Herbal Teas and their Uses

These notes are merely a printed list of first herbs often used in tea form along with some words to help remind you of the sorts of benefits to be expected

Alfalfa
* Digestive for protein.
* Reduces Acidity, Arthritis.
* Assists to reduce allergic reactions. (amino acids)

Angelica
* Stomach Strengthener.
* Immunity protection from colds and flu.
* General Tonic for rheumatic complaints.(Cu, Vit A, Steroids)

Aniseed
* Used as a digestive.
* Expectorant for hacking coughs and catarrh


Barley
* Demulcent qualities soothe the urinary tract for cystitis.
* Lemon barley water is a nutritious and diuretic drink.

Basil- "The King Of All Herbs"
* Likes to have its foliage watered as well as its roots.
* Gives off its aroma without the leaves being crushed.
* Deters flies.
* Clears the head and brain.
* Use it sparingly and at the last minute for culinary purposes to prevent bitterness.

Bergamot
* Sometimes called Oswego .
* Contains thymol which makes it useful for sore throats.
* Use bruised leaves in a salad for piquant flavour.

Borage "Herb Of Gladness"
* Promotes kidney and adrenal health when used fresh with salads.Chop finely after washing to remove "hairiness".
* The saline content helps reduce temperatures and fevers when taken as a hot tea.

Black Currant
* Vitimin C, P and Folic acid. Dried Fruit, Ribena, Rocket Fuel

Boldo Liver, Gall, Pancreas, Digestive, Weight Control. CAUTION.

Burdock Rheumatoid, Uric Acid. CAUTION

Catmint (Nepeta Cataria) Not the Garden Variety
* Used as a mild sedative especially for children who suffer from nightmares, restlessness at night. Better when taken regularly.
* A favourite tonic for cats.
* Attracts Butterflies !!


Celery
* Don't waste the water that celery has been cooked in.
* Assists rheumatic problems.
* Kidneys and Mineral Balance (Ph, Na, Si) CAUTION

Chamomile
"The Herb Of Humility"
* Vagus Nerve. Sleep, Abdominal Migraine, Allergies etc (A team)
* Chamomile tea ensures a soothed digetsive system and a good nights sleep.
* Mild enough to be used for children and babies.
* Add it to bath water to reduce redness and inflammation of the skin, including sunburn.
* Used as a rinse for a hair tonic,highlighting and perfuming blonde hair.
* Put any left over tea on the compost to keep it sweet.

Chicory
* Used in the floral clock as flowers open at sunrise and close at 2 pm.
* Leaves align themselves to the north -it is said to have great life giving qualities.
* Can be eaten as a vegetable.
* Used in conjunction with coffee to provide support to the liver.

Cinnamon
* Flavour, Clear the Head (brain)
* Cleanses the mouth and throat and can cure nausea if sipped slowly when warm.
* May prevent and alleviate the symptoms of colds.

Coltsfoot
Bronchial. Tea and Smoked.

Corn Silk
* Soothing for urinary complaints, cystitis and UTI
* Only useful when still green

Couch Grass
* CAUTION This is not the couch grass that grows in our lawns.
* Diuretic and Bladder Sphincters

Dandelion
* Liver, Kidney and Gall Support
* Acne, Allergies, Hepatitis, Chemotherapy (A Team)
* Use leaves in salads and juices.
* More potent in spring and summer

Dill Seed
* Colic, wind-dispeller (dill water)
* Gassy with Cucumber Cabbage etc.
* Used for fretful infants-carminative.

Elder Flower
* A refreshing Tonic, Endocrine Balance, Soothing, * Stimulating and astringent as a skin cosmetic (A Team)

Eucalyptus
* Respiratory - use as inhalant.
* Helps remove Fleas from animal sleeping areas

Fennel
* Liver and Pancreas. Eye lotion. Wt Control

Fenugreek
* Lymphatic - aid in digestion of fats.
* Sinus.
* Skin, Diaphoretic (choline and lecithin)
* Brings down a fever, take with garlic and echinacea.

Ginger
* Aids Digestion.
* Reduces flatulence.

Ginseng
* Pituitary Stimulant -can create a feeling of wellbeing.
* This herb does not always have the same effect on all people.

Golden Seal Mucosa Tonic, Digestive Spring Clean CAUTION

Hawthorn
* Heart and Circulation. Safe Cardiac Tonic.

Hibiscus
* Iron Copper and Vitimin C added to Rosehips.

Hops
* Relaxant, Releases Nervous System Tension
* Some say if drunk first thing in the morning it will help a hangover headache.
* Usedas a poultice for boils and bruises.

