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Senna Leaf (Senna spp.)
Most senna sold in the United States is called Alexandrian senna, which is actually a blend of three species of senna that originated in Africa. A different species, Senna marilandica, grows wild from New England to North Carolina.
Only its leaves, fresh or dried, are used medicinally.
What it is used for: In general, senna is recognized as a superb laxative. It offers pain relief from constipation and works to empty the bowels.
Native American tribes also used the herb to treat fever.
Research Highlights: Senna’s success as a laxative is due to its anthraquinone glycosides, which both limit fluid loss in the colon (making stools softer), and cause the intestinal muscles to contract strongly.
A randomized, single-blind study involving over five hundred participants validated senna’s use as a laxative and proved it was better tolerated (than traditional laxatives) by some patients.
Another randomized trial found that senna emptied prospective colonoscopy patients better than other laxative products and with significantly less fluid required.
References:
1. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers, AB. ©2000, 1:42.
2. Ibid.
3. Peirce, A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines, William Morrow and Company, Inc., ©1999, pg. 590.
4. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers, AB. ©2000, 1:42.
5. PDR For Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition, Thompson PDR, ©2004, pg. 726.
6. Ibid.
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Chamomile Flower (Matricaria recutita; Chamaemelum nobile)
There are two major forms of chamomile used in the United States – German and Roman – but they are used interchangeably and are recognized as having the same medicinal qualities. Chamomile is native to the Near East and to southern and eastern Europe, though it grows today all throughout the world. Only the flower heads and the first two or three inches of the stem are used medicinally.
What it is used for: A versatile herbal remedy, chamomile reduces inflammation, aids digestion, acts as a diuretic and nerve tonic, and is helpful in aiding relaxation and sleep. It also has antispasmodic, carminative, antibacterial and antimycotic properties.
Research Highlights: Research has been able to isolate and document the tonus effect of several chamomile extracts on uterine tissue. Additionally, research investigating the antitumor and anticancer properties of chamomile has always met with positive results.
Probably the most important of chamomile’s active compounds, a sesquiterpene alcohol called alpha-bisabolol has been proved to have several beneficial properties: Experiments with rats have proven it fights fever; similar studies indicate that it inhibits the development of gastric ulcers and speeds healing in ulcers already present; it stimulates the immune system; and it decreases the surface area of wounds and helps them heal more quickly.
References:
1. http://www.herbalremedies.com/chamomile.html
2. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers, AB. ©2000, 1:20.
3. Ibid.
4. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 93.
5. Mowrey, Daniel. The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine, Keats Publishing, ©1986, pg. 110.
6. Ibid.
7. Mowrey, Daniel. The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine, Keats Publishing, ©1986, pg. 205.
8. Peirce, A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines, William Morrow and Company, Inc., ©1999, pp. 156-57.
Fennel Seed (Foeniculum vulgare)
Fennel can still be found growing wild in the Mediterranean, where it originated, but today it is also cultivated worldwide. While the leaves and roots of the fennel plant can be used medicinally, its seeds are most often used in natural remedies.
What it is used for: Fennel is useful for promoting the functioning of the kidneys, liver, and spleen, and also for clearing the lungs. It relieves abdominal pain, helps with colon disorders and gas, and is useful in treating gastrointestinal tract spasms. Fennel seeds are very useful in promoting gastrointestinal mobility and in high concentrations, also exhibit an antispasmodic affect.
Research Highlights: Research indicates that the volatile oils in fennel seeds is effective at reducing stomach spasms and relaxing the lining of the digestive tract. Additionally, a substance in fennel oil – estragole – appears to act in the body much like the female hormone estrogen, lending substance to fennel’s traditional use for promoting menstruation, boosting mother’s milk production, and increasing the female sex drive. German health authorities cite evidence that the herb can dissolve mucous secretions in the respiratory tract and has mild expectorant properties.
References:
1. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers, AB. ©2000, 1:15.
2. Ibid.
3. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 96.
4. Ibid.
5. PDR For Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition, Thompson PDR, ©2004, pg. 317.
6. Peirce, A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines, William Morrow and Company, Inc., ©1999, pg. 260.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
Peppermint Leaf (Mentha peperita)
First identified in England in 1696, peppermint is a common medicinal herb. Only the leaves are used medicinally; they are often used in pharmaceutical products.
What it is used for: Peppermint increases the acidity of the stomach, thereby aiding digestion. It has a slight anesthetizing effect on the mucous membranes and the gastrointestinal tract. It is useful in the treatment of diarrhea, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, poor appetite, and spasms. It is also well known to be anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, antimicrobial, and a safe stimulant. It is often included in herbal remedies and blends because its aromatic quality renders such concoctions more acceptable to the body, more digestible, and actually helps increase the assimilation and utilization by the body’s major systems.
