February 23rd, 2007 by admin
Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Maidenhair Fern
Rock Fern
Venus’- hair Fern
A plant of great delicacy, maidenhair fern has a thin, polished, black main leafstalk and fanlike leaflets supported by stalks as fine as hair. The plant has a gossamer look that makes it in demand for dried flower arrangements. Maidenhair fern prefers a wet environment, usually growing in limestone soils dampened by waterfall spray. Water runs off its foliage with the result that, even after being immersed in water, it emerges with dry leaves-hence its scientific name, Adiantum, meaning “unwetted.” The fern’s association with hair gave rise to an old belief that drinking a tea made from the plant could keep hair from falling out. Unhappily, it has no such powers.
A tea from the fresh plant has been used as an expectorant in treating coughs since the time of the ancient Greeks. Later herbalists prescribed maidenhair fern for more serious respiratory conditions, such as pleurisy, but with less success, for it is not a potent plant. Maidenhair fern was also employed to promote menstruation and as a mild diuretic.
A relative is the northern maidenhair (A. pedatum), which has a somewhat forked stalk, as opposed to the single stalk of A. capillusveneris, also called southern maidenhair fern.
PARTS USED
Aerial parts.
USES
Still used by Western herbalists to treat coughs, bronchitis, excess mucus, sore throat, and chronic nasal congestion, maidenhair fern also has a longstanding reputation as a remedy for conditions of the hair and scalp.
HABITAT AND CULTIVATION
Native to Europe and North America, maidenhair fern grows in moist, shady sites.
CONSTITUENTS
Maidenhair fern contains flavonoids (including rutin and isoquercitin), terpenoids (including adiantone), a tannin, and mucilage.
APPLICATIONS
LEAVES:
FLUID EXTRACT - An extract of the fresh leaves is marketed in Europe for treating cerebral arteriosclerosis in the elderly and for diseases of the peripheral circulation.
TINCTURE - Combine with other cardiovascular herbs, such as greater periwinkle and lime flower, for circulatory problems, or with king’s clover for venous disorders.
INFUSION - Make with 50 g dried leaves to 500 ml water, and take for arteriosclerosis and varicose conditions. Use as a wash for varicose ulcers or hemorrhoids.
SEEDS:
DECOCTION - Combine with herbs such as ma huang, elecampane, or mulberry leaves for asthma and severe or persistent coughs: 3 - 4 seeds are enough for three doses.
MAIDENHAIR FERN SYRUP
Equal parts, dried and crumbled.
* 2 cups (40 g) fresh maidenhair fern leaves
* 4 cups (1 liter) water
* 2 cups (500 ml) unpasteurized honey
Boil the plant in the water for 3 minutes, cover and infuse for 3 hours. Strain the decoction, and then gently melt the honey, without bringing to a boil, for 5 minutes. Pour the mixture into a glass bottle. Store in the refrigerator and consume within 2 months at a rate of 1 to 2 T (15 to 30 ml) diluted in water, 3 times daily. Take in the event of chronic pulmonary disease, anemia or persistent skin disorders. This gentle treatment can be followed for 1 month without risk, by adding other, more caustic pectoral plants such as horseradish or wild thyme, but in small quantities.
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February 23rd, 2007 by admin
Aconite
Aconitum napellus
Aconite
Monkshood
Cuckoo’s Cap
Friar’s Cap
Soldier’s Cap
Blue Rocket
Jacob’s Chariot
Auld Wife’s Huid
A perennial shrub that grows two to six feet high, aconites erect stem extends from thick, tuberous roots. Its dark green leaves are shiny on top and lighter underneath. Helmet-shaped flowers, which bloom in summer or fall, are usually purplish blue.
PARTS USED
Root, rhizome, stem, leaf, flower.
USES
The name Aconitum may be derived from akone, meaning “cliffy” or “rocky”, because aconite tends to grow in such areas. According to Greek mythology, aconite became poisonous from the foam that dropped from the mouth of Cerberus, the gatekeeper of hell, when Hercules dragged him up from the nether regions. Medea, priestess of the goddess Hecate, attempted to poison her stepson Theseus using aconite so that her birth son could inherit her husband’s throne. Aconite is believed to be among the ingredients of “flying ointments”, potions used by witches to create the sensation of flight.
