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The

liHE ULTIMATE GUIDE to the Curative Power of Nature's Medicines

by Miclmel Castleman

Medical Reviewer: Sheldon Sau l Hend ler, M.D., Ph.D. Biochemist, Researcher, and Assistant Clin ica l Professo r

at the Univers ity of Cali fornia San Diego

Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania

CONTENTS Acknowledgments ...... ...... .. ....... ...... . .... .... .. ...... .. .. .. .. .. ....... .. ................... xi

Introduction Ancient Remedies and Modern Medicine ................. .. .. ....... .. .. ... .............. .... 1

Part One Chapter 1 From Magic to Medicine: 5,000 Years of Herbal Healing .................. ...... ........ 6

Animal Attractions. Aromatic Magic. Herbal School of Hard Knocks • Iso lated Cu ltures , Similar Herbs . Homage to the "Wi se Women " • Shen Nung and The Classic of Herbs . Ji va ka and th e Vedas. The " Stinking Ones" of the N ile. Eu ropea n Herbal Healers (a nd Assassins) • Monaster ies and Liqueurs . Wise Women : From Healers to Witches • Nicholas Culpepe r: England's Herbal Robin Hood. Sickly Colonists, Robust Indians . Thomson's Botanic Medicine. The Eclectics: America's Scientific Herbali sts . Hoxsey's Herbal Cancer Treatment • Th e FDA versus Healing Herbs . Th e Herb Renaissance . Looking toward th e Future

Chapter 2 Tempest in a Teapot: Are Healing Herbs Safe? ...... .. ........ .. ........ .... .. ............ 21

Is Noomba Safe? • A Double Standard. The Problem of Dose Control • Do Herbs Cause Ca ncer? • Safety Guidelin es

Chapter 3 Storing and Preparing Healing Herbs .................. .. .............. .............. ........ 28

Directions fo r Drying. Power for Powdering. Setup for Storing • Procedures for Prepar ing. How to Make an Infusion. How to Make a Decoction. How to Make a Tincture. Using Capsul es . External Prepa rations

Chapter 4 How to Obtain Healing Herbs ................................................................. 32

Gathering Your Own. Growing Your Own. You Can Always Buy • Noteworthy Herb Publications

Part Two Chapter 5 100 Healing Herbs .... .................. .. ...... . .... ...... .. .. .. ......... . .... .. . ...... . ........ . 36 Alfalfa : Hope for the Heart ............ ... ........ .. .... ..... ...... .. ..... ... .... .. .. .......... 37