Research Highlights: Numerous studies have elucidated the medicinal value of peppermint. In one double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, patients with nonulcerative dyspepsia were given an herbal remedy consisting of peppermint and caraway oil. Both primary and secondary analyses indicated the superiority of the peppermint/caraway blend. Another study found that patients using peppermint experienced fewer spasms when undergoing barium enemas.
There is also some indication that peppermint can help clear up gallstones; an uncontrolled study involving 31 patients saw a total stone resolution in 73% of the cases when a peppermint derivative was taken regularly.
References:
1. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers, AB. ©2000, 1:16.
2. Ibid.
3. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 106.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Mowrey, Daniel. The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine, Keats Publishing, ©1986, pg. 72.
7. Mowrey, Daniel. The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine, Keats Publishing, ©1986, pg. 103.
8. PDR For Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition, Thompson PDR, ©2004, pg. 629.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
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Rose Hip Fruit (Rosa canina/gallica/rugosa/villosa/spp.)
Rose bushes and shrubs, which grow freely throughout the United States, are actually native to Europe, northern Africa and western and central Asia. The fleshy fruit of the rose, known as the rose hip, can be used fresh or dried for medicinal purposes.
What it is used for: Rose hips are probably best known for their high vitamin C content. In the past, however, they have been used as a laxative, diuretic and skin astringent and as a treatment for headache, mouth sores, and numerous other ailments. Today, rose hips are known to be useful in treating bladder problems and all manner of infections. One source recommends rose his tea is especially useful in the treatment of diarrhea.
Research Highlights: Beyond their high vitamin C content, rose hips also contain such health-promoting substances as carotenoids, fruit acids, and pectin. The fruit acids and pectin may have a slight laxative effect, and the rose hips antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties also make them useful as a mild disinfectant.
References:
1. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers, AB. ©2000, 1:5.
2. Peirce, A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines, William Morrow and Company, Inc., ©1999, pg. 549.
3. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 107.
4. Ibid.
5. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers, AB. ©2000, 1:5.
6. Ibid.
Cinnamon is one of the world’s oldest known spices, used medicinally in Egypt and by Chinese herbalists as early as 2700 B.C. The bark of the exotic cinnamomum trees found in the West Indies and Asia is used medicinally.
What it is used for: Cinnamon relieves diarrhea and nausea, counteracts congestion, and enhances digestion, especially the metabolism of fats. A component of the bark’s volatile oil, cinnmaldehyde, is antibacterial and fungistatic. Cinnamon is also used to treat stomach upset, gas, rheumatism, kidney ailments and abdominal pain.
Research Highlights: Test-tube and animal studies prove cinnamon’s carminative properties. Similar studies have also indicated that cinnamon kills microbes, fungi, viruses, bacteria and larvae; in one study, three of five individuals experienced an improvement in their oral candidiasis after taking a commercial cinnamon preparation for one week.
References:
1. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers, AB. ©2000, 6:14.
2. Ibid.
3. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 94.
4. PDR For Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition, Thompson PDR, ©2004, pg. 200.
5. Peirce, A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines, William Morrow and Company, Inc., ©1999, pg. 175.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
Buckthorn Bark (Rhamnus purshiana)
Also known as Cascara sagrada, this small- to medium-sized wild tree grows in the American Northwest. Only the bark is used medicinally.
What it is used for: Buckthorn bark is known as an exceptional laxative, having earned its official and enduring status in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia in 1890. It acts as a colon cleanser effective for colon disorders, constipation, and parasitic infestation.
Research Highlights: Studies involving elderly patients suggest that buckthorn bark treatment, when compared to a placebo, leads to relief of constipation and increased bowel movement. The results of one study suggest certain buckthorn preparations my inhibit lymphocytic leukemia. Basic research in Europe has determined that the active principles of buckthorn bark are not released in the stomach, but in the small intestine; from that point, their next major locus of activity is in the large intestine, and to a lesser extent in the rectum.
References:
1. Peirce, A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines, William Morrow and Company, Inc., ©1999, pg. 142.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 92.
5. PDR For Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition, Thompson PDR, ©2004, pg. 162.
6. Mowrey, Daniel. The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine, Keats Publishing, ©1986, pg. 60.
7. Ibid.
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Ginger Root (Zingiber officinale)
Ginger is native to Asia, Africa, and the West Indies, and is cultivated in other tropical regions. Only the rhizome and roots are used medicinally; optimal medicinal effects when ginger is harvested at eight months.
What it is used for: Ginger may be best known for its ability to reduce nausea, stomachache and motion sickness. It also fights inflammation, cleanses the colon, reduces spasms and cramps, and stimulates circulation. It has strong antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In Chinese medicine, it is often used to treat flatulence, indigestion, headaches and migraines, rheumatic pain and kidney ailments. Ginger is also known to have antiemetic, antilipid, antitumor, antithrombotic, and cardiotonic medicinal properties.
