FEVERFEW, GARLIC & GINGER USE AS HERBS

Common name: FEVERFEW

Botanical name: TANACETUM PARTHENIUM

Family: COMPOSITAE

Part used: Leaves

Constituents and uses: This remedy has two different, equally useful applications. It has been tested in migraine clinics and found to be successful in about seventy per cent of migraine cases- achieving at least partial improvement and often total remission of the problem. It helps to open up the constricted blood-vessels in the brain that cause the pain in the majority of migraine cases. It contains volatile oil and tannin.

The anti-arthritic properties where discovered when migraine sufferers taking Feverfew found that their arthritis was also improving. It is one of the few anti-inflammatory remedies that is likely to bring about an improvement when taken by itself rather than in combination with other remedies - other anti-inflammatory herbs may help improve the condition in other ways.

It is best taken in the spring and summer as freshly picked leaves- one or two large leaves daily should be put in a sandwich ( to mask the bitter taste, and the possible irritating effects on the mouth). The plant dies off in the winter. Capsules containing the freeze-dried leaves are available, alternatively the dried leaves can be taken as an infusion.

Common name: GARLIC

Botanical name: ALLIUM SATIVUM

Family: LILLICEAE

Part used: 'Clove' - in botanical terms, a corm

Constituents and uses: this plant is best known for its culinary properties, but is highly beneficial as preventative medicine when taken regularly. An important point, however, it's that to retain in greatest benefit, it must be eaten raw - cooking destroys most of its therapeutic properties. It can't aims a high amount of volatile oil and when the clove is crushed, certain constituents in this interact to produce the characteristically odoured, actively antiseptic principle of the plants. This is of great benefit in the treatment of infections in the digestive tract, and has the remarkable ability to act selectively against harmful micro-organisms here, while living intact the beneficial bacterial populations which aid the digestive process. 

As constituents are absorbed into the bloodstream and dispersed around the body, the antiseptic principles, when passing through the blood-vessels in the lungs, diffuse out through the lung membranes and are 'breathed out' of the. Body. The remedy is therefore excellent against respiratory infections - both deep in the lungs and throat and higher up in the nasal passages or sinuses. This explains why the smell of Garlic is so persistent - it is due to the way that is comes out of the body, rather than how it goes in.

The second great benefit of the is its importance as an aid to circulatory problems. It contains a 'healing' mineral called germanium and a group of substances which help to control fat levels in the bloodstream - an important action, as fat deposition is a great problem in hardening of the arteries,angina, and many cases of high blood-pressure. It also helps to prevent thrombosis by counteracting the tendency of clot-forming sells to stick together within the blood-vessels. Up to one clove of fresh raw Garlic should be taken daily, in divided doses, for the benefit of one's general health. If the taste is found to be really unacceptable, Garlic Oil capsules can be substituted - 2 or 3, if taken at night, will have passed out of the body by the following morning. 

Common name: GINGER

Botanical name: ZINGIBERIS OFFICINALE

Family: ZINGIBERACEAE 

Part used: Root

Constituents and uses: One of the strongest of the aromatic remedies. It contains volatile oils and phenols and has a strong stimulant action on the digestion circulation. It helps to clam flatulence and colic but, although less hot then cayenne, is best initially given in small doses, as it can be irritating to the stomach in large doses. One recently discovered benefit is the ease it bring to sufferers of travel-sickness - it seems to have a directly soothing effect to prevent vomiting and dizziness. It has a warming, anti-chilling effect on the whole circulation, promoting blood-flow to the extremities, and is useful internally and locally for problems related to poor circulation due to cold weather, typically chilblains.

  Make an infusion of the finely sliced fresh root of a strength to suit individual taste. Alternatively, use well-preserved powdered ginger- it should still have the characteristic aromatic scent. For travel-sickness, small piece of crystallized ginger can be taken, before starting and throughout the journey.

For hand and footbaths, a strong infusion should be made and added to a bowl of warm water. Immerse the hands or feet for about 5-10 minutes. If the bath causes stinging on any broken skin, add more water until an acceptable dilution is reached.

EYEBRIGHT, FENNEL & FENUGREEK USE AS HERBS

Common name: EYEBRIGHT

Botanical name: EUPHRASIA OFFICINALIS

Family: SCHROPHULARIACEAE

Part used: Leaves

Constituents and uses: as it is name Suggests, the plant has long been used as a tropical application for eye irritation. It contains tannins, resins and volatile oil which have astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. These help problems due to allergic reaction, airborne pollution( for example, smoky atmospheres) and conjunctivitis.