Hyssop
* A strong tea from leaves and flowers can reduce catarrh and congestion of the throat and nose.
* For the pain and bruising of black eyes a bunch of leaves in a muslin bag, immersed in boiling water and placed as hot as possible on the eye can reduce swelling and discolouration.

Juniper CAUTION
* Oedema, Cystitis, (K) Blend with Celery and Barley.
* Diuretic.

Lemon
* Vitimin C, Enzymes, Astringent Tonic
* A few sips of lemon tea can stop stubborn hiccoughs.
* Therapeutic aid to prevent clotting.

Lemon Balm
"The Scholars Herb" * Powerfully attracts bees.
* Taken daily to improve memory and improve understanding of students.
* Diaphoretic, Over Heating- can be added to cool summer drinks along with mint to cool you down
* The leaves make a poultice for boils.

Lemon Grass
* Used for clear skin and bright eyes.
* Use as a night cap with a little honey and lemon.

Licorice
* Laxative. * Adrenal Exhaustion, Cortisone Antidote. * Soothing for stomach ulcers

Linden
* Relaxant, Wind Down.

Lovage
* Adds a celery flavour to stews and salads.
* May be used in the bath for its deodorizing qualities.
* A tea is helpful for rheumatic conditions, to stimulate the kidneys and remove waste products.

Mate
* Smooth muscle and heart tonic.
* Satisfying enough to take the place of a carbohydrate snack.
* Helps one think clearly.

Mints
* Digestive , aids in the bringing up of wind.
* Mouth wash-for sore gums and tongue.
* Cosmetic skin improvers when used as a lotion.

Nettle
* Iron, Arterial Tonic, Anaemia, Low BP (A Team).
* Assists burns, insect bites ans skin irritations.
* May comfort rheumatic pains.

Parsley Tonic, CAUTION

Penny Royal
* Deterent to ants and their nests.
* Acts as a flea and mosquito repellent.
* A tea is helpful for depression with honey and a slice of orange.
* Garnish new potatoes with a few chopped leaves.

Plantain
* May discourage the smoking habit for those anxious to stop.
* Wineglassful doses for diarrhea and haemorroids.
* Soothing for toothache when held in the mouth.

Raspberry Leaves
* Tones uterine Ligaments, pre, during and post birthing

Red Clover
* Spleen, Minerals and Blood Tonic, Cysts. CAUTION

Rosemary
* Set the seed on Good Friday.
* Eases aching muscles when used in the bath.
* Rub oil lightly on temples to aid memory.
* Use as a final tonic rinse for hair .
* Rubbing on the oil can reduce dandruff.

Rue
-"Herb Of Grace"
* Treat with care when handling as it can be inflammatory for sensitive skin.
* A weak tea can be taken internally and also used as an eye bath.
* Strengthens blood vessels including those in the eye.
* An insect repellent in the garden.

Sage
* Best used fresh for culinary use.
* A tea strengthens the brain, memory and senses.
* Eat Sage leaves on bread with butter every day.
* Use as a rinse and tonic to darken grey hair.
* Cerebro Circulatory Tonic, Blood Brain

Sarsaparilla
* Low or inefficient hormone production. Both sexes.

Senna
* A nonhabit forming safe laxative for anyone , following surgery, travelling etc.

Slippery Elm
* Muselage, Ulcers, Baby Food (A Team)

Southernwood
* A tea from flowers and leaves can expell round worms from animals and humans.
* Dried crumbled leaves can keep moths away.
* Tea reduces bodily weakness and limb pain following the flu.
* Withstands grimy air and smog.
* Planted among roses can deter aphids.

Thyme
* Rub Thyme oil on temples for headache resulting from tension and strain.
* A very powerful antiseptic.
* For sore throats and colds.
* An aid for singers and speakers,

Valerian
* CAUTION
* It has very unpleasant taste and aroma.
* Valerain has strong sedative qualities in its roots.NB. they need to be dried and powdered before use.
* Strengthening to the nerves assisting the body to send calm and relaxed messages.
* Growing it draws earth worms close by.
* Rotten Vegetation, (Mag Phos) (A Team)

Yarrow
"A Sacred Herb" * Soldiers Herb- closes and heals wounds and cuts. It is a natural Styptic.
* Emergency Pick - me - up.Have a cup when you wake up feeling ghastly.
* A tea of leaves taken very night before bed can break chronic cold symptoms, reduce a fever and prevent cramp after exercise in cold weather.
* A cup of tea can stop nose bleed.
* Used with Comfrey chopped into the compost for quick activation.

