What you Need to Know About Herbs Part 1©
What you Need to Know
About Herbs Part 1©
By Arlene Wright-Correll
Most things are simple as ABC
once we get to know about them. Today we
have an overkill of prescription drug commercials and an increasing reliance on
prescription medications. Many of them
are important. I know since I am a
stroke and a cancer survivor and I take some of them. However, I really feel that I take a lot less
than my medical doctor would have me take simply because since 1992 I have been
taking a lot of herbs that seem to do the trick for me.
With that in mind I have
amassed this historical information which is
presented here for educational purposes only. These statements have not been
evaluated by the FDA and if the medical and pharmaceutical organizations have
anything to do with it, probably never will be.
This is not an article about what will cure, treat, diagnosis or prevent
disease. When you are ill, consult your physician and make sure you evaluate
his or her diagnosis and do not be afraid to ask for a second opinion or find
one who is interested in alternative medicines.
A certified herbalist will help you in your personal search for
knowledge about herbal medicine. Beware
of cracks for they are surely out there.
Tell your medical doctor about any herbs or vitamins you are taking when
you fill out your medical form on your first visit or should you start adding
them to any prescription medication you may be taking. Matter of fact find out from your medical
doctor whether or not you can be adding certain herbs you feel you want to
take.
I have put a red * next to the herbs I take and will note
what I personally take them for in red.
Absinthe is perhaps best known because of the use of its oil
to prepare certain alcoholic beverages, most notably vermouth and absinthe.
Absinthe was used by traditional herbalists as a bitter to improve digestion,
fight worm infestations, and stimulate menstruation. It was also regarded as a
useful remedy for liver & gallbladder problems.
Absinthe is also known by the
names Green Ginger, Southernwood, Old Woman, Wormwood, and Absinthium. Native
to Europe , North
Africa , and Western Asia , this herb is now cultivated in the United States
The plant grows from 2-4 feet
in height. The part of this plant used medicinally is the above ground portion.
Absinthe's alternate name, Wormwood, is obviously derived from its medicinal
property of expelling intestinal worms for which it has been well known since
ancient times. An Egyptian papyrus dated 1,600 years before Christ describes
this bitter herb in detail.
Legend has it that this plant first sprang up
on the impressions that marked the serpent's tail as he slithered his way out
of the Garden of Eden. Wormwood is from the Anglo Saxon "wermode",
meaning, "mind preserver". The name "Absinthium" is Latin
for "without sweetness". It got its generic name Artemisia
from Artemis, the Greek name for Diana, because she discovered the plant's
virtues and gave them to mankind. Another story has it that it is named for
Artemisia, Queen of Caria, who gave her name to the plant after she had
benefited from its treatments. Wherever its name came from, it is one of the
bitterest herbs known, even today. Its common name comes from its ability to
act as a wormer in children and animals.
It was used in granaries to drive away weevils
& insects, and was used as a strewing herb to drive away fleas. In
traditional folk medicine, Absinthe preparations were used internally for
gastric insufficiency, intestinal atonia, gastritis, stomach ache, liver
disorders, bloating, anemia, irregular menstruation, intermittent fever, loss
of appetite, and worm infestations. The primary chemical constituents of
Absinthe include essential oil (absinthol, azulenes, camphene, cineol,
isovaleric acid, pinene, thujone, sesquiterpene lactones, and absinthin),
bitters (absinthium), flavonoids (quercetin), and polyacetylenes.
Absinthin is a narcotic analgesic that affects the medullary portion of the
brain concerned with pain & anxiety, inducing a dreamy creative state. It
gives people a different view of reality. When used in small amounts, the
constituent thujone works as a brain stimulant.
Absinthe is perhaps best
known because of the use of its oil to prepare certain alcoholic beverages,
most notably vermouth and absinthe, popular in the late 1880's and early 1900's
with artists such as Baudelaire, Degas, Gauguin, Manet, Toulouse Lautrec, Van
Gogh and Verlaine. Absinthe caused several cases of brain damage, and even
death, and was banned in most places in the early 20th century, although part
of the beverage's dangerous properties may have come from copper salts used to
give the drink its color.
Today, Absinthe is primarily
used as a bitter; it has the effect of stimulating and invigorating the whole
of the digestive process. It is used for indigestion, especially when due to a
deficient quantity or quality of gastric juice. It is also a powerful remedy in
the treatment of worm infestations, especially roundworm and pinworm. Absinthe
may also be used to help the body deal with fever & infections. Absinthe
also helps increase secretions of the liver and gallbladder. Topical uses of
this herb include its use as a liniment or compress for bruises, sore muscles,
bites and pain. It is often used as an insect repellent, and made into a spray
to deter pests in organic gardening. A sachet of Absinthe can be used to keep
moths away from clothes. The common name Absinthe includes the species Artemisia
frigida and Artemisia tilesii, which are used interchangeably with Artemisia
absinthium.
