Herbs, and Natural Remedies. Part.1

"USE THIS INFORMATION AT YOUR OWN RISK"

Herbal remedies have been the mainstay of folk medicine in many
cultures throughout history and are still in common use by most
people in less developed countries, where pharmaceutical drugs are
unavailable or unaffordable.
In recent years both the popularity and the
use of medicinal herbs have increased greatly in developed nations.
Why? The trend is part of a larger sociocultural change that is also
responsible for growing interest in complementary and alternative
medicine and integrative medicine.

These days, healing herbs are never hard to find. Health food stores,
organic food co-ops, and even mainstream groceries and drugstores offer
prominent displays of capsules and tablets, tinctures and oils, labeled
with the names of plants both familiar and exotic. Herbal teas sit side by
side with familiar black teas and coffee. In the case of a few herbs—
ginkgo, for example, as a memory aid—the claims have grown to the
level of sensational, with promises far exceeding either traditional uses
or scientific evidence. Herbal healing has become a commercial business,
and in the process we risk forgetting what it is all about.

I am going to do more of these posts, this being the first, Let's get started.

Aloe, or Aloe Vera

Native to North Africa and coastal areas surrounding the
Mediterranean Sea, aloe is one of the most familiar of all herbal
remedies. Pots of aloe grace many sunny kitchen windowsills,
where the thick, fleshy leaves stand ready to become a quick and easy
treatment for scalds and burns. A leaf plucked from the plant and sliced
open shelters at its core a clear, mucilaginous gel that is remarkably
effective for soothing wounds and burns, speeding healing, and reducing
risk of infection. The bitter, yellowish sap that oozes from the leaf’s skin
—not to be confused with the gel—is dried to form aloe latex, a
crystalline substance.
Therapeutic Uses
Burns (first- and second-degree)
Psoriasis
Colitis
Diabetes
Aloe is famous for soothing sunburn. Perhaps less well known is how
broadly its healing properties extend—from soothing minor cuts and
skin conditions to possibly lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics.
Aloe gel is the inner mucilaginous—or gooey—part of the leaf and is
used topically for many skin conditions. Recent research shows that
ingesting this gel confers benefits in lowering blood glucose in people
with diabetes and easing symptoms in people with ulcerative colitis.
Aloe gel contains polysaccharides, compounds that have a soothing
effect on mucous membranes, and enzymes that coat irritated skin and
ease pain. Aloe may also be antibacterial. For these reasons, aloe has
been used for some skin conditions, such as first- and second-degree
burns and psoriasis, and it sometimes shows better effects than more
conventional therapies. In a study of 30 people with second-degree
burns, aloe cream, containing 0.5 percent of the gel in powdered form,
helped to heal the burns faster than sulfadiazine, a commonly used
antibacterial cream. In addition, a study of 80 people with psoriasis
showed that a 70 percent aloe cream worked as well as a 0.1 percent
triamcinolone cream, often prescribed for psoriasis.
So-called aloe juice is made from aloe gel. The gel—either fresh or
dried and powdered—is just one ingredient in aloe juice products.
Marketed as aloe juice, these products may also contain water, citric
acid, fruit juices, preservatives, and more. Aloe gel is also an ingredient
in many cosmetic products, including topical creams, lotions, and
shampoos.
How to Use
Aloe gel: Apply to the skin several times daily for burns and other skin
conditions. For colitis, take 25 to 30 ml (about 2 tablespoons) twice
daily; for diabetes, 10 to 20 ml (about 1 tablespoon) daily. Follow
manufacturer’s guidelines.
Precautions
Topically applied, aloe is safe. However, aloe may delay healing in deep,
open wounds, as from surgery. Aloe gel should be free of anthraquinones
and soothing to the gastrointestinal tract, but leaf extracts can contain
all parts of the leaf, and thus both gel and latex. It is important to buy
aloe gel that says it is made from the inner fillet and/or that is free of
aloin. Aloe juice containing aloin can act as a laxative and can irritate
the intestines. Prolonged use can lead to electrolyte loss and dependence
on juice for normal bowel function. Those with acute or severe
gastrointestinal symptoms should not take the juice. Children and
pregnant or nursing women should not take aloe internally.

