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 (92 page)

Thyme is an indispensable flavoring for foods, adding a distinctive flavor to sauces, stews, stuffing, meats, poultry and soups, while at the same time aiding the digestive system.
  It is a key herb in the
bouquet garni
that is so important in French cuisine and is also used in many cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations, including toothpastes, mouthwashes (
Listerine
) and insect repellents.  Some of the constituents included in Thyme are essential oils (cymol, linalool, carvacrol and the simple terpene, thymol, which is a powerful disinfectant), alpha-pinene, flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin), beta carotene, geraniol, limonene, camphor, citral, amino acids, caffeic, caprylic, chlorogenic, cinnamic acid, gallic, vanillic and other essential fatty acids, salicylates, tannin, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, B-vitamins and vitamin C.

Medical Uses:

Thyme is considered an excellent expectorant and antitussive that has been used since ancient times to treat upper respiratory and lung disorders.The herb is said to be ideal for deep-seated chest infections that are marked by thick, yellow phlegm and will help loosen and expel mucous congestion from the lungs and head.  Thyme's thymol content is the active principle that acts not only as an expectorant, but also acts as a germicidal that simultaneously treats infections of the upper respiratory passages.  It has been used effectively for sore throats, coughs, croup, whooping cough, acute bronchitis, laryngitis and asthma.

The bitter principle in Thyme acts as a digestive that supports the gastrointestinal system.
  It is said to relax the smooth muscle of the stomach, relieving all kinds of stomach upsets (with particular influence on flatulence by calming the stomach and releasing entrapped gas).Thyme is also used to alleviate chronic gastritis, lack of appetite, enteritis, dyspepsia, griping (the sharp pains and grumbling usually associated with trapped gas or diarrhea), indigestion, irritable bowel and colic.

Thyme is considered a reliable antispasmodic that has been used to ease convulsions, stomach cramps, epilepsy, menstrual cramps and spasm-induced coughing and diarrhea.

As a "nervine" with sedative properties, Thyme is believed to be a good tonic that stimulates and tones up the nervous system, alleviating such nervous disorders as neurasthenia (a functional neurosis marked by intense nervous irritability and weakness), depression, nightmares, nervous exhaustion, insomnia and melancholy.

Thyme contains the very active thymol, which is a powerful antiseptic, antiviral and antifungal agent (it is said to equal carbolic in strength and efficacy), and it is very helpful in treating yeast infections, Candidiasis and athlete's foot.
  The astringent tannins in the herb cause proteins in the skin tissue to cross-link, forming a barrier to infection.  It’s potent germicidal properties clean tissue and may be best known commercially as an ingredient in
Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash
.  Used externally, Thyme is helpful for tumors, dental decay, plaque, thrush, tonsillitis, halitosis, deep wounds, and bruises and as an ingredient in relaxing baths that alleviates nervous exhaustion.It is said to be effective for destroying skin parasites, such as scabies, crabs and lice.  Used internally, Thyme's antimicrobial properties work to destroy and expel parasites in the gastrointestinal tract, and it is said to destroy hookworms, roundworms and threadworms.

Dosages:
Take two (2) capsules, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Precautions:
Pregnant and nursing women should not use Thyme, as it is a uterine stimulant.  Habitual and excessive usage (many times the recommended dosage) is not recommended, as it may cause gastric irritation, and those who are allergic to members of the mint family (Thyme, basil, sage, marjoram, etc.), should avoid this herb.

* * * * *

This native shrub is an old and reliable astringent that has been used for internal and external bleeding, cleaning and soothing bruises, curbing diarrhea, relieving the pain of hemorrhoids and stitches after surgery, as well as a variety of aches and complaints.  Witch Hazel should always

be in your cabinet.

Never drink Witch Hazel purchased from the drug store; it contains an alcohol that is not intended for internal use.

