Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Plantaim - Monograph


Common Name – Plantain

Botanical Name – Plantago major, PLantago ovate, Plantago psyllium

Parts Used – leaves and the shell of the seeds

Active Constituents – Acids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, polysaccharides and others

So what is Plantain good for?

Leaves

Therapeutic Properties – expectorant, eases cough, strengthens and balances mucus layer, anti-inflammatory, stops bleeding.

Seeds – sooths skin irritations

Plantain can be used to help with cough both dry and productive, excess mucus, allergies, bronchitis, colds and soar throat.

Plantago psyllium can be used to treat inflammation of the digestive tract, ulcers and also constipation.

Plantian can also help to heal wounds.

Dosage

Dry herb – 2-4 grams 3 times a day

Tincture – 40-80 drops three times a day

Contraindications

Should not be used during pregnancy

There are people who have a allergic reaction to this herb so for use with caution with first time users.

Research articles with links

Randomized clinical trial of Plantago ovata seeds (dietary fiber) as compared with mesalamine in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis

http://www.nature.com/ajg/journal/v94/n2/pubmed/ajg199982a.html


 

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Licorice - Monograph


Common Name – Licorice

Botanical Name – Glycyzrrhiza glabra

Parts Used – Root

Active Constituents – Triterpenes, flavonoids, coumarins, chalcones, polysaccharides and volatile oil.

So what is Licorice good for?

Therapeutic Properties – anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-spasmodic, demulcent, emetic, expectorant, laxative, rejuvenative, anti-allergenic, anti-viral and phytoestrogenic.

Licorice helps to support proper function of the adrenalin gland.

Respiratory tract – bronchitis, asthma and cough (both dry and productive).

Digestive tract – mouth ulcers, heartburn and stomach ulcers.

Licorice can also be taken for all forms of inflammation problems.

Licorice can be used to treat herpes can be used as part of treatment of aids and hepatitis C.

Licorice may be helpful in lowering high sugar levels.

In Chinese medicine licorice is believed to have a balancing effect on a herbal formula.

Licorice can be helpful in sweetening herbal formulas for kids.

Dosage   

Tincture – 20-40 drops two or three times a day.

Dry root – 1-4 grams three times a day.

How do you make licorice tea?

Boil 1-4 grams of the dry root in 1 cup of water for ten minutes and strain out the dry herb.

Contraindications

Licorice should not be taken by pregnant women. Licorice should not be taken in case of edema. Licorice should not be taken by people who suffer from high blood pressure.

Licorice should not be taken with medications for high blood pressure or steroids.

Licorice should not be taken for more than a two month period. Chronic ingestion of licorice root in any form can cause serious health issues.

Research articles with links

A Drug over the Millennia : Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, and Pharmacology of Licorice


 
http://ci.nii.ac.jp/els/110003648869.pdf?id=ART0004170950&type=pdf&lang=en&host=cinii&order_no=&ppv_type=0&lang_sw=&no=1309258438&cp=

Anti-Helicobacter pylori flavonoids from licorice extract

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320502018647


 




 

Elecampane - Monograph


Common Name – Elecampane

Botanical Name – Inula Helenium

Parts Used – Root

Active Constituents – Volatile oil, lactones, bitter compounds, sterols and inulin.

So what is Elecampane good for?

Therapeutic Properties – lung tonic, expectorant, anti-tussive, diaphoretic, hepatic, anti-parasitic, anti-microbial.

Elecampane is helpful when treating all problems of the respiratory tract. Elecampane is good for ammonia, bronchitis, tonsillitis, asthma and the flue.

Elecampane can also be used to help improve appetite and absorption of food in the digestive tract.

Dosage

Tincture – take 30-60 drops three times a day.

Tea three cups a day

How can you make Elecampane tea?

Boil one teaspoon of dry root in one cup of water for ten minutes and strain out the used herb.

Contraindications

Should not be used during pregnancy and lactation.

Research articles with links

MRSA faces defeat from wild flower
http://web.archive.org/web/20071117044639/http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=48105-qqqx=1.asp

Herbal remedies for asthma treatment: Between myth and reality

http://journals.prous.com/journals/servlet/xmlxsl/pk_journals.xml_summary_pr?p_JournalId=4&p_RefId=668337&p_IsPs=N

Natural Home Remedy for Toothaches


This is a good quick formula that is very easy to make as long as you have the right ingredients on hand. I actually just came up with it because my wife has been having some serious tooth pain. Of course she needs to see a dentist, but what about until then.

So what I made for her is a very simple mouth wash that helps to relieve the pain and also fight any inflammation or infection. I took a 300 ml bottle filled it ¾ of the way with water. Then I added about 30 ml of vodka but any grain alcohol of about 40% alcohol will work. Then I added 15 drops of lavender essential oil, 8 drops of mint oil, 10 drops of eucalyptus oil and 13 drops of sage oil. I out the cap on the bottle and shuck it very well. This kind of preparation should be kept closed and preferably in the refrigerator.

DO NOT SWALLOW THE MOUTH WASH. It is not harmful at all if you swallow a bit and even if you swallow a lot it wouldn't be a problem but it could be bad for the stomach.

Mouth washed should be used as many times as needed to keep the pain down. When using mouth wash, concentrate on the area of the mouth where the pain is.

All of the oils that I put into the mouth wash have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. The mint and the lavender oil are very helpful in relieving the pain.

The alcohol helps the oils to mix better with the water.

Warning – some people may be allergic to the oils in this formula. So if you have not used these oils before it is a good idea to put some of the solution on the inside of your elbow and wait ten minutes to see if it becomes red. If it does become red don't use this formula.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sage - Monograph


Common Name – Sage

Botanical Name – Salvia officinalis

Parts Used – Leaves

Active Constituents – flavonoids, tannins, bitter and aromatic substances.

So what is Sage good for?

Therapeutic Properties – Carminative, anti-spasmodic, anti-microbial, astringent, anti-inflammatory, sudorific, expectorant, tonic, aromatic, nervine, vermifuge, emmenagogue, diuretic, stimulant, diaphoretic, stomachic, antiseptic.

Sage can be useful in the treatment of inflamtion of the upper respiratory tract, colds and inflammation of the throat.

Sage can be helpful for stomach aches, intestinal infection, diarrhea, inflammation of the mouth and gums.

Sage can be helpful to stop lactation, prevent hot flashes (during menopause).

Sage can also be used as a general tonic, to strengthen the immune system and to help with memory and concentration problems.

Dosage

Tincture – 20-40 drops three times a day

Tea – three cups a day

Contraindications

Contains 50% Thujone and should not be used by women with high chances of breast cancer.

Should not be used by people who suffer from epilepsy.

Should not be used by pregnant or nursing women.

Research articles with links

Topical anti-inflammatory activity of Salvia officinalis L. leaves: the relevance of ursolic acid

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874100003962

Salvia officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a double blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2710.2003.00463.x/full


 


 





 


 

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




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


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



 


 

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Thursday, June 23, 2011

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.