BilBerry

Cousin of the blueberry, the bilberry is the sweet, dark purple fruit of
a branching shrub that seldom grows more than knee high. Ripe
bilberries are a bonanza for birds and a heavenly treat for hikers to
stumble upon in the forest. Most bilberries grow wild because the plants
are difficult to cultivate. Given their wonderful flavor, it’s no surprise
that bilberries have found their way into almost every imaginable
culinary delight, from jams, pies, and tarts to sorbets, liqueurs, and
wines. One Irish name for bilberry is fraughan, from the Gaelic word
fraocháin. Traditionally, the berries are picked on the first Sunday in
August, called Fraughan Sunday, which corresponds to an ancient Celtic
harvest festival. According to legend, the more bilberries people collect
on that day, the better the harvest will be. As it is a medicinal herb,
bilberry has been used for centuries to control diarrhea and to improve
circulation.
Therapeutic Uses
Eye health
Antioxidant
Diarrhea
Bilberry has long been consumed as both food and medicine. The fruit is
enjoyed for its sweet-sour taste and eaten fresh or cooked. Bilberry fruit
is also made into syrup and used to treat diarrhea and other digestive
problems. This is likely due to the presence of tannins, which have
astringent and anti-inflammatory activity. Germany’s health authorities
still approve of the use of the dried, ripe fruit for the treatment of acute
diarrhea. However, the majority of research today is focused on the
potential use of bilberry fruit for the prevention of age-related diseases.
Bilberry fruit is rich in anthocyanosides, plant pigments that have been
shown to act as powerful antioxidants in the body. Researchers have
found that these powerhouse compounds may help protect the body
from heart disease, oxidative stress, and inflammation and help preserve
brain function and eye health. A growing body of evidence is linking
oxidative stress, a condition associated with an increased level of free
radicals and other oxidation-promoting molecules, to a number of agerelated
and degenerative diseases. Many fruits and vegetables help
reduce oxidative stress, but it is bilberry—along with its American
cousin, the blueberry—that is getting a lot of press. This berry’s
anthocyanosides seem to have a particular affinity for the eye. Animal
studies show that bilberry extracts protect the retina from damage. Two
small double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have shown improvement
in patients with diabetes- and hypertension-related retinopathy, a group
of serious retinal disorders that can lead to blindness.
Researchers are also looking at the potential protective effect that
bilberry extract may have on colorectal cancer. In a study conducted at
the University of Leicester in England, patients with colon cancer were
given a bilberry extract for 7 days, and there was a 7 percent decrease in
cell growth in the tumors when they were surgically removed. This may
be due to the ability of the anthocyanosides to prevent the growth of
blood vessels in the tissue surrounding a solid tumor. The blood vessels
are, in part, what allow the cancer to grow and spread.
How to Use
Fresh berries: 1 cup per day of fresh fruit. American blueberries can be
used if bilberries are not available.
Tea: Simmer 1 tablespoon dried berries in 2 cups water for 20 minutes.
Strain. Drink ½ cup every 3 to 4 hours for diarrhea.
Extracts: Dosage range is usually 360 to 600 mg per day of an extract
standardized to contain 25 percent anthocyanosides (also written as
anthocyanins).
Precautions
There are no known adverse effects. Bilberry may be used as support for
the eyes, heart, and gastrointestinal system but should not replace
appropriate medical care.

Black Cohash

Native to eastern North America, black cohosh thrives in moist,
shaded woodlands. Over time, it has also become a popular garden
perennial that rarely goes unnoticed. Shortly after midsummer,
black cohosh begins sending up tall flower stalks covered with tiny,
pearl-shaped buds. As the buds open, the stalks take on the look of soft,
white bottlebrushes towering above the dark green foliage. The fact that
honeybees scorn the flowers but flies and beetles love them may be the
source of at least two of black cohosh’s other common names, bugbane
and bugwort, respectively. Another is black snakeroot. To understand
this nickname’s source, dig around the base of the plant and expose its
twisted rhizomes, which look like dark little snakes.
Therapeutic Uses
Menopause
Premenstrual syndrome
Menstrual cramps
Arthritis
Mild depression (melancholy)
The primary use for black cohosh is to treat menopause-related
symptoms. Germany’s health authorities recognize its use for
menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep
disturbances), as well as for premenstrual syndrome and menstrual
cramping. Early studies suggested that black cohosh acted like a natural
estrogen, or phytoestrogen, gently reducing hot flashes and vaginal
dryness. But newer research has found no hormonal effects of black
cohosh in menopausal women.
More than 20 published clinical trials have evaluated the effectiveness
of black cohosh for menopausal hot flashes. While some studies show a
modest reduction in symptoms, not all clinical trials have been positive.
There may be added benefit when black cohosh is combined with St.
John’s wort. One clinical trial of 301 women reported a 50 percent
reduction in symptoms with the combination, compared with 19 percent
reduction in the placebo group. Current research has not yet determined
the effectiveness of black cohosh for hot flashes.
Scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago have demonstrated
that compounds in black cohosh act as antidepressants and reduce pain
sensitivity, lending support to the traditional use of black cohosh as a
treatment for melancholy, or depressed mood, as well as its widespread
use as a remedy for arthritis and menstrual pain. No clinical trials have
evaluated its effectiveness for these conditions.
How to Use
Tea: Simmer 2 teaspoons of chopped root and rhizome in 2 cups water
for 10 minutes. Strain. Drink ¼ cup, 2 to 3 times per day.
Capsules: 40 to 200 mg of dried rhizome taken daily, in divided doses.
Tincture: Generally, 1 to 2 ml, 3 times per day.
Standardized extract: 20 to 40 mg black cohosh extract twice daily.
Products are often standardized to provide 1 to 2 mg of 27-deoxy-actein.
Precautions
Except for minor gastrointestinal upset, clinical trials have shown black
cohosh to be free of side effects. A few reports have suggested black
cohosh may, in rare cases, cause damage to the liver, prompting
European, Australian, Canadian, and British health authorities to require
product labels suggesting conferral with a health-care provider by
anyone with any type of liver disease. Safety during pregnancy and
breast-feeding is not known.