Plant Description:

Witch Hazel is a deciduous shrub or small tree that is native to the eastern seaboard of the United States and grows in damp woods from Canada to Georgia and extends to Nebraska.  It is cultivated elsewhere for its autumn-blooming flowers and the tree is considered endangered in Minnesota.

It’s a twisted shrub that grows from five to fifteen feet in height with leathery leaves that are shiny green on top and a dull gray on the bottom. The tree stands out in the forest in the autumn, because as other trees begin to lose their leaves, Witch Hazel is covered with golden yellow, threadlike flowers, thus making it appealing to landscapers as an ornamental plant.
 

History:

Centuries ago, Native Americans drank Witch Hazel tea as a general tonic and used it as a gargle for mouth and throat irritations. They also applied it to small wounds, insect bites and sore muscles and joints. The tribes introduced and shared the numerous medicinal applications of Witch Hazel to the European settlers, who promptly adopted it into their own daily lives.

The name, Witch Hazel, was given to the shrub by the English settlers, who attached their own lore to the American species.
  Back home in England, the forked twigs of various European trees had been used as divining rods to locate water and minerals, and the twisted, bent branches of the Witch Hazel actually referred to an Anglo-Saxon word meaning "to bend" and not at all to magic or broomsticks.  In the nineteenth century, an alcoholic extract of Witch Hazel was one of the most popular herbs in the United States; it was a distillation of the bark, twigs and leaves, mixed with alcohol and water. Witch Hazel steam baths were also considered very beneficial in helping to loosen heavy phlegm and coughing it up. Witch Hazel was officially listed in the
United States Pharmacopoeia
, and it is still one of the commonest home remedies in America.  The bark, leaves and twigs of the plant are used medicinally for internal and external ailments, and its non-toxic, astringent qualities are also highly prized in many cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as soothing ointments and after-shave lotions, etc.  Some of the constituents in Witch Hazel include beta-ionone, gallic acid, isoquercitrin, kaempferol, myrcetin, phenol, quercetin, quercetrin, essential oils, saponins, tannins, bitters and resin.

Medical Uses:

Witch Hazel is a wonderful astringent, and that quality is applied both externally and internally. It is effective in stopping bleeding with a unique kind of astringency whose main focus of action is on the venous system, acting to restore tone, health and vigor throughout the system. The tannin called hamamelitannin has been shown to constrict blood vessels and stem bleeding.  Internally, it is one of best remedies for stopping excessive menstruation, hemorrhages from the lungs, stomach, nose, uterus, kidneys and rectum (including bleeding piles).

The same astringent properties are also effective in easing diarrhea, dysentery and mucous discharges, including female congestive conditions of the uterus, cervix and vagina (vaginitis and prolapsus).
  It is also said to calm an upset stomach.

Witch Hazel is a painkiller and antiseptic that will help to kill bacteria and is used as an effective gargle for sore throats and to keep wounds clean and combat infection.

Witch Hazel is an anti-inflammatory and anesthetic that is included in several over-the-counter preparations (
Preparation H and
Tucks
) that reduce swelling and soothe the discomforts resulting from rectal and vaginal surgery and stitches.  It also helps to relieve the pain and inflammation of hemorrhoids and soothes minor burns, sunburn (
Eucarin
), sores, and inflamed eyes, bedsores, oozing skin disease, eczema and wounds. Witch Hazel may also be used to ease the inflammation of sore muscles or inflamed, irritated sensitive tissues.

The haemostatic properties of Witch Hazel's tannin (hamamelitannin) constricts blood vessels and helps to stem bleeding from abrasions and scratches and is beneficial for varicose veins and phlebitis.  Witch Hazel is also used to help dry out cold sores.

Witch Hazel is a complement for fine skin care. It helps to smooth wrinkles, cleanse and tone the skin and prevent oily buildup on the tissues of the skin.  Its antiseptic properties help to keep skin clear of pimples and acne and heal wounds.  Witch Hazel is included in many soothing aftershaves.