VII

Allspice: The Caribbean Cure ....... .......... ....... ... ... .... . .... ... .... .... ... . ......... 40 Aloe: Soothe Those Wounds ............ .. .................. .. ...... . ........ .. . ............ 42 Angelica: An Ange l of an Herb ........................ .. .. .. ...... .. .... .. . .... .............. 45 Anise: The Lico ri ce-F lavored Cough Rem edy .............. . ...... . ...... . ...... .. ....... "49 Apple: One-a-Day Protection .. ...................................... .. ....................... 53 Balm: Honey of a Healer .............................................................. .. ....... 56 Barberry and Oregon Grape: Powerful Ant ibiotics-and More ........ .. ........... 59 Basil: Pesto versus Parasites ................ .... ............................ ........ .... ..... .. 62 Bay: Beyond Bug Repellent ................................. .... ... .. .. ..... .. .. ..... . .. ...... 66 Bayberry: All-American Fever Treatment .. .............. ..... .... ....... .. ....... .. ... .... 69 Blackberry: Not Just Jam and Jelly ...................... .... ..... .. .. ... .. .. .. .. ... ......... 72 Black Cohosh: The Indians Were Right .... .. .... .. ...................... ... .... .. ....... .. 75 Black Haw: Slave Owner's Herb ........ .... ........... .. ....... .. ....... ..... .. .. ......... 79 Blue Cohosh: Herbal Labo r Inducer ...... .. ... .. ........... .. ... ..... .... .. ..... .. .. ....... 82 Boneset: For Colds and Flu .............................. .. ..................... .. ...... . ...... 85 Buchu: A South African Water Pill .. .. ...... .............. .. ......... . ...... .. ..... . .. ...... 88 Buckthorn: Relieves Constipation ............................. .. . ......... .. .. . ...... ....... 90 Burdock: Likely to Stick Around ...... .. .......................... .. .............. .. ......... 92 Caraway: Digestive Aid since Ancient Egypt .......... .. ...... .. .. .... .. ...... .. .. ..... .. 95 Cascara Sagrada: World 's Most Popular Laxative ...................... .. ...... . ........ 98 Catnip: Enjoy It with Kitty ........ ............................ ......... .. . .... .... ..... ... ..... 101 Celery Seed: A Natural Diuretic ........ .................. .. .... . ............. ..... .. .. ...... 105 Chamomile: Pretty Flowers, Potent Medicine .............. .. .. .. ..... .. ... .... ... ..... 108 Chaparral: Cavity-Preventive Mouthwash .......... .. .... ...... .. . .. ........ . ...... . ..... 112 Cinnamon: Spice with a Punch .................... .. ..... ..... ............... ......... ...... 115 Clove: Your Dentist Loves It ................................................ .. ............... 118 Cocoa (Chocolate): Yes! It's Good for You! ................... .. ....... .. ... .. .. ........ 121 Coffee: Beyond the Boost .............................. .. ............. .. ....... ............... 125 Coltsfoot: World's Oldest Cough Remedy .... : .................... .. ..... ... ...... . ..... 130 Comfrey: Controversial Wound Treatment ...... .. . .. .. .............. .. .. ....... .. ...... 133 Coriander (Cilantro): Healer from Heaven ............................. .. ........ ........ 138 Cranberry: Prevents Bladder Problems ........ .. ........................ .. .. ....... . ..... 141 Dandelion: Much More Than a Weed .............. .. .... . ...... .. .. ....... .. . ...... . ..... 143 Dill: The Seed That Soothes the Stomach .................... .. ........ .. ....... .. ...... 147 Echinacea: Antibiotic and Immune System Stimu lant ......... .. ............. .. ..... . 150 Elecampane: Good-bye, Intestinal Parasites ................................ .. ... . ....... 155 Ephedra: The World's Original Healer .............. .. ........ ............................ 158 Eucalyptus: The Australian Flu Remedy ........ ..... .. ........ ......... .... .... ........... 162 Fennel: Great for Digestion ............................... .. .. ....... ... .............. .. ... ... 165 Fenugreek: Cholesterol-Controlling Hopeful ................... .. ...................... 169 Feverfew: For Migraine Prevention ... .. ................... ..... .. .. .. .............. .. ...... 173 Garlic: The Wonder Drug .................... ........ .. ....................................... 177 Gentian: Feel Better with Bitter Moxie .................................................... 183 Ginger: Put a Stop to Motion Sickness ... ............. .. ............... ... ....... ........ 186 Ginkgo: What's Old Is New ...... ......................... ........................... .. ...... 190

