HEALTH

The top O healing herbsBRING ON A BOTANICAL BOOSTBruce Burnett, CH

lemon balm

holy basil

cayenr

dandelion

"Popularity, "said JVill Rogers, "is the easiest thing in the

world to gain and it is the hardest thing to hold. ''Ask 10

herbalists to list the top 10 healing herbs and you II get 11

different answers.

Herbalists' criteria vary., and the field ofnatural health, as with all endeavours,is subject to fads and fashions. Yet thereare some herbs with enduring status.For instance, garlic, I hope, would be oneveryone's list.

So, there is some confessedsubjectivity in the following list. Inaddition to their heating qualities, thefollowing herbs have been chosen fortheir availability; versatility (culinaryand adaptogenic use); proven historyversus trendiness; and therapeutic valueversus symptom reduction.

HERBAL COMPENDIUMThe magnitude ot plants with therapeuticproperties is astounding. Some 70,000species, from lichens to towering trees,have heen used throughout history formedicinal purposes. About 500 herbs arestill employed in conventional medicine,although the whole plant is rarely used,often at the sacrifice of the synergisticqualities of the herh.

Choosing the top 10 herbs is notan easy task, but those chosen haveproven their worth through efficacyand popularity. Herbal medicineboasts demonstrated usefulness andeffectiveness. We must nurture andpropagate this knowledge for the benefitof future getierations.

Top 10 healing herbs

AstragalusMsfraga/us memora nace us I

MEDICINAL QUALITIESKnown in China as huanq qi; energy tonicand acla|)togen, which some herbalistsregard as superior to ginseng.

AILMENTS TREATEDAlthougti not used for acute illnesses, it isa powerîul imnnune booster: prevents viralinfections such as the common cold.

EFFECT ON BODYChinese herbalists maintain that the herbwarms and tones the wei qi la protectiveenergy that circulates just beneath theskini, helping the body to adapt to cold andphysical exertion.

HOW IT IS USEDThe root can be used in soups, leas,extracts, or capsules; can also be usedwith othor herbs, such as ginseng, angelica,and licorice.

CAUTIONSNone.

¿2 may 2009

chickweed

Turmeric[Curmuma longa]

MEDICINAL QUALITIESIn traditional Ayurvedic medicine,considered a natural antibiotic whichstrengthens digestion and improvesintestinal flora.

AILMENTS TREATEDArthritis; alhletic overuse injuries: poordigestion; low intestinal flora (for example,after a course of antibiotics); someherbalists recommend using turmeric's

'hacterial constituent fcurcumin!,,;-aUy lo tight certain skin conditions such

as psoriasis and athlete's foot.

EFFECT ON BODYAnti-infLammatory action is equal to andsometimes greater than cortisone andphenyibutazone treatments; antioxidantvalue makes it an effective free radicalscavenger; also has powerful anticancerand antlcholesterol properties.

HOW IT IS USEDAvailable as capsules containing powder,fluid extract, or tincture.

CAUTIONSHas been shown to inhibit blood clottingwhich could pose a problem for people withclotting disorders; they, along with anybodyusing anticoagulant medication, shouldavoid the spice.

ChickweedIStellana media]

MEDlClNALQUALITiESEffective for a variety of ailments; can betaken internally or applied topically.

AILMENTS TREATEDTake internally for chest ailments andmigraines and as a digestive aid; applylopically for irritated skin, eczema, andvaricose veins.

EFFECT ON BODYContains vilamm C, vitamin B, magnesium,beta carotene, iron, manganese, zinc,omega-à, and flavonoids.

HOW ITIS USEDCan be applied liberally several times a dayto rashes and inflammatory skin conditionsor for internal use as a tea.

CAUTIONSAvoid if pregnant; may cause diarrhea andvomiting if taken to excess.

Dandelion\Taxaxacum officinale]

MEDlClNALQUALITiESDandelion leaves are more nutritiousthan spinach.

AILMENTS TREATEDHigh bLood pressure; general detoxifier;liver and gall bladder cleanser.

EFFECT ON BODYIn addition to its nutritional qualities, is apowerful diuretic: used as a cleanser and totreat high blood pressure by reducing thevolume of excess body fluids.

HOW IT IS USEDLeaves and roots, or the whole plant, areused fresh or dried m teas, capsules, orextracts. Leaves are used in salads oras acooked green, and the flowers are used tomake wine.

CAUTIONSNone. >

Cayenne[Capsicum frutescens]

MEDICINAL DUALITIESA warming herb; taken internally orapplied topically, is the purest and safeststimulant known.