Aconite was formerly used to treat pain, arthritis, inflammation, fever, skin diseases, and neuralgias. Aconite works very quickly, becoming active just a few minutes after being taken orally. Alkaloids found in the plant have analgesic or anti-inflammatory properties. Aconite is widely and safely used as a homeopathic remedy for physical or psychological stress. Aconite root, however, is extremely poisonous. As little as a teaspoonful of it or its preparations can cause paralysis of the cardiac muscle or respiratory center. For this reason, despite its having been used throughout history, aconite is not currently recommended by Germany’s Commission E, a group of German experts on herbal remedies who evaluate plant medicines for efficacy and safety.
Other medical uses - Tension headache.
HOMEOPATHY
Homeopathic physicians prescribe Aconite for those patients whose symptoms resemble the effects of the poison-who seem distressed or fearful and complain of thirst and unbearable aches and pains that accompany their illnesses.
For homeopathic use, the whole plant-except the root, which is the most poisonous part-is gathered while in full bloom and pounded to a pulp. Juice is pressed from the pulp and mixed with alcohol, then diluted to non toxic levels.
Aconite is used to treat complaints that come on suddenly and acutely often due to shock or a scare, exposure to dry, cold winds, and occasionally, intensely hot weather. This remedy is usually needed at the onset of symptoms of an infection, such as colds and coughs, and ear, eye, and throat complaints. It is also used for eye inflammation due to injury. Symptoms of inflammation and infection include restless, agitated sleep. The face is red, hot, flushed, and swollen, with severe burning pain, but it becomes very pale when the person gets up.
This remedy is also given for fear with associated restlessness, for example, in panic attacks with palpitations, numbness, and tingling in the body. The person looks anxious with dilated pupils; this fear often relates back to an alarming event. It is good for women who fear death during labor.
HABITAT AND CULTIVATION
Aconite species can be found in Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa.
CONSTITUENTS
Aconite contains 0.3 - 2% terpenoid alkaloids, princypally aconitine.
HOW MUCH TO TAKE
1 to 2 minims for a child 5 to 10 years old; 2 to 5 minims for adults, three times a day.
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February 23rd, 2007 by admin
Yarrow
Also Known As:
Achillea millefolium
Gandana
I-chi-kao
Milfoil
Millefoil
Noble Yarrow
Nosebleed
Old Man’s Pepper
Soldier’s Woundwort
Stanchgrass
Thousand-leaf
Thousand-seal
Yarrow
Yarrow is a perennial herb found the world over in waste places, fields, pastures, meadows and along railroad embankments and highways where it should never be picked on account of the chemical spraying that’s routinely done to keep the weeds down. The simple stem bears aromatic bipinnately parted and dissected leaves, giving a lacy appearance. Yarrow can grow up to a yard high, yielding pretty flower heads with white rays and yellow (turning to brown) disks in them. The light brown, creeping rootstock produces a round, smooth, pithy stem that branches near the top.
Yarrow is a highly versatile remedy, with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic volatile oils, and astringent tannins. The resins are also astringent and antiseptic, while silica promotes tissue repair. These properties promote healing of cuts and wounds, burns and ulcers, and inflammatory skin conditions. In the digestive system, yarrow stimulates the appetite, enhances digestion and absorption; its astringent properties curb diarrhea and dysentery, and stem bleeding from the lining of the gut. The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties treat infections and inflamed conditions such as gastritis and enteritis, the bitters stimulate liver function, while its antispasmodics relax tensioning cramp, wind, colic or nervous dyspepsia.
Taken hot, yarrow is excellent for helping to throw off fevers and infections such as colds, flu, coughs, and sore throats. Yarrow clears heat and toxins from the system by causing sweating. As a tonic to the circulatory system, yarrow helps improve varicose veins, hemorrhoids, phlebitis and thrombosis, and reduces blood pressure. Yarrow’s diuretic action aids the elimination of fluid and toxins from the system via the urine. Yarrow also relieves cystitis, irritable bladder, stones, and gravel. Yarrow helps relieve painful joints and clear the skin. Yarrow contains sterols which have a hormone-like action and help to regulate the menstrual cycle. Yarrow reduces heavy bleeding and uteric congestion, and relieve heavy periods. Yarrow is also a tonic to the nervous system.
