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 (54 page)

Lemongrass is considered a bitte and said to help the gastrointestinal tract and ease indigestion, flatulence and stomach discomforts. This grass is rich in a substance called citral, the active ingredient that is also in lemon peel, and this substance is said to relieve digestive disturbances and intestinal irritations.

As an effective antifungal and antimicrobial, Lemongrass is believed to dispel bacterial infections and has been used to treat internal parasites. The herb has shown strong antibacterial activity against several human pathogens, and a study in 1988, found increased activity against
E. coli
and
Staphylococcus aureus.
Used externally, the herb is an effective treatment for lice, ringworm, athlete's foot and scabies, and is also an insect repellent.

Lemongrass is used to treat colds, sore throats, and flu (especially with headaches and fevers) and is reputed to reduce and slow the discharge of mucus in respiratory conditions, due in part to its astringent properties.

Lemongrass is a tonic and supplement that is believed to be of great benefit to the skin and nails and is often used by herbalists to help clear blemishes and maintain balanced skin tone.

Lemongrass may possess anti-mutagenic properties. Recent studies have demonstrated that myrcene has been found to reduce toxic and mutagenic effects.

Rich in geraniol and citral, Lemongrass may contribute to lowering serum cholesterol.It may work by interfering with an enzyme reaction and inhibiting the formation of cholesterol from simpler fats.

Precautions:
Currently, there are no known contraindications or warnings with the use of Lemongrass, but if you have any other health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart or blood vessel disease, consult your doctor before using. There have been some reports of allergy to Lemongrass, and if there is any indication of breathing problems or tightness in your throat or chest, chest pain, skin rash or itchy skin, discontinue use.

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It's not just a garnish for your lemonade. Try our
Lemon Peel
for
natural good health.
  Its high nutritive content (especially ascorbic acid) helps to build the body's immune system and
ward off infection
, and its digestive qualities help to
ease indigestion, colic and nausea.
Lemon Peel
may halt vomiting
.

Plant Description:

Lemon Peel is the ripened rind of Lemons, which grow on tender trees that thrive in rich, well-drained soil in full sun with ample moisture during the growing season.
  Lemons are native to northern India, and are cultivated in the West Indies, the Mediterranean region and other tropical countries throughout the world, but do not transplant well. The trees may grow to a height of twenty-two feet with green leaves and flowers that produce yellow fruits that are very sour.

History:

The name Lemon is derived from the Arabic,
limun
or
limu
, which, in turn, comes from the Sanskrit,
nimbuka
, a term that covers several types of citrus. The trees reached Europe by way of Persia (or Media) and were first grown in Greece, and then Italy in the second century.

There is a great deal of current research being conducted lately with respect to Lemon Peel and its powerful constituent, d-limonene, a cyclic monoterpene that causes G1 cell cycle arrest, but thus far, no conclusions have been drawn, and further research is needed. (You may wish to check out the Memorial Sloan-Kettering site for further information about d-limonene.)

Lemon has been an important ingredient in herbal medicines, as well as candies, baked goods, drinks and preserves, with the peels used in aromatherapy and potpourris for their strong fragrance. Some of the constituents in Lemon Peel include volatile oils, flavonoids, coumarins, hesperidin (a bitter, crystalline glucoside), a high content of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), protein, carbohydrates, fiber, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins A.

Medical Uses:

Lemon Peel is considered a digestive. It contains a bitter principle that is effective in stimulating the digestive tract and promoting good digestion, and it has long been used to calm an upset stomach, ease colic and indigestion,
and stop vomiting.

Lemon Peel is highly nutritional and loaded with important minerals and vitamins (especially ascorbic acid/vitamin C) that are beneficial in cases of vitamin deficiency, such as scurvy, etc., as well as helping to build immunity against infection. Moreover, Lemon Peel is said to reduce permeability of blood vessels, which may be helpful in relieving the discomforts of phlebitis.
  Reducing permeability of blood vessels may also increase the body's resistance to invasive infection and disease.

As a diuretic, Lemon Peel is thought to help promote urine flow and work to cool the body. Lemon Peel is thought to improve peripheral circulation that helps to stimulate blood flow to the hands and feet, which can be of great relief to older people with poor circulation.
  When used topically, Lemon Peel is thought to help stop bleeding gums after vigorous brushing.

Precautions:

Currently, there appear to be no warnings or contraindications with the use of Lemon Peel, but when used topically, it may cause photosensitivity or contact dermatitis.

* * * * *

Lesser
Celandine
has primarily been used for many years as a treatment for piles. Its astringent and soothing properties are said to both
shrink and relieve the pain of hemorrhoids
, and the herb is used to alleviate the discomforts caused by episiotomies after childbirth.

Plant Description:

Lesser Celandine is an herbaceous annual or perennial plant that is native to Europe, and was introduced as an ornamental to the United States (and elsewhere), where it grows vigorously, forming large, dense patches of groundcover, often displacing native growth, and is considered an invasive weed in many states as it overtakes areas rapidly. 

The plants have a dark green basal rosette, branched woody stock, stalked leaves and butter-yellow (sometimes orange) flowers that open about nine a.m. and close up by five p.m. each day.
  When in bloom, Lesser Celandine appears as a green carpet with yellow dots, spreading across the forest floor. 

The plant grows chiefly in wet or moist (preferring sandy) soil in sun or shade and is particularly invasive when grown in moist shade, which encourages formation of bulbils at the leaf bases.
  The finger-like tubers are so prolific that well-meaning weed-pullers trying to unearth the plant actually scatter it, and the plant is also often transported during flood events. 