Calendula

Nicknamed pot marigold, poet’s marigold, or simply gold, calendula
is not to be confused with the rather unpleasantly scented common
garden marigold of the genus Tagetes. Calendula flowers have little
scent, and unlike Tagetes species, are edible. Decked out with single or
multiple rows of petals in sunny yellow or bright orange, the flowers
seem to hover above the plant’s grayish green, slightly sticky stems and
leaves. Calendula is a profuse bloomer. Its name is likely derived from
the Latin calendae, meaning “little calendar” or “little clock.” The
reference could be to calendula’s propensity for being in bloom during
the new moon of summer months (in some climates, nearly every
month) or to its habit of partially closing its petals along with the setting
sun.
Therapeutic Uses
Dermatitis
Wounds
The warm gold blossoms of calendula have long been a signature
remedy for skin ailments, from eczema and abscesses to acne and
abrasions. The German health authority has approved calendula for
treating wounds, based on research showing its anti-inflammatory effects
and effectiveness in helping wounds seal over with new tissue. Calendula
is thought to have two main medicinal actions on skin. The triterpenoid
compounds, such as oleanolic acid, appear to inhibit a variety of
bacteria. Calendula’s anti-inflammatory effects may be the result of a
triterpenoid compound acting as an antioxidant, to reduce damage from
oxygen radicals in the healing process.
Calendula products have been developed and studied for a host of
human ailments. For example, a calendula extract combined with green
tea, tea tree oil, and manuka oil was developed into a mouth rinse—a
spin-off of research showing that calendula rinses fight gum
inflammation, or gingivitis. Another study randomized 254 breast cancer
patients about to undergo radiation treatment to apply either a
calendula ointment or a commonly used medicine, trolamine, twice
daily. The calendula group exhibited less dermatitis from the radiation
and also had fewer interruptions to their treatment.
One method for making a calendula ointment is to heat the plant in
petroleum jelly, strain, and cool for use on the skin. Calendula’s antiinflammatory
effects, and its effectiveness for various skin ailments, may
be more pronounced when the flowers are first extracted with high-dose
alcohol before being incorporated into creams or ointments.
How to Use
Topical preparations: Extracts are incorporated into many skin products:
soaps, creams, ointments, salves, and lotions with various concentrations
of calendula. Apply preparations 3 to 4 times daily to heal minor skin
conditions.
Precautions
Those allergic to plants in the Asteraceae family can develop a
sensitivity to topical use. Should a rash develop, discontinue use.