Herbal Alternatives to Drugs in Pain Management, Part II

raditional Chinese Medicine

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the fundamental etiology of pain is qi stagnation, blood stagnation, or both.

It is often said that where there is pain, there is stagnation; where there is stagnation, there is pain. Therefore, effective pain relief most often requires the use of herbs that activate qi and blood, removing stagnation and thus resolving the cause of pain. As is true in all treatment involving Chinese medicinal herbs, they are most commonly prescribed in carefully-combined formulas (rather than singly) that directly address the causes and/or symptoms of the imbalance and treat without creating unwanted side-effects or complications.

In addition to treating qi and blood stagnation, successful treatment of pain also requires careful differential diagnosis of pain. The three main diagnostic keys are the location of the discomfort, the type of pain and the cause of pain. Location refers to the exact part of the body that is affected: upper body, lower body, external musculoskeletal muscle, internal smooth muscle and so on. The type of pain refers to the characteristics of the patient's pain, such as a sharp, stabbing pain or dull aching, pain at a fixed location as opposed to migratory pain, pain helped by cold or by heat, and other distinguishing characteristics. Lastly, identifying the cause of pain helps the practitioner differentiate soft tissue injuries from structural damage. For example, leg spasms and cramps often involve only soft tissue, while an acute sprained ankle is often accompanied by structural damage. Accurate evaluation of these three criteria is crucial for greatly enhanced diagnostic accuracy and successful relief for the patient.

Herbal Treatment for Headache

Headache pain may arise from internal or external causes such as invasion of wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, summer heat, accumulation of phlegm, and other pathogens in addition to qi and blood stagnation. Headache pain may represent excess or deficient conditions and may affect the occiput, vertex, sinuses and orbital region. It may also present with a complex of locations/symptoms, such as in migraine.

Corydalis (yan hu suo) is one of the strongest herbs available to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Research studies have shown it to work directly on the central nervous system with analgesic effects comparable to those of morphine and codeine.^1,2 Another herb, pueraria root (ge gen), has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in relieving headache pain.^3,4,5 Other herbs have proved effective in relieving various types of headaches, including (but not limited to) migraine, vertex, sinus and orbital headache.^6,7,8

Many classical Chinese herbal formulas are also commonly used to treat headache. Cnidium & tea formula (chuan xiong cha tiao san) treats headaches due to wind cold. Evodia combination (wu zhu yu tang) relieves vertex headache due to cold and is also used to treat migraine. Coptis, phellodendron & mint formula (huang lian shang qing wan) addresses headache caused by heat. Notopterygium & tuhuo combination (qiang huo sheng shi tang) treats headache due to wind and dampness. Gastrodia & gambir combination (tian ma gou teng yin) relieves headache secondary to liver yang rising. Eucommia & rehmannia formula (you gui wan) tonifies kidney deficiency to relieve headache. Tangkuei & ginseng eight combination (ba zhen tang) tonifies qi and blood deficiency to relieve headache. Pinellia & gastrodia combination (ban xia bai zhu tian ma tang) relieves headache due to phlegm stagnation.

Herbal Treatment for Neck and Shoulder Pain

Neck and shoulder injuries can be divided into two major categories: acute and chronic. Acute injuries are generally characterized by redness, swelling, inflammation and sharp pain. Chronic injuries are generally characterized by stiffness, numbness, discomfort and dull pain.

Acute neck and shoulder problems are often caused by accidents, whiplash, improper sleeping or reading postures, and similar traumas. In addition to pain, redness, swelling and/or inflammation are sometimes present. Treatment consists of reducing pain, swelling and muscle spasms. Herbal formulas are designed to dispel painful symptoms while supporting the healing process. Strong analgesic herbs like corydalis (yan hu suo) are combined with anti-spasmodic herbs and blood-invigorating herbs to alleviate pain, promote blood circulation and open the meridian channels.

Chronic neck and shoulder problems are characterized by pain, numbness, stiffness, discomfort, limited mobility, slow recovery or continuing deterioration. Effective treatment must focus on activating qi and blood circulation, opening the channels and collaterals, and nourishing the muscles and tendons.

Corydalis is a main herb in the treatment of both acute and chronic neck and shoulder problems. In addition to having strong analgesic properties, it also has a distinctive facility for treating both acute and chronic cases of inflammation.⁹ Corydalis also protects against NSAID-induced gastric and duodenal ulcers by reducing gastric acid secretion.¹⁰

Classical formulas that treat neck and shoulder pain include the following specific applications. Lindera formula (wu yao shun qi san) is formulated for shoulder pain, while pueraria combination (ge gen tang) is more specific for stiff neck due to cold. Atractylodes & arisaema combination (er zhu tang) relieves deficient-type neck and shoulder disorders but may not have strong analgesic effects.