VIII

40 42 45 49 53 56 59 t;2 i 6 ,9 72 '5 '9 12

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Ginseng: As ia's U ltimate Toni c ........... ............ .... ......... .... .... .. ........ .. ... ... 193 Goldenseal : A Potent Antibio ti c .................. .......... ............. ... .. .... .. ... ... .. . 201 Gotu Kola : Soothes Skin Problems ............. ...... ......... ........ .... ........ .. ... ... 205 Hawthorn: Mayflower for Hea rt Di sease .......... .. .. ... .... , ... .. ... .. ...... . .. .... ... . 209 Hop: Bee r fo r Bette r Health ............. ........... ..... . .. ..... ... .... ..... . .. .. .... .... ... . 212 Horehound: For Cough, Colds, and Flu ........ .. ... ..... .... .. .. ... .... .... . .. ....... .. . 216 Horsetail : An Herbal Gold Mine .. ...... .... ....... .... ..... ........... .... .... ............. 219 Hyssop: Th e Bib lical Ant iseptic ..... ...... ........... ..... .... .. .. ... ..... ....... .. .... .... .. 222 Juniper: The Gin-Flavored Healer ........... ..... .... .. .. .... ... ... ........ ...... .. .. .. ... . 225 Kelp: Protector from the Sea ... .. ............... ...... ....... .... .. ..... ........ .... ........ 229 Kola : Soda Pop ve rsus As thma ....................... ..... ....... .. ........... ........ .. .... 233 Licorice: Beneficial-and Controve rsia l ........ .... ..... . .. ............... ..... ... . ..... . 236 Marjoram: Spicy Stomach Settler .... .. .... .. ................... .. .... . .. ... ......... . ..... 241 Marsh Mallow: Co nfection with Hea li ng Roots ....... ...... .... .. .. ... .... .... .. .. .... 244 Mate: The Hi gh-C Stimu lant .. ................. .. ..... ............... ........................ 247 Meadowsweet : Herbal Asp'irin ...................... .......... .. ......... .... .. ...... .. ...... 250 Mints: Marve lous M entho l ...... .... ......... ............. ... .. .... ... ..... ... .... ... ........ 253 Mistletoe: Christmas Gift fo r Blood Pressure .... .. .. ................ ..... ........ ... .. . 257 Motherwort : Tranquilize r and St imulant ..... ... ..... ... ... ... .... .......... . .. .. .... .... . 262 Mullein : A Ve lvety Soother ........ .. .... ........ ............... .... ....... .. ..... .... ... .. ... 265 Myrrh: Thoroughly Modern M outhwash ..... .... ........... ........ ...... ... ........... 268 Nettle: Takes the St ing ou t of Gout ............... ........ ..... .............. .. .... .. ... .. 271 Oregano: Pizza for Co lds ......... .. .................... .... .. ... ..... ..... .... .... . ....... .. .. 275 Papaya: Tropica l Digestive Aid .. ...................... .................. .. ... . .......... .. .. 277 Parsley: More Than Just a Ga rni sh .................. .... ... .. ... .. .. .. .. ... . .. ... .. ...... .. 280 Passionflower: For Tens ion and Insomnia .......... .... .... .. ....... .. . ... .......... .. ... 284 Pennyroya l: Good Herb w ith a Bad Reputation ... .............. ........ ... ....... ... .. 287 PsyJlium : Laxat ive Cho les tero l Cutter ... ..... .......... .... ..... ... ... .. .. ...... ... .. ..... 291 Raspberry : Premi er Pregnancy Herb ............. .. ..... ... ........ ........... .. ... ... ..... 294 Red Clover: Poss ib le Ca nce r Herb ............... ....... .... ........ ..... .. ... ..... ... .... . 297 Red Pepper: M edi ca lly, It's HOT! ... ... .. ...... ............ ..... ....... ................. ... 300 Rhubarb: More Than Pi e Filling ....... ........... ..... .. ......... ... .. ............ .. ........ 305 Rose: Helpful Hints .................................... ... ... .. . ..... ... .............. .. .. ... .. . 308 Rosemary: The Tasty Na tural Preservati ve .... .. .. ..... ....... .... .. ...... .. .. ..... ... .... 311 Saffron: Expensive, bu t Worth 11. .................... .. .. . .... ... .. . .. . ...... . ...... . .. . .. . . 314 Sage: Herb for th e Wise ................................... .. ......... .. ....... .. .. .. ... .. ..... 317 St.-John's-Wort: Poss ible AIDS Trea tment .. .... .. .... .... ...... ... ....... ..... .. ......... 321 Sa rsapa rilla : A Sexy Rep utation ................ ...... .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .................. .. .... 326 Savory: Subtle Sooth er fo r Children ....... ....... .. ...... ... .. ... .. .. .... .. .. ...... .... .. 330 Senna: A Powerful Laxat ive ... ............... ... ... .. ... ............. .. .. .......... ... . .. ... . 333 Shepherd 's Purse: Not Exactly Empty ....... ......... ... .. ... .... .. .. ..... ....... .. ... ...... 336 Skullcap: All-Ameri ca n Tranquilize r ................... .. . ... ..... ....... ... ........ .... .. .. 339 Slippery Elm: An Ea rl y Ameri ca n Favorite ...... ... ...................... .. .... .. ..... .... 342 Tarragon: Toothache Trea tment ................. ... ...... ... ....... ... .. ................. ... 345 Tea: World's Most Popu lar Hea ler ................ ... .... ........ ............ ......... ..... 348

