Scutellaria - Monograph

Common Name – Scutellaria or Huang Qin

Botanical Name – Scutellaria Biacalensis

Parts Used – Roots

Active Constituents – Wogonoside, wogonin, baicalin, benzoic asid.

So what is Scutellaria good for?

Therapeutic properties - Anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, cholagogue, antihypertensive, antioxidant, calmative.

Scutellaria can be great in helping with allergy related problems of the respiratory system as well as of the skin.

Scutellaria can be helpful with problems caused by inflammation.

Scutellaria may be helpful in treating hyperlipidiemia, yellow phlegm, including phlegm with blood, diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice, urinary tract infections, and skin diseases.

Dosage

Dry herb – 1-2 grams three times a day

Tincture – 20-40 drops three time a day

Contraindications – may have a toxic effect when taken in large amounts. Should not be taken during pregnancy and lactation.

Research articles with links

Anxiolytic effect of wogonin, a benzodiazepine receptor ligand isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006295202013473

Free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities of flavonoids extracted from the radix of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030441659900152X


 
Mode of action of the anti-influenza virus activity of plant flavonoid, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone, from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/016635429400062D


Anticancer Activity of Scutellaria baicalensis and Its Potential Mechanism

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/107555302320825075

Antiviral Activity of Plant Flavonoid, 5,7,4'-Trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone, from the Roots of Scutellaria baicalensis against Influenza A (H3N2) and B Viruses

http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110003640827/

 

 
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Thyme – Monograph

Common Name – Thyme

Botanical Name – thymus Vulgaris

Parts Used – Arial Parts

Active Constituents – Volatile oils, bitter substances, tannins, flavonoids and saponins.

So what is thyme good for?

Therapeutic properties – Anti-septic, expectorant, anti- spasmodic and anti-parasitic.

Thyme can be helpful in treating bronchitis, asthma, cough, inflammation of the throat, intestinal parasites, infection of the intestines and Candida.

Dosage

Tincture – 20-30 drops three times a day

Tea – drink three cups a day

How do you make thyme tea?

I like to call it a broth more than a tea. Add one teaspoon dry herb to one cup boiling water and let it brew for 10 minutes. Strain out the used herb and drink.

Contraindications

Thyme should not be used during pregnancy.

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