Herbal Treatment for Back Pain

Similar to neck and shoulder pain, back pain can be divided into two major categories: acute and chronic, with many of the key symptoms described in the categories above.

Many classic formulas tonify the kidney to relieve back pain and weakness. Tuhuo & loranthus combination (du huo ji sheng tang) eliminates wind and dampness and has a rapid onset to relieve acute back pain. Herbal formulas that tonify the kidney tend to be slower in action and are more suitable for chronic back pain. Cyathula & rehmannia formula (zuo gui wan) is more specific to address kidney yin deficiency; eucommia & rehmannia formula (you gui wan) focuses more specifically on kidney yang deficiency; and rehmannia eight formula (ba wei di huang wan) tonifies both kidney yin and yang.

Herbal Treatment for Musculoskeletal Pain and Painful Obstruction (Bi) Syndrome

Musculoskeletal pain is often classified as painful obstruction (bi) syndrome. Though there are many causes of this syndrome, cold and heat are the most common etiologies. Cold-type musculoskeletal pain is characterized by stiffness, pain and limited range of motion of the joints. In Western terms, cold conditions are associated with chronic arthritis and arthralgias such as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.

Heat-type musculoskeletal pain is characterized by redness, swelling, pain and/or inflammation of the muscles and joints. Patients typically present with muscle cramping and spasms. From a Western perspective, these patients have acute musculoskeletal disorders, typically involving inflammation of the muscles, bursae, tendons and ligaments.

Gentiana macrophylla root (qin jiao), a popular ingredient in some remedies, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory activities comparable to those of aspirin (salicylic acid).⁴ Aconite tsao wu (cao wu) and aconite wu tou (chuan wu) Other herbs have demonstrated exceptional anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic functions.^13,14

White peony (bai shao) and licorice (gan cao) have demonstrated remarkable properties in relieving spasms, cramps and pain of skeletal and smooth muscles. Clinical applications include dysmenorrhea,³ musculoskeletal disorders,¹⁵ trigeminal pain,¹⁶ muscle spasms and twitching in the facial region,¹⁷ pain in the lower back and legs,¹⁸ abdominal pain and cramps due to intestinal parasites,¹⁹ and epigastric and abdominal pain.²⁰

If there are complications to the musculoskeletal disorders described above, classical formulas offer treatment options for the patients. Cinnamon & anemarrhena combination (gui zhi shao yao zhi mu tang) treats musculoskeletal and joint pain due to wind heat. Cyathula & plantago formula (ji sheng shen qi wan) treats musculoskeletal and joint pain arising from cold. Coix combination (yi yi ren tang) treats musculoskeletal and joint pain caused by dampness. Tuhuo & astragalus combination (san bi tang) treats musculoskeletal and joint pain due to deficiency of qi and blood and weakness of the liver and kidney. If the etiology is unclear, notopterygium & turmeric combination (juan bi tang) may be used for relief of general musculoskeletal and joint pain.

Herbal Treatment for Traumatic Injury

Traumatic injury is characterized by severe qi and blood stagnation. Types of injuries include bruises, contusions, sprains, broken bones, surgical incisions and related internal trauma, and other physical traumas.

For complications of traumatic injury, cinnamon & hoelen formula (gui zhi fu ling wan) is used to treat internal bleeding after traumatic or sports injuries; persica & rhubarb combination (tao ren cheng qi tang) is used to treat subcutaneous bleeding with severe swelling and pain.

Conclusion

Pain is universally understood as a signal of disease and is the most common symptom that brings a patient to a physician.²¹ Western clinical medicine and traditional Oriental medicine share common goals of alleviating pain and eliminating the causes of pain; however, the philosophy and clinical approach to pain management in the two disciplines is very different. Generally speaking, Western drugs have immediate and reliable analgesic effects. Unfortunately, Western pharmaceuticals often cause serious short- and long-term side-effects. In addition, the chronic use of drugs, especially opioid analgesics, is strongly associated with addiction and negative social consequences and connotations. As a result, more and more patients are turning to herbal medicine as their primary, complementary or alternative treatment for pain.

Herbal medicines definitely have outstanding analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic functions and benefits. However, even though herbs and pharmaceutical drugs have many overlapping functions, they are not directly interchangeable or analogs of each other. The therapeutic effectiveness of herbal formulas is dependent on accurate diagnosis and careful prescription. When used properly, herbs are powerful alternatives to drugs for pain management.