Acacia Bark has been used medicinally for thousands of years throughout the globe,
especially in Australia
Acacia Bark, also known as
Wattle Bark, is obtained from the most prolific of the over 700 species of
Australian Wattles, the Black Wattle. Acacias have had significant
pharmacological, nutritive and toxicological associations with medicine since
before recorded history, an interplay that continues to the present day. It is
collected from wild or cultivated trees over six years old and must be allowed
to mature for a year before being used medicinally. Acacia Bark is hard
and woody, rusty brown and tends to divide into several layers. The outer
surface of older pieces is covered with thick blackish periderm, rugged and
fissured. The inner surface is red, longitudinally striated and fibrous.
Acacia Bark contains from 24 to 42 % tannin and also Gallic acid. Its powerful
astringency causes it to be extensively employed in tanning.
The bark, under the name of
Babul, is used in Scinde for tanning, and also for dyeing various shades of
brown. Medicinally it is employed as a substitute for Oak Bark. It has
special use in diarrhea, mainly in the form of a decoction.
The decoction also is used as
an astringent gargle, lotion, or injection. In India
Agrimony been
used throughout the Old World for centuries. It was used in Europe
as eyewash and in China
Agrimony is also known as
Church Steeple, Cocklebur, Loan Mao Cao, Philanthropos, Potter’s Piletabs,
Sticklewort, Stickwort, and Xian He Cao. Agrimony is a valuable herb in modern
practice used mainly as a gastro-intestinal tonic. It is also a useful remedy
for coughs, skin eruptions and cystitis.
Agrimony is a member of the
rose family. In Chinese medicine it is used to stop excessive menstrual flow,
as an astringent, and a cardio tonic. Agrimony helps to clear heat and dry
dampness and has been used for asthma, bronchitis, diarrhea, incontinence, sore
throat, and as a digestion aid. When used internally or externally, it
increases the level of thrombocytes, thus improving coagulation. Agrimony also
has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and diuretic properties.
The name Agrimony has its
origins in both the Greek and Anglo-Saxon term "argemon", meaning
speck in the eye, as this herb was used as a wash for eye problems. The
species name, eupatoria, refers to an ancient Persian King, Mithridates Eupator,
a renowned herbalist. Agrimony also has been used as a yellow dye. Agrimony
herb consists of the dried, above-ground parts of Agrimonia eupatoria,
harvested shortly before or during flowering.
The herb contains
polysaccharides, tannins, flavonoids, coumarins, silica, malic acid,
phytosterols, vitamins B and K, and iron.
Alfalfa Leaf probably originated in the Near East and is now widely cultivated there and elsewhere around the world for
forage. Arabs called it the “father of herbs.” Alfalfa roots grow as deep as 20
feet or more, providing the plant with a rich source of nutrients not always
found at the ground’s surface. The
Official Latin Name is Medicago sativa.
Alfalfa Leaf is also known by
the names Buffalo Grass, Purple Medic, Lucerne North Africa from where this plant is thought to have
originated. The species name, sativa,
means "with a long history of cultivation".
The Chinese have used Alfalfa
Leaf to stimulate appetite and to treat digestive problems, particularly
ulcers. Ancient Indian Ayurvedic physicians used Alfalfa Leaf to treat ulcers,
arthritis pains and fluid retention. Early Americans used Alfalfa Leaf to treat
arthritis, boils, cancer, scurvy, and urinary and bowel problems.
Pioneer women used it to aid
menstruation. Alfalfa Leaf has also been used traditionally for treating
infections resulting from surgical incisions, bed sores and inner ear problems.
Alfalfa Leaf is an excellent natural source of most vitamins, including
vitamins A, D, E, and K. Vitamin K is critical in blood clotting, so Alfalfa
Leaf may have some use in improving clotting. It also contains trace minerals
such as calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, and potassium.
The plant is so rich in
calcium that the ashes of its leaves are almost 99% pure calcium. Alfalfa Leaf
is also higher in protein than many other plant foods. Alfalfa Leaf is a rich
natural source of chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals and protein. Alfalfa's deep
root system pulls these valuable minerals from the soil. Alfalfa Leaf is an
excellent nutritive food for convalescing people.
Allspice has
been used in the Americas Columbus
Allspice is also known as
Jamaican Pepper, Myrtle Pepper, Pimento, Newspice, and
Clove Pepper. The common name Allspice includes the species Pimenta dioica,
which is used interchangeably with Pimenta officinalis. Another common
name, Piment, is derived from the Spanish word for "pepper", because
the shape is similar to a peppercorn.