Research Highlights: Clinical trials of ginger have confirmed its use for nausea and vomiting: in a study evaluating oral treatment of pregnancy-induced nausea, it was significantly more effective than placebo; a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 120 women that underwent gynecologic outpatient surgery found that those who took ginger had a statistically significant lower incidence of nausea and vomiting; a double-blind, randomized study involving 80 new naval cadets unaccustomed to sea travel indicated that ginger was statistically superior to placebo for individual symptoms of vomiting and cold sweating.
References:
1. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers, AB. ©2000, 1:89.
2. Ibid.
3. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 98.
4. Ibid.
5. Peirce, A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines, William Morrow and Company, Inc., ©1999, pg. 288.
6. PDR For Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition, Thompson PDR, ©2004, pp. 362-63.
7. PDR For Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition, Thompson PDR, ©2004, pp. 363-64.
Milk Thistle Seed (Silybum marianum)
Though now found all over the United States, milk thistle was native to the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and North Africa. Only its seeds are used for medicinal purposes, and should be harvested near the end of the growing season.
What it is used for: In recent times, milk thistle has become nearly synonymous with liver health. This is due to its hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver regenerative properties. Anecdotal evidence suggests it is also useful in treating mild digestive disorders, gallbladder issues and phlebitis. It is also suggested as a treatment for adrenal disorders, inflammatory bowel disorders, psoriasis, and weakened immune system, and has shown anticancer effects in the case of prostate and breast cancer.
Research Highlights: Clinical trials have proven milk thistle seed’s usefulness in treating liver cirrhosis associated with chronic alcohol abuse or viruses. In animal, in vitro, and clinical studies, the primary action of one of the seeds’ compounds (silymarin) as an antioxidant has been shown to protect the kidneys as well as the liver. Research also indicates the ability of silymarin to encourage the regeneration of liver cells by stimulating protein synthesis, thus activating the liver’s ability to regenerate itself through increased formation of new liver cells called hepatocytes.
References:
1. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers, AB. ©2000, 1:111.
2. Ibid.
3. PDR For Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition, Thompson PDR, ©2004, pg. 567.
4. Peirce, A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines, William Morrow and Company, Inc., ©1999, pg. 432.
5. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 103.
6. PDR For Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition, Thompson PDR, ©2004, pg. 567.
7. Ibid.
8. Peirce, A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines, William Morrow and Company, Inc., ©1999, pg. 433.
Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis)
Also known as Purple Passion Fruit, it is grown all over the world and produces an egg-sized fruit filled with tart, bright orange pulp The pulp is often eaten fresh and the seed are edible.
What it is used for: The fruit pulp is both a stimulant and tonic. Anecdotal evidence from South America suggests it is also useful as a mild sedative.
Research Highlights: Research conducted at the University of Florida have indicated that yellow passion fruit extracts can kill cancer cells in vitro; the phytochemicals which are responsible for this anti-cancer effect are carotenoids and polyphenols.
References:
1. http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/passionfruit.htm
2. Ibid.
3. http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Passiflora+edulis&CAN=COMIND
4. http://www.phytochemicals.info/plants/passion-fruit.php
5. Ibid.
Uva Ursi Leaf (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Grown in northern Europe, the Alps, northern Asia and North America, uva ursi can be found in light, dry pine and larch forests, in dwarf-shrub areas, in bogs, and in the mountains among dwarf pines. Only the leaves – finely chopped or coarsely ground – are used for medicinal purposes.
What it is used for: Traditionally, uva ursi has been used to help clear up urinary tract infections. It is a potent antibiotic and diuretic, and it is also high in astringent tannins. It is good for disorders of the spleen, liver, pancreas, and small intestine, and useful for bladder and kidney infections and prostate disorders. It is also antimicrobial.
Research Highlights: Uva ursi had a prophylactic effect on recurrent cystitis in a double-blind, randomized study. None of the patients who took the uva ursi-containing supplement provided had a recurrence, compared to 23% of those who received a placebo. Another study conducted on rats proved uva ursi’s diuretic effect. The most medically significant compound in uva ursi seems to be arbutin, which, when transformed by the body into hydroquinone, acts as a strong disinfectant.
References:
1. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers, AB. ©2000, 1:24.
2. Ibid.
3. Armstrong, David. Herbs That Work, Ulysses Press, ©2001, pg. 151.
4. Ibid.
5. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 111.
6. PDR For Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition, Thompson PDR, ©2004, pg. 848.
7. Ibid.
8. PDR For Herbal Medicines, 3rd edition, Thompson PDR, ©2004, pg. 849.
9. The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers, AB. ©2000, 1:24.
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