References

1. Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese Herbs 1983; 447.
2. Zhu XZ. Development of natural products as drugs acting on central nervous system. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 86 (2):173-5, 191.
3. Bensky D, et al. Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica. Eastland Press 1993.
4. Yeung HC. Handbook of Chinese Herbs. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1983.
5. Gao XX, et al. Effectiveness of pueraria root (ge gen) in treating migraine headache: a case report of 53 patients. Journal of TCM Internal Medicine (Zhong Hua Nei Ke Za Zi) 1977;6:326.
6. Effectiveness of angelica (bai zhi) in treating occipital headache: a report of 73 cases. Air Force hospital in Hengyang, China. Modern Medical Journal (Xin Zhong Yi) 1976;3:128.
7. Effectiveness of angelica (bai zhi) in treating chronic headache: a report of 62 cases. National Defense Hospital. Journal of Modern Medicine (Xin Yi Xue Yao Za Zi) 1976;8:35.
8. Wang LS. Treatment of headache using xiong zhi shi gao tang: 50 cases. Shanxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1985;10:447.
9. Kubo M, et al. Anti-inflammatory activities of methanolic extract and alkaloidal components from corydalis tuber. Biol Pharm Bull February 1994;17(2):262-5.
10. Study of Chinese Herbal Medicine 1976; p. 340.
11. Military Hospital Unit #64. Effectiveness of aconite wu tou (chuan wu) in treating low back pain, a report with 225 patients. New Journal of Medicine and Pharmacology 1975;4:45.
12. Zhang HT, et al. Treatment of frozen shoulders with aconite wu tou (chuan wu) and camphor (zhang nao). Shanghai Journal of Medicine and Pharmacology 1987;1:29.
13. Liao JF. Evaluation with receptor binding assay on the water extracts of ten CNS-active Chinese herbal drugs. Proceedings of the National Science Council, Republic of China. Part B, Life Sciences. July 1995;19(3):151-8.
14. Sun DH. Treatment of heat type of painful obstruction (Bi) syndrome with stephania (fang ji) in 120 patients. Shangdong Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1987;6:21.
15. Tan H, et al. Chemical components of decoction of radix paeoniae and radix glycyrrhizae. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica Sep 1995;20(9):550-1, 576.
16. Huang DD. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1983;11:9.
17. Luo DP. Hunan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1989;2:7.
18. Chen H. Yunnan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1990;4:15.
19. Zhang RB. Jiangxu Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1966;5:38-39.
20. You JH. Guanxi Journal of Chinese Herbology 1987;5:5-6.
21. Harrison TR, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th edition, 1998.

Herbal Pain Remedy

Herbal Pain Remedies - The Better, Safer Way to Relieve Pain

Pain is a condition that drastically inhibits the ability to live a normal, happy life, and people will pay dearly to make the pain go away. And medical science has responded swiftly and with much promotion to that call. It seems every year we are introduced to a newer, better pain relief medication that is purported to be better, faster and more effective than its predecessors.

And while this may be true, it seems that more and more of these newer, better and more effective pain medications are being pulled off the shelves as fast as they were put on them due to serious health concerns coming to light after real "civilians" have taken the drug and experienced health complications.

It begs the question, can't we conquer pain without compromising our other bodily functions and maintain our health in other areas, or must we always sacrifice one component of our health to reduce the greater of the two evils (always pain)?

This is not true any more for people living with chronic pain, or even the type of pain that comes just often enough to be burdensome and make you a less effective, less joyful person.

There have been great strides in natural medicines, and pain relief is just another example of how herbal medcine has come so far. Herbal pain remedies are creating quite a little buzz right now due to their superior pain-reducing qualities, and absence of side effects.

Herbal pain remedies utilize powerful anti inflammatory agents found in nature, as well as pain receptor inhibitors that are found in various parts of herbs and botanicals in the wild. It is a precise blend of these anti inflammatory herbs and naturally pain inhibiting botanics that creates a very effective overall approach to fighting pain without side effects, and with all natural ingredients.

This combination can prove very appealing to many people looking for an alternative remedy for their painful conditions. Not only that, but most people want to feel better about what they put in their body, and the thought of putting a product 100% derived from nature puts people at ease.

See Natural Pain Relief Remedy for more information on how to naturally conquer pain through herbal supplementation. Danna Schneider is the webmaster of Herbal-Therapeutics.com, a site dedicated to providing effective and natural alternatives for optimum health.