The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body - Heal Your Body Naturally and Maintain Optimal Health Using Alternative Medicine, Herbals, Vitamins, Fruits and Vegetables (47 page)

Medical Uses:

American Ginseng is an adaptogen in that it normalizes body functions during stressful situations that might alter those functions, helping the body to adapt and return to an overall sense of well-being. It improves mental and physical vigor and is used by athletes for overall body strengthening and endurance.

Taken over a course of one to three months, American Ginseng helps to combat stress, because it appears to protect a portion of the brain known as the hippocampus from the effects of stress hormones. This prevents memory problems and loss of cognitive ability in people who suffer from bipolar disorder and even depression. It may be used to relieve fatigue, stress and nervousness, especially after acute illness. It is an overall tonic, which is particularly helpful to the old and weak.

American Ginseng is believed to promote a good appetite and is helpful for rheumatism, headaches, colds, coughs, bronchitis, constipation and cystitis.  Its anti-inflammatory properties may be useful in reducing fevers and lung problems. Taken in low doses, it acts as a mild sedative; in large doses, it is a stimulant.

American Ginseng is said to stimulate fertility in women, as it stimulates growth of the uterine lining. Various Native American groups used it in the treatment of infertile women, and it is known that American Ginseng shares compounds with Chinese Ginseng that stimulate the pituitary gland to, in turn, stimulate growth of the uterine lining. The herb is also said to relieve symptoms of menopause.

Although less well studied than Asian Ginseng, American Ginseng has been used to reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure, and recent studies indicate that it may be used to inhibit the growth of malignant growths. Like Asian Ginseng, American Ginseng is considered an effective antioxidant that protects against cell damage.

Researchers also believe that American Ginseng may be a viable alternative to conventional forms of treatment for Type-2 diabetes. Constituents in American Ginseng root appear to be responsible for its ability to lower blood sugar in diabetics, and recent clinical trials show potential benefit in the supportive treatment of diabetes.

American Ginseng increases vitality and improves the body's resistance to a wide variety of illnesses and damaging external influences. It strengthens the adrenal and reproductive glands, enhances immune functions and promotes lung and respiratory health.

It has long been regarded as a powerful aphrodisiac and has traditionally been used to restore sex drive in men. It is thought to alter the action of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, in the brain.American Ginseng also has the added benefit of
not
increasing testosterone, which could increase aggression or aggravate prostate disorders.

Dosages:

Take one (1) capsule, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Precautions:
Since American Ginseng stimulates fertility, it should be avoided by women in the first week after starting any new brand of oral contraceptives.  It should be avoided by women who take prescription medications, for which pregnancy is contraindicated, especially isotretinoin (Accutane). This product should not be taken by pregnant or nursing mothers. There may be possible interactions with blood thinners, i.e., Coumadin, aspirin, Plavix and Ticlid. American Ginseng should not be taken by people with hypoglycemia, high blood pressure, heart disorders, asthma or insomnia.

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American
Mandrake Root
is a
strong and powerful purgative
that has been used historically and primarily to regulate bowel and liver function. It is believed to be a strong stimulant that efficiently cleanses and removes waste products from the body, and has been used to treat constipation, jaundice, and other disorders associated with waste product buildup. Native Americans also used it to remove warts and expel worms from the intestines.

Plant Description:

American Mandrake Root is a perennial plant that is native to and grows abundantly in North America (not be mistaken for European Mandrake -
Mandragora officinarum
- a poisonous herb of the nightshade family), and it thrives in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil in woodlands and clearings in sheltered semi-shade.

It is an ornamental plant with a single, forked stem that is topped by two umbrella-like leaves and a solitary, waxy, white flower dropping from the fork of the stem. After the flower blooms in May, it then produces a pulpy, lemon-yellow berry that ripens in July and August, and that fruit is the only part of the plant that is not poisonous and may be eaten (but it is rather tasteless).

The plant usually grows in patches and may reach a height of eighteen inches, but young leaves may be damaged by frost. In the autumn, the roots are collected, dried, and crushed into powder, and the powdered rhizomes (roots) are used as a potent purgative.

History:

This application was well-known to Native Americans long before it was "rediscovered" in conventional American medicine and listed in the
U. S. Pharmacopoeia
from 1820 to 1926. Native Americans used minute doses as a purgative, emetic, liver tonic, and vermifuge (to destroy and expel worms), and for topical application in removing warts. The Menominee tribe used it on plants and potato crops as an effective insecticide, a use that is now being studied extensively in laboratories. It is an acrid, caustic herb with an unpleasant smell, and because it is so potent, it is not advisable for self-medication in specific applications; therefore, it is always wise to seek an experienced health care provider when using this herb. Some of the constituents in Mandrake Root are lignins (including the most important podophyllotoxin) and resin (podophyllin).

Medical Uses:

Mandrake Root (Mayapple) has mainly been used (in controlled dosage) as a very potent purgative cathartic, a strong laxative that causes rapid, watery evacuation of the intestines and bowels. It is said to aid bowel complaints, such as constipation and other disturbances, due to sluggish action. It is considered an alterative, an agent that cleanses and stimulates the efficient removal of waste products from the system.

American Mandrake Root is said to aid in liver complaints. As a cholagogue, it has been used to stimulate the production and flow of bile (which also aids in the digestive process), and has a reputation for supporting liver function. Some say it has no equal when used for liver ailments and has been used in cases of jaundice, biliousness, and for the removal of body obstructions. The eliminative properties of Mandrake (both in the bowel and liver) make it effective for a number of complaints marked by accumulation of waste products in the system (including arthritic and skin problems).

Mandrake is also considered a vermifuge, an agent that destroys and expels worms from the intestinal tract.

Used externally, Mandrake Root is said to be effective in wart removal, especially helping venereal warts, and the root is said to possess antiviral properties.

There is a derivative in Mandrake Root called podophyllotoxin (the agent responsible for removing warts), and recent studies have shown some promising results for its use as a possible anticancer and antitumor substance, which may be used in treating human cancers. In tests, it has been found to stimulate the immune system while suppressing lymph cells and appears to be more toxic to leukemia cells than normal cells. Thus far it is too severe for the digestive tract for practical purposes, but a synthetic derivative is being used in Europe in chemotherapy (trademarked
Vepeside
) for lung and testicle cancers.

Dosages:
Take one (1) to two (2) capsules, one (1) time each day with water at mealtimes.

Precautions:
Pregnant and nursing women should
never
use Mandrake Root. This herb should be used with great caution (it is
always
advisable to use it in consultation with a physician), and it is subject to restrictions in many countries. It should never be taken in large amounts, as an overdose would likely be fatal. It is considered unsafe as a food by the USFDA.

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During World War II, some RAF pilots enjoyed
Bilberry
jam on their bread, and it was noted that these men were more successful in hitting their targets. Later research discovered that Bilberry does, in fact, reduce eye irritation, nearsightedness and night-blindness, and it also extends range and clarity of vision. Pregnant women find the herb to be beneficial, as it fortifies veins and capillaries and combats fatigue.

Plant Description:

Bilberry is a shrubby perennial plant that is native to northern Europe and Asia. It is similar in appearance to the American blueberry, but it contains higher quantities of the constituents useful for improved eye health and better circulation.

Its name is derived from the Danish
bollebar
, meaning dark berry, and its botanical name,
vaccinium
, means purple flower. In Elizabethan times, English herbalists prescribed "Whortleberry" for stomach complaints and diarrhea. American herbalists later combined whortleberries with gin to make a diuretic. Rich in lutein, tannins, bioflavonoids, calcium, inositol, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, sulfur, zinc, B-vitamins, vitamin C, glycosides, fruit acids, and glucoquinone.

History:

Bilberry has long been a well-known folk remedy for poor vision. Modern European medical journals are filled with studies confirming Bilberry's positive effect on vision.

Medical Uses:

Bilberry helps to preserve eyesight and prevent eye damage. It is particularly useful for people who suffer from eyestrain or poor night vision and is helpful for nearsightedness (myopia). The fruit is beneficial in strengthening the red blood cells and capillaries around the eyes and thereby increases circulation of blood and nutrients to the many blood vessels in the eyes.

Because Bilberry strengthens capillaries and fortifies veins, it improves blood circulation by increasing the ability of fluids and nourishment to pass freely and is therefore also valuable to people, particularly the elderly, who suffer from poor circulation to the hands and feet.

Bilberry has been used to regulate bowel action. It is a mild but strong astringent that has been effective in treating dysentery and diarrhea. It is an antiseptic that helps treat urinary tract infections and is said to curb intestinal putrefaction (which produces flatulence and gas), helping to reduce stomach cramps.

Italian scientists have discovered that Bilberries contain significant, curative anti-ulcer activity, which they attributed to the fruit's anthocyanoside (a flavonoid) content.

Bilberry has also been used as a mild diuretic and is said to relieve bloating and rid the body of excess water retention.

Treatment:

Herbalists say that Bilberry tea makes a fine mouthwash or gargle and also recommend its use to relieve inflamed gums and tongue; it is held in the mouth for a while and then swallowed.

Bilberry is most effective when taken over a period of time as a dietary supplement that helps to strengthen the immune system.

Dosages:
Take one (1) capsule, one (1) time each day with an early to mid-day mealtime.

Precautions:
Currently, there are no warnings or contraindications with the use of Bilberry.

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Blue Flag
stimulates intestinal, liver and gallbladder function
and works to correct the many problems associated with a congested liver and intestines, including
jaundice, hepatitis
,
gastric distress, headaches, toxins, skin problems, constipation and undigested fats.

Plant Description:

Blue Flag is a beautiful, hardy perennial with deep green, sword-shaped leaves and large, blue-violet flowers that bloom from May to July on three-foot stalks.

This elegant species of iris is a native of North America and may be found in Canada and the United States, growing in marshes, wet meadows and on lake and stream banks, although it is tolerant of an extreme range of conditions and can be drought tolerant. It is an ornamental that prefers rich, heavy, moist-to-wet, acid soil in sun.

History:

Blue Flag's botanical genus,
Iris,
refers to the Greek winged goddess of the rainbow, in honor of the beauty and variety of the many hued irises in the genus that grace perennial gardens. It was called Iris by early American settlers because of its close resemblance to a common European species, the yellow flag, which was the model for the
fleur-de-lis
, the emblem of French royalty. One of Blue Flag's common names, Liver Lily, refers to its use in early herbal medicine as a remedy for diseases of the liver and blood impurities.

Other folk uses included remedies for skin diseases, rheumatism and even syphilis. The use of various dried iris roots (called orris) in medicines and unguents was recorded in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Blue Flag has been used for centuries as a perfume, largely because of its essential oil (twenty-five percent), consisting partly of irone, which produces a violet scent that intensifies as the dried rhizome ages.