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

* * * * *

Long used by herbalists to eliminate worms and other parasites from the body and as an aid for improving gallbladder, liver, gastric and vascular disorders, as well as migraine headaches,
Wormwood
is more commonly known in the preparation of alcoholic beverages (absinthe) as a digestive that improves the appetite and relieves many digestive disturbances.  The herb is also said to calm the nerves and stimulate menstruation.  Applied topically, Artemisia aids in healing wounds, skin ulcers, blemishes and insect bites.

Plant Description:

Wormwood is a native of Eurasia (Europe and Siberia) and North Africa, and the plant has been naturalized in North America where it occurs as a casual weed.
  In England it grows in many places and appears to thrive near the sea. It is a perennial root, which arises to a height of two to three feet with leafy, flowering stems. The leaves and flowers are extremely bitter, with the characteristic odor of thujone, and the whitish plant is closely covered with fine, silky hairs.  The plants are harvested in July and August, and only the leaves and tops are used.

History:

The name of the botanical genus, Artemisia, is derived from Artemis, the Greek name for Diana, who is said to have found the plants and delivered their powers to Chiron, the centaur, and the ancient Greeks claimed that the plant counteracted the poisons of hemlock and toadstools.
  The name, wormwood, is derived from the Anglo-Saxon
wermode
or
wermut
, meaning preserver of the mind, since the herb was thought to enhance mental functions and which also accounts for its use in treating nervous temperament and melancholia.  In 1577, in July's Husbandry, Tusser advised people to lay its flowers among "stuffs and furs" to keep away moths and insects, and in 1772, Dr. John Hill made an infusion for treating indigestion.  With the exception of rue, wormwood is the bitterest herb known, but it is wholesome and was very much in demand by brewers for use, instead of hops.

The major constituent of Wormwood is a volatile oil, dark green or blue in color, with a strong odor and bitter taste. The essential oil in was an ingredient in the alcoholic aperitif called absinthe, which was first created by Henri Pernod in 1797.
  Today's successors to absinthe - anisette and vermouth - do not contain thujone.  Wormwood oil contains thujone (absinthol or tenacetone), thujyl alcohol (both free and combined with acetic, isovalerianic, succine and malic acids), cadinene, phellandrene and pinene. The herb also contains the bitter glucoside, absinthin, and other salts.  Other phytochemical and nutrient contents include beta-carotene, chamazulene, chlorogenic acid, isoquercitrin, p-coumaric acid, rutin, salicylic acid, tannins, vanillic acid and vitamin C.

Medical Uses:

Wormwood has been used as a powerful tool to fight worm (notably pinworm and roundworm) and other parasitic infestations in humans and animals.  It has long been used as an anthelmintic that expels intestinal worms.

Used as a bitter, Wormwood aids in secretions of the gallbladder and liver and is an old and trusted remedy for bilious and liver troubles, jaundice and gallbladder ailments.

Wormwood is a nervine tonic that nourishes the nervous system and, thus, eases stress and nervous disorders. The herb calms and soothes the nerves and reduces tension and anxiety.

Traditional herbalists claim that Wormwood is a febrifuge and lowers intermittent fevers and fights infection.

Because Wormwood increases stomach acidity, it aids in the whole digestive process, particularly when there is a deficiency of gastric juice.  It has been used to help alleviate gastritis, stomachache, bloating and flatulence. Moreover, as a bitter, aromatic herb, Wormwood is also said to improve a poor appetite.

Wormwood has been called an effective emmenagogue and uterine stimulant that is said to help regulate irregular menstrual cycles (and thus, should not be used by pregnant women).

Well known for its commercial use in the preparation of liquors, notably absinthe and vermouth, Wormwood has also been used medicinally as a mild sedative. This bitterest of herbs includes a narcotic analgesic that affects the portion of the brain dealing with pain.  If not used habitually, the herb's absinthum has been known to stimulate the cerebral hemispheres and act as a direct stimulant on the cortex cerebri, aiding in the relief of migraine headaches, nervous diseases, in addition to soothing nervous temperament.