IX

Thyme: Tri ed and True ......... .... ............................... .. .. ... .. .... ..... .. ... ...... 351 Turmeric: Heali ng with Curry ..... ........ ..... .. .. .. ... . ...... .... ... ...... ................. 355 Uva Ursi: The Urinary Antisept ic .. .. .. ...... .. .......... .. ............. .. .. .. ...... . .. ..... 358 Valerian: You ' re Getting Sleepy. .. .. .. .. ........ .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .... .. ........... .. ..... 362 Vervain: Joy o f a Healer .. .... .... ............ .. .... .. ... .. .......... .. .... .. ... .. ........... .. 366 White Willow: Potent against Pain .......... .. .. .. .... ... .... .... ... .. .......... .. .. ....... 369 Wild Cherry: Tasty Co ugh Syrup .................. .. .. .. ...... ... .. .. .... ... .. .. ... .. ....... 372 Witch Hazel: The Herb Even Docto rs Use .. .. .. ... ........ .. ... .. .. .. .... ..... .. ....... 375 Yarrow: The Herbal Bandage .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..... ...... .. .. .. ..... .. ... .... .. .. .. .... . 378

Chapter 6 Prevention and Treatment : A Fast-Action Guide to Using the Healing Herbs .. .. 381

Conditions . .. . ... ............ ................ .... .... .... ....... .. .... ........................ 382 Healing Actions .. ..... ....... .. .. ....... ... ... .. · ...... ······ ········· ····· ·· .. ······ ····· ·· 398 Other Uses . ... ..... ... .. ...... .. .... .. .... ... .. .. ...... · .. ·. ·· .. ···· .. .. ·· .. · .. · .. · ··· ······ .405

References .. .. .... ... ... . ... .. .. ... . .... .... .... .. .. .. .......... .. ...... .... .. .. ............... .... .406 Index .... .. .... ... ... .... .... .... .. .. .......... ... .. ........ .. ....... .. ....... ..... .. ........ ..... .... 425

x

INTR@DUCTION

ANCIENT REMEDIES AND MODERN

MEDICINE The Hea/illg Herbs provides the

information yo u need to use the earth's wonderful bounty of medicinal plants confidently, effectively, and above all , safe ly. It exa mines 100 herbs used in trad itional hea ling, traces their history, folklore, and medicinal use, and summa ri zes the lates t scientifi c resea rch on their many benefits (and in some cases, their jDotential haza rds).

The Wo rld Hea lth O rga nization es timates that hea ling herbs are the primary medicines for two-thirds of the world 's population-some four billion people. Herb criti cs concede herbal hea ling's leading role in Third Wo rld hea lth care but say it's obsolete in today's high-technology, labora tory­based America n medicine. That's hard ly the case. Even in the United

States, 25 percent of all prescriptions still con tai n acti ve ingredients derived from plants, and the average physician wri tes eight herb-based prescriptions every day. Not only that, even the most vociferous herb critics use healing herbs all the time-usually without rea lizi ng it.