PARTS USED
Aerial parts.
USES
Healing wounds - Achilles reputedly used yarrow to heal wounds, hence its botanical name. Yarrow has been used for this purpose for centuries, and in Scotland a traditional wound ointment was made from yarrow.
Therapeutic properties - Chamazulene, present in some volatile oils, is markedly anti-inflammatory and antiallergenic. Sesquiterpene lactones are bitter and tonic, and achilleine helps arrest internal and external bleeding. The flavonoids are probably responsible for yarrow’s antispasmodic effect.
Gynecological herb - Yarrow helps regulate the menstrual cycle, reduces heavy bleeding, and eases menstrual pain.
Other medical uses - Abscess. Combined with other herbs, yarrow helps colds and flu. Its bitter tonic properties make it useful for weak digestion and colic. Yarrow also helps hay fever, lowers high blood pressure, improves venous circulation, and tones varicose veins. Make good herbal cleansers for skin wrinkles.
HABITAT AND CULTIVATION
Native to Europe and western Asia, yarrow can be found growing wild in temperate regions throughout the world, in meadows and along roadsides. Yarrow spreads via its roots, and the aerial parts are picked in summer when in flower.
RESEARCH
Despite its many uses, yarrow has been poorly researched.
CONSTITUENTS
- Volatile oil with variable content (linalool, camphor, sabinene, chamazulene)
- Sesquiterpene lactones
- Flavonoids
- Alkaloids (achilleine)
- Polyacetylenes
- Triterpenes
- Salicylic acid
- Coumarins
- Tannins
HOW MUCH TO TAKE
As a tea, yarrow can be taken with other herbs 200 ml (8 fl oz) three times daily. As a tincture, take 1 ml (20 drops) three times a day.
HOW IT WORKS IN THE BODY
The apigenin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, and the azulenes and salicylic acids are also both antispasmodic. The alkaloids have a hemostatic action, which confirms its usage as a remedy to stop bleeding. Chamazulene (as in chamomile) is anti-allergenic. This herb has an action in many different systems of the body. Primarily, it is probably best known for its action in the respiratory system, its diaphoretic (increases sweating) properties being used for colds and fevers. It can also be used for allergy for example, in hay fever. Its combined properties make it useful following flu or illness where there is little appetite as a tonic to promote digestion. In the cardiovascular system its antispasmodic and slightly diuretic action has made it valuable for lowering high blood pressure, and improving the venous circulation. In the reproductive system it is known as a menstrual regulator, which also helps to reduce heavy bleeding. Conversely, it can also bring on a period.
APPLICATIONS
FLOWERS:
INFUSION - Drink for upper respiratory phlegm or use externally as a wash for eczema.
INHALATION - For hay fever and mild asthma, use fresh in boiling water.
ESSENTIAL OIL:
MASSAGE OIL - For inflamed joints, dilute 5 - 10 drops yarrow oil in 25 ml infused St.John’s wort oil.
CHEST RUB - For chesty colds and influenza, combine with eucalyptus, peppermint, hyssop, or thyme oils, diluting a total of 20 drops oil in 25 ml almond or sunflower oil.
LEAVES:
FRESH - To stop a nosebleed, insert a leaf into the nostril.
POULTICE - Wrap washed, fresh leaves on cuts and grazes.
AERIAL PARTS:
INFUSION - Use to reduce fevers and as a digestive tonic.
TINCTURE - Use for urinary disorders or menstrual problems. Prescribed for cardiovascular complaints.
COMPRESS - Soak a pad in the infusion or dilute tincture to soothe varicose veins.
A STOMACH - FRIENDLY WINE
* 2 cups (120 g) yarrow flowers
* 6 cups (1 1/2 liters) dry white wine
Crush the flowers in a mortar or an electric blender. Let stand for 1 month in a glass jar away from light, then strain.
Bitter yet healthy for digestion, fighting stomach cramps and flatulence. As an aperitif or a digestive, take 1T(15 ml).
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