AILMENTSTREATEDGas and colic; stimulates the secretion ofdigestive juices.

EFFECT ON BODYImproves circulation and helps preventinfections in the digestive tract; appliedtopically to the skin, is mildly analgesic.

HOW IT IS USEDCan be taken as a powder in boilingwater or in pill form or as a tincture inrose water.

CAUTIONSAvoid if suffering from peptic ulcers oracid indigestion; avoid touching the eyesor cuts to the skin after handling cayenne,

alive.com 43

HEALTH

Ginger{Zingiber officinale]

MEDICINAL OUALITIESWell researched, therapeutic benefitsare largely due to its volatile oil andolforesin content.

, AILMENTS TREATEDDigestive problems; motion sickness;morning sickness; and dysmenorrhea[painful menstruation!; gastrointestinal

'.infections; some types of food poisoning;and some forms of dysentery.

EFFECT ON BODYAs a digestive aid, relieves nausea andstimulates the circulation; effective inthe early stages of a cold or flu by

•"inducing sweating and helping the bodyto eliminate waste.

HOW IT IS USEDCommon forms, used in cooking, baking,and for health purposes, include fresh ordried root, tablets, capsules, liquid extracts(tinctures), and teas,

CAUTIONSDo not take ginger essential oil internally,and avoid ginger in medicinal doses if yousuffer from peptic ulcers.

Holy basil[Ocimum sanctum]

MEDICINALQUALITIESAs an adaptogen, enables the body toadapt to and manage nonspecific mental orphysical stress.

AILMENTS TREATEDStress, anxiety, overwork, and diabetes.

EFFECT ON BODYIn traditional Ayurvedic medicine, thissacramental herb is an anti-inflammatory,antioxidant, antiparasitic. and a nervetonic; also reduces fever, purifies theblood, suppresses coughs, strengthens theimmune system, aids digestion, enhancesmind and memory, and lowers cortisoi andblood sugar levels.

HOW IT IS USEDCapsules are made from extracts from leafoils, whole dried leaves, or seed oils: teasoften referred to as "tulsi."

CAUTIONSNone.

Ginkgo[Ginkgc biloba]

MEDICINALQUALITIESOne of the oldest trees on the planet,dates back some 15Û million years; thoughlong used asa medicine in China, itstherapeutic properties have only recentlybeen researched.

AILMENTS TREATEDPoor circulation; dementia; age-relatedmemory loss; and some forms of asthma.

EFFECT ON BODYBoosts circulation, especially to the brain;anti-all'srgenic and anti-inflammatoryproperties make it useful in treating asthma.

H0WITI5U5EDExtracts from ginkgo leaf are used to maketablets, capsules, or teas; may also be usedin skin products.

CAUTIONSMay cause toxic reactions if taken to excess;avoid if taking blood-thinning medication.

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m\

magnitude

of plants with

therapeutic properties

IS astounding. Some

70y 000 species^ from

lichens to towering

creesy /laye been used

throughout history for

medicinal purposes, "

Lenion balm[rtÁissa officinalis]

EDiCINAL QUALITIESember of the mint family; a cup

of lemon balm tea after dinner aidsdigestion and promotes sleep,

AILMENTS TREATEDAmenorrhea [lack of menstruation);cfironic fatigue syndrome;hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid!;Graves disease loveractive thyroidl;headache; herpes virus; insomnia;shingles, viral infections.

EFFECT ON BODYRelaxes the mind and body; promotesdigestion; fights infection, especiallyviral infections.

HOW IT IS USEDAvailable as dried leaf in bulk, as tea,in capsules, extracts, tinctures, andoil; and as homeopathic remedies andaromatherapy [essential oil),

CAUTIONSNone,

Garlic{Allium sativum]

MEDICINAL QUALITIESCultures that ingest high amounts ofgarlic have significantly lower incidencesof cancer, especially cancers of thegastrointestinal tract.

AILMENTSTREATEDHigh blood pressure; bronchial problems;digestive infections; yeast and fungalinfections; candida, and late-onset diabetes,

EFFECT ON BODYLov r̂ers high blood pressure and high bloodsugar; has antibacterial, antiviral, andantifungal properties,

HOW IT IS USEDCloves can be eaten raw or cooked; mayalso be dried or powdered for use in tabletsand capsules; raw cloves are used lo makeoils and liquid extracts,

CAUTIONSNone. 3

Bruce Burnett, CH, is a chartered herbalistand aui/tor ofVlcThWifie: growing cookingwellbeing (Ocean Cruise Guide, 2002).herbwiseproducts.com

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