Coffee, Coke, and Clorets When was the last time you used a heal­ing herb? You may no t realize it, but you use herbs that have medicinal properties all the time. We all do. Per­haps you started your day with a cup of coffee or tea. Coffee is not only America's favorite morning stimulant, but scientists have shown it's also an

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THE HEA LI NG HERBS

effective bronchial decongestant. Tea is less stimula ting than coffee, but it has also been found to be an effective de­congestant. And it's a good source of flouride, so it would help in preventing tooth decay.

Do you enjoy soft d rinks? Most of today's carbonated beverages were originally herbal medicines. Thou­sands of years ago, the ancient Chinese drank ginger tea for indigestion, a use supported by modern science. During Elizabethan times, the English devel­oped their own ginger-based stomach­soother, ginger beer, which evolved into today's ginger a le.

Coca-Cola began as an attempt to develop an he rbal headache remedy. Coke was invented in the 1880s by an Atlanta pharmacist who s tocked the tropical kola nut because 19th-century physicians prescribed it to trea t respira­tory ailments. No t to'o long ago, an arti­cle in the !ol/ mal of tile American Medica l Association suggested giving cola d rinks to children with as thma as preventive medica tion .

The last time you d ined out, did your pla te come with a sprig of parsley? Parsley ga rnishes are another echo of herbal hea ling. People used to munch this herb to ireshen their brea th after meals . Parsley is high in the breath­sweetening plant pigment chloro­phyll-the CIaI' in C10rets brea th min ts and one of the active ingredients in Certs.

And speaking of res taurants, per­haps your las t check a rri ved with an after-dinn er mint. These candies ha rken back to ancient times, when people sipped mint tea after feas ts to se ttle their stomachs, another tradi­tional medicinal use supported by modern science.

The Source of Today's Drugs America's medicine ca binets are filled with d rugs. Did yo u know the very word dmg links us to he rba l hea ling? It comes fro m the ea rly German droge, meaning to dry, as in d ry ing he rbs, the first step in process ing herbs into medi­cines. But the link goes beyond word origins. Ma ny drugs in home medicine cabinets have herbal roo ts.

Aspirin was orig inally crea ted from two healing herbs, white willow bark and meadowsweet. In fact, mead­owsweet's old scientific name, Spirea, gave us the spirin in as pirin .

For the congestion of colds, flu , or hay fever, millions of America ns reach for Sudafed . Its active ingredient, pseu­doephedrine, was developed from the world 's oldest healing herb, l1Ia hl/ang, which Chinese physicians have pre­scribed for 5,000 yea rs to trea t ches t conges tion .

Thousands of yea rs ago, people noticed tha t several aromatic herbs helped treat tooth pain . We now know too th decay and gum d isease are caused by ora l bac teria, and science has shown that the herbs tradi tio nally used to trea t dental ailments kill these germs. O ne antibac terial herb is pep­permint, which is why peppermint oil (menthol) is an ing redient in many too thpastes. An active component of th yme-thymol- is an ingredient in Listerine.

Constipa tion is one of America's most common hea lth complaints, and mos t laxa tives are herbal products. Me tamucil is almost enti rely psyllium seed. Cascara sagrada is the active in­gredient in Stimulax, Comfolax, and Cas Evac. And Movicol owes its laxa-

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INTRODUCTION

tive action to buckthorn. If there are children in your home,

chances are there's a cherry-flavored cough syrup in your medicine cabinet. The cherry fla vor is no accident. The America n Indians treated coughs with wild cherry bark, and we' re sti ll using it today.

A Blind Spot in Medical Training British and European physicians often prescribe herbal med icines along with-or ins tead of- pharmaceuticals. Some Ameri can " physicians support herbal hea ling, but most remain skep ti­ca l. Some are downright hosti le. Why?

