Organising your Herbal Medicine Chest!Passionflower. (passiflora incarnata) Passionflower acts as a natural calming agent by promoting the transmission of subtle nerve influences. Eases muscle tension and emotional distress. It is a sleep inducer. Boneset. (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Its volatile oils increase heat and circulation, and promote sweating. Boneset is also a digestive and elimination stimulant. Helps relieve ache and pains, of colds and flu. Its sweat inducing properties help bring down fever.
Echinacea’s chemical components include volatile oil, caffiec acid derivatives, polysaccharides, polyines, polyens, and isobutylamides. These contribute to this herbs anti-microbial action. Its efficiency lies in supporting the immune system as it fights bacterial and viral outbreaks. Helps prevetn vcolds and fluand acts as a overall immune system tonic. Peppermint. (Mentha peperita) Peppermint has a mild anesthetic affect on mucous membranes and helps stimulate liver and gall bladder functions, which assist in breaking down fats during digestion. Used as a digestive and for gastrointestinal upsets, and as an inhalant for colds and flu. Garlic. (Allium sativum) Garlic’s volatile sulfur compounds include allicin are its active components. Allicin blocks the production of cholesterol, thus helping stave off heart disease. Its volatile oils are also strong antibacterial agents that act on bacterial viruses and alimentary parasites. Helps lower blood cholesterol levels, and promotes digestion. It supports natural bacteria in the intestines, while killing pathogenic organisms. Garlic also helps fight chronic bronchitis and colds.
Valerian. (Valeriana officinalis) Valerianic acid the active component of valerian acts as aseditive for emotional disturbances and pain. A nervine, valerian feeds the nervous system and helps balance energy. Prevents insomnia and eases nervous tension. Feverfew. (Chrysanthemum parthenium) Feverfew works by inhibiting secretion of compounds, prostaglandins, histamines, platelets, and some white blood cells. These are responsible for pain and inflammation. It’s also a vasodilator and relaxant. Eases headaches, including migraines. Also indicated for arthritis in its painful inflammatory stages. Tincture also used as a wash to relieve insect bites.
Ginko. (Ginko biloba) Ginko affects neural functions of the brain, including stabilisation and muscular membranes, including removal of toxic metabolites. Its antioxidant properties increase glucose levels and ATP levels, aiding energy levels in the brain. An effective cerebral circulatory stimulant, ginko has been indicated as helpful in the early stages of Alzheimers. Saw Palmetto. (Serenoa repens) Its active constituents of volatile oils and steroids act as a diuretic, urinary antiseptic, and endocrine agents for the male reproductive system. A male reproduction system tonic, it is effective in treating infections of the genito-urinary tract. Hawthorn. (Crataegus oxyacantha) Considered to be the worlds best cardiotonic hawthorn dilates peripheral blood vessels, increases metabolism in the heart muscle, dilates coronary vessels, and improves blood supply to the heart. Helps treat heart disease, and mitigate symptoms in early stage heart disease.
Ginger is rich in volatile oils which include zingiberene and zingiberole. These compounds provide stimulant, calmative (dispel gas) and diaphoric (sweat inducing) properties making ginger an excellent digestive and circulatory aid. Recent research indicates it may also be useful in treating cancer, and is well known to calm an upset stomach. Used in the treatment of colds and flu. Milk Thistle. (Silybum marianum) Stimulates bile flow, and aids digestion. Noted for liver protective functions. Silymarin, a group of flavonoids present in milk thistle, protects the liver against the effects of toxins, and helps heal liver cells by strengthening cell membranes. Cinnamon. Just half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduces blood sugar levels in diabetics, a new study reported in New Scientist has found. The effect, which can be produced even by soaking a cinnamon stick your tea, could also benefit millions of non-diabetics who have blood sugar problem but are unaware of it. The cinnamon has additional benefits. In the volunteers, it lowered blood levels of fats and "bad" cholesterol, which are also partly controlled by insulin. And in test tube experiments it neutralised free radicals, damaging chemicals which are elevated in diabetics.
Many others.
Of course there are many others that can be included in a herbal medicine chest, but these ones will give you a start! Don’t forget that all dried herbs should be kept in a dark glass jar, and never in plastic jars. If a remedy calls for a fresh leaf for tinctures, concoctions or infusions, you will need around twice as much by weight of fresh herb as you would need dried herb. Also don’t forget that the doses for infusions and herbal teas is generally around three cups per day. Patrick
Cllick here to jump to our weight loss page!
|