Allspice comes from the dried
berry of the pimento. The fruits contain 2 to 5% essential oil. The main component is eugenol,
but eugenol methyl ether, 1,8-cineole and a-phellandrene are also reported. As an ointment or a bath additive, Allspice has been
used for its anesthetic effects. Allspice is indigenous to the West Indian Islands South
America , and extensively
grown in Jamaica Jamaica
Before the arrival of
Europeans, Allspice was one of the most common culinary herbs of the Caribbean . It is known as Allspice because its flavor resembles that of a
combination of Cinnamon, Cloves and Nutmeg. Its wood was once in such
demand for the making of walking sticks that the tree became endangered and was
nearly driven to extinction. Allspice is sometimes added to commercial medicines
to improve their flavor.
The chief use of Allspice is
as a spice and condiment: the berries are added to curry powder and also to
mulled wine. Allspice is an aromatic stimulant and carminative to the gastrointestinal tract, resembling cloves in its action. It has been used as
an aid in combating colic, diarrhea, dyspepsia, flatulence, indigestion,
soreness, pain, and rheumatism.
Aloe Vera is
a virtual necessity for minor emergencies. Aloe Vera is a healing plant used to
treat sunburns, minor burns, scrapes, ulcers, arthritis and constipation. This
herb has healing, soothing and cleansing properties making it an ideal addition
to any medicine cabinet. And Aloe soothes the intestinal system, too. Parents
have even applied Aloe gel to the finger tips of children who bite their nails
in order to get them to break the habit.
Official Latin Name: Aloe vera
* Since 1997 I have been using this in
capsule form for helping to cure and or aid in the curing of diverticulitis. I also use it in gel form for itching, cuts etc.
Aloe Vera Leaf is also known
by the names Indian Alces, Kumari, Ghirita, Gawarpaltra, and Cape Aloes South Africa West Indies and other tropical countries. The tissue in the center of the Aloe
Leaf contains a gel which yields aloe gel (or aloe vera gel).
The word Aloe is derived from
the Arabic word "alloeh", which means shiny & bitter. Aloe is
believed to have been used to preserve the body of Jesus Christ. References to
its use as a healing agent can be found in early Egyptian, Chinese, Greek,
Indian and Christian literature.
Legend says that it was the
desire for Aloe plants that caused Alexander the Great to conquer the island of Socotra Africa ,
hunters sometimes would rub Aloe juice on their bodies to reduce sweating and
to mask human scent. In India
Aloe Vera Leaf has been
historically used for many of the same conditions for which it is still used
today - particularly constipation and minor cuts & burns. And Aloe is one
of the easiest house plants to grow. Aloe Vera Leaf is also taken internally
for stomach disorders. Dried Aloe latex, a substance derived from the leaf, is
a strong laxative. When applied externally, Aloe Vera Leaf restores skin
tissues and may aid the healing of burns & sores.
It can also be used on
blemishes & dandruff. Used cosmetically, Aloe Vera Leaf softens the skin.
Modern doctors have also used Aloe Leaf for x-ray burns, sunburn, chemical
burns, first degree burns, traumatized tissue, decubitus ulcers or bedsores,
skin inflammation, stomach ulcers, herpes simplex, periodontal surgery, insect
bites & stings, irritating plant stings, and other minor skin
manifestations. Topical applications have included this herbs inclusion in many
over-the-counter lotions, poultices, salves, shampoos, and sprays.
Aloe Leaf had shown
outstanding results in treating facial edema (swelling). When used as a
mouth rinse, it was effective for cold spores and lockjaw. Two small controlled
human trials have found that Aloe Vera Leaf, either alone or in combination
with the oral hypoglycemic drug, glibenclamide, effectively lowers blood sugar
in people with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.
Primary chemical
characteristics of this herb include aloins, anthraquinones, barbaloin,
polysaccharides, and salicylic acids. Aloin, obtained from the gel in the leaf,
is largely responsible for the plant's healing properties. The plant also
contains vitamins B1, B2, B6 and C, niacinamide, choline, calcium, iron,
lecithin, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc. The common name
Aloe Vera includes the species Aloe ferex and Aloe ferox, which
are used interchangeably with Aloe Vera. Aloe barbadensis is the same
species as Aloe Vera.
Plant members of the Aloe
family are well-known for their natural high concentration of aloin, and have
been the basis for many medicinal topical remedies throughout Europe
for centuries. Sailors routinely used this herb on their skin upon injury by
the elements, canvas sails, rope burns, and salt water exposure. Early
missionaries also spread the healing benefits of Aloes in their work among many
primitive communities. Aloes is even mentioned in the Bible for the embalming
of the body of Jesus. Cape Aloes South
Africa Aloes Cape
The hard, black resinous
product is the portion commonly called Aloes Cape Aloes Cape Europe .
Tread the earth lightly
And may your day be filled
with peace light and love.
Arlene Wright-Correll
Remember 100%
of our profits go to St Jude's Research Hospital
Labels: Arlene Wright-Correll, Home Farm Herbery, What you Need to Know About Herbs Part 1©
posted by askarlene @ 7:41 AM
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