the body of waist) and heals wounds.

Echinacea can be taken in all cases of sickness where there is a pathogen, in order to help strengthen the immune system.

Echinacea can be used topically to help treat wounds and inflammation.

Dosage

Tincture – 30 drops three times a day.

Note – Echinacea should be taken for treatment only and not for prevention.

Contraindications – one should be carful when treating autoimmune problems because of Echinacea`s ability to strengthen the immune system.

Research studies on the effectiveness of Echinacea.

Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16437427/


 

Echinacea root extracts for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9821828


 
In vitro effects of echinacea and ginseng on natural killer and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity in healthy subjects and chronic fatigue syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0162310996001257


 

 

Macrophage activation and induction of macrophage cytotoxicity by purified polysaccharide fractions from the plant Echinacea purpurea.

http://iai.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/46/3/845


 

 

 

Mugwort - Monograph

Common Name – Mugwort

Botanical Name – Artemisia vulgaris

Parts Used – Leaves and Root

Active Constituents – Volatile oil, vulgarin, flavonoids, triterpenes.

So what is Mugwort good for?

Therapeutic properties – Bitter tonic, stimulant, nervine tonic, emmenagogue, laxative and diaphoretic.

Mugwort can be used to assist digestion and help people who suffer from constipation. It can be used to help calm the nerves and help to regulate menstruation

Dosage

Tincture – take 20 – 80 drops three times a day

Tea – drink three cups a day

How do you make a Mugwort tea? Add one heaping teaspoon to a cup of boiling water and let it brew for ten minutes. Strain out the used herb and drink.

Contraindication

Mugwort should not be used during pregnancy.    

Some people are allergic to Mugwort 

Dong Quei - Monograph

Common Name – Dong Quai or Angelica

Botanical Name – Angelica sinensis

Parts Used – Root

Active constituents - Coumarins, bergapten, linalool and borneol.

So what is Dong Quai good for?

Dong Quai has been known as the female ginseng because of it powers of helping the female body acquire and retain balance. It is known to be a uterine tonic and hormonal regulator for women. Dong Quai can be helpful in the treatment of anemia, PMS, menopausal symptoms, weak glands and in regulating monthly periods.

Dosage

3-4 grams should be taken per day either in a powdered root form taken as capsules or made into a tea.

How do you make dong quai tea?

Boil 4 grams of the root in three cups of water for ten minutes and let cool. Strain out the used herb and drink one cup three times a day.

Contraindications

Should not be used during pregnancy and lactation.

May cause increased sensitivity to sunlight

How to Treat a Sore Throat Naturally With What You Have In the House

If you start getting a sore throat and you can't get out and get some good old Recolas, here are some things you can do with what you have in the house.

First off is lemon juice, always best if fresh squeezed but also if from the bottle it will help. The lemon juice will help to kill any bacteria that may be causing the sore throat and also help get rid of some of the irritation.

Next eat some fresh garlic or onions. You can have them in a salad or with some bread but they must be fresh and not cooked or heated. They both contain sulfur compounds that will help to kill bacteria and also help to heal any damage to the soft tissue of the throat.

Gargling with vinegar and drinking thyme tea while not being very tasty can be very helpful as well.

If you are all out of the ingredients I mentioned above then maybe you have some Tabasco source in the cupboard. I don't usually suggest this to other people but what I have done in the past when I was all out of other choices is drip Tabasco sauce right down to the back of my throat. It hurts real badly but then the throat does not hurt as much. Maybe just forget about the Tabasco.

Feel better soon

Peppermint - Monograph

Common Name – Peppermint

Botanical Name - Mentha piperita

Parts Used – Areal Parts and Essential Oil

Active Constituents

Volatile Oil which contains menthol, menthone and menthyl acetate. Flavonoids, rosmarinic acid,azulenes, choline and carotenes.

So what is peppermint good for?

Therapeutic properties - Carminative, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, aromatic, diaphoretic, anti-emetic, nervine, anti-microbial, analgesic, stimulant, stomachic, rubefacient.

Peppermint is a great herb for all digestive issues. From indigestion after a big meal to a advanced case of stomach ulcers.

It is helpful in cases of flatulence and nausea. Peppermint also has a pain relieving effect which helps to alleviate stomach discomfort.

Peppermint can be used to lower fever and to help to alleviate stress.

It can also be used topically to help relieve pain, itching and inflammation.

How to prepare peppermint tea? Pour one cup of boiling water over one heaping teaspoon of dried herb and let it steep for ten minutes. Strain out the used herb and drink and often as you would like.

Contraindications

Should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.


 

 

Ashwagandha – Indian Ginseng - Monograph

Common Name – Ashwagandha also known as Indian Ginseng

Botanical Name - Withania Somnifera

Parts Used – Root

Active Constituents – Alkaloids, steroidal Lactones and acyl steryl glucosides

The main alkaloid is called withanine and the main steroidal lactones are known as withanoloids.

Withanoloids are very similar in appearance and action to Ginsenosides which are the active chemical in ginseng. This is what makes the use of Ashwagandha so similar to that of ginseng that it has been referred to as Indian ginseng.

So what is Ashwagandha good for?

Ashwagandha is known to be a tonic herb as well as a adagtogen which can help the body deal with stress as well as help to promote wellness.

Ashwagandha has been noted as helpful for a long list of ailments.

Chronis fatigue, bone weakness, muscle weakness and tension, loose teeth, thirst, impotency, emaciation, constipation, senility, rheumatism, nervous exhaustion, memory loss, neurodegenerative disorders and spermatorrhoea.

"Studies indicate ashwagandha possesses anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antistress, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hemopoetic, and rejuvenating properties. It also appears to exert a positive influence on the endocrine, cardiopulmonary, and central nervous systems. The mechanisms of action for these properties are not fully understood. Toxicity studies reveal that Ashwagandha appears to be a safe compound"
http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/5/4/334.pdf

"Withania somnifera Dunal (Ashwagandha): potential plant source of a promising drug for cancer chemotherapy and radiosensitization."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9055640

"Studies on immunomodulatory activity of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) extracts in experimental immune inflammation"
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874199000653

Dosage

Ashwagandha can be taken in capsule of tincture for as directed on the package.

Tea form – one cup three times a day

How do you make Ashwagandha tea? Boil one tablespoon of dry root in three cups of water for fifteen minutes and let cool. Strain out the used herb and drink one cup three times a day.

Contraindications

Safety of the herb during pregnancy and lactation are unknown. It has been safely used by children in India.

No drug interactions are known for sure but if you take prescription medication you should ask your doctor or herbalist.