When used as a gargle, it will help catarrhal and inflammatory problems of the throat and nose; taken ternary for the same. For bathing the eyes, a half-strength infusion should be made and allowed to cool. This must be stained throughly- a coffee filter-paper is suitable - then put in an eyebath and used to irrigate the whole surface of the eye. If there is an infection present the eyebath must be immersed in boiling water and the solution change after on the first eye. The strength of the infusion may be increased gradually,if this necessary, to gain maximum benefit. For the remedy. A gargle should be made from full-strength infusion. This can be swallowed after gargling. Eyebright is best combined with an equal quantity of Golden seal when used in an eyebath for eye infections.

Common name: FENNEL

Botanical name: FOENICULUM VULGARE

Family: UMBELLIFERAE 

Part used: Seeds

Constituents and uses: This is another of the sweet, aromatic spices with a high volatile oil content. It also contains bitter substances, giving the duel benefit of stimulating a sluggish digestion and helping to calm the irritation that can result in griping pains, flatulence and over-activity in the bowel.

Like many of the aromatic spices, it helps stimulating milk-production in lactating mothers.

An infusion of the seeds can be taken before or after meals to aid the digestion. This remedy is so well known as a pleasant herbal tea that it is easily available in the form of tea-bags.

Common name: FENUGREEK

Botanical name: TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM

Family: LEGUMINOSEAE

Part used: Seeds

Constituents and uses: This pungently aromatic bitter-tasting spice contains a variety of constituents which help the digestion: bitters, mucilage and volatile oils, plus an anti-inflammatory steroid-like substance which further helps to calm conditions such as gastritis and enteritis. It has a tonic effect on the digestion, particularly for convalescents.

It anti-inflammatory properties will help when it is applied as a poultice to inflamed or infected skin.

The steroid component as well as the oils, helps stimulate milk production in locating mothers. An infusion of the seed should be taken before or after meals, in combination with other sweet aromatic spices which will improve the taste. A poultice is made from the crushed seeds.

ECHINACEA, ELDER & ELECAMPANE USE AS HERBS

Common name: ECHINACEA 

Alternative name(s): coneflower

Botanical name: ECHINACEA 

Family: COMPOSITAE 

Part used: Root

Constituents and uses: this is one of the main anti- infective remedies and is effective against viral, fungal and bacterial infections. It works in a twofold way: by destroying the harmful organisms directly and by stimulating the response of the body's immune system. It also has a cleaning 'alternative' action and helps promote the body's series of activities by which the whole process of inflammation, as well as the infections is healthily resolved. It can be used to help acute infections, such as tonsillitis, abscesses              and boils, and longer lasting, entrenched problems such as bronchitis, pelvic infections and sinusitis.

A decoction should be taken 3 times daily.

Common name: ELDER

Botanical name: SAMBUCUS NIGRA

Family: CAPRFOLIACEAE

Part used: Flowers and berries

Constituents and uses: 

Flowers

The flower contain a volatile oil that gives the characteristic scent, also a bio- flavonoid  that helps to strengthen the walls of damaged blood- vessels. The main action of the flower is on the circulation - it helps to perspiration and is very useful which taken as a ease a feverish cold or the flu. A second property if that it soothes the condition of inflamed nasal passage and helps relieve catarrh- I recommend it is a very pleasant drink for anyone who has long-term, hard-to-shirt catarrh or sinusitis. However, it is not an anti-infective remedy and must be combined with one if there is an infection present.

Berries

Elderberry wine is a traditional remedy for rheumatic and arthritic problems; it has a mild laxative and diuretic effect.

Common name: ELECAMPANE 

Botanical name: INULA HELENIUM

Family is suitable - : COMPOSITAE 

Part used: Root

Constituents and uses: very useful in the treatment of chest infections. It has a soothing, expectorant action - due to its essential oils and mucilage - which helps to expel infected phlegm. It also has anti-infective properties and its component of bitters helps to stimulate the digestive system, thus dealing with and debility caused by thee lung disease.

A decoction should be taken 3 times daily.

DANDELION, DEVIL'S CLAW & DOCK, YELLOW USE AS HERBS

Common name: DANDELION 

Botanical name: TARAXACUM OFFICINALE 

Family: COMPOSITAE 

Part used: Leaves and root 

Constituents and uses: 

Leaves

One of the most useful diuretic remedies. It is particularly beneficial in fluid retention due to heart problems, as it contains a useful amount of the mineral potassium. This is vital for healthy function of the heart muscle, but is often lost via the urine when diuretic drugs are used. Dandelion leaves, with their natural content of potassium make up the lose automatically. They are also useful for other problem where the kidneys need to be stimulated, such as urinary infections or pre-menstrual fluid 

retention. Take an infusion 3 times daily.