The answer has to do with a major blind spot in American medical train­ing. Medical schools ignore the history of healing, so most physicians have no idea tha t until this century, most medi­cines were herbal. And pharmacology professors rarely mention that a large percentage of U.S. prescription medi­ca tions are still derived from plants.

From time to time, a lead ing medi­ca l journal reports an herb's effective­ness. For example, a recent report in the tal/mal of the National Callcer Illstitute sugges ts that ga rlic prevents s tomach ca nce r. But most herq s tudies are pub­li shed in obscure journals (many in German) , publications the typical phy­sician never sees. As a result, most Ame rican doctors are unfamiliar with the vast scientifi c literature demonstra­ting herbs' safety and effecti veness for an enormous number of ills.

The sad fact is, the typical Ameri­ca n physician's on ly rea l exposure to herbal healing involves the small but steady s tream of medical journal arti-

des reporting harm from the irrespon­sible use of healing herbs. The number of people harmed by herbs is only a tiny fraction of the number harmed by pharmaceuticals and accepted medical procedures. Nonetheless, the majority of what physicians know about herbs is decidedly nega tive, so it's no wonder they feel skeptical of herbal healing.

Fortunately, this situation is changing as herb s tudies make their way into more prestigious journals. Headache specialists now recommend feverfew to prevent migraines because several well-publicized studies have shown its effectiveness. Many physi­cians now suggest ginge r to preven t motion sickness and the nausea associ­ated with cancer chemotherapy be­cause a study published in the re­spected British medical journal Lnneel shows that it prevents nausea better than a standard treatment, Drama­mine. Many cardiologists now recom­mend a diet high in garlic, based on studies showing it to be remarkably ef­fective in reducing choles terol and other risk factors for heart disease.

Surgeons routinely spur the heal­ing of surgical incisions with prepara­tions containing a chemical (allantoin) ex tracted from comfrey. And some gas­troenterologists now recommend a slightly modified form of licorice for ul­cers, based on studies showing it to be about as effective as the standard treatment, Tagamet. Healing herbs even playa role in cancer chemother­apy. Two substances, vi ncri stine and vinblastine, extracted from the Mada­gasca r periwinkle are now used to treat childhood leukemia and Hodgkin's disease.

Scientists are taking a new look at a whole gamut of ancient healing reme-

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THE HEA LI NG HE RBS

dies . And in the process, they are tak­ing the guesswork and the hocus-pocus out of using Na ture's medicines. It is now easier- and safer-than ever to take advantage of the healing power of herbs.

How to Use This Book On the other hand, some people be­come so enamored of herbal healing that they reject mainstream medicine entirely. This is a serious mistake. Herbal healing can make an important contribution to human well-being, but it also has its limits. Responsible herbal­ists should consult physicians and use pharmaceuticals appropriately. In gen­eral, if a minor ailment does not re­spond to herbal self-trea tment within two weeks, consult a physician .

For some conditions, all you need is an herbal remedy: aloe for minor burns, dill for infant colic, or clove oi l for fast, temporary toothache relief.

Of course, many conditions re­quire professional care-for example, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and congestive heart failure.

But hea ling herbs can still play an im­portant role in your overall trea tment plan as complements to standard thera­pies and in consultation wi th yo ur phy­s ician .

Before yo u start using healing herbs:

• Read chapter 2 to ga in a basic under­standing of herbal safe ty issues. All the herbs discussed in The Healing Herbs can be used safely if they are used responsi­bly. However, when used improperly, some may ca use harm . • Before using any herb discussed in chapter 5, pay special a ttention to the sections titled "Rx" and "The Safe ty Factor. " • Before you ingest any healing herb, read chapters 3 and 4 to make sure you understand how to obtain and prepare it. For example, an infusion is not tea. • If yo u'd like to use herbs for any con­dition requiring professional trea t­ment, take Tile Heal ing Herbs wi th yo u the nex t time yo u consult yo ur physi­cian . The references list near the end of the book outlines the scientifi c sources for the information on each herb .

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