Cayenne

The spicy cuisines of Mexico, Southeast Asia, China, southern Italy,
many Caribbean islands, and North America’s Cajun cultures share
an ingredient: hot pepper. Not the tiny black peppercorns ground in
pepper mills, but the fleshy fruits borne by plants belonging to the genus
Capsicum. More than a thousand varieties of Capsicum are grown
worldwide. They produce colorful fruits that vary considerably, not only
in color, size, and shape, but also in the intensity of their heat. That heat
comes from a plant chemical called capsaicin, which, in addition to
adding zest to food, has pain-relieving properties.
Therapeutic Uses
Arthritis
Nerve pain
Despite its bite in spicy cuisines, purified cayenne pepper, yielding the
essential compound capsaicin, is an effective topical pain reliever.
Capsaicin is absorbed through the skin and binds to specific receptors
that act to deplete a compound responsible for conveying pain
sensations to the brain.
One category of conditions that cause pain originates from nerve
damage resulting from diabetes or other nervous system problems. For
this discomfort, creams containing at least 0.075 percent capsaicin
applied to a painful area over 6 to 8 weeks have been shown to provide
relief. In some cases, just one high-dose patch containing 8 percent
capsaicin can be beneficial. A common pattern in the treatment is that
the pain gets worse for a few days before it gradually gets better;
benefits are often sustained even after treatment stops. Some studies
have shown that preparations with a lower percentage of capsaicin,
some of which are available over the counter, are less effective, either
because of the lower dose or because of poorer absorption. These creams
are also used by people who experience the lingering pain of shingles.
Osteoarthritis may also respond to capsaicin creams. Creams
containing 0.025 percent capsaicin have been shown to help ease joint
pain of adults suffering from osteoarthritis over a 6-week period; one
study, in which subjects used the 0.075 percent cream for 4 weeks,
resulted in decreased arthritis pain and tenderness in the hands.
How to Use
Cream: For nerve-related pain, apply cream containing 0.075 percent
capsaicin 3 to 4 times daily. Lower-dose creams containing only 0.025
percent capsaicin applied 4 times daily may be effective for arthritis. For
optimal benefit, treatment is usually recommended for 6 to 8 weeks;
benefits for arthritis may occur before 8 weeks. Researchers also are
developing other higher-dose forms of cayenne, including a patch and
injections, which look promising for pain relief.
Precautions
Application of cayenne preparations to the skin can cause a rash as well
as burning, stinging, and redness. The rash, often an irritation rather
than an allergic reaction, is usually worse on first applications of the
preparation and then gets better with repeated use. However, if the rash
gets worse with time, treatment should be discontinued and
improvement should occur quickly. Do not apply to broken skin.
Occasionally, people will develop a cough after using higher strength
preparations, presumably from the spicy substance that gets inhaled.

Chamomile

After a rain, or when lightly bruised, chamomile’s lacy green leaves
and small, daisy-like flowers give off the distinct scent of apple.
That may explain the Spanish name for this herb, manzanilla, which
means “little apple,” as well as the medieval habit of strewing
chamomile stems and flowers across the floors to freshen the air indoors.
Two very closely related species of chamomile have earned a timehonored
place in herbal medicine. German chamomile (Matricaria
recutita) has effects similar to those of Roman or English chamomile
(Chamaemelum nobile) but a less pronounced aroma. Both varieties of
this herb have been prized for many centuries—especially brewed as a
pleasant-tasting tea—as a remedy for nervous tension, muscle cramps,
skin conditions, and digestive upsets in babies, children, and adults.
Chamomile is perhaps the most commonly used European herb in herbal
medicine today.
Therapeutic Uses
Digestive aid
Colic
Mouth ulcers
Eczema
A treasured herbal medicine, chamomile has soothed digestive systems
and calmed people of all ages for centuries. But not until the 1970s were
scientists able to document and verify chamomile’s healing and
protective effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa (lining). Germany’s
health authorities recognize the effectiveness of chamomile for relieving
digestive spasms and inflammation when taken internally. Chamomile
eases bloating and indigestion when taken after meals and can soothe
occasional heartburn. Many herbalists consider chamomile the premier
children’s herb for easing upset tummies and calming frayed nerves after
an exhausting day. Remember Peter Rabbit? His mother gives him a
dose of chamomile tea (“One tablespoonful to be taken at bed-time.”)
after his escapade sampling all the vegetables in Mr. McGregor’s garden
leaves him with a tummy that needs soothing. A study of colicky babies
found that chamomile, in combination with other herbs, was highly
effective in reducing crying times when the colicky babies were
compared with those in the control group.
Chamomile is also popular for alleviating inflammation of the mouth
and skin. In a study of patients with chronic mouth ulcers, a remarkable
82 percent rated chamomile extract as excellent for relieving pain.
Compounds in chamomile have been shown to enhance skin healing and
to help prevent infection.
Applied topically, a proprietary chamomile cream was shown to be as
effective as low-dose, over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for
relieving eczema. Chamomile is also found in creams designed to soothe
and heal diaper rash, skin irritations, and minor wounds. Germany’s
health commission also recognizes the effectiveness of using chamomile
externally for inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes,
including those of the mouth and gums.
How to Use
Tea: Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon of herb. Steep for 5 to 7
minutes. The longer it steeps, the more powerful its calming effects.
Capsules: 500 to 1,000 mg dried chamomile flowers taken 2 to 3 times
per day.
Tincture: 3 to 5 ml taken 2 to 3 times per day.
Topical: Creams are available. Use as directed.
Precautions
Chamomile is very safe. In rare cases, allergic reactions occur, especially
in those with severe ragweed allergies.

Thats it for this week , I will post next week with 6 more Herbs, and Natural Remedies.
Thank You.