Guarana - Monograph

Common Name – Guarana

Botanical Name – Paullinia

Parts Used – Seeds

Active Constituents – Adenine, caffeine, D-catechin, saponin, tannins, theobromine, theophylline

So what is Guarana good for?

Guarana is good as a general tonic.

Guarana can help to cleans out the intestines.

Guarana increases mental alertness, improves stamina and improves endurance.

Guarana may be useful in treating headaches, urinary tract irritation and diarrhea.

Dosage

Dry herb as capsules – 150–500 mg per day

Herbal tea – one to three cups a day

How to make Guarana tea?

Add one or two grams of crushed seeds to one cup of water and boil for ten minutes, strain out used herb and let cool before drinking.

Contraindications

Should not be taken by pregnant or nursing wemon

Should not be taken by people who suffer from high blood pressure or heart conditions

Research articles with links

Pharmacological activity of Guarana (Paullinia cupana Mart.) in laboratory animals

Improved cognitive performance in human volunteers following administration of guarana (Paullinia cupana) extract: comparison and interaction with Panax ginseng

Gravel Root - Monograph

Common Name – Gravel Root

Botanical Name – Eupatorium Purpureum

Parts Used – Flowers and Root

Active Constituents – Euparin, Eupatorine and Resin

So what is Gravel Root good for?

Therapeutic Properties – Diuretic, anti-lithic, anti-rheumatic, stimulant, tonic, astringent, relaxant

Gravel Root can help with the treatment of kidney stones and gravel.

Gravel Root may be helpful in the treatment of urinary tract infections.

Gravel Root may be useful in the treatment of prostate disorders.

Gravel Root may also be useful for treating rheumatism.

Dosage

Tincture – 20-40 drops three times a day

Tea form – three cups per day

How do you make Gravel Root tea?

Boil one teaspoon of dry Gravel Root in one cup of water for ten minutes, strain out the used herb and let cool before drinking.

Contraindications   

There are no known contraindications

Research articles with links

Antiinflammatory activity of the antirheumatic herbal drug, gravel root (Eupatorium purpureum): further biological activities and constituents

Warning Cinnamon Causes constipation When Eaten in Excess

Well I think that as much as people say that it grosses them out to talk and think about problems related to defecating, everyone is interested to read about it. This is very natural because it is something that we all have in common.

So this is a bit of a story that has a very important lesson to be learnt from it. This past weekend friends who came to us for the weekend had brought for desert a cinnamon cake. Now this was no normal cinnamon cake, this was the best cinnamon cake I had ever eaten, really rich and tasty with lots of cinnamon. You know how sometimes you eat a cinnamon pastry and it's a bit week on that gooey cinnamon flavor. Well this was nothing like that I`ll tell you that much. So I indulged, ate a lot of this cake. Now the next morning things just were not flowing the way they usually do for me and I usually have a pretty good flow if you know what I mean. I figured it was be because I hadn't eaten enough fiber at dinner so at lunch I made sure to eat lots of salad. But we had another guest over for Saturday lunch that brought these really good cinnamon cookies. Low and behold my slight problem kept on through Sunday as well.

Now I use cinnamon a lot when treating diarrhea so it binding power is nothing new to me. But it wasn't until Sunday afternoon when I looked for something to satisfy my sweet tooth and saw what was left of the cinnamon cake sitting in the fridge that I realized the source of my problem. Well I didn't eat any more of the cinnamon goodies and by Monday it was business as usual.

Cinnamon is a great herbal remedy when used properly but in excess its binding capability can cause constipation.

If you are constipated or suffer from constipation regularly you should avoid all cinnamon products altogether.

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Gotu Kola - Monograph

Common Name – Gotu kola

Botanical Name – Centella Asiatica

Parts Used – Nuts, Roots and Seeds

Active Constituents – beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, camphor, kaempferol, saponins, stigmasterol

So what is Gotu kola good for?

Gotu kola helps to eliminate excess fluids.

Gotu koal help decrees fatigue and depression.

Gotu kola stimulates the nervous system and is considered to be a brain tonic.

Gotu kola helps to promote healing.

Gotu kola is good for varicose veins as well as heart and liver function.

Dosage

Tincture – 30-50 drops three times a day

Tea form – one cup three times a day

Contraindications

May cause dermatitis when used topically

Research articles with links

Centella asiatica accelerates nerve regeneration upon oral administration and contains multiple active fractions increasing neurite elongation in‐vitro

Natural Remedy for Poison Oak

Friends of ours that are out in California for the summer called us up this morning to say hello. My wife spoke to them for a lot longer than I did and when she got off the phone she said that the oil I make work really well for treating poison oak. Now I make a lot of oils for a lot of different things and the last oil I made was for respiratory problem so it took me a second to figure out what she was talking about. Before our friends had left I gave them a natural first aid oil that I had developed with a friend of mine when we had a clinic together. I am going to tell you how to make it because it is very simple and yet very effective in treating all forms of skin irritation.

First I would prepare medicinal calendula oil. I would then take a ten ml dropper bottle and put fifteen drops of lavender essential oil and fifteen drops of tea tree essential oil. I would then fill the rest of the bottle with the medicinal calendula oil. This oil is great for cuts, burns, bites and now I know even for poison oak.

Bee Propolis – What is it good for and does it work?

Bee Propolis is a material that bees collect from different plants. The bees use the propolis in the building of their hives. Bee Propolis has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and immune stimulating properties. Many people take Bee Propolis to help prevent sore throat and in the treatment of colds, flu, strep throat, mouth ulcers, tonsillitis and acne.

Research articles

Antibacterial properties of propolis (bee glue).

Bee propolis versus placebo in the treatment of infertility associated with minimal or mild endometriosis: a pilot randomized controlled trial. A modern trend

Goldenseal - Monograph

Common Name – Goldenseal

Botanical Name – Hydrastis Canadensis

Parts Used – Roots and Rhizomes

Active Constituents – Berberine, beta-carotene, canadine, chlorogenic acid

So what is Goldenseal good for?

Therapeutic Properties – Laxative, tonic, alterative, detergent, opthalmicum, antiperiodic, aperient, diuretic, antiseptic, deobstruent

Goldenseal can be helpful in treating ulcers of the mouth and stomach.

Goldenseal can help to improve digestion.

Goldenseal can help to regulate menses and to decrees uterine bleeding.

Goldenseal can help to strengthen the immune system, increase the effectiveness of insulin and to cleanse the body.

Goldenseal can help to prevent cold, flu and sore throat from developing if taken on time.

Research show that golden seal may be helpful in lowering LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels.

Dosage

Best taken in tincture form

Tincture – 40-60 drops three times a day

Powder – 4-6 grams per day

Contraindications

Don't take for more than three weeks at a time

Take a break of at least two weeks between uses

Should not be used by pregnant or nursing mothers

Research articles with links

Immune modulation of macrophage pro-inflammatory response by goldenseal and Astragalus extracts

The medicinal plant goldenseal is a natural LDL-lowering agent with multiple bioactive components and new action mechanisms

Goldenseal is now considered to be a endangered herb due to over harvesting and destruction of natural habitat. When purchasing goldenseal products, try to purchase only those that have been grown organically or with care for the propagation of this wonderful plant medicine.