Roots

Dandelion root is good liver stimulant. This makes it useful for a wide range of problems. It will improve the appetite and stimulate sluggish digestive functions due to its bitter properties. It helps in problems such as jaundice and gall- bladder disease. It also has a gentle laxative effect and will help the liver's detoxifying functions - using in rheumatism and arthritis, or any other illness were a build-up of waste products is contributing to the problem. The liver is the main organ which has the job of eliminating alien substances, such as artificial additives in the food we eat, or airborne pollution such as chemical fumes. Dandelion root will help support the health of people who are particularly susceptible to these substances.

Common name: DEVIL'S CLAW

Botanical name: HARPAGOPHYTUM PROCUMBENS

Family: PEDALIACEAE 

Part use: Tuber (underground stem)

Constituents and: used in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and fibrositis, this plant contains glycosides which have an anti- inflammatory and possibly detoxifying action. It may help as mild analgesic to relieve the pain of muscular and arthritic inflammation.

It should be taken as a decoction, 3 times daily, and is most likely to help when combined with other anti- arthritic and detoxifying remedies.

Common name: DOCK, YELLOW

Botanical name: RUMEX CRISPUS

Family:POLYGONACEAE

Part used: root

Constituents and uses: This plant acts on the liver and intestines. It is useful for skin problems where the eliminative and detoxifying functions of the body need stipulation, such as eczema, acne and psoriasis. It contains bitters and laxative glycosides which stimulate muscular activity in the intestines. This, however, is reduced by the astringent action of tannins in the plant, so it has a gentle rather than serve action.it can also be used for liver and gall- bladder disease.

A decoction should be taken 3 times daily.

COMFREY, CUDWEEH, MARSH & DAMIANA USE AS HERBS

Common name: COMFREY 

Alternative common name(s) KNITBONE 

Botanical name: SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE 

Family: BORAGINACEA

Part used: Leaves and roots

Constituents and uses: Comfrey is the most useful of the healing remedies. It's constituents include astringent tannins, soothing mucilage, resin and a substance called allantoin. This has the ability to stimulate the growth of new cells, by speeding up the rate of which DNA, the 'blueprint' of the cell, is produced: after the stage, all other parts of the cell follow automatically. The leaves can be taken internally for stomach and duodenal ulcers, where the tannins and mucilage help calm any inflammation; the allantoin will heal the eroded area. This remedy is also appropriate for chest problems such as bronchitis where it has a soothing and healing action.

Externally the root or leaves can be used as a poultice over any clean wound, or deeper problem such as tendon and ligament damage. Traditionally it has been used to heal broken bones- the poultice dries to a very hard consistency, providing valuable support in the days before plasters casts were available.

The ointment can be used regularly in place of poultice - it is a very useful part of every home's first-aid-kit for minor injuries.

CAUTION: Concern has been expressed over the safety of taking Comfrey internally, due to a constituent alkaloid which is known to be toxic. Experiments using the isolated alkaloid have shown. It to be damaging to the liver. Although there has never been any evidence of the whole herb causing similar damage, I must advise caution in its use. If you are considering using the herb internally, contact a qualified herbalist for advise.

At present, Comfrey is still legally available as a loose herb, but it may be withdrawn from licensed herbal medicines (those formulations that are available over the counter in health shops) in the future.

There are no restrictions on using Comfrey externally - it is totally safe when applied to the skin.

Common name: CUDWEED, MARSH 

Botanical name: GNAPHALIUM ULIGINOSUM

Family: COMPOSITAE 

Part used: Leaves and stems

Constituents and uses: This plants help in nasal and throat catarrh. It is though to contain small amounts of volatile oil and tannins which enhance its beneficial properties; it can be taken as an infusion, both as a gargle or as a drink, 3 times a day. Severe throat infections such as tonsillitis and quinsy usually respond well, but are best treated by CUDWEED in combination with other astringent and anti- infective remedies.

Common name: DAMIANA

Botanical name: TURNERA DIFFUSA

Family: TURNERACEAE

Part used: Leaves and stems

Constituents and uses: This remedy is reputed to be a male aphrodisiac, though in my opinion there is no one simple medicinal solution to the range of problems that may cause difficulties in sexual function. It has an action on the male reproductive system similar to that of the male hormone testosterone, which will enhance sexual function if the problems are of a purely physical nature. It certainly is of great benefit in nervous problems such as anxiety and depression. It has a combined tonic and almost nutritional effect on nerve tissue, due to the combination of constituents: bitters, tannin, resins, oils, and alkaloids, including caffeine. Both sexes will benefit  from this action. It can be taken as an infusion 3 times daily.