Lesser
History:

Celandine is one of the rare exceptions in the buttercup family that is not too irritating for internal use (as most others contain acrid compounds).
The Doctrine of Signatures
of Paracelsus (1493-1541) taught that healing herbs were given a symbolic shape or color to indicate their usage, and because Lesser Celandine's tuberous roots were thought to resemble piles, the herb was specifically used to treat hemorrhoids, both internally and externally. One of the herb's common names reflects that application, i.e., Pile Wort, and its botanical specific
, ficaria
, is derived from the Latin word,
ficus
, meaning fig, another reference to the appearance of its tubers when seen hanging in a bunch. 

It is considered an astringent, slightly bitter herb, and the whole plant, including the roots, is used in herbal medicine.
  There is not much known about the chemical constituents of Lesser Celandine; however, it is thought to include an acrid principle (similar to anemonin), lactones, triterpenoids, tannin and vitamin C.

Medical Uses:

Lesser Celandine is an astringent and old remedy for piles when either taken internally or used externally, and the herb has even been re-introduced into the
British Pharmacopoeia
specifically as an antihemorrhoidal. Its soothing astringency is also thought to help perineal damage after childbirth, when the muscle and tissue between the vagina and anus may be cut during labor (episiotomies).

Lesser Celandine may have antibacterial and antifungal properties. One of the herb's constituents, protoanemonin, is said to have antibiotic properties and considered useful against bacteria, and the saponins found in it are also said to be fungicidal.

Other traditional uses for Lesser Celandine have included support for the liver and gallbladder and poor appetite, but no clinical evidence could be found in this regard.

Precautions:
Great caution should be exercised with the use of this herb. Pregnant and nursing women should not use Lesser Celandine. Use of the herb may cause skin irritation or photosensitivity, and it may alter the effects of prescription medications.  It is strongly recommended that before using Lesser Celandine internally, one should always consult a health care provider.

* * * * *

Delicious
Licorice
will help to keep your lungs clear, your digestive tract calm, your colon cleansed
and
your adrenal gland functioning properly.
Alexander the Great gave his soldiers Licorice to boost their energy before a battle, so why not try some if you are feeling exhausted and stressed? Licorice is a
reliable and pleasant way to soothe a sore throat
.

Plant Description:

Licorice is a woody-stemmed perennial plant found wild in southern and central Europe and parts of Asia that thrives in deep, rich, moisture-retentive, slightly-alkaline, sandy soil in full sun.  It is a cultivated crop in many places that grows slowly from seed (generally from two to six feet in height), but is difficult to eradicate when well established.  It is a very important commercial crop that is included in herbal medicine, as well as a flavoring for confectionery, snuff, foods, cough syrups and tobacco.

History:

Licorice is best known in the United States as a flavoring and candy, ninety percent of Licorice imports are actually used to flavor tobacco products. Licorice has been used as one of the key herbs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for over three thousand years, and its use is associated with longevity. 

It was (and is) considered a tonic to rejuvenate the heart and spleen, treat ulcers, coughs, colds and digestive complaints and was mentioned in the
Shen Nong Canon of Herbs 
listings of more than 365 plants and drugs that was compiled in China about two thousand years ago. 

In the West, the Greeks learned about Licorice from the Sythians as a treatment for coughs as long ago as the third century B.C., the very same application for which it is still used today.
  Alexander the Great supplied his troops with rations that included Licorice sticks to alleviate thirst and boost energy before battles.  Both Hippocrates and Pliny the Elder described the medical benefits of Licorice, as did Dioscorides, who gave the plant its botanical name,
Glycyrrihza
, which is derived from the Greek words,
glukus
, meaning "sweet" and
riza
, meaning "root," referring to the sweet flavor of the dried roots, which may be chewed like candy. 

Some of the chemical constituents in Licorice include the saponin, glycyrrhizic acid (the chief active ingredient that is fifty times sweeter than sugar cane with cortisone-like effects), plant sterols, other sugars (glucose, mannose, sucrose), starch, resin, a trace of tannin, essential oil, amino acids, flavonoids, iso flavonoids, coumarins, lignin, mannitol, phenol, quercetin, salicylic acid, thymol, calcium, choline, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium selenium, silicon, zinc, beta-carotene-vitamins and vitamin C.

Archaeologists recently discovered a piece of Licorice from the eighth century that still possessed its active chemical principles.  In addition to all of its historical medicinal applications, modern herbalists also commonly use Licorice to treat adrenal insufficiencies, such as hypoglycemia and to counteract stress and to purify the liver and blood.  The roots are widely used in European herbal medicine.

Medical Uses:

Licorice has been used for thousands of years as a superior expectorant that is primarily used for respiratory problems. The herb helps loosen phlegm and ease non-productive coughs. It is also very helpful for bronchitis, congestion, and colds. As a demulcent, Licorice soothes mucous membranes and helps relieve sore throats. It is a wonderfully effective ingredient in cough medicines and cough drops as both a pleasant flavoring, as well as an expectorant and soothing agent.

As an anti-inflammatory, the glycyrrhizin acid activity in Licorice seems related to the way corticoids are released from the adrenal glands, which is helpful in treating arthritis, rheumatism and stiff, painful joints. The herb stimulates production of cortisone and aldosterone, which appear to be effective